Lesson
8
Lesson
8
The Messiah Is
Killed
Daniel 9:26
Introduction
“And after threescore and two weeks shall
Messiah be cut off,” Daniel 9:26a.
The focus of Gabriel’s thoughts now surround the
Messiah. We’ve already noted:
• The Messiah is
anointed by the Holy Spirit at the end of the 69 weeks or 27 A.D. That occurred
at His baptism.
• Since 490 years are
given to bring in everlasting righteousness, the controversy between good and
evil must be finished within that time period.
• The Messiah enters
the scene at the start of the last week.
Christ’s anointing was a vital step in
establishing a covenant relationship between God and man. (Most scholars feel
that that is what began this last week.)
• It was part of the
“fulfillment of righteousness” (Matthew
• Christ’s 3-1/2-year
ministry demonstrated the embodiment of that righteousness.
• Through Him we become
acquainted with the everlasting Father (John 14:9).
• They model what
righteousness is for each Christian and for His church.
What does this 62 weeks mean?
Most scholars view this as part of the 69 weeks alluded to in the
previous verse.
• At the end of the 69
weeks there is only one week to go in the prophecy.
• This verse is simply
saying sometime after the 62nd weeks (in this case, 69 weeks) –
the Messiah would be cut off.
• That means Christ’s
3½ years of ministry would have to be during the first half of that last week.
Violence Against God
The Messiah is “cut off” (karath). This
has two meanings, both with profound theological meaning.
• To cut something down
literally (i.e., a tree) or by a violent act (Genesis
• To “cut” or make a
covenant with (Deuteronomy 29:1, 12, 14, 25; 31:16)
Amazing as it may seem, the context of the
Messiah being cut off encompasses both meanings!
• He is violently
killed or “cut down” at
• His blood became a
divine signature to ratify the everlasting covenant.
Remember Daniel 12?
• Jesus said that those
three time prophecies were given:
• In the name of
His Father
• And assured by
His blood
• They have now been
ratified for the new Christian Church! He spilled His blood!
There is more – much more – to the Daniel 9
prophecy.
• Remember the 490
years is 10 Jubilee cycles.
• 34 A.D. would be the
49th year of the 10th Jubilee cycle. It’s last Day of atonement would begin the
50th or Jubilee year.
What was restored in 35 A.D.? – A problem.
• BUT – there is
another restoration provision God gave in the Bible!
“If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold
away [some] of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then
shall he redeem that which his brother sold.... After that he is sold he may be
redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:
Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or [any] that is
nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may
redeem himself.” Leviticus 25:25, 48-49.
Before
a Jubilee year a next-of-kin could redeem or purchase back or reclaim his kin.
• Jesus became our next
of kin.
• He used “blood money”
and bought us back.
• “But God commendeth
his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
• While we were still
in bondage, He paid the ransom – before the next Jubilee!
It is now clear that in this last Jubilee of the
ten, everlasting righteousness will come in and sin and sinners will be gone.
The kingdom of glory will be ushered in.
| 7 weeks |  |
62 weeks |  |
 |
 |
everlasting righteousness / Jubilee / everything restored |
| 1 week |
Christ’s blood made the covenant a legal
reality. It was the ink that scrolled the name of divinity forever on its pages.
It is the most profound promissory note the universe will forever see.
• Putting the last week
into a future dispensation, which so many evangelicals do, mocks what Jesus did.
• Failing to put part
of its provisions into the future robs God’s last-day people of all hope – that
must be understood.
• Why? Everlasting
righteousness comes in when the subjects are made up at the very end of time.
Who He Died For
Daniel 9:26a wonderfully notes in the KJV that
Jesus was cut off – “but not for himself.” This phrase is not in the original,
but its thought is repeated in several translations.
• Jesus died for
everyone but for Himself!
• Jesus died for all
(John
That Pesky “People” Issue!
“... 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 9:26b.
Who are “the people of the prince?”
• Scholars debate as to
who they are a part of.
• Is Jesus’ death
for “the people” or “the people of the prince”
• OR – is the
thought “the people of the prince” destroy?
• Evaluating this
conveys important information about an end-time matter.
“People” is am in Hebrew and refers to a
unified group that are bonded together. The “prince” (nagiyd) appears to
be Satan at first glance because of the word “destroy.” But in Daniel 8–12 we
note:
• Jesus is called:
•
Prince of princes (Daniel
•
Chief of princes (Daniel
•
Michael – the great prince (Daniel 12:1)
•
Messiah the Prince (Daniel
• The prince’s people
(Daniel 9:26b)
•
Destroy (
•
We know Satan is the prince of this world (John
•
The prince of
Is this the Messiah or Satan? We must
discover who he is.