The Mysterious Seventy Weeks of Daniel, Part 1

Daniel’s Mysterious Seventy “Weeks”

Part 1, Understanding The Ultimate Prophecy

Chapter 32 Preview:Among the most important prophecies in the Bible, the one usually referred to as the “Seventy Weeks Prophecy” stands out. It is the “chief cornerstone”, so to speak, of Messianic prophecies because it establishes the timeline of both the (so called) First and Second Comings of the Messiah. In fact, it is the only pre “Messianic” scripture that calls the Messiah the “Messiah”; so technically, it is the only “Messianic” prophecy of old. The Daniel 9 prophecy is very specific. It pinpoints four exact “milestone” events, three of which were prophetic. For several centuries individuals have been able to approximate within a few years, the Messianic timetable. Some few have even been able to pinpoint the very years, but there is absolutely no consensus on how the details have been—and yes will be fulfilled.

You would not think that the exact day and year of Jesus’ crucifixion would be nearly lost in history and would be the topic of such voluminous debate. In this chapter an attempt will be made to reconcile all of the loose ends while exposing many of the errors that are commonly endorsed. The end point of the 70 weeks prophecy is an exact seven year period. Daniel’s prophecies contain the keys to understanding the chronology of the end time events that precede the coming of The Everlasting Kingdom. Numerous other prophecies address the events of the end of the age of human rule but not the timetable:

Daniel 7:27-28 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the Saints (off site) of the Most High: His Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. 28 Here is the end of the matter ... WEB

The timing and implications of Daniel’s prophecies were meant to be understood—now more than ever. The lives of many of us who live into this period will depend on having at least somewhat of an understanding of these things!

This phrase “Seventy weeks” is derived from the opening words of many English translations: “Seventy weeks have been decreed” (Daniel 9:24). This is really an inaccurate wording because the Hebrew word “shavuim”, really means “sevens”, and can refer to seven of anything. It should say: “Seventy sevens have been decreed ....” Its meaning always depends on the context. Here, the context is most certainly referring to years—seventy sevens of years, which would total 490 years. This was not an uncommon usage of the word “seven” in the Hebrew language. There were weeks of days, weeks of months, and weeks of years. Thus, the phrase refers to seventy “seven-year periods”. There are seven of these in every Jubilee cycle.

I strongly suspect that when Jesus said “seventy times seven” in the following illustration, He was actually telling Peter that we must “forgive” “until” the “seventy times seven” year period is accomplished.

Matthew 18:22-23 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I dont tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants .... WEB

Jesus was hinting about His prophesied fulfillment of a time line and not about an indefinite period of time! After Judgment Day—which is where this prophecy concludes—it will do little good to forgive the condemned “for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet”! (Malachi 4:3) The account concludes that God, just as a righteous earthly king, will punish the evil ones when it is time for judgment.

Matthew 18:34-35 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So My heavenly Father will also do to you, if you dont each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds. WEB

The “Seventy Weeks” prophecy is among the most controversial few verses in the Bible. The Google search I did provided endless different explanations. Many themes reappear frequently but in different combinations. Finding out exactly how this prophecy works is of supreme importance for determining the chronology not only of the Messiah’s literally earth shaking sacrifice but also the timing of His so-called Second Coming, tho He has been here many times in the past.

The Wednesday Crucifixion

The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign—proof of His being the Messiah. Jesus answered that the only sign He would give to prove that He was our Messiah was that He would be “THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39-40). Skeptical? Well, you are in good company, for none of His disciples waited near the tomb for His resurrection. And upon hearing that He had arisen, exactly three days later, they were skeptics too.

Before going any further, it is of paramount importance that you understand that the Messiah was crucified on a Wednesday. You cannot fully understand the seventy week’s prophecy without first understanding the scriptures pertaining to the chronology of the Messiah’s last days here on earth. The evidence is overwhelming! The opposition only has tradition to stand on and a proclivity to dismiss some of Jesus’ own statements! If you have not yet considered this minority viewpoint, then please stroll on over to this off site link for a look at the issue: Good Friday is a Myth; Jesus Died on a Wednesday! As usual, some peripheral statements differ from the views expressed on this site. Here, the peripherals are about “heaven” and the “Jewish calendar”. Dont forget to stroll back!

