THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY

With the date of the decree now known, we look at the prophecy to see what was to occur in the "70 weeks", or 490 years:  

DAN 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city,

- 490 years were "determined" or dedicated to Daniel's people, the Jewish nation, and his "holy city", the center of the government, Jerusalem. If the 490 "weeks" (years) began in 457 BC, it's culmination would have been in 34 AD.

...to finish the transgression,:... :...

-in this "70 weeks" the Jewish nation rejected the Messiah, the one all the "types and shadows" pointed to. Their great "transgression" was finished.

...and to make an end of sins,:...

-the word "chattath", translated here to read "sins" is translated "sin offering" 116 times in the Bible. All sin offerings were to cease when the True Lamb of God was sacrificed. This occurred in spring of 31 AD.

...and to make reconciliation for iniquity,:...

-All men could now be reconciled to God through the Sacrifice at Calvary, if they only accepted His offer.

...and to bring in everlasting righteousness,:...

-This does not mean that sin was to be eradicated during the "70 weeks" of this prophecy. It means that by Christ's righteousness and death on the cross, the end of sin was guaranteed. 

ROM 4:17 ...God, who quickeneth the dead, and CALLETH THOSE THINGS WHICH BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE. 

This tells us that God makes statements of fact which He knows WILL occur and He therefore states them "as though they were". The action or event which guaranteed "everlasting righteousness" occurred. An example: J

OH 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

We know that those of Christ and John's day died and went to their graves, to be resurrected when Christ returns. Yet, here they are said to have "everlasting life". Christ, Himself, made this clear: 

JOH 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY. 

The inheritance of eternal life comes at it's designated time: 

EPH 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,... 10 THAT IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF TIME HE MIGHT GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE ALL THINGS in Christ, both which are IN HEAVEN, and which are ON EARTH;... 13 In whom ye also trusted,... after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of PROMISE, 14 Which is the EARNEST of our INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION,... 

If your bank guarantees you a loan, you could say, "the money's in the bank", or "it's a done deal", which means it's as good as if the money was actually there because of the promise. For us, the "earnest", or guarantee, of our salvation is the "Holy Spirit of promise", and Christ will "redeem" that "promise" "in the "last day".

...and to seal up the vision and prophecy,: ...

-the prophecy was "sealed"- or "made sure". It was NOT a "conditional promise". This portion of the prophecy is the proof that it was to be completed in the "70 weeks"- NOT at some later point in time.

...and to anoint the most Holy.:...

-the term here, "most holy" (qodesh qadashim) is NEVER used to characterize a person- it ALWAYS applies to the Most Holy Place, or at LEAST an article in the Most Holy Place. THIS IS THE PROPHECY OF CHRIST'S BLOOD "ANOINTING" THE "ARTICLE IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE", WHICH WAS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. His Blood fell upon the Mercy Seat, "anointing the Most Holy," making "reconciliation for iniquity", making an "end of sin [offerings]", and bringing "in everlasting righteousness" by virtue of His sinless life. 

DAN 9:25 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:...

-this takes us to the subdivision of time referred to as the "Messiah", at the end of 7 + 62 "weeks", or 483 years- 27 AD. Christ was born in 4 BC, so therefore in 27 AD, He would have been 30 years old. What happened when He was 30 years old? He began His ministry: 

LUK 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23 And JESUS himself BEGAN TO BE ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF AGE,.. 

And when Christ began to preach, He made the announcement which showed that the time mentioned in the prophecy had arrived: 

MAR 1:14 ...Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, THE TIME IS FULFILLED, and the kingdom of God is at hand [within grasp]: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

...the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.......

-the "street", and the "wall" WERE indeed built in "troublous times". Thirteen years after Artaxerxes decree, Nehemiah, his cup bearer, hears very troubling news: 

NEH 1:2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

  Read Nehemiah to learn of the difficulties they experienced in rebuilding the wall.

DAN 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:...

-after the 2nd subdivision of time, which was the end of the 483 years, "Messiah shall be cut off"- this term "cut off" indicates that the time of the Messiah, when His ministry began, was distinguished from the other "time"- it began here. In the first part of the prophecy, it states that 70 weeks are "determined" upon Daniel's people- yet the Hebrew word this is translated from, is stated by Strong as meaning "to cut off",- by implication, "allotted, separated or decreed". 

In the above verse, "cut off" again implies that the time is "allotted or separated" and does not in any way imply the death of the Messiah. The implication is therefore, "after the 483 years, the time of the work of the Messiah begins". But this time allotted is not for His benefit. Whose benefit was it designated for? Christ told His disciples: 

MAT 10:5 ... Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But GO rather TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

The time which began here was the personal work of the Messiah, Himself, and it was dedicated to the Jewish nation. The last week was termed "cut off" or separated because it was a subdivision of the "70 weeks".

