Daniels seventieth week(Dan.9:24-27)The 7 years of tribulation
The reason for the seven years of tribulation or Daniel’s seventieth week.
Daniel 9:24-27 (rothrham) “24 Seventy weeks, have been divided concerning thy people and concerning thy holy city—to put an end to the transgression, and fill up the measure of sin, and put a propitiatory-covering over iniquity, and bring in the righteousness of ages, and affix a seal the vision and prophecy, and anoint the holy of holies. 25 Thou must know, then, and understand: From the going forth of the Word to restore and to build Jerusalem—unto the Anointed One, the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks,—the broadway and the wall, shall again be built, even in the end of the times. 26 And, after the sixty-two weeks, shall the Anointed One, be cut off, and have, nothing,—and, the city and the sanctuary, will one destroy with the Prince, and so will his own end come with an overwhelming flood, howbeit, up to the full end of the war, are decreed astounding things. 27 And he will confirm a covenant to the many, for one week,—but, in the middle of the week, will cause sacrifice and present to cease, and, in his stead, shall be the horrid abomination that astoundeth, even till, a full end, and that a decreed one, shall be poured out on him that astoundeth.”
Daniel 9:24-27 (KJV) Seventy weeks [Greek-weeks- Shaw-boo'-ah seven’s = 70x7’s = 490 ;seventy sevens] are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, [Tribulation is determined upon Thy people and upon thy Holy city.This means three things. 1st.That tribulation is upon Daniels people the Jews and upon Daniels native city of Jerusalem. 2nd.That tribulation cannot be determined upon the people at any time in history while they have been scattered among the nations. 3rd.This also means that the Jews have to have complete control of Jerusalem before the seven years of tribulation can start. This will happen when the Antichrist/beast signs the seven year covenant with many and Israel. Israel will have peace and gain complete control of Palestine for 3 ½ years until the covenant is broken. The tribulation cannot start until this covenant is signed and Israel gains complete control of Palestine. The church also has to be taken out of the way before the Antichrist/beast can be revealed.2Ths.2:7-8 (rotherham) “For, the secret, of lawlessness, already, is inwardly working itself,—only, until, he that restraineth at present, shall be gone, out of the midst:” 8 “And, then, shall be revealed the lawless one,—whom, the Eloheem Yahshua, will slay with the Spirit of his mouth, and paralyse with the forthshining of his Presence:—”
[The reason for the seven years of tribulation is to bring Israel back to Eloheem (God). The six events of Daniel 9:24 have never been fulfilled by the nation of Israel as of yet. But will in the future tribulation (see notes below on Daniels seventieth week )
Dan.9: 25a.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 [Greek- Seven x Sevens=49yrs From the going forth of the commandment to restore the walls and to rebuild the streets it will take 49 years.
It took only 52 days to rebuild the walls but it took fourty nine years to restore the streets.] and Dan 9:25b.threescore and two weeks: [The completion of the rebuilding of the city 49+ 434=483]
Dan.9:25c.the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. aw-kar'; or affliction = The day of affliction the tribulation Isa.26:15
Nehemiah rebuilt the walls in 52 days Neh. 2:1-16 but this was by no means the full restoration of the streets of Jerusalem it took fourty nine years to complete this restoration.The true interputation of Greek is end of times we can find this in (Daniel 9:25 rothrham) “Thou must know, then, and understand: From the going forth of the Word to restore and to build Jerusalem—unto the Anointed One, the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks,—the broadway and the wall, shall again be built, even in the end of the times.” The streets will be built for the Messiah even in the end of times along with the walls and the Temple .
