Daniel’s “Final Week” (70th Week) Has ALREADY Been Fulfilled

[WayneNSO]

You’re assuming the “prince who is to come” in Daniel 9:26 has to be the Antichrist. But the text never says that.


It simply says “the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” That was literally fulfilled by the Romans under Titus in AD 70 — exactly as Jesus predicted would happen in His own generation.


It’s quite a stretch to turn a Roman general into the future Antichrist just because the text says “who is to come” (future from Daniel’s time). The prophecy was written in the 6th century BC. Of course the destroyer was still future then.


The text doesn’t call him the Antichrist. It doesn’t mention a 7-year peace treaty, a rebuilt temple in the future, or him sitting in a third temple. You’re reading all of that into the passage.


Meanwhile, the clear subject of the prophecy is the Messiah who is cut off, confirms the covenant, and puts an end to sacrifice in the middle of the week. That fits Jesus perfectly.


The idea that we have to insert the Antichrist here when the text never names him is a very forced interpretation.

Titus was actually a prince at that time also - He only became Emperor after the events of 70AD when his father died. When everything fits so logically and easily why look to the future.

 

[WayneNSO]

This is a great thread because Daniels 70 weeks and its supposed gap is the root of todays futurism

 

[HeIsHere]

Daniel was sealed because the time of the end had not come - but Revelation was not sealed because the time of the end had come

Yes exactly, that was a real aha moment for me.

The do not tell you those things in the Late Great Planet Earth!

 

[HeIsHere]

we also have an increased knowledge Biblical since Daniels time - The New covenant and knowledge contained within the NT

Ah yes!!
Makes sense.

 

[HeIsHere]

This is a great thread because Daniels 70 weeks and its supposed gap is the root of todays futurism

..... and many of today's problems!!

 

[Aussie52]

• Many expect a future 7-year tribulation as Daniel’s 70th week. But scripture and history show it was fulfilled in Christ's 3½-year ministry and the events of AD 66–70. Let’s examine Daniel 9.
  
  
• Daniel 9:24: “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people (Israel) and your holy city (All 70 weeks are about Israel), to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.”
  
  
• After 69 weeks the Messiah comes: Daniel 9:25–26 — “...to the coming of an anointed one, a prince... And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off (The Crucifixion)... And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary... Desolations are decreed.”
  
  
• Clarification: The Anointed One (Messiah) is cut off. The “prince who is to come” is a Different figure (since it just said The Anointed One is cut off) the "prince who is to come" is fulfilled in the Roman commander Titus, whose legions destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70.
  
  
• The 70th week: Daniel 9:27 — “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...”
  
  
• First half (AD 27–30/33): Jesus confirms the New Covenant in His 3½-year ministry. At the midpoint (the cross) He ends the old sacrifices: Hebrews 10:12,14 “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God...”
  
  
• Last 3.5 years (AD 66/67–70): Cestius Gallus surrounded Jerusalem in AD 66 then suddenly retreated (allowing Christians to flee). Jewish civil war followed. In AD 70 Titus returned, besieged the city. After terrible suffering (famine and fighting), the Romans destroyed the Temple and much of Jerusalem. Josephus records ~1.1 million deaths and 97,000 taken captive.
  
  
• Jesus warned: Matthew 24:15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel... then let those who are in Judea flee...”
  
  
• Luke 21:20,22 (ESV): “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near... for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.” (Daniel 9:26)
  
  
• Note on 9:27: The “he” primarily refers to the Messiah (covenant and cross), while the Romans complete the desolations in the second half. Hebrew prophecy often works with layered fulfillment.
  
  
• Daniel 9:24’s Six goals were accomplished in Christ and the judgment of AD 70.
  
  
• Bottom line: Daniel’s final week (including the dramatic last 3½ years with armies appearing/retreating and final destruction) was fulfilled in the 1st century. “It is finished” (John 19:30).

Thanks Jacob for such an interesting take on Daniels 70 weeks. I have had my doubts about the usual dispensational take for some time now. You have given me much food for thought. Thanks again.

 

[WayneNSO]

Yes exactly, that was a real aha moment for me.