...and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;...

-here, we learn of "the people" of a "prince" or leader who "shall come", and will destroy the city and the temple. No time period is stated here. This prophecy is of an event which doesn't necessarily occur during the "70 weeks", which ended in 34 AD. It was in 70 AD when the army ("people") of Titus, the Roman general (the "prince") destroyed Jerusalem and burned the temple. Here, the result of the rejection of the Gospel message is foretold.

...and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.... ...

-still speaking of the destruction of the city and temple, we are told it will occur like "a flood", overwhelmingly- and everything WAS completely destroyed. The entire city of Jerusalem was desolated. The siege lasted 5 months and about 110,000 Jews died, with about 97,000 taken prisoners.

DAN 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:...

-"he", the Messiah, "confirmed" the "covenant" with "many" for "one week", or 7 years. From the beginning of Christ's ministry, until 3 1/2 years after His death, the Gospel message was dedicated to the Jews. Thus, for 7 years, the work of the Messiah was personally dedicated to Daniel's people. 

At the end of this time, which also marked the end of the "70 weeks", the Gospel was taken from the Jew to the Gentile. The permanence of this situation is seen when Paul explains that once the Jew was a natural part of the "vine". But now, the Gentile could be grafted into the "vine" by their faith. Not only that, but the JEW, from now on, would ALSO HAVE TO BE GRAFTED IN, even though they were once a natural part of that "vine": 

ROM 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;... 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 

BUT, this shows that ONLY the nation was doomed- salvation never ceased to be available to the individual Jew.

...and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,...

-in the "midst" of the week", (3 1/2 years after His earthly ministry began), in spring 31 AD, Christ died on the cross. The veil of the temple was rent, signifying that the sacrificial system had come to an end. The True Lamb of God had been slain.

...and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,...

-because of their rejection of the Messiah, the house of Israel was to be desolate- no longer were they the chosen of God as a nation. 

ACT 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 

Christ's sadness at this event, even though it would not occur until after His death, is seen in His statement:

LUK 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 BEHOLD, YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT UNTO YOU DESOLATE: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

...even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

-the "consummation" means "the end", which indicates that, just as Israel/Ephraim was cast off as God's people, never to return, so it was with Israel at the end of the "70 weeks". As a nation, they had received the greatest light that had ever been on this planet. They had been those who had been the caretakers of God's Truth. They had been those who were to shed His great Light unto all the earth. They were those who walked with the Savior and had the full dedication of His ministry. But "as a nation", they had demanded His death. And the prophecy ends with the promise that all the things spoken of in the prophecy WILL be poured out upon "the desolate" nation who rejected the Lord.

(-At this point, I want to make a very important note*. Although Israel was rejected as God's chosen nation, keep in mind that this was speaking of the "nation". The leading men and influential people were those responsible for their downfall. Never forget that the Gospel was FIRST spread by Jews. The disciples and apostles were Jews. Without those faithful men, who preached the Gospel with boldness in the face of dangers and hardships we can only imagine, we, today, would have no knowledge of Christ. Every book in the New Testament is written by a Jew. This MUST be understood when discussing this prophecy of the Jewish nation.)

Thus concludes the prophecy of the fate of the NATION of Israel. In 34 AD., the "70 weeks" of time given to the nation was finished. The Gospel was taken from them. It was 36 years later before the city suffered the destruction promised as a result of their failure. BUT, God still maintained His people. Though the literal nation had failed, provisions were made for ALL who called upon His name to become a member of His "nation, both Jew AND Gentile:  

ROM 9:6... For THEY ARE NOT ALL ISRAEL, WHICH ARE OF ISRAEL: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

GAL 3:29 And IF YOU BE CHRIST'S, THEN are YE ABRAHAM'S SEED, and HEIRS according to the promise.

A Note on the 1st Subdivision- the first "7 Weeks"

The first subdivision, "7 weeks" ended 49 years after the beginning of the prophecy, which would place it about 408 BC. Was there anything that happened about this time? Well, in Nehemiah it states: 

NEH 12:22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, TO THE REIGN OF DARIUS THE PERSIAN. 

