Key Takeaways
1. The Prophetic Timeline of World Empires
"The sovereignty of the earth, which had been forfeited by Judah, was solemnly committed to the Gentiles."
Succession of Empires. Daniel's prophecies outline a remarkable sequence of global empires, starting with Babylon and progressing through Persia, Greece, and Rome. These visions provide a prophetic framework for understanding historical and future geopolitical transformations.
Symbolic Representations. The prophecies use powerful metaphorical imagery to represent these empires:
- Babylon: A golden head of an image
- Persia: A ram with two horns
- Greece: A swift goat with a notable horn
- Rome: A terrifying beast with iron teeth
Divine Orchestration. The prophecies suggest that world powers are not random but part of a larger divine plan, with each empire rising and falling according to a predetermined sequence.
2. Understanding the Messianic Prophecy in Daniel
"The facts of the Passion were an overwhelming proof of the inspiration of the Old Testament."
Prophetic Precision. The book of Daniel contains extraordinarily detailed predictions about the coming of the Messiah, including the exact timeline of His appearance and crucifixion. These prophecies provide a mathematically precise forecast of Jesus Christ's life and mission.
Key Prophetic Elements:
- Predicts the exact year of Messiah's arrival
- Specifies the manner of His death
- Outlines the political context of His coming
- Reveals the spiritual significance of His mission
Theological Significance. These prophecies demonstrate that biblical predictions are not vague generalizations but specific, verifiable historical forecasts.
3. The Mysterious "Seventy Weeks" Prophecy
"The blessings promised to Judah and Jerusalem were postponed till after a period described as 'seventy weeks'."
Complex Chronological Calculation. The prophecy of seventy weeks is actually a prediction spanning 490 prophetic years, with intricate mathematical and historical implications. It provides a remarkable framework for understanding divine timing.
Prophetic Computation:
- One "week" represents seven years
- Total period: 70 x 7 = 490 years
- Precise starting point: Persian decree to rebuild Jerusalem
- Termination point: Messiah's crucifixion
Interpretative Challenges. The prophecy requires careful historical and theological analysis, bridging mathematical precision with spiritual understanding.
4. The Precision of Biblical Chronology
"No element is lacking to enable us with accuracy and certainty to fix the date of Nehemiah's edict."
Historical Verification. The book demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to chronological accuracy, using multiple historical and astronomical references to validate prophetic timelines.
Chronological Methods:
- Cross-referencing multiple historical sources
- Using astronomical calculations
- Examining ancient governmental records
- Analyzing scriptural internal references
Scientific Approach. The work shows that biblical prophecy is not mystical speculation but a rigorously documented historical and predictive framework.
5. The Future of Geopolitical Transformations
"Democracy in its full development is one of the surest roads to despotism."
Prophetic Political Insights. The book suggests that global political structures will undergo significant transformations, potentially leading to the emergence of a powerful, charismatic global leader.
Potential Political Scenarios:
- Fragmentation of existing power structures
- Rise of a unified yet complex political system
- Emergence of a leader with extraordinary capabilities
- Potential conflict between existing and emerging powers
Geopolitical Interpretation. The prophecies suggest that political developments are not random but part of a larger, predetermined narrative.
6. The Concept of Gentile Dispensation
"Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in."
Theological Transition. The book explores the concept of a temporary shift in divine focus from the Jewish people to the Gentile nations, describing a unique period of spiritual opportunity.
Key Theological Principles:
- Temporary spiritual hardening of Israel
- Opportunity for Gentile spiritual inclusion
- Eventual restoration of Israel's spiritual prominence
- Divine plan of redemption transcending ethnic boundaries
Spiritual Dynamics. The prophecy suggests a complex, dynamic relationship between divine providence and human spiritual response.
7. The Coming Global Political Leader
"A king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up."
Prophetic Portrait. The book describes a future political leader with extraordinary capabilities, emerging from a specific geopolitical context.
Leader's Characteristics:
- Exceptional strategic intelligence
- Ability to manipulate political systems
- Unprecedented diplomatic and military skills
- Potential for global transformation
Geopolitical Implications. The prophecy suggests a leader who will dramatically reshape global political structures.
8. Interpreting Apocalyptic Visions
"Narrowness of interpretation is the bane of apocalyptic study."
Hermeneutical Approach. The book emphasizes a nuanced, multi-layered approach to interpreting prophetic visions, avoiding both literal fundamentalism and overly symbolic interpretations.
