Ascending mountain peaks takes purpose, time and effort but the fruit is more than compensatory. Let’s join together as we ascend this fascinating, soaring four verse passage in the book of Daniel that ties together the Bible from Genesis 3 to Revelation 20. It includes God’s promise to Abraham in Ge. 12 and fulfills His test with Isaac in Ge. 22:1-18, His promise to Judah in Ge 49:10 and the escape from Egypt (representing oppressive sin) of Ex. 12. It includes the plan of salvation’s ‘book’ for the Hebrew people — the sanctuary and its services – as well as His promise to David in 2 Sam 7:13. It’s the trumpet announcing the coming Gospel’s temporal time reality [Amos 3:7 “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to (“unto,” “through” KJV, Knox) His servants the prophets”] supplying the reason the “elder” was able to comfort John saying, ” Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered” Rev 5:5. It does all this by delineating the exact timing of God’s promise, covenant, pledge of love to the fallen human race given first in Ge 3:15, to be exhibited by the unfathomable reality of His becoming a human, His life of compassionate service and purity ratified by His death. And includes Isaiah’s messianic prophecies of chapter 53. In classic Hebrew chiastic structure and alternating parallels Daniel 9:24-27 announces the timing of Divinity’s other centered self-sacrificing love personified in full display. This reality being the answer to the lies spread throughout the universe by Lucifer as outlined in places such as Isa. 14, Ez. 28 and Jn. 8:44. Yes, the “father of lies” Jn 8:44. It is the final and key piece, the culmination of a larger time prophecy puzzle begun in Daniel 8 with details being filled in – like an artist – going on through Daniel chapter 12 and fits like hand in glove with the latter historic unrolling of the Revelation to John “which must soon find their due accomplishment” Rev. 1:1 Knox. Together revealing near too far future history in the great conflict evil has with good. A conflict that repeatedly left Daniel reeling and awestruck and at times flat on his face. Here we will look at these four verses of Daniel 9 with their translation based on the common NIV. The divine information coming in answer to Daniel’s prayer confessing seven times the sins of those with the given encouraging name of victors/over-comers Gen. 32:28, the same often unrealized desire divinity had for Eve and Adam in Ge 2:16, 3:16 and all of Jacobs descendants, but each often “refusing to obey” God (vs.11), – yes, even all Israel. Daniel had been cogitating and praying about the finish of Jeremiah’s prophesied 70 weeks of the encouragingly appellate over-comers captivity that God had allowed and called Babylon to apply as Israel’s redemptive discipliner. God had begun expanding the prophetic picture in Daniel 8 and 9 beyond Daniel’s comprehension, then sealed/stamped it with this four verse announcement of the universe’s greatest love event. The explainer Gabriel began with Daniel’s consideration of Jeremiah’s familiar number 70 in years of the current Babylonian discipline, but placed his considered 70 years into an entirely new context.
Daniel 9:24-27: after each phrase will come an abbreviated explanation followed by the Biblical documentation. Don’t skip them. Don’t let the the adversary blur this greatest of all events!
verse 24:
“Seventy ‘sevens’ (weeks)” Prophetically meaning seventy weeks of years (70 x 7)= 490. The only Biblical and logical, way of interpreting time prophecy – and its simple and complete Biblical accuracy bears it out. See God’s words in Numbers 14;33,34a and Ez. 24:6. Contextually note Daniel in 9:1-19 confessing rebellion & sin & turning away…x20 then asking forgiveness. Christ told Peter in Matt.18:21,22 to forgive 70 x 7 again 490! Here we see God, due to Daniel’s confusion and request, extending another 490 years of forgiveness to Abraham’s “stiff-necked” descendants (repeated 19 times in scriptures along with “obstinate and stubborn” Ez 2:4.
“are decreed” ( chatak – Mishnah, Strong’s, Vulgate, Septuagint, meaning ‘cut off’) or (“marked out” NEB) of the larger visionary time period of Daniel 8 that had left him “appalled” Dan. 8:27. Jeremiah 18:9,10 points out that prophecies that involve human volition are conditional. [other major examples: Ge 6:3,7; Rev 3:16]
- “for your people and your holy city to finish (restrain – marginal reading) transgression,” God had worked with this ‘stiff necked ‘ (Ex. 33:3,5; Isa. 48:1,2,8) Hebrew people — a divine description of them repeated 19 times over their 1400 years of being, as a nation – His purposed representatives on earth. Now a line in time is being laid down for them to shape up or be shipped out.
