Christ’s powerful words predicted the sign of His second coming: “When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place,” He continued with the urgent warning to flee to the mountains. Run for your lives. Don’t go back, just leave (Matt. 24:15-17). Jesus began His warning with the words, “When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place.” That will be the time when the resurrected (???) “beast” of Revelation 13:1-7 (the antichrist) will be standing in the most sacred part of a rebuilt Jewish temple. 

Daniel had been in captivity in Babylon for almost seventy years. He observed from Jeremiah’s prophecy that Israel’s captivity was nearing completion (Jer. 49:10).  He knew that it was about time to go home. He was praying, asking God, what’s next for his people and Jerusalem. God sent the angel Gabriel with the answer. “Seventy weeks are determined on your people and your holy city to finish the transgression, make and end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy and anoint the most holy (place)” (Dan. 9:24).

What did Gabriel mean by weeks? “Weeks” is the Hebrew word shaboth (pronounced shabot). It means “seven.” Nothing more! The plural is shabuim, or “sevens.” Thus, the words read shaboth shabuim, or “seventy sevens.” It could be referring to seven of anything: seven days, seven weeks, seven months, or seven years. There are serious reasons to believe that Gabriel had years in mind. Daniel had been thinking in terms of years, the seventy years of captivity. The context of Gabriel’s prophetic message to Daniel must be years. If weeks of days were meant, then the whole period would hardly be enough time for the city to be rebuilt and destroyed again, to say nothing of the events that were to follow. So “seventy weeks” should be understood as seventy sevens of years. The text should read, “Seventy-sevens of years (or 70 times 7, or 490 years) have been decreed for your people (the Jews) and your holy city (the city of Jerusalem).” Gentiles are not in view here.

At the end of the seventy sevens (490 years), six things will have been accomplished for the Jews. The first (1) To finish the transgression.” “Finish” is the Hebrew word calah, to shut up, like to shut up in prison. At the end of the 490 years, Israel’s rebellion against God will be finished. The entire nation of Israel is in rebellion against their God to this very hour. The vast majority of the people and political leaders in Israel are secular. The coming tribulation spoken of by Christ will smelt them like silver and gold and remove all of their impurities (Zech. 13:8–9; Mal. 3:1–3). They will look on the One whom they have pierced and will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son (Zech. 12:10; John 19:27). (2) To make an end of sins speaks of the Jewish national sin and rebellion against God will finally be brought to an end. (3) To make reconciliation for iniquity means to make “atonement.” At His second coming, the Messiah will give the benefits of His cross work to His chosen people (all Israel will be saved (Rom.11:26). (4) To seal up vision and prophecy. The words “to seal up” mean literally “to finish completely.” God will be present in the person of Jesus Christ, and there will be no more need for visions and prophecies. Said another way, the prophecy concerning Israel and Jerusalem will be brought to an end through the mouth of the Messiah Himself, not through a prophet. (5) To bring in everlasting righteousness. There will be an everlasting right standing before God for the Jewish people. Righteousness will be restored to Israel and the city of Jerusalem. (6) To anoint the most holy place. The Millennial Temple will at last be built and anointed for the Millennial King. As mentioned earlier, the soon coming King will be crowned, not with thorns, but a crown of royalty and majesty (Zech. 14:9).  He will be seated on His throne in the most holy place. This temple will be built in its proper time (I think soon) and built on its proper place – the Temple Mount. It will be set apart for that which God has forever appointed it. Prior to this world captivating event, vengeance on Israel – and the world – will be unleashed in unimaginable ways. This vengeance will start at the moment when the abomination spoken of by Daniel the prophet stands in the holy place. This is why Jesus told the people that when they saw this sign “flee.” He finished giving the sign by saying, “Whoever reads, let him understand.” Pray that many Jews understand when this time comes – and it will.  More tomorrow. Stay safe and stay tuned.