DANIEL’S
PROPHECY OF 70 WEEKS AND THE COVENANT – PART III
Previous
postings http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2006/ear515.htm
PART I
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2006/ear516.htm
PART II
Daniel
9:20-23 “And whiles I was speaking, and
praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people
Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the
holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even
the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused
to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And
he informed me and talked with me, and said, O Daniel I am now come forth
to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning
of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew
thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter,
and consider the vision.
Before
I start on this next phase, I want to point out four things about the context
of this 70 weeks prophecy.
1)
Please notice that Daniel’s prayer concerns two matters which are
replied to in the answer Gabriel brought him. a) My sin and the sin
of my people Israel
b)
For the holy mountain of my God, i.e. the Temple.
2) There is also the interesting comment that it was “at the
beginning” of Daniel’s prayer that the commandment came forth for Gabriel
to show Daniel what would happen to his people and the holy city. Daniel
is surprised that the answer came so quickly. It is a long prayer Daniel
9:3-19. He prayed it and dated it 1st year of Darius, son of
Ahasuerus.
If you want to know what skulduggery was going on in the Royal Court
when Darius came to rule read Daniel 5:31 onwards. No wonder Daniel was
praying long prayers in the same year!
3) He was concerned in Chapter 9:2 that the 70 years of captivity
and desolations prophesied by Jeremiah had come/was coming to an end. He
addresses God (v.4) as “O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping
the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep
his commandments.” Daniel therefore has some “covenant” in mind when he
prayed. He mentions that the “sanctuary is desolate” (v.17) he beseeches
God to open his “eyes and behold their desolations”. This is the subject
matter of his prayer.
4) Gabriel came to give Daniel skill and understanding in considering
the vision.
2nd
end-time interpretation scenario – This is the traditional Messianic interpretation.
Dan
9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city,
to finish the transgression, and to make and 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.
The
phraseology outlined at the end of PART II, (repeated above) leads us to
the 2nd interpretation, i.e. Messiah the Prince has accomplished
all these things, and He is the person referred to in verse 27. The reference
to “the people of the prince that shall come” is therefore a parenthetical
aside.
In
this interpretation, as an experiment, I want to label and divide verse
26 into three parts and see if it makes any better sense to leave out the
parenthetical bit and add it at the end of verse 27, thus ….
25…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.
26a And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but
not for himself…………………………………………………………………………………………
26c 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.
26b (and the people
of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary);
As
you will eventually see I consider the “position” of the piece
in red above is most important, and although removing it from the text might
help to clarify what the main subject is, it actually belongs right where
Gabriel/Daniel put it. However, why do we need that phrase in this prophecy
at all, if the subject is the Jews, Jerusalem and Messiah?
I
believe it fits right where it is because it shows a “vital” sequence of
events for the final week of the prophecy –
AFTER (7 +) 62 weeks Messiah will
come.
He will be cut off but not for himself.
The people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the
sanctuary.
The end of the city and the sanctuary will come like a flood.
Until the end of the war there will be desolations.
Why
is this sequence so important?
It
is important because it is there to focus on an “event” and not the “prince
that shall come”.
Read
Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare
the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly
come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom
ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Its
funny how that word “covenant” keeps popping up!
NOTE:
I must state here, that although various prophetic utterances were made
at different times, they all came from the same source (refer Gabriel’s
statement “At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment
came forth”) God has the master blueprint, and although pieces
of it were released at various times e.g. Daniel’s prophecy about 538 B.C.and
Malachi about 397 B.C. – ALL MUST DOVETAIL before the EVENT. These
O.T. prophets only had a few pieces of the prophecy puzzle, it was not for
them to know how it would all fit together. I expect there will be a
few Oooohs and Aaaaahs from them in heaven when all is complete, and they
see how “their piece” fitted the big picture!!