Dan.9:26a. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: [after 434 years and the 49years the Messiah will be crucified which was 30 .A.D. but not for himself but for us. There is a prophecy in Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. This prophecy is speaking of YAHWEH ,it was known in Hebrew tradition that the sun was manifested on the fourth day and the Messiah o/r YAHWEH would come on the fourth day or fourth millenium. YAHSHUA ( meaning YAHWEH is our saviour. )He came in the Hebrew year 3759 just before the fourth millenium expired . This is the reason that the Jewish people were looking for their Messiah when YASSHUA (Jesus) came. YASSHUA (Jesus) came with healing in his wings or corners of his prayer sha on the tassels or tsee-tseeth'; (hem of his garment ). ] Dan.9:26b.and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; [ The people of the prince ,not the prince destroyed the city ! The prince is the satanic prince that control’s the beast and the territory of the old Roman Empire in the future. The people were the Roman people that lived within the Roman Empire Territory who were obeying (the spirit’s of) the prince under Satan. This happened in 70 A.D. But the prince will come at the end of times out from within this territory.( see Mystery Babylon and the beast. ) Dan.9:26c. And the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolation’s are determined. (Daniel 9:26b. rotherham) “and so will his own end come with an overwhelming flood, howbeit, up to the full end of the war, are decreed astounding things.” [The flood is great tribulation upon the Jewish people. Desolation’s are determined upon Jerusalem and the Jewish people. This means that their will be more than one desolation because it is plural. 1st.time in 70 ad. And the 2nd.time during the great tribulation by the beast/antichrist. In the spiritual realm it was made desolate at the cross.
Luke 13:35 (KJV) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of YAHSHUA (the Lord). And will be desolate until just before his coming at the battle of Armageddon to set up his kingdom when all Jew’s except YAHSHUA (Jesus as Lord and saviour) Zech.3:9-10.]
Dan.9:27a. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: [The Prince that shall come in the future tribulation will make a 7 year covenant with many Nations.]Dan.9:27b.And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, [The Temple will be rebuilt where the third most sacred Muslim Mosque the Dome of the Rock is located. This means that something has to happen to this Mosque between now and the signing of the covenant .It could be an earthquake at or around the time of the resurrection of the church .The sacrifices will start and then they will be stopped by the beast in the middle of tribulation after 3 ½ years.]Dan.9:27c.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 9-27b. “rotherham”) and, in his stead, shall be the horrid abomination that astoundeth, even till, a full end, and that a decreed one, shall be poured out on him that astoundeth.” [Then the beast/prince/antichrist will set up Satan worship and make sacrifices to Satan in the Temple and worship of himself as a god then This decree shall be poured out upon him the beast who sets up the abominations.]
(1a.)The interpretation of the seventy weeks.
- "Seventy weeks" literally means "seventy sevens" or 70 x 7=490(Hebrew: for
"week" is shaw-boo'-ah; which means seven). These 70 x 7’s are years not days because
(1)The answer to the prayer concerning the vision was in years and did not concern days, but years as was the years in (Daniel 9:2).
(2) The last "week" is one seven, which is years and is divided into 2 separate parts 3 ½ years each. The last 3 ½ are years ; and are explained and proved to be 3 1/2 years in the notes to follow.Mat.24:21 The Great tribulation or the second half of tribulation or the second 3 ½ years will begin when the Jews flee from the beast armies in Rev.12.This will be in the middle of the week when the antichrist brakes the seven year covenant after 3 ½ years and the beast will continue for fourty and two months in Rev. 13: and the Woman/Israel will flee for 1,260 days in Rev.12 after the antichrist/beast brakes the seven year covenant in the middle which is after 3 ½ years (3)This means that since the last half of the 70th week is 3 1/2 years.(fourty two months or1,260days ) then the first half is also 3 1/2 years, making the one seven of Daniel 9:27 to be 7 years. (4)If the last or one "week" is a period of 7 years, the other "weeks" are also 7 years each. The whole period is 70 x 7 = 490 yrs.
2. They are three period’s of the seventy weeks. (1) The 1st period—7 weeks, 7 x 7 = 49 years was for the rebuilding of the Walls and streets of Jerusalem (Dan. 9:25) (2) The 2nd period—62 weeks,62 x 7 = 434 years from the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem at the end of the 49 years until the Messiah is cut off or crucified for men (Dan. 9:25-26) (3)The 3rd period—one week, 1 x 7 = 7 years, which is the last 7 years of this age, what we know as the seven years of tribulation.This will conclude the building of the temple and city in the end of times this will be done the first 3 1/3 years. Then the great tribulation will come the last 3 ½ years and Isreael/Jews will have to flee to Edom and Moab for 1,260 days or 42 months.
Then after the 42 months this will end with the 2nd coming of Messiah (Christ) to the earth to set up his kingdom and to fulfill the 6 events of Dan 9:24.
3.Who and whom do the all the seventy weeks concern? All of the 490 years are. determined [Hebrew 2852, khaw-thak'; a primitive root; properly to cut off, to decree :- determine.]to be fulfilled concerning Daniel's people the Jews and Daniel's native city, Jerusalem. This will be done to fulfill and 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. None of the 490 years concern the church in any sense.
