A Transparent God through the Bible: Volume 2

Copyright © 2023 Anthony Lyle.

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Contents

A Living God Part 5 End of Days

Chapter 1 Summary of Kings

Chapter 2 Summary of Prophets

Chapter 3 Persia, the Bear of Daniel

Chapter 4 Greece, the Leopard of Daniel

Chapter 5 Rome, the Terrible Beast of Daniel

Chapter 6 Age of Christ Followers or the Church

A Living God Part 6 End of Days

Chapter 1 End of Days

Chapter 2 Restoration of Israel

Chapter 3 Wrath of God (Last Yovel):

A Living God Part 7 End of Time

Chapter 1 End of Time

Appendix 1 Rulers and Leaders

Appendix 2 Prediction, Prophecy, Types, Images

Appendix 3 Lists

Appendix 4 Timelines

Bibliography

Index

A Living God Part 5 End of Days

Chapter 1

Summary of Kings

Abbreviations used:

Format of Dates: (Version) YYYY.MM.DD (Time Abbrev.), DDD DT or JC, Day of Week;

253 Summary of Period of Kings: The period of kings goes from the year that Israel requested a human king from Samuel, rejecting HaShem as their king until the destruction of Jerusalem. This becomes the period of sin for Israel which terminates when the Temple and Jerusalem are burned down and Judah becomes exile to Babylon (430 years).

Chapter 2

Summary of Prophets

254 Summary of the Period of Prophets: Samuel was not called a judge. He was a traveling judge mostly during the time of Eli as Kohen Gadol and judge over Israel. Eli died on the very day that the Ark was captured by the Philistines and this ended the period of the Judges. Samuel in effect was not the last judge of the Period of judges, but was the first prophet of the Period of Prophets which ran parallel to the Period of the Kings. He was a prophet for 40 years, and Jeremiah is the last prophet of the Period of Prophets for 40 years. The symmetry is apparent.

While a list of judges and kings is made apparent in the Books of Joshua through II Kings and II Chronicles, prophets are not so easily determined. There are a few unnamed prophets or men of God throughout. Samuel is declared, Amos, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. There are prophets before and after this period. Abraham was a prophet, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Isaiah, Micah, and many minor prophets, and going into Ezekiel and Daniel who are Post-Exile prophets. The Period of Prophets is not easily defined. Prophets of Israel were existent from Abraham’s call by HaShem when Abraham was still in the city of Ur (dated 2078 A.T. by using MT dating) to Daniel (who carries us up to Yeshua Messiah if we count Daniel’s 490 years). Then we have the Apostle John who revealed the last days through his revelation.

255 Ezekiel 29:17 Year 27 of Nebuchadnezzar: Tyre is taken. The land of Egypt is given to Babylon in year 29 of Rameses. The sword will come upon Egypt and Ethiopia. Nebuchadnezzar exiles another 745 people from Judah and then heads to Tyre where he begins a 13 year siege against Tyre.

256 Daniel 4; Seder Olam 24 Egypt Year 28 of Nebuchadnezzar Year 34 of Rameses: Nebuchadnezzar subdues Egypt: (Seder Olam) And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates." 2 Kings 24:7.

Jeremiah and Ezekiel both agree that Nebuchadnezzar comes and sits on the throne of Ramesses. Egypt was taken away and this begins the 40 years of Egyptian exile as predicted by Ezekiel 29. Velikovsky believes that this was the time of the treaty between them and the marriage of Ramesses’ daughter with Hattusilis \ Nebuchadnezzar. This event should be dated earlier as this event took place just before the siege of Jerusalem as part of the treaty was that Egypt would not come to the aid of Jerusalem.

During the next dynasty of Egypt, Ramesses III makes a reference of the overthrow of Egypt. A tablet from the rule of Ramesses III indicates that Israel is laid waste and is not. This specifically places the time of Ramesses III after the fall of Jerusalem. For the remainder of his years, Nebuchadnezzar spent building up the splendor of Babylon. As a favor for his Median wife, Amyitis, the daughter of Astyages, he made the famous gardens borne on pillars. It is known as the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon and this is attested to by Berossus.

256.01 Ezekiel 40 Year 25 of captivity and year 14 after fall of Jerusalem: This is not taking year 25 of captivity of Ezekiel and Daniel, but the captivity of Jehoiachin ben Josiah. This turns out to be 14 years after Jerusalem fell and is the same as year 34 of Nebuchadnezzar by Daniel \ Ezekiel count.

A man with the appearance of solid brass with a measuring rod stood before Ezekiel. The new Temple is measured and described. The Prince shall have an allotment in the city (45:7). The Shekinah Glory returns to the Temple. This takes place after the Church / Bride of Yeshua and the return of Yeshua. The tribes of Israel will have a new allotment.

257 Year 43 of Nebuchadnezzar by Jeremiah count: Egyptian / Libyan war: Merneptah has to defend against Libya. Nebuchadnezzar was in his last years and it might be during his time of mental illness, so he did not offer support to Egypt. The reliefs of Merneptah show Merneptah in battle with Persians. This again, attests to a much later date for this dynasty than conventionally given. His army was so devastated that they revolted and Merneptah was captured and taken away. Amasis succeeded him and ruled for 43 years.

Amasis was immediately defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, verifying that Amasis ruled for a short time during the time of Nebuchadnezzar. Cyrus married the daughter of Merneptah, captive of Amasis and the son of Ramesses II. This resulted in the birth of Cambyses, son of Cyrus and an Egyptian princess. Cambyses used this later to claim the throne of Egypt during the Persian rule. At this time, Cyrus was still a young general under Darius the Mede.

