Did Jesus Confirm a Covenant for 7 Years Split Up by Two 3 1/2 Year Periods?

Dan. 9.25 and 9.26a deals with the coming of the Messiah and atonement--Jesus "cut off". What follows in the rest of 9.26 is the "people of the [coming Antichrist] prince" who will "destroy the city and the sanctuary." The Roman people are not Jesus' people. Then verse 27 says the same prince (not the Messiah prince) will make a treaty or confirm A (not The New) "covenant" with the Jews for "one unit of seven" or 7 years. This is Daniel's 70th seven. He will cause "sacrifices to cease" because Israel reinstituted them again. Desolations follow for three and a half years to the return of Jesus. The Antichrist tries to mimic Jesus, for as Jesus was the fulfilment of the sacrifices, the Antichrist will try to do the same. This important aspect goes overlooked by many.

"For warships from western coastlands will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant. His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him" (Dan. 11.30-32).

The problem with placing Dan. 9.27 at the cross, of course, is that places verse 27 after the temple is destroyed in verse 26. That makes no sense. So one would have to squeeze the text and reorder things to make it say what you want it to say. Daniel is giving a sequence of events. Daniel addresses the Antichrist but this alternate view does not. That is a problem since clearly the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2.4) will erect himself in the Temple so he should be mentioned. Naturally Daniel addresses the Antichrist as "the prince." People might get another idea what the Antichrist is, perhaps not a person, yet he is a prince, and he is the cause of desolation.

The 69 sevens are dealt with in vv. 25,26 leaving "one week" for the 70th seven. Jesus never confirmed a covenant for 7 years. He confirmed THE NEW Covenant for 3 years in His ministry. Dan. 9.27 said there would be desolations to the end, but Israel is not desolate today. They are a nation again. Their Temple will be built soon. Their land is flowing with milk and honey and are great exporters of fruit. Dan. 9.26 says "war and desolations are determined" rather than being left desolate. Thus, Gabriel reveals Israel will be a nation again sometime after the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, but before ACTUALLY being left desolate "until the consummation" (v.27).

If it was true Jesus was cut off in the middle of the 70th seven then it shouldn't have said the Messiah would be cut off after the 69th seven for that would be misleading since "cut off" after the 69th seven should be shortly, not years later. We know from Nisan 1, 444 BC (Neh. 2.1), the declaration to rebuild the Temple, the 173,880th day (69 x 7 x 360) is March 28, 33 AD (Gregorian)--the 1st day of the 4 day inspection of the Lamb. Jesus died on the cross April 1, 33 AD, Passover, Friday, Nisan 14, April Fool's Day. No such date exists in the few years prior to 33 AD to land on Friday, Passover, Nisan 14. This data does not agree with this alternate reading of Daniel 9. The 69th seven and the 70th seven do not overlap by 3 1/2 years. That would be inconsistent with the 69 sevens.

What I believe will happen is these folks who believe this other view will be deceived by the Antichrist because they deny his treaty of 7 years. In fact, they may mistake him for Jesus because they claim it is Jesus' confirming of a covenant when it is really the Antichrist's. Interesting.Up

"on the wing of abominations shall come one [Jesus] that maketh desolate"? (Dan. 9.27)Since when does Jesus ride on the wing of abominations?

By the way what is this alternate reading of Daniel called? We should give a name to or label those who believe this other view so we can be protected from them.

The covenant God has with Israel is to the center of all nations. This is not the same as the new covenant through the atonement to receive eternal life and the Holy Spirit indwelling for those who receive Christ to be saved, nor is it the covenant the Antichrist will make with Israel to form a false treaty then breaks that covenant (Dan. 9.27) to "pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and shall place the abomination that maketh desolate" (Dan. 11.30, cf. Matt. 24.15).

How can you know the 70th seven has not started yet? Because the 69th and 70th sevens don't overlap. The 69th seven concluded March 28, 33 AD (Gegorian), Nisan 10, the 1st day of the 4 day inspection of the lamb before Jesus died on the cross April 1, 33 AD Passover, Friday, Nisan 14, April Fool's Day.

