Lesson 11

           That Final Week of Seventy

                                          Daniel 9:27

Introduction

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:” Daniel 9:27a.

The “he” refers back to the nouns “Messiah” and “Prince” that begins and moves forward from verse 25.

     •   “he” – the Deliverer

     •   Will assure that God’s purposes are completed within the 490 years

     •   This is a declaration that the restoration prophecy of verse 24 will be completed.

          •   All sin will be put away.

          •   Everlasting righteousness comes to His people.

          •   All opposition to God will have ceased.

          •   God’s people will become holy.

     •   Everlasting – the most distant of times (eternity), begins at or near the end of the 490 years!

Jesus Prophesied

     •   Prophecy: Daniel 8:14 – Holiness would begin to be legally established at the end of the 2300 evenings and mornings.

     •   Fulfillment: Daniel 9:24 – Holiness is legally established by the end of the 490 years.

     •   What is occurring here? If 34 A.D. ended the 490 years, how could holiness be established then but wouldn’t begin until 1844?

     •   It doesn’t make sense.

     •   There has to be a gap!

The Great Assurance “Word”

The Messiah will “confirm” (gabar) the covenant.

     •   This verb is in a tense that means confirm or validate.

     •   How does the messiah validate the covenant?

          •   By finishing the divine part of the agreement.

          •   The perfect life, the cross and His blood signature.

          •   “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, Make you perfect.” Hebrews 13:20-21a.

How did Jesus validate the covenant?

“The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it is called the ‘second,’ or ‘new,’ covenant, because the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant.” – The Faith I Live By, p. 77.

     •   “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you” (Exodus 24:8).

     •   “by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12b).

The covenant is to be “confirmed” for one week – Why?

     •   That final 70th week ends the probationary period that God gave to His people.

     •   The validation process must be precise because this would be man’s last chance.

     •   “Then, said the angel, ‘He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven years].’ For seven years after the Saviour entered on His ministry, the gospel was to be preached especially to the Jews; for three and a half years by Christ Himself; and afterward by the apostles.” – Desire of Ages, p. 233.

     •   Since the Jewish probation as a nation ended at the cross, how does that last 3½ years after the cross fit into “70 weeks are determined for thy people?”

“The sheep gate was before Christ [triumphal entry], and the path which led to the temple, and for centuries the victims had been conducted thither for sacrifice. The lambs that had been slain had been a representation of the great anti-typical sacrifice that in a few hours would be made for those who rejected his grace and compassion, the refusers of his offers of mercy. The only-begotten Son of the Infinite God would be led through the sheep gate as a lamb to the slaughter, while through the priests and rulers and through the common people would be manifested satanic attributes. For a few moments the Son of God stands upon Mount Olivet, expressing the intense yearning of his soul that Jerusalem might repent in the last few moments before the westering sun shall sink behind the hill. That day the Jews as a nation would end their probation. Mercy, that had long been appointed as their guardian angel, had been insulted, despised, and rejected, and was already stepping down from the golden throne, ready to depart. But, O, that the rejecters of God's mercy, full of zeal to sustain themselves in their own way, might yet turn from their man-made inventions, repent, and seek reconciliation with God! The shadows of twilight are beginning to gather, and, O, that Jerusalem might know the things that belong unto her peace! But now the irrevocable sentence is spoken, because ‘she knew not the time of her visitation.’” – The Signs of the Times, 02/27/1896 (emphasis added).

The nation of Israel lost their probation at the setting of the sun the day of Christ’s triumphal ride. That began Nissan 10.

          •   Nissan 10 was the day the Jews chose the Passover lamb.

          •   Nissan 14 was Passover, when the Lamb was slain.

          •   The Jews did not choose Jesus.

          •   Thus, at the cross, that rejection was sealed.

          •   The 70-week prophecy was cut short. It was not completed. God did provide a special probation for 3½ years.

“Mercy was extended to them, and their probation was lengthened, until three years and a half after the death of Christ, when the apostles declared: ‘It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.’ – The Review and Herald, 03/10/1896.

When would the last 3½ years of the last Jubilee cycle be completed? When would corporate Israel finish confirming or validating the covenant?

     •   When Israel could/would become holy

     •   The issue is corporate.

     •   The apostles noted that Jews put the Word far from them, including everlasting life.

It is at the end of time that spiritual Israel, the remnant, finish confirming the covenant.

