Christian Zionism - New Life Tabernacle of Chattanooga

1.4.2 Symbolic Literalism
Although Christian Zionists insist scripture must be interpreted literally, they
have not always been consistent themselves. Indeed even Scofield conceded
‘It is then permitted - while holding firmly the historical verity - reverently to
spiritualize the historical scriptures.’ 719 David Brickner’s hermeneutic
illustrates this tension. In his interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27 he first of all
requires a figurative interpretation of the term ‘week’. 720 ‘He is not speaking of
literal weeks but of periods of time, each a period of seven years.’ 721
However, in order to give a futurist reading to Daniel’s prophecy and apply it
to today, it is also necessary for dispensationalists to place a ‘parenthesis’ of
2000 years between the 69 th and 70 th week when the prophetic clock was
inexplicably stopped in mid-verse. Daniel 9:26 reads, ‘After the sixty-two
‘sevens’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of
the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will
come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been
decreed.’ Brickner claims that the prophecy has not been completely fulfilled.
The first half of the verse was fulfilled in 70 AD but apparently one ‘seven’ of
the seventy still remains in Brickner’s words, ‘to be played out’. He argues,
‘But there seems to be a break in Daniel's countdown; he indicates a time
lapse between the sixty-ninth seven and the final seven … the past 2000
years have been a parenthesis in Daniel’s prophecy and we await that final
seven.’
718
Jeffrey, Messiah, op.cit., pp137-154.
719
C.I. Scofield, Scofield Bible Correspondence Course, (Chicago, Moody Bible Institute,
1907), pp45-46.
720
This obscure passage so popular with dispensational futurists reads, ‘Seventy “sevens”
are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to
atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy
and to anoint the most holy. Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to
restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven
“sevens,” and sixty-two “sevens.” It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of
trouble. After the sixty-two “sevens,” the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing.
The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will
come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He
will confirm a covenant with many for one “seven.” In the middle of the “seven” he will put
an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing {of the Temple} he will set up an
abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
(Daniel 9:24-27).
721 Brickner, Future, op.cit., p17.
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