And through the 3 passovers given in the gospels Jesus ministered for 2 to 3 years, nor more than 3 years. I have given you these proofs. You avoid them. What you avoid shows where you are flawed.

What then is the danger of the historicist's? He will be overtaken by the Antichrist because he denies his existence. What he considers to be Jesus in Dan. 9.27 Christians recognize clearly as being the Antichrist.

Don't run away. Deal with these specific problems of your view:

1) The 69th and 70th sevens don't overlap but you have them overlap which is totally inconsistent because none of the sevens before the 70th seven ever overlapped.

2) Through careful study of the Scriptures using two independent methods we find that Jesus could not have preached more than 3 years and it was probably closer to 2 years.

3) Since you remove the Antichrist from the picture (Dan. 9.27) and replace him with Jesus does that not mean you will accept the Antichrist as Jesus when He returns?

4) The people of the prince are the Romans but how can it be said Jesus is the prince of the Romans?

5) Cart before the horse. It's strange to place Dan. 9.27 after the 69th seven (v.26) if Dan. 9.27 was the cross, for the cross in verse 25 occurred before verse 26.

6) Desolation did not continue to the end (v.27) after Jesus died, for the Temple was still erect to 70 AD and Israel is a nation again about to build the 3rd Temple. Desolations are to the end once Antichrist erects himself in the 3rd Temple (2 Thess. 2.4) though the Temple will not be destroyed this time (Rev. 11.2).

7) There is no record of Jesus confirming a 7 year covenant in 27 AD, 28 AD, 29 AD, 30 AD, 31 AD, 32 AD or 33 AD.

My prayer goes out to you to pray on these fleshly readings of the Scriptures.

re: Markusanthem @ christianforums.com

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Originally Posted by Markusanthem

There is no overlap. Jesus was here and will be here for the entire 70th week. Jesus came after 69 weeks, for the 70th week. Jesus was cut off after 69 weeks, during the 70th week. Jesus both came and was cut off during the 70th week.

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Dan. 9.26 says "after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off," it doesn't say Jesus came after the 69 sevens. We know Jesus died 4 days after the 69th seven was complete, thus, that contradicts your claim Jesus came after the 69th seven and the overlap problem remains. Jesus ministered for 2-3 years before the end of the 69th seven March 28, 33 AD (Gregorian).

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God said through scripture that Jesus was anointed and baptized and began his ministry at age 30. God said through scripture that Jesus celebrated a total of four passovers after his ministry began, including the one where he offered himself as the sacrificial Lamb.

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It doesn't say Jesus began His ministry at 30, but about 30 so somewhere between 26 and 34 as a humble estimate. Scripture provides 3 passovers specifically, including the one with Himself as ransom, which is 2 years. You add a fourth never specifically stated.

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No, dear, it is you that have added the antichrist to the picture in Daniel 9:27.

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You've replaced "the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six" (Rev. 13.18) with Jesus.

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No one is saying "Jesus is the prince of the Romans". That's your concoction. God said he sent the Roman armies to destroy the city and the sanctuary. The "prince that shall come" is Jesus. Jesus/God is the one who said he destroyed the city and the sanctuary using the Roman armies.

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You're contradicting yourself, for you said Jesus is not the prince of the Romans and then said the prince is Jesus in "the people of the prince that shall come".

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Jesus was cut off during the 70th week, which is after the 69th week. No scripture says that the destruction of the city and the temple are within the 70 weeks. You are adding to scripture. It says that Messiah the prince, the prince that shall come, is the one who destroys the city and the sanctary because of Israel's many abominations.

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Since the last 3 1/2 years the city of Jerusalem will be overrun then the desolation is upon the City even the consummation (Dan. 9.27) though the Temple will be protected ("measured" Rev. 11.2). Jesus doesn't destroy the city in 70 AD nor in 2019-22, for Jesus is not the prince of the Romans, the "people of the prince".

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Yes, Israel was desolated, without land, city and temple until the time of the end. God said Israel would be revived after two days, restored on the 3rd. It's happening. Now, I'm done repeating myself over and over and over again. You have just as much access to the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures as I do. Stop adding in the antichrist where he doesn't belong and trust what God says. I'm done talking with you.

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There were desolations and wars after the end of Israel in 70 AD, even to the consummation after Israel is restored and overrun during the Great Tribulation (Dan. 9.27). God never said Israel would be revived after two days, restored on the third. He was speaking of Jesus resurrected. The problem is you are repeating yourself and not addressing the contradictions in your view. Stop replacing the Antichrist with Jesus. That will never do.

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If the antichrist is around, the consummation (the end) has already come and wrath (indignation) is proceeding.

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The wrath of Satan and the wrath of God are both going on simultaneously during the Great Tribulation. The consummation is with Jesus defeating the Antichrist.

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Look at the scriptures that describe the antichrist and his actions. No scripture says he will destroy Jerusalem and the temple, leaving Israel desolate until the time of the end (the consummation) - none! It already happened.

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Of course there is Scripture saying Israel will be overrun during the Great Tribulation. "But do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months" (Rev. 11.2). You can measure the 3rd Temple for it will not be destroyed as it was in 70 AD.

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The antichrist will stand in the temple of God and claim to be God. He will "plant his tabernacles between the seas in the beautiful holy mountain". Again, for the millionth time, the antichrist does not destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, desolating them until the time of the end, anywhere in scripture.

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To be left desolate to the time of the end "it is given over to the nations" but, again, the Temple this time will not be destroyed.

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Originally Posted by Markusanthem

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
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: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
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.

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Amen. Too bad you think "the people of the prince" who are the Romans are the people of Jesus.

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If "the prince that shall come" is the antichrist, then you should have confirming scripture that proves it. Because God said just about everything more than once.

Show me one scripture that says and confirms that the antichrist (man of sin) will destroy Jerusalem and the Temple (the city and the sanctuary).

If you cannot, which you cannot (because there isn't any), then you will know that your idea is dead wrong.

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I don't believe the Antichrist will destroy the Temple. Why would you want me to find a verse for something I don't believe in? Strange.

"His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration" (Dan. 11.31). How can the Antichrist set up a sacrilegious object if the Temple is destroyed? The Temple is not destroyed during the Tribulation (Rev. 11.2). "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso readeth, let him understand" (Matt. 24.15).

But in 70 AD the Temple was destroyed by the people (Romans) of the prince that shall come (Antichrist). I was thinking you were confused, because the Antichrist doesn't come 70 AD, only his people do for they are of the same spirit, not the spirit of Jesus. It is at the end of this age the Antichrist of all antichrists comes, because the Antichrist is resurrected who is Neron Kaisar (666 in Aramaic) who is released from the pit (Rev. 9.3).

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Show me one scripture that says and confirms that the antichrist confirms any kind of covenant with anybody for 7 years.

If you cannot, which you cannot (because there isn't any), then you will know that your idea is dead wrong.

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"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months" (Rev. 13.5). This agrees with Dan. 9.27 "The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him" (Dan. 9.27).

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Originally Posted by Markusanthem

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
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: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
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.

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Amen. Too bad you think the Antichrist is Jesus. And too bad you overlap the 69th seven and 70th seven when the 69th seven ended March 28, 33 AD (Gregorian).

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On the other hand, I have listed and quoted the scriptures that prove that "Messiah the Prince", "the prince that shall come", is Jesus who confirms the new covenant with Israel for seven years during the 70th week, (half of which is fulfilled with the 3 1/2 year ministry of Christ and the other half is yet to come during the final 3 1/2 years) and who claims responsibility in scripture for destroying the city and the sanctuary.

That is how we know which one of us is listening to God and trusting in His Word.

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There are no Scriptures of Jesus confirming a covenant for 7 years. Surely something this important should have been mentioned. You have even seen the proofs that Jesus only ministered for 2 to 3 years. Don't confuse the Antichrist with Jesus. "The prince that shall come" is not "Messiah the Prince." Distinguish between the Prince and the "prince of the people," that is, the prince oft he Romans. Jesus never takes claim for destroying the city and the Temple. Jesus would never destroy the Temple. How evil that would be. He wants to reign in the Temple for 1000 years on earth.

