Sir Robert Anderson's Dates ???

[BABerean2]

One need not plumb the depth of the ancient Hebrew and Aramaic scriptures to find the time of Christ's crucifixion because saint Luke gives a reasonable set of historic events with which to approximate the year of the crucifixion. Consider this passage:

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' ... Now Herod the tetrarch, who had been censured by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil deeds Herod had committed, added still another to these by (also) putting John in prison. After all the people had been baptised and Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. Luke 3:1-22​

I truncated the passage for brevity but please read it and the rest of the chapter. It is not too hard to fix a date for the reign of Tiberius and adding 14 to that will tell you when the prophet John's preaching began and if one takes the information from Luke chapter one about Mary visiting Elizabeth when Elizabeth was already six months into her pregnancy it is rather likely that John had been preaching at least six months when Jesus came to be baptised. Add to that around 2 or 3 years to account for the Lord Jesus Christ's public preaching and you can derive the approximate date for the crucifixion.

Tiberius became emperor in 14 AD, add 14 and you get 28 or 29 AD as the year of Christ's baptism (allowing for the six months), add another 2 or 3 for Christ's public preaching and you arrive at 30 to 32 AD. It's possible that 33 AD is correct because John may have been preaching for more than six months when Jesus was about thirty years old. Do these dates fit the theory of Sir Robert Anderson? No? Then he is likely wrong.

You are of course correct about using the text as the primary proof.

However, most do not know that Tiberius became co-precept with his father Augustus in AD 12. Ancient coins from Antioch have been discovered with the face of Augustus on one side and that of Tiberius on the other.

His father did die in 14 AD. However, Tiberius actually began ruling 2 years before.

Another piece of evidence is from John 2:13-20 when the Jews said it had taken forty-six years to build the temple. We know now that Herod began construction in 20 BC. 20 BC plus 46 comes to AD 27. This discussion was near the beginning of Christ's ministry.

We also know Christ was born before 4 BC which was the year Herod died.

At His baptism we know He was about 30 years old.

When taken as a whole, all of this evidence shows the date to be earlier than previously known.


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[1michael1]

You are of course correct about using the text as the primary proof.

However, most do not know that Tiberius became co-precept with his father Augustus in AD 12. Ancient coins from Antioch have been discovered with the face of Augustus on one side and that of Tiberius on the other.

His father did die in 14 AD. However, Tiberius actually began ruling 2 years before.

Another piece of evidence is from John 2:13-20 when the Jews said it had taken forty-six years to build the temple. We know now that Herod began construction in 20 BC. 20 BC plus 46 comes to AD 27. This discussion was near the beginning of Christ's ministry.

We also know Christ was born before 4 BC which was the year Herod died.

At His baptism we know He was about 30 years old.

When taken as a whole, all of this evidence shows the date to be earlier than previously known.


.

Mommson dates the first co-regent regnal year of Tiberius to AD 11 based upon Veleius Paterculus ii. 121. That being so, it would have been Hebrew year 3771 (AD 10-11) and the 15th year would have been Hebrew year 3785 (A.D. 24-25), one year before Christ appears in the 49th sabbatic year (AD 25-26), 483 years after the edict of Artaxerxes.

 

[BABerean2]

Mommson dates the first co-regent regnal year of Tiberius to AD 11 based upon Veleius Paterculus ii. 121. That being so, it would have been Hebrew year 3771 (AD 10-11) and the 15th year would have been Hebrew year 3785 (A.D. 24-25), one year before Christ appears in the 49th sabbatic year (AD 25-26), 483 years after the edict of Artaxerxes.

He took the scroll and read of Himself...

Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luk 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Luk 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.


Jubilee had come to Israel and the whole world.

 

[1michael1]

He took the scroll and read of Himself...

Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luk 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Luk 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.


Jubilee had come to Israel and the whole world.

And you shall count to yourself 7 Sabbaths of years, 7 x 7 years; and they shall be to you 7 weeks of years, 49 years.

In the 7th Moon [Tishrei], on the 10th of the month, you shall make the Annunciation with the blast of the Shofar in all your land; on Yom Kippur you shall make the Annunciation with the Shofar in all your land.

