Daniel’s 70th Week: History or Future?

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This study will examine various views about the timing of Daniel's 70 weeks prophecy and whether we should view it as historically fulfilled entirely or not. In reality it is just the final week of seven years that is the focus of this study as both preterists and futurists would agree at this point that the first 69 weeks of 483 years has been fulfilled in its entirety. It is the question of the final seven years that needs to be addressed. That being said, there is some wordplay including other verses in these views so I will include the passages in each view with comments for timing of the subjects.

I am coming to this study with several conclusions that came from both the more wholistic study of Daniel 9 and the more focused study of Daniel's 70 Weeks Prophecy. If you have not read through those studies, I would highly advise that you do so first.

  • 70 weeks (H7620 - shâbûwa, heptad, seven) are 70 periods of 7 years, or 490 years in total. This is almost universally acknowledged as far as I'm aware.
    • The weekly sabbath gives us seven days in one week. Genesis 2:2-3 | Exodus 23:10-13 | Exodus 31:12-18 This extends further in principle to feasts like Shavuot (Pentecost) where seven sabbath weeks are counted from Wave Sheaf (Firstfruits) following Pesach (Passover) to 49 days and the 50th day is a holy convocation. Leviticus 23:15-22
    • The yearly sabbath rest of the land is defined as seven years. Exodus 23:10-13 Even further, seven counts of seven years are counted to reach 49 years and the 50th year is the year of jubilee. Leviticus 25:1-22
  • 7 + 62 (69) weeks are 483 years that are timed from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince.
    • The seven separated from the 62 would seem to highlight the sabbatical connection of a Jubiliee.
  • 1 week is 7 years that represents the final week of Daniel 9:27
  • Between the first 69 and the final 1, there is an implied gap within which the Messiah was cut off and the city and sanctuary were destroyed.

70th Week Fully Historical

There are many variances even within each of these views so I'm sure I will have missed many aspects or find little detail about them. These views all place the 70 weeks in their entirety as being complete, meaning the scope of the 70 weeks is fulfilled. They will typically tie historical events to that of prophecy so there are clearly variations of interpretation to my view above that will be highlighted here.

167 BC: Antiochus IV Epiphanes & Maccabees

Daniel 9:25-27
69 Weeks
Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem () unto the Messiah the Prince (Post-exilic Jewish leader, 450 BC) [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Gap
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: (High Priest Onias murdered 171 BC) and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; (Antiochus Epiphanes desecrates temple 167 BC) and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ()
70th Week
And he (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (171 BC) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, (12/167 BC)  even until the consummation, (12/164 BC) and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (12/164 BC)

Given the timing of this view, they don't recognize Yeshua as the Messiah as He had not yet arrived. Variations of this view are taken by some critical scholars, Jews, and others who must find a way for this not to point to Yeshua. The word messiah, H4899 - mâshîyach, simply means anointed, a consecrated king, priest, or saint. As such there are a couple of options presented for this anointed prince, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC) because he was God's instrument of judgement, or Onias III, because he was the High Priest (?-175 BC) who was murdered.

For the 70th week, much of the interpretations are attempting to tie this to the only historical abomination of desolation, that described of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in Daniel 8 and Daniel 11.

References:

167 BC Counterpoints:


30 AD: Yeshua's Ministry, Death, & End of Gospel to the Jews

Daniel 9:25-27
69 Weeks
Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem (Fall 457 BC) unto the Messiah the Prince (Fall 27 AD) [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
First 3.5 Years of the 70th Week
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: (14 Nisan - 3/26/31 AD) and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; () and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ()
Last 3.5 Years of the 70th Week
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (Fall 27 AD) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, (14 Nisan - 3/26/31 AD) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, ()  even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. ()

 

References:

30 AD Counterpoints:


70 AD: Jewish Revolt, Destruction of Jerusalem & Temple, & Masada

Daniel 9:26b-27
…and people of a leader/commander, the one coming in, he [Vespasian 67 AD] shall cause to destroy the city and the sanctuary. [70 AD] And its end shall be with a flood of attackers, and unto an end of battle/warfare, desolations being decreed. [73 AD]

And he [Vespasian] shall cause to prevail/confirm (or, shall make strong) a covenant for the multitude one week; [67-74 AD] and in the midst/middle of the week, [70 AD] he [Titus] shall cause to cease blood sacrifice and offering. And upon/over a wing/corner shall be abominations/idols of a destroyer, [Titus] even until a (the) consummation/complete end so having been decreed shall be poured out upon a desolator. [John the Zealot]

The above translation comes from WilliamL, who holds a historical view of Daniel 9:27.

References:

  • One might say with Luke 21 speaking to the 70 AD fulfillment that it is not a separate event and is a relevant mention.

