This is a great quote from Philip Mauro, almost 100 years ago, regarding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, its significance in relation to Bible prophecy, and how popular beliefs on Bible prophecy speak to the people of Israel today:
“It is greatly to be regretted that those who, in our day, give themselves to the study and exposition of prophecy, seem not to be aware of the immense significance of the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which was accompanied by the extinction of Jewish national existence, and the dispersion of the Jewish people among all the nations. The failure to recognize the significance of that event, and the vast amount of prophecy which it fulfilled, has been the cause of great confusion, for the necessary consequence of missing the past fulfillment of predicted events is to leave on our hands a mass of prophecies for which we must needs contrive fulfillments in the future. The harmful results are two fold; for first, we are thus deprived of the evidential value, and the support to the faith, of those remarkable fulfillments of prophecy which are so clearly presented to us in authentic contemporary histories; and second, our vision of things to come is greatly obscured and confused by the transference to the future of predicted events which, in fact, have already happened, and whereof complete records have been preserved for our information.”
“Yet, in the face of all this, we have today a widely held scheme of prophetic interpretation, which has for its very cornerstone the idea that, when God’s time to remember His promised mercies to Israel shall at last have come, He will gather them into their ancient land again, only to pour upon them calamities and distresses far exceeding even the horrors which attended the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This is, we are convinced, an error of such magnitude as to derange the whole program of unfulfilled prophecy.”
–Philip Mauro, “Seventy Weeks and the Great Tribulation,” 1921
For some good information on the historical events that took place from 62 AD – 70 AD, and the spiritual significance of many of these events in light of Bible prophecy, please see the following posts:
1. The Historical Events Leading Up to 70 AD, Part 1
2. The Historical Events Leading Up to 70 AD, Part 2
3. The Historical Events Leading Up to 70 AD, Part 3
4. The Spiritual Significance of [Events in] 70 AD
Visitors are also encouraged to check out our series on the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) and our series on the book of Revelation, for some good information on how these prophecies were fulfilled by first century historical events.
Pursuing Truth 
[…] the last post, Prophecy Teachers Needlessly Prophesy Horrors for Israel, I included a quote from Philip Mauro (1921) in which he said that many “seem not to be aware […]
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Just finished Philip Mauro’s “The Seventy Weeks and the Great Tribulation”. What an eye-opening book Adam! At one point i stopped and wrote in the inside flap of the book, “The Spirit bears Witness to the Truth”. For the first time ever i understand Daniel’s 70 weeks. LOL. I was so excited after finally “seeing it” i couldn’t stop thanking and praising God. It had been a great source of confusion (and, irritation!) for me for many years.
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PJ, that’s wonderful to hear. I don’t believe I ever finished reading this book myself (online), but what I have read has been very good.
If it’s easy enough to remember and explain, does Mauro place a one-generation gap between the 69th and 70th weeks, or does he see the prophecy ending 3.5 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection? Or none of the above? Thanks.
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He offers up both in the book (quoting one or more excellent teachers from the past), saying he would have no problem with either, but leans toward the the fulfillment of the last 3 1/2 years being the evangelizing of the Jews (only) by the disciples. He sees this as completing the last “week” (last 3 1/2 years). I for one had not given this thought in the past, but it “works” out perfectly.
Hope im making sense and explaining it well enough to understand? 🙂
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Yes, your response makes sense and I understand it. Thank you for that. I’ve leaned toward the same idea for some time now – that there is no time gap in Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy, and that the final 3.5 years were fulfilled when the gospel was preached rather exclusively to the Jewish people. The turning point was likely when the gospel was welcomed by Cornelius and his household and the believers in Jerusalem said, “Then god has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life” (Acts 11:18).
This viewpoint is also discussed in this post:
http://kloposmasm.com/2009/08/15/pp9-daniels-70-week-prophecy-part-2/
That post, and also Part 1, are a bit sloppy, in my opinion, and it’s on a growing list in my head to write a cleaner post or series on Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy at some point.
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Yes. The last 3 1/2 years being fulfilled by the exclusive preaching to the Jewish people.
Don’t know if it was the manner in which he explained it, but seeing it in black and white, it just “clicked” and made perfect sense. If im not mistaken (i’d need to recheck it in the book) believe he points out that from the day of Pentecost until till Peter’s version and meeting with Cornelius can be calculated to be 3 1/2 years. Does that sound right?
This is one book i want to re-read Adam. There was so much more im sure i missed. Mainly because i became so excited at certain points, aha! These were moments when the light-bulb went on over my head. 🙂
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Yes, that sounds right. I’m not sure, though, that I’ve seen anyone really demonstrate that 3.5 years can be calculated from the Day of Pentecost until Cornelius’ conversion. Instead, I believe I’ve just seen this time frame given as a supposition, i.e. supposing that this amount of time passed before Peter’s meeting with Cornelius. If Mauro demonstrates that precisely 3.5 years took place between these two events, I would definitely like to take a close look at that.
Mauro was a fantastic writer and thinker. I really appreciate his treatment of Ezekiel’s prophecies in his book, “The Hope of Israel.” I’m glad you’ve been able to enjoy some light bulb moments recently through his material.
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Adam, reading over your question again, i may not have been clear. Mauro does not see the 69th week being detached from the 70th. Nor does he see the 70th week being broken up but sees the entire 70 weeks as running as a continuous measure of time; consecutive. Looking over my above reply i may not have made that clear 🙂
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Adam, i looked back through the chapter in question, and you are right. What Mauro does (chapter 7) is he relates that several expositors (namely, Pusey and Taylor) had suggested the last 3 1/2 year time measure from the crucifixion to Stephen’s martyrdom.
Don’t know where i read that someone had calculated (it) from the day of Pentecost until Peter’s vision and meeting with Cornelius! But that’s what happens when you read a lot, aha.
It would be interesting to see if either one added up though.
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