Hello
Friends!
Welcome
back
to our Encouraging Concepts Bible
study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book
of Daniel painted as a panoramic
landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in
ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago…
“The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT
& FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST,
PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 9: Verses 24-27)
24 Seventy
weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the
transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for
iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision
and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore
and understand, that 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: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even
in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall
Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that
shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall
be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And
he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the
week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the
overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation,
and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate – Daniel
9:24-27
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: How can “we” begin to make meaningful sense of this very CRUCIAL providential PROPHECY of the manifested MESSIANIC mandate when so MANY godly and highly educated scholars
have made such a mediated MESS of their often conflicting and contradicting
interpretations of this PROMISED passage? As always, Biblical “understanding” can ONLY come
when “we” humbly RELY on
the “Holy Spirit” and do “our” very BEST to allow the
Sovereign “Scripture” be our
guaranteed GUIDE to a proper projection of this PROPHETIC passage
– To HIS Great GLORY!
The Seventy Weeks DETERMINED!
The literal
translation of the term "seventy weeks" is actually seventy-sevens succinctly.
It is quite evident that the "sevens" here really refer to calendar YEARS as in
“seven years” to each PROPHETIC progressive “week” progressed. Aa a result the
diligent “Daniel” was overtly occupied in rigorously READING the Biblical “books” and eagerly ENGAGING in personal “prayer” concerning the “seventy years” of the besieging “Babylonian” captivity. And now the angel “Gabriel” was Sovereignly “sent” to rightly REVEAL to
him something Divinely “determined” for the FUTURE tense of which will
take place in seventy-sevens meaning seventy “times” the
“seven years” solidified. The PROPHETICLY provided proof that such IS indeed
the case is firmly furnished by the final FULFILLMENT of this powerfully – Perfect PROPHECY!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: As the HISTORICAL narrative mined
from the Old Testament book of 2 Kings dictates, the jaundice man “Jehoiakim” (otherwise known as “Eliakim”) was piously PLACED on the torrid “throne” as the “king of Judah” by the maniacal man “Pharaohnechoh”
to sickly succeed
his brother “Jehoahaz” both of whom were
the WICKED sons of the GODLY man “Josiah” who himself had
lovingly led the FINAL righteous revival of the “kings” presiding over
the “Jewish” nation:
Josiah was eight years old when
he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his
mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that
which was right in the sight of the Lord,
and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the
right hand or to the left – 2 Kings 22:1-2
And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim
the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to
Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there. And
Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to
give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver
and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation,
to give it unto Pharaohnechoh. Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he
began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name
was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. And he did that which was evil
in the sight of the Lord,
according to all that his fathers had done –
2 Kings 23:34-37
The
following passage further pondered in the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles practically provides
the whole HISTORICAL backdrop to the purposed “prayer” of the aged “Daniel” along with the powerful PROPHECY that
was “God's” actual “appointed” apt answer
to the personal “prayer”
petitioned by the “beloved of heaven”
as provided PERFECTLY within the victorious verses
24-27 of chapter 9 in our
serious “study” series:
Then the people of the land took
Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in
Jerusalem. Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And the king of Egypt put him down at
Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent
of gold. And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and
Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his
brother, and carried him to Egypt. Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when
he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that
which was evil in the sight of the Lord his
God. Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in
fetters, to carry him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of
the house of the Lord to
Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. Now the rest of the acts of
Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him,
behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and
Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. Jehoiachin was eight years old when he
began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he
did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar
sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of
the Lord, and made Zedekiah
his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. Zedekiah was one and twenty years
old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did
that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his
God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the
mouth of the Lord. And he
also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but
he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel. Moreover all
the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the
abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in
Jerusalem. And the Lord God
of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and
sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his
prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose
against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them
the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house
of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or
him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels
of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of
the Lord, and the treasures
of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they
burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the
palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And
them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they
were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: To
fulfil the word of the Lord by
the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as
she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years – 2
Chronicles 36:1-21
Notice
the words of WARNING such as "abominations"
and "desolation" utilized
here. They are depicting the abrupt “abominations” that CAUSED the
dire "desolation"
that was Divinely dispatched UPON
insolent “Israel” itself. WHY? Because of their DISOBEDIENCE directed towards “God” and His caring “commandments” consummated – Fateful FOLLY!