70 AD Counterpoints:

  • If “the prince that shall come” is the “he” of verse 27, the passage tells us that he confirms a covenant after the Temple is destroyed. One must make verse 27 a recaptulation of verse 26b, which is certainly done, but the plain reading doesn't suggest or require it for the prophecy to make sense. It is required to tie the 70th week to 70 AD.
  • Full Historical Counterpoints

Full Historical Counterpoints:

There are several counterpoints that apply to all the full historical fulfillment theories. I'll mention here instead of restating them multiple times above.

Gospel Preached

Matthew 24:14-15
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Yeshua prophesied that the end would be the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. We know because this is stated to be after the gospel of the kingdom is preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. Thereore, “the end” coming is tied to the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. The Gospel had most certainly not been preached in all the world to fulfill this order of prophecy.

  • 167 BC the Gospel hadn't yet come and Yeshua's birth was over 160 years yet future.
  • 30 AD it was just announced by Yeshua.
  • 74 AD it was yet in its infantcy and, as we'll get to, John hadn't even gotten the vision of Revelation yet.

As we've seen up to modern times it certainly has been. So what if this is not the verse in Daniel Christ meant? Only six times in scripture is some form of abomination of desolation used, two times by Yeshua referring to Daniel and four times in Daniel. While all six are tied to the abomination of desolation, only four mentions exist in the book of Daniel:

I would posit the fact that Daniel 12:1,11 are tied to the same unparalleled tribulation Yeshua spoke of in the Olivet Discourse at the end, that it is indeed yet future. Matthew 24:15-11, Mark 13:14-17, Jeremiah 30:4-7, Daniel 12:1

That leaves this passage in Daniel as the final related verse in Daniel, which is tied to God's dealing with Israel and Jerusalem. If Daniel 9:27 was historically fulfilled that means Daniel's prayer to understand Israel and Jerusalem's future ended in 73/4 AD, yet we know from other passages that God is not done with Israel. Jeremiah 31:35-37

If the fulfillment of Daniel 9:24 was done in Christ, why are the events of this final week taking place after the Messiah was cut off in 30 AD? Why would an abomination of desolation, rarely used in prophecy, suddenly be introducing another event unrelated to either of the two primary mentions?

Finish the Transgression

The specific context of this prophecy given to Daniel is determined upon Israel and Jerusalem. Daniel 9:24 The rebellion and sin of Israel as a nation has always been their adultery in going after other gods, which in the context of Christ's first coming was their lack of acceptance and obedience to the promised Messiah they rejected at that time. So the transgression will be over after the remnant of Israel calls upon the name of the Lord, accepting Yeshua as their Messiah. Yeshua said that this would be when Israel would see Him again. Matthew 23:37-39

The end of the 69th week came at the beginning of Yeshua's ministry in 27 AD. 2½ years later Yeshua was crucified on Passover in 30 AD. Just before this, He declared Israel's blindness. Luke 19:41-44 | Romans 11:1-11 | 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 This blindness is to last until the fulness of the Gentiles. Romans 11:25-27

The fact that the nation of Israel is still blinded and has not accepted Yeshua points to the transgression remaining unfinished and this 70th week being yet unfulfilled.

Seal Up Vision and Prophecy

Part of the scope of the 70 weeks prophecy was “to seal up the vision and prophecy.” To seal up is H2856, that is make an end, mark, seal (up), stop. Whether one takes that to mean all prophecy is fulfilled or that no more prophecy would be given in the context of Israel and Jerusalem within the scope of that 70 weeks can be debated. Domitian was emperor of Rome from 81 to 96 AD. Eusebius records the winners of the Greek Olympiads and the ascention of the emperors.

“[70] The Greek Olympiads
[A list] from the first Olympiad to the 247th, when Antoninus the son of Severus was emperor of the Romans.

212th [69 A.D.] - Polites of Ceramus, stadion race [g308]. [During this Olympiad] Vespasianus became emperor of the Romans.
213th [73 A.D.] - Rhodon of Cyme, or Theodotus, stadion race.
214th [77 A.D.] - Straton of Alexandria, stadion race. [During this Olympiad] Titus became emperor of the Romans.
[81] 215th [81 A.D.] - Hermogenes of Xanthus, stadion race. [During this Olympiad] Domitian became emperor of the Romans.
216th [85 A.D.] - Apollophanes Papis of Tarsus, stadion race.
217th [89 A.D.] - Hermogenes of Xanthus for a second time, stadion race.
218th [93 A.D.] - Apollonius of Alexandria, or Heliodorus, stadion race.
219th [97 A.D.] - Stephanus of Cappadocia, stadion race. [During this Olympiad] Nerva became emperor of the Romans, followed by Trajan [g309]. …“ | Eusebius (260-339 AD) Chronicle (Book 1)

Irenaeus, while writing about having restraint in identifying the antichrist, mentioned off-hand that John beheld the apocalyptic vision toward the end of Domitian's reign.