And you shall sanctify the year, the 50th year, and you shall proclaim the Release upon the land to all who inhabit it. It shall be given as the Year of Release, the Jubilee for you; and each one shall depart to his possession, and each shall return to his family.

This is the Jubilee of Release, the year shall be to you the 50th year: (Leviticus 25)
​

Saturday, September 20, AD 25, Yom Kippur, 49th year of the sabbatic cycle, 483rd year from the decree of Artaxerxes.

September AD 25 Elul 3785 - Tishrei 3786
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
>> >>1/20 2/21 3/22 4/23 5/24 6/25
> 7/26 8/27 9/28 10/29 11+ 1 12+ 2 13/ 3
14@ 4 15/ 5 16/ 6 17/ 7 18/ 8 19* 9 20+10
21/11 22/12 23/13 24/14 25+15 26+16 27~17
28~18 29~19 30~20

 

[BABerean2]

And you shall count to yourself 7 Sabbaths of years, 7 x 7 years; and they shall be to you 7 weeks of years, 49 years.

In the 7th Moon [Tishrei], on the 10th of the month, you shall make the Annunciation with the blast of the Shofar in all your land; on Yom Kippur you shall make the Annunciation with the Shofar in all your land.

And you shall sanctify the year, the 50th year, and you shall proclaim the Release upon the land to all who inhabit it. It shall be given as the Year of Release, the Jubilee for you; and each one shall depart to his possession, and each shall return to his family.

This is the Jubilee of Release, the year shall be to you the 50th year: (Leviticus 25)
​

Saturday, September 20, AD 25, Yom Kippur, 49th year of the sabbatic cycle, 483rd year from the decree of Artaxerxes.

September AD 25 Elul 3785 - Tishrei 3786
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
>> >>1/20 2/21 3/22 4/23 5/24 6/25
> 7/26 8/27 9/28 10/29 11+ 1 12+ 2 13/ 3
14@ 4 15/ 5 16/ 6 17/ 7 18/ 8 19* 9 20+10
21/11 22/12 23/13 24/14 25+15 26+16 27~17
28~18 29~19 30~20

Shiloh had come.

Gen_49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Luk_16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Luk_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Joh_1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

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[1michael1]

Shiloh had come.

Gen_49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Luk_16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Luk_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Joh_1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

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True.

I might just mention too that Jesus is reading Isaiah 61 directly from the Greek Septuagint, as had become the custom of the diaspora. However, he seems to slightly translate it differently on the spot by saying 'preach' (κηρυξαι) the acceptable year of the Lord rather than simply proclaiming, or calling (καλεσα&#953 the acceptable year of the Lord. This appears to have been a direct, on-the-spot, translation by Jesus while reading on the Sabbath at the Synagogue in Nazareth.

πνευμα κυριου επ εμε ου εινεκεν εχρισεν με ευαγγελισασθαι πτωχοις απεσταλκεν με ιασασθαι τους συντετριμμενους τη καρδια κηρυξαι αιχμαλωτοις αφεσιν και τυφλοις αναβλεψιν καλεσαι ενιαυτον κυριου δεκτον -- Isaiah 61:1-2, Septuagint LXX

πνευμα κυριου επ εμε ου ενεκεν εχρισεν με ευαγγελιζεσθαι πτωχοις απεσταλκεν με ιασασθαι τους συντετριμμενους την καρδιαν κηρυξαι αιχμαλωτοις αφεσιν και τυφλοις αναβλεψιν κηρυξαι ενιαυτον κυριου δεκτον-- Luke 4:18-19 Greek NT
​

[The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has christed (exrisen) Me; He has sent Me to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord]

Of course, it could be the case that Jesus is reading from the original Septuagint as it was rendered in Luke's time, and our copies that have come down to us have a scribal error in this place.

 

[BABerean2]

True.

I might just mention too that Jesus is reading Isaiah 61 directly from the Greek Septuagint, as had become the custom of the diaspora. However, he seems to slightly translate it differently on the spot by saying 'preach' (κηρυξαι) the acceptable year of the Lord rather than simply proclaiming, or calling (καλεσα&#953 the acceptable year of the Lord. This appears to have been a direct, on-the-spot, translation by Jesus while reading on the Sabbath at the Synagogue in Nazareth.