258 Babylon: Year 37 of Exile of Jehoiachin: Nebuchadnezzar dies: (Seder Olam) why does one verse say the 25th day and the other verse say the 27th? It was on the 25th that Nebuchadnezzar died and was buried. On the 26th, Evil-merodach had him dug up and dragged through the streets. This was a custom to show the people that all of Nebuchadnezzar’s decrees were annulled at his death. This fulfilled what is written: But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch… Isaiah 14:19

He died early in this year and this became year 1 of Amel Merodach. It is believed that Cyrus and Astyages did battle with Amel Merodach and drove the Assyrians / Babylonians from the borders of Media / Persia. Cyrus was about 16 years old at the time.

Jehoiachin is released at the very end of this year, on the 25th day of Adar. From this point on, Jehoiachin was no longer considered a prisoner. He ate at the king’s table in Babylon as Daniel did. James Ussher places this year as the first year of Croesus of Lydia (2 years earlier than the conventional date).

In Tyre, Baal had died and Babylon began to appoint judges to rule over Tyre as vassals to Babylon. See Appendix 1 Table 63 Kings of Tyre. Nergal-shar-usur murdered Amel Marduk and began to rule over Babylon after Amel Marduk. Nergal ruled for 2 years. James Ussher gives him 4 years, but most historians give him 6 to 7 years. With some of the confusion, the only known times of the rule are for Nebuchadnezzar and for the last one Belshazzar that can be verified by the Bible. Belshazzar was in his third year when he saw the handwriting on the wall.

Date of Nebuchadnezzar’s death: 3399 A.T. (MT); 4735 A.M. (LXX); Estimated Gregorian Date: 565 B.C.; Hebrew Date: 3364 A.M.; James Ussher: 3442 A.M. (562 B.C.); Frank Klassen: 3414 A.M. (561 B.C.); Floyd Nolan Jones: 3443 A.M. (561 B.C.); Jehoiachin’s Exile: year 37 (last year); Rome Date: 189 A.U.C.; Year of Abraham: 1391 A. Ab.; Nebuchadnezzar: year 45 of rule.

258.01 Lydia: In Lydia, Aesop, who wrote the fables, was visiting Croesus, who was said to be a very wise man. Many from Athens and Greece came to see him to hear his wisdom. Aesop was unjustly sentenced to die for some unknown reason and was thrown off the cliffs on the rocks of the sea. Croesus saw the death of his son by a spear, and trying to ward off the portent, he sent Atys to live with a friend. While Atys and his friend were boar hunting, the friend accidently pierced Atys with the spear. Croesus was later defeated by Cyrus, ending the Lydian Dynasty.

258.02 China: In China, Lao-Tse began to the Taoist philosophy.

259 I Esdras 2; II Chronicles 36; Ezra 1 Persia: Cyrus: Cyrus co-ruled over the Media / Persia dynasty with Darius the Mede. Cyrus was already a growing power, having beaten Babylon back from his borders after Nebuchadnezzar died. Cyrus was prophesied by Nebuchadnezzar on his deathbed to be the mule of Persia who would bring them into subjection. He began to rule at the age of 40 and lived to the age of 70 (559 – 529 B.C.). Cyrus was also prophesied by Isaiah over 100 years before his birth to be the destroyer of the Babylon Empire (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1). Cyrus, in Persian, means the sun. Another prophesy of Cyrus was that he would rule for 30 years. The II Chronicles reference must be against year 1 of rule of Cyrus as sole-rex ruler after Darius the Great died. The actual rule of 30 years of Cyrus begins in his co-rex rule with Darius the Mede.

He proclaims that the people who came from Judah can return and re-build Jerusalem. Cyrus returned the items of the Temple to the people. Sanabasar was appointed by Cyrus as governor of Jerusalem. See Appendix 1 Table 97 Part 2 Persian Kings and Table 97 Part 3.

The founder of the Persian Empire. The name is also found in India as Kurus, and is evidently Aryan. The translation sun given by Ctesias (in Müller’s edition of Didot’s Herodotus, fragment 29, 49) is due to a confusion with a Persian word, which appears in Zend as huare. Cyrus is the son of a Persian named Cambyses and of Mandane, daughter of the Median king Astyages.

The neighboring kingdoms soon became aware that the new state was more dangerous than the old one, united to them as the latter had been by means of treaties and dynastic alliances. Thus it came about that a powerful coalition was formed against Cyrus by Babylonia, Egypt, Lydia, and Sparta. The attack was commenced by Crœsus of Lydia in 546; but Cyrus anticipated his adversaries, and before their armies could unite, he defeated Crœsus and took him captive in his own capital, Sardis (546). In the following year the generals of Crœsus completed the subjugation of Asia Minor.

Cyrus and his Persians, like Darius at a later period, were faithful believers in the pure doctrine of Zoroaster, and disdainfully regarded foreign cults and that they had the consciousness of a superior religious belief, and relied upon the protection of Ahuramazda, the great god who had created heaven, earth, and man, and had placed the world at the feet of the Achæmenian kings. In a political sense, however, they were compelled to reckon with the religions of the subjugated peoples.

On the first day of the year, Nisan 1 (March 20), 538 B.C.E., in conformity with Babylonian custom, he grasped the hands of the golden statue of Bel-Marduk, and thus became consecrated as monarch. From this ceremony dates the first year of his reign as King of Babylon, King of all the Lands. (Jewish Encyclopedia).

