Having said all of that, there are a few events in Scripture that have been proposed as candidates for this "decree".
The most popular is the one, I also used to claim and this "decree" occurred when Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission (444-445 BC) for safe passage to gather supplies for the city walls and gates of Jerusalem (Neh 2:1-8).
Upon further review this has several problems. The first of which is that this wasn't a "decree" or "commandment" at all. Artaxerxes simply gave Nehemiah a letter which allowed him permission to pass through safely in order to gather supplies for the wall and its gates. Secondly, Nehemiah was sent to build a wall, not a city or Temple.
For years, I had overlooked the obvious candidate because I got caught up in all of the Sir Robert Anderson hoopla and his book The Coming Prince.
We're in the Book of Daniel and Gabriel is describing to Daniel what to watch for. I don't think Daniel had any doubt as to whom Gabriel was discussing. Daniel 8 just gave us the vision of the ram and goat which historically fits the history of Cyrus' conquest of Babylon. Daniel obviously had background knowledge of the other prophets, and their prophecy as we've seen in previous blogs.
Daniel was about 80 years old at the time of writing this (588 BC), and he had been in Babylonian captivity since boyhood. Babylon had just been taken over by the Persians.
(Darius was appointed king over Babylon and held the throne for two years. The throne was then assumed by Cyrus in 586 BC and he officially became king over Babylon... review previous blogs for details.)
Interlude - Cyrus II
I'm positive that Daniel was very familiar with the name of the Persian king who now ruled the known world... Cyrus.
How did Daniel know this name?
Some two hundred years before Daniel, Isaiah told us:
[NASB] Isa 45:1-4 Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him and to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me.
Wow... not only did Jehovah call Cyrus by name for Israel's benefit, but also our benefit today!
Isaiah wasn't done quite yet:
[NASB] Isa 45:13 "I have aroused him in righteousness and I will make all his ways smooth; he will build My city and will let My exiles go free, without any payment or reward," says the LORD of hosts.
[NASB] Isa 44:28 "It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.' And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' and of the Temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"
God just told us that Cyrus (Cyrus II, as his grandfather was also called Cyrus) would liberate the Jewish people and he would make a decree that Jerusalem and the Temple would be rebuilt.
Is there any possible way Daniel didn't already hear of this prophecy from Isaiah? No way.
Did Cyrus hear of this prophecy? Surely someone showed him the prophecy of Isaiah (Ezr 1:1-2). Either way, the decree was made:
[NASB] Ezr 5:13 'However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.
[NASB] Ezr 6:3-5 "In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: 'Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the Temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be retained, its height being 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits; with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers. And let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. Also let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought to their places in the Temple in Jerusalem; and you shall put them in the house of God.'
This is also mentioned in:
[NASB] 2Ch 36:22-23 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia - in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah - the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!'"
There are several verses in the Book of Ezra which all point to this decree.
Cyrus not only issued the decree to rebuild the city and Temple, he liberated the Jewish people from their Babylonian captivity, returned the Temple items which Nebuchadnezzar took, and paid the bill for the entire project.
Cyrus is referred to by Jehovah, Himself as a "shepherd" of the Jewish people (Isa 44:28), His "anointed" (Isa 45:1), and "sun of righteousness" (Mal 4:2).
Cyrus plays a major role in the development of God's plan for the ultimate redemption of His people. God raised him up for this very purpose.
Back to Daniel
In the first year of Darius, Daniel is studying the books concerning the seventy year period (Dan 9:2) and he knows the allotted time is near and he begins praying. Gabriel comes to Daniel and begins to give Daniel understanding.
The argument is made that Cyrus doesn't ever mention the rebuilding of the "city" in the text of his decree. Which is true in that we do not see specific mention of the city as recorded in Ezra or 2 Chronicles.
However...
What did God, Himself say Cyrus would do?
Isa 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, "Thou shalt be built"; and to the Temple, "Thy foundation shall be laid".
If God said that Cyrus would say to the city of Jerusalem "Thou shalt be built" is there any chance that Cyrus did not say that?
Isa 45:13 I have raised him [Cyrus] up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
The problem with Cyrus is that scholars can't get his decree to fit their inside their theological box. No matter how hard they try, the dates for Cyrus can't line up with any event of Jesus, so... they ignore it.