My Excuse

I’ve known since the 1960’s, that reconciling the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation is a massive challenge. As a teen I found and read a 19th century copy of Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith. (Other kids read this kind of stuff—right?) It took Smith 768 pages (at least in the newer versions available for sale on the web) to explain the details of Daniel and Revelation, as he understood them. I have been putting off an extensive study of at least some of Daniel’s prophecies ever since that long ago time when I first wondered if all of these things were true. Recently, someone at a Sabbath Assembly asked me to explain the seventy weeks and I was a bit short on answers. That, among several other factors, led me into this study.

The Ultimate Prophecy

The audience for this marvelous prophecy is the Israelite people and especially the future inhabitants of Jerusalem. The opening words of the prophecy make this unmistakable. However, the ramifications of these events will affect “many”. Because the Beast is king over ten kings, or kingdoms, with aspirations for a New World Order, “many” nations is implied. Here is the entire prophecy:

Daniel 9:24-27 Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. 25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to ‘the Anointed One’ [or Messiah], the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times. 26 After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One shall be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince [the Beast] who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and ‘its’ [or his] end shall be with a flood and even to the end shall be war; desolations are determined. 27 He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the ‘wing’ [Strong’s 03671: more on this later] of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate. WEB

Other versions use the word “consumption” or “consummation” in verse 27 rather than “full end” but no matter how you view this word, it marks the end of human rule: “... even until the consummation ”

So far I have not found a better way to reconcile Daniel 9:25 with Daniel 9:26 than that which is explained in the Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary. I have never owned a commentary and until trying to get a different perspective on the 70 “weeks” it had never occurred to me to check on line for one. Years ago someone I trusted told me that this was a very good one.

Who Was “cut off”?

Daniel 9:25-26 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks [69 weeks]: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times. 26 After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One shall be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and its end shall be with a flood, and even to the end shall be war; desolations are determined. WEB

Verse 25 of the 69 weeks, works out perfectly but verse 26 appears to be saying that the Annointed One is “cut off” after week 62 but that the first advent—His coming, would follow week 69! Here is how the JFB Commentary explains it:

25. from the going forth of the commandment—namely the command from God, whence originated the command of the Persian king (Ezra 6:14). AUBERLEN remarks, there is but one Apocalypse in each Testament. Its purpose in each is to sum up all the preceding prophecies, previous to the “troublous times” of the Gentiles, in which there was to be no revelation. Daniel sums up all the previous Messianic prophecy, separating into its individual phases what the prophets had seen in one and the same perspective, the temporary deliverance from captivity and the antitypical final Messianic deliverance. The seventy weeks are separated (Daniel 9:25-27) into three unequal parts, seven, sixty-two, one. The seventieth is the consummation of the preceding ones, as the Sabbath of God succeeds the working days; an idea suggested by the division into weeks. In the sixty-nine weeks Jerusalem is restored, and so a place is prepared for Messiah wherein to accomplish His sabbatic work (Daniel 9:25,26) of “confirming the covenant” (Daniel 9:27). [Apparently a common error: the Beast confirms it.] The Messianic time is the Sabbath of Israel’s history, in which it had the offer of all God's mercies, but in which it was cut off for a time by its rejection of them. As the seventy weeks end with seven years, or a week, so they begin with seven times seven, that is, seven weeks. As the seventieth week is separated from the rest as a period of revelation, so it may be with the seven weeks. The number seven is associated with revelation; for the seven Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5). Ten is the number of what is human; for example, the world power issues in ten heads and ten horns (Daniel 2:42, 7:7). Seventy is ten multiplied by seven, the human moulded by the divine. The seventy years of exile symbolize the triumph of the world power over Israel. In the seven times seventy years the world number ten is likewise contained, that is, God’s people is still under the power of the world (“troublous times”); but the number of the divine is multiplied by itself; seven times seven years, at the beginning a period of Old Testament revelation to God’s people by Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi, whose labors extend over about half a century, or seven weeks, spirits of God are the mediators of all His revelations (and whose writings are last in the canon; and in the end, seven years, the period of New Testament revelation in Messiah. The commencing seven weeks of years of Old Testament revelation are hurried over, in order that the chief stress might rest on the Messianic week. Yet the seven weeks of Old Testament revelation are marked by their separation from the sixty-two, to be above those sixty-two wherein there was to be none. Messiah the Prince—Hebrew, Nagid. Messiah is Jesus’ title in respect to Israel (Psalms 2:2, Matthew 27:37,42). Nagid, as Prince of the Gentiles (Isaiah 55:4). Nagid is applied to Titus, only as representative of Christ, who designates the Roman destruction of Jerusalem as, in a sense, His coming (Matthew 24:29-31, John 21:22). Messiah denotes His calling; Nagid, His power. He is to “be cut off, and there shall be nothing for Him.” (So the Hebrew for “not for Himself,” Daniel 9:26, ought to be translated). Yet He is “the Prince” who is to “come,” by His representative at first, to inflict judgment, and at last in person.

