Middle East Peace Treaty. According to the first half of Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist will guarantee a peace treaty, agreement or covenant between Israel and its enemies. But, this “peace” will not happen. As a matter of fact, it is the breaking of this false peace treaty that will initiate the Great Tribulation Period, the final three and one half years of the Tribulation Period.
Daniel 9:27 (KJV)
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:
It is important to have a basic understanding of the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks to understand the portion of the book of Revelations that pertains to the Tribulation, beginning at Revelations chapter 6. First, the word weeks means years rather than days and the weeks in Daniel’s prophecy means 7 years. Therefore, the 70 Weeks means 70 X 7 years or 490 years. Many excellent references are available as helps in understanding the Weeks of Daniel’s prophecy. One good example is The Dake’s Bible p.1480, column 2: The 70 Weeks (9:24) With that explanation in mind, let us take a cursory look at Daniel 9:23-27.
Daniel 9:23-27 (KJV)
23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
Daniel is told that the information concerning the outcome of his people, the Jews, is about to be given to him. This passage of scripture relates to God, Israel and Jerusalem.
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Daniel is told that it will take 70 weeks (a total of 490 years) to make an end of sin, to heal and deliver Israel from its sins at the return of the Messiah, to usher in eternal righteousness, to seal or fulfill the prophecy concerning Jesus the Messiah and to anoint the Most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
The 490 years or 70 Weeks are divided into three divisions:
Division 1: 7 Weeks or 49 years are given to the complete restoration of Jerusalem and the wall. Restoration decrees were given by King Cyrus of Persia, Darius I, and Xerxes.
Division 2: At the end of 62 (threescore and two) weeks or the end of the 69th Week the Messiah would be cut off or crucified.
Division 3: Division 1 and 2 equal 69 weeks, leaving the final one week as the Seven years of Tribulation.
It is important to note that the church is not mentioned anywhere in this section of the Bible. Why? Because the entire Time of the Church, from the Crucifixion of Christ until the beginning of the Tribulation, will take place between the 69th Week and the 70th Week. The church was not begun until after the 69th Week when Christ was crucified and it will be raptured before the 70th Week begins. God stopped the progression towards the Tribulation to send Jesus to die for mankind, graft in the Gentiles, perfect the church, then rapture the church out.
When the 70th Week (Final 7 years) begins, the church will have been raptured and in Heaven. Hallelujah! If men and women understood the position of the church in God’s Plan they would run to Jesus to be saved! Can we all increase our efforts to help them to get saved?
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Verse 27 describes the beginning of the last of Daniel’s 70th Week, which is the 7 Years of Tribulation, presented in the Book of Revelation. Verse 27 tells us that the Antichrist (the “he” of verse 27) will cause the Middle East Peace Treaty to be signed, but that “peace” will not last. See the upcoming Unfulfilled Prophecy #5 to see what happens next.
Saints, we do understand that this section concerning Daniel’s prophecy is somewhat weighty. We also know that the truth concerning Bible prophecy has been unlocked. We are God’s End Time people and we have a responsibility to do as we are instructed in 2 Timothy 2:15.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
