This post is way overdue. Most of us SDAs believe that the stoning of Stephen marked the end of probation for the Jewish nation. However, i've never seen any supporting evidence, except the lone fact that the prophecy in Daniel says the Prince will confirm the covenant with many for one week, and be cut off in the midst of it. That is obviously referring to Jesus, and the time marked out is perfect. However, there is nothing that says the remaining half of the week is a covenant he kept with the Jewish nation.
This 1858 edition of The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels, and Satan and His Angels opened my eyes to the fact that the Jews were rejected as a nation when they officially rejected God, and put him on a tree. chapter 16: "Satan rejoiced that the Jews were safe in his snare. They still continued their useless forms, their sacrifices and ordinances. As Jesus hung upon the cross, and cried, It is finished, the vail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, to signify that God would no longer meet with the priests in the temple, to accept their sacrifices and ordinances; and also to show that the partition wall was broken down between the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus had made an offering of himself for both, and if saved at all, both must believe in Jesus as the only offering for sin, and the Saviour of the world."
Then in chapter 17: "The blood of Christ, and of the disciples, whom they had put to death, was upon them, and in terrible judgments were they visited. The curse of God followed them, and they were a by-word and a derision to the heathen and to Christians. They were shunned, degraded and detested, as though the brand of Cain was upon them. Yet I saw that God marvelously preserved this people, and had scattered them over the world, that they might be looked upon as especially visited by a curse from God. I saw that God had forsaken the Jews as a nation; yet there was a portion of them who would be enabled to tear away the veil from their hearts. Some will yet see that prophecy has been fulfilled concerning them, and they will receive Jesus as the Saviour of the world, and see the great sin of their nation in rejecting Jesus, and crucifying him. Individuals among the Jews will be converted; but as a nation they are forever forsaken of God."
There is one more powerful quote in chapter 29 showing that the Jews were totally left by God at the cross.
Note that there IS a chapter in this book, chapter 13, on the death of Stephen, but there is nothing recorded there to make anyone believe that the Jews were forsaken as a nation when they stoned Stephen.
And all this just makes common sense too, that it was much, much worse to kill the Son of God, than it was to kill Stephen.
Why (is it?) this important? Because it is a prophecy of what will happen to us in the last days.
I believe that at the death of the Son of God he Jews where cut off. It was Gods presence that left their temple. However, I can also see that there was a time in, which the disciples continued to reach out to the Jews and where very successful in converting thousands at a time. With the stoning of Stephen we see that as a religious nation they (being the religious leaders) formally rejected Christ as the Son of God and even put it into writing about the same time. At the death of the Son of God we can see God rejecting the Jewish religion but still not rejecting the people who would accept His Son. And then at the stoning of Stephen we can see the Jewish religious leaders rejecting not on God but also the Son of God. The people can still accept Christ but as a nation they have been totally cut off. Peace and Grace David
Yes, this is an interesting question webmaster. I have to use the prophecies of Daniel to support the cut off date as after the stoning of Stephen. That would conclude the 490 years that God put up with them and had patience for them and forgave them.
Peter asked Jesus how many times do I forgive my brother? And the answer was 70 times 7 which is 490 years. This is exactly what God asks us to do and He also does as well.
However, having said that, in the judgment there are other responsibilities. We will be judged as a nation, church, family, and as an individual. It could be that judgment was complete for one phase. But, things still went forward with the apostles for another 3 1/2 years or to the end of the 70th week. (Daniel prophecies)
The 70-week prophecy is definitely correct, the Prince was cut off in the middle of the week.
The Bible is very clear that at the end of time there will be a 3 1/2 period. It fits in perfectly with the 70-week prophecy that Jesus will confirm the covenant with many for one week -- 3 1/2 years around 30AD, and then i believe 3 1/2 years from the start of the Loud Cry to the Close of Probation.
But i do understand that arriving at this conclusion forced me to "look" for a 3 1/2 year period somewhere in prophecy, and it just looks to me like the 70-week prophecy is where that is most clearly given.
The Jews were cut off at the cross when they killed God, the Sunday churches were cut off when they officially rejected his 2nd Coming in 1844, and the whole world will be cut off when they refuse to heed the Loud Cry message.
Why are you so interested in the damn Jews? You're followers of the Son of God Jesus, aren't you? You'd circumcise if EGW wished so. Wake up and read "The white lie" from Walter Rea. SDA was made up because Bates and Smith and the Whites didn't want to quit. Miller had the most integrity and he quit and admitted he was wrong. I know it's hard to quit after you spend a lot of time in a organization like SDA, but I'm a fourth generation SDA who finally woke up and quit. I educated myself on the web and now I;m free.
Would Jesus use that kind of language, Mirek? Will he be smiling at you when he comes on the cloud of glory to see a human made in his image getting ready to step on that cloud who is talking like that?
Then, said the angel, "He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven years]." For seven years after the Saviour entered on His ministry, the gospel was to be preached especially to the Jews; for three and a half years by Christ Himself; and afterward by the apostles. "In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." Dan. 9:27. In the spring of A. D. 31, Christ the true sacrifice was offered on Calvary. Then the veil of the temple was rent in twain, showing that the sacredness and significance of the sacrificial service had departed. The time had come for the earthly sacrifice and oblation to cease. {DA 233.2}
The one week--seven years--ended in A. D. 34. Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel; the disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4); and shortly after, Saul the persecutor was converted, and became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. {DA 233.3}
Webmaster, This is how I understand it at least at this point in time. God bless.
