How Christ’s Revelation Fulfills Daniel’s Prophecies, (Dan. 9:24-27)
“Finish the
Transgression,” (Dan. 9:24, RSV)
The
word finish is from the Hebrew word kâlâh
meaning "be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent"; of a prophecy, "fulfilled," (Brow Driver Briggs Lexicon).
The
Greek word used to translate this word in Daniel is suntĕlĕō.
This word is used in Romans 9:28, quoting Isaiah 10:22, translated "consumption" (KJV), and "destruction" (RSV). The
word may imply "to bring to one end,"[1]not necessarily to a final end.
“To Put an End
To Sin,” (Dan. 9:24, RSV)
Christ’s death “put an end to sin” for those who believed, that is, the true
Israel. This fulfilled also the words of Isaiah 59:20-21 as quoted in Romans 11:26; and it also fulfilled the words of
Jeremiah 31:33-34, among others. The Hebrew word translated "put an end to" is châtham, meaning "to seal, affix seal in
attestation, i.e., ratifying it, seal up….keep securely." In this passage it
implies “to make an end, or stop.” In Job 37:7 the word is used of sealing up “the hand
of every man,” meaning "to set a limit to his endeavors."
Hebrews 9:26 “But
as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by
the sacrifice of himself” (RSV), shows clearly that Christ’s atoning sacrifice “put an end to sin” for those who would
accept it. “For by one offering he hath
perfected for ever them that are sanctified,” (Hebrews 10:14). He brought
the atonement to its perfection.
“To
Atone for Iniquity,” (Dan.
9:24, RSV)
The
word atone is translated "reconciliation" in the KJV. It translates the
Hebrew word kâphar, "to cover, or atone, expiate, placate or cancel." Other forms of the word mean "to hide, wash away or obliterate, to ransom or propitiate."
The
corresponding Greek word (hilasmŏs),
is translated "propitiation" in Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:2; 4:10, (KJV); "expiation" (RSV). It is very
clear from the use of these terms in the New Testament that Christ fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel 9:24 that there would be “reconciliation for iniquity” by the end of the appointed time.[2]
“To Bring in Everlasting Righteousness,” (RSV Dan.
9:24).
As for Daniel’s prophecy that “the end” would “bring in everlasting
righteousness,” Isaiah had also foreseen that Israel would all be
righteous, Isaiah 60:21. Isaiah 53:11 clearly foretold that the Messiah would make many righteous. This was fulfilled
and brought to its perfection in the fact that the New Israel was composed of those who were born again by
the blood of Jesus. Only
those who were righteous through His blood were truly Israel. (See Jer. 33:15-16). Romans 5:18-21 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 make this
abundantly clear.
"To Seal Both Vision and Prophet,” (Dan. 9:24, RSV)
Again
the Hebrew word used here for "seal up" is châtham. It is used in the sense of "attesting
to, ratifying, or verifying." The entire New Testament might be described as
attesting to, ratifying or verifying the Old Testament by fulfilling it.
The
Greek word translated "seal" in the New Testament is
sphragis, one meaning of which is "to
stamp…as a mark of…genuineness." Christ’s mission and ministry proved
the genuineness of the Old Testament prophecies.
The
following references show how He fulfilled
the Scriptures: ("Fulfilled" is from the Greek word pleroo "to make replete… finish [a period or task], verify [or coincide with a prediction], etc.: accomplish …complete,
end… fill [up], fulfill … perfect…."): Matthew
3:15; 4:14; 5:17,18; 8:17; 12:17; 21:4; 24:34; 26:54, 56; 27:9, 35. Mark 1:15; 14:49; 15:28; Luke 4:21; 21:22, 24, 32; 22:16; 24:44; John 12:38; 13:18; 15:25; 17:12; 18:9, 32; 19:24,
36; Acts 1:16; 3:18; 13:27; Romans 8:4; 13:8, 10;
Ephesians 4:10;
Colossians 1:25; James 2:23.
The
New Testament specifically attests to the words and
ministries of the prophets as being true and genuine in the following
references: Matthew 1:22; 2:5, 15, 17;
3:3; 13:14, 35; 15:17; 24:15; 27:9; Mark 1:2; 13:14;Luke 1:70; 3:4; 4:17; 18:31; 24:25; John 1:23, 45; 6:45; Acts 2:16; 3:21; 8:28, 30, 34;
10:43; 13:27; 15:15; 24:14; 26:22, 27; 28:23, 25; Romans 1:2; 3:21; 16:26; Ephesians 2:20; 2 Peter 1:19; 3:2; Jude 14.