And
2. “to put an end to sin,” The crux move that will guarantee the universal end of selfishness. Ge 3:15
How?
3. “to atone for wickedness,” The Atoning Sacrifice will occur within that 70 weeks of years (Gal.4:4). Represented in the yearly cleansing of their sins from the earthly sanctuary via the Day of Atonement.
4. “to bring in everlasting righteousness”. Yes, He would verify, in temporal time, the gifts of forgiveness and of His character He had (Ps 51:10; Rev 13:8; 1Cor 2:7; Eph 1:3-6; 3:11; 1Pe 1:20), and would continue to give/offer freely to the human race.
5. “to seal up the vision and prophecy” Affirm the ‘vision.’ The authentication affirming indisputably. like that of a signet or seal ring warn by royalty. The royalty – Genesis 1:1, Jn 1:1-3. The vision – Daniel 7 & 8. The prophecy – Genesis 3:15, Isa. 53, and of each symbolic sacrifice for sin since the fall of mankind.
6. “ and to anoint the ‘Most Holy One’” (margin). See vs.25 and Ex.40:12-15 on anointing to begin a priestly ministry Heb 3:1; 4:14,15. Priests were to be chosen and anointed by divinity, not by human desire Mt 3:16,17. “The Most Holy One” being “Jesus, Son of the Most Holy God” Mk 5:7
verse 25
“Know and understand this:” Meaning this is important! KNOW AND UNDERSTAND!
“From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” A date well delineated in both secular archeology and biblical writings as King Artaxerxes’ decree of 457 BC giving the post Babylon exilic nation full independent national rights Ezra 7:1-26.
“until the 1.Anointed One” Note the last phrase of vs. 24 and the anointing of Jesus the Messiah in Mathew 3: 16,17 and Lk.3:21. Also Andrew’s affirmation in Jn. 1:41 “we found the Messiah” (which means, in Hebrew “Anointed One”); or John the Baptist’s testimony in Jn. 3:28; or the 4 time repeated testimony of Mathew in chapter 1 stating the Anointed One (“Christ” in Greek) had arrived vs.1, 16,17,18; or the angels in Lk. 2:11 (margin) or Christ’s own words of Lk.4:18 which are a repeat of Isa. 61:1,2; or David’s Anointed One of Ps. 2:2; or Peter’s identification of the Anointed One in Acts 4:26 and 10:38; or more powerfully, the affirmation of greater than 540 NT references to “Christ” (again, the Greek word meaning the “Anointed One”) found in the New Testament (and often blindly trumpeted from pulpits). Or more powerfully yet with Christ Mt 24:15 relating His time in history to Daniel’s prophecy along with the statement of the Samaritan woman and Christ’s answer in John 4:25,26: “The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias commeth, which is called the Christ; when He is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto thee am he ” KJV(italics mine).
2. “the Ruler” (capitalization mine) or 3. “Prince” (KJV,Jerus, Ber). The Hebrew has this dual meaning. First, “the Ruler” (sovereign, undisputed ascendancy, acknowledged leader) called the “only Ruler” in 1 Tim. 6:15 and “the Ruler of God’s creation” in Rev. 3:14. (note Lucifer had stolen the dominion from Adam and was ruler only of “the air” Eph.2:2. Earths rulership still belonged to it’s Creator. Second, “the Prince” (king or son of the king), attested to in Daniel as the “Prince of the host” and as the Prince of princes Dan. 8:11,25 and in Acts 5:31 as Prince and Savior.”
“comes” (to move toward, to advance, to move to a vicinity with a specified purpose) God’s apex move in the great controversy in the conflict of evil and good — Lucifer (Satan) against God in the person of His Son revealed here in full transparency! The primary prophetic action verb of the “Anointed One” named or indicated six times within these four verses. The apex of the battle, the temporal reality of the promise of Genesis 3:15. Yes, “These are they that testify of Me” Jn 5:39!!!!
“there will be seven sevens” That these would be 7 weeks of years, thus 49 years (again Num.14:33,34a; Ez.24:6).
“and sixty -two sevens” Or 434 years. Totaling for both (49+434) = 483 years or 69 weeks of years. The 70th yet to come.