259.01 Darius the Mede: Immediately following the death of Belshazzar the Chaldean king in Oct. 539 B.C.E., Darius the Mede is said to have received the kingdom (Dan 5:31) having been made king over the realm of the Chaldeans (9:1) by Cyrus the Great (1:21; 6:28). He is best remembered for the unalterable decree which his officers tricked him into signing, which resulted in Daniel being cast into a den of lions. In contrast to Nebuchadnezzar, this ruler was helpless to reverse his own decree, vividly illustrating the inferiority of the silver kingdom of Medio-Persia to the golden kingdom of Babylon in the matter of royal sovereignty. Compare Daniel 3:29; Esther 1:19; 8:8, and the testimony of Diodorus Siculus (17: 30), that Darius III (335-331) wanted to free a man he had condemned, but realized that it was not possible to undo what was done by royal authority.

259.02 Book of Ezra: The ancestry of Ezra is given (KJ 7:1) Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, {7:2} The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, {7:3} The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, {7:4} The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, {7:5} The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest. This made Ezra a qualified Kohen Gadol scribe to read the Law.

Ezra covers the events from Cyrus up to his reading of the law at the wall of Jerusalem (3367 A.T by MT dating, 397 B.C.E.). The Kohen Gadol at the time of Ezra, at the exact time that Ezra read the law at the wall, was Jonathan, the grandson of the Kohen Gadol of Nehemiah, Zerubbabel.

(KJ – Ezra) {1:2} Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, the LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. {1:3} who [is there] among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he [is] the God,) which [is] in Jerusalem. {1:4} And whosoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that [is] in Jerusalem. The Decree of Cyrus as told by Ezra 1. The number that went up to Judah was just over 50,000 who settled into Judah in month 7. From Day 1 of month 7 (Tishrei 1 = Rosh Hashanah) they offered the burnt offering in year 1 of their return. This decree also applied to many of the nation’s surrounding Israel. The Sidonians were returned along with Moab and the Ammonites.

In year 2 in month 2 the priests were appointed to the work of the new Temple. Then the surrounding nations offered help, but their motive was to detain the rebuilding of the Temple. They wrote letters to Artaxerxes (Cambyses). Cambyses stopped the building of the new Temple.

The reference to Ezra against Artaxerxes is not about Artaxerxes I of the decree, but rather the Artaxerxes II who followed Darius II (historians have added the I, II, and III). Ezra did not make known of the difference between Artaxerxes I and Artaxerxes II. Careful counting of the years will reveal that Ezra read the law 49 years after the decree of Artaxerxes I. This is relevant to the first 7 weeks of Daniel. There is no other way to mark the 49 week period besides Ezra reading the law (Daniels first 7 weeks). HaShem gave a transparent means of determining when the count of Daniel began.

Ezra 4:6: In the reign of Cambyses (Ahasuerus) the adversaries wrote a letter complaining about the Jews. The letter accused them of rebellion against Persia. Cambyses ordered the building to stop. The building stopped until year 2 of Darius I.

Darius the Mede dies soon after the event of the Lion’s den and Cyrus becomes sole-rex ruler of Persia\Media. The decree of Cyrus (II Chronicles 36:22; Ezra 1-2) was the first decree and announced the return of the exiles to the land of Judah and Israel. The vessels of the Temple were returned to the land. This decree applied to many other nations as well, but the importance in history was the affect it had on the exiles of Israel (Judeans).

The decree of Cyrus took place in the same year as the fall of Babylon, or the first year of Cyrus from the perspective of Daniel. The temple was not repaired completely because of the surrounding peoples who had also returned who harassed the builders continually until the second decree of Darius I (Ezra 3-4).

Clarence Larkin believes that the decree of Daniel must be from the decree of Artaxerxes (year 12) to Nehemiah to build the wall takes us past the crucifixion. He then goes through convoluted calculations involving the 360 / 365 days per year to show how the 483 years are only 445 years. This is false. It is impossible to count days in the new calendars since 715 B.C. and this is by HaShem’s design. Larkin does admit that at the time of the Crucifixion, Yeshua is still a Prince, not yet having received His Kingdom.

In month 7 after the decree, the Jews (remnant of Judeans) have resettled Judah and begun building. By year 2 of Cyrus, in month 2, Iyyar, the foundation of the Temple had been laid (Ezra 3). From this moment on, the work gets stopped when other nations report the Jews for planning to assign their own king (Ezra 4).

Ezra recounts the events from Cyrus on to his reading of the law at the wall of Jerusalem. Where II Chronicles leaves off, Ezra continues with the history of the Jews until his own days when he reads the law. A careful look at the book will reveal that Ezra is merely recapping what happened from the time of Cyrus on to his time as the scribe who reads the law. Many have interpreted his book as events he lived through.

Ezra arrives in Jerusalem in month 5 of year 7 of Artaxerxes II. It took him 5 months to get there from Babylon (Ezra 7). The letter he took with him was not a decree to rebuild but permission to go up to Jerusalem and take moneys from the king’s treasury. They departed on day 12 of month 1 of year 8 of Artaxerxes (Ezra 8:31). They discover the men had intermarried. In month 9 on day 20 they got together and they sat down on month 10 day 1 to consider the matter. They had given away their foreign wives by day 1 of month 1 of year 9 of Artaxerxes II (Ezra 10:17)

The Kohen Gadol at the time of Ezra, at the exact time that Ezra read the law at the wall, was Jonathan, the grandson of the Eliashib the Kohen Gadol of Nehemiah, Zerubbabel. This is why Ezra could not have read the law in the days of Artaxerxes I. The reference to Ezra against Artaxerxes is not about Artaxerxes I of the decree, but rather the Artaxerxes II who followed Darius II. Careful counting of the years will reveal that Ezra read the law 49 years after the decree of Artaxerxes I. This is relevant to the first 7 weeks of Daniel. There is no other way to mark the 49 week period besides the event of Ezra reading the law. This requires that the Book of Ezra follow Nehemiah, not precede it as is historically believed. This is an error that is even believed by the Hebrew historians. See Appendix 4 Timeline 7 Persia.