I came across some quotes this Sabbath that looked to resolve this issue.
It is very clear that the Jews were forsaken as a nation - cut off - when they put the Son of God on the cross.
Knowing God's great mercy and love, it looks like he granted the Jewish people (not nation) a special time of 3 1/2 years after that event to hear the gospel before it went to the Gentiles (whole world).
Jesus' life is a prophecy of what the 144,000 will have to go thru, not only in doing a similar work, but doing that work in a similar time-frame (3 1/2 years).
Most places when we read about Jesus, he is always sitting at the right hand of the Father. But there are two places that come to my mind where Jesus stands. One time is at the close of probation for the gentiles Dan 12 where he stands up (as Michael) and throws the censor down and says it is done.
The other time is in Acts 7 at the stoning of Steven.
In Acts 7 it says this: 55: But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56: And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
This I believe demonstrated the end of probation for the nation of Isreal. It was the end of the 70 years and the end of the 490 years and then end of the week. The good news is that the door is still open for individuals of the faith.
When Stephen saw Jesus standing it represented the end of probation for the nation of Israel? This is entirely new to me, and without any inspired evidence newbie. Surely you know that many years later when John wrote Revelation, that he also saw Jesus not only standing, but walking. Also, we don't know for sure the physical position of Jesus when he revealed himself to Paul (Saul) but that too may have been in a standing position. To summarize - his physical position seen by Stephen cannot contradict the inspired word that the Jewish nation was cut off at the cross.
Newbie, you are strong in showing that there will be a future 3 1/2 year literal fulfillment of the prophecies. I pray that you search the scriptures to settle in your own mind that these things are so, and use that information to help wake up God's end-time people, most of who are sleeping soundly because of various "traditions of men", such as the one that the Jewish nation was cut off at the stoning of Stephen. They think that settles the 3 1/2 year issue, so they can go back to sleep --- NO! Help wake them up
The vail of the temple tearing in two when Jesus died DOES show clearly that God was no longer with the Jewish nation, and had rejected them. Jesus himself said "Your house i leave unto you desolate".
But we Gentiles must not get proud of being grafted in, because if the natural tree was not spared for rebellion, how much more the wild graft?
Newbie, Do you mean to say the 1888gc says the Jews were cut off at the stoning of Steven? Because the 1858gc is very clear that it was at the cross, when the Jews officially rejected Jesus by killing him, that they divorced God, so he divorced them.
I've still been studying this issue, and saw where one man believes that while the Jews were officially cut off at the cross, their "probation" under the new era of the "Gospel" (not the "Law") lasted 3 1/2 years, then the "Gospel" went to the whole world, including the Gentiles.
The 1858gc is just unmistakably plain that God's covenant with Jews was cut off at the cross. This is exciting, because it means that the "week" that he would confirm the covenant with many with, is still only half finished
(This is what I have found and I do think they are reliable... what do you think?? My view is apparent I think from the posts.)
The one week--seven years--ended in A. D. 34. Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel; the disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4); and shortly after, Saul the persecutor was converted, and became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. {DA 233.3}
The one week--seven years--ended in A.D. 34. Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel; the disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4); and shortly after, Saul the persecutor was converted and became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. {PK 699.2}
He cried out, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. {1SG 88.2}
The blood of Christ, and of the disciples, whom they had put to death, was upon them, and in terrible judgments were they visited. .I saw that God has forsaken the Jews as a nation; yet there was a portion of them who would be enabled to tear away the veil from their hearts. Some will yet see that prophecy has been fulfilled concerning them, and they will receive Jesus as the Saviour of the world, and see the great sin of their nation in rejecting Jesus, and crucifying him. Individuals among the Jews will be converted; but as a nation they are forever forsaken of God. {1SG 107.1}
Satan rejoiced that the Jews were safe in his snare. They still continued their useless forms, their sacrifices and ordinances. As Jesus hung upon the cross, and cried, It is finished, the vail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, to signify that God would no longer meet with the priests in the temple, to accept their sacrifices and ordinances; and also to show that the partition wall was broken down between the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus had made an offering of himself for both, and if saved at all, both must believe in Jesus as the only offering for sin, and the Saviour of the world. {1SG 102.1}
(When Jesus stood it meant that it was the close of probation for the Jews.When He stands again as Michael it will be the end of probation for the gentiles.Dan. 12:1)
A very interesting topic, when the Jews were cut off: I know that the stoning of Stephen was part of the prophetic prophecy. Have you balanced the testimony of Stephen (ACTS 7) to the Jews and Matthew 23-24. Both of these have spirital cut off because the then 'Jews' rejected the prophets and ultimately God and his Son. The spiritiual death of Jews one could say it happen long before (when they wanted a King - Old Testament), Stephen and Jesus, their testimony was an obvious sealing on the Jewish Nation, until 70ad the prized temple was destroyed by the Romans. So there is spiritual cut off point (stoning of Stephen) and a physical cut off point (death of Jesus, veil torn in two, and the destruction of the Temple in 70 ad).
All the best Jeffery
ACTS 7:51"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52"Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53"who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."
54When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
Matt 23:37-38 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!38"See! Your house is left to you desolate;39"for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! "
Matt 24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
3Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what willbe the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.5"For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many.6"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all thesethings must come to pass, but the end is not yet.7"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.8"All these are the beginning of sorrows.9"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My names sake.10"And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.11"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.12"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.13"But he who endures to the end shall be saved.14"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
15"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16"then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.17"Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.18"And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.19"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!20"And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath
