On Jan.23, Dr. Holman's 9:30 adult class studied the question as to why Jesus told the parable about the Ten Minas. This situation arose, Luke states, because the people thought that "Jesus was about to establish His kingdom immediately, at once"! Luke 19:11. The parable reveals that, like a nobleman going to a far country, Jesus was going away to the Father and would return to reward His true followers and to destroy His enemies. He must receive "authority from His Father" before returning to establish His kingdom on the earth.

Then, at my 11 o'clock 6th grade class we studied the Lord's model prayer to "Our Father in Heaven" where we are to pray: "Thy Kingdom Come." The Lord had taught them that the Kingdom of God was already in their midst; but also that the days were coming when they would wish to see one of His days and not be able to do so." Luke 17:21,22. So the Lord began to marshal my thoughts concerning the time when Believers will be tested for their faithfulness and the hatred of His enemies will come into such sharp focus that praying for His Kingdom to come will be the primary burden of church's ministry. When He receives authority from His Father, Jesus will come to destroy His enemies at once and be King over all the earth. Luke 19:12-27.

"But first He must suffer and be rejected by this generation. But they understood none of these things." Luke 17:21-25; Luke 18:34. On three occasions Jesus had already taught the Disciples that He would be killed by His enemies. Before He raised up Lazarus from the dead, they had sought more than once to stone Him or arrest Him. And now, on Palm Sunday, five days before His death, great multitudes were following Him as He prepared to descend the Mt. of Olives and face those who sought to kill Him. John 12:1; Luke 19:37.

These multitudes were following Him because they expected the Kingdom immediately. Also because of His miracles; especially that of raising Lazarus after he was in the grave four days! John 12:18. Zechariah's and Daniel's prophecies were fulfilled "on that very day" as Messiah their Prince approached Jerusalem on a colt of a donkey to be hailed as King of the Jews. Zech.9:9; Dan.9:25. This was the "appointed day of their peace; of their visitation" and they knew it not. Lev.23:44; Luke 19:42,44.

"Jesus saw the City and wept over it"! Luke 19:41. Why did He weep?

The Passover was near and the chief priests and the Pharisees were bent out of shape because the "whole world might follow Him." In the days before Palm Sunday, they had commanded that anyone who knew where He was should inform them so they might arrest Him." Their high priest, Caiaphas, had "prophesied that He must die lest the Romans take away their Temple and the nation should perish." John 11:47-57. But Jesus did not weep at the prospect of His own death!

Jesus wept because of their failure to recognize the purpose of His coming; that this was the "appointed time of their visitation." And also for the suffering coming to His own people for having rejected Him. Immediately after weeping over their failure to "recognize this appointed day" to fulfill the prophecies of Zech.9:9 and Dan.9:25 of being presented as Messiah the Prince, He warned them "the days were coming when *their own enemies* would level their City and their children to the ground." Luke 19:42-44.

In addition to fulfilling the "exact appointed DAY" for His presentation as King, Jesus also referred to the "exact appointed TIME" to fulfill His role as the Passover Lamb. This takes us from Dan.9:25 to Dan.9:26 and Lev.23:5-6,44. Daniel's prophecy forced the last day of the 69th set of seven periods of 2520 days to be "cut short" by 21 days...from Sunday, Nisan 30 to Sunday, Nisan 9.

Overlaid on a 365.25 day calendar, the last day of the 69th set (of 2520 days) would be Nisan 30, AD 32. Nisan 30 was to fall on Sunday for the 69th time as the last day of Nisan. But the solar calendar allowed only 68 sets of seven during the 476 years from Nisan 30 in BC 445 to the start of Passion week in AD 32. The last day of Nisan was due to fall three weeks after Palm Sunday, on Nisan 30, to consummate 69 sets of 2520-Day Sevens over a period of 68 sets of Solar Sevens (BC 445-1=444+32=476%7=68. And 69x7=483).

One fact not realized by the casual reader of Dan.9:25 is that 476 years was only 68 sets of solar sevens (68x7x365.25). However, there were enough extra sets of 5.25 days in 476 years to provide all but 21 days for the 69th set of 2520 (120x21) days. For the 476x5.25=2499 and 2499%21=119). So, while the 69th anniversary of the decree for Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem would occur on Nisan 30, three weeks later, Jesus had to be presented as King on Palm Sunday, Nisan 9. Neh.2:1. See Biblical Month.

Then Dan.9:26 reveals the second fact not readily observed. Messiah would be "cut off after that." Passover had to occur on the Day of Preparation which should be a Friday. The next day must be the Sabbath. Nisan 14, the day appointed for sacrifice each year, often does not occur the day before the Sabbath. Lev.23:5-6. From 1998 to 2016, it occurs on a Friday only 3 times.