“We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign.” | Irenaeus (130-202 AD) wrote in Against Heresies (Book V, Chapter 30)

This means that John received Revelation between 81 and 96 AD, at least 11 years after 70 AD, but if toward the end of Domitian's reign, likely longer. That John was banished to the island of Patmos by Domitian is further confirmed from his writing.

“[17] Domitian, having shown great cruelty toward many, and having unjustly put to death no small number of well-born and notable men at Rome, and having without cause exiled and confiscated the property of a great many other illustrious men, finally became a successor of Nero in his hatred and enmity toward God. He [Domitian] was in fact the second that stirred up a persecution against us, although his father Vespasian had undertaken nothing prejudicial to us.

“[18] It is said that in this persecution the apostle and evangelist John, who was still alive, was condemned to dwell on the island of Patmos in consequence of his testimony to the divine word. Irenæus, in the fifth book of his work Against Heresies, where he discusses the number of the name of Antichrist which is given in the so-called Apocalypse of John, speaks as follows concerning him: "If it were necessary for his name to be proclaimed openly at the present time, it would have been declared by him who saw the revelation. For it was seen not long ago, but almost in our own generation, at the end of the reign of Domitian." To such a degree, indeed, did the teaching of our faith flourish at that time that even those writers who were far from our religion did not hesitate to mention in their histories the persecution and the martyrdoms which took place during it. And they, indeed, accurately indicated the time. For they recorded that in the fifteenth year of Domitian Flavia Domitilla, daughter of a sister of Flavius Clement, who at that time was one of the consuls of Rome, was exiled with many others to the island of Pontia in consequence of testimony borne to Christ.” | Church History (Book 3, Chapter 17-18), Eusebius (260-339 AD)
“But after Domitian had reigned fifteen years, and Nerva had succeeded to the empire, the Roman Senate, according to the writers that record the history of those days, voted that Domitian's honors should be cancelled, and that those who had been unjustly banished should return to their homes and have their property restored to them. It was at this time that the apostle John returned from his banishment in the island and took up his abode at Ephesus, according to an ancient Christian tradition.” | Church History (Book 3, Chapter 20:10-11), Eusebius (260-339 AD)

This is clearly a prophetic vision of the future and therefore within the scope of the 70 weeks prophecy. This means that after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD the vision and prophecy was not sealed up and finished as there was both more vision and prophecy to be given and fulfilled.

Revelation 1:9-11
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

These church fathers were not attempting to make a point about when John's revelation was, they were sidebars to the content they were writing. As chuch fathers that close to the time it happened, I would expect they would know the timing of the apocalyptic vision of John on the island of Patmos. I know this is not enough for everyone, but it is for me. However, there are more that build on these less directly in the references section below.

Unfulfilled Prophecy and Years

There are unparalleled prophetic events that are tied to the abomination of desolation and 3½ years. These, in turn, are related to other prophecy that has clearly not happened historically. It shouldn't be forgotten that Daniel 9:27 is the only mention of this seven year prophetic time period and that dividing it in the midst is 3½ years.

  • Daniel 12:1,5-11 - The abomination of desolation begins unparalleled tribulation and from then it will be 3½ years to accomplish the scattering the power of the holy people. From the abomination of desloation it will be 1,290 days. Note the parallels tying all four of these verses together to what Yeshua says is “the end.”
    • Jeremiah 30:4-7 - “that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it
    • Daniel 12:1 - “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book
    • Matthew 24:15-22 - “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened
    • Mark 13:14-20 - “For those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days
  • Revelation 13:5 - Beast from the sea speaking great things and blasphemies is given power for 42 months. This same beast with seven heads in Revelation 13 and Revelation 17 is that with ten horns we see in Daniel 7. Both the eighth head that is of the seven and the little horn rising from the 10 and subduing three depict the antichrist in both his rise to power as the little horn and coming into his full power after the dragon gives him his power and great authority.
  • Daniel 7:25 - The little horn who will speak great words against the most High will wear out the saints, who are given into his hand for 3 1/2 years
    • Daniel 7:8 - Little horn (antichrist) rises from amongst 10 horns as opposed to the historical little horn (Antiochus) arising from 4.
    • Daniel 7:20-21 - Little horn (antichrist) made war with the saints and prevailed against them until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
  • Revelation 12:6 - Israel protected from the dragon, who gave the beast his power and great authority, in the wilderness in a place prepared for her for 1,260 days
  • Revelation 12:14-16 - Israel protected from the beast in the wilderness in a place prepared for her for 3 1/2 years
  • Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-28, Revelation 6:12-17, Isaiah 2:12-21, Isaiah 13:6-13 - After the unparalleled tribulation the sixth seal and herald of God's wrath will take place.

Recalling that John's vision of Revelation took place after 81 AD, which would mean it is intended to be future to all suggested historical fulfillments.

References:


70th Week Partially Historical

I only know of one particular view in this area that is covered below. In general this holds that the week is divided into two parts and a gap exists between the fulfillment of the first 3½ and the second 3½ years.

30 AD & Future: Yeshua's Ministry, Death, Gap, & AoD Future

Daniel 9:25-27
69 Weeks
Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem (457 BC) unto the Messiah the Prince (27 AD) [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
1st Half of the 70th Week
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: (14 Nisan - 3/26/31 AD)
Future
and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; (Abomination of Desolation) and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Christ Returns)
1st Half of the 70th Week
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (Fall 27 AD) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, (14 Nisan - 3/26/31 AD)
Future
and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, (Future Abomination of Desolation)  even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Future Wrath of God)

This view uses the poetic form of Hebraic Antithetical Parallelism to rearrange and uncover the true meaning of the verses.

“[Before continuing, one vital point needs to be made: These four verses are not only prophecy, but they are also poetry. A poet can take a bit of license, especially with form. Hebrew poets (and angelic ones) are no different, and one of their favorite devices was contrast. They would take subject A and contrast it with subject B, as in Proverbs 15:18: "A wrathful man stirs us strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention."

Gabriel does the same with this prophecy. It is composed of two similar contrasts that we will label A1B1A2B2.

Verses 25-26a = A1
Verse 26b = B1
Verse 27a = A2
Verse 27b = B2.

The verses below are formatted this way to help in understanding the prophecy. This is very important because, if it is not heeded, one will credit Antichrist with things that should be credited to the true Messiah.]

24 Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

[A1] 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. 26a And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;

[B1] 26b and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.

[A2] 27a Then He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

[B2] 27b And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:24-27)

Verse 24 introduces the prophecy. Basically, Gabriel says that, within the seventy weeks, all of these things—the whole plan of God—will be fulfilled.” | 'Seventy Weeks Are Determined...' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh, Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," December 1994

Arranging such that A1 and A2 are speaking of the same thing and B1 and B2 are as well, we can see that this idea of antithetical parallelism associastes A1 (the Messiah's arrival and death) with A2 (him confirming a covenant with many for one week and bringing an end to sacrifice and offering in the midst of that week). It then also associates B1 (the people of the prince to come destroying the city and sanctuary) with B2 (on the wing of abominations is one who makes desolate). So A relates the verses to Messiah and B relates the verses to the destroyer.

With the first 69 weeks ending in fall of 27 AD, it is assumed that the 70th final week starts when the first 69 weeks end. In a normal reading of the 70 weeks prophecy, this wouldn't make sense because it is after the 69 weeks that both the Messiah is cut off and the city and temple are destroyed.

However, if you read it in this poetic style and scramble the verses, it says that Messiah's ministry began with a confirmation of the covenant for seven years and in the midst of that seven years be cut off. This strengthening of the covenant is therefore related to the New Covenant. Matthew 26:28 Because we know Christ's sacrifice was the eternal atonenement for sin to them that believe, the effectiveness of the sacrifice and offering was nullified and effectively stopped.

Similarly, the people of a future prince destroy the city and temple in 70 AD, yet the last part of verse 27 remains yet future and will begin with the abomination of desolation performed by the prince that is to come whose people destroyed the city and sanctuary in 70 AD.

“What good is understanding this prophecy? First, on chronological grounds, it destroys three of false Christianity's holidays surrounding Jesus: Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter. Second, it puts Christ's ministry and the founding of the church in their proper historical context, helping explain and vindicate the Bible. Third, it enhances our understanding of prophecy, and helps us to watch for the correct world events as the end draws closer. Christ gave us the true signs of His coming, so we do not have to look for the false sign of Antichrist's treaty with the Jews.” | 'Seventy Weeks Are Determined...' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh, Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," December 1994

References:

Counterpoints:

  • There's some variations on the dating, but for a 3½ year ministry to exist from 27 AD, the crucifixion would have to be on 14 Nisan 31 AD. Richard T. Ritenbaugh's article states Nisan 14 was on a Wednesday in 31 AD, but Rosetta Calendar and Julian Day Calculator show it to be a Monday, March 26, 31 AD, which wouldn't fit with the account of a Sunday resurrection. Interstingly, 14 Nisan falls on Wednesday, April 5, 30 AD, which does fit the timeline of the crucifixion and resurrection as laid out here. In addition it agrees with the only 3