If they want this decree of Daniel 9 to line up with some event in the life of Christ they must find another decree. Theologians and commentators believe they found the solution in the calculations of Sir Robert Anderson and his book entitled The Coming Prince.
Artaxerxes Problems
I won't go into full detail of Sir Robert Anderson's calculations. You can read them for yourself. I believe his book is available online for free if you're interested.
However, I will draw attention to a few problems with his theory as pointed out below in blue by Chris White in his book Daniel - A Commentary.
Conservatives account for the date of Artaxerxes decree and Nehemiah as 445 BC (Nehemiah 2). We are given the month and the year, but the exact date is not recorded in Scripture.
"One would think that if we were to get this right to the very day we should be given the very day that it started... Anderson simply chooses the first day in the month more or less arbitrarily." Chris White
"Another problem with the Artaxerxes 445 view is that Nehemiah was sent to build a wall, not a city. That wall was built in 52 days we are told; a city was not built in 52 days, nor was it claimed to have been by the text." Chris White
"Speaking specifically of Sir Robert Anderson's view that this ended with the triumphal entry, there are problems with his theory as more data comes out regarding the date of Passover for that year derived from the so-called Elephantine Papyrus, which makes even the recent improvements on Anderson's view impossible to some." Chris White
I'm assuming the "some" in the paragraph above is eluding to his footnote which points to a quote from Charles Cooper:
"Nehemiah 6:15 indicates that he finished the work on the 25th day of Ell, it also indicates it took 52 days to complete. Which means it began 3rd day of the month of Av. Nehemiah reports he was in Jerusalem 3 days then he "arose in the night" [Neh 2:11]. Nehemiah must have arose on the night before the third day of the month of Av. And if the month of Av has 30 days then he arrived in Jerusalem on the 28th day of Tammuz - Charles Cooper."
"Stranger still is the fact that this would mean that this prophecy totally ends a good 30-plus years before one would think it would end contextually speaking, that is at the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple." Chris White
The destruction of the Temple occurred in 70 AD and the text from Daniel only requires that the destruction occur AFTER the 69th week (Dan 9:26). Even so, missing 30+ years is not very accurate in my book.
Another book by Harold W. Hoehner - Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ modified Anderson's calculations slightly in trying to get it all fit properly, but is still not satisfying in his calculations.
However, in the case of Cyrus we will find a very accurate account and we'll get to that shortly.
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In Daniel 9 - Part 4 we'll continue.
As I mentioned at the top of this post, we'll see why everyone feels that they need to work Jesus into this equation.
In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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Continuing with diligence...
See the link above for previous parts if you need to get caught up.
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Capitalization
We left off in Daniel 9 - Part 3 with problems of the Artaxerxes decree as presented by Sir Robert Anderson's book "The Coming Prince".
I mentioned at the end of that post that there was a reason for people feeling a need to work Jesus into this equation of Daniel 9. The reason they believe this is because certain Bible translators ALSO believed this.
The translators inserted their own theology, into the text. This is only the first instance in the next few verses that they did this.
Here we go...
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah [H4899 - mashiach] the Prince [H5057 - nagid] shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
[H4899] anointed: Anointed (1), anointed (34), anointed ones (2), Messiah (2).
[H5057] a leader, ruler, prince: chief (2), chief officer (3), commander (1), leader (14), noble things (1), nobles (1), officer (3), officers (1), officials (1), Prince (1), prince (5), princes (1), ruler (11).
Right away you should notice a problem even with the concordance definition. They even capitalized "Anointed" and "Prince" in one instance each! They had to force Jesus to fit into this equation, so they capitalized words in the concordance also.
The Hebrew manuscripts contain no punctuation or capitalization. So why did the KJV translators feel the need to do so in our English language?
If you read my posts, you already know the answer I'm about to give you! They had to get this passage to fit inside of their own theological box and impress that on others.
Maybe (and I say this with one eye-brow skeptically raised), just maybe - they thought they were doing us all a favor, but I find that hard to believe considering all of the other examples I've given in my previous blogs.
The KJV is not the only guilty party either. Almost every English translation available does the same thing.
How does the Septuagint [LXX] read?
ἕως χριστοῦ [G5547] ἡγουμένου [G2233]
until | anointed one | leading
At least the New KJV [NKJV] tones it down a bit and translates this as "THE anointed one', adding the article as if it were saying "THE Messiah".