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Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Matt 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Matt 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Isaiah 47:5 Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.
6I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

Psalm 74: O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

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Amen. Never do any of these verses say Jesus is the prince of the Romans. God, therefore, allows the people of the Antichrist, that is, the Romans to destroy the Temple for Israel's sins. A remnant of Israel (Rev. 7.4) will be preserved at the end of this age when Jesus returns.

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Of course it is Jesus who confirms the covenant with many of Israel for one week (the final week of years) because God said so.

Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

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Nowhere in Matt. 15.24 or Rom. 11.26,27 do we see a 7 year covenant by Jesus. Certainly Jesus is the fulfilment of prophecy about sacrifices, but still no 7 year covenant. On the other hand, we observe the actions of the Antichrist for 42 months repeated over and over in Scripture and it is during this time he breaks the 7 year covenant since 42 months is half of 7 years or 84 months.

Have you thought about repenting, no longer confusing the Antichrist for Jesus, so as to give your life to Christ? This is my prayer for you.

the 70th week of Daniel was not a week of years as shown by the original hebrew. Rather it was a literal 7-day week commonly known as the passion week. Yes Jesus did confirm THE covenant for one week and in the midst was cut off and put an end to any animal sacrifice. the idea of a separate 7 year tribulation began in the 1800's by the Jesuits society to protect the pope's labelling as the anti-Christ. The same fallacious doctrine was later adopted by Darby, Scoefield and most of the latter-day church. The writings of the early church fathers reflected a continuous 70 week-of-years for the book of Daniel. The present-day covenant with Hell & death has already been attempted 3 times since 1993 and the Lord has disannulled it every time. People expecting a rebuilt temple with a 7-year peace treaty will be waiting awhile. It took me over 20 years to finally get this. The Lord reveals the truth to people whenever He is ready to and not before.

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Originally Posted by scuggers1

the 70th week of Daniel was not a week of years as shown by the original hebrew. Rather it was a literal 7-day week commonly known as the passion week. Yes Jesus did confirm THE covenant for one week and in the midst was cut off and put an end to any animal sacrifice. the idea of a separate 7 year tribulation began in the 1800's by the Jesuits society to protect the pope's labelling as the anti-Christ. The same fallacious doctrine was later adopted by Darby, Scoefield and most of the latter-day church. The writings of the early church fathers reflected a continuous 70 week-of-years for the book of Daniel. The present-day covenant with Hell & death has already been attempted 3 times since 1993 and the Lord has disannulled it every time. People expecting a rebuilt temple with a 7-year peace treaty will be waiting awhile. It took me over 20 years to finally get this. The Lord reveals the truth to people whenever He is ready to and not before.

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That makes no sense of course since all 69 sevens were 2,520 days each. How strange the 70th seven was only 7 days! We know from the declaration to rebuild the Temple in troublous times there would seven sets of seven then another sixty-two sets of seven for a total of sixty-nine sets of seven after which time the Messiah would be cut off.

7 x 69 x 360 = 173,880 days. There are exactly 173,880 days from the declaration to rebuild th Temple Nisan 1, 444 BC (Neh. 2) to March 28, 33 AD (Gregorian) which is Nisan 10--the first day of the 4 day inspection of the Lamb before Passover and His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The 4 day inspection is March 28, 29, 30, 31. Jesus died on the cross April 1, 33 AD which is Nisan 14, Passover, April Fool's Day. This agrees perfectly. And there was a lunar eclipse on the day Jesus died on the cross.

Furthermore, you do not know how to account for the 69 sevens. Jesus confirmed a covenant for 7 days. No mention by any of the Apostles of a 7 day period are given. Yes, Jesus entered Jerusalem on Monday, died on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday, but nowhere did Jesus say there would be a 7 day confirmation. He did say He would be crucified and resurrect on the 3rd day. What's even more damaging for you is that Friday is not the middle of the 7 days from Monday. Your approach is too ad hoc and presents too many holes in your theory. Worst of all it opens you up to accepting the Antichrist when he comes.