Chapter 3

Persia, the Bear of Daniel

260 Daniel 5 Belshazzar of Babylon: He ruled alongside Nabonidus for a short time. Some say they co-ruled the entire 3 years of Belshazzar. George Roux believes that Belshazzar ruled for 17 years. Daniel tells us that the hand writing on the wall took place in year 3 of Belshazzar and this was his last night to rule before Cyrus and Darius the Mede took the city of Babylon by stealth.

260.01 Daniel 7 Year 1 of Belshazzar Vision of the Beasts: (KJ-Daniel) {7:1} in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, [and] told the sum of the matters. {7:2} Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. {7:3} and four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. {7:4} the first [was] like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. {7:5} and behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. {7:6} after this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. {7:7} after this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns. Behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

(MTJ) "|11| I was beholding from (the time of) the voice of the arrogant words which the keren [Anti-Moshiach] spoke, I was beholding even till the Chayyah (Beast) was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning eish (fire)." He took away the power of the first kingdoms.

This vision is a repeat of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden man. This is the second time for the prediction of the coming kingdoms which as Joseph points out in Genesis to the Pharaoh, a prediction given twice means that HaShem has confirmed the coming events. The beasts depicted of the coming kingdoms is from HaShem’s perspective, while Nebuchadnezzar’s image of the man in gold, silver, brass and iron is from man’s perspective of the coming kingdoms. See Illustration 260 Future times of Gentiles by 4 prophets.

The bear was raised up on one side (meaning it was a dual kingdom (Media and Persia) but one was more powerful than the other. The 3 ribs in his teeth were 3 defeated kingdoms by Persia.

The leopard was fast. Alexander the Great came to power and he destroyed and conquered quickly. He over ran the Persians, Egyptians, and Babylonians in short time. When he died, his kingdom was divided into four kingdoms (4 wings on the back).

The terrible beast had iron teeth and represents the Roman Empire. It had 10 horns. The 10 horns are similar to the 10 toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream image and was made of iron and clay. The little horn is the last rule of the Anti-Christ. This kingdom destroyed 3 of the 10 kingdoms and became the last ruling nation before the Coming of Christ. It had eyes and a mouth speaking great things, such as when Lucifer spoke his 5 I wills in Isaiah. After the little horn came the Ancient of Days. The beast was slain and his body was destroyed. The Ancient of Days is not Christ, as following the Ancient of Days, came the Son of Man (the Christ). He was given dominion that would not pass away and His kingdom would not be destroyed. The little horn made war with the saints before the beast was slain. The saints will be given to the hand of the little horn for 3 and 1\2 years. He will seek to change the times and laws. The Ancient of Days is God Almighty.

The last 2 kingdoms were on the terrible beast with the 10 horns. The final kingdom was called the Little Horn. Clarence Larkin agrees that this vision is a duplicate of the image of Nebuchadnezzar with the exception that it is from the perspective of HaShem concerning the last empires.

260.02 Daniel 8 Year 3 of Belshazzar: This vision of Daniel took place in year 3 of Belshazzar of Babylon, just before the time of the writing on the wall during the banquet. The vision no longer included Babylon. Gabriel the angel helped Daniel to understand the first vision of the ram and goat (Daniel 8), the goat being Alexander the Great. A note of interest is that the national symbol of Alexander the Great was the goat. More important than the goat and the ram was that Daniel received more information about the final ruler in the End of Days.

The ram is the king of the Medes and had 2 horns (1 representing Persia and was higher than the other horn), and the goat is the King of Greece, Alexander the Great. The goat with 1 horn rammed the Ram. He came from the west (Greece) and ran into the ram. The 2 horns of the ram were broken.

From the one great horn of the goat, come 4 smaller horns, which are the kingdoms that follow Alexander after he died. A little horn came from one of the 4 horns and moved against the south. This horn rules at the end of days and even conquers some of the host (angels). He magnified himself in the Temple and he trampled the daily sacrifice. The time of the vision to the transgression of the desolation (when the Anti-Christ sets up his image in the Temple) is 2300 days (years).

If this equals actual days then this is equal to 6 and 1\3 years in actual days. This must concern the Anti-Christ as Satan is cast out of heaven after 1260 days.

The vision skips time to the end of days, where the new king will be fierce. Often the little horn is interpreted to be Antiochus Epiphanes. The little horn doesn’t come to power until the latter days of these kingdoms in the end of days. The four kingdoms of Greece will be revived in the end of days. This is already true at the time of this writing. Egypt, Greece, Iraq (Syria), and Thrace (Turkey) have been restored in the last 100 years as nations recognized by the United Nations.

One of the nations will bring forth a king who is bold and understanding riddles. His power will be great and he shall destroy greatly the mighty men and holy people (this no longer just concerns just the Jews, but all believers of HaShem and HaMaschiach.) He will magnify himself in his own heart. He will stand against the Ruler of Rulers or Prince of Princes (Christ) but he will be broken without a human hand. (He will be cast down by HaShem, not by humans).

Alexander enters the Temple of Solomon (this is the rebuilt Temple of Darius I) and sets up his statue there. The Hebrew priest, Simon explained that this would be disagreeable and suggested that all males born that year be named after Alexander. This take place in 334 B.C. This is 2300 years before the capture of Jerusalem by the Jews in 1967 A.D. Daniel 8:14 indicates that the transgression that caused the appalment shall last 2300 days (2400 in the LXX). From the time of the idol in the Temple, until the recapture of Jerusalem by Israel in the end of days (1967 A.D) is exactly 2300 years. The year 1967 A.D. starts the last 70 years of restoration for the Jews.