πνευμα κυριου επ εμε ου εινεκεν εχρισεν με ευαγγελισασθαι πτωχοις απεσταλκεν με ιασασθαι τους συντετριμμενους τη καρδια κηρυξαι αιχμαλωτοις αφεσιν και τυφλοις αναβλεψιν καλεσαι ενιαυτον κυριου δεκτον -- Isaiah 61:1-2, Septuagint LXX

πνευμα κυριου επ εμε ου ενεκεν εχρισεν με ευαγγελιζεσθαι πτωχοις απεσταλκεν με ιασασθαι τους συντετριμμενους την καρδιαν κηρυξαι αιχμαλωτοις αφεσιν και τυφλοις αναβλεψιν κηρυξαι ενιαυτον κυριου δεκτον-- Luke 4:18-19 Greek NT
​

[The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has christed (exrisen) Me; He has sent Me to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord]

Of course, it could be the case that Jesus is reading from the original Septuagint as it was rendered in Luke's time, and our copies that have come down to us have a scribal error in this place.

I know a little Greek.

He runs a local seafood restaurant.


.

 

[1michael1]

I know a little Greek.

He runs a local seafood restaurant.


.

And sells gyro-sandwiches. I get that. That's funny.

 

[Interplanner]

What are you saying is the significance of 'kalesai'?

 

[1michael1]

What are you saying is the significance of 'kalesai'?

I don't know.

Apparently Jesus didn't see much significance in it because he translated it as 'kyruxai' (preach).

I have a hunch that this actually was the original reading of the Septuagint and has been changed due to copy errors.

 

[MoreCoffee]

You are of course correct about using the text as the primary proof.

However, most do not know that Tiberius became co-precept with his father Augustus in AD 12. Ancient coins from Antioch have been discovered with the face of Augustus on one side and that of Tiberius on the other.

His father did die in 14 AD. However, Tiberius actually began ruling 2 years before.

Another piece of evidence is from John 2:13-20 when the Jews said it had taken forty-six years to build the temple. We know now that Herod began construction in 20 BC. 20 BC plus 46 comes to AD 27. This discussion was near the beginning of Christ's ministry.

We also know Christ was born before 4 BC which was the year Herod died.

At His baptism we know He was about 30 years old.

When taken as a whole, all of this evidence shows the date to be earlier than previously known.

Tiberius (Latin: Tiberius Caesar Divi Augusti Filius Augustus; born 16 November 42 BC, died 16 March 37 AD) was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Born Tiberius Claudius Nero, a Claudian, Tiberius was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian.

Suetonius says he was co-princeps from 12 AD but it was not until 18th of September 14 AD that the senate of Rome recognised him as princeps (and emperor).

It's a stretch to claim he was emperor from 12 AD (as the above post does). And the statement in the gospel according to saint Luke that the Lord was "about thirty years old" is an approximation so a calculation from 4 BC to 27 AD to arrive at 30 may mean no more than that Jesus commenced his public preaching no later than 27 AD but he could have been 31 or more years old when he was baptised. Being about 30 could cover quite a few years. I'd favour 32 as an approximate age if 4 BC is a correct estimate of Herod's death since Jesus was born before Herod died and lived in Egypt until after Herod died and that seems to imply an age of at least one or two years for his return to the land after Herod died. So these calculations based on Daniel's "seventy sevens" converting the sevens to "weeks" and the "weeks" into seven years is rather far fetched. In short Sir Robert Anderson's dates are poorly based and require strange manipulations of words in passages from Daniel (and elsewhere) which is a sign of very poor exegesis and very bad theology.

 

[1michael1]

Tiberius (Latin: Tiberius Caesar Divi Augusti Filius Augustus; born 16 November 42 BC, died 16 March 37 AD) was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Born Tiberius Claudius Nero, a Claudian, Tiberius was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian.

Suetonius says he was co-princeps from 12 AD but it was not until 18th of September 14 AD that the senate of Rome recognised him as princeps (and emperor).