“wall—the “trench” or “scarped rampart” [TREGELLES]. The street and trench include the complete restoration of the city externally and internally, which was during the sixty-nine weeks.

“26. after threescore and two weeks—rather, the threescore and two weeks. In this verse, and in Daniel 9:27, Messiah is made the prominent subject, while the fate of the city and sanctuary are secondary, being mentioned only in the second halves of the verses. Messiah appears in a twofold aspect, salvation to believers, judgment on unbelievers (Luke 2:34; compare Malachi 3:1-6, 4:1-3). He repeatedly, in Passion week, connects His being “cut off” with the destruction of the city, as cause and effect (Matthew 21:37-41, 23:37,38, Luke 21:20-24, 23:28-31). Israel might naturally expect Messiah’s kingdom of glory, if not after the seventy years’ captivity, at least at the end of the sixty-two weeks; but, instead of that, shall be His death, and the consequent destruction of Jerusalem.

“not for himself—rather, “there shall be nothing to Him” [HENGSTENBERG]; not that the real object of His first coming (His spiritual kingdom) should be frustrated; but the earthly kingdom anticipated by the Jews should, for the present, come to naught, and not then be realized. TREGELLES refers the title, “the Prince” (Daniel 9:25), to the time of His entering Jerusalem on an ass’s colt, His only appearance as a king, and six days afterwards [actually four] put to death as “King of the Jews.”

“the people of the prince—the Romans, led by Titus, the representative of the world power, ultimately to be transferred to Messiah, and so called by Messiah’s title, “the Prince”; as also because sent by Him, as His instrument of judgment (Matthew 22:7).

“end thereof—of the sanctuary. TREGELLES takes it, “the end of the Prince,” the last head of the Roman power, Antichrist.

“with a flood—namely, of war (Psalms 90:5, Isaiah 8:7,8, 28:18). Implying the completeness of the catastrophe, “not one stone left on another.”

“unto the end of the war—rather, “unto the end there is war.”

“determined—by God's decree (Isaiah 10:23, 28:22).—Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary

Before going further, I’d like to consider the “flood”. The details of the seventieth week specify: “and his end [the Beast’s] shall be with a flood”. The word “flood” can be rendered “overflowing”. There is plenty of evidence that this flood is a metaphoric term for the onslaught of a colossal army. The related Hebrew words “shataph” and “sheteph” are very similar and both imply a flood. The Beast will get a taste of his own medicine.

This quote from Isaiah speaks of the army of the King of Assyria as “mighty flood waters”. Interestingly, this “flood” also has a “wing” or “wings” as Daniel mentioned!

Isaiah 8:6-8 Because this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son; 7 now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the River: the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks. 8 It will sweep onward into Judah. It will overflow and pass through; it will reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, Immanuel. WEB

Daniel used both “shataph” and “sheteph” two chapters later in the same type of context.

Daniel 11:21-22 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. NKJV

Now there is no doubt that the flood reference is about an outpouring of troops. I take it that wing/s in these instances mean “extreme”. The extreme “abominations” will be ended by an army “stretching out” to the extreme “breadth of your land”.