In Hebrew chronology, this begins the count of Minyan Shtarot which started on Tishrei I of 3449 A.M. This is likely when the Hebrew calendar began to count the year from Tishrei 1 instead of Nissan 1.

The angel Gabriel gives Daniel the interpretation of the vision.

260.03 Daniel 5; II Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 25 Year 3 of Belshazzar: Belshazzar was throwing a huge banquet in celebration that the Persians could not break through the walls of Babylon. When no one could interpret the words on the wall, the queen mother told him about Daniel who came to interpret. Daniel was about 90 years old at this time. (KJ) {5:18} O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor. Nebuchadnezzar was referred to as Belshazzar’s father, although historically, there several kings before him. If Nebuchadnezzar was his father, as Daniel claims then Belshazzar was born late in Nebuchadnezzar’s life. Nebuchadnezzar died 26 years before Belshazzar came to power. Belshazzar might have been about 30 making it reasonable that he was either a son or grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. The queen was probably his mother.

The handwriting was: (KJ) {5:25} and this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and UPHARSIN. {5:26} this [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. {5:27} TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. {5:28} PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

Mene is numbered, Strong’s 4484 (passive participle). It is repeated meaning that the counting has been confirmed by HaShem.

Tekel is to be weighed. Strong’s 8625.

The MT has Peres as split up and given to the Persians, Strong’s 6537.

(MTJ) |30| in that night was Belshatzar the king of the Kasdim slain. |5:31(6:1)| And Daryavesh (Darius) the Mede took the malchut (kingdom), being about 62 years old.

As predicted by Jeremiah, the fall of Babylon came 70 years after the fall of Judah (609 B.C.E.). The fall took place in 539 B.C.E. Babylon wasn’t destroyed. Nor was it destroyed in the days of Alexander the Great. Isaiah 13:9 indicates that it will not be destroyed until the day of the Lord. Darius and Cyrus lay siege, but they couldn’t break through the thick walls of Babylon. They determine to use the canal to sneak their soldiers inside during the night. This was the exact same night that Belshazzar was throwing a feast in celebration that the Persians would not be able to conquer Babylon (Daniel).

The handwriting appeared mysteriously and Belshazzar promised Daniel riches to interpret. Daniel refused the riches as he knew that Belshazzar would never be able to keep his promise. Later that night, Cyrus and Darius took the city without a single shot fired. Babylon soldiers surrendered to them without resistance. Clarence Larkin believes that the queen was the widow of Nabonidus, an older woman who remembered Daniel from earlier days of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was proclaimed to be the third ruler next to Belshazzar and Nabonidus.

Larkin believes that it was 3 days before the Babylonians even knew that the city had been taken by the Persians. Babylon wasn’t destroyed. George Roux believes that Nebuchadrezzar (not same as Nebuchadnezzar) was appointed as king of Babylon by Cyrus. He rebelled at the death of Cambyses and was routed by Darius I in 521 B.C.

Daniel says that it was Darius the Mede who killed Belshazzar in the night. Darius was 62 years old. Daniel was appointed as one of the governors of the Persian kingdom. (Seder Olam) Why does this verse mention Darius was 62 years old? This shows that on the day Nebuchadnezzar entered the Temple of the LORD, when Jehoiachin was reigning in Judah, his arch-enemy Darius was born.

Illustration 260 Future times of Gentiles by 4 prophets:

There are 3 very important decrees given. Clarence Larkin believes that there are 4 such decrees to take into consideration, but one of them is nothing more than a letter of permission granted to Ezra (458 B.C.). It is often debated as to which of these 3 decrees are relative to the final vision of Daniel (70 Weeks). All 3 decrees are relative to the history of the Jews. Without all 3 decrees, the fulfillment of the predictions of HaShem through Jeremiah and Daniel would not be clearly defined and the transparency of HaShem would be contradicted.

The restoration of the Jews (Valley of Dry Bones of Ezekiel) will mirror the 70 year exiles during the end times. The second 70 year period of exile (from the destruction of Jerusalem to the rebuilding the temple) is also a mirror of the first 75 years of Jewish history (Abraham’s years before his call). The 70 year exile mirrors the time before the call of Abraham when Abraham served other gods. The Jews served other gods during this time of exile. The 5 year period of the restoration of the temple mirrors the 5 years between the Brit Bein HaBetarim (call of Abraham in Ur) to the Entry into Canaan 5 years later. From the birth of Abraham to the restoration of the second temple is exactly 1440 years. The number 1440 is equal to 12 * 120. This number relates back to both Noah and Moses. None of this requires any complicated formulas or counting days or converting 365 year days into 360 year days. The numbers are straightforward. It might be added that the corrected chronology came before these intricate patterns of God were found. The chronology was not corrected to make it fit as often is done by historians.

The decree of Cyrus (II Chronicles 36:22; Ezra 1-2) was the first decree and announced the return of the exiles to the land of Judah and Israel. The vessels of the Temple were returned to the land. This decree applied to many other nations as well, but the importance in history was the affect it had on the exiles of Israel. The decree of Cyrus took place in the same year as the fall of Babylon, or the first year of Cyrus from the perspective of Daniel and ended the first 70 year exile of Judah (not Jerusalem). The temple was not repaired completely because of the surrounding peoples who had also returned who harassed the builders continually until the second decree of Darius I (Ezra 3-4). Clarence Larkin believes that the decree of Daniel must be from the decree of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah to build the wall takes us past the crucifixion.