In fact, the church had not began until after the 69th week, the previous 483 years didn’t concern the church and the final seven years will not either The church will be resurrected before the 70th week begins (The church is the he of §2 These. 2:7-8; We are to escape all these things that shall come to pass Luke 21:36 (See the first Resurrection)
4.When do the last7 years concern Israel and Jerusalem? They have not during any time that the nation of Israel has been Scattered among the nations or without total control of Jerusalem. The 70 weeks concern Israel as a nation with complete control of Jerusalem. Since Israel was Scattered by the Romans and her city and temple was destroyed in 70 A.D and since they have just now shot forth as a nation in 1948 and since the 6 events of Daniel 9:24 have not yet been fulfilled, and since the 483rd. year ended at the crucifixion of Messiah (Christ), the 70th week or the last 7 years is the only part left to be fulfilled .The whole nation of Israel will be saved in one day at the second coming of Messiah (Christ) to the earth to set up his kingdom at the battle of Armageddon .(Zech.3,12:10-13:1 ; Romans 11:25-29)During this time, all of the 6 events of Daniel 9:24 will be completely fulfilled. Which is still in the future and will be fulfilled when Israel as a nation gets total control of Jerusalem again .
I don’t believe that they will get total control of Jerusalem until the antichrist brings peace to Israel
5. Six things that have to be done in the 490 years or the 70 week’s of (Daniel 9:24):
(1)"To finish (put an end to) the transgression." , Hebrew 6586 peh'-shah; a revolt (national, moral or religious) This is rebellion against Eloheem’s (God’s) lawful authority (Psalm 51:1; Isaiah43:25;etc.). This transgression has reference to the all of the sins of Israel and Jerusalem ,All ungodliness of the Jew’s will stop in one day.
( Zech.3:9;Zech.14 ;Romans 11:25-29; Isaiah 66:7-10; Ezekiel 36:24-30).
(2)"To make an end of sins" Hebrew 2398 chatta'th, khat-tawth'; from (chata'); an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concrete) an offender :- punishment (of sin), purifying (-fication for sin), sin (-ner, offering).This concerns Israel and Jerusalem only not the Gentile nations. This has never been done and will not be accomplished until after the 7 years of tribulation and will be done at the time just before the Second Coming of Messiah (Christ) at the battle of Armageddon.(Ezekiel 36:24-30; Ezekiel 37:24-27; Ezekiel 43:7; Zech. 14)., The whole nation will be saved in one day. (Zech.3:9; 12:10-13:1; Romans 11:25-29).
(3)"To make reconciliation (make atonement) for iniquity." Hebrew 3722, kaw-far'; a primitive root; to cover ,appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation). Atonement was done at the cross for everyone and every nation (Isaiah 53; Col. 1:20; Col. 2:14-17; 1 Peter 2:24),but the nation of Israel has not yet excepted YAHSHUA (Jesus) as their Messiah ;
But their eyes will be opened and they will except YAHSHUA (Jesus) as their Messiah just before the Second Coming of YAHSHUA the Messiah (Christ) to earth to set up his kingdom.(Isaiah 1:18-20; Isaiah 66:7-8; Zech. 12:10-13:1;Matthew 23:37-39; Romans 11:25-29; Zech.3).
(4)"To bring in everlasting righteousness." When Repentance has come; when Rebellion against Eloheem (God) has stopped and sin’s have come to an end ; then everlasting righteousness will be ushered in for the whole nation of Israel.(Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 12:1-6; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:13-14,18,27; Ezekiel 43:7; Zech.3, 14; Luke 1:32-33; Romans 11:25-29; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 19:11-20:10; Rev. 21:1-22:5).
(5)"To seal up the vision and prophecy." When all these first four prophecies have come to past then all the prophecies of chastisement concerning Israel by all the prophets will end.
"for all shall know YAHWEH (LORD) from the least unto the greatest of them" (Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 66:7-10; Jeremiah 31:31-40; Rom. 11:25-29; Zech.3).