“No Other Name Under Heaven”

The Messiah is but one of many names that our Savior is called. He is also called: “Shiloh” (Genesis 49:10), “Angel [Messenger] of the Lord”, “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), the “Root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:10), the “Branch” (several refs.), the “chief cornerstone” (Psalms 118:22), and more.

Yet a significant portion of the audience for this prophecy is hiding under their beds.

“A variety of opinion is present as to possible fulfillment of the prophecy. This passage has caused great concern for Jews as it suggests through any cursory calculation that their Messiah should already have come. It is for this reason that a curse was placed on any who attempt to calculate the end times. Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon, better known as “Maimonides”, is one of the most prominent exegetes in Jewish history, and he wrote of this exact concern in his Igeret-Teiman. His viewpoint was that the timing was sealed up so that none should attempt to calculate when the Messiah was coming, and he was concerned that the “untutored” would be led astray upon finding that the Messiah’s time had already come. Rabbi Judah haNasi, one of the most respected teachers in Rabbinical Judaism for his work in assemblage of the Talmud, had a less hopeful viewpoint on the matter, indicating that the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy was long past.” (Sanhedrin 98a and 97a)—Wikipedia

For this prophecy to be completed, six things must be accomplished over a period of 490 years:

The links from the Thomas Ice Collection below, concerning these six aspects of the 70 weeks prophecy, provide the best explanation on this topic that I have seen. These links go thru the above six points with remarkable credibility. The main point made is that, upon close inspection, none of the six points have been fulfilled! Only the conditions concerning the Messiah’s sacrifice, which were prerequisite up to their fulfillment, have been fulfilled. These six events will all be fulfilled at the The “Restoration of All Things”.

A Prophetic Gap?

The most readily apparent “gap” in prophecy is found in the book of Luke:

Luke 4:16-20 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. NKJV

All of these things He did but He quit quoting in the middle of a sentense! The reason He stopped fulfilling the prophecy is because the unbelief of His own people caused the prophecy to stop! They had the free moral agency to accept their Messiah. Instead they killed Him to retain their own power trip! Result? A big gap in the prophecy! I contend that it could have been fulfilled as is—no gap. Yet the gap is readily apparent.

Isaiah 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Lord [Yehovah’] is on Me; because [Yehovah] has anointed Me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of [Yehovah’s] favor, [GAP] and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of [Yehovah], that He may be glorified. 4 They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. WEB

The Messianic prophecy continues but you can see at a glance that the fulfillment stopped mid sentense.

The Thomas Ice Collection

I would recommend that you read the following links if you’d like more information on the prophetic time gap:

The Last 3 Prophetic Purpose Clauses

Chapters 4 thru 12, are also interesting. They explain the necessity of a “gap” between the 69th & 70th week in the prophecy. These outside links provide no internal links to the next chapters, so if you would like to read them as well, you will have to place a “4” or “5” etc. into the web address—just before “.html” of any of the three links I’ve provided.

Thomas Ice, a very popular writer, provides the perfect explanation of what the prophecy means, in the first three chapters. He does accept the traditional explanation of the dates beginning and ending the 70 years, so as to “force” a “Good Friday” Passover year. Most other writers also limit the possible years in which Christ died to be years with a Friday Passover. He also accepts the popular 360 day year idea.

I will begin by quoting a couple of Thomas’s paragraphs as a preview of his thoroughness:

“The verb “to finish” looks to bring something to its culmination. It has the idea of “to close, shut, restrain.” Here it has the idea of “firmly restraining” the transgression, thus the specific idea of restraint of sin. “Examination of the use of this word shows that it means the forcible cessation of an activity. It always points to a complete stop, never to a mere hindrance.” In this context it is “the transgression” which is being firmly restrained. As I hope to demonstrate throughout this series, I believe that “finish” looks toward the completion of the 70 weeks at the second coming of Christ to set up His millennial kingdom.