Table 260 Decrees of Persia concerning the Jews:

It is believed, mostly due to the placing of the book before Nehemiah, that Ezra takes place chronologically before Nehemiah. This is an error that is even believed by the Hebrew historians. A careful look at the book will reveal that Ezra is merely recapping what happened from the time of Cyrus on to his time as the scribe who reads the law. The Kohen Gadol at the time of Ezra, at the exact time that Ezra read the law at the wall, was Jonathan, the grandson of the Kohen Gadol of Nehemiah, Zerubbabel. It isn’t possible for many reasons that Jonathan was Kohen before his grandfather. Another look will show that the reference to Ezra against Artaxerxes is not about Artaxerxes I of the decree, but rather the Artaxerxes II who followed Darius II. Careful counting of the years will reveal that Ezra read the law 49 years after the decree of Artaxerxes I. This is relevant to the first 7 weeks of Daniel. There is no other way to mark the 49 week period besides Ezra reading the law. Historians have puzzled over the 7 week break from the next 62 week break in the 70 weeks of Daniel. Ezra is the key to that understanding. He reads the law in the exact forty-ninth year of Daniel’s 490 years. This requires that the Book of Ezra follow Nehemiah.

The vision of the 70 weeks of Daniel is extremely important to the understanding about the coming Messiah. This vision took place after the decree of Cyrus, not before. This decree also took place after the Decree of Darius I to restore the Temple, as this has already passed as well. Daniel (9-12) was praying for the fulfillment of Jeremiah. Since the decree of Cyrus had already taken place and ended the 70 year exile from Israel, it brings up the question of why Daniel was praying after the fact. The second part of Jeremiah’s prediction had not yet been fulfilled. It will end with the decree of Darius I. Daniel says clearly that he was contemplating the calculations of Jeremiah from the ruin of Jerusalem.

The 70 weeks concerns the final punishment of the Jews. Even after being exiled for 70 years, they were still worshipping other gods and doing things against the Laws of HaShem. This period is the 7 times the punishment for the Jews. Seven times 70 is equal to 490. This was now required for the punishment of the Jews to bring them back to HaShem. This is the reason for the 490 year period. The 490 years has no relationship to the former period of the history of the Jews, the 3 periods of 430 years. The 490 years is a time of punishment that will be complete just before the Second Coming of the Messiah at the last year (the Tribulation). By the time of Yeshua’s Olivet Discourse, the 69 weeks were almost over and He was discussing how the city would be destroyed in the near future after His own death (Mark 24; Luke 21). Yeshua mentions that the city would be trodden until the Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The wording of Gabriel to Daniel is that the first 49 years (7 weeks) would refer to the building of the city in troublesome times. These troubles are outlined in Ezra and Nehemiah. The book of Ezra ends with Ezra reading the law exactly 49 years after the decree of Artaxerxes I, and during the time of Artaxerxes II. Following this would be a time period of 62 weeks or 434 years. This time period leads right up to the crucifixion of Yeshua in 4000 A.T. or 37 A.D. (37 A.D. is not the conventional time of his crucifixion, but it will be shown that this is the correct year according to Tiberius and Pontus Pilate). The last week comes after the crucifixion, but there is a distinct space of time between week 69 and week 70. The last week takes place just before the Second Coming of Yeshua.

260.04 Daniel 6 Year 1 of Darius the Mede: The first action of the wise men of Persia was to make sure that Daniel died. His reputation was already well known, and he was already placed at the head of Darius’ table. They feared Daniel’s wisdom and his capabilities. The event of the den of lions took place soon after the fall of Babylon and while Daniel was in Persia.

It is plain from the story in Daniel that Darius took an immediate liking to Daniel, now an old man of around 90-92 years old. When the angels shut the mouths of the lions, Darius was relieved and then understanding the deception had the accusers thrown into the pit. The lions immediately charged and killed the men and their families. Shortly after this, Darius the Mede died, leaving Cyrus as the sole-ruler of Persia. Darius was not angry with Daniel for Daniel’s bowing down to the Lord. He was angrier at himself for allowing himself to be deceived and at the deceivers who tricked him.

An apocryphal book, Bel, tells how Daniel revealed the falseness of the Persian priests to Darius, by placing powder down around the idols when sacrificial food was placed out for the idols. The priests had a secret door by which they were stealing the food to make it look like the false idol was eating the food. Another story of Daniel was how he defeated a dragon by feeding it pitch and straw so that when it blew fire, it destroyed itself. The people, mainly the priests, were angry at Daniel for proving the falsity of their gods and destroying their gods.

It is often taught in modern seminaries that Daniel is the prophet of the Gentiles. This is an error. Daniel’s own visions concerned the kingdoms to come in reference to the Jews. It even states in Daniel that the visions concerned his people. Daniel’s people were Jews (having been called Jews since the last kings of Judah) not Gentiles and in the future, his people were those who followed Christ (Messianic Believers). The first half of the book (concerning the visions of Nebuchadnezzar) is written in Arabic and this portion is HaShem’s message concerning the future of the gentiles.

261 Daniel 10-11 Month 1 Day 24 Year 3 of Cyrus by Daniel and Ezra’s count: This vision took place right after the Week of Passover. Gabriel tells Daniel about the coming years during the time of the Greece Kingdom, after 3 powerful kings of Persia. There were more kings of Persia, but they are not included in this revelation to Daniel. It was this skipped time period that caused the Hebrew chronology to be over 160 years short in years. In the Seder Olam as the following Persian Kings are not included in the Seder Olam. (Seder Olam) The three rulers that come after Darius the Mede are: Cyrus (should be Cambyses) Ahasurerus (should be Smerdis) Darius I, who built the Temple. The fourth, who is far richer than they all, is the fourth king of Media. The last one is Xerxes who was the richest king of Persia.

