Eschatology 101 Part Ten
Hello reader! I have to admit, this series feels like a total loss at times! There is so much to talk about and so little time. However, this series is called “Eschatology 101” for a reason. We are looking for the foundational supports that make up the rest of the building. Today though, I need to warn you. We are going deep and this is a long post! There is no way to cut it in two or even three and we will be jumping from verse to verse. I would implore you to be a vigilant saint, act like a barean, and check my own work for yourself.
Today we continue with Daniel chapter 9, and examine verse 26 and the uniqueness that many people miss.
Daniel 9:26 “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.”
We are lucky because part of this verse is accomplished, thus we can examine and evaluate the coming prophetic information. Let us break it down.
“Then after the sixty-two weeks” this has been accomplished, look at our post last week.
“the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing” We know this was accomplished, look at our post last week and examine how God came to die for us, on the exact date He declared hundreds of years before.
However, we now come to our next part and we need to be careful to recognize something many so-called Bible scholars and theologians mistake. The lesson we must not forget, is scripture should not be interpreted alone. This means scripture will be supported by other scripture verses. If you read Daniel 9 :26 by itself, you might very well think something that is not accurate. Nevertheless and thankfully for us, we have a God’s totality of word wrapped up in 66 books of the Bible. So with that said, let us examine what many Bible scholars and theologians miss.
“And the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
Some will read this and say this is talking about 70AD with the destruction of the temple by the Romans. This would be accurate, but not precise. See the difference? Accurate means it is not incorrect, but precise means it is perfect.
Many years ago, I had the privilege of learning something from a Messianic Jew (Jew who recognizes Jesus as their Messiah) named Zola Levitt. One of the things he helped walk me through, was that prophecy at times is not linier but circular. Meaning it will have a small accomplishment now, and later on it will have its ultimate accomplishment. This verse is the perfect example. The temple was not only a monument of Jewish culture and significance, but of Roman might! The Romans were in charge, and their signifiant role with government of the area brought glory to their empire. They had financed the renovations and even helped maintain the roads for Jewish pilgrims. The safety of the temple seemed secure because it brought glory to Rome, the Jews appeared to have nothing to worry about.
Luke 21:5 “And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts,”
Yet, we know from Daniel 9:26 that the temple was prophesied to be destroyed. We also know that it would be destroyed in 70AD. Even Jesus Himself recognizes the 70AD destruction.
Luke 21:6 “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”
We know that Daniel is told it will be destroyed; we know that Jesus adds more clearity and states that it will not only be destroyed, but there will not be a stone left on another.
Examine the historical account and you will see that this is indeed what happened.
So where is the future aspect? For this we need to go back to Daniel 9:26 and examine the importance of one simple phrase, the people” of someone who is coming ! Let us look, “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.”
This means there is a coming prince, but what prince ? In popular terms he is known as the antichrist. Daniel is saying that the temple will be destroyed by the people of the prince who is coming. This means two things. First, that the temple would be destroyed by a group of people who can be identified as a group and their lineage can be identified. Second, this group can be identified later on in the future.
Yet, how does this mean we have another future temple destruction? We know this because the disciples asked Jesus and instead of going into the first destruction in 70AD, He gives insight into the second destruction prophesied about.
Luke 21:7-24 “7 They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them. 9 “When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” 10 Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. 14 “So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 “Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19 “By your endurance you will gain your lives. 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21 “Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; 22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. 23 “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; 24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Many will claim this has happened, however there is no historical event that has even come close to this being fullfilled. Jesus thought it was so important that they understand this, that He even made sure to point out with unquestionably the most obvious signs we could imagine.
Luke 21:25-26 “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Simply put, the destruction of the temple in 70AD reflects the significance of just how perfect God’s prophecies are, but also reflects the reality that there needs to be another.
Now you might be wondering about the ending from last week and thinking to yourself, what did JL mean with:
“We are about to enter a time omitted in scripture by verbiage, but identified through deliberate omittance to reveal a plan of grace for you and I today!”
This is very important for you and I today!
We need to remember that God’s Word is perfect; so if it leaves something omitted, we should see if it has been done on purpose. Rabbi’s throughout the centuries have said God’s Word is even declared in the spacing between the letters and words. The same goes here.
Daniel 9:26 “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.”
The “And” is an identifier for you and I to recognize that something has happened. We have the luxury of knowing that this “something” is so far two thousand years. This is the Church Age. A time of grace given by God for those who are not of His “fold” to be found and saved. Jesus own words state this, John 10:14-16 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.” There is an old saying that states; “Where there is no information, this states information” the same thing goes. Daniel chapter 9 does not go into details regarding the church age, and yet we can say that the Bible remarkable talks a lot about it.
What does this mean for you and I right now ? It means two things which must be identified. The church age is a specific aspect of time that is marked with a beginning and end which will come to fruition at its appointed time. In aspects of the The Law of Accomplishment, (God has given 490 special years for the nation of Israel and Jerusalem to finish transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy), God has put a pause button on the years, there are seven to go, there is a future aspect of Daniel chapter 9 verse 26 “And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.” Next week we will dive deeper and see just what Daniel was told regarding this future event.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming;
JL