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!
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Shane K. Morin <><
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