It's a stretch to claim he was emperor from 12 AD (as the above post does). And the statement in the gospel according to saint Luke that the Lord was "about thirty years old" is an approximation so a calculation from 4 BC to 27 AD to arrive at 30 may mean no more than that Jesus commenced his public preaching no later than 27 AD but he could have been 31 or more years old when he was baptised. Being about 30 could cover quite a few years. I'd favour 32 as an approximate age if 4 BC is a correct estimate of Herod's death since Jesus was born before Herod died and lived in Egypt until after Herod died and that seems to imply an age of at least one or two years for his return to the land after Herod died. So these calculations based on Daniel's "seventy sevens" converting the sevens to "weeks" and the "weeks" into seven years is rather far fetched. In short Sir Robert Anderson's dates are poorly based and require strange manipulations of words in passages from Daniel (and elsewhere) which is a sign of very poor exegesis and very bad theology.

Thiele demonstrated that in later Judea it was the custom to mark years by accession/succession years and from the civil calendar. It stands to reason that Luke having learned the gospel from Jews, and referring back to the historical narrative of Matthew (a former Jewish tax collector with direct access to census records) would have followed the tradition of later Judean dating, as does Josephus. In fact, Luke no doubt finished his two volume historical narrative to Theophilus not 10 years before Josephus wrote his Wars.

Therefore, there is every historical reason to take Luke as referring to the entire time of Tiberius' reign as emperor. The fact is that Tiberius was co-equal emperor by A.D. 12. And if Mommson's corrections are correct, A.D. 11. If this is the case, then what it says is that Luke is a very careful, and very specific historian, not a nebulous, round-about historian. When Luke writes 'about 30', he means within Christ's 30th year, not his 31st, or 32nd, or even his 29th. Luke was writing as an accurate and reliable historian to Theophilus a magistrate. His aim was not the nebulous, but the highly specific and highly accurate. Luke's one, single eyed aim in writing Luke-Acts was summarized in his proem to the narrative history:

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. - Luke 1:3-4
​

 

[MoreCoffee]

Thiele demonstrated that in later Judea it was the custom to mark years by accession/succession years and from the civil calendar. It stands to reason that Luke having learned the gospel from Jews, and referring back to the historical narrative of Matthew (a former Jewish tax collector with direct access to census records) would have followed the tradition of later Judean dating, as does Josephus. In fact, Luke no doubt finished his two volume historical narrative to Theophilus not 10 years before Josephus wrote his Wars.

Therefore, there is every historical reason to take Luke as referring to the entire time of Tiberius' reign as emperor. The fact is that Tiberius was co-equal emperor by A.D. 12. And if Mommson's corrections are correct, A.D. 11. If this is the case, then what it says is that Luke is a very careful, and very specific historian, not a nebulous, round-about historian. When Luke writes 'about 30', he means within Christ's 30th year, not his 31st, or 32nd, or even his 29th. Luke was writing as an accurate ad reliable historian to Theophilus a magistrate. His aim was not the nebulous, but the highly specific and highly accurate.

I do not buy it. What's written above is just manipulating numbers to arrive at dates that fit a theory about "seventy sevens" meaning 490 years. And I bet there's a whole bunch of other numbers cooking in the theory too; things like 2,300 and 1260 etcetera. All this sort of calculating was done by William Miller in the 19th century and by Jehovah's witnesses today as well as Seventh Day Adventists and all manner of Dispensationalists too. One would think that calculating dates from various numbers in Daniel & Revelation was a bad habit that christians gave up a long time ago but it seems not to be the case. Books like "The Coming Prince" have very little credibility as history or theology.

PS: One's 30th year is the year between one's 29th birthday and one's 30th birthday.Does that throw the calculations off?

PPS: By way of explanation; one's first year is from the day of one's birth until one's first birthday. Use that as the pattern and the ordinal numbers will make sense.

 

[Gideon]

And I bet there's a whole bunch of other numbers cooking in the theory too; things like 2,300 and 1260 etcetera. All this sort of calculating was done by William Miller ...

Hang on a bit Coff. Just because there have been manipulations in the past, does not mean that conservative scholars should not try to find precise dates concerning key Messianic prophecy.

The dates pertaining to Christ's ministry have been refined in recent years, and they do indeed count back to Artaxerxes first decree. The key date to this is the crucifixion - 7th April AD 30 - it is credible; it is provable. All other timelines swing off that date.

