In the ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel, we read that Daniel, who was in exile in Babylon with the Jewish People, was studying the Book of Jeremiah looking for answers. As he read, he understood that Jeremiah foretold a 70-year period of Babylonian captivity before the restoration of Israel would come to pass (Jeremiah 29:10). Daniel’s heartfelt, moving response was to pray, confessing his sin and the sin of the entire nation of Israel. As he prayed, the angel Gabriel came to him, telling him of an additional time period, this time of shevuim shevim (seventy sevens) or 490 years. This was the time that would elapse before sin would end and everlasting righteousness would be established: “Seventy [shevim] ‘sevens’ [shevuim] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” (Daniel 9:24) What Are the “Seventy Sevens”? Shevuim (sevens) is similar to the concept of a decade (10 years), but refers to a seven-year period. Seventy sevens (70 X 7), therefore, represents a period of 490 years before the prophecy would be fulfilled. Of these 490 years, 483 have been fulfilled with remarkable precision; they represent the time between the decree by the Persian king Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1–8) and the cutting off of Yeshua HaMashiach: “From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven [sheva] ‘sevens’ [Shevuim] and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One [Mashiach/ Messiah] will be put to death and will have nothing.” (Daniel 9:25–26) From Artaxerxes’ decree (Ezra 7:13–28) to Yeshua’s death on the Roman execution stake was 483 years. Many believe this leaves a seven-year span that has yet to be completed and will be fulfilled in the last days during the Tribulation Period. Daniel describes that time in Daniel 9:27: “He [the ruler at that time] will confirm a covenant [peace treaty] with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation.” When Yeshua was asked about His coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3–15), He referred to the above verse. Daniel 9:27, according to Yeshua’s end-time explanation, confirms that there will be a third Jewish Temple in the last days and a seven-year peace covenant, which likely will be brought about by the anti-Messiah. Just as the Hebrew Prophet Daniel searched the Scriptures for clues to understand the time in which he lived, we also should be diligently searching the Scriptures. Indeed, when we examine current events in the light of Bible prophecy, there can be no doubt that we are living at the end of the age. The necessity remains to scrutinize world happenings so we may be prepared for whatever is coming, especially since recent attempts at peace in the Middle East may be a precursor for the fulfillment of Daniel’s final seven-year period. This peace covenant will begin the 70th week in Daniel’s prophecy, the final seven-year stretch before the return of Yeshua. Daniel also highlights the halfway point in the seven-year covenant, this leader will set up an abomination in the Temple, perhaps an image of himself to be worshiped. (The Book of Revelation also mentions a three and a half year period in Revelation 11:2–3; 12:6; and 13:5.) Messianic Bible
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:02:13 +0000
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