So it was that Joseph laid Jesus in the tomb "on the day of preparation when the Sabbath was about to begin." Luke 23:54. It was about the 6th hour of Passover Day that Pilate said: "Behold your King." John 19:14. The key to Daniel's prophecy of the 69 sevens was that Passover fell on Friday, Nisan 14, only once...on the 2520th day of each set of seven!

With the last day of the 68 sets of seven (from BC 445 to AD 32) ending on Palm Sunday, Nisan 9, Jesus had to die "after that" on Friday, Nisan 14, to fulfill Lev.23:5-6,44. And that is why Daniel states that Messiah the Prince would be "cut off (5 days) after His presentation as Messiah King of the Jews. For Nisan 14, AD 32, fell on a Friday for just the 69th time by counting down the 476 years in sets of 2520 days from the decree to "restore and rebuild Jerusalem." Dan.9:25-26 (476x365.25=173859 days). This was 21 days short of 69x2520=173880 days. Or 476x5.25=2499 instead of 360x7=2520).

Jesus did not weep because He faced His own death. During the five days until He would be "cut off, but not for Himself," Jesus repeated His warning: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you refused. Behold your house is left desolate. By no means will you see Me from now until you say: `Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord.'" Matt.23:37-39.

God always prepares His people for suffering. Jesus prepared the Jews who will finally embrace Him by giving the specific Endtime and Lastday Signs by which they will "know their redemption and *Kingdom* are Near." Luke 21:28,31; Matt.24:33. The deepest revelation of His concern that Believers should endure to the End was the assurance that, even after "they will have seen His Kingdom coming in power, "some of them must still taste death" to show themselves worthy of following Him and of obtaining the rewards that He will "bring with Him" when He comes as King of all the earth. Matt.16:27-28.

Here the prospect of martyrdom in verse Matt.16:28 will be fulfilled before receiving the rewards of verse 27 just as Mark 9:1 states that some must taste death after they see God's Kingdom power coming through the Endtime Prophets for 1260 days. Christ comes in Person to fulfill Mark 8:38 in glory after He comes in kingdom power to fulfill Mark 9:1. Jesus prepared His faithful followers in advance for having to share in the final suffering that comes to them immediately before His return to destroy His enemies.

He challenged them to suffer with Him to the point of death. The only other reference to God's Kingdom coming in power is Rev.12:10 when Christ has "authority" to fulfill that "power" until He is authorized as King at the 7th Trumpet. Rev.11:15-17; Dan.7:13-22. This power pertains to the Endtime suffering of those who endure its 1260 days in victory over Satan. Great tribulation precedes the Day of the Lord...the 12-Hour Day of Wrath. During the great tribulation "they love not their life unto death and overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." Rev.12:10-17.

But on the Day He is revealed and at the sign of His presence, no Believer will be killed. Jesus assures these victorious End-timers: "He will destroy all the wicked." The remaining Jewish unbelievers (and millions descended from the 12 tribes of Ishmael) will "beg to escape" and remain on earth at this final chance to repent during the Hour of Trial. "Kept alive" to enter the Kingdom on earth, they will not be part of the Lamb's Bride. They will inherit the earthly kingdom after the Millennium and must continue to "eat of the tree of life to be healed." Luke 17:27-35; Luke 21:35-36; Rev.22:2,14; Rev.21:24-26. (Ezek.47:12).

Above all times of suffering in the spiritual Kingdom, the Endtime great tribulation is when God's Kingdom comes in power. But Believers will still pray: "Let Thy Kingdom come...in order that Thy will might be done on earth as it is in heaven!" The great tribulation is not the Day of God’s wrath. The Day of God’s wrath will potentially see billions of people “calling on the Lord to be rescued” from death upon seeing Him appear with “all the Saints.”

From the offspring of unbelievers whom Jesus rescues from God’s wrath will come the sheep and goat nations who will be separated after the 1000 years are finished. Goats will then be cast into Hell for mistreating the “least of Jesus’ brethren" while the sheep inherit the kingdom on earth forever and visit the New Jerusalem periodically to be “healed by the leaves of the tree of life.” Matt.25:31-46.

The Lamb’s Bride will dwell in the New Jerusalem. Members of the sheep nations of earth will have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life; but they will not be the Lamb’s Bride. They will "walk about the earth in the light of the New Jerusalem." Rev.21:24. The sheep may well outnumber the Bride in heaven as together they glorify God. Rev.21:2,9,27. Thus it will be fulfilled that “God’s Kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.”