Answers For The Heart
Daniel 9:26
Daniel 9:26
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.
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As we are meditating upon this most amazing verse in the OT book of Daniel about the death of Christ, let us consider next, the seeming futility of His mission - See the phrase in Daniel 9:26 - “But not for Himself.”
This would seem to indicate that his death was for others....and it certainly was! But consider this.... The phrase “not for Himself” can also indicate that in the whole process of His life, he gave everything for us and gets little to nothing in return!
The world rejected Him, He was crucified, His few disciples forsook him and fled, He suffered and died alone! Then, I think about what he got, when he got me. Not a good bargain.
But one day there will be a mighty choir in heaven to sing his praises! Revelation 5:9
Sometimes we think we have suffered so much.....He is the one who suffered! We are the ones who are blessed!
Notice next, the consequences ensuing from the Messiah’s rejection
The Destruction of Jerusalem is here predicted - See Daniel 9:26 again. “…the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary."
Remember, the 69 weeks of sevens (or 483 years) concludes with Christ’s first coming / death. The last week of sevens is terminated by Christ’s second coming! This fact alone demands a gap between the 69th and 70th week. The seventieth weeks does not begin immediately after the 69th. The verse says after the the 69 weeks shall Messiah be cut off....not during the 70th week.
Forty years after Messiah was cut off, Jerusalem was destroyed (a million people were killed and 100,000 sold into slavery)....and for 2000 years the Jews were dispersed throughout the world. This gap in time was not revealed to Daniel. In 1948 (74 years ago) the Jews began to return. This suggests that Daniel’s 70th week will soon follow.
The last week (7 years) will begin with a Covenant (Daniel 9:27).
This Covenant will be instituted with Israel by the Antichrist. (“He” of verse 27 refers back to the “prince that shall come” in verse 26) .
Concerning this prince, you will either believe that this one will be the AntiChrist or THE Christ. The answer is easy. Jesus Christ has never instituted a 7 year Covenant with Israel. He has entered into an everlasting covenant with his people.
Concerning Daniel 9:26, you will either believe that all of this prophecy will have culminated by 70 AD or there is a final 70th week to come!
A time of relative peace will ensue after this Covenant…Finally the Israeli / Arab / Palestinian problem will appear to be solved. Things go along swimmingly for about 3 and 1/2 years and then BOOM! Anthichrist reveals his true colors Daniel 9:27
The week (7 years) and the “midst of the week” (3 and 1/2 years) should be taken literally. We see this same time limit again and again in RT Antichrist - Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5
The Bible states that sacrifice and oblation will cease - this seems to indicate that Temple services will be re-instituted at some point in the future (There are active efforts in Israel to rebuild a third Temple in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount and restitute Temple worship).
During those days the Antichrist will demand worship as god (See Daniel 11:36; II Thessalonians 2:4).
Then will come what the Bible describes as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24)….A time of trouble like this world has never seen!
But this evil reign of Antichrist will not continue! The Lord Jesus Christ will personally return to stop him!
In this most amazing verse (Daniel 9:26) we find a strong proof for the inspiration and trustworthiness of the Scriptures.
There are three separate prophecies given here which were literally fulfilled:
• The Messiah was to come and he was to die a violent death.
• He was to come at a certain time (483 years after the command to return and rebuild Jerusalem) - The Jews were expecting the Messiah at this time (Based on Daniel’s prophecy).
• As a result of that rejection, Israel would see a destruction of the city of Jerusalem and a lengthy dispersal.
Do not reject this promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, who came to seek and to save that which was lost!
There is Immense guilt and punishment awaiting those who reject this Savior. Read John 19:15 and Matthew 27:24-25.
The Jews have suffered greatly because of their rejection of the promised Messiah! To trample such love and care under foot, is a grievous sin, indeed.
But it wasn’t just the Jews of Jesus day! Gentiles (the Romans) were complicit in this dastardly deed murdering the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, how wicked has humanity been! Blasphemers, Haters of God. Haters of His Word! Haters of his church! Haters of His children! Look at America and the world. We are a far cry from what we could be and should be!
Flee from the wrath to come!!