Rethinking Dan 9:27

Guest post by Truth:

This article examines how my reconsideration of the interpretation of a key word in Daniel 9:27 led me to change my understanding of possible end dates on the prophetic timeline. The updated prophecy spreadsheet (version 4.8.5) that accompanies this article can be downloaded HERE.

In a previous article posted here on Unsealed Prophecy, I  had assumed that the interpretation of the Hebrew word “uchtzi” (Strong’s 2677) in Daniel 9:27 could be “in the midst of.”

From Daniel 9:27 –

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ [IN THE MIDST OF] the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the wing he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

This “in the midst of” interpretation allows for the sacrifice to be stopped anywhere within the ‘seven.’ That, in turn, has the effect of allowing the prophetic timeline to end on Hanukkah of 2019. I no longer consider this to be a possibility.

I have since then reexamined the Hebrew word “uchtzi” (Strong’s 2677) in Daniel 9:27 with the help of an online Hebrew Interlinear Bible http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/OTpdf/dan9.pdf and an online Strong’s Concordance http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2677&t=KJV. It is now clear to me that Daniel 9:27 should be interpreted as –

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ [FOR ONE HALF OF] the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the wing he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

TIMELINE DISCUSSION

Refer to the prophecy spreadsheet (version 4.8.5) that accompanies this article for spreadsheet cell references.

Here is how I understand the prophetic timeline now.

My first assumption is that the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:24 end on September 23, 2015. Refer to spreadsheet cell J11.

THE SEVENTY SEVENS

Assumption: The “Seventy ‘sevens'” of Daniel 9:24 are Jubilee weeks. (Ref. Lev 25:8-10, 20-22) There is no other possibility.

Assumption: The last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 began on 6/7/1967 and will be complete on September 23, 2015. There is no other possibility.

A Jubilee week is seven periods of seven years each. Each year is 360 days long. Daniel 9:24 states that “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city…” The difference between 6/7/1967 and September 23, 2015 is exactly 7 x 7 years x 360 days/year = 17,640 days. The holy city of Jerusalem was captured (gained) on 6/7/1967. September 23, 2015 is a Yom Kippur, also known as The Day of Atonement.

Jerusalem will probably be partially surrendered (lost) on September 23, 2015.

Reasoning:

1) Daniel 9:24 tells us that “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city” (the ‘sevens’ clock only runs if the people of Yahuah are in possession of the holy city [Jerusalem]).

2) Daniel 9:25-26 tells us that sixty-nine (69) ‘sevens’ were complete by the time of the death of the Messiah, thus leaving only one ‘seven’ left to fulfill.

69 x 7 x 7 years x 360 days/year = 1217160 days. 1217160 days divided by 365.25 days/year = 3332.4 years. If we add another 70 years to account for the Babylonian captivity (when the people were not in the holy city), we get to approximately 3,400 B.C. This correlates closely with historical and archeological evidence of the age of Jerusalem. Finds of pottery vessels in tombs to the south of the present walls of the Old City indicate that the site was first settled around 3,500 B.C.

3) The last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 began on 6/7/1967 when Moshe Dyan’s troops parachuted into Jerusalem and took control of it.

4) The last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 cannot have already have been fulfilled historically. If it were, then the ‘seven’ that began on 6/7/1967 would be the seventy-first ‘seven.’ That would contradict scripture, so an historical fulfillment of the last ‘seven’ can be ruled out.

5) The last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 cannot be shorter. If the last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 were ‘seven years’ it would have been fulfilled by the sixth month of 1974; any time of Israeli control over all of Jerusalem beyond then would contradict scripture. Daniel 9:24 says “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed…,” not more, not fewer. Therefore, the ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 is NOT seven years.

In fact, the number of years in the last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 must be at least the number of years that have passed since 6/7/1967. Any number less than that would mean that the last ‘seven’ were finished, and would therefore place us in a 71st or greater ‘seven,’ contradicting prophetic scripture.