The do not tell you those things in the Late Great Planet Earth!

People today get their theology from books like you just mentioned and others like left behind books and movies

 

[WayneNSO]

..... and many of today's problems!!

I used to be a happy clappy futurist and it seemed very exciting all the future anti-Christ stuff the rebuilt temple the rapture etc - but when you realise the truth and put behind the fantasies it is far more fulfilling - and guess what - the Bible starts to make sense lol

 

[HeIsHere]

I used to be a happy clappy futurist and it seemed very exciting all the future anti-Christ stuff the rebuilt temple the rapture etc - but when you realise the truth and put behind the fantasies it is far more fulfilling - and guess what - the Bible starts to make sense lol

It does make so much more sense,

Yes it was entertaining at first like living in dystopian fantasy novel, lol.

I just accepted it, then for me it became like a burden, who is the anti-Christ what will I do about the mark and on and on..... and when the years go by suddenly it becomes like okay how long can they streeeeeetch this out.

Then I knew something was not right!

 

[WayneNSO]

It does make so much more sense,

Yes it was entertaining at first like living in fantasy novel, lol.

I just accepted it, then for me it became like a burden, who is the anti-Christ what will I do about the mark and on and on..... and when the years go by suddenly it becomes like okay how long can they streeeeeetch this out.

Then I knew something was not right!

Each time a new bad guy came on the scene be it Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Obama lol they got nominated as the new antichrist, and the temple will be rebuilt soon - very soon - 40 years later and still very soon lol

 

[HeIsHere]

Each time a new bad guy came on the scene be it Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Obama lol they got nominated as the new antichrist, and the temple will be rebuilt soon - very soon - 40 years later and still very soon lol

Exactly, my favorite Gorbachev for the anti-christ because he had a red mark on his forehead.

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

Curious what you think about Jesus’ time statements in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:34)?

---

Matthew 24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

"This," the generation that lived in 70AD encountered the partial fulfillment. Not all the things Lord Jesus described came to pass. The complete fulfillment is yet to come and speaks to THAT generation which I believe we are in.

These verses didn't come to pass in 70AD:

Matthew 24:30 "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the othe.

Jesus will be seen by all the people in the entire planet, not just the Jews in Israel. That didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

The heavens will react dramatically. That didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The gathering (some call it rapture) of the elect will occur. This definitely didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

The destruction of Jerusalem and what happened to the Jews was terrible, but there have been worse things that occurred since then. I though the Holocaust (Shoah) was the worst, but Jesus said no, the great tribulation will be THE worst. We have to prepare to endure through that. But anyway, 70AD was not the worst.

-----

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The gospel of the kingdom has not been preached to all nations in 70AD.

-----

Since these prophecies have not come to pass yet, then complete fulfillment of Matthew 24 is yet to come. I believe it speaks to our generation and we should prepare to endure it.

 

[Researcher]

Right on @JacobGilbert . You have a great thread going here.

I would like to give my thoughts on this statement:

Curious what you think about Jesus’ time statements in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:34)?

Let's look at the verse:

Matthew 24:34 - Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

There are two parts we must quantify before continuing:

1. This generation
2. All these things be fulfilled

I will start with the second one first:

All these things be fulfilled
What are all of the things that must be fulfilled before the 'generation' passes? There is a long list!

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

I personally do not believe any of that has been fulfilled yet. In fact, we are also waiting for the times of the Gentiles to be come in (Luke 21:24). That is still future.

Therefore, the word 'generation' cannot mean the lifespan of a person, or 'Generation X' or the 'Pepsi Generation', or whatever.

This Generation
It is my opinion that the 'generation' that Jesus is referring to is simply the 'tares' as opposed to the 'wheat'. In other words, 'generation' refers to all of those that are going to be thrown into the Lake of Fire. They will not 'pass away' i.e., experience the Second Death until the very end.

If the 'wicked generation' was during the time of Jesus, now we have a HUGE problem. That means that NOBODY was saved. See the problem? We would have to conclude that every person alive at that time was evil, even the Apostles. That doesn't work obviously.

