Lesson 29: The Seventieth Week

Daniel 9:26-27
 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
 
In our last lesson we read about the timing of the Seventieth Week of Daniel. For details on this special seven years of earth’s history we need to go to the book of Revelation. To understand all of this as God wrote it, we need to state some things that have been misunderstood or misinterpreted from the Bible.

First, this seventieth week is about Israel, not about the Church. Remember, the decree from God was made to Daniel about “your people” – Israel. The Church (true believers in Jesus from all over the world) began on Pentecost Sunday in Acts 2. The Church did not replace Israel in God’s plan – He has specific plans for both! The purpose for Israel was for bringing Jesus into the world – He would be born from that nation. The purpose for the Church is to be Jesus’ body on this earth until His plan is completed; then the Church goes to Jesus’ side to become His Bride and to always be with Him. Israel is pictured as God’s “wife” in many Old Testament scriptures (read Hosea as an example). The “covenant” God made with Israel is pictured in the Tabernacle/Temple. The “covenant” He made with the Church is the Holy Spirit as a special helper to the Church, and a “contract of marriage” which is pictured in all Jesus told His disciples in John chapters 13-17. Ephesians 1:13 pictures the Holy Spirit as a kind of “engagement ring” for the Church.


Second, this seventieth week is God’s way of bringing Israel back to Himself. When Jesus came the first time, the religious leaders understood exactly who He claimed to be – but they did not want to lose their positions of power over the people, so they conspired to kill him. God’s prophecies in Deuteronomy promised Israel exactly what would happen to them if/when they walked away from Him. Another difference in how God promised to work in each group is that Israel was promised God’s anger and wrath (Deuteronomy 11:17 for example) when they walked away from Him. His promise to the Church is that we will be delivered or protected from His wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

Lastly, God’s promise to Israel is that when His “wrath” has been completed, “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26-27). When they finally acknowledge who Jesus truly is – their Messiah and God – they will never again walk away from Him.

*When was the last time you prayed for the people of Israel to recognize Jesus as their Messiah?