END TIME STUDY--Pt.19

Let us continue looking at chapter nine of the book of Daniel. Gabriel was sent by God to Daniel to bring clarity to the prayer that he was offering unto the Lord. Daniel had seen in visions the end of time and he realized the importance for mankind, especially God's chosen people Israel, to be in a right relationship with God when that time comes.

Verse 24 contains enough information to deserve its own chapter in this study. Gabriel states, "70 weeks are determined." Daniel had been praying about the 70 years of captivity that Israel found itself captured in. When Gabriel says 70 weeks he means that there are 7x70 years yet to be fulfilled. Daniel was praying for Jerusalem, the Temple and his people. Gabriel is giving him the assurance that these would be restored due to the fact that all of the end-time events that Daniel had seen were to take place in Jerusalem.

70 weeks does not mean 70 weeks consisting of seven days per week. The Hebrew word for seven is "shabua" which means a "unit of measure" much like the word "dozen" means 12 items of one unit of measure. As Daniel was focusing on the 70 years of captivity that Jeremiah had prophesied and written letters about, Gabriel uses this opportunity to explain the time "measured out" for the history of mankind to be complete.

One may ask the question, how do we come up with 70 years from the stated 70 weeks and according to biblical scholars this then equals 490 years? We must understand the Jewish tradition of measuring units of time. Traditionally, the Jews observed sabbatic years by which their years were divided into weeks of years with each week containing seven years. Leviticus 25:8, which is where we see this measure of time instituted states, "And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, 7x7 years and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee 40 and nine years." The Sabbath was the seventh day of the week thus when using the sabbatic system of measure a day equaled a week. The 70 weeks of verse 24 would then be multiplied by seven years (Lev.25:8) which would equal 490 years. Are you confused yet? Space does not permit me to give a detailed explanation of the sabbatic years of measure. May I suggest that you research this for yourselves if it is confusing to you.

During this "70 weeks," or 490 years, six things are listed here in verse 24 that shall take place. The first of these is, "to finish the transgression." Meaning to put an end to sin, or to finish offerings for sin. Daniel had been praying over the sins of Israel and Gabriel is saying here that in time One was coming Who, when He comes, will be the final offering for sin and will thus put an end to sin's dominion. As we will see in the next verse the 70 weeks is a timetable of future events which includes the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Another interpretation of "to finish the transgression" is to restrain transgression. This applies to the end of the age when the anti-Christ rises to power. We see this meaning "to restrain transgression" in II Thes.2:1-8, in particular, verse seven. "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only "he" who now "restrains" it will do so until "he" is out of the way." (RVS, emphasis added) who is this "he" who "restrains transgression," the one who is restraining the rise of the lawless one, the anti-Christ, from coming to power until it is time for it to happen according to God's timetable? Pre-tribulationists say that it is the church and the Holy Spirit that restrains. They hold that once the church is raptured, taking with it the presence of the Holy Spirit, then the anti-Christ will be free to have his reign of terror. But this begs the question, where is this found in Scripture? Though this is a traditional view held by many in the church, it cannot be substantiated by Scripture. Note that the thing that restrains is referred to as "he" in II Thes.2:7. The church is generally referred to as "she," the bride. Although this "he" who restrains isn't identified anywhere in Scripture. There is only one place in Scripture that shows Satan being restrained and who does it. Since the anti-Christ is the personification of Satan, then "he" who is restraining him is the one with the power to do so. The Scripture is Rev.20:1-3 and it is here that we find that it is an angel that has the power to restrain Satan. Satan, through the anti-Christ, cannot rise to power until the angel given power to "restrain" is told to get out of the way, at the midway point of the tribulation period.

Summed up in this statement, "to finish the transgression," is the prophesied events of the end time. The 70 weeks (7x70 years=490 years) will be fulfilled at which time sin offerings will all cease, the anti-Christ will be free to reign, Jesus will return followed by the wrath of God being poured out to put a "finish," or to say an end, to sin and all unrighteousness.

The next thing to take place during this 70 weeks found in verse 24 is, "To make an end of all sin." All sin will be judged and sin's work will be finished. No more evil, unrighteousness, wickedness, no more satanic influence.

The next thing to occur after the fulfillment of the 70 weeks is, "To make reconciliation for iniquity." During the 70 weeks God will provide reconciliation to all of humanity through Jesus Christ. By the sacrifice of Jesus mankind can be reconciled, bought back, into a father/child relationship with Jehovah.

Then we see at the fulfillment of the 70 weeks there will be, "Everlasting righteousness." The sacrifice of animals under the Old Testament law only brought a temporary righteousness. But through the final sacrifice of sin, Jesus, we have an everlasting righteousness, that is, we are right before God.

Next we read that the 70 weeks places a seal up on "The vision and prophecy." All visions and prophecies will be "sealed," or to say, concluded, fulfilled. There is nothing left to be done that was purposed by God for his creation and prophesied or seen in visions by man to be fulfilled.

And finally, after the 70 weeks, there will be the anointing of "The most Holy." Jesus anointed King of Kings, Lord of Lords, High Priest, etc., for all eternity.

There have been volumes written pertaining to this one verse about the 70 weeks. There is so much information contained in verse 24 alone that we could spend weeks discussing it. But for the subject matter of this study we will let this brief look at verse 24 suffice.