Copy of Personal Letter.
Comment on the meaning of various Greek words with reference to David Hettema views.
epiphaneia parousia kerusso
Dear T,
Herewith the promised review about Exclusive Brethren which I hope you can put to good use. In one sweep it also covers all shades of Plymouth Rrethren.
Darby developed his theology well after the death of Machintosh whose teaching he ignored, though he did teach (and enlighten me well before I knew of Welch or Bultlnger) that the House of Judah was set aside at Acts 28.
It is Interesting to note that Sellers in effect picked up the torch that Derby dropped and hegan his early ministry by quoting CHM in Word or Truth No.5. Of course, none of these men have been faultless In teaching but each has added something to the understanding of the truth none the less.
I have been reviewing the letter you received in July I998 from David Hettema. On p.2 he says "God wifl quietly - intervene in the affairs of men", hut that is incompatible with 'blazing forth', an alleged meaning co the word epiphaneia. It should not have the definite article since it is not unique but should be called "that epiphaneia" to distinguish it from the one implied in Titus 2:11 or the one connected with the parousia In "Thes.2:8. Literally the word means 'shining upon', an enlightenn.ent of an obscure situation physical or figurative. It need not be a grest 'light, and In Acts '17:20 a few stars would have helped those lost voyagers, or even one for the wise men at Bethlehem.
On p.2 also it is rightly stated that "The 490 years Is the basis for determining the Length of the Kingdom; in fact the two terms are entirely synonymous. But the Kingdom of God has not yet to begin in the future, it did begin with the preaching and proclaiming of Christ as stated in Luke 4:43 & 44 and it was still proclaimed (kerusso) by ''Paul at Acts 20:25. S & B 48 is an excellent study on the opening aspects of the Kingdom and should be reread.
In Daniel's 70weeks the first feature is "to finlsh transgression and to make an end of sins", How could this occur without the supreme sacrifice of Calvery ? Or the cutting off of Messiah "but not for himself" ? The assertion that the 70 sevens are equivalent to the full extent of the premillenial kingdom is not compatible with the beliefs of many esteemed Bible teachers and so it must be tested by the facts of Scripture and history.
The year when Messiah was publicly declared was 27ad, a Jubilee year, and the 15th year of Tiberius's government (the 13th of his reign). Daniel 9 tells us this was 62 sevens after 7 sevens, which as they are not added implies that they were different currencies. Assuning that 62 sevens were Sabbatic terms we get back to the Sabbatic year 408bc, the year when the 70 years Desolation of Jerusalem ended and the 6th year of Darius Hystaspis. Seven sevens of years was 457, about thirty years before Daniel's prophecy; so the units could well be in months, making four years back to 412bc, the year when the 70 years of Indignation ended, mentioned by Haggai and Zechariah. Though not mentioned in Scripture it is recorded in History as that year when Darius Hystaspis gave to Zerubbabel the command to "restore and to build Jerusalem", 1Esdras 5:7 to 42.
This is the truth of the matter and can be verified by anyone so disposed. Of course it is at varience with the commonly assumed view that Messiah was to appear after 69 of the 70 weeks; but Daniel nowhere states that the 7 sevens and 62 sevens were embraced within the 70 sevens.
You are welcome to use any parts of this if you feel it would help anyone, being understood the present dispensation is a parenthesis inside the 70 sevens.
Sincerely Yours in Christ, Maurice Lloyd 16th October 2000