The Jews experienced a second major exile from the promised land in 70 AD when Jerusalem including the temple was completely destroyed by the Romans. This destruction and desolation were prophesied by Jesus and resulted in the Jewish population being scattered among the gentile nations. The duration of this exile was enumerated in prophetic form in Leviticus chapter 26.
Time From the Second Exile
The prophet Daniel said two things must happen after the 69 weeks (when Messiah comes) but before the final or 70th week. (Daniel 9:26) The Messiah would be cut off (crucified) and Jerusalem would be destroyed and desolated. Hence the “gap” or desolation of Jerusalem between the 69th and 70th weeks. This gap, then, constitutes the second exile of the Jews from their homeland, the first being the Babylonian exile. The Babylonian exile was for 70 years while the land enjoyed her sabbaths (2 Chron. 36:21). Since the 70th week is yet future, the question is: how long is this current exile to last? If we can determine that, we can determine when the last seven years prior to the coming Kingdom of Christ will start. Leviticus 26 gives us a clue. God, through Moses prophesied the first exile judgment if they would not obey Him (Lev. 26:14-17). This resulted in the first exile of 70 years. He then says in the next verse “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.” (Lev 26:18) This would mean 7 x 70 or 490 years. But God does not stop there. He adds a second “seven times more” in verse 21, a third in verse 24, and a fourth in verse 27. All this again so that the land could enjoy her sabbaths (verse 34). So, what does this add up to? 7 x 70 + 7 x 70 + 7 x 70 + 7 x 70 =1960 years total. The destruction and desolation of Jerusalem is well established to have occurred in 70 AD. Therefore adding 1960 to AD 70 comes to-you guessed it, 2030! However, note that under this calculation, the start of Jacob’s trouble (Daniel’s 70th week) begins in 2030. This would place the year of Jesus’ second coming in 2037. Of course, this assumes that the date for Jerusalem’s destruction of 70 AD is correct.
This scenario gives support to the previous two posts revealing a very similar “season” of Jesus’s return. My next post will give a fourth chronological clue confirming this timing.
Maranatha, Jim