The Prophecy - Daniel 9:24-27 - Daniel's 70 Weeks |
Old Testament Prophecy |
24) Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25) So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26) Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27) And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. |
The word translated wing is often understood as referring to the pinnacle, or highest point, of the Temple.(1) In Deuteronomy 32:11, wings, the wings of an eagle, are attributed to God, because He is the power which raises up Israel, and lifting it up, and carrying it throughout its history, guides it over the earth. In Psalm 18, wings are attributed to the wind, because the wind is contemplated as the power which carries out the will of God throughout the kingdom of nature.(2)
In this passage wings are attributed to the idol-objects, and to idolatry with its abominations, because that shall be the power which lifts upwards the destroyer and desolater, carries him, and moves with him over the earth to lay waste.”(2)
Jesus mentions this exact time frame and event in Matthew 24:15. One reason we know that this part of Daniel has not occurred yet is because Jesus spoke about it in a still to come, future, time frame when He was alive. This abomination occurs just before (around 3 1/2 years) His second literal physical return to earth.
Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place. (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the Christ, or There He is, do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness, do not go out, or, Behold, He is in the inner rooms, do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24:15-27)
Second Thessalonians 2:4 Says that the Anti-Christ will set up an image of himself and demand to be worshiped. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
John wrote that the false prophet will set up an image to this ruler (The Anti-Christ) and that the world will be compelled to worship it (Rev. 13:14-15).(3)
Sometimes the word wing is a metaphor for a high place, just as a winged bird flies high.(4)
In the Book of Isaiah we can find 5 statements by Satan that have come to be known as "The five I wills of Satan". The fifth of those five finds Satan stating "I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14 ). This very well could refer to Satan's presence through the Anti-christ requiring worship from inside the newly rebuilt Third Temple.
The "Abomination that causes Desolation" may be an image of the Anti-christ himself placed in the newly rebuilt temple that he expects others to worship. It may even trigger the desolation of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.(5) (See above 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 passage and Revelation Chapter 13)
Check out JewishRoots.Net Living In The End Times section to learn more about this Abomination.
The desolation caused by the abomination will end with the End Of The Antichrist.
Another well received idea is that a pig is sacrificed at the temple similar to the days of Judah and the Maccabees that resulted in the story of Hanukkah.
Here are some links that have been created to help move around inside of the Daniel 9:24-27 prophecy.
Other links of interest include:
1). Pter-Contesse, Ren. Ellington, John: A Handbook on the Book of Daniel. New York : United Bible Societies, 1993 (UBS Handbook Series; Helps for Translators), S. 257
2). Keil, Carl Friedrich ; Delitzsch, Franz: Commentary on the Old Testament. Peabody, MA : Hendrickson, 2002, S. 9:740
3). Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:1365
4). ArtScroll Tanach Series, The Book of Daniel p.263.
5). Discovery Series, The Daniel Papers, RBC Ministries.