The noun “transgression” in Hebrew is derived from the verbal root with the basic meaning of “rebel, revolt, transgress.” Transgression is the idea of going beyond a specific limit or boundary. “From all the definitions given we may be certain that it emphasizes the idea of rebellion against God and disobedience to His will.” Gabriel has in mind, in verse 24, more than just sin in general, but a specific sin since the definite article is attached to this word—“the transgression.” “The article in Hebrew, as in Greek, is very definite and points clearly to some outstanding thing or object,” notes David Cooper. “Thus the expression ‘the transgression’ seems to indicate some specific, outstanding, national sin of the Chosen People.” Since the emphasis in this phrase is upon the finishing of Israel’s transgression, then this leads to the conclusion that it will occur at the second coming of Jesus, Israel’s Messiah. Arnold Fruchtenbaum points out that “when speaking of the basis of the second coming of Christ that there are two facets to this basis: first, there must be the confession of Israel’s national sin (Lev. 26:40-42; Jer. 3:11-18; Hos. 5:15) ....” The emphasis in this first goal is upon when Israel’s national sin—rejection of her Messiah—will be brought to an end. “This passage assumes, therefore,” notes Cooper, “that the whole nation repents and turns to God for mercy and forgiveness. Thus this first phrase implies the conversion of the nation. But what is assumed here is stated specifically in the third phrase.”—Thomas Ice

Who is This Prophecy For?

There is much more to this! Here are some things that I would like to have seen in his articles.

This prophecy should never be relegated to “iniquities” that only the Jews have need of “reconciliation for”. Jesus will see to that reconciliation. This prophecy is for anyone whom God has called and chosen or will in the future! When people say “the chosen people” they think that this is a codename for the Jews. Actually, the term “chosen people”—used only once in the Bible (KJV, ASV, WEB), is in reference to the hand selected troops of the evil “king of the north”!

Daniel 11:15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand. WEB

However the “chosen ones” really includes the descendants of all twelve sons of Jacob, not just his son Judah, as well as the others who sojourned with them:

1 Chronicles 16:12-13 Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, 13 you seed of Israel His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones. WEB

Psalms 105:6-9 ... you seed of Abraham, His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones. 7 He is [Yehovah], our God. His judgments are in all the earth. 8 He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, 9 the covenant which He made with Abraham .... WEB

Psalms 106:4-5 Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people; Oh, visit me with Your salvation, 5 that I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance. NKJV

So when the “the whole nation repents and turns to God”, as stated above, it should be understood that more than one tribe needs “reconciliation [atonement] for iniquity”.

Now in general, Judah openly rejects the Messiah, while the other tribes (who dont even know who they are) reject Him in practice!

As it was then, so it is now:

Mark 7:6-7 He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7 But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. WEB

For example, the vast majority of “Christian” people generally believe that the Commandments, as well as Torah Law, were done away with. But Jesus said:

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments. WEB

In particular, most of those who need “reconciliation for iniquity” dont believe that Jesus honors His own Sabbaths.

Yet Jesus is the “firstborn Sabbatarian”, so to speak:

Mark 2:27-28 He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. WEB

Indeed, those “of you” who live into the Kingdom of God, in the flesh, will witness the six prophecies being fulfilled, and when you are not busy restoring the war torn “old waste places” you will be celebrating the Sabbath “on My holy day”. Only then shall those who are called later “honor Him”.

Isaiah 58:12-14 Those who shall be of you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. 13 “If you turn away your foot from [troding all over] the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of [Yehovah] honorable; and shall honor [Him], not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words: 14 then you shall delight yourself in [Yehovah]; and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father:” for the mouth of [Yehovah] has spoken it. WEB

Jesus will begin “to bring in everlasting righteousness” by, for example, purging out all of the mistaken notions about His Sabbath and new moons when all flesh comes to worship before Him:

Isaiah 66:22-23 For as the New Heavens and the New Earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me,” says [Yehovah], “so your seed and your name shall remain. 23 It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me,” says [Yehovah]. WEB

[Note that Jesus also made the “old heavens” and the “old earth”: John 1:1-3]

When these six conditions have been accomplished we will have, in essence, a New Earth!

