Sir Robert Anderson and the Hebrew Calendar

[David505]

This is a tough question (at least, for me).

Many of us are familiar with the work of Sir Robert Anderson regarding Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks:

24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Dan. 9: 24-27).

In his landmark 1894 treatise: "The Coming Prince" Sir Robert asserted the 70 weeks prophecy delimited a term of seventy seven-year “weeks†of years (490 years altogether).* Sir Robert also postulated a long parenthesis of time between the 69th week in expectation of Christ’s crucifixion, and the 70th week in expectation of Christ’s second coming. Furthermore, Sir Robert insisted the years of Daniel’s prophecy correspond to equal length 360-day “prophetic years†according to time notations from the books of Genesis, Daniel, and Revelation, particularly with regard to the following notations in relation to Daniel’s 70th week:

A time and times and the dividing of time (Dan. 7:25)

A time, times, and an half (Dan. 12:7)

Forty and two months (Rev. 11:2)

A thousand two hundred and threescore days (Rev. 11:3)

A time, and times, and half a time (Rev. 12:14)

Forty and two months (Rev. 13:5)

To complicate Sir Robert’s proposed chronology, Daniel stipulates three supplementary time notations in relation to the 70th week as follows:

2,300 days (Dan. 8: 13-14)

1,290 days (Dan. 12: 11)

1,335 days (Dan. 12: 12)

Although Sir Robert made a good case for himself, and continues to attract a large following, disagreement arises regarding Sir Robert’s proposed 360-day “prophetic years†versus the variable Hebrew calendar. You can click the following link for a Hebrew calendar primer:

http://www.templesanjose.org/JudaismInf ... lendar.pdf

I’ve been trying (unsuccessfully) to reconcile all of the preceding time notations within the context of a variable Hebrew calendar in relation to Daniel’s 70th week. I’m also familiar with a lot of the work that’s been done in this area. I don’t think anyone’s figured this out. What do you think?

*Anderson, Robert. The Coming Prince. Hodder and Stoughton. London, 1894.

 

[Vic C.]

I am definitely not the one to be answering questions regarding a future 70th. week because it isn't in the future. It has past. It's a consecutive part of the whole.

To complicate Sir Robert’s proposed chronology, Daniel stipulates three supplementary time notations in relation to the 70th week as follows:

2,300 days (Dan. 8: 13-14)

1,290 days (Dan. 12: 11)

1,335 days (Dan. 12: 12

Actually, Daniel states an additional timeframe in ch. 12, Dan 12:7. It's the full 3 1/2 years. What we have in Daniel 12 is, 3 1/2 years + 30 days + 45 days = 1,335 days. PreWrath attempts to reconcile the additional 75 days.

I will need to research how those days fit into the historicist and reformed views. As for Sir Robert Anderson, I know nothing of him. I will do some more research. :yes

 

[JudaicChristian]

The Hebrews used a solar calendar before 167 BC. There is about 140 years missing from the Civil Hebrew Calendar. 5760=5900. Between the Civil Hebrew Calendar and the Gregorian there is almost a 144 year gap. Archaeological digs and carbon dating has shown the 140 year gap. It is believed that Akiba subtracted 140 years to to prove Bar Kochiba was the Messiah.

 

[David505]

I am definitely not the one to be answering questions regarding a future 70th. week because it isn't in the future. It has past. It's a consecutive part of the whole.

To complicate Sir Robert’s proposed chronology, Daniel stipulates three supplementary time notations in relation to the 70th week as follows:

2,300 days (Dan. 8: 13-14)

1,290 days (Dan. 12: 11)

1,335 days (Dan. 12: 12

Actually, Daniel states an additional timeframe in ch. 12, Dan 12:7. It's the full 3 1/2 years. What we have in Daniel 12 is, 3 1/2 years + 30 days + 45 days = 1,335 days. PreWrath attempts to reconcile the additional 75 days.

I will need to research how those days fit into the historicist and reformed views. As for Sir Robert Anderson, I know nothing of him. I will do some more research. :yes

Thanks Vic C.

I’m in the futurist camp, although I do respect your opinion.

Regarding 3 ½ years + 30 days + 45 days = 1,335 days:

Most proposed chronologies (including Sir Robert’s) extend the intervals (30 days + 45 days) beyond what I think may be the limit to the 70th week with respect to Gabriel’s pronouncement: “Seventy weeks are determined (Dan. 9: 24).†In other words, all the time notations may have to be reconciled within the seven-year timeframe.

Here are a couple links to Sir Robert Anderson:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24569504/The- ... rince-Text

http://endtimepilgrim.org/70wks2.htm

 

[Vic C.]