Jesus
came to fulfil such prophecies - (Matt 3:15 and Matt. 5:17-18) – one of
those was that Messiah would come to his temple. Daniel
of course did not know about Malachi’s prophecy, but Gabriel did inform
him in a round-a-bout way in the statements made in this verse 26. This
was the answer to the very question about the sanctuary (the holy mountain)
that Daniel had been asking in his prayer.
Daniel
was reassured that Messiah would come to achieve the salvation matters outlined
in verse 24, THEN the temple would be destroyed.
The
fact that the temple existed in Jesus’ day was a proof that Messiah came
before its destruction in 70 A.D. The fact that Daniel was shown that
the street and wall will be rebuilt, Messiah would come towards the end
of the period and then the city and the sanctuary will be destroyed, must
have given him hope and pain.
These phrases –
26a And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut
off, but not for himself
26b (and the people
of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary);
26c and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of
the war desolations are determined.)
-
are intrinsic to each other because they show a sequence of events. The
prophesied “sign” relating to the destruction of the City and the sanctuary
following Messiah’s death, indicated ABSOLUTELY and without DOUBT,
that when Messiah came there would be a Temple, but that it would afterwards
be destroyed. After that time, God’s dealing with the Jews via the Holy
City and the sanctuary would be suspended as per the desolations listed
in verse 27.
Although
it wasn’t revealed to Daniel, the Age of the Gentiles and the trampling
of Jerusalem, as well as the Church Age had begun, and for the Jews, even
more dire consequences would follow.
For
those who doubt that the desolations were allowed to be inflicted on the
Jewish people by God, listen to what Jesus said on the way to the cross
–
Luke
23:27-31 “And there followed him a great company of people, and of women,
which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said,
Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for
your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall
say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps
which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains,
Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us, For if they do these things in
a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”
Jesus
himself said in Luke 21:22-24 regarding the Destruction
of Jerusalem “For these be the days of vengeance, that all
things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with
child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be
great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they
shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into
all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the time of
the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
These
verses definitely tie the “days of vengeance” to the destruction of Jerusalem
and the 40 + year period following Jesus’s death when the dispersion of
the Christians and the Jews took place. From 70 A.D. until 1948 the Jews
had no National home.
The
Days of Vengeance and the Destruction of Jerusalem
Jesus’
reference to “days of vengeance” in relation to the destruction of Jerusalem
is very, very interesting. You will recall that when he started his ministry,
Jesus stood up in the Synagogue at Nazareth and read from the book of Isaiah.
He only read half of that Messianic passage which dealt with the Acceptable
Year of the Lord; he didn’t read the final half which dealt with the
Day of Vengeance of our God See Isaiah 61:1-3, and compare it with
Luke 4:18 and Luke 21:22-24 above.
This
appears to be an “acted” prophetic fulfilment, which reveals that Jesus
himself separated his ministry into two parts –
1)
He announced The Acceptable Year of the Lord which covered his Ministry
of approx 3½ years on the day he announced himself as the anointed Messiah,
(Luke 4:18) and
2) He announced at the end of his ministry, (Luke 21:22-24)
the Days of Vengeance, which were to eventually follow his death.
Did
the final 70th week run from about 27 A.D. to 73 A.D.? – i.e.
“A Generation”
That
this destruction was a consequence, caused by the death of Messiah
cannot be doubted, and I propose that the phrase was put in that particular
place as part of the two dividing “events” which separated
the final 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy into three recognisable
parts.
Part
1 - The 70th week began with
the Messianic Ministry of Jesus lasting approx. 3½ years which I believe
began after his Baptism on the day of his self proclamation. The week
was divided by –
a)
His death, when he was cut off.
Part
2 - There followed an approximate 40 year
hiatus period for the spread of the gospel (based initially, I believe in
the Temple) during which time most of the Christians moved out of Jerusalem
to Antioch which had a large early Christian community, and into other areas.
