The prophecies and knowledge given to Daniel by Gabriel, was not exclusively available to Israel, but the gentile nations in the east, under Daniel’s influence, during Israel’s Babylonian captivity centuries before, knew the times and the signs of the times. These people diligently monitored the time and watched for the signs that were given to Daniel and arrived in Israel to worship the King of the Jews that was born - as his birth was also signalled by a specific and unique star. The exact description of this information is not evident and it is very possible that Daniel was given more information than what was written down in the book of Daniel. To verify this assumption, we can look at the following verse from Revelation, where John was shown more than what was written down:
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Is it not interesting that the gentiles of the day, in the times of Jesus, knew the exact timing of the birth of the King of the Jews, while Israel did not? The same seems to be true for the second coming of Israel’s Messiah.
Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
In this passage we have wise men from the east, belonging to the gentile nations who were the first to recognize the celestial event that indicated the birth of Israel’s Messiah. These men retained the knowledge that Daniel conveyed to their ancestors and were able to identify the time of the birth of Israel’s Messiah that was accompanied by a celestial marker. The fact that they are called wise men is also interesting as the Bible refers to these people as having very specific characteristics as can be seen below:
Est 1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
So wise men are people in God’s eyes who know and can discern the times. I think you will agree with me that based on the signs that have been discussed above, that God’s words in Genesis and Leviticus are shown to be true. Evidence from secular- and Biblical history, recorded celestial signs pointing out and marking the fulfilment of prophecies with regard to God’s appointed times. God did have a special purpose in mind for the sun the moon and the stars when He created them and fashioned them in such a way that they would signal God’s appointed times. Very specific prophecies were accompanied by very unique and unusual celestial signals on very specific days prophesied by God in Leviticus that occurred during the times of Jesus.
At the time that Yeshuah presented himself as Israel’s Messiah, as was prophesied to Daniel, God’s appointed times started off and was accomplished with Yeshuah fulfilling the first 4 feasts or Spring Feasts as they are otherwise known in a single year.
Yeshuah was born of a virgin and his birth was both prophesied and signalled by a star that was recognised by gentile wise men from the east. Yeshuah then presented himself as the suffering Messiah riding on the back of a foal as prophesied by Zechariah and became the long anticipated Passover Lamb whose blood would be shed once for the remission of the world’s sin on the day of Passover. This event was signalled and accompanied by a massive 3-hour eclipse that signalled the fulfilment to Israel and the world of the First Feast day of the Lord. Yeshuah was the unleavened bread – the only person ever to live on this earth without sin and He presented himself to God as the First Fruits of the Harvest of souls that would have their access to God restored on the day of his resurrection. 50 Days later, the Holy Spirit was poured out on another appointed day – the Day of Pentecost – the beginning of the period of God’s Church on earth and issuing in the beginning of the time of the Gentiles. Israel failed to recognize their Messiah during his first tenure on earth, even though Israel was in the process of keeping the Feast days as instructed. This, combined with the fact that God gave incredible celestial signs, visible to all, that signalled the fulfilment of one of the appointed times given by God, lead to Jesus pronouncing partial blindness over Israel for not knowing, the day of their visitation.
What is also interesting to note here is that it was only Passover that was marked by a celestial sign, the Feasts of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost, did not have celestial markers recorded against them. The reason for this is that God’s celestial markers points out the start of a series that is fulfilled. In this case it marked the start of the Spring Feasts. We also know that the Feasts of the Lord are associated with specific seasons that they occur in as can be seen below:
Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
For the Spring Feasts, Israel was told to observe Passover and given intervals to count for the Feasts following after Passover. So we can see a linkage between Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost. They occur in the same season and have specific intervals that have to be counted starting at Passover. The next set that is described takes place in Israel’s harvest time. It starts on the first day of the seventh month, which falls on one of two possible days. These Feasts occur in a different season – about 6 months apart – and as with the first set, God will mark the start of the second set with a celestial marker.
Looking at the end of the Spring Feasts we know that this series ended on the day of Pentecost and history has shown us that about 2,000 years have passed since that day.