Look at all of the verses with the word 'generation' in it. You can see the pattern. For example:

Luke 17:25 - But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

Is Jesus saying that every single person on the planet rejected him? Of course not. Therefore, 'this generation' is referring to those that reject him. We can take that all the way back to Cain and all the way to the future when the final end times happen. It is a 'wheat and tares' reference.

As a side note, I believe that the Great Tribulation began in 70AD and continues to this very day. The phrase 'those days' can mean the thousands of years after the destruction of Jerusalem, or it can mean the days after the Great Tribulation:

Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Either way, the world has been in the Great Tribulation since 70AD and all we are waiting for is the Harpazo.

 

[JacobGilbert]

Matthew 24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

"This," the generation that lived in 70AD encountered the partial fulfillment. Not all the things Lord Jesus described came to pass. The complete fulfillment is yet to come and speaks to THAT generation which I believe we are in.

These verses didn't come to pass in 70AD:

Matthew 24:30 "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the othe.

Jesus will be seen by all the people in the entire planet, not just the Jews in Israel. That didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

The heavens will react dramatically. That didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The gathering (some call it rapture) of the elect will occur. This definitely didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

The destruction of Jerusalem and what happened to the Jews was terrible, but there have been worse things that occurred since then. I though the Holocaust (Shoah) was the worst, but Jesus said no, the great tribulation will be THE worst. We have to prepare to endure through that. But anyway, 70AD was not the worst.

-----

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The gospel of the kingdom has not been preached to all nations in 70AD.

-----

Since these prophecies have not come to pass yet, then complete fulfillment of Matthew 24 is yet to come. I believe it speaks to our generation and we should prepare to endure it.

Jesus was clearly answering the disciples’ question about when the Temple would be destroyed, and He gave many signs that pointed to that event in their generation (wars, false christs, persecution, the abomination of desolation, the surrounding of Jerusalem by armies, etc.).


However, certain parts clearly go beyond 70 AD and point to His future return:

• Matthew 24:30 — the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven, all the peoples of the earth mourning, and seeing Him coming on the clouds with power and great glory.
• Matthew 24:31 — sending His angels with a loud trumpet call to gather His elect from the four winds.
• The cosmic signs in 24:29 (sun darkened, moon not giving light, stars falling).

These descriptions don’t fit the events of 70 AD. No one on earth saw Jesus visibly return, and the gathering of the elect didn’t happen then.


So I believe Jesus was doing what prophets often do — describing the near event (destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD) as a type or preview of the ultimate future fulfillment at His Second Coming.


That’s why He can say “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (mostly referring to the Temple judgment), while still leaving room for the final, global fulfillment at the end of history.

 

[WayneNSO]

Matthew 24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

"This," the generation that lived in 70AD encountered the partial fulfillment. Not all the things Lord Jesus described came to pass. The complete fulfillment is yet to come and speaks to THAT generation which I believe we are in.

These verses didn't come to pass in 70AD:

Matthew 24:30 "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the othe.

Jesus will be seen by all the people in the entire planet, not just the Jews in Israel. That didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

The heavens will react dramatically. That didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The gathering (some call it rapture) of the elect will occur. This definitely didn't happen in 70AD.

-----

Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

The destruction of Jerusalem and what happened to the Jews was terrible, but there have been worse things that occurred since then. I though the Holocaust (Shoah) was the worst, but Jesus said no, the great tribulation will be THE worst. We have to prepare to endure through that. But anyway, 70AD was not the worst.

-----

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The gospel of the kingdom has not been preached to all nations in 70AD.

-----

Since these prophecies have not come to pass yet, then complete fulfillment of Matthew 24 is yet to come. I believe it speaks to our generation and we should prepare to endure it.

If you read the beginning of Revelation it says it is a book of symbols - and this is true of Old Testament prophecies and passages like Matthew 24 - the heavenly bodies such as the sun and moon represent governing powers in the secular and the religious world - After 70AD we see the fall of the Roman Pagan Roman Empire - the destruction of Judaism's temple worship etc. It is not talking about a literal darkening of the sun - or literal falling to earth of the stars etc - we are not going to see locust with women's heads flying about - nor talking frogs.