“To Anoint a Most Holy
Place (or One),” (Dan. 9:24, RSV).
The
very name Jesus Christ indicates that He was that “Most
Holy One” and therefore His Body, the Church, was and is that “Most Holy
Place.” The word Jesus is from the Hebrew words “Yahweh Saves.” The word translated “Christ” is from
the Greek word Christos,
and is the word used in the Septuagint for “Messiah.” Its use in Daniel 9:25 is interpreted in the Jewish writings as the expected Savior, as the One
anointed of God to be the King and Redeemer of His people.[3]
For the people of the New Testament era, the very name Jesus Christ meant
that He fulfilled Daniel 9:25.
After
His ascension, the Church continued to fulfill Christ’s mission on earth, acting as
His Body. As His Body, we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit and the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ. Throughout the Old and New
Testaments, the “Holy City” is the “place where God chooses to place His Name.”
Clearly, when Christ gave the Church His Name, it became the Holy City, for God
had chosen to place His Name on Her. Therefore, the Church is the Anointed Holy Place, just as Christ is the Anointed
Holy One.
“Messiah Shall Be Cut Off, but Not for Himself,” (Dan. 9:26, RSV)
With
the understanding that Isaiah 53 is a prophecy of Jesus, the eighth verse describes the
cutting off of the Messiah. In
connection with Isaiah 53:5 and 12, which are cited in the New Testament, (Acts
8:32-33; Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pet. 2:24), the prophecy of Daniel 9:26 is fulfilled. The fact that Jesus thereby
fulfilled the role of Israel is made clear in Psalm 129:1-3 which describes his scourging as
reported in Matthew 27:26.
Jeremiah 11:19 is another clear prophecy of the cutting
off of the Messiah which was clearly fulfilled in His atoning
death.
“The
People of the Prince Who Is to Come Shall Destroy the City and the Sanctuary,” (Dan. 9:26, RSV)
Jesus’ own people, the unbelieving “Jews,”
destroyed the city and the sanctuary. The historical account of the destruction
of Jerusalem and the Temple is found in Josephus’ writings. It is very clear that
the warring armies of the priests who wished to be appointed by Rome as High
Priest were responsible for the devastation of the City and burning of the
Temple, (Ant. 20.9.10-11 and Wars, Books 4, 5, and 6).
“Its End
Shall Come with a Flood, and to the End There Shall Be War,” (Dan. 9:26, RSV)
In
the context, “its end” means the end
of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. The word here translated “end” is from
the Hebrew word qets.
It not only indicates an extremity, but also carries the sense of cutting or
chopping off. It is used of the end of the time for a certain person or era. It
is part of the words for harvesting or reaping, in the sense that the crop is “cut
off” in order to harvest the grain or fruit. The gist of meaning here is that
the old Israel of the flesh has come to its full fruition and it is time for
the harvest. This is the sense behind Jesus’ words in Matthew 13:29-30
concerning the harvest when the tares will be separated from the wheat.
John the Baptist also realized that the end of the fleshly
nation was to be a reaping of harvest, Matthew 3:11-12 (RSV):
His winnowing fork is in his
hand, and he will clear his threshing floor (a code name for Jerusalem)[4], and gather his wheat into the granary, but
the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. [5] (See
also Luke 3:17.)
The
harvest is not only the end but it is also the beginning if one considers
that the grain or fruit harvested is the seed for the new crop. It is in this
sense that Jesus declared Himself to be “the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega.” Jesus’
crucifixion marked the end of the old fleshly Israel; His resurrection marked
the beginning of the glorified body of the Church, the New Israel.
“With a flood” refers to the overflowing
of sin which results in judgment. Isaiah 28:2, 15 and 18; 30:28 show quite clearly the
meaning of the overflowing flood of God’s pent up wrath.
“He Shall
Make a Strong Covenant with Many for One Week” (Dan. 9:27, RSV)
Jesus made a strong covenant with as many Jews as
would believe. The one week may represent the final 70 years of the existence of the nation, that is, the
time from the birth of Christ to the destruction. The last half of this
seventy would be the time from Christ’s death to the destruction.
Of
the many Scriptures that verify this, 1 Corinthians 11:25 is ample within
itself to make the point. Jesus here proclaimed, “this cup is the New Covenant in my blood.”