(6)"To anoint the most holy." This refers only to the anointing of the Millennial temple of
Ezekiel 40-43; Zech. 6:12-13.The Jew’s have never and will never use this term with the
connection of their "The most holy" Messiah who is always distinguished by the simple
title, Messiah. If anyone teaches that this refers to man crowning Messiah (Christ) it is
out of harmony with Scripture .Eloheem (God) the Father has already anointed Jesus
(Luke 22:29;Acts 1:7; Acts 2:36; Phil. 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:1-3; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 19:11
21;Daniel 7:13-14). man don’t have the authority to anoint and crown Messiah (Christ).
The Rotherham “ anoint the holy of holies.” (Daniel 9:24d. rothrham)
6.The seventy weeks began with the commandment "to restore and to build Jerusalem
unto the Messiah the Prince" (Daniel 9:25 ).
Exactly 483 Hebrew years 173,880 days later ended at the Cross
We must look at 483 Jewish years. Since the Jewish calendar contains 360 days, we can easily see that God is talking about 173,880 days. Therefore, we can expect that 173,880 days after the prophecy started, the Messiah would present Himself to Israel as Messiah-King.
Artaxerxes issued such a decree on Passover March 14, 445 B.C. Therefore, precisely 173,880 days from this day should bring us to some significant event in Jesus' life which presented Him to the nation Israel as Messiah.
When did Palm Sunday occur? "The Messiah (Jesus) came to Jerusalem on Passover in the year A.D. 32, which was April 6." (4) C. The two periods combined (7 + 62 = 69 Weeks of Years, or 483 Jewish years, or 173,880 days). * When we count from March 14, 445 B.C. to April 6, 32 A.D., we have 477 years, 24 days. However, we must deduct one year because only one year lapses between 1 B.C. and 1 A.D. This gives us 476 years, 24 days or 173,764 days. * Then, we must add 119 days to account for the 119 leap years during these 476 years (476 divided by 4). Now, we have 173,883 days. * However, there is a slight inaccuracy in the Julian calendar when compared to the solar year. The Royal Observatory in London calculates that a Julian year is 1/128th of a day longer than the Jewish solar year. When we multiply 476 years times 1/128, we get three days. Subtracting three from our figure above, we arrive at the 173,880 days. (5) Therefore, there are exactly 69 Weeks of Years (173,880 days) between the decree of King Artaxerxes in 445 B.C. to rebuild Jerusalem to Palm Sunday, April 6, 32 A.D.!!
God foretold to the day when Messiah would present Himself to Israel as their Messiah-King. We see this event recorded in Matthew 21:1-11. So the Messiah was crucified for us just as this prophecy said that he would be. Then at that time the Jews were cut off from the vine and the church age began.
There were three decrees for the restoration of Jerusalem: Cyrus, king of Persia gave the first decree in the first year of his reign
(Ezra 1:1-4; Ezra 3:8; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-4; Isaiah 46:11).Cyrus king of
Persia reigned for 9 years; then his son Cambyses reigned for 7 years. In Cambyses
reign the work on the temple ceased (Ezra 4:1-24) until the second year of the reign of
Darius 1st when he confirmed the decree that had been made by Cyrus 18 years before. In
the sixth year of his reign the temple was finished, but the city had not yet been restored.
Darius reigned for 35 years and then Xerxes reigned 21 years (Daniel 11:1-3) No work
was done to restore the city during his reign. Then Artaxerxes became king and reigned
for 40 years. In the middle of his reign the 20th year 445 B.C. , he then
gave Nehemiah the 3rd and final decree "to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince"
(Daniel 9:25-26; Neh. 2:1-6:19). From the going forth of this commandment the 70
weeks or 490 years is started. At this point the first period of the 490 years (the first
seven weeks 7 x 7 = 49 years began for the restoration of Jerusalem with streets and the
wall (Daniel 9:25). The walls were restored by Nehemiah in 52 days after he reached
Jerusalem, This was by no means the complete restoration but the complete restoration of
the streets took 49 years. So we have to understand that this decree (Daniel 9:25 ) was 92
years after the first decree by Cyrus.
