Israel had transgressed and ignored the sabbatical year for 490 years, or a total of 70 Sabbath years. That is what determined the duration of the Babylonian captivity as 70 years. Therefore, the weeks spoken of to Daniel refer to weeks of years, because it was weeks of years that determined the length of Israel’s captivity. Gabriel said 490 years were determined, then transgression would be finished. An end would be brought to sin, with reconciliation to righteousness. This speaks of the finished work of Christ on the cross at His first coming. Remember that Jesus came to the Jews first (Romans 1:16).
Daniel was told the 70 weeks will happen in three parts: 7 weeks, 62 weeks, then one week. Each week represents a period of seven years. Then he was given these details about the middle section of 62 weeks:
After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. —DANIEL 9:26-27
The first section, 7 weeks, ended with the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem as recorded in Nehemiah. The 69 weeks ended with the Messiah’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Then we are told of a covenant made by the “people of the prince who is to come.” In chapter 7, we will talk about who this refers to, but for now, we need to note that there is a “one week” (or seven-year) covenant that not only has yet to be fulfilled, it has yet to be made. We must also note that the context is the same as that of verse 24, where the determined weeks pertain to Daniel’s people and holy city, the Jews and Jerusalem, and therefore, the covenant must be made with the same.
Gabriel doesn’t say that when God’s people take dominion over the earth the Messiah will come and make reconciliation, as taught by some. He doesn’t say that when man finally starts to get it right, sin will end. Rather, Gabriel says the end is already determined, and Israel is the timepiece by which that time can be identified.
In Amos 9:14-15, God says,
I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them.
Israel has rebuilt and inhabited cities that were originally a wasteland and planted vineyards and built wineries. Today there are more than 35 commercial wineries in Israel, and more than 250 boutique wineries. God’s prophetic word about Israel is being fulfilled in and through Israel right before our eyes.
Is Israel a fruit-producing nation as prophesied by Amos? Israel exports $1.3 billion dollars of fruit every year, mostly citrus, and is one of the leading greenhouse fruit producers in the world. God’s prophetic word about Israel is being fulfilled in and through Israel right before our eyes.
Excerpt from The Time of the Signs by Barry Stagner. Order Now.
Want the full chronology of earth’s final events, from the rebirth of Israel to the return of Christ? Read The Time of the Signs by Barry Stagner.
Want the full chronology of earth’s final events, from the rebirth of Israel to the return of Christ? Read The Time of the Signs by Barry Stagner.
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