Cursed for Studying Daniel's Seventy Weeks

Dr. Couch, I heard someone say that the Jewish Rabbis placed a curse on anyone who studied Daniel's Seventy Weeks in Daniel 9. Is this true? ANSWER: I'm not sure about the curse part, but I understand that the Rabbis forbid rabbinical students from studying that chapter because it is so obvious in regard to the dating of the coming of the Messiah. And the dating points to the period of the birth of Christ. Remember, the Jews are in blindness and spiritual darkness. God judicially blinded them (Acts 28) because of their rejection of the Lord. We would expect that from the Jews who are in denial! I am not sure if we can substantiate this as a fact. Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch (Feb., 10)

Abomination of Desolation and the Issue of Antiochus

Dr. Couch, is there confusion about Matthew 24:15 and the Abomination of Desolation, and the issue of Antiochus in Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11? ANSWER:  Not really if one reads carefully and slowly, and looks closely to the contexts. Remember the rules: context, context, context, and, observe, observe, observe! Even the amillennialists basically agree on this issue. Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 has to do with the future when the antichrist enters the temple and proclaims himself as God. This is repeated in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5. However, even amil. Ellicott gets it straight, though he becomes somewhat confused on 12:11 in regard to Antiochus.    Ellicott gets 2 Thess. 2:3-on correct and assigns it to the antichrist.    For those who want to get it all straight, you need Dr. Paul Benware's great commentary on Daniel "Things to Come" which Scofield produced.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

If The Jews Were Expecting the Messiah, How Could They Have Rejected Jesus?

Dr. Couch, if the Jews were expecting the Messiah based on Daniel's Seventy-Week timeline found in Daniel 9, how could they reject Jesus? ANSWER: Good question. But it must be remembered that not all the Jews were looking for His coming. And, I'm quick to point out that they were looking for "the season" of His appearance. Only the pious and Godly Jews were looking for His arrival and the promised Kingdom. They did not know the exact time of His coming, but I believe that some, not all, the Rabbis has done some basic calculations and felt that the Kingdom period was close. I'm basing this on the Gospel of Luke. It is said that Simeon "was a righteous man and devout, looking for the consolation (the Kingdom) of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him" (Luke 2:25). Also, Anna (was among) "all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (v. 38). The only indication they could have would be a calculation of Daniel's Seventy Week prophecy. Since ancient people did not have detailed calendars, they would have to estimate some of the facts from that prophecy. They could not be absolute in their figuring. To accept the Lord was a spiritual matter. Never mind what they could have calculated. Only the Godly would have been ready for His appearance. We read the Jewish leadership said "If we let Him go on like this [in His miracles], all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation" (John 11:48). Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch