What is the significance of "confirm a covenant" in Daniel 9:27? Setting the Scene • Daniel 9:24-27 lays out “seventy weeks” of prophetic history, each “week” representing seven literal years. • Sixty-nine of those weeks (483 years) ran from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2) to the cutting off of Messiah (the crucifixion of Jesus). • One “week” (seven years) remains, separated from the prior sixty-nine; verse 27 describes its opening act. Daniel 9:27: “And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.” Understanding “confirm a covenant” • “Confirm” (Hebrew gāḇar) means “make strong, enforce, cause to prevail.” • The language points to strengthening an arrangement rather than originating one; a previously discussed pact is formally ratified and enforced. • “Covenant” in this context parallels political treaties in the ancient Near East—binding agreements offering protection and peace. Who Confirms the Covenant? • The “he” links back to “the prince who is to come” (v. 26), a ruler from the people who destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70—therefore arising from a revived form of the old Roman sphere (cf. Daniel 7:23-26; Revelation 13:1-7). • This end-time leader is elsewhere called “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) and “the beast” (Revelation 13). • By confirming the covenant, he presents himself as a peacemaker, gaining political capital and the trust of “many,” especially Israel (cf. John 5:43). Duration and Scope of the Covenant • The pact is set for “one week” —seven years—marking the beginning of the seventieth week. • It likely includes: – Security guarantees for Israel and her neighbors. – Permission to resume temple sacrifices (v. 27 implies offerings are functioning until mid-week). – A broader Middle-East peace framework, explaining worldwide talk of “peace and safety” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Midweek Betrayal • “In the middle of the week” (after 3½ years) the ruler abruptly breaks the covenant: – He “puts an end to sacrifice and offering.” – He sets up “the abomination that causes desolation,” identical with Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:15. • This act signals the start of the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 13:5-7). Why the Covenant Matters for Israel • God uses it to: – Draw Israel back to the center stage of redemptive history. – Expose the futility of trusting human agreements rather than the Lord (Isaiah 28:15, 18). – Pave the way for national repentance and ultimate salvation at Messiah’s return (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:26-27). Implications for the Church • The covenant’s confirmation marks a clear prophetic timestamp; believers who study prophecy recognize it as the countdown to Christ’s visible reign. • It underscores the reliability of God’s Word—precisely measuring history down to the final seven years. • While awaiting that day, Christians live alert, holy, and hopeful (Titus 2:11-13). Living in Light of Prophecy • Take Scripture at face value: God keeps time and promises with exactness. • Trust God’s sovereignty—world events unfold according to His preset schedule. • Cultivate discernment: the world will applaud the covenant, but God’s people know its fleeting nature. |
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