In
fact, earlier in chapter 9 through
his pondered “prayers” unto
the great “God of heaven” the
prophet “Daniel” extols the
firm FACT that the pragmatic “people
of Israel” had ALL been uniformly UNFAITHFUL and thus belligerently brought
these destructive "desolations"
upon themselves for a full “seventy
years” total…
In the first year of his reign I
Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of
the Lord came to
Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations
of Jerusalem – Daniel 9:2
Then
“Daniel” further pleaded in CONFESSION through
his petitioned “prayer” that
the "desolations"
are the PROPER Divine response to his city “Jerusalem’s” terrible “transgression” traced AGAINST the
“law of Moses” mandated:
Yea, all Israel have transgressed
thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the
curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the
servant of God, because we have sinned against him – Daniel
9:11
The
“curse” and subsequent “oath” from within the “Law of Moses” of which “Daniel” cites here is found
in the Old Testament book of Leviticus in where the "desolations" are purposely PROPHESIED and
he was certainly familiar with this CONDITIONAL promise:
And if ye will not be reformed by
me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; Then will I also walk
contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I
will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and
when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence
among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. And when I
have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one
oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat,
and not be satisfied. And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk
contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even
I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of
your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. And I will destroy
your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the
carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. And I will make your
cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell
the savour of your sweet odours. And I will bring the land into desolation: and
your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter
you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall
be desolate, and your cities waste. Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as
long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the
land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest;
because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it. And upon them
that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the
lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and
they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none
pursueth. And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when
none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies. And ye
shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies'
lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with
them. If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers,
with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have
walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and
have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised
hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac,
and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the
land. The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while
she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of
their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because
their soul abhorred my statutes. And yet for all that, when they be in the land
of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to
destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God. But I will for
their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out
of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I
am the Lord. These are the
statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made
between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses – Leviticus
26:23-45
“Moses” had predicted that the
CONSEQUENCE to national REBELLION would be
a complete “destruction” of the “city” and a scattering
of the “people of Israel” sent throughout
the entire EARTH for a very long time. And yet “Daniel” had known
that because “Jeremiah” had perfectly PROPHESIED a
righteous RESTORATION after specifically “seventy
years” of dire “desolation” and “astonishment” of angst that “God” would KEEP His word:
And this whole
land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve
the king of Babylon seventy years – Jeremiah
25:11
For thus saith
the Lord, That after
seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good
word toward you, in causing you to return to this place – Jeremiah 29:10
The apt ANSWERS to the
personal “prayer” concerns of which “Daniel” humbly pours
out to “God” are very precisely
addressed in these purposeful – PROPHETIC Points!
The Vision and Prophecy SEALED!
PROPHETIC PROMISE: This is quite possibly the most deeply DIFFICULT and
coveted controversial passage found in the ENTIRE Bible.
However, as “we” seriously “ study” these FOUR vital
verses honestly and carefully to find
what we might “learn” from
within the TEXT itself, we WILL come to some confident conclusions
considered. The specific “time”
period of "seventy weeks"
aptly appends to a Divine deadline of which applies DIRECTLY to
the “Jews” themselves. It also
seems that the introduction of the PROPHECY often
purported by the aged man “Daniel”
contained herein has been literally FULFILLED in
the perfect luminous Life, magnificent Ministry,
dire Death,
righteous Resurrection and appointed Ascension of our loving “Lord” Himself – Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
The
angel “Gabriel's” main “message” meant for “Daniel” will rightly REVEAL that
his “people” and “Hebrew” hometown of “Jerusalem” would be RESTORED in
an answer to his particular “prayer” preponderance. However, this plan is accompanied
by further REVELATION that a new deadline is Divinely
“determined” to the “people” and the “holy city” in kind:
Seventy weeks are determined upon
thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an
end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in
everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to
anoint the most Holy – Daniel 9:24
Within
this PROPHETIC progression SIX factors MUST either be done by the “Jews” or take place in
the city of “Jerusalem”
itself:
ONE: The “Jews” must have a "finish” to their tragic “transgression" in full
due to the mindful MURDERING of their “Messiah”
mandated ~ Jesus Christ!
TWO::Their
“sins” must “end” in full by the
Sovereign SACRIFICE of their “Messiah”
mandated ~ Jesus Christ!