Kings of Persia
For more than a 150 years now ancient inscriptions have been deciphered, and these, along with other sources of information (Theologians such as Herodotus, Xenophon, Ctesias, and Nicolas of Damascus who lived before Messiah (Christ), and Arrian of the 2nd century A.D.) give us a true understanding of the line of the kings of Persia. In 1846 the writing on the famous Rock of Behistun, was found to contain Darius Hystaspis' own genealogy. On this stone he claimed to be the 9th of a succession of kings of his fathers. This stone rises about 1,700 feet out of the plain on the high road from Babylon to the
4-main list of the Line of Persian Kings:
|
1ST LIST |
2ND LIST |
3RD LIST 4th. LIST |
|
History of Herodotus |
Behistun Rock |
Cylinder of Cyrus / The Bible
the Persian |
|
1. Phraortes I |
|
|
|
2. Deiokes |
Achaemes |
|
|
3. Phraortes II |
Teispes |
Teispes |
|
4. Cyaxares |
Ariyaramnes |
Cyrus I ( F = Future prophecy from time of verse) |
|
5. Astyages
|
Arsames
|
Cambyses Ahasuerus/Darius the Mede
In the 3rd. year of his reign Ester becomes Queen Est.1
Dan 5:31.6:28,11:1
(Fulfilled prophecy of Isa.44:28,Isa.45:1)
|
|
6. Cyrus |
Reigned 9 years
Began his reign
2yrs after Darius
the Meade
defeated Babylon
|
Cyrus II Darius/Cyrus
In the 1st. year of the reign of Cyrus or Darius he was given
the comandment from God to build the Temple. Ezra 1:1-2
Dan.1:21, ,6:28,9:1,10:1
In the 1st. year of the reign of Darius or Cyrus Daniel was
given the seventy weeks of Dan.9:24-27 |
|
7. Cambyses II |
Reigned
7 yrs. |
Cambyses II
|
|
8. Hystaspes |
Hystaspes
Reigned 35 yrs.
Was defeated at the battle of Marathon by Greece |
Artaxerxes
Reigned only 7 months. Work on Temple ceased Ezra 4:1- 24 was not mentioned in the history of Herodotus,Behistun Rock or cylinder of Cyrus only in the Bible.
Darius I
(F- Dan.11:1-2) |
|
9. Darius Hystaspis |
Darius
Reigned 21 |
Hystaspis
Commandment to build Temple“by God”.2nd.yr. Darius I
Hag.1:1,8 Zec.1:1,16
Temple Completed 6th. yr Darius I Ezra 6:14-15
(F-Dan.11:1-2) |
After Darius Hystaspis then Artaxerxes who reigned 40 yrs and In the 20th.yr in the Month nissan “passover” Artaxerxes or Darius gave Neh. The comandment to go forth and to build walls of Jerusalem Neh.2:1
(Dan.11:1-2 –F) Note on the Cylinder of Cyrus the Persian (mentioned in Ezra 1:1; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1; Ezra 6:14 )he lists only the kings from the 3rd to the 7th that,—his own son who succeeded him. On the Behistun rock only the kings 2-5, 8-9 are given, Cyrus the Persian and his son Cambyses II not being mentioned for some reason. However, Darius Hystaspis, who made this list, does mention that he was the 9th of a succession of kings, so this would include the ones not named. Herodotus gives the first 5 of the 9 Persian kings, and the Bible mentions by name 5, 6,7,8 and 9. We have to supply from ancient history those that are missing in the Bible. The 5th king, Astyages, was the husband of Esther and the father of Cyrus. He was also the Ahasuerus of Esther 1:1, and Darius the Mede of Daniel 5:31. He is listed also by Herodotus as the 8th of a succession of Lydian kings, called Aryenis, the husband of Vashti who gave up the queenship to Esther because of her rebellion against him. The 4 kings to stand up in Persia, as in Daniel 11:1-2, were the last 3 on the above list [ Cyrus II, Cambyses II, Darius Hystaspes, and Xerxes, the son of Darius Hystaspis.] Between these 4 and the coming of Alexander the Great, 6 more kings ruled. Some confusion has arisen concerning the Persian kings due to appellatives being mistaken for proper names, and from their transliteration into other languages.