Just so you know, the article "the" [Hebrew: ha] is not present in the manuscript. If it were, then we may have no choice but to say this is likely referring to Jesus as the Hebrew would read ha massiach - the messiah.
One translation gets this right in my humble opinion, the English Standard Version:
[ESV] Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.
There is no reason to capitalize "Messiah" or "Prince" in this passage.
The word "anointed" is where we get our English words "messiah" (from the Hebrew) and "Christ" (from the Greek). They both mean the same thing - "anointed".
"Christ" is not the last name of Jesus (Yeshua). Jesus is anointed by God.
If you were to do a word search in the Old Testament, you'll find that anointed rarely refers to Jesus, and mostly to kings, priests, and yes - even king Cyrus, whom we are discussing.
Isa 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to His anointed [H4899 - mashiach], to Cyrus...
"Messiah" is found only twice in the entire KJV Old Testament and guess where it shows up? Right here in Daniel 9.
God said Himself that Cyrus is His anointed. Does that mean Cyrus is "THE Messiah"? Of course not. Cyrus was God's "anointed" because God had plans for him.
The second use of "Messiah" is in Dan 9:24 in reference to the "holy of holies", or the "most holy place"... the Temple.
The point of all of this is to suggest to you that Daniel could have used the Hebrew word "messiach" without it necessarily speaking of Jesus - the Messiah [Hebrew: Ha Messiach].
Brief Lesson - Manuscripts
The original Hebrew manuscripts, written by the original authors, are called autographs. These were written on scrolls of animal skin or papyrus both of which deteriorate over time and were purposefully destroyed (for example during war, or temple destruction). It is unlikely that an original autograph will ever be uncovered.
In order to preserve the autographs, the text was copied over and over again. It's these copies that we rely on for the text of the Bible. These copies are referred to as extant manuscripts. These extant manuscripts are also translated into different languages (Greek, Latin, Aramaic, and English).
The Septuagint is a Greek translation also called the LXX (roman numeral for 70), and the Greek Old Testament. It's called the LXX because legend has it that there were 70 Jewish scholars who translated the five books of Moses (the Pentateuch) in the 4th century BC. The remaining books (the Prophets and the Writings) are believed to have been translated into Greek around the first century AD and then added to the Septuagint.
The original Hebrew manuscripts were written without vowels and without punctuation. Even today, most modern Hebrew is also written without vowels. Vowels are usually only inserted when necessary to prevent misunderstanding. Due to the character of the Hebrew language, vowels are not typically needed.
There are spaces between the Hebrew words, whereas the earliest Greek manuscripts didn't even have that. The earliest Greek manuscripts were written with capital letters and some punctuation. Usually, the punctuation was used in a grammatically incorrect manner.
Between 7-10 CE, Hebrew scribes (called Masoretes) copied the Biblical texts and developed a system for indicating vowels in each word. In addition to this, the developed a system of textual accents for vocalization. Each word now has a vowel, and its own accent.
These accents serve three purposes:
[1] Indicate which syllable of the word is to be accented.
[2] Indicate how to "chant" the text musically.
[3] Indicate punctuation.
These became knows as...
... The Masoretic Text... this is now the authoritative text of the Tanahk for Rabinnic Judaism.
Punctuation
If you'll notice number [3] above, we can now return to Dan 9:25 and discuss the punctuation of this passage based on the Masoretic Text.
Based on the accents found in the Masoretic Text, the punctuation of Dan 9:25 should look like this:
"... there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again..."
or...
"... seven weeks. Threescore and two weeks..."
Why doesn't this show up in our English translation?
If the translators would have followed the Hebrew accents with their punctuation it would've meant that the text would have read:
'Going forth from the decree, until the Messiah - Jesus arrived, there would only be "seven weeks" (49 years). They couldn't have that, because that would've made it impossible for this passage to refer to Jesus.
Jesus obviously didn't come onto the scene 49 years after Artaxerxes' decree or Cyrus' decree.
