Breadcrumbss

When it comes to the current war, there is definitely a prophetic aspect. The problem is that there are two divergent views of prophecy. The one below is not the current popular opinion. People can look at the same material and come up with different views. There is quite a bit more that can be written. However, this is the basics of why I believe that the 70th prophetic week has already been fulfilled. This has huge implications what for what is occuring today. In the interest of peace, I post this. If people get away from the current view of the 70th week, it might add to peace efforts. Below is something (slightly modified for this blog) from a paper I wrote on this top.

Let’s start with the who, what, where, when, and why questions.  Judah was taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  From history, the exiles and destruction of Jerusalem occurred between 605 and 587 BC.  What was the “why” of the captivity?  It had to do with breaking the covenant that God gave to Israel.  “I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant” (Jeremiah 11:8).

Daniel, in exile in Babylon, began to seek the Lord as Daniel understood the prophecy of Jeremiah and that seventy years were coming to an end (Daniel 9:2).  He understood that the captivity was due to Israel having broken the terms of the covenant.  “Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.” (Daniel 9:11)

A particular problem was that Israel had not fulfilled the law of the sabbath for the land, so the land would have to lie desolate to make up for those sabbaths. “Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.” (Leviticus 26:34, 35)  Was this requirement resolved due to the captivity?  Yes.  “To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.” (II Chronicles 36:21)

Daniel prayed, and in response to Daniel’s prayers, Gabriel was sent to give Daniel  “skill and understanding” (Daniel 9:22).  The following was part of the message.

Daniel 9:24  (KJV) “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish 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.  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.”

Daniel’s initial prayer reveals that Daniel was familiar with the fact that the curse clause of the covenant was being poured out upon Judah.  Also listed in Leviticus 26 are the “seven times more” punishment clauses  (verses 18, 21, 24, 28).  

It is commonly understood in prophecy that “weeks” correspond to “weeks of years.”   In history, there is a correspondence between the 7 X 7 weeks of years, threescore and two weeks of years (62) X 7, the 70th final week and what happened with various events, decrees, and dates in terms of the return from exile and the resultant restoration.  There are date markers and details through various administrations, more than what can be covered in a short paper. The calculation of 483 years (7X7 + 62X7) takes us from Artaxerxes’ decree in 457 BC (Ezra 7:7–26) to AD 27.   There are different considerations regarding the decrees and dating and people come to different conclusions.  However, I believe the decree from Artaxerxes brings time to the ministry of Jesus and fits well with the overall information given to Daniel. 

I believe AD 27 is the beginning of the seventieth week, when Jesus’ ministry begins.  Jesus’ earthly ministry corresponds to Daniel 9:24.  The purpose is:  1.  finish the transgression 2. make an end of sins 3. make reconciliation for iniquity  4.  bring in everlasting righteousness  5.  seal up the vision and the prophecy 6.  to anoint the Most Holy.

My interpretation is that Jesus was anointed at his baptism and fulfilled points 1-5 with his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.   The Messianic prophecies beginning with Genesis 3:15 were sealed up or fulfilled in Jesus.  “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:”  (Daniel 9:26a)  “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,” (Daniel 9:27a)

In the midst of the week, considering the generally accepted understanding that Jesus’ ministry was approximately 3 ½ years, and in accordance with Hebrews 10:7-12, Jesus caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease.  Temple sacrifices were still offered until the destruction of the temple, but their purpose was superseded by Jesus’ work on the cross.  When the temple was destroyed in AD 70, the temple sacrifices ceased completely.   Christian theology understands that Jesus is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8), and that His sacrifice signified the end of the need for temple sacrifices. 

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” (Daniel 9:27a).  The covenant is confirmed through Jesus’ coming and ministry (Luke 1:72-73, Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24).   The early church also confirmed the covenant after Jesus’ resurrection  (Acts 3:12-26).   Significantly, as Stephen speaks (Acts 7), he summarizes the history of Israel in covenant (vs. 8) with the Lord.   There is a summation of Israel’s rejection of the Old Testament covenant, the rejection of Jesus by crucifixion, and the rejection of the explanation by the Holy Spirit (vs. 51-53). Stephen, speaking by the Holy Spirit, was rejected and then stoned.

Desolation occurs after Jesus has caused the sacrifice 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.” (Daniel 9:27b)  Desolation was one of the curses for breaking the covenant.  “And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.”  (Leviticus 26:31)

There is no greater abomination than the murder of the Son of God.  Ultimately, the judgment resulting from the murder of the Son of God is poured upon Jerusalem, culminating in the destruction of the city and the temple in AD 70. 

“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.” (Daniel 9:26)   This happened when Rome, under Titus, destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70.  The word “flood” has been used elsewhere in the Bible to indicate overwhelming invasions and destruction.   Examples include  Isaiah 8:7, 8;  Jeremiah 46:7, 8; and Nahum 1:8.  “Flood” is from Strong’s H7858, “a deluge (literally or figuratively)”.  Jesus had already talked about the desolation of Jerusalem.   “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” (Luke 21:20)

Stephen reviewed Israel’s history of unfaithfulness to the covenant. I interpret Stephen’s testimony as part of the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” In the beginning part of the week, Jesus fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham.  In the later part of the week, Stephen summarized that history.  Stephen used the prophetic language of Daniel 7:13-14, “Son of man”.   “…Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)

“Standing” from Strong’s G2476 has various KJV translations, among which are “abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up)”. The phrase “having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13) goes back to the same Strong’s G2476. I believe the possibility exists that the seventieth week has been completed with the death of Stephen.

In summary, this is not the majority current view in the United States. The majority prophetic view separates the 70th prophetic week (week of years) from the other 69 prophetic weeks (weeks of years); that view is part of the lens through which the war is fought. I don’t believe in that view myself. I have written above the “why” of my considerations. Ultimately, the reader must decide.