Examples of appellatives are: Pharaoh of Egypt and Abimelech of Philistia, similar to the more modern Czar, Sultan, and Shah. Ahasuerus, meaning The Mighty, was the title of 4 Median and Persian kings. Artaxerxes, meaning Great King, was used by 4 Persian kings. Darius, meaning "The Restrainer" or "The Maintainer", was also used by several of these kings. The Cyrus of this passage was so named by Eloheem (God) 150 years before his birth to Esther and Ahasuerus, and about 200 years before this decree which fulfilled Isaiah 44:28-45:1. All the events of the book of Esther came before those of Ezra and Nehemiah; and the events of Neh. 1:1,7:4 came before Ezra 1:1-14.The 20th year of Artaxerxes was about 85-90 years after the Babylonian captivity of 70 years. Darius the Mede, the Ahasuerus of Esther 1:1 and father of Cyrus, reigned 2 years after the fall of Babylon. Cyrus reigned 9 years; Cambyses 7; Darius I 35; Xerxes 21; and Artaxerxes 20 years before Nehemiah was sent back to Jerusalem to complete the walls (Neh. 1:1 , 7:4). There is controversy regarding when Nehemiah went to Jerusalem, some believing it was about 45 years after the beginning of the Babylonian captivity, or about 35 years after the captivity of Jehoiachin, or 23 years from the destruction of Jerusalem; but this could not be. His first coming to Jerusalem was evidently in the 20th year of Artaxerxes The signing of the covenant of Neh. 10 could have been after he came to the city, for as governor at that time it would be natural for him to sign it. His signing does not mean that he was present in the 7th year of Darius I, some 60-70 years before, when Ezra came to Jerusalem. No doubt many signed the covenant as they came from time to time. Neh. 1: 2 Hanani was either an actual brother of Nehemiah or of close kin in the tribe of Judah, and that both were princes of this tribe.These Jews were those of the captivity that had returned under Zerubbabel and Ezra.
The Messiah was to be crucified after the 62 weeks 62 x 7 = 434 years, and was to follow the7weeks 7 x 7 = 49 years of the complete restoration of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25-26).Jesus was crucified at the end of the 69th week, or 483 years after the commandment. The term "Weeks of Years" was a common Jewish term. It meant literally seven (7) years. The term comes from God's commandment in Leviticus 25:3-4 to farm a piece of land for only six years, allowing it to lie fallow for the seventh.
This seven-year period came to be known as a "week of years". Therefore, Seventy Weeks of Years was 490 Hebrew years. Note this prophecy contains three parts: 1. 7 Weeks of Years (49 Hebrew Years) 2. 62 Weeks of Years (434 Hebrew Years) 3. 1 Week of Years (7 Hebrew Years) At the precise point in history when the 7 + 62 Weeks of Years occurred, Israel could expect Messiah to announce Himself as Messiah. What great news! This means that Israel could not miss Messiah. All they had to do was to count and be aware of the prophecy. This study will show us several things: 1. Why the Wise Men knew the time for Messiah was close. 2. Why Israel missed Messiah. 3. How this applies to us today. Let us now consider the meaning of the prophecy. I. The Duration of the Prophecy This prophecy stipulated that Messiah would be presented to Israel and would be killed after 69 weeks of years had elapsed from the starting point. When we multiply 69 times 7, we understand that the time involved here equals 483 Jewish years. Since the Jewish calender contains 360 days, we can easily see that God is talking about 173,880 days. Therefore, we can expect that 173,880 days after the prophecy started, the Messiah would present Himself to Israel as Messiah-King. II. The Starting Point of the Prophecy (Daniel 9:25a) In this verse , God said the prophecy would begin "from the going forth (the issuing) of the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem..." At the time God gave Daniel this prophecy, Israel was a slave nation under Babylon; however, God had foretold that this slavery would last only 70 years. This 70-year period was rapidly coming to a close; indeed, non-Jewish history records that the Medo-Persian emperor Artaxerxes issued such a decree on Passover March 14, 445 B.C. Therefore, precisely 173,880 days from this day should bring us to some significant event in Jesus' life which presented Him to the nation Israel as Messiah. III. The Mathematics Of The Prophecy A. The First Seven Weeks (49 Jewish Years) If you study the book of Nehemiah, you will find the account of the Jewish pilgrimage to rebuild Jerusalem following King Artaxerxes' decree. The prophet Nehemiah assumed charge of this rebuilding effort, which was carried out in such extreme hardship and danger that the builders carried swords with them as they were building the walls. Thus was fulfilled precisely the prophecy in verse 25b,"...it shall be built again with city square and moat, but in troublous times." This effort began in 445 B.C. and culminated in 396 B.C., exactly 49 years, just as foretold. B. The Second Period (62 Weeks of Years, 434 years) Daniel 9:26 foretells that the "anointed One" would come after this period and would then be killed. This wording is understood by most conservative scholars to refer to Jesus Christ, not at His birth, but at His presentation as the Messiah-Prince. (2) "There were only two events in the life of Christ when He was officially set apart. One was His baptism and the other was His triumphal entry into Jerusalem." (3) This latter event has become known as Palm Sunday. When did Palm Sunday occur? "The Messiah (Jesus) came to Jerusalem on Passover in the year A.D. 32, which was April 6." (4) C. The two periods combined (7 + 62 = 69 Weeks of Years, or 483 Jewish years, or 173,880 days). * When we count from March 14, 445 B.C. to April 6, 32 A.D., we have 477 years, 24 days. However, we must deduct one year because only one year lapses between 1 B.C. and 1 A.D. This gives us 476 years, 24 days or 173,764 days. * Then, we must add 119 days to account for the 119 leap years during these 476 years (476 divided by 4). Now, we have 173,883 days. * However, there is a slight inaccuracy in the Julian calendar when compared to the solar year. The Royal Observatory in London calculates that a Julian year is 1/128th of a day longer than the Jewish solar year.