Prior to the Roman army’s siege of Jerusalem, which finally began in April
70 A.D., those Christians living there fled to Pella, taking to heart Jesus
warning in Matt.24:15. A further division happened -
b) The destruction of Jerusalem in
August 70 A.D. when the temple was cut off.
Part
3 - This event was followed by
3 more years of turmoil which ended at Masada. This was the end of the
war.
If
by chance the Jews were not aware of the first event, there was no way they
could possibly miss the second!
The
final week would then look like this –
The
messenger of the covenant (Messiah) came to His temple for 3½ years – and
was cut off
The
Temple was left desolate (from God’s point of view – e.g. torn veil and
other matters)
Forty
year space of time for the “generation” that would see all things fulfilled.
Destruction
of Jerusalem – burning of the Temple (fulfilment of desecration)
3
+ years to Masada.
You
see the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was not the end of the matter.
Although the major Jewish revolt against Rome began in 66 A.D. it did not
end with Jerusalem (70 A.D), but continued for another 3 years with the
last action of the war in 73 A.D. when the defenders committed mass suicide
rather than surrender at their stronghold Masada. The phrase labelled
26c above is therefore applicable to this period of the destruction
of Jerusalem and the Temple “…and the end thereof shall be with a
flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
For
a fuller picture of the events that transpired during the scope of verse
26c and 27 (all of which was accomplished within one generation)
see The Destruction of the Second Temple by Lambert Dolphin at http://www.templemount.org/destruct2.html
Jesus
said in Matt. 23:36-39 “Verily I say unto you, All these things shall
come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem thou that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have
gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under
her wings, and ye would not! BEHOLD YOUR HOUSE
IS LEFT UNTO YOU DESOLATE. For I say unto you,
Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh
in the name of the Lord. 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the
temple;….”
Daniel
9:26 “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.
It
is rather pointed is it not that Jesus proclaimed that “YOUR” i.e. the “Jews”
HOUSE would be left desolate. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry He
called it “MY FATHER’s HOUSE” – John 2:16
It
is for all of these reasons outlined above that I don’t believe the three
“he’s” in verse 27, refer to anyone but Messiah. I believe Jesus himself
prophesied that all the things in verses 26c and 27 would be fulfilled as
a result/consequence of his death on the cross (i.e. Messiah being cut off).
These
desolations were the very subject matter of Daniel’s prayer in Dan. 9:17.
At that time he was worried about the desolations remaining from the destruction
of the 1st Temple by Nebuchadnezzar. Gabriel reassured him
that there would be a future temple in existence for Messiah to come to.
It too would be destroyed, but only after Messiah’s Salvation had been accomplished.
Just so there would be no confusion over when this would occur, he was told
the people of a “future prince” would come and destroy another future temple
and the City.
What
else was Cut Off by Messiah’s death?
The
Bible tells us that it was not just Messiah who was cut off – the Veil was
split in two, hence the barrier between God and man was also cut off. (Hallelujah!!!)
The temple was made redundant.
John
Tng posted a very interesting article on 10 April 2006 -
“THE
FOUR MIRACLES OF HEROD’S TEMPLE” - http://www.fivedoves.com/light/4miracles.htm
This gives insight into the strange effects experienced in the running of
the Temple functions following the death of Messiah, and during the 40 year
“generation” until the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. It also provides
insight into the implications of the four miracles.
The
splitting of the Veil leading into the Holy of Holies at the time of the
Crucifixion (when Messiah was “cut-off”) symbolized the fact that their
earthly temple sacrifices were now obsolete; the sacking of Jerusalem,
and the Temple left it in no doubt!
As
to who caused this desolation – when one reads the reports of the revolts
beginning as early as 50 A.D. by the Zealots, until the general revolt
of 66 A.D and its conclusion in 73 A.D., one would have to attribute just
as much blame to the Jews as to the Romans. The Roman Rulers had to do
something to quell the Civil War that was raging within Jerusalem and surrounding
areas.