THREE: Their
“iniquity” must be “reconciled” for in full
through the atoning DEATH
of their “Messiah” mandated ~ Jesus Christ!
FOUR: An “everlasting righteousness” must “bring” an ending in full
to the Old Covenant sacrificial
system through their “Messiah”
mandated ~ Jesus Christ!
FIVE: This
“vision and prophecy” must be
“sealed” up in full
through spiritual BLINDNESS to an “understanding”
of the Sovereign “scriptures”
fulfilled IN their “Messiah” mandated ~ Jesus Christ!
SIX: The “Most Holy” One (Qodesh Qodashim) must be “anointed” in full at
His BAPTISM as their “Messiah” mandated ~ Jesus Christ!
IMPORTANT INSIGHT: Wise readers will note
that the total DESTRUCTION of the city “Jerusalem” is definitely NOT mentioned
in these SIX events. WHY? Because this PROPHESIED incident in “Israel” would occur during the
final – 70th Week!
Therefore,
“Daniel” was to “Know” and therefore “understand” this poignant PROPECHY of
which was NOT overtly
obscure. Here the “Most Holy”
is spoken of from the PROPHETIC perspective in that HE is now “anointed” as their “Messiah the Prince” righteous reference
to our Sovereign sweet “Savior” spoken of as Jesus Christ Himself…
The magnificent “Messiah” He was appropriately “anointed” with the “Holy
Ghost” at His baptism
event:
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias.
And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel
to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance
to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord – Luke
4:17-19
That word, I say, ye know, which
was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism
which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of
the devil; for God was with him – Romans 10:37-38
Both
Greek and
Hebrew words
for “Messiah” succinctly mean
"Anointed One" in
kind remembering that "Prince"
in the Hebrew language does NOT mean the son of a king but
rather a ranking RULER as
such. Therefore, this anticipated apt "anointing" was correctly CONSIDERED to be a concerted – Condition of KINGSHIP!
KNOW and UNDERSTAND!
We are to “Know” and
“understand” this perfect PROPHECY predicted and there is NOTHING deeply difficult dictated here:
Know therefore and understand,
that 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:
the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times – Daniel
9:25
Amazingly “Messiah
the Prince” would arrive EXACTLY after 69 weeks concluding the coronated “commandment” to literally “restore
and to build Jerusalem”
once “again” as
perfectly – PROPHESIED in Full!
Rightly DIVIDING God’s WORD!
It is quite CLEAR that
the “finishing” of the “transgression” rightly refers to the END of
sordid “sins” and the ATTONEMENT for “iniquity” has a special meaning for the nigh “nation” of insolent “Israel” as a whole. Those 69 WEEKS of predictive PROPHECY bring us up to the sinless LIFE of
our Mighty “Messiah” but
they do NOT yet intentionally INCLUDE Him. And as a righteous RESULT these “seventy years” as waning WEEKS are
decidedly divided into THREE Sovereign segments
as follows:
FIRST: The “seven weeks” equates to 7 x 7 = 49
years. During these specific YEARS the
sordid “street” and the waning “wall” set in the “city” of jeering “Jerusalem” was to be rightly REBUILT and the complete “restoration” aptly accomplished in full.
The righteous reckoning of this SPECIFIC
trying “time” boldly begins during the “month” of
“Nisan” in the year 445 B.C. when
the consummation “command” was gloriously GIVEN according to Nehemiah himself:
And it
came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king,
that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king.
Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence… And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that
he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which
appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that
I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my
God upon me… – Nehemiah 2:1 & 8
There
was a certain “commandment”
commencing “Israel” to rightly
“restore and to build Jerusalem”
until their "Messiah the Prince"
would arrive. Thus, this everlasting event starting the HISTORICAL hands of
this PROPHETIC clock for this PARTICULAR period should have been well “known” and rightly RECOGNIZED by the “Jews” as it
was given by the “Gentile” ruler “Cyrus the Persian” himself. There was a “seven week” period of tumultuous “time” that covered completely
these dreadfully DIFFICULT yearning YEARS of concerted construction
on the “street” and the “wall” itself as they are boldly “built again” and chronicled throughout
other Old Testament narratives such as of “Ezra” and “Esther” along with “Haggai” and “Zechariah” in kind. The “troublous times” of this righteous rebuilding project
are WELL documented within these beautiful “books” marvelously. In fact, many
Chronologers have PERFECTLY pieced together these DATES dictated
within the Holy “Scriptures” to confidently CONFRIM a total of 49 years in
boldly – Building AGAIN!