"Darius the Persian" was, we believe, Darius II, (the son of Artaxerxes) whose reign came to an end in about 406 BC. The Biblical record of the priesthood closes during his reign. And we learn that by this time, the "restoration" of the government and the building of Jerusalem has been completed. Therefore, the first subdivision of the "70 weeks"- the first 49 years- comes to a close. The prophets ceased at this time, as well. For the first 49 years, Israel was under the good graces of the Persian kings and were able to "build and restore Jerusalem". God arranged this to ensure that Israel would be able to complete it's task. But with the closing years of Darius II, the Persian kingdom began to lose it's strength and might. The Bible then remains silent as to the Jewish nation from this time until just prior to the birth of Christ.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE "70 WEEKS" OF DANIEL

There is one very important reason why it is important to understand this prophecy, especially today. There are many folks out there who have taken the last "week" or 7 years of this prophecy and placed it in the future. They explain that we still have either 3 1/2 years or 7 years before Christ returns, based on their interpretation of this prophecy. They tell of events which MUST come to pass which require either 3 1/2 years or 7 years BEFORE Christ can return. This causes many people to believe there is much more time still left before His return. But we see nothing in this prophecy that has not reached it's fulfillment over 1,900 years ago.

There is a great danger in trying to predict exactly how the unfulfilled prophecies will be fulfilled because IF WE ARE WRONG, we are in grave danger of completely missing the entire event, not recognizing it when it occurs. There is grave danger in trying to predict events which MUST occur BEFORE the Lord comes, because if we believe certain things still have to happen, or certain time periods still have to pass before the second Advent, He may take us quite by surprise. 

People tend to procrastinate if they think they have plenty of time to get something done. How many of us are living our lives the way we would if we knew Christ would be here tomorrow? NOW is the hour of salvation- NOW is the time to live as if we expected Him any minute. After all, how many people will die tomorrow? or even today? Look at the terrible tragedy which just occurred in Oklahoma City- for those people, there is no more time. When Christ returns, He says: 

REV 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly;.... 

All decisions are final when we die. There is no second chance. Nor will there be a second chance for those alive when He returns.

Every person needs to consider carefully- have we fully dedicated our lives to Him, or do we just make a weak showing of it, thinking that when things start to get rough, we'll become more serious about the matter? If you think about ANYTHING in this newsletter, it needs to be this- what if you should die tomorrow? Are you ready for the Lord to come today? Because Christ, Himself, tells a very somber parable about those who are NOT ready- and the important thing to keep in mind here is that He is talking about THOSE WHO PROFESS TO BE BELIEVERS- He ISN'T talking about non-believers versus believers in this passage. 

MAT 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh... 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Don't skip over the Scriptures-READ them, for only THEY have the power of life in them. The point Christ was making is quite evident. The virgins were ALL invited to the marriage. ALL of them EXPECTED to be there. These represent BELIEVERS,- those who profess to be Christians. Yet the "foolish virgins" figured they had plenty of time to get the extra oil that would be needed, just as the "foolish Christians" figure they have plenty of time to prepare for His coming. But just as the "foolish virgins", calling to the Lord for admittance when they found the door shut, were denied entrance, the "foolish Christians" will be met with horrifying words when they call out to the Lord: 

MAT 7:22 ...Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity... 

MAT 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 When shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The average Christian who is experiencing a relatively good life, with a family he loves, doesn't want to face the reality that the time is almost at hand for all things to end, or change, when Christ returns. Therefore, the most popular ministries of the day are those that put many "time prophecies" between our present day and the coming of the Lord, making it appear that we can continue as we are for a number of years at the minimum. 

Does this reflect the general uncertainty of the events that will take place at the coming of the Lord? One devoted Christian parent had become convinced that family life would be terminated at His coming; this thought had been presented to him by his pastor in reference to Christ's statement that there will be "no marriage in heaven" (Mat 22:30). This individual, naturally, was less than enthusiastic about an event which would disrupt a loving family relationship and therefore he verbalized his desire that Christ would delay His coming so he could enjoy his young family for a while. He was quite relieved after reading Isaiah 11:6-9. While family life may be different in Heaven, on the "earth made new" it obviously will involve our young children, building houses and planting vineyards. (Isa 65:21-23). 

Only a misunderstanding of Scripture can make us reluctant to welcome our Lord. Those we love and we ourselves will finally be freed from the dangers and uncertainties of this mortal life. We are told that if we put family, positions of honor, or possessions in a higher "value status" than Christ (Mat 10:37, Mar 10:17, 21, 22) are not worthy of Him.

While we are to "occupy till I come" (and it is not appropriate that we should sell everything, dawn white robes and wait for Christ's coming on the highest hill top we can find), we should "watch and be ready" and "keep our lamps trimmed and burning". The Bible is full of "object lessons" of what to do and what not to do. Here is one that is appropriate for the subject under discussion: 

Act 24:25 And as he [Paul] reasoned of righteousness,... and judgement to come, Felix trembled and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee". 

There is no record of Felix calling for Paul or any one else, and he most likely died a lost man, having passed up the best opportunity Divine love and mercy could give him. We can not postpone making things right with our God for any reason; that includes watching for some popular prophetic event to happen and then get "serious".