The NET (New English Translation) has a footnote on this verse:
The accents in the MT [Masoretic Text] indicate disjunction at this point, which would make it difficult, if not impossible, to identify the “anointed one/prince” of this verse as messianic. The reference in v. 26 to the sixty-two weeks as a unit favors the MT accentuation, not the traditional translation. If one follows the MT accentuation, one may translate “From the going forth of the message to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an anointed one, a prince arrives, there will be a period of seven weeks. During a period of sixty-two weeks it will again be built, with plaza and moat, but in distressful times.” The present translation follows a traditional reading of the passage that deviates from the MT accentuation. (emphasis mine).
So, even though the NET translators realize the problem, they still didn't add the period after "seven weeks" in their own translation! They include the correct version in their footnotes so you have to go dig for it!
So in other words, "we know how this should have been translated, but since we can't make this passage refer to Jesus, using the correct punctuation from the MT, we decided to ignore it."
Unbelievable.
Mathematical Equations
For the sake of argument, I'm going to assume the MT's punctuation is correct.
You'll notice in this passage the wording, and punctuation of the number of weeks.
"seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks"
The total of the 70 weeks is broken down to look like this:
7 weeks + 62 weeks + 1 week = 70.
Why not just say "sixty-nine weeks"? A lot of commentators will even tell you that it's just another way to say sixty-nine.
Do you really believe that Gabriel just wanted Daniel to perform a little mathematical equation for no reason?
Or, does God's Word usually have a specific reason for His specific Words and phrases?
I'm putting my money on the latter... which, in my mind argues for the punctuation of the MT. In other words, Gabriel would have said "sixty-nine weeks" if that's what was intended.
He didn't say "sixty-nine weeks", so I tend to believe there was a purpose for splitting the 70 weeks up into three different periods.
Here, in this same verse, the translators had to think very carefully as to how they should use punctuation. I'm telling you... these verses presented problems for them, and they were deliberately careful as to how they translated it. It is no accident as to how this reads in our English Bibles.
That, in and of itself, should cause reason for concern. This is the exact reason that I do not always trust our English translations.
Having said all of the above...
We do not have any originally penned autographs from the Old Testament.
The oldest sources available to us are the MT and the LXX. I realize that older doesn't always mean "better" and there is a real value to the science of textual criticism.
When getting down to the minute details of Daniel 9:25 it becomes clear that we may not be able to absolutely declare, with any kind of authority, the original intent of these passages.
This is why this discussion is so broad with so many different understandings.
We're looking for an anointed ruler exactly 49 years (7 weeks) from the decree. Now, we know that it can't be Jesus... it would be far too early for Him.
We also now know that 434 years (62 weeks) is the allotted time for the Jerusalem and the Temple to exist before it's destruction.
Some will claim that this is referring to Jesus and the 7 + 62 refers to Him specifically. We'll also evaluate that once we find dates for the decrees.
Our first step is to determine which decree Daniel is referring to and when the decree occurred.
Yeah... there's no consensus on which decree we're to start from.
In the next blog, we're going to looks at these decrees in detail.
Before starting we need to determine the date of Cyrus' decree.
How do we determine that?
Here is the formula.
When did Jerusalem fall to Babylon?
Add 70 years captivity as prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer 25:11).
This is the beginning of the 70 weeks.
From there, add 7 weeks (49 years). Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem to build the walls.
According to Cooper
Jeremiah prophesied in 605 BC (Jer 25:11)
Nebuchadnezzar began deporting Jews in 598 BC
Neb ultimately destroyed Jerusalem and Temp in 586 BC
Darius' first year is thought to be 538 BC
Decree of Cyrus 539 BC
Decree of Darius 519 BC (reaffirmation of Cyrus 1st decree).
Decree of Artaxerxes 444 BC (70 AD - 483 (434 + 49) = 414 BC)
We know the date in which Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar, and the jewish people were taken into captivity was in 586 BC.
2Ki 25:8-9 Now on the seventh day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the LORD, the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire.
2Ki 25:11 Then the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon and the rest of the people, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away into exile.
The Scriptures declare that redemption will not come to national Israel without the aforementioned crushing, breaking and death. While these purposes were provided for at the cross, they have not yet been fully realized or com to pass in Israel and the Jewish people. This will not take place until after they (the Jewish people) have been broken, repent and acknowledge Jesus as Messiah.
Dan 12:7 As soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.
Zec 12:10 I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me [Jesus] whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
Ezekial 36 tells us that these things are yet to come:
Paul also tells us these things are yet to come:
Rom 11:25-27 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Back to Dan 9:24 now...