SECOND: The “threescore and two weeks” equate to 62 x 7 = 434
years. At the CLOSE of these YEARS themselves (483 total years from the “month” of “Nisan” in 445 B. C.) is a startling PROPHECY pertaining to the DEATH of
none other than Jesus
Christ the mandated “Messiah” of Whom was outright REJECTED by His “Jewish” pious “people” living in “Israel” and thus NOT rightly receiving
the coming “Kingdom” of which BELONGS only to HIM alone as the Sovereign summoning
of the “Son of David” as purposely PROMISED
precisely…
The
book of the generation of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham – Matthew 1:1
And Jesus answered
and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is
the son of David? – Mark
12:36
Concerning
his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the
seed of David according to the flesh – Romans 1:3
These 62 weeks of 434 years eventually EXPIRED on the EXACT deadly “day” of
which our “Lord” Himself rode into “Jerusalem” for the LAST trying “time”
deemed during that woeful WEEK our Sovereign sweet
“Savior” died – Cross CRUCIFIED!
Rejoice greatly,
O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh
unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and
upon a colt the foal of an ass – Zechariah 9:9
And when they drew nigh unto
Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent
Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you,
and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and
bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord
hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the
daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an
ass, and a colt the foal of an ass… – Matthew 21:1-5
And the “Jews”
were in eager EXPECTATION for the PROPHESIED arrival of their “Messiah” to come. WHY? Because these 69 weeks had expired
in full…
And as
the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John,
whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with
water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy
to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and
will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire
unquenchable – Luke 3:15-17
HISTORICAL HINTS: The previous PROPHECY pondered in chapter eight concerning Antiochus Epiphanes and the Maccabees have occurred during this
point in HISTORY past. And most
of the PROPHECIES found in
chapter ten through chapter twelve depicting the back
and forth wicked WARS
fought between the Seleucids
and Ptolemies were faithfully FULFILLED during this “time” period. It was truly HISTORY woefully
“written” down – In ADVANCE!
THIRD: Then we have a remarkable PROPHECY concerning the fickle fate of “Jerusalem” after the “nation” of “Israel” rankly rejected their
mandated “Messiah the Prince” as HE was cunningly “cut off” but “not for Himself” at all:
And after threescore and two
weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the
prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end
thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined – Daniel 9:26
The powerful “people of the prince” of whom “shall come” are the sure SUBJECT of the second independent clause claimed
here. Therefore,
the CLEAR language intently INDICATES by the future tense this “coming” aptly AFTER the
corrupt “cutting off” of the “Messiah” Himself. And these “people” did surely “come” sometime AFTER those
particular 69 weeks just as
poignantly PROMISED in
full. However, they are NOT
tied to the timetable itself. Not to mention, these
particular “people” and their
partitioning “prince” are also
NOT at all listed
in the SIX
factors of the full 70 weeks
mentioned (above) within – Verse 24!
HISTORICAL HINTS: General Titus
Vespasian Augustus is no doubt the principle “prince” noted here, although he was LATER named
as Caesar
in kind. This approaching ARMY arranged a “war”
campaign exactly as perfectly PROPHESIED to totally “destroy” the captive “city” and the temple “sanctuary” along with MUCH of surrounding “Judah” in kind. And as a righteous result
it was fatally FINISHED
with a flowing “flood” of
finality by overtly overwhelming the jeering “Jerusalem” jurisdiction leaving it – Absolutely DESOLATE!
One
of the most IMPORTANT events soundly “spoken”
of within the New Testament
narrative is the “destruction”
of “Jerusalem” and was announced
quite OFTEN by the apostolic “Apostles”
along WITH our loving “Lord
Jesus Christ” Himself. In fact, within the brilliant “books” of the Synoptic “Gospel” accounts Matthew Chapter 24 and Mark Chapter 13 and Luke Chapters 19, 21
& 23 is provided PROPHETIC descriptive
details of this dire “destruction”
delivered through a deeply “desolating”
directive – Willful WAR!