“it will be rebuilt with streets and a trench,” It being Jerusalem. After the decree of 457 it took, with cupbearer Nehemiah’s help, along with Ezra’s encouragement, the seven sevens or 49 years to rebuild Jerusalem.
“but in times of trouble”. Given by the Samaritan Sanballat and Tobiah the Ammonite (Nehemiah 4) and the Hebrew people’s stiff-necks (Ezra 9).
verse 26
“After the sixty- two sevens,” After the 434 years that had been added to the 49 years thus equalling 69 weeks of years.
“the Anointed One will be cut off” In the 70th week of years the Anointed One will be destroyed in this “place of cessation” Isa. 38:11 margin NIV, Gen. 2:17 & 3:15 by “the last enemy” -death- in its first ( Biblically related to sleep > 50 times in 17 books) and the second (permeant, eternal) forms. Both “to be destroyed”, terminated 1 Co 15:26, 54-56, Rev 2:4; 20:6,14; 21:8.
“and will have nothing” this phrase has triple meanings as noted in the marginal reading NIV). First, “and will have nothing.” He “had not a place to lay His head” Mt. 8:20 and at the cross, only the clothes He had on. Second of equal meaning and reality, the marginal reading of “will have no one.” This was realized at the cross with no apparent results from His incarnation ministry. An apparent failure! Third, “not for himself.” An affirmation of His selfless self-sacrificing love for us, having not sinned but taking on our guilt, opening a way for those who choose to return to the purity and freedom of other-centered love Rom. 8:3,4; 1 Co 15:22,23.
“The people of the Ruler (ruler) who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary” (capitalization mine but in line with KJV, Rotherham, Jerusalem & Berkeley’s translations). Like the prior phrase, it has a triple meaning: First meaning, the Ruler, (the Prince, the Anointed One) of vs.25, thus “the people” being the Israelites – the desired overcomers of Ge 32:28. Yes, it was the stiff-necked behavior of the people Daniel had just been praying about and for in 9:4-19, that were and would be the real cause of the destruction of “the city” (Hosea chap. 4 & 7:3; 9:12,17; 13:9;12:14; Jer. 4:18; 17:4; 18:5-10; 32:33; 50:7) and “the sanctuary” (Ez.8:23; Mt. 21:13; 24:2; 23:35-38;25:26; Ge 3:12,13). Second meaning was the whip “ruler”(one who exercises authority Isa. 7: 17-20; 10:26), the Roman general Titus, whom God used along with Titus’ soldiers (“the people of“) to bring to the temporal end. His soldiers who were instructed by Titus not to wantonly kill or needlessly tear down walls and instructed specifically not to harm the sanctuary could not, would not be stopped in their frenzied destruction. Third meaning, the “people of the Ruler” being the Ruler’s (God’s) divine angels aiding Titus. Titus who via secular history stated that he, Titus, could not have reached the level of devastation on this fortress except that Israel’s God, he felt, must have been helping him (as in Jeremiah. 40:2,3).
“The end will come” or (“it’s end” Berkely verson). The city and the sanctuary in its second desolation. The first desolation was by Babylon and was assured to be rebuilt- of Daniel’s current 70 years concern, and next time, in the future destroyed by Rome! And not just it’s destruction but “it’s end” Mt 27:51! The end for his people, the historical Israelites! Hear Christ’s words of Mt.23:38, “Behold your house is left to you desolate”.
“like a flood” The end, not just of the literal city Jerusalem and it’s sanctuary as central to the spreading of the reality of God’s love to the then world as they had been intended too Ex. 19:5, but the loss of the sanctuary’s spiritual meaning – a Noahitic flood of totality: it’s then place, it’s services, it’s sacrifices, old Jerusalem, the special place in history of the Hebrew people, all negated by the reality of their too long continued transgression culminating now in their functional elimination of their Creator. All being replaced with the Christian church (a term used >110 times in the NT) and the New Jerusalem of John 14:1-3, Rev.3:12; 21:2. New wine would be placed in new wine skins Mk. 2:22.
“War will continue until the end, and desolations (utter waste – Strong’s) have been decreed.” See Revelation 12:12,17. Lucifer introduced conflict into the universe by elevating grasping as the means to happiness in place of giving. Thus there have been, due to our forebears tacit agreement, only 268 years on earth without armed conflict durning the past 3442 years.
verse 27
“He” The Anointed One, the Prince, the Ruler – who has been repeatedly and immediately identified.