See
http://www.his-forever.com/underground_tunnels_found_in_israel.htm
for recent discoveries regarding the Revolt in 66 A.D.
Several
desolations were carried out over a century of time by Roman rulers of various
importance beginning with Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus (Caligula) – Emperor
from 37 A.D. to 41 A.D who in 40 A.D. attempted to have his statue set up
in the Temple.
The
Jews themselves were later also “cut off” – disaster followed disaster,
mostly as a consequence of their own uprisings, until their City was finally
ploughed up by Emperor Hadrian after a Jewish revolt in 132 – 135 A.D; and
a pagan City - Colonia Aelia Capitolina was built in its place, from which
the Jews were banned from entering.
Various
structures were erected on the site of the sanctuary down through the years
until today we find the residual “Abomination of Desolation” – the Dome
of the Rock and ancillary buildings still occupying the site where it has
been since 687 – 691 A.D.
Note:
George T. Curle in his Book “God’s Hidden Plan” considers the Dome of the
Rock is the abomination spoken of by Daniel in 12:11. From the time
the “sacrifice” was taken away at the destruction of the first Temple in
586 B.C. there have been 1290 “prophetic years x 360 days” to the construction
period of the Dome of the Rock, which he places at 687 to 691 A.D. then
a further 1335 “prophetic years x 360 days” comes to 2007.
Is
the Prophecy complete yet?
The
time frame we have looked at is -
- 7+62 = 69 weeks of the prophecy will pass UNTO (until)
Messiah the Prince comes
- Some time AFTER these latter 62 weeks have been
completed, and the during the next week – Messiah will be cut off.
To use the phrase “cut off” means there should have been something more
there – but it is now separated from the original. Praise God Messiah
will return to take up his throne in the millennial age.
- Various disasters will befall the Jews and Jerusalem as a result
of Messiah’s “cutting off”, and will continue until the consummation.
The
two words emphasised above from verses 25 and 26
are most important, and many people do not take them into account
There
is no doubt in my mind at all that Jesus death “caused” the
sacrifice and oblation “to cease”.
The
verse does not say he “stopped it” that would mean an immediate result –
instead these words indicate it happened later as “cause” and “consequence”.
Today
in May 2006, the Dome of the Rock still desolates Daniel’s “holy mountain”
– I can only conclude the consummation is still future.
End-Times
Parallel?
Finally,
there is an interesting parallel between the death of Messiah (about 30
A.D.) followed by a 40 year “generation” hiatus before the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 A.D and Masada 73 A.D., and the period of time in which
we live. Regarding the destruction of Jerusalem Jesus said in Matt 23:36
“Verily
I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation….”
In
Matt 24:31-34 Jesus also said And he shall send his angels with a
great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable
of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves,
ye know that summer is nigh; So likewise ye, when he shall see all these
things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you,
This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
.
It
will soon be 40 years since the Jews regained control of the old City of
Jerusalem containing the Temple Mount on 7th June 1967 – they began worshipping
and praying again at the Kotel. Many people believe that the generation
that saw that event, will also see the consummation. Since Jesus’ death,
Israel the fig tree, has been dry and barren. I believe the spiritual
renewal of Israel is the key to Jesus’ return.
Matt.
23:39 BEHOLD YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT UNTO YOU DESOLATE. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye
shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 24:1 And
Jesus went out, and departed from the temple;….”
Some
consider Daniel 9:25a might have a further fulfilment “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….
Jesus,
the messenger of the covenant already came once and fulfilled his mission,
we look for his return.
Malachi
3:1 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way
before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple,
even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold,
he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Luke
24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you,
while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were
written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning
me.
If
it was Jesus who fulfilled the prophecy of the 70 weeks – there is no need
for a 7 year peace agreement which is broken in the middle – nor should
we expect a Roman prince.
.
In
the next instalment - PART IV, I will look closer at the fulfilment of the
purposes of the prophecy outlined in v.24