Dont Be Fooled!

Whenever Satan eliminates a Biblical teaching, he replaces it with a counterfeit teaching. Sunday replaced the Sabbath, for the masses, in the fourth century.

Long before the time of Jesus, “the twelve tribes” had been “scattered abroad”. The Greek word for “scattered abroad” is Diaspora. I’ll bet that you were taught that the Diaspora only pertains to the Jews!

James 1:1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are ‘scattered abroad’ [1290 diaspora (dee-as-por-ah’)]: Greetings. NKJV

The other 2 references to diaspora (John 7:35, 1 Peter 1:1) apparently exclude Judah from the diaspora and refer specifically to the “lost tribes” because the Jews apparently didnt think of themselves as dispersed prior to 70 AD.

To the credit of the Jews, they did continue to hold onto their tribal identity and kept Israel’s Feast Days correctly until they were driven from their land. The point is that Jesus risked His life to celebrate the Feast Days, not because he was a Jew, but because Holy Day celebration is required by the Law of God! In essence He told the crowd that He was willing to risk His life to obey the very Law that they were breaking!

John 7:2-23 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. NKJV [because the “lost tribes” were not keeping them] .... 10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret .... 14 But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught .... 19 Didnt Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” 20 The multitude answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the [Father]), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? WEB

A few days later, Jesus celebrated the Eighth Day Feast:

John 7:37-38 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water. WEB

Here is a prophecy set immediately after the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord that demonstrates how serious Jesus is about His Holy Days. When Jesus begins “to make an end of sins”, His first order of business will be to force the survivors of the end time events to keep the Feast Days. In this way humanity will learn what “bring[ing] in everlasting righteousness” is all about!

Zechariah 14:1-4, 16-19 Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south .... And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. NKJV

Here is a prophecy about the time when Jesus will “finish disobedience” against Torah Law.

Micah 4:1-3 But in the latter days, it will happen that the mountain of [Yehovah]’s temple will be established on the top of the mountains, and it will be exalted above the hills; and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations [not just Judah or even Israel which will again be one nation (Ezekiel 37)] will go and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of [Yehovah], and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For out of Zion will go forth the ‘law’ [Hebrew: Torah] and the word of [Yehovah] from Jerusalem; 3 and He will judge between many peoples, and will decide concerning strong nations afar off. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation; neither will they learn war any more. WEB

As God finishes the “disobedience”, billions of people will be affected, not just a few million Jews!

Thumbnail Sketches of the Six Prophecies

1) “to finish disobedience”: Israel, beginning in Jerusalem, “ground zero”, learns that they have broken their Covenant with God and repents with great mourning. (Zechariah 12:8-14)

2) “to make an end of sins”: Israel, understanding that God had been “a husband to them” and that He wants to be married again, accepts the proposed New (marriage) Covenant with God. (Jeremiah 31)

3) “to make reconciliation for iniquity”: Israel is reconciled with God; learning that she had denied the validity of the Law—now streaming out of Zion. (Micah 4:2-3) Marriage plans are made. (Matthew 22:1-14)

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness”: No more brief “pendulum swings ” of righteousness that only hits full stride before “backsliding”. This marks the beginning of the “Everlasting Kingdom”. (Daniel 7:27)

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy”: Simply put: “all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning Me must be fulfilled”. (Luke 24:44)

6) “to anoint the most holy”: I’d like to briefly emphasize this last point made in Thomas Ice’s series of short articles—the explanation of what is “most holy”. This is often presumed to be a reference to Jesus himself or even the Church [off site] Notice this quote:

“Most Bible commentators agree that the “most holy” and “Messiah” in this prophecy [both] refer to Jesus Christ ....”

The writer that Ice was quoting went on to say that this is one of the few things commonly understood about this prophecy that is correct. But Ice proved that this quote is incorrect! His work points out that in all 55 other places where “most holy” is used, it is in reference to the temple, and never about a person! This prophecy is about Christ cleansing and anointing the coming Third temple after bringing in “everlasting righteousness”! Were this commonly understood; it would end speculations that the Third Temple will be “just another Jewish temple” or that it is really “the Beast’s temple”. It will be the Messiah’s Temple!

