The MAJOR & MINOR Prophets - The 16 Writing Prophets Of The Hebrew Canon

A final week, or seven years, finishes out the prophecy (Daniel 9:27). ´ Seven years µ ² now where does that fit in? 36 Two key thoughts will guide us. One has to do with the Prince Messiah DQG WKH RWKHU ZLWK ´WKH SULQFH ZKR LV WR FRPHµ YHUVH After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off. 7KLV ´FXWWLQJ RIIµ (verse 26) refers to WKH 0HVVLDK·V GHDWK E\ FUXFLIL[LRQ ,VDLDK 7KLV HYHQW ZDV WR WDNH SODFH VRPHWLPH GXULQJ the last week of the prophecy. When would it happen? ( After sixty-two weeks does not mean ´ULJKW DW WKH HQG RI µ EXW UDWKHU ´DW VRPH WLPH DIWHU µ 7KH DQVZHU LV JLYHQ LQ 'DQLHO ZKHUH ZH ILQG WKDW WKH 0HVVLDK ZRXOG EH FXW RII ´LQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKH ZHHNµ ² that is, after three and a half years. What would the Messiah be doing for three and a half years? The answer is so simple that LW LV PLVVHG -HVXV· HDUWKO\ PLQLVWU\ IURP DQRLQWLQJ LQ WKH -RUGDQ WR GHDWK RQ WKH &URVV ZDV WKUHH and a half years! How do we know this? That time span is a generally acknowledged fact, computed from the gospel passages (especially in John) that refer to the Passover feasts occurring during His earthly PLQLVWU\ $OVR -HVXV· SDUDEOH RI WKH ILJ WUHH LQ /XNH -9 has definite chronological overtones that verify His three-and-a half-year ministry. The people of the prince who is to come. This is th H VHFRQG SULQFH PHQWLRQHG LQ 'DQLHO·V SURSKHF\ 7KH ILUVW LV -HVXV ´0HVVLDK WKH 3ULQFHµ YHUVH ´7KH SULQFH ZKR LV WR FRPHµ YHUVH 26) was Titus, the son of the Roman emperor Vespasian, who came in A.D. 70 and did just as it ZDV SURSKHVLHG ´VKDOO GHVWUR\ WKH FLW\ DQG VDQFWXDU\µ 1RW RQO\ GLG -HVXV SURSKHV\ WKH FRPLQJ GHVWUXFWLRQ RI -HUXVDOHP EXW +H XVHG 'DQLHO·V SURSKHF\ DV D EDVLV IRU +LV SUHGLFWLRQ (Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:20-24). He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. Verse 27 is the pivotal verse of the entire prophecy, with the basic interpretation dependent on who he refers to! 7KHUH DUH RQO\ WZR UHDO FKRLFHV ´0HVVLDK WKH 3ULQFHµ YHUVH DQG 3ULQFH 7LWXV YHUVH 26). The use of a pronoun like he implies that the subject has already been identified. For instance, LI , ZHUH WR VD\ ´+H MXVW ZDONHG LQWR WKH URRP µ \RX ZRXOG QRW KDYH HQRXJK LQIRUPDWLRQ WR identify who he LV %XW LI , VDLG ´-RKQ DUULYH DERXW DQ KRXU DJR DQG KH MXVW ZDONHG LQWR WKH URRP you would know immediately that he is John. Pronouns need a referent! Some suggest that the mysterious he is the Antichrist of the last days. This interpretation strains the sentence structure and is hardly possible, since there has been no previous mention of the Antichrist throughout the prophecy! We must make a choice between Jesus Christ and Prince Titus. Notice the clarity of the verse when he is interpreted as the Messiah:

‡ 0HVVLDK LV ´KHµ ZKR LV WR FRPH YHUVH ‡ 0HVVLDK LV ´KHµ ZKR LV FXW RII YHUV e 26). ‡ 0HVVLDK LV ´KHµ ZKR HVWDEOLVKHV FRYHQDQWV YHUVH ‡ 0HVVLDK LV ´KHµ ZKR ´VKDOO EULQJ DQ HQG WR VDFULILFH DQG RIIHULQJµ YHUVH

36 The dispensational premillennialist believes that the seven ye DUV ZLOO EH DW WKH HQG RI WKH DJH MXVW EHIRUH &KULVW¶V 6HFRQG &RPLQJ The amillennialist believes that the Seventy Weeks prophecy was meant to be continuous and unbroken, so the seven years is already fulfilled. The postmillennialist also believes that the prophecy has already been fulfilled. Our presentation here is an alternative to the usual interpretations.

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