 

[1michael1]

I do not buy it. What's written above is just manipulating numbers to arrive at dates that fit a theory about "seventy sevens" meaning 490 years. And I bet there's a whole bunch of other numbers cooking in the theory too; things like 2,300 and 1260 etcetera. All this sort of calculating was done by William Miller in the 19th century and by Jehovah's witnesses today as well as Seventh Day Adventists and all manner of Dispensationalists too. One would think that calculating dates from various numbers in Daniel & Revelation was a bad habit that christians gave up a long time ago but it seems not to be the case. Books like "The Coming Prince" have very little credibility as history or theology.

PS: One's 30th year is the year between one's 29th birthday and one's 30th birthday.Does that throw the calculations off?

PPS: By way of explanation; one's first year is from the day of one's birth until one's first birthday. Use that as the pattern and the ordinal numbers will make sense.

A theory? Is God stating a theory or a fact in Leviticus 25 by calling 7 Sabbaths 49 years?

¶And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day (Leviticus 25:8-9)

​

Is this my theory, or is it God's own words? Did I invent the idea that 70 sabbaths of years would equate to 490, or did God already state as much in the Law?

 

[MoreCoffee]

A theory? Is God stating a theory or a fact in Leviticus 25 by calling 7 Sabbaths 49 years?

¶And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day (Leviticus 25:8-9)

​

Is this my theory, or is it God's own words? Did I invent the idea that 70 sabbaths of years would equate to 490, or did God already state as much in the Law?

It does say "sabbaths of years" but Daniel does not mention years at all. Hence the observation that Sir Robert Anderson's method is fanciful interpretation and bad theology.

 

[BABerean2]

The fact that Sir Robert Anderson had a friend named C.I. Scofield may have had an effect on his calculations.
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[Danoh]

A theory? Is God stating a theory or a fact in Leviticus 25 by calling 7 Sabbaths 49 years?

¶And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day (Leviticus 25:8-9)

​

Is this my theory, or is it God's own words? Did I invent the idea that 70 sabbaths of years would equate to 490, or did God already state as much in the Law?

There ya go - that's all that's needed - "Nevertheless, what saith the Scripture?" - Gal. 4:30.

Not overreliance on books, rather, on The Book

 

[1michael1]

It does say "sabbaths of years" but Daniel does not mention years at all. Hence the observation that Sir Robert Anderson's method is fanciful interpretation and bad theology.

God says in Leviticus 25:8

פרת לך שׁבע שׁבתת שׁנים שׁבע שׁנים שׁבע פעמים והיו לך ימי שׁבע שׁבתת השׁנים תשׁע וארבעים שׁנה׃

Then Gabriel says in Daniel 9:24

שׁבעים שׁבעים נחתך על־ עמך ׀ ועל־ עיר קדשׁך לכלא הפשׁעולחתםולהתםחטאותחטאת ולכפר עון ולהביא צדק עלמים ולחתם חזון ונביא ולמשׁח קדשׁ קדשׁים׃

​

So, when God says, 'Seven Sabbaths', He means 49 years.

But when Gabriel says, 'Seventy Sabbaths', he doesn't mean 490 years?

So Gabriel does not follow the language of God in the Torah?

And this is what makes me a bad theologian? Assuming that the Archangel Gabriel (who stands in the Presence of God) would use the same words to mean the same things as God?

Does Gabriel whimsically use his own terms in his own interpersonal ways?

I somehow don't think Gabriel would concur. Since he is an Archangel, whose very being is a Messenger of the DABAR, the Logos, the Word, I'm going to opt for the interpretation that he is precise in his usage and that he is speaking the very Language of God.
​

 

[Danoh]

It does say "sabbaths of years" but Daniel does not mention years at all. Hence the observation that Sir Robert Anderson's method is fanciful interpretation and bad theology.

Daniel 9:

2. In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

23. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
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.

In the spirit of the truth of 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

That is the spirit, or attitude, of what we are to build on and from...

Not Josephus, nor Darby, nor Gerstner, nor Stam, nor Stout, nor whomever else comes along tomorrow...

"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures" - Acts 17:2.