THE PROPHECY AFFIRMED BY GOD

The Messianic prophecy uttered by the angel Gabriel also spoke of 'imprinting a seal upon a vision and prophet.'  This meant that everything foretold regarding the Messiah-all that he accomplished by means of his sacrifice, resurrection, and appearance in heaven, as well as the other things occurring during he 70th week-would be stamped with the seal of divine backing, would prove true, and could be trusted.  The vision would be sealed, restricted to the Messiah.  Its fulfillment  would be in him and in God's work through him.  Only in connection with the foretold Messiah could we find the correct interpretation of the vision. Nothing else would unseal its meaning. 

Gabriel had previously prophesied  that Jerusalem would be rebuilt.  Now he foretells the destruction of that rebuilt city and its temple, saying: "The city and the holy place the people of a leader that is coming will bring to their ruin. And the end of it will be by the flood. And until the end there will be a war; what is decided upon is desolations. . . .And upon the wing of disgusting things there will be the one causing desolation; and until extermination the very thing decided upon will go pouring out upon the one lying desolate." (Daniel 9:26b. 27b) Although this desolation would take place after the "seventy weeks," it would be a direct result of happenings during the final  "week," when the Jews rejected Christ and had him put to death. -Matthew 23:37, 38.

Historical records show that in 66 C.E., Roman legions under Syrian Governor Cestius Gallus surrounded Jerusalem.  Despite Jewish resistance, the Roman forces bearing their idolatrous ensigns, or standards, penetrated the city and started to undermine the temple was on the north.  Their standing there made them a "disgusting thing" that could cause complete desolation.  (Matthew 34:15, 16)  In 70 C.E., the Romans under General Titus came like a "flood" and desolated  the city and its temple. Nothing stopped them, for this had been decreed-"decided upon"-by God.  The Great Timekeeper, Jehovah had again fulfilled his word! 

Next time: WHEN DID ARTAXERXES' REIGN BEGIN?

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