When we multiply 476 years times 1/128, we get three days. Subtracting three from our figure above, we arrive at the 173,880 days. (5) Therefore, there are exactly 69 Weeks of Years (173,880 days) between the decree of King Artaxerxes in 445 B.C. to rebuild Jerusalem to Palm Sunday, April 6, 32 A.D.!! God foretold to the day when Messiah would present Himself to Israel as their Messiah-King. We see this event recorded in Matthew 21:1-11. So the Messiah was crucified for us just as this prophecy said that he would be. Then at that time the Jews were cut off from the vine and the church age began. The 7 years of tribulation will be what Eloheem (God) uses to bring Israel back to Eloheem (God).The church will have to be gone before the tribulation starts.( see the first resurrection ) The 70th week did not end as some try and teach when Stephen was stoned because none of the 6 events of point 5, above, weren’t fulfilled or have they been fulfilled as of yet. They cannot be fulfilled with Israel and Jerusalem until the resurrection of the church and the revelation of the future Antichrist ( §2 Thes. 2:7-8; Rev. 4:1). 8. The people of the prince that shall come (Daniel 9:26). This refers to the Romans who fulfilled this prophecy of the destruction of the city and temple and brought the first desolation of Daniel 9:26This was fulfilled in 70 A.D. (§Luke 19:41-44; Luke 21:20). The second will come in the great tribulation by the beast/ /prince that shall come. 9. (Daniel 9:26). The prince that shall come refers to Antichrist who will be possessed by the demons of the prince/satanic Angel out of the Abyss that will come out from within the old Grecian Empire Territory Daniel 8 and defeat the ten King’s of the Roman Empire territory Dan 7 , and from the people who destroyed the city and temple of Israel in A.D. 70 (Daniel 9:26; Luke 21:20-24). He will come from among the 10 kingdoms yet to be formed inside the old Roman Empire territory (Daniel 7:2324)The Grecian part of that territory.(see the beast ) 10. The church age is between the 69th and 70th weeks (Daniel 9:26-27). This time between the 69th. and 70th. Week/seven was not seen by the Old Testament prophets, but because of their unbelief in Jesus as the Messiah they were cut off and the New Testament fills this gap between the 69th. and the 70th. Week / seven with the church age. 11. The events between the 69th and 70th weeks are all given in the New Testament: (1)Messiah (Christ) was crucified at the end of the 69th week or after 483 years.(Daniel 9:26). (2)The Romans were too destroy Jerusalem and the Temple(Lk.21:6/21:11-23) and did destroy Jerusalem and the temple after the crucifixion at the end of the 69th week and before the 70th week (Daniel 9:26-27). (3)There was to be a war between the Romans and Israel ( Dan.7:7 ) after the 69th week and before the 70th week. (Daniel 9:26-27). (4) Israel was defeated by the Romans and their city and temple was destroyed for the first time (Daniel 9:26-27),and after the 69th week were carried away with a flood or plucked up and scattered among the nations. This was all before the 70th week.\ (Daniel 9:26-27; Luke 21:20-24 ; Zech.1:19). (5)Desolation’s of Israel and their city and temple will follow the end of the war between Israel and the Romans (Daniel7:7-8 ;Daniel 9:26; Luke 21:20-24).The Word desolation’s is plural and this means their will be more than the one desolation the first which was during the Roman Empire; and the second desolation will happen in the middle of the tribulation after 3 ½ years by the beast and after the Temple has been rebuilt by the Jews (6)When Messiah (Christ) comes to defend Israel from Antichrist; Jerusalem and the temple will be rebuilt, not destroyed This will not be the same Temple. (Zech. 6:12-13; Zech. 14:1-21; Matthew 25:31-46; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 19:11-21).