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to [1] finish [H3615 - kalah, complete resolution], the transgression [H6588 - pesha, rebellion], and to [2] make an end of sins, and to [3] make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
[1] Most definitely rebellion has not been "finished", nor restrained. Rebellion, especially heading towards the end days is off the hook! Whether speaking of Christians, or the Jewish people, rebellion has not been finished and it will not be finished until Christ puts an end to it.
[2] There's not much to argue on this point. Sin is to be completely finished. Only the futurist view has any leg to stand on. This has not happened yet, but it will when Jesus rules on earth:
Eze 37:21-23 Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God.
[3]
Dan 9:25
Dan 9:25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
What decree?
The only position that literally fulfills the requirements of the passage seems to be the decree from Artaxerxes as recorded in Neh 2:1-8, and Neh 2:17-18 given on March 5, 444 B.C.
483 sabbatical years (the first 69 weeks) were fulfilled to the day on March 30, A.D. 33, the date of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (This is 476 years according to the Julian Calendar). Jesus was crucified four days later on April 3, AD 33.
Other decrees have been tried:
Only one decree matches or fulfills the Scriptural criterion of a decree issued specifically to rebuild the city. The best explanation of the literal chronology seems to be by Harold W. Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, who generally sticks to the chronology given by Sir Robert Anderson, but makes several corrections and modification of Anderson’s system. I have that book, but either sold it or lost it... I can't find it or my notes on this timeline but do remember it made perfect sense.
Dan 9:26
People of the coming prince
This verse brings in the "gap" between the 69th and 70th week.
Dan 9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come [Antichrist] will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
After He, "the Anointed One", is killed and does not become king (which is what happened at the end of Christ’s ministry on earth), "the people of the ruler" will come to destroy the Temple and Jerusalem.
These "people" are "of", or related to, the ruler who is understood to be the Antichrist. The Antichrist’s actions are then mentioned in Dan 9:27, which is a summary of the Tribulation where it says the Antichrist will make a covenant and then cause desolation of the Temple which continues until the end.
Dan 9:26 says the "people" are "of" the "ruler who will come". The people who historically destroyed the city and sanctuary were four legions of Roman soldiers in AD 70.
The Roman soldiers were in Roman uniform under a Roman banner and fighting for Rome. The Aramaic word in Dan 9:26 translated "people" is am [H5971, pronounced ahm] and is defined as either:
1. a group of individuals or 2. a nation (such as countrymen) or 3. a tribe or kindred, i.e. ethnicity.
The third meaning of am in Dan 9:26 is a tribe, kindred, or ethnicity.
Using this definition, the identity of the people from the quote of Dan 9:26 above will tell us the ethnic background of the Antichrist. That is, if indeed we can identify the ethnic background of the soldiers who destroyed the Temple in 70 AD. Remarkably, historical records do tell us the answer.
Around the time of the birth of Christ, emperors Augustus Caesar and Tiberius Caesar began a tradition of only recruiting for the legions north of the Po River in northern Italy, for example - no recruiting in the province of Italia which covered the entire Italian Peninsula.
Recruits were drawn either from the surrounding province in which the legion was currently based, or were drawn from the region of the province from which the legion originated. (Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion (London, UK: Quercus, 2010), p. 21.)
Historical sources tell us that at the start of the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, four Roman legions surrounded Jerusalem.
Three legions, Legio V Macedonica, Legio XII Fulminata, and Legio XV Apollinaris were all camped to the west and northwest. One legion, Legio X, was camped to the east on the Mount of Olives. (Josephus, The War of the Jews, 5.2.3 and same book as above, p.351).
The above tells us that the Roman Soldiers were not Italian. Long story short, the "people" of Dan 9:26 were Moesians, Celts, Egyptians and Syrians. The lead Roman general, Titus, admonished the commanders of the troops for their barbarous acts:
"Moreover, do the Arabians and Syrians now first of all begin to govern themselves as they please, and to indulge their appetites in a foreign war, and then, out of their barbarity in murdering men, and out of their hatred to the Jews, get it ascribed to the Romans?" (Josephus, The War of the Jews, 5.13.5)
Christ predicted the total destruction of the temple (Mat 24:1-2) and, of course, it did happen in 70 AD under the rule of Titus much to Titus' dismay.
