The Book of Daniel Unlocked

It is a well-established fact that Pompey took Jerusalem on the 24th day of May, B.C. 63, that he deposed Aristobulus and made Hyrcanus monarch. According to this, the brothers reigned about 6¾ years. Josephus, however, states that one reigned 3 years and 6 months [XIV. 6. 1], and the other reigned only 3 months [XV. 6. 4], making a total of 3¾ years instead of 6¾ years. Here, then, we have discovered a huge gap of about 3 years in the reckoning of Josephus. We believe this is the first time that public attention has been directed to this grave error: we say grave, because it has led the Christian world astray and fostered the belief that Christ was born in B.C. 5 instead of the year B.C. 2. Happily, Eusebius escaped this pitfall.

It is evident from the chart, that in the case of 6 reigns Josephus STRETCHED HIS FIGURES and made them occupy 103 years instead of 100 years. This proves that his figures, in part, were matters of calculation and not rigid statements of historical facts. No notice can be taken of the joint-rule exercised by Augustus and Tiberius between A.D. 11 and 14, because that mode of reckoning is unnatural. The day of one’s death is the natural dividing line between reigns, and as Augustus Caesar died on the 19th day of August, A.D. 14 Tiberius Caesar began to reign on the same day. Besides, to admit a joint-rule would hopelessly add another 3 years to Josephus’ error and put him in the light of having carried his process for STRETCHING FIGURES 6 points instead of 3 points. What he did do in that line is bad enough, without making matters worse.

It will be observed that the work of contracting Josephus’ figures has been accomplished in part on the second line, but the final rectification appears on the last line. These results maintain the integrity of all that Josephus said about the following olympiads, viz: the 179th, 184th, 185th, 187th, and 192nd. – They also accord with the discovery of Zumpt regarding a double term in the governorship of Cyrenius. We reach a solid ground on the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar and arrive at last at the first Easter Sunday, viz: April 5, A.D. 33, the end of the SEVENTY WEEKS of the Prophet Daniel.

In conclusion we observe, that the life of Christ on earth covered a period of 33½ years, and that

CHRIST WAS BORN IN THE FALL OF B.C. 2

YEARS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST

The dates given herewith have been collated from the chart which accompanies this volume.

YEARS IN THE LIFE OF HEROD

The dates here given are the result of a geometric plotting of the facts given in the works of Flavius Josephus: – see chart with this volume.

ASMONEAN DYNASTY

This government was founded by a priest named Mattathias, who had five sons named respectively: – John, Simon, Judas, Eleazar, and Jonathan. The dynasty lasted 130 years and was succeeded by the Idumean dynasty of Herod the Great. The dates here given result from a geometric plotting of the facts given by Josephus and the books of the Maccabees.

REIGNS OF THE CHALDEAN AND MEDO-PERSIAN KINGS

These dates have been established after careful study of the works of Herodotus, Thucydides, Ctesias, Josephus, Berosus, Manetho, Ptolemy, Diodorus, Julius Africanus, Eusebius, Egibi tablets; also Annalistic tablet of Cyrus and “Records of the Past.”

MONARCHS.