 

[WayneNSO]

Jesus was clearly answering the disciples’ question about when the Temple would be destroyed, and He gave many signs that pointed to that event in their generation (wars, false christs, persecution, the abomination of desolation, the surrounding of Jerusalem by armies, etc.).


However, certain parts clearly go beyond 70 AD and point to His future return:

• Matthew 24:30 — the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven, all the peoples of the earth mourning, and seeing Him coming on the clouds with power and great glory.
• Matthew 24:31 — sending His angels with a loud trumpet call to gather His elect from the four winds.
• The cosmic signs in 24:29 (sun darkened, moon not giving light, stars falling).

These descriptions don’t fit the events of 70 AD. No one on earth saw Jesus visibly return, and the gathering of the elect didn’t happen then.


So I believe Jesus was doing what prophets often do — describing the near event (destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD) as a type or preview of the ultimate future fulfillment at His Second Coming.


That’s why He can say “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (mostly referring to the Temple judgment), while still leaving room for the final, global fulfillment at the end of history.

The Matthew 24:30 statement - the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven, all the peoples of the earth mourning, and seeing Him coming on the clouds with power and great glory.

I believe refers to Emperor Constantine - who had the supposed vision and used the sign of the cross when he conquered the pagan Roman Emperors at the time - when Rome became the Holy Roman Empire. Those who crucified Christ would see these armies bearing the cross conquering them

 

[Researcher]

• Clarification: The Anointed One (Messiah) is cut off. The “prince who is to come” is a Different figure (since it just said The Anointed One is cut off) the "prince who is to come" is fulfilled in the Roman commander Titus, whose legions destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70.

What are your thoughts on the 'prince who is to come' being a reference to 'Messiah the Prince' in Daniel 9:25?

Daniel 9:25 - Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

They seem related. Is your OP set in stone in your mind or are you open to modifying it?

Also this...

Daniel 11:22 - And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

I believe 'Prince of the Covenant' is also a reference to the Messiah, i.e., Jesus.

Note that I interpret Daniel 11 quite differently than the mainstream.

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

If you read the beginning of Revelation it says it is a book of symbols - and this is true of Old Testament prophecies and passages like Matthew 24 - the heavenly bodies such as the sun and moon represent governing powers in the secular and the religious world - After 70AD we see the fall of the Roman Pagan Roman Empire - the destruction of Judaism's temple worship etc. It is not talking about a literal darkening of the sun - or literal falling to earth of the stars etc - we are not going to see locust with women's heads flying about - nor talking frogs.

Don't mix up John's visions with Lord Jesus' plain prophecy of what's to come.

Why would you only believe Lord Jesus on the parts of Matthew 24 that describe 70AD as literal but not the parts that haven't come to pass yet?

Lord Jesus is speaking plainly about events to come in the end times consistently in Matthew 24 and not dithering back and forth from literal to symbolic. He's urgently warning us what to literally expect so that we can prepare to endure it.

 

[JacobGilbert]

What are your thoughts on the 'prince who is to come' being a reference to 'Messiah the Prince' in Daniel 9:25?



They seem related. Is your OP set in stone in your mind or are you open to modifying it?

Also this...



I believe 'Prince of the Covenant' is also a reference to the Messiah, i.e., Jesus.

Note that I interpret Daniel 11 quite differently than the mainstream.

The prince that is to come is Roman commander Titus he was a Prince at the time.

 

[JacobGilbert]

The Matthew 24:30 statement - the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven, all the peoples of the earth mourning, and seeing Him coming on the clouds with power and great glory.

I believe refers to Emperor Constantine - who had the supposed vision and used the sign of the cross when he conquered the pagan Roman Emperors at the time - when Rome became the Holy Roman Empire. Those who crucified Christ would see these armies bearing the cross conquering them

I have to be honest I think that interpretation of Matthew 24:30 is a real stretch.

Jesus said the sign of the Son of Man would appear in heaven, all the peoples of the earth would mourn, and they would see Him coming on the clouds with power and great glory.