Historically, all the above events were fulfilled by the Romans except the six events of Dan.9:24; the treaty of Dan.9:27 and the second desolation which will be in the future. They crucified Christ in 30 A.D. and destroyed Jerusalem about 70 A.D. Jerusalem was destroyed after the 69th week and before the 70th week. Jerusalem was destroyed about 39 years after the crucifixion of Messiah (Christ). The crucifixion of Messiah (Christ) ended the 69th week or was the 483rd. year.
(7)"The prince that shall come" was to come after both the first destruction and desolation of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:26-27). The Jews were led away captive among all nations in 70 A.D. Since "the prince that shall come" could not confirm a covenant with the Jews to fulfill Daniel 9:27 because of them not being in Jerusalem then this has to be done in the future and the prince will be the beast/antichrist ( see the beast ).
The issue at Daniel 9 is the simple pronoun; he, she, it, they and them.
A simple pronoun does need to point back to a "familiar" or "close" antecedent.
However, this is not a rule of grammar that definitely fixes that antecedent. We have been taught in composition that too many he’s and she’s, etc. often leaves the reader confused as to which person is in view. Thus it is advisable to re-name or identify the various individuals in a narrative so that the subsequent pronouns have a specific person to point back to. The speaker does not do that, so we have to really examine it to find out which noun the he refers back to.
Also, there is no relative clause here. There is a continuous narrative. The relative clause would be introduced by a relative pronoun. It is not so easy to simply break apart a narrative and "cut off" what refers to who.
We have two main issues it seems. (1) are there two "princes" or one? (2) If there are two, to which one do the various simple pronouns point back to?
First then: At Daniel 9, we have TWO people.
1. Messiah the prince
2. The prince who is to come
There is debate about whether these are one and the same. But there is a HE identified in the last clause of verse 27, who is certainly NOT the Messiah. It says, "and what is decreed is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” So we MUST have two people in the context. Grammar does not help us determine whether the “he” of verse 27, "he will make strong a covenant," is referring to Messiah the prince or to the prince who is to come. We must rely on the context and the attendant language that is used to describe what these two people do and what happens to them.
However, we are not stuck with that. For in verse 26, we have some help. The phrase, "and his end will come with a flood." Is often translated as "its" end - referring to the city and sanctuary. But there are two problems. (1) the city and sanctuary results in a plural idea and the pronoun is singular. Therefore, "its" is not right. (2) the pronoun (his, its) is a masculine pronoun and therefore must refer to a masculine antecedent. The word “city,” is a feminine noun. The word prince is a masculine noun.
Thus, it should be "and his end will come with a flood." The question is then, who is the he of "his"? Does the end of Messiah the prince come with a flood? No. Does the end of "the prince who is to come" come with a flood? Yes. That is the final destruction of that coming prince. It might seem out of place to us to make a reference to the final destruction of this "prince who is to come," but not according to the intent of the writer - or rather SPEAKER, for it is Gabriel who is verbalizing this (Daniel just writes it down later).
To quote Keil and Delitzsch - In the following clause: "and his end with the flood,"
the suffix refers simply to the hostile NAGID, whose end is here emphatically placed over against his coming.
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Then there is the issue concerning the “he” of verse 27. We have to once again rely on context (close and far) to determine who the “he” is. The “he” cannot refer to the Messiah because (1) he did NOT make a strong covenant FOR 7 YEARS. (2) he did NOT break a 7-year covenant at the midpoint.
There is a natural gap of time between the 69th and the 70th week. It is at least 40 years long. It is found in verse 26: 1. Messiah is cut off that is the end of the 69th week, 2. according to the "messiah" theory, the 70th week must begin immediately with the making of a covenant, 3. but the text does not allow for that. It immediately jumps 40 years from the cutting off of Messiah to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.
Everything in v. 27 happens in regard to the 70th week. That includes the destruction that is