Six references to the “most holy” can be found in the nine chapters of Ezekiel which immediately precedes the book of Daniel. These nine chapters (40-48) describe the coming Third Temple in minute detail. (Ezekiel 41:4, 42:13, 43:12, 44:13, 45:3 and 48:12)

The Old Switcheroo

Some suppose that “to make reconciliation for iniquity” is a reference to Jesus making “reconciliation” for us on the cross in the distant past. However, the word usually used in Daniel 9:24 as “reconciliation” should always be translated as “atonement”. Understanding this aspect of the prophecy requires our understanding of exactly what “atonement” means.

When you look in a concordance at Strong’s #03722: kaphar (kaw-far’) to see how it is used in all other contexts, you quickly see that it is strongly associated with the actions of the Levitical priesthood—the vast majority of its usages being directly tied to animal sacrifices. The following listing tells us that in the Authorized Version (AV) is translated as “atonement” 71 times. When other words are “switched” in its place, the association with the Levitical priesthood is somewhat obscured.

AV [KJV]-atonement 71[times], purge 7, reconciliation 4, reconcile 3, forgive 3, purge away 2, pacify 2, atonement ... made 2, merciful 2, cleansed 1, disannulled 1, appease 1, put off 1, pardon 1, pitch 1; [totaling] 102 [usages].

The last nine chapters of Ezekiel (40-48) explain that the Levitical priesthood must again be established—complete with the animal sacrifices—in the coming Third Temple.

Here is a prophetic usage of “atonement” that explains exactly who and what will be atoned for—“Gentiles”, the “His Land” and “His people”. It appears that the wicked “enemies” of God will, in a very personal manner, provide the sacrifices for the coming atonement, as is perhaps sarcastically explained below:

Deuteronomy 32:39-43 Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. 40 For I raise My hand to heaven, and say, “As I live forever, 41 if I whet My glittering sword, and My hand takes hold on judgment, [Judgment Day] I will render vengeance to My enemies, and repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword shall devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the heads of the leaders of the enemy.” ‘43 “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people. NKJV

Leviticus 16 mentions “atonement” 12 times. The first eight times refer directly to the sacrifices, while the four references in verses 32-33 also tell us what is being atoned for. Perhaps this use of atonement even pictures THE Father and His Son:

Leviticus 16:32-33 The priest, who is “anointed” [Same word as Messiah] and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the [Tabernacle] of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. WEB

The most pertinent use of the word “atonement” in the Bible would undoubtedly apply to the very day that is part of the “shadow of the things to come” (Colossians 2:17), the Day of Atonement. In the future, (and preferably right now) the Day of Atonement “shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you”:

Leviticus 23:27-32 However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to [Yehovah]. 28 You shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before [Yehovah] your God. 29 For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day; shall be cut off from his people. 30 Whoever it is who does any manner of work in that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall do no manner of work: it is a statute FOREVER throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from “evening to evening” [which defines a Biblical day], you shall keep your Sabbath. WEB

Why Daniel?

Before going any further, we should notice how Daniel got the job of being a captive “wise man” in the service of foreign kings:

Daniel 1:1-4 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 3 The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles; 4 youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. WEB

Daniel soon had a well deserved reputation as a person who received understanding directly from God. His “resume” included working with Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and later his son Belshazzar. During a slow time, Daniel worked part time as a lion tamer.

Daniel 6:25-28 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and His dominion shall be even to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. WEB

It was while he served king Darius that Daniel had yet another encounter with the angel Gabriel. (Only two other people are recorded as having met Gabriel, who were told his name: “a certain priest named Zacharias”—the father of John the Baptist, and Mary—the mother of Jesus.)

When Darius the Mede killed Belshazzar; Daniel had a new employer. Later “Daniel prospered ... in the reign of Cyrus the Persian” who later issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem which is a vital forerunner to the seventy “weeks” prophecy. But I’m getting ahead of things. Back to 538 BC:

Some scriptures are from the "New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved." "Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000."