How many times have the various nations of the world tried to broker a peace treaty between the nation of Israel and her numerous enemies? United States presidents have tried repeatedly; Egyptian officials have tried; the United Nations has tried; European leaders have tried. Still, no peace. The fighting goes on.
To be sure, there have been “cease-fires,” some longer than others. But what everyone appears to want is a “long-lasting peace,” one that doesn’t need to be repeatedly brokered every few days, weeks, month or years.
Once again, it appears as if God is aligning the nations on the world’s stage to carry out His prophetic Word. And His Word tells us exactly what will happen and how it will happen.
The Book of Daniel is filled with prophecies about the end-times. Teaching pastors would do well to spend a considerable amount of time reading it, understanding it and sharing it with their congregations. We are living in one of the most amazing times in all of human history and the prophet Daniel helps us to catch a glimpse of what’s yet to come.
There is not enough time or space to do an exhaustive study or the entire book of Daniel. So this will be concise and to the point. Daniel 9:26-27 reads, “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
There is much here to understand and I encourage you to do an in-depth study of the entire book of Daniel. But for the purpose of this article, let’s focus on “the prince who is to come” and“he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week.”
The “prince who is to come” is the Antichrist who comes on the scene at the start of the “the great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21; Mark 13:19; Rev.7:14), also known as “Daniel’s 70th week.”
This prince “will make firm” (confirm; cause to prevail) a “covenant with the many,” that is, with nation of Israel “for one week” (a seven year agreement). Daniel goes on (later in his prophecy) to tell us that three and one half years into this “covenant” the Antichrist will break his agreement with Israel and cause the “abomination of desolation” against the Jewish religion. This violation will ruin what Jews regard as sacred, namely their holy temple and the honoring of God’s presence there. Jesus refers directly to this in His Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:15).
Some questions to ponder:
1. Isn’t it fascinating how God has already told us what’s coming?
2. Isn’t it fascinating that the nation of Israel has said repeatedly, “We just want to live in peace.”
3. Isn’t it fascinating that the “peace-brokers” are trying to find a “long-lasting” solution?
We should not try to establish times or dates. We do not know when this “prince” will come on to the scene and make his “firm covenant” with Israel. But we can observe how very much a “long-lasting” peace is desired.
Last question (for now):
4. What will be the circumstances that will cause the Jewish people, to agree to this particular covenant, with this particular individual, when they have been so wary of all the others?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you,” (Psalm 122:6).
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To be sure, there have been “cease-fires,” some longer than others. But what everyone appears to want is a “long-lasting peace,” one that doesn’t need to be repeatedly brokered every few days, weeks, month or years.
Once again, it appears as if God is aligning the nations on the world’s stage to carry out His prophetic Word. And His Word tells us exactly what will happen and how it will happen.
The Book of Daniel is filled with prophecies about the end-times. Teaching pastors would do well to spend a considerable amount of time reading it, understanding it and sharing it with their congregations. We are living in one of the most amazing times in all of human history and the prophet Daniel helps us to catch a glimpse of what’s yet to come.
There is not enough time or space to do an exhaustive study or the entire book of Daniel. So this will be concise and to the point. Daniel 9:26-27 reads, “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
There is much here to understand and I encourage you to do an in-depth study of the entire book of Daniel. But for the purpose of this article, let’s focus on “the prince who is to come” and“he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week.”
The “prince who is to come” is the Antichrist who comes on the scene at the start of the “the great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21; Mark 13:19; Rev.7:14), also known as “Daniel’s 70th week.”
This prince “will make firm” (confirm; cause to prevail) a “covenant with the many,” that is, with nation of Israel “for one week” (a seven year agreement). Daniel goes on (later in his prophecy) to tell us that three and one half years into this “covenant” the Antichrist will break his agreement with Israel and cause the “abomination of desolation” against the Jewish religion. This violation will ruin what Jews regard as sacred, namely their holy temple and the honoring of God’s presence there. Jesus refers directly to this in His Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:15).
Some questions to ponder:
1. Isn’t it fascinating how God has already told us what’s coming?
2. Isn’t it fascinating that the nation of Israel has said repeatedly, “We just want to live in peace.”
3. Isn’t it fascinating that the “peace-brokers” are trying to find a “long-lasting” solution?
We should not try to establish times or dates. We do not know when this “prince” will come on to the scene and make his “firm covenant” with Israel. But we can observe how very much a “long-lasting” peace is desired.
Last question (for now):
4. What will be the circumstances that will cause the Jewish people, to agree to this particular covenant, with this particular individual, when they have been so wary of all the others?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you,” (Psalm 122:6).
-
Dr. Gary Dromi currently resides in Springdale, AR. He has been in full-time ministry for over thirteen years. He holds a B.A., M.A. and a D.Min. in Biblical Studies. While on sabbatical, he completed his Ph.D. in Biblical Counseling and is now available for pulpit fill, seminars and a full-time pastoral position. He can be reached at: provrbs3_5_6@att.net
