The Fundamentals - 1910: Vol.11

76

The Fundamentals worship was forbidden, and idol worship introduced, especially that of Jupiter Olympus. The whole city and land was dev­ astated and some 100,000 pious Jews were massacred. Such has been the remarkable fulfillment of this prophecy. Even the duration of this time of trouble was revealed; and 2,300 days are mentioned. These 2,300 days cover about the period of time during which Antiochus Epiphanes did his wick­ ed deeds. The chronology of these 2,300 days is interesting. Judas Maccabaeus cleansed (lit. justified) the sanctuary from the abomination about December 25, 165 B. C. Antiochus died a miserable death two years later. Going back 2,300 days from the time Judas the Maccabean cleansed the defiled temple, brings us to 171 B. C. when we find the record of Antiochus' interference with the Jews. Menelaus had bribed Antiochus to make him high priest, robbed the temple and instituted the murder of the high priest Onias III. The most wicked deeds in the defilement of the temple were perpetrated by the leading general of Antiochus, Apollonius, in the year 168 B. C. We believe these 2,300 days are therefore literal days and have found their literal fulfillment in the dreadful days of this wicked king from the North. There is no other mi n i n g attached to these days and the foolish speculations that these days are years, etc., lack Scriptural foundation altogether. THE GREATEST OF ALL The greatest prophecy in the Book of Daniel is contained in the ninth chapter, the prophecy concerning the 70 weeks, transmitted from heaven through Gabriel. (Dan. 9:24-27.) To many readers of the Book of Daniel it is not quite clear what the expression “seventy weeks” means, and when it is stated that each week represents a period of seven years, many Christians do not know why such is the case. A brief word of explanation may therefore be in order. The literal transla­ tion of the term “seventy weeks” is “seventy sevens.” Now this word “sevens” translated “weeks” may mean “days” and

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