Here is a different take on Daniel’s 70 Weeks prophecy and what the Covenant might be…
This is a study I did a while back. It’s just a possibility to consider…
The Septuagint to English translations that I have found have different wording that make me wonder if our understanding of this prophecy could be a bit off. Studying various translations of Daniel 9 led me to believe that the Covenant mentioned might be the renewing of God’s Covenant with the descendants of Abraham, not a covenant between the antichrist and Israel, or anyone else. I do understand that this was translated from Hebrew to Greek to English, so it is likely more prone to error. It is a different perspective, however.
- Daniel 9:24-27 (LXX - 1851)24 Seventy weeks have been determined upon thy people, and upon the holy city, for sin to be ended, and to seal up transgressions, and to blot out the iniquities, and to make atonement for iniquities, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal the vision and the prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy.
25 And thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem until Christ the prince there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks; and then the time shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.
26 And after the sixty-two weeks, the anointed one shall be destroyed, and there is no judgment in him: and he shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming: they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall appoint the city to desolations.
27 And one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of time an end shall be put to the desolation.
After the crucifixion, there seems to be a "gap" between the 69th and 70th weeks. While there is a long period of time between the 69th and 70th weeks, there is not really a "gap" in the prophecy. The "gap" spoken of by many is included in the prophecy.
The last part of verse 26 states,"
and he shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming: they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall appoint the city to desolations."
In other words, the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (the Temple) will be destroyed; and desolations are appointed to Jerusalem until "the end of the war which is rapidly completed."
From the destruction of Jerusalem to the end of a war that will be rapidly completed, Jerusalem will be desolate.
The first 69 weeks of the prophecy will be fulfilled; followed by a period of time that the city (Jerusalem) is appointed to desolations; followed by a war which is rapidly completed; followed by the 70th week.
Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, and lay desolate for many years.
Jerusalem was actually desolate (tread under foot by Gentiles) prior to 70 AD, under Roman rule.
In 1948, Israel became a nation again, but did not have control of Jerusalem, which was still desolate.
Jerusalem was to lay desolate until "the end of the war which was rapidly completed.” Could verse 26 be referring to the Six Day War of 1967, when Israel recaptured Jerusalem? The Six Day War was certainly a war that was quickly completed. As a result of this war, the city of Jerusalem was returned to God's people, its rightful owners.
But what happened immediately following that war?
Israel turned control of the Temple Mount right back to the WAQF (now the Palestinian Authority). The UN is still considering a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. It appears that at least part of God's Holy City is still experiencing appointed desolations (being tread under foot by Gentiles).
It does not appear that the 1967 war was the war mentioned in the last part of Daniel 9:26. There is a war described in Psalm 83 that has not yet occurred. I believe the Psalm 83 war could be "the war which is rapidly completed.” Daniel 9:27 seems to indicate that the final 7 year period will begin shortly after this war. I believe this war is coming very soon, followed by the building of the Third Temple. With her surrounding enemies destroyed, Israel will then be living in peace and safety. This sense of peace and safety will lead to the Ezekiel 38 war (Gog of Magog), led by the antichrist at the midpoint of the Tribulation. (More on that at the end…)
- Daniel 9:26-27 (KJV)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.
I believe "He" in verse 27 refers to "Messiah." Grammatically, as the sentence is laid out in the KJV, the antecedent to "He" cannot be any noun other than "Messiah." Messiah “shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.”
Verse 27 of the 1851 Septuagint translation states, “27
And one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of time an end shall be put to the desolation.”
At the beginning of the final week, Messiah will confirm the covenant God made with Abraham. At the midpoint of the final week, He will allow the sacrifices to be taken away, and will allow the antichrist to set up the abomination in the temple. "At the end of time" (the end of the age - also the end of the final week) "an end shall be put to the desolation."
The covenant God made with Abraham included a promise that a particular piece of land would belong to Abraham's descendants forever. I believe the covenant God made with Abraham is the same covenant spoken of by Daniel in verse 27 that is to be renewed between God and His people. Soon the remainder of the land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham will be returned to Israel.