     •   “And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” Revelation 11:3.

     •   That is the Loud Cry period.

     •   The last 3-1/2-year period for mankind

     •   That is when the 70 weeks are completed.

Everlasting righteousness comes in only at the end of time. This prophecy must go way beyond 34 A.D.

     •   That is why we see Satan fighting so frantically against the covenant right at the end of time.

     •   The king of the north “shall be against the holy covenant” (Daniel 11:28).

     •   He shall “have indignation against the holy covenant (Daniel 11:30).

     •   Those that do “wickedly against the covenant shall be corrupt by flatteries” (Daniel 11:32).

Satan split that week in half by taking the life of Jesus. Revelation 11:2 states that the Gentiles will “tread under foot” or persecute God’s people (the holy city) for forty and two months. In a final thrust to prevent the fulfillment of that covenant Satan tries once again to disparage God’s people. But the Loud Cry goes forth at the same time.

     •   That finally validates the covenant to the world from a holy people.

     •   The Daniel prophecy reaches its final fulfillment right at the end of time.

Once again, seven = whole – 3½  + 3½. The Jubilee or restoration is now assured.

 Shortening the Week – Not the Prophecy

“... 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,” Daniel 9:27b.

We recently were told that the Messiah would die sometime (nonspecific) after 69 weeks. This midweek curtailment of sacrifice and oblations point to that time when Jesus died.

     •   The Messianic sacrificial type ceremonies ceased when He “yielded up the ghost” (Matthew 27:50).

     •   The “veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to the bottom” (27:51), eradicating the sacred temple divide.

The “he shall cause” are implied words in the Hebrew – Jesus’ death caused the sacrifices and oblations to cease.

“The way into the holiest is laid open. A new and living way is prepared for all. No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity await the coming of the high priest. Henceforth the Saviour was to officiate as priest and advocate in the heaven of heavens. It was as if a living voice had spoken to the worshipers: There is now an end to all sacrifices and offerings for sin. The Son of God is come according to His word, ‘Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God.’ ‘By His own blood’ He entereth ‘in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.’ Heb. 10:7; 9:12.” – Desire of Ages, p. 757.

“Hitherto He had called the temple His Father’s house; but now, as the Son of God should pass out from those walls, God’s presence would be withdrawn forever from the temple built to His glory. Henceforth its ceremonies would be meaningless, its services a mockery.” – Desire of Ages, p. 620.

     •   The “week” began when Messiah the Prince entered His ministry – His anointing.

     •   3½ years later, in the midst of the week, the sacrificial system ceased when He is sacrificed or is cut off.

     •   That was at Passover – when the blood of the Lamb “saved.”

     •   That blood can now be sprinkled on the doorpost of our hearts, and we are secure forever.

At this midpoint time in this last week the guilt from the blood of the righteous in all previous history fell on that Jewish generation (Matthew 23:33-36).

     •   This ends the expose’ about God’s people in Daniel 9.

     •   The last 3½ years are not discussed in this prophecy.

     •   The only generic statement simply states when the work of eternal righteousness will be complete – when the 490 years ends.

     •   Daniel 12 and the book of Revelation discusses that final 3½ years.

“... even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Daniel 9:27c.

The rest of the chapter tells how Satan’s agencies come to their end.

     •   It carries us forward to the great consummation.

     •   Why would the prophecy jump from the cross to the consummation?

     •   That is when the last 3½ years of this prophecy is finished.

“Desolation” (shamem) – there’s that word again – it really says, “that causes desolation” or “desolator of abominations” (siggusim mesomem)

     •   It means utter ruin.

     •   God decreed it – “that determine”

     •   This echoes:  “transgressor of desolation” (8:13)

                              “abomination that causes desolation” (11:31, 12:11)

     •   This is the final outcome of the “great tribulation.”

     •   The earth is reduced to utter desolation.

How did the Jewish people, committed to Biblical integrity, understand this?

     •   Before Christ

     •   Dead Sea Scrolls

          •   Manuscript 11Q13 – wording from Isaiah 52, 61 and Daniel 9

          •   70 weeks completed 10 Jubilee cycles.

          •   The last cycle was eschatological restoration with the appearance of Melchizedek.

          •   When Belial comes to his end

          •   When God establishes a righteous kingdom

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Franklin S. Fowler Jr., M.D.; Prophecy Research Initiative © 2004