The 2000 Year Gap

The 2000 Year Gap

We live in an unprophesied dispensation of God operating according to the mystery of Christ. The current dispensation of grace is not found in the prophetic schedule written by Daniel nor in the ministry of the Spirit at Pentecost.

In Daniel 9:24 there is a prophetic schedule given of 70 weeks (weeks of years) to finish the prophecy concerning Israel and Jerusalem.

Daniel 9:25 says that this 490 year schedule begins at the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.

“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:” – Daniel 9:25

We have another marker after the 69th week, that is, after 483 years which tells when the Messiah will be cut off:

“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,…” – Daniel 9:26

This leaves only 1 week of years (7 years) left on the prophetic timetable of Daniel to seal up the prophecy after Christ’s crucifixion at approximately 29 A.D.

Daniel’s Missing 70th week

Misinterpretation of Daniel’s 70th week has led many Bible students to think we are now living in the prophesied kingdom or that the numbers in the Bible cannot be literal.

Covenant theologians believe that the 70 weeks were completed at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D by the Roman Titus.

The problem with this view of prophecy is that it leaves a 40 year gap between the 69th and 70th week when there should be only 7.

Acts 2 dispensationalists recognizing the absence of the prophesied kingdom, correctly identify that there has been an interruption in Daniel’s 70 week prophecy. However, these Acts 2 dispensationalists would say the interruption occurred in Acts 2 at Pentecost.

This poses another problem in that Peter identifies Acts 2 as the “last days” according to Joel. According to Peter, Daniel’s time clock was still ticking.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:…” – Acts 2:17

The Acts 2 sending of the Spirit on a Jewish feast day was not the start of something new, it was the last days of prophecy.

So, then, what explains the two thousand year gap in prophecy?

A Bible Believing Alternative

The gap is explained by nothing in prophecy, and as such was a mystery. This is exactly what we find in the revelation from Jesus given to the last apostle, Paul.

“I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations…” – Col 1:25-26

Peter offered Israel an opportunity to repent and usher in the final days of prophecy in Acts 3:19-20. When Israel rejected the apostolic offer of repentance, God revealed a mystery of the gospel to send salvation to Gentiles.

“…rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” – Romans 11:11

For the past two thousand years we have been living in the mystery dispensation of God’s grace and peace. Prophecy is not being fulfilled during this mystery time regarding Israel and their holy city.

Today, the keystone of our mission is the preaching of the cross, and not the soon coming kingdom which has been postponed until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in (Rom 11:25-26).

Prophecy is not yet finished. Israel has not yet received its promised salvation (Rom 11:26-27).

The change did not occur in Acts 2 nor 70 A.D. The change occurred with the rising up of the chief of sinners as a new apostle sent to all men with a mystery of Christ. Mid Acts Pauline dispensational Bible believing is the key to the current dispensational gap in Daniel’s prophetic timeline.

By Justin Johnson
Graceambassadors.com