In Luke 21:24, Messiah said “
Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled.” Daniel 9:26 states that Jerusalem would be appointed to desolations. Could this be referring to the same period of time?
In Luke 21, Messiah connected the times of the Gentiles with Jerusalem being trodden down by the Gentiles.
It appears that the times of the Gentiles and the punishment of Israel were to last 1960 years (based on a possible interpretation of Leviticus 26). It is interesting to note that from the time Christians were accused of burning Rome in 64 AD (beginning the age of the persecuted Church - Smyrna) to the year 2024 (possible ending of the tribulation, restoration of all things, beginning of the Millennial Reign) is 1960 years.
Romans 11:25 says Israel will be blinded to the truth until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. The fullness of the Gentiles is another way of saying the completion or end of the times of the Gentiles. Romans 11:26-27 speak of the salvation of Israel and fulfilling God's covenant with Israel. This covenant fulfillment appears to be at the same time as the end of the times of the Gentiles. The Covenant spoken of in Romans 11 seems to be the same Covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27.
The Covenant described in Romans 11 is:
Messiah, the Deliverer, will take away the sins of Israel.
The land promised to the descendants of Abraham will be returned to Israel.
All the promises God made to Abraham and his descendants will be fulfilled.
I believe this is the Covenant referred to in Daniel 9:27.
We know that Israel was scattered, and that God is in the midst of calling them back to the land.
Romans 11:26-27 says that the Covenant God made with Israel will be renewed, or at least fulfilled.
Is is so much of a stretch to think that Daniel might have been referring to that same Covenant?
Since I mentioned Ezekiel 38 earlier, I thought I should clarify why I believe it is related to the midpoint of the Tribulation. I have a different understanding of Ezekiel 38 & 39, Zechariah 14, and Isaiah 9 than what is understood by many. I have come to the conclusion that Ezekiel 38 represents a battle led by the antichrist at the midpoint of the Tribulation, and Ezekiel 39 represents Armageddon. I believe Zechariah 14:4 through the first half of verse 5 is describing the midpoint of the Tribulation and the Ezekiel 38 battle (not the Second Coming). The last half of Zechariah 14:5 through 14:9 is describing the Second Coming and the Battle of Armageddon (Ezekiel 39). The beginning of Zechariah 14:5 describes Israel fleeing through God’s Mountain Valley (Mount of Olives). I do not believe there will be any fleeing of Israel once Messiah returns. That is one of the reasons I believe there is a 3 1/2 year gap in the middle of Zechariah 14:5, between midpoint events and the Second Coming.
Ezekiel 38 seems to glove-fit with the timing of the following events:
1. Satan and his angels being cast to earth at the midpoint of the Tribulation (Revelation 12:9)
2. The destruction of Jerusalem by the earthquake described in Ezekiel 38:19-20, Zechariah 14:4-5, and the earthquake caused by the Golden Censer of Revelation 8:3-5; and possibly by the first 6 Trumpet Judgments at the midpoint (Revelation 8:6 through Chapter 9)
3. A remnant of Israel fleeing to the wilderness through the Mount of Olives (Revelation 12:6, 12:14-16, & Zechariah 14:5) (see also Jeremiah 31:2)
4. The destruction of most of the antichrist army by a meteor storm (Ezekiel 38:22) and an earthquake while pursuing the remnant of Israel through the Mount of Olives as it is divided like the Red Sea (Revelation 12:16, Zechariah 14:5, and Ezekiel 38:19-20)
Ezekiel 39 seems to glove-fit with the timing of the Battle of Armageddon (the last part of Zechariah 14:5 through 14:9, and Revelation 19:11-21). Also notice the wording of Isaiah 9:5 compared to Ezekiel 39:9-10.
When read side-by-side, the comparison of Ezekiel 38-39, Zechariah 14, and Revelation 8, 9, & 12 is quite compelling.
I understand this is debatable, but it is my understanding of the scriptures.
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