Jesus “Caused the Sacrifice and Offering to Cease,” (Dan. 9:27, RSV)
Hebrews 10 clearly shows that Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself ended the
sacrifices and offerings required by the Law. Hebrews 9:25-26 shows that
Christ’s
one-time sacrifice made other sacrifices unnecessary, therefore the old
traditional sacrifices ceased. (See Isaiah 66:3, 17.)
“Upon the
Wing of Abominations Shall Come One Who Makes Desolate,” (Dan. 9:27, RSV)
The
passages cited above from Josephus amply show that the illegitimate priesthood
committed abominations that utterly defied God to fulfill the curses of His
covenant.[6]
But earlier than the destruction of the physical city and the Jewish people came the rejection and crucifixion of
Christ,
which, in its truest sense, made the fleshly nation desolate, that is, without
an heir, for Christ was the last and only legitimate Heir. The death of Christ
began the “abomination of desolation.”
“Until
the Decreed End Is Poured Out upon the Desolator,” (Dan. 9:27, RSV)
The decreed end is translated “consummation”
in the KJV. The decreed end refers to the end of the “seventy weeks of years” plus the “time, times and dividing of times.”
Verse 24: “Seventy weeks are decreed” (RSV), “determined” (KJV). In verse 26, “desolations are decreed” (RSV), “determined” (KJV). The Hebrew word is chârats,
“a consummation or strict decision, that which is strictly determined (BDB s.v.).” The Hebrew word here translated “end”
is kâlah, (as defined above). This decreed end came when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD and Revelation 1:3 refers to it as "The appointed time": “The (appointed) time is at
hand.”
Christians
of the New Testament era would have been reminded also of the passage in
Jeremiah 51:35:
"The violence done to me and to
my kinsmen be upon Babylon," let the inhabitant of Zion say. "My
blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea" let Jerusalem say. (RSV)
The
blood of Christ and those who were being martyred for His name’s sake
was to be visited upon “Babylon,” the wicked leaders of the Jewish nation who were persecuting the Church to the death. The Church had now become the
heir to the title of “Zion” and of “Jerusalem” and the earthly Jerusalem had
become heir to the title of “Babylon.”
Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:34-38 have
these prophecies of Jeremiah as referents when He spoke to the Pharisees
and scribes:
Therefore I send you prophets and
wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will
scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, that upon you may
come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to
the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered
between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all this will come
upon this generation.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and
stoning those who are sent to you! How
often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood
under her wings, and you would not!
Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. (RSV)
The
flood spoken of in Daniel 9:26 refers to the backlog of vengeance that
God had reserved from the time of Abel until after the provision for the
atonement which Christ made. But when Christ’s atonement was
rejected, the flood of vengeance had to be poured out. Thus we find that “Mystery Babylon,” the fallen Jerusalem, was suffering the vengeance for
“all who have been slain on earth.”
(Rev. 18:24, RSV)
The End
Came upon the
Desolator
(Dan. 9:27, RSV)
As
cited above, the Desolator was the
body of those who followed the wicked priesthood of the Jewish nation who not only destroyed the literal
temple, but who were also guilty of destroying both Christ’s physical body and also His
spiritual Body, the Church. The decreed end was that which the Lord
spoke to Daniel and it was poured out upon that fleshly nation
because of their sin and rejection of Christ. By their crucifixion of Christ,
they made the nation "desolate,” for desolate means without an heir, and
they killed the last and only legitimate Heir to the promises to Abraham. They even went so far as to
request their own death sentence: to ask that Christ’s innocent blood be
required at their hands! (Matt. 27:25)
[1] Ethelbert W. Bullinger, A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, Regency
Reference Library, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House, 1975), 287
[2] See ‘atonement’
at Romans 5:11; ‘reconciliation’ at Romans 5:10; 11:15; 2
Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:21; Hebrews 2:17.
[4] In 1Chronicles
21:15, 18, 28, David first bought the threshing floor of Ornan for the
building site for the Temple.
[5] See my commentary
on Revelation 14:20, article “Winepress.”
This lesson is from my book Revelation In Context, pages 16-20. Revelation In Context is available locally at Living Word Bookstore, Shawnee, Oklahoma, or online at www.Amazon.com or www.xulonpress.com . Free downloads are available at www.revelationincontext.sermon.net.
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