Explaining Ezekiel’s 430 Day Model
Q. Could you explain the three hundred ninety days and forty days prophecy in Ezekiel 4:6. More than forty years have passed since Jerusalem has been recaptured.
A. Here’s a brief summary.
Ezekiel was told to lie on his left side for 390 days and on his right for 40 days, for a total of 430 days, to bear the sins of Israel. 390 was for the Northern Kingdom, since laying on his left side meant he was facing North, and 40 was for the South because he was laying on his right side facing south. Each day represented one year of idolatry.
Some scholars feel this prophecy foretold the 2nd regathering of Israel, not the one after Babylon. They base this on the fact that the first Jews were taken captive after Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt and Assyria at the Battle of Carchemish in 606 BC which began the 70 year servitude of the nation. After being freed by the Persians the Jews began returning from Babylon, rebuilding the altar in 536 BC just after the New year. (Ezra 3:1.) That meant 70 years of the 430 had been served, leaving 360.
These scholars point out that several times in Leviticus 26 the Lord warned that if they didn’t repent immediately upon sinning their punishment would be multiplied 7 times. 360 years times 7 = 2520 years. They also remind us that the Lord’s calendar has always been based on a 360 day year of 12 thirty day months. 2520 years of 360 days would be 2484 years on our 365.25 day calendar. From 536 BC to 1948 AD when Israel was re-born is 2484 years. Therefore the punishment was finally complete in 1948 when Israel was reborn.
I’m not aware of any Biblical justification for using using Ezek. 4 to count 40 years forward from the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. And as you say more than 40 years have passed.
A note from Greg. 1948 was prophetic. God came through exactly when He said He would. From Matthew 24 we see that Israel's rebirth (twigs get tender/leaves come out)...the generation that sees 1948 will not pass away until all these things happen. Here in 2011 it has been 63 years. We are 7 years short of 70. Perhaps a generation is longer than 70 years - don't know. Given the rumblings in this world, we can't be too far out.
Matthew 24:32-34
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Q. Could you explain the three hundred ninety days and forty days prophecy in Ezekiel 4:6. More than forty years have passed since Jerusalem has been recaptured.
A. Here’s a brief summary.
Ezekiel was told to lie on his left side for 390 days and on his right for 40 days, for a total of 430 days, to bear the sins of Israel. 390 was for the Northern Kingdom, since laying on his left side meant he was facing North, and 40 was for the South because he was laying on his right side facing south. Each day represented one year of idolatry.
Some scholars feel this prophecy foretold the 2nd regathering of Israel, not the one after Babylon. They base this on the fact that the first Jews were taken captive after Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt and Assyria at the Battle of Carchemish in 606 BC which began the 70 year servitude of the nation. After being freed by the Persians the Jews began returning from Babylon, rebuilding the altar in 536 BC just after the New year. (Ezra 3:1.) That meant 70 years of the 430 had been served, leaving 360.
These scholars point out that several times in Leviticus 26 the Lord warned that if they didn’t repent immediately upon sinning their punishment would be multiplied 7 times. 360 years times 7 = 2520 years. They also remind us that the Lord’s calendar has always been based on a 360 day year of 12 thirty day months. 2520 years of 360 days would be 2484 years on our 365.25 day calendar. From 536 BC to 1948 AD when Israel was re-born is 2484 years. Therefore the punishment was finally complete in 1948 when Israel was reborn.
I’m not aware of any Biblical justification for using using Ezek. 4 to count 40 years forward from the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. And as you say more than 40 years have passed.
A note from Greg. 1948 was prophetic. God came through exactly when He said He would. From Matthew 24 we see that Israel's rebirth (twigs get tender/leaves come out)...the generation that sees 1948 will not pass away until all these things happen. Here in 2011 it has been 63 years. We are 7 years short of 70. Perhaps a generation is longer than 70 years - don't know. Given the rumblings in this world, we can't be too far out.
Matthew 24:32-34
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Post A Comment
No comments