Their total original history is 202 years short of actual time, a big part due to this time of the Persians. This also caused them to miscalculate the coming of the Messiah. They did not think it was time for the Messiah when Yeshua came to be. The year 2023 C.E. is equal to 5986 A.T. against the Hebrew year 5783 A.M.

The fact that it took 21 days for Gabriel to get to Daniel because the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia hindered him. This shows the warfare going on in the angelic realm. (10:13)

There are many interpretations about the King of the North and the King of the South, most of them dealing with the Ptolemys and Antiochus rulers of Egypt and Syria. After the King of the North returns to his lands, the vision skips about 1900 years of history and goes to the last king of the North. This king will attack at the end of the times and even of years! At this time, the King of the South will be destroyed. This refers to modern Egypt which will be destroyed just before the final End of Days. This takes place just before the final Week of Tribulation or the Seventieth Week of Daniel.

This king of the North will cause many to stumble in the last days, even the elect of the wise. All the nations of ancient Palestine, including Edom and Ammon, will fall to this king and the land of Israel will fall as well. It is at this time in the vision of Daniel that the numbers of 1290 and 1335 come to apply to the history, first of the Hebrews of Abraham and then of the Gentiles. The 1290 is the number applied to his (Daniel’s) people. This is the total number of years of the main history of the Abraham’s descendents through Isaac (Period of Patriarchs, Period of Judges, and the Period of the Kings). The 1335 is added to this for the Times of the Gentiles to get the number of years from the Image of Nebuchadnezzar until the time of Ezekiel’s Valley of Dry Bones (2625 years). While this appears to apply to the gentiles, it actually applies to the time when the Jews are dispersed due to their punishment.

The following is the interpretation of Clarence Larkin for the kings of the north and the south of Daniel 10-12: "(1, 2): The four kings to follow are Cambyses, Pseudo Smerdis, Darius, and Xerxes. The fourth king is Xerxes who brought great wars against Greece. The numbers of soldiers and the amount of money that Xerxes threw at the Greeks is famous throughout history. Verses 11:3-4 jump from Xerxes over 150 years to Alexander the Great. It isn’t that the following kings of Persian don’t exist (as in Hebrew Chronology), but rather that they are not important to this prophecy. The four winds go back to the four horns that followed the goat’s broken single horn. This prophecy narrows down to only 2 of the 4 kingdoms that follow Alexander, the 2 kingdoms on either side of the Glorious Land (Palestine and Israel).

Seleucus was driven from Babylon but with the help of Ptolemy, he got it back and was actually stronger than Ptolemy himself (11:5). Ptolemy Philadelphus offered his daughter Berenice to marry Antiochus and thus secured peace. After he died, she could not retain the strength and Antiochus returned to his first wife, putting Berenice away (11:6). (Note: The MTJ has at the end of some years, but the King James says at the end of years which implies the end of days. The LXX has at the end of his years.) The brother of Berenice (Eugenes) came against Syria, too late to save her, but he defeated Syria and thus revenged his sister’s death (11:7-8). (Note: Out of her shall come one who stands up with an army and he will take many back to Egypt). The sons (of the North) were stirred up and came against the King of the South (all the way to Gaza) (Note: They raise a great army to go against Egypt) (11:9-10). Ptolemy Philopater came against Syria and defeated them (11:11-12). There was a peace between them for 13 years while Antiochus put together an even larger army than before (11:13).

The robbers were the Jews that betrayed their own brethren with Egypt against Antiochus. They did harm to their brethren at this time (11:14). In order to conquer Egypt, he had to first conquer Israel (under the domination of Egypt at that time). He did that but by that time, Egypt had called in the help of Rome and so Antiochus changed his tactics and gave his daughter (daughter of women) Cleopatra to Ptolemy for a wife. (11:15-19). He corrupted his daughter so she would aid him, but instead, Cleopatra aided her husband (17). He went against Rome (the isles) in his anger, and lost and so he was no more.

Seleucus, his son, was known as the raiser of taxes (11:20). He was poisoned so he did not die in battle. Antiochus Epiphanes stood up in his place. He started up by flatteries and conspiracies. Demetrius was the rightful heir, so the honor of the kingdom did not belong to Antiochus. He deposed Onias III of the Jewish High Priest and then broke the league that he had with Attalus and made a new deal with Rome (acting deceitfully). He met his great army against Egypt’s great army and he captured Ptolemy. Ptolemy’s brother was declared king. Antiochus tried to defeat Alexandria, but he failed. The two kings, Antiochus and Ptolemy sat at the same table with lies to each other. Antiochus used the revolt of Jason of the Jews to invade and he committed a blasphemous act in the Holy Temple and carried off the treasure (2 Mac 5:11, Dan 11:21-32). He was again subdued by the Romans and there a circle was drawn around him as to whether he would succumb to the Romans or they would defeat him. He succumbed but turned against the Jews in his anger and persecuted them to severe numbers. At this time, he committed the Abomination in the Temple (11:30, 164 B.C.E.) and tried to install his own religion into the land forcing the Jews to change. There are many stories to the effect of his torture of the Jews who did not succumb to his new religion. (This was not the Abomination of Desolation that Yeshua spoke of in Matthew which was a future prediction). Daniel 11:32 shows that many did succumb to him and did wickedly.

Verse 33 starts after the Crucifixion of Yeshua. They fall by the sword (under heavy Roman persecution along with the Christians too. The Christians of this time were considered a Sect of the Jews like the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Yeshua verifies these verses by declaring the same, that many of them will fall by the sword (Luke 21:24), until the Fullness of the Times of the Gentiles be complete. (This is the first use of Times of the Gentiles.)

Between verses 35 and 36 lies the times of the Gentiles until the end of days, which start in verse 36. The new king will not be either Christian or Islamic, but will worship a god that his fathers never knew. This would be Satan himself or the Anti-Christ. Larkin makes a point of correcting some who believe that the 2 little horns (previous visions) and this Willful King are three people. He believes they are all the same king being progressive in information about him, the Anti-Christ. This is the Prince that shall come predicted in Daniel 9. During his time, as the last Roman Emperor, Egypt will come against him and he will destroy them. This king is from Rome, the revived Greek Empire, and from Syria (which was part of the Greek Empire after Alexander died). Thus he fulfills coming from all 3 areas. He will speak against HaShem and magnify himself until the Fullness of the Indignation is Accomplished (end of the Tribulation). Larkin believes he will also be a Jew, as he regarded not the HaShem of his fathers, nor the desire of women.

To the Jews, the Messiah has not come yet in Daniel’s time, so the Jewish women desire to be the mother of the Messiah. He will not regard their desire. (This has nothing to do with being homosexual or lacking the desire to be with women). Egypt and Northern Africa will be conquered by him (Daniel 11:36-45). There really should be no break between Chapter 11 and 12, as they continue. At that time, Michael will stand up for his people (not necessarily just believing Jews, but Messianic Believers et.al.). There shall be a time of trouble such as there never was (Olivet Discourse of Yeshua). (Note: (KJ) "{12:2} and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. This refers to the resurrection of the Second Coming of Christ). A man holds up his hands and tells Daniel about the 3 and a half years to take place to scatter the power of the holy people (no longer just referring to Jews but to all who believe and follow the risen Christ").

Larkin refutes that these things took place after the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., but are yet to come. He believes that the Rapture takes place at the beginning of the Tribulation and therefore, this has nothing to do with the Saints at this time. Verse 12:2 talks about the dead coming to life. The Tribulation is the Fiery Judgment of Ezekiel 20 and 22 and is aimed at the Jews only."

262 I Esdras 2: Ezra Persia: Artaxerxes (Cambyses who is also called Ahasuerus): Cambyses was Egyptian by his mother and invades Egypt and rules Egypt. This is considered to be the Persian Dynasty of Egypt. Cambyses was half Egyptian (by Merneptah’s daughter) and claimed the throne based on legitimate inheritance, not by conquering.

Cambyses is referred to as Ahasuerus in Ezra 4 and Artaxerxes in I Esdras. He was the one who halted the building of Jerusalem before Darius came to rule. Herodotus says that the mother of Cambyses was Cassadane, daughter of Pharnaces, but that is not true.

Cambyses made a treaty with the King of Arabia to cross the land of Arabia into Egypt. The following year after his invasion, exiled Egyptians were allowed to return to Egypt, ending the 40 year exile of Ezekiel (29-30). Ezra 4 indicates that the Jews petitioned Artaxerxes (Cambyses) but he refuses to let them build further, so the building stops completely until the time of Darius. The Jewish commentators believe that Artaxerxes was a title, rather than a name. Josephus reports that Cyrus had died in battle against Massagetae. Xenophon reports that Cyrus died in peace in his own land.

James Ussher says that Cyrus was about 70 years old when he died. See Appendix 1 Table 97 Part 3 Persian Rulers by Hebrew Chronology.

The Hebrew chronology does not include Cambyses in their original list of Persian rulers. They place Achashverosh II (Ahausuerus) after Cyrus which is Darius I. Ahausuerus was also the name of Darius the Mede (who co-ruled with Cyrus). They believe that Esther was the wife of Achashverosh / Darius I. It is obvious from Ezra that Cyrus, Darius, and Ahasuerus are different people as they are all names used in the same verse for different people. Others in the land wrote to Artaxerxes to stop the rebuilding.

262.01 Egypt: Cambyses defeated Egypt fairly soon in his rule, and he moved to Egypt to rule from there. Persian records have been found in abundance in Egypt. Achoris began to rule as semi-independent over the Dynasty 20 of Egypt around the time of Artaxerxes II (393 B.C.).

262.02 Persia: After Cambyses died, Smerdis, the brother of Cambyses ruled for about 7 months. The wife of Cambyses had died in Ethiopia and Cambyses married his sister. His sister / widow then married Darius who took the power away from Smerdis. James Ussher has Cambyses ruling for 7 years, but Josephus reports that he ruled for 6 years. Darius, son of Hystaspes, spent the first year feasting. Josephus does not include Smerdis in his list of Persian rulers. This is year 70 after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. This verifies the dates for the Persian rulers. This is the last year of exile for Jerusalem.

263 Daniel 9; I Esdras 3-7 Year 1 of Darius I Aggeus ben Ahasuerus: (KJ) {9:1} In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes (Darius I might have been the son of Darius the Mede and not Cyrus or Cambyses), which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; {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.

Daniel would be approximately 109-110 years old. Daniel understands the numbers of the prophet Jeremiah, the 70 years for the accomplishment of the Desolation of Jerusalem. The decree of the 70 years of Jeremiah over Judah had already passed by Cyrus’ decree, so Daniel cannot be referring to that 70 year period. The decree to rebuild the wall by Darius had not yet taken place. This had to be about Jerusalem alone as the decree was about rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. The time of Cyrus was when the exiles of Judah were returned.

The angel Gabriel came to Daniel: 70 Weeks have been determined upon the people of Daniel for the sin to be ended and to seal transgressions and make atonement, and to seal the vision and the prophet and to anoint the Most Holy. The first 69 weeks are divided into 2 parts (7 weeks = 49 years and 62 weeks = 434 years; total 483 years.).

(KJ) "{9:25} 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. {9:26} 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. {9:27} 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