Edited 12/12/23 Daniel 9:24: Cause And Effect
Daniel 9:2, “The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he (God) would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
Daniel prayed, Verses 5-6, “We (the Jews) have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy (God’s) precepts and from thy judgments. Neither have we hearkened unto thy (God’s) prophets.”
In verse 7, Daniel goes on to say it was all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, all Israel, those near and far off, who have sinned against God.
Verse 11, “All Israel has transgressed thy law, even by departing that they (the Jews) might not obey thy (God’s) voice. Therefore, the curse is poured upon us (the Jews) and the oath that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we (the Jews) have sinned.”
This chapter dates back to 537 B.C., one year before Cyrus allowed the Jews to return from exile in 536 B.C. Daniel was taken into captivity in 606 B.C.
So, the above is the foundation on which Daniel 9:24 rests.
God continues, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy (Daniel’s) people (the Jews) and upon the holy city (Jerusalem,) to finish (end) 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 (Christ our Lord.)”
“To bring in everlasting righteousness,” has yet to be fulfilled!
In verse 22, Daniel is given understanding concerning his vision, which he did not possess in Daniel 8:16 and 26. God now blesses Daniel with the information directly instead of by vision, which would have required interpretation.
Verse 24, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon the holy city.” Note, God did not say, “My people,” but said, “Thy (your) people.” The Israelites were living in sin; therefore, the LORD rejected them.
When the seventy weeks of years (490 years) have been accomplished, God said, I will “Finish the transgression, and make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.”
Seventy weeks are equivalent to 490 years; each year to be accounted for, each defined by a particular division of certain events made clear so there would be no misunderstanding. The three periods are, seven years, sixty-two years, and one year.
Most theologians agree that the Babylonian captivity was a turning point in Israel history. The two Southern tribes, for the most part, had been free, but their captivity by the Babylonians terminated that freedom. The Jews would no longer be governed solely by God’s direction.
Each specified period of the three divisions of time concerns the Jewish people, the city of Jerusalem, and the land. These periods were divided as such: seven years, sixty-two years, and one year, totaling seventy years. The last year will represent the completion of the previous sixty-nine. At the end of the 70th week, the perfection of God’s work concerning the Jewish people and the land will have ended.
None of the above has a thing to do with the Christian church. There appears to be one revelation in each period, and tribulation awaited the Jews in each. The freedom that was given them by Cyrus the Great was a temporary deliverance. Only the end of the 70th week appears to be the completion of God’s work.
At the beginning of the sixty-nine weeks, Jerusalem had been restored. Near the end of the 69th week, the people of Israel and the land had been prepared for the advent of the Jewish Messiah, a time in which our Lord would accomplish the first three-and-a-half years of his new covenant. In Christ’s earthly ministry, the Jews were offered all the mercies of God, but the rulers and the people rejected them.
In the first 69 years, the powers of this world had trampled the Jews underfoot. In the second period of 62 weeks,
Messiah the Prince was cut off.
Psalms 2:2, “The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed.” See also, Matthew 27:37-42.
There would be nothing for their Savior.
Daniel 9:26, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off but not for himself: and the people of the prince (Titus) that shall come shall destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (the temple;) and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
The Hebrew word for desolations is future plural. Compare with Isaiah 61:4, “They (the Jews) shall build the old wastes (ruins) they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.”
Daniel 9:27, “And He (Messiah) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (3 1/2 years), 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.” This, at his death on the cross.
There’s a two-fold aspect to Christ’s ministry: salvation first and judgment to follow.
Luke 2:34, Simeon blessed them (Joseph and Mary) and said, “Behold, this child (Jesus) is set (destined) for the fall (the Jews) and rising again (the Christian church) of many in Israel.”
Malachi 3:1-6, and 4:1-3, “For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble, —But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness (Jesus) arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall.”
Jesus repeatedly connects his being “cut off” with the destruction that was to come upon the city, the temple, and the people, as cause and effect,
Matthew 21:37-41; 23:37-38, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I (Jesus) have gathered your children together —. Behold your house is left unto you desolate.”
Our Lord’s spiritual Kingdom has not been frustrated, but the earthly Kingdom the Jews had anticipated was put on hold.
When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem riding on a colt, this was His only appearance as King, and six days later, he was put to death as “King of the Jews.”
The confirmation of the new covenant was assigned to Jesus. “He (Jesus) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” Yet, in the 69th week of this prophecy, when he began confirming his new covenant the Jews had him crucified, in so doing, the Lord would cut the people off. Matthew 23:38, Jesus said, “behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” When the Lord left, Israel’s enemies broke in.
Isaiah 42:6, “I will give thee for a covenant of the people.” It is in Christ that the covenant between Israel and the Father is expressed.
Luke 22:20, “Jesus said, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
Malachi 3:1, He “Shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant.” Here is where Daniel’s prophesy ends, after the 69th week. In Daniel 12:4, he is told to “Shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.”
And now comes the problem of understanding the seventieth week of this prophecy. Some claim the seventieth week is past yet cannot give specific dates. Others claim the Christian church will go into tribulation.
As far as I understand, the Christian church will have no part in the 70th week of this prophecy, and why should they?
In the 70th week of this prophecy, the Jews will still be under the power of the world.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com