Bible Study Seattle

“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”  Matthew 12:8

“ Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”  Daniel 9:26-27

Daniel’s prophecy has multiple fulfillments, but it is implied that Messiah will be cut off in the middle of the week.  Jesus most likely rose before dawn on the Sabbath, not Sunday.  He was crucified and died 3pm Wednesday, the middle of the week.  He was dead part of a day Wednesday, a full day Thursday and Friday, Thursday night, Friday night, and at least part of Sabbath night.  This satisfies the prophecy of Jonah.  We don’t know exactly when Jesus rose.  This is probably for our benefit.  Since resurrecting will happen for at least 500 years, that covers a long part of that ‘Day’.  But the firstborn will rise first.  There is more than one resurrection:

“Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.”  Hebrews 11:35

We know that there will be a heavenly resurrection and an earthly one.  Heaven is the better resurrection.