THE EVENTS OF THE FINAL WEEK

What was to be accomplished during the 70th week?  Gabriel said that the period of "seventy weeks" had been determined "in order to terminate the transgression, and to finish off sin, and to make atonement for error, and to bring in righteousness for times indefinite, and to imprint a seal upon vision and prophet, and to anoint the Holy of Holies."  For this to be accomplished, "Messiah the Leader" had to die.  When? Gabriel said:  "After the sixty-two weeks Messiah will be cut off, with  nothing for himself. . . .And he must keep the covenant in force for the may for one week; and at the half of the week he will cause sacrifice and gift offering to cease." (Daniel 9:26a, 27a) The critical time was "at the half of the week," that is the middle of the last week of years. 

Jesus Christ's public ministry began in the latter part of 29 C.E. and lasted for three and a half years.  As prophesied, early in 33 C.E., Christ was "cut off" when he died on a torture stake, giving his human life as a ransom for mankind. (Isaiah 53:8; Matthew 20:28)  The need for the animal sacrifices and the gift offerings prescribed by the Law ceased when the resurrected Jesus  presented the value of his sacrificed human life to God in heaven.  Although the Jewish priests continued to make offerings until the destruction of Jerusalem's temple in 70 C.E.,  Such sacrifices were no longer acceptable to God.  They had been replaced by a better sacrifice, on that never had to be repeated.  The apostle Paul wrote:  "[Christ] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually . . .For it is by one sacrificial offering that he has made those who are being sacrificed perfect perpetually." -Hebrews 10:12, 14. 

Though sin and death continue to afflict mankind, Jesus' being cut off in death and his resurrection to heavenly life fulfilled prophecy. It "terminated transgression, finished off sin, made atonement for error, and brought in righteousness.'  God had removed the Law covenant, which had exposed and condemned the Jews as sinners.  (Romans 5:12, 19, 20; Galatians 3:13, 19; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:13, 14)  Now the sins of repentant wrongdoers could be canceled, and the penalties  thereof could be lifted.  By means of the Messiah's  propitiatory sacrifice, reconciliation with God was possible for those exercising faith.  They could look forward to receiving God's gift of  "everlasting life by Christ Jesus." -Romans 3:21-26; 6:22, 23; 1 John 2:1, 2. 

So it was that Jehovah removed the Law covenant by means of Christ's death in 33 C.E.  How, then, could it be said that the Messiah "must keep the covenant  in force for the many for one week"?  Because he kept the Abrahamic covenant in force.  Until the seventh week ended, God extended the blessings of that covenant to Abraham's Hebrew offspring.  But at the end of the "seventy weeks" of years, in 36 C.E., the apostle Peter preached to the devout Italian man Cornelius, his household, and other Gentiles.  And from that day on, the good news began to be declared among the people of the nations. -Acts 3:25, 26;10:1-48; Galatians 3:8, 9, 14. 

The prophecy also foretold the anointing of "the Holy of Holies."  This does not refer to anointing the Most Holy, or innermost compartment of the temple in Jerusalem.  The expression "Holy of Holies" here refers to the heavenly sanctuary of God.  There, Jesus presented the value of his human sacrifice to his Father.  Jesus' baptism, in 29 C.E. had anointed, or set apart, that heavenly, spiritual reality represented by the Most Holy of the earthly tabernacle  and of the later temple. -Hebrews 9:11, 12.

Next time: THE PROPHECY AFFIRMED BY GOD

From the book:  PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999