Interpretative Principles:
- Recognize multiple levels of meaning
- Avoid reductive interpretations
- Maintain theological and historical context
- Remain open to progressive understanding
Scholarly Methodology. The work demonstrates a sophisticated approach to biblical interpretation.
9. The Spiritual Significance of Prophecy
"Prophecy is not given to enable us to prophesy, but as a witness to God when the time comes."
Theological Purpose. Prophecy serves a deeper spiritual purpose beyond mere prediction, offering insights into divine plans and human spiritual potential.
Spiritual Dimensions:
- Providing hope and perspective
- Demonstrating divine foreknowledge
- Offering spiritual guidance
- Revealing broader redemptive purposes
Transformative Potential. Prophecy is presented as a tool for spiritual understanding and transformation.
10. The Intersection of Divine Providence and Human History
"The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will."
Theological Perspective. The book presents history as a complex interaction between divine sovereignty and human agency, suggesting a purposeful unfolding of global events.
Philosophical Insights:
- Divine superintendence of historical processes
- Human free will within a larger framework
- Purposeful progression of global events
- Spiritual significance of political developments
Holistic Worldview. The prophecies offer a comprehensive understanding of history's spiritual dimensions.
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FAQ
1. What is "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson about?
- Focus on Daniel’s Prophecy: The book is a detailed study of the prophecy of the "Seventy Weeks" found in the Book of Daniel, exploring its meaning, historical context, and fulfillment.
- Messiah and End Times: Anderson argues that Daniel’s prophecy precisely predicts the coming of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and outlines future events, including the rise of the Antichrist.
- Chronological Analysis: The author uses historical chronology and biblical exegesis to calculate the timeline from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the arrival of "Messiah the Prince."
- Defense of Scripture: The book also serves as a defense of the authenticity and divine inspiration of the Book of Daniel against higher criticism and skepticism.
2. Why should I read "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson?
- Prophetic Insight: The book offers a unique and influential interpretation of biblical prophecy, especially for those interested in eschatology and the intersection of history and scripture.
- Historical and Scholarly Approach: Anderson combines rigorous historical research with biblical analysis, providing a model for how to approach prophetic texts.
- Faith Affirmation: For believers, the book strengthens faith in the accuracy and reliability of the Bible by demonstrating fulfilled prophecy.
- Influence on Modern Thought: "The Coming Prince" has shaped much of modern evangelical and dispensationalist thinking about the end times and the identity of the Antichrist.
3. What are the key takeaways from "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson?
- Seventy Weeks Prophecy: Anderson concludes that Daniel’s "Seventy Weeks" prophecy is a precise prediction of the timeline leading to Jesus’ public presentation as Messiah.
- Prophetic Year Calculation: He argues that the prophetic year is 360 days, not the standard solar year, and uses this to calculate the fulfillment of the prophecy to the exact day.
- Future Fulfillment: The final "week" (seven years) of Daniel’s prophecy is yet to be fulfilled and will involve the rise of the Antichrist, a future world ruler.
- Scriptural Reliability: The book defends the historical and prophetic reliability of the Book of Daniel, countering higher criticism and skepticism.
4. How does Robert Anderson interpret the "Seventy Weeks" prophecy in Daniel?
- Starting Point: Anderson identifies the decree of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 445 B.C. as the starting point for the prophecy.
- Prophetic Years: He calculates the "weeks" as periods of seven years, using a 360-day prophetic year.
- Messiah’s Arrival: The 69 weeks (483 years) lead precisely to the day Jesus entered Jerusalem as Messiah (Palm Sunday, 6th April, A.D. 32).
- Gap Before Final Week: The 70th week is separated from the first 69 by a gap (the present church age), with the final week still to come.
5. What is Anderson’s method for calculating the timeline of Daniel’s prophecy in "The Coming Prince"?
- Historical Decree: He uses the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2) as the starting date: 1st Nisan, 445 B.C. (14th March, 445 B.C.).
- Prophetic Year Length: Anderson adopts a 360-day year, based on biblical and ancient Near Eastern calendars.
- Day Count: He multiplies 69 weeks by 7 years by 360 days, arriving at 173,880 days.
- Fulfillment Date: Counting forward, he lands on 6th April, A.D. 32, the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
6. What does "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson say about the Antichrist?
- Future World Ruler: Anderson identifies the "coming prince" of Daniel 9:26-27 as the Antichrist, a future political leader.
- Role in Final Week: The Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel for seven years, breaking it halfway through, leading to a period of great tribulation.