While reading of the account in The War of the Jews (6.4.5) I came to find out that it almost didn't happen and that Titus didn't even want to destroy the Temple.
One of the soldiers, as if by Divine Order, took off in his zealotry without listening to the orders of Titus. He started the fire, against the wishes of Titus, which burnt down the Temple! See Daniel Revisited, Chapter 2 for the full account!
It was the Syrian, Arabian, and Egyptian soldiers (in Roman uniform) who actually destroyed the Temple out of their hatred for the Jews. Back to Dan 9:26 we see that these are the "people" of the "prince who is to come". Which, in turn, shows us that the Antichrist will be of Islam.
Zep 1:2-4 I will completely remove all things From the face of the earth, declares the LORD. I will remove man and beast; I will remove the birds of the sky And the fish of the sea, And the ruins along with the wicked; And I will cut off man from the face of the earth, declares the LORD. So I will stretch out My hand against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests.
Yes - "baal" is indeed the origin, or precursor, of "Hubal" which is in reference to allah - the god of Islam! See chapter 3 of Daniel Revisited for the full explanation.
Pre versus Non Pre-Millennial
At the close of the 69th week Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey to the shouts of "Hosanna!". After the close, four days later - He was crucified. Note that His death was not in the 70th week... the text says "after the sixty-two [69th week] weeks".
"If the cutting off of the Messiah occurred in the middle of the seventieth week, it is very strange that the cutting off is said to be “after” the sixty-nine weeks. Much more naturally the text would have read “during” or “in the midst of the seventieth week, as it does in verse twenty-seven concerning the stoppage of the sacrifices. The only adequate explanation for this unusual turn of expression is that the seventieth week did not follow on the heels of the sixty-ninth, but that an interval separates the two. The crucifixion then comes “after” the sixty-ninth but not within the seventieth because of the intervening gap. The possibility of a gap between the sixty-ninth and the seventieth weeks is established by the well-accepted OT phenomenon of prophetic perspective, in which gaps such as that between the first and second advents were not perceived." (Robert Gundry, The Church and the Tribulation)
Non pre-millennials often argue argue against the pre-millennial view that there is a roughly 2000 gap between the close of the 69th week and the final 70th week. Yet these same non pre-millennials who see 70 AD as the fulfillment of the prophecy also must insert a gap. Either that or they must interpret the numbers in an extremely non-literal manner. Those are their only two choices.
"There was no doubt in the minds of those who read and understood Jesus’ words in Mat 24:15 that the abomination of desolation prophecy was fulfilled in events leading up to the temple’s destruction in A.D. 70." (Gary Demar, Last Days Madness)
"But according to the prophecy, the coming of the Messiah to Jerusalem and his subsequent death (cutting off) marks the end of the first 69 weeks. Only one week remains after the coming and death of the Messiah. Yet Demar somehow manages to stretch the final seven years into forty years! Either that, or he must insert a gap in between the 69th and 70th week. We are not told. In order for Demar’s position to work, he must render the Bible’s use of very straightforward, simple, literal numbers in a fluid and vague manner whereby they come to essentially mean nothing. Such is the result of the non-premillennial interpretation of this passage." (Joel Richardson, Daniels-70-weeks1.pdf)
Dan 9:27
Pre-Millennial
Dan 9:26-27 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come [Antichrist] will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
And he [Antichrist] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he [Antichrist] will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one [Antichrist] who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one [Antichrist] who makes desolate.
Non Pre-Millennial
Dan 9:26-27 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come [Antiochus, Titus, or Antichrist] will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
And he [Christ] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he [Christ] will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one [Titus] who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one [Titus] who makes desolate.
The pre-millennial view adheres to the proper rules of grammar here while the non pre-millennial view violates the normal rules of Hebrew grammar to impose its own view into the text.
All four passages (Dan 8:9-14, Dan 9:27, Dan 11:31, and Dan 12:11) all deal with the Antichrist or Antiochus (foreshadow of Antichrist).
For a detailed comparison see Joel Richardson, Daniels-70-weeks1.pdf starting on page 14.
Jesus' Words "the abomination that causes desolation" directly quotes the phrase as it is used in the Septuagint Dan 9:27 and Dan 12:11.