The “Messiah” was to be “cut off” in death AFTER these sordid 69 weeks (7 weeks + 62 weeks) in this PROPHECY regarding HIMSELF and was “crucified” directly DURING the following 70th week due to the “sins” of His “people”
in the “Jewish” lineage.
Therefore, His atoning detailed DEATH foretold in this powerful PROMISE purports the sacrificial SUBSTITUTION surmised as “He” Himself was coarsely “cut off” for others
in full. And although it does NOT
tell us exactly WHEN in
the 70th
week itself, the very NEXT
vital verse – Indeed DOES!
The KEY to Eschatology: “HE” ~
Antichrist OR Jesus Christ… WHICH One?
Now “we”
embark upon quite possibly the most CONTROVERSIAL constructed “covenant” conversation within ALL of
the Eschatological halls of “Holy Writ” itself:
And he shall confirm the covenant
with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations
he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined
shall be poured upon the desolate – Daniel 9:27
Here we find
that “He” Himself would “confirm the covenant” with “many” and put an END to
religious “sacrifice and the oblation” and YEARS later “Jerusalem” would be utterly DESTROYED in full – DURING the 70th Week!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: This profound PROPHECY has
a Christological firm focus throughout its chronology
as Jesus
Christ is the CLEAR subject. His sacrificial ATONEMENT is
the theological core center
of this perfect PROPHECY and
the culmination of the “Hebrew”
Prophets' personal HOPES
for the “nation” of “Israel” and ALL vital
"vision and prophecy"
are indeed "sealed up"
in – Him ALONE!
Note
that the text does NOT say that “He”
would “confirm the covenant for one week”
itself. Rather, that “He shall confirm the
covenant with many for one week” as such. The certain “week” intended by the text
fits the CONTEXT of the preceding passages.
Earlier in verse 25 is given 7 weeks + 62
weeks until this “Messiah the
Prince” arrives. And verse 26
says that AFTER that second period of 62 weeks (total of 69 weeks), the “Messiah” Himself will be "cut off" in His devoted DEATH on
the cross. Therefore, AFTER the totality of 69 weeks logically indicates
a torrid “time” deemed – DURING the 70th
Week!
The Jews ONLY!
For the INITIAL solemn “seven years” of their “Gospel” powered proclamation of
sure SALVATION surmised, the “Apostles” of “Jesus Christ” had gone ONLY unto the “Jewish” populous:
But go rather to
the lost sheep of the house of Israel – Matthew
10:6
But he answered
and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel – Matthew 15:24
But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth – Acts 1:8
This perfect PROPECHY finely fulfilled that which the angel “Gabriel” purported unto “Daniel” applying ONLY to his own “people” of the “Hebrews” and their “city” for certain – JERUSALEM!
No MORE Sacrifices!
The New Testament book
to the Hebrews was wonderfully “written” to practically PROVE and entirely EXPLAIN this
evident “end of the sacrifices and oblations” detailed in the Old Testament book
of Leviticus itself. As a righteous RESULT the subjected subsequent
temple RITUALS of the “Jews”
were now idolatrous ABOMINATIONS abhorred. WHY?
Because they continued to take place AFTER the
purposed permanent Sovereign SACRIFICE of the “Son of God” Himself prior
to the year 70
A.D. when
the Romans besieged and levelled “Jerusalem” in
a massive slaughter. Therefore, “desolation”
resulted and has CONTINUED concurrently century
after century for MOST of the subsequent 2000 years. This
was the terrible PUNISHMENT that “God” had
widely warned insolent “Israel” about
in the second half of the looming LAMENTS found
listed within Leviticus Chapter 26
itself. And so “we” can decidedly DISCERN the intense – IMPORTANCE of THIS Prophecy!
QUIZZING QUESTIONS: Exactly WHEN does Jesus Christ
as “Messiah the Prince” Himself “cause” the “sacrifice and oblation to cease”
thus, putting an everlasting “end"
to this OLD Covenant order? This terrific text precisely
says that this ONE-TIME
event would take place "in the midst of
the week" meaning the 70th
week specifically DURING which “Messiah”
would “confirm the covenant with many”
people to fully FINISH His wonderful work:
When Jesus
therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his
head, and gave up the ghost – John 19:30
Is it a coincidence that the public MINISTRY of
the “Anointed One” named Jesus Christ
lasted EXACTLY for that 3 ½ half
years (half a week) in full? Is it coincidence
that it was EXACTLY at the “end”
of His 3 ½ half year
magnificent MINISTRY that “Messiah” was “crucified” in
Sovereignly SEALING the coveted “covenant”
in His BLOOD and putting an “end”
to absolutely ALL solemn “sacrifices and oblations” forever? – NO Coincidences!