Those who believe the final 7 years have yet to arrive don't think the Pope is the Antichrist. Rather, the Pope is part of religious Rome (Rev. 17) that makes drunk the nations with the wine of the wrath of her fornications (14.8). We believe that the Antichrist comes out of the revived Roman empire, not religious Rome, the beast with 7 heads and 10 horns as per the Scriptures. He is none other than Nero. Neron Kaisar = 666 in Aramaic. He is one of the 5 fallen Caesars as per Rev. 17.10.

The Church has always believed the Tribulation will occur at the end of this age, a war to end all wars, just as the Bible says. The church fathers also didn't think the Antichrist would be a Latin man, so it was sometime in the future. The original view of the church fathers was called chiliasm that which I present to you here now--premillennialism. The early church fathers believed in the Tribulation at the end of this age. This is nothing new at all.

You're confusing yourself because initially you argued for the weeks to be literally weeks then you turn around and say these are "70 weeks-of-years". You're confused. And know the 70 sevens are not continuous, but the 69th and 70th seven are separated by the Church age since obviously the 69th and 70th sevens can't overlap. Since you deny the coming Antichrist will you not be swept up by him? Whom you consider to be Jesus, Christians consider to be the Antichrist that you deny eve exists. Do know the Antichrist of all antichrists is coming!

A covenant with hell and death? The covenant the Antichrist makes with Israel is not with hell and death, but it is a peace accord. This has been attempted 3 times since 1993? How can it have been attempted since 1993 when Rev. 6.12 has not taken place yet and the Antichrist has not come on the scene yet? Any attempts in the past, therefore, would just be precursors.

Boy, won't that upset you when construction the 3rd Temple begins no later than 2015 so it can be completed with 2300 days left to the end of the Tribulation to finally be cleansed (Dan. 8.14). It sounds like you have left the faith, or should I say was never in it to begin with, of what is so clearly outlined in the Scriptures. Observe the Temple in the Tribulation through verses such as 2 Thess. 2.4 and Rev. 11.2.

The problem of course is Jesus died on the cross April 1, 33 AD (Gregorian), so for the 70th seven to follow would mean Jesus was cut off the 4th day of the 70th seven, or 6th day of the week, which disagrees with verse 27 which reads "in the midst of the week". Where did Jesus confirm a covenant for 7 years? It is too strange too accept.

As well Jesus only ministered 2 to 3 years at most using the "techie method." What grounds is there for overlapping the 69th seven with the 70th seven? That is totally inconsistent with the 69 sevens which were all 2,520 days each and consecutive.

Furthermore, who can say "the people of the prince" (v.26) are the people of the Jesus, for clearly the people are the Romans. Are the Romans the people of Jesus? Of course not.

The negative consequence of thinking the prince in Dan. 9.27 is Jesus is now what is of the Antichrist you treat as of Jesus, and you accept the Antichrist as Jesus.

Verse 26 speaks of the cross then follows the discussion of the Temple being destroyed in the next part of the verse, so why speak of the cross again in verse 27?

Desolations did not continue to the end after Jesus died, for the Temple remained till 70 AD, and Israel is a nation again soon to build the Temple which won't be destroyed this time for the Antichrist will reign in it (2 Thess. 2.4). We are to measure the Temple because it is protected (Rev. 11.2), but measure not the court outside the Temple because it will be overrun by political Rome.

This is not entirely true then if this prince in verse 27 is referring to Jesus: "overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate" (v.27).

lawrenceb @ talkjesus.com

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Originally Posted by lawrenceb

"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah." (Ezra 1:2).

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The declaration to rebuild the Temple was Neh. 2, Nisan 1, 444 BC.

Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem

1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”

Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”

With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.

7 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. 8 And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.

9 When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Wall

11 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, 12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. 13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. 14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. 15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.

16 The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. 17 But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” 18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.

They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.

19 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked.

20 I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”