70th Week Past or Future

There is a HUGE amount of speculation on this topic! It would take a lifetime to sift through all of the “antiquities” sited in many of these arguments. (Actually, I have tried to sift through a couple... namely Josephus, and Ussher.) Bottom line here is.... we need these historical accounts, it is critical to our understanding. The problem comes in when men of history have written according through their own “filters”, (it is only natural, we all do it,) so we must use caution when we interpret true history based only on these writings. An example of this would be Josephus. He was a Jew, but was under hire by the Romans, so it would not have been wise for him to have expounded on the evils of the Romans during that time. Suffice it to say, these books are not “Scripture”. We know the Bible is different, it is the inspired Word of God and so we are to take what it says with more authority than we would just any other book.

Another word about speculating. When it comes to things in the future and discerning the plan of God, it is impossible to put God in a neat little box and it is equally hard to categorize His works into a neat little outline! His ways are past finding out, that is for sure. Then does that mean we have no business studying eschatology? (I have heard this argument before. ;-)) Absolutely not! To put it plainly, God wants us to know or He wouldn't have put it in His Word! He lets His servants in on things... especially when something big is coming down! Here is an example...

Gen. 18:16-18 “Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. 17 And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?”

With that said, let's not waste any more words.... the way I am going to answer the question of if Daniel's 70th week is past or future is with a simple “yes”. I believe in this case the “historical picture” precedes the actual complete fulfillment. Let's look at the wording again.

Dan 9:26,27
26 “ And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
(This we know is the crucifixion of Christ)
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
This very thing actually happened in history in 70 AD when the Romans lead by Titus destroyed the city and the Temple. It was a horrible famine and war. From the beginning, if you count when several Jewish factions began to skirmish in 66 AD to 73 AD when Masada finally fell, that was a period of 7 years! That is why many feel this is Daniel's 70th week. But nowhere in Josephus or in any of the other books did I see the “covenant with many”, (please comment if you know where this is.) I am thinking.... this was only the “movie trailer”... the "REAL film" is yet to come!

Here is my reasoning on why I think that.... Let me ask you one question... was Titus the “Antichrist”? Does he measure up to all of the characteristics that you know scripture says describes the Antichrist? I can see where he could have been “an” Antichrist, but he just doesn't seem to fit the bill for the description of THE Antichrist. Do you remember what the Bible says concerning the “Man of Sin”? It says he will perform great signs and wonders, he will deceive the “whole world”, he will cause all to have a “mark” in order that they might buy or sell. None of these things happened in 70 AD. I am thinking this is exactly what Daniel said it is... this is an account of what the “people of the Prince who is to come” will do, (or actually "did" as we are looking at history.) Titus was only one of those people... “the Prince” who is future will be much more terrible!

Also, I might mention here, there are a few Rabbi's and others that will teach that these verses speak about Antiochus Epiphanes, the Maccabean Revolt and the re-cleansing of the Temple at the first Hanukkah back in Dec. 164 BC. But obviously, these Rabbi's are not, and probably would not be reading Matthew 24 where Christ speaks of the “abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel” as yet to come. Antiochus was but a mere foreshadowing.

I also thought it was interesting it mentions the “covenant with many” AFTER the destruction of Jerusalem....... look at this verse

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”

“Then” is when it appears this “one week” begins... Daniel's 70th week actually begins with the start of some type of “covenant” sometime after the destruction of Jerusalem. Then in the middle of the week this “he”, (the Prince to come) will bring an end to sacrifices and on the “wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate.” The people of the Prince to come has already destroyed the Temple, how is there to be an end to sacrifice now!? Well, there are only two ways... One, is that the Temple must be rebuilt, or two, that there be sacrifices carried out without a temple! That second option had not even entered my mind until this year and the Sanhedrin's efforts to again begin the Passover sacrifices!! (See last weeks blog!)

It is exciting to see something like the effort to re-establish sacrifices, because it shows me just how limited my thinking is concerning prophesy! We can't help but try to box it all up in a nice neat package, I fear it is just our nature, (I know it is mine.) But, just as many were caught off guard at His first coming due to pre-conceived notions and certain expectations, let us hold loosely our viewpoints and continue to study and watch as I know all will be revealed in His time.
And .... no matter what, I know I will see Him face to face at the end of my days and that will be heaven!!
Love to All, Bee