Ok, thanks David. I try to study and research from all positions, which gives me a better 'chance' at making an educated decision.

Thanks also, MDO. This is the first time I've heard of that. :yes

 

[David505]

The Hebrews used a solar calendar before 167 BC. There is about 140 years missing from the Civil Hebrew Calendar. 5760=5900. Between the Civil Hebrew Calendar and the Gregorian there is almost a 144 year gap. Archaeological digs and carbon dating has shown the 140 year gap. It is believed that Akiba subtracted 140 years to to prove Bar Kochiba was the Messiah.

Thanks mdo757.

Your point shows it’s a good idea to stick to the traditional calendar variables; notably, Levitical feasts, Sabbatical cycles, and Jubilee years when studying this kind of reconciliation.

 

[Cyberseeker]

I believe there was an ancient 360-day year and the 1335 days was part of a leap-year formula keeping it in step with the solar cycle. (Earth takes 365.242 days to travel around the sun) Since Anderson's time the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls shed more light on it, so it is necessary to reassess his findings.

I have published my research on this matter here: I hope its not against forum rules to provide this link but I believe your question is important.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Hello David505:

You have put forth a very thought-provoking and intelligent challenge. I, too am aware of the different calendars, but assumed all this time that each one was used in it's own way for the purpose that God had. However, I "sorta" realized that regarding Sir Robert Anderson's timing of the 360-calendar from the giving of the decree until Christ had to also coincide with the luni-solar Hebrew calendar, but was (and still am) uncertain as to the depth of the relationship between these two calendars.

And if I may throw yet another curve ball, in apocryphal books such as Enoch, they also use a solar calendar of 364 days. But I know that all the calendars were used by varying degrees given that even the book of Enoch mentions new moons for example, so the moon was obviously used as well ---- again, I am uncertain as to the depth of the relationship these calendars had with each other.

I can probably come up with a mathematical algorithm of some sort in the ways of intercalation as to periods when the calendars line up (and the article links also address that), but that does not give us any insight as to the usage in that regards and would still remain opinion. That is a question that only some sort of recorded history and/or legend can supply, and I'm starting to wonder if anyone will know why the different calendars? To sound cliché, "only time will tell". But seriously, you've given me an interesting math project to think about the next few days. :D

 

[warhorse]

This is a tough question (at least, for me).

Many of us are familiar with the work of Sir Robert Anderson regarding Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks:

24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Dan. 9: 24-27).

In his landmark 1894 treatise: "The Coming Prince" Sir Robert asserted the 70 weeks prophecy delimited a term of seventy seven-year “weeks†of years (490 years altogether).* Sir Robert also postulated a long parenthesis of time between the 69th week in expectation of Christ’s crucifixion, and the 70th week in expectation of Christ’s second coming. Furthermore, Sir Robert insisted the years of Daniel’s prophecy correspond to equal length 360-day “prophetic years†according to time notations from the books of Genesis, Daniel, and Revelation, particularly with regard to the following notations in relation to Daniel’s 70th week:

A time and times and the dividing of time (Dan. 7:25)

A time, times, and an half (Dan. 12:7)

Forty and two months (Rev. 11:2)

A thousand two hundred and threescore days (Rev. 11:3)

A time, and times, and half a time (Rev. 12:14)

Forty and two months (Rev. 13:5)

To complicate Sir Robert’s proposed chronology, Daniel stipulates three supplementary time notations in relation to the 70th week as follows:

2,300 days (Dan. 8: 13-14)

1,290 days (Dan. 12: 11)

1,335 days (Dan. 12: 12)

Although Sir Robert made a good case for himself, and continues to attract a large following, disagreement arises regarding Sir Robert’s proposed 360-day “prophetic years†versus the variable Hebrew calendar. You can click the following link for a Hebrew calendar primer:

http://www.templesanjose.org/JudaismInf ... lendar.pdf

I’ve been trying (unsuccessfully) to reconcile all of the preceding time notations within the context of a variable Hebrew calendar in relation to Daniel’s 70th week. I’m also familiar with a lot of the work that’s been done in this area. I don’t think anyone’s figured this out. What do you think?

*Anderson, Robert. The Coming Prince. Hodder and Stoughton. London, 1894.

I dont know anything about sir Robert but i did the math based on this 7 year concept and biblical timing and came to withen a couple of years myself. Seems to me much easier to believe in its fullfillment than a 2000+ year gap. I do believe that Danials 70th week is complete, but the prophacies were in regard to Israel and the first coming of Jesus, not the second.