- Connection to Revelation: Anderson links the Antichrist to the "Beast" of Revelation, emphasizing his global influence and persecution of believers.
- Distinct from Messiah: The Antichrist is contrasted with Christ, being a counterfeit who will ultimately be destroyed at Christ’s second coming.
7. How does Robert Anderson address higher criticism and skepticism about the Book of Daniel in "The Coming Prince"?
- Historical Defense: Anderson refutes claims that Daniel was written in the Maccabean era by demonstrating its historical accuracy and fulfilled prophecy.
- Linguistic Arguments: He addresses criticisms about the language and style of Daniel, arguing that the presence of Persian and Greek words is explainable.
- Canon Placement: Anderson explains why Daniel is placed among the "Writings" in the Jewish canon, not because of late authorship, but due to Daniel’s role as a statesman rather than a prophet in the traditional sense.
- Prophetic Fulfillment: He asserts that the precise fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecies is strong evidence for its authenticity and divine inspiration.
8. What are the main concepts and terms explained in "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson?
- Prophetic Year: Defined as a 360-day year, used in biblical prophecy.
- Seventy Weeks: A period of 490 years (70 x 7), divided into 7, 62, and 1 week(s).
- Messiah the Prince: Title for Jesus Christ, whose coming is predicted by Daniel.
- The Coming Prince: Title for the Antichrist, a future world leader.
- Gap Theory: The idea that there is a gap between the 69th and 70th week, corresponding to the church age.
9. How does "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson connect Old Testament prophecy with New Testament events?
- Direct Fulfillment: Anderson shows that Daniel’s prophecy points directly to the life and ministry of Jesus, especially his entry into Jerusalem.
- Typology and Foreshadowing: He interprets Old Testament events and figures as types or foreshadowings of New Testament realities.
- Chronological Harmony: The book demonstrates how Old Testament timelines align with New Testament history when using the prophetic year.
- Validation of Christ’s Messiahship: The fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy in Jesus’ life is presented as evidence for his identity as the Messiah.
10. What is the significance of the "prophetic year" in "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson?
- 360-Day Year: Anderson argues that biblical prophecy uses a 360-day year, not the 365.25-day solar year.
- Basis in Scripture: He cites Daniel and Revelation, where periods of "time, times, and half a time," "42 months," and "1,260 days" are equated.
- Crucial for Calculations: This definition is essential for his calculation of the 69 weeks leading to the Messiah.
- Historical Precedent: The 360-day year was used in ancient calendars, supporting his interpretation.
11. What are the best quotes from "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson and what do they mean?
- "From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks..." – This is the foundational verse (Daniel 9:25) that Anderson interprets as a precise prophecy of Christ’s coming.
- "There is a point beyond which unbelief is impossible, and the mind, in refusing truth, must take refuge in a misbelief which is sheer credulity." – Anderson argues that the evidence for fulfilled prophecy is so strong that disbelief becomes irrational.
- "Prophecy is not given to enable us to prophesy, but as a witness to God when the time comes." – He emphasizes that prophecy’s purpose is to confirm faith after fulfillment, not to predict the future for its own sake.
- "The Coming Prince is there presented as the head of the revived Roman empire of the future, and a persecutor of the saints." – This summarizes Anderson’s view of the Antichrist’s role in end-times prophecy.
12. How has "The Coming Prince" by Robert Anderson influenced modern Christian thought and prophecy interpretation?
- Dispensationalism and End Times: The book is foundational for dispensationalist interpretations of prophecy, especially the idea of a future seven-year tribulation.
- Popularization of the Prophetic Year: Anderson’s 360-day year calculation is widely adopted in evangelical prophecy teaching.
- Antichrist Identification: His identification of the "coming prince" as the Antichrist has shaped much of modern eschatology.
- Apologetic Value: The book is often cited in Christian apologetics as evidence for the supernatural nature of biblical prophecy and the messiahship of Jesus.
Review Summary
The Coming Prince receives largely positive reviews, praised for its detailed analysis of Daniel's prophecies and biblical chronology. Readers appreciate Anderson's defense of literal prophecy fulfillment and his insights on end-times events. Some find the writing style challenging or outdated. Critics question certain interpretations, but many consider it a foundational work on dispensationalism. The book is particularly noted for its precise calculations of prophetic timelines and its argument for a future 70th week of Daniel. Reviewers commend Anderson's scholarship and devotion to biblical truth.
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