The fact that Jesus directly quoted Dan 9:27 and placed its fulfillment in the future as connected to the "great tribulation" rules out any suggestion that Dan 9:27 (the abominating of the Temple and the subsequent ceasing of offerings) was fulfilled by Jesus.
Isaiah used the motif of labor pains to speak of the sufferings that would immediately precede the resurrection of the dead:
Isa 26:17-19 As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, LORD. We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life. But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise - let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy - your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.
Gabriel actually cites Isaiah’s words in connection with the great tribulation:
Dan 12:1-2 Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
The great tribulation is repeatedly referred to as half of seven years:
Dan 12:7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.
Rev 11:2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
Rev 11:3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Rev 13:5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.
Jesus divided up the last days into two periods: "the beginning of birth pains" and "great tribulation" which would be divided by "the abomination of desolation".
Mat 24:8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
Mat 24:15-16 Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Mat 24:21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
Jesus obviously interpreted Dan 9:27 as speaking of a final seven year period. The first half is defined by "the beginning of birth pains".
This period is followed by the sign of "the abomination of desolation" that begins "great tribulation", or to use Isaiah’s language, the actual labor pains.
Paul also makes the same connection:
1 Th 5:3-4 While they are saying, Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief.
By recognizing and identifying the various references made by Isaiah, Gabriel, Jesus, and Paul we may properly interpret and understand the prophecy of 70 weeks. We will recognize the signs and be ready. Therefore, we will not be overtaken as by a thief in the night.
Covenant with Death and Hades
Dan 9:27 ... he shall confirm a covenant with the many for one week.
Some claim that the notion of a covenant with the Antichrist is only mentioned or alluded to in this one verse (Dan 9:27) and nowhere else.
Such claims are false.
The notion of Israel entering into a deceptive covenant with the Antichrist in the last days is also referred to by Isaiah:
Isa 28:14-16 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell [sheol] are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste.
Isa 28:18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell [sheol] shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
The "covenant of death" and "pact with sheol":
[1] Made by the rulers of Israel
[2] Made with "death"
[3] Instead of trusting in Jesus, the "tested stone", they instead rely on the covenant.
[4] They enter into the covenant for the purpose of avoiding "the overwhelming [flooding] scourge"
[5] However, the covenant with "will be cancelled" or broken
[6] Instead of providing them with deliverance from the flooding scourge, they will be scourged by the flood.
Peace and Safety
After being scourged however, the misplaced trust of Israel will be rectified. No longer will they trust or rely on the Antichrist for a false sense of security.
Instead they will rely on Jesus:
Isa 10:20 Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
Revelation also alludes to the scourging flood of Satan / the Antichrist:
Rev 12:15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.
The angel Gabriel also alludes to the scourging flood of Isaiah 28 when he describes the destruction of Jerusalem by the prince to come:
Dan 9:26 The people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
Paul refers to the misplaced trust Israel will place in the covenant with the Antichrist just before the time of Jacob’s Trouble (labor pains):
1 Th 5:3 While they are saying, Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
Elsewhere, Daniel also speaks of the Antichrist’s use of deceptive peace promises to attain power:
Dan 8:25 And through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; and he will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many while they are at ease.
Daniel even specifically mentions the deceptive alliance of the Antichrist:
Dan 11:23 After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small force of people.
Ezekial even refers to their false sense of security:
Eze 38:8 After many days you shall be visited. In the after years you shall come into the land turned back from the sword, gathered out of many peoples, on the mountains of Israel which have been for a continual waste. But he has been brought out of the peoples, and they shall dwell securely, all of them.
Eze 38:11 And you shall say, I will go up to the land of open spaces. I will go to those at ease, who live securely, all of them living with no walls, and there are no bars and gates to them
Eze 38:14 So prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, So says the Lord Jehovah: Shall you not know in that day when My people Israel dwells securely?
That this false security, unprecedented in Israel's history, prevails all throughout the first half of the week is further indicated in light of the invasion that comes so unexpectedly upon Israel, as depicted in Mat 24:15-16; Rev 12:6, Rev 12:12-15.
It is believers that have expected this, and that are expecting this because we know what to watch for, chiefly from Daniel's prophecy (as Jesus said we should learn from Daniel), that will be prepared to receive and escort Jews to places of refuge and provision.
Be prepared!
That is the purpose of these blogs... to prepare you, and show you what you should be watching for.
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