“will confirm the (KJV) covenant” “The covenant” of everlasting love, given by Jesus, as the Creator in His divinity in Genesis 3:15; Rev 13:8; 1Cor 2:7; Eph 1:3-6; 3:11; 1Pe 1:20 —“he will” — here being fulfilled by the Creator, Son of God, as the Son of Man Mt 27,28; Mk 15:16; Lk 23; Jn 19 – with the universes’ greatest love event –“He will confirm”.
“with many” Romans 5:15.19; Hebrews 9:28 —by their opening “the door” of their heart Rev. 3 :20. His incarnation effort would be efficacious! This reveals Christ’s faith in us!
“for one seven” The seventieth week first spoken of in verse 24 and further details added in each succeeding verse , now making it clear that the Anointed One’s ministry began with His cousin John baptizing Him in the fall of AD 27 – the exact timing realized here on earth of the Holy Spirit’s anointing of Christ’s earthly priestly ministry Lk. 3:1-3; Mt.3:16,17.
“but” “except that” (Merriam Webster’s new Ninth Collegiate Dictionary)
“in the middle of that seven” thus at three and one half years – the spring of AD 31
“He will put an end to sacrifice and offering” He was the Sacrifice that all prior people, and sacrificers and their symbolic sacrifices had looked/pointed forward to by faith and we by faith look back with a “sacrifice of praise,” gratitude and thanksgiving Heb. 13:15; Col.3:16. That happened right on time at the Passover celebrated in the spring of AD 31 – the passover Lamb – and He rose on cue as the first fruit wave sheath.
“And one” Satan, the one, Lucifer, who caused devastation throughout all heaven and brought and sold his governmental plan of self-centeredness that brought and brings devastation, desolation and cessation to earth’s inhabitants Gen. 3:1-6.
“who causes desolation” Utter waste, spiritually, mentally, morally, and physically. “Devoid of inhabitants, joyless” (S), “brings devastation”(S) meaning “reduced to chaos by violent action” (MW) see Jer 51:25. ” A man reaps what he sows” Gal 6:7 so Satan reaps the “abyss” of Rev 20:3, meaning “no persons alive” (S) so he cannot deceive the “nations” meaning also “peoples” (S) see Isa 24:21,22. Satans form of government brings total aloneness and disappearance.
“will come” Revelation chapter 12, “woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!… the dragon was enraged at the woman (God’s people by their choice) and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring….” or in 1 Peter 5:8 “like a roaring lion”. Christ referred to this verse of Daniel 9:17 in Mt 24:15, applying it as a double prophecy involving the destruction of the old Jerusalem and to the future of His people (Christians) post Calvary Mt 24:3.
“on the wings” (marginal reading) Wings indicating fast – as antichrists did, noted in 1Jn. 2:18 along with false prophets, messiahs and teachers Mt 24:24; 2 Pet. 2:1, and again in Rev. 6 as religious horsemen on horses and Rev.12:12 (see REBELLION 2021: Of Horses and their Riders). (note some translations place a phrase here indicating the temple – a structure destroyed – but replaced with the church 1 Peter 2:5, meaning at least, the coming abominations would be spiritual/religious – in “Christian” worship.
“of abominations” The Greek word meaning “vile” (intellectually dishonest, tending to degrade), “vile goddess” (see Rev. 17:1-6 ), idols – (Strong’s concordance) — read of and note the historical invasion of Greek and Roman mythology, philosophy and political culture into the new Christianity. (see also Dan 11:31, 12:11. The book of Daniel was written 400 years before Christ, and Christ in Matthew 24:15 placed the this “abomination of desolation” in history future to His time. Thus denying the common misinterpretation implied in the book of Maccabees in the Apocrypha [syn.’ fictitious’ MW] of the minor Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanies reigning approximately 200 years prior [175 – 164 BC]. An interpretation that guts the power of what divinity is trying to communicate. Jesus tried in John 5:39 to clear away such misunderstandings with the reality that “these are they that testify of Me.”)
“until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” –Satan, former Lucifer – See Revelation 20:9,10,14; Lam. 3:33, Gen 3:15; Mt 25:41.
“KNOW AND UNDERSTAND!”
LIFE EXCOGITATIONS 