For the priesthood being changed,
there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these
things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance
at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which
tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more
evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another
priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the
power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment
going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made
nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw
nigh unto God – Hebrews 7:12-19
But now hath he obtained a more
excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant,
which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been
faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second – Hebrews
8:6-7
And for this
cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they
which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance – Hebrews 9:15
Of how much
sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith
he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of
grace? – Hebrews 10:29
And to Jesus the
mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh
better things than that of Abel – Hebrews
12:24
Now the God of
peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of
the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant – Hebrews 13:20
This is NOT a convenient coincidence
conceived. Rather, this is a “Messianic”
purveyed PROPHECY of the absolute – HIGHEST Order!
The NEW Covenant!
The
“Messiah” came to "confirm” the completed “covenant” of “God” with "many" people “chosen” from ALL the “nations” of the “world” and now not ONLY the
“Jews” themselves. Then, in
the MIDDLE of the “week”
the “Messiah” would “cause” the Old
Covenant system of “sacrifices
and oblations” to “end”
in full. And “He” did this by
His PERMANENT perfect one-time Sovereign SACRIFICE of
His substitutionary death “taking
away” the OLD system “ritual”
of religion to establish the necessary – NEW Covenant!
Above when he said, Sacrifice and
offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither
hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come
to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the
second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand
of God – Hebrews 10:8-12
This
poignant passage PROVES that the “Apostle
Paul” fully understood this final FULFILLMENT factor.
The “abominations” in QUESTION here
are the IDOLATROUS sordid “sacrifices
and oblations” of the “Jewish”
people who REJECTED God's permanent provision of
their “sins” through the
single SACRIFICE of His “Only Begotten
Son” the manifested “Messiah”
Himself. And “He” has CONFIRMED it in fact by His DEATH and
in revelation by the “preaching
of the Gospel” of His – Great GRACE!
For where a
testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator – Hebrews 9:16
The
final 27 books of the Bible of
which are ALL about “Messiah”
His “salvation” and a CHANGE from
the Levitical system of “Moses” referred to as the New Covenant complete – The New Testament!
This “covenant”
referred to here is NOT an antichristian covenant or
certain peace treaty with “Israel”
or any other idea that is READ into the text.
Rather, when we CAREFULLY draw the meaning out of the
text we FIND that the “covenant”
is intimately connected with the “Most Holy” the “Anointed Prince” the “Coming Prince” the “Anointed One” as Jesus Christ
Himself. It is the New Covenant in His shed BLOOD as the righteous “ransom
for many” in a “full assurance of faith” unfurled…
Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living
way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his
flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water – Hebrews
10:19-22
It
indeed EXPLAINS precisely WHY the jaundice “Jewish”
nigh “nation” of insolent “Israel” has severely SUFFERED so
much for so long with absolutely NO country
to call their own. And it was NOT the first
terrible “time” that the “God of heaven” had aptly ALLOWED such
"desolations" to
come UPON the “people of Israel” as such. However, these
"desolations" have
indeed become their granted “great tribulation” that was Sovereignly sent in 70 A.D.
due to a rank REJECTION of their mandated “Messiah”
the “Anointed Prince” and “Most Holy” Himself…
…For then shall
be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this
time, no, nor ever shall be – Matthew 24:21
Beloved,
it is absolutely AMAZING how even the most TRAGIC trying “times”
in human HISTORY make so
much plain sense as the pieces of the PROPHETIC puzzle
“rightly”
fall into their PROMISED places…
Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth – 2 Timothy 2:15
And
this tremendous “truth”
can ONLY happen when “Scripture”
is indeed CAREFULLY self “studied”
and allowed to “rightly”
interpret ITSELF in full ~
AMEN!
Praise the Lord Jesus
Christ!We
are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't
yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus
Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