6) The last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 could be longer, but not by much. If the ‘sevens’ of Daniel 9:24 were longer than Jubilee weeks by just five (5) years, then working backward from the death of the Messiah, sixty-nine (69) of those ‘sevens’ would place the founding of Jerusalem at approximately 3,700 B.C. Similarly, if the ‘sevens’ were ten (10) years longer, the placement of the founding of Jerusalem would be approximately 4,000 B.C. Remember that the historical and archeological evidence concerning the age of Jerusalem places its first settlements at approximately 3,500 B.C.

A Jubilee week is the only Biblically documented time span of “seven” (Ref. Lev 25:8-10, 20-22) that fits within the aforementioned minimum and maximum constraints on the length of the last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24.

The last ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:24 will be complete on September 23, 2015. The Israelis will have sovereignty over Jerusalem until then; not a day fewer, not a day more.

POSSIBLE PROPHETIC TIMELINE ENDINGS

Refer to spreadsheet cell AG22.

Start with the assumption that the ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:27 begin near the end of the last of the “seventy ‘weeks'” (9/23/2015) because Daniel 9:24 tells us that those ‘weeks,’ among other things, are decreed to “anoint the Most Holy Place.” (Presumably to prepare it for animal sacrifice.) Assume that animal sacrifice is then reinstituted shortly thereafter.

Assume that the sacrifice will be stopped half way through a ‘seven’ year covenant.

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ For half of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.” Dan. 9:27a.

Assume that the 1290 days of Daniel 12:11 start at the stopping of the sacrifice half way through the ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:27 and continue to the end of the wrath of Yahuah (Yom Kippur + 30 days).

“From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.” Dan. 12:11.

Assume that the 1335 days of Daniel 12:12 start at the stopping of the sacrifice half way through the ‘seven’ of Daniel 9:27 and continue to a Hanukkah (Yom Kippur + 30 days + 45 days). Assume that such a Hanukkah marks the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom.

“Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.” Dan. 12:12.

Note that in some years, 75 days pass from Yom Kippur to Hanukkah. In other years, 74 days pass from Yom Kippur to Hanukkah.

Assume that only those years where 75 days pass from Yom Kippur to Hanukkah will match Daniel 12:12 and that other years can be eliminated from consideration. Daniel 12:12 says “1335 days,” not “1334 days.”

Future Hanukkahs where 75 days pass from Yom Kippur to Hanukkah include 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2026, 2027, 2030, and others in the future.

Apply the constraint that the 42 months of Revelation 11:2 cannot begin until the “seventy ‘sevens'” of Daniel 9:24 are complete (9/23/2015). In addition, apply the constraint that the 42 months of Revelation 11:2 must be completed before the Millennial Kingdom begins. These two constraints eliminate Hanukkahs 2015 and 2018 from consideration. Neither one of them would allow enough time for the fulfillment of the 42 months of Revelation 11:2.

September 23, 2015 to Hanukkah 2015 is less than 42 months.

September 23, 2015 to Hanukkah 2018 is less than 42 months.

Now remember that there also has to be enough time before a final Hanukkah for a ‘seven’ year covenant to take place. Hanukkah 2019 less seven (7) years yields an historical date. There is not enough time to fit a ‘seven’ year covenant between now and Hanukkah 2019. It, too, can be eliminated from consideration.

And so that leaves us with Hanukkah 2022 as the next available Hanukkah that could possibly be the last day of the 1,335 days of Daniel 12:12.

CONCLUSION

Even though I have had this article in mind for several months, I purposely waited to publish it until now. I wanted to make sure that my thinking on the subject was (relatively) settled. As with my previous articles, please remember that I am not a prophet. I could be wrong. I have made assumptions. In my opinion, they are good assumptions. However, you will have to determine if you agree or disagree with them and my calculations.

Blessings to those of you who are seeking the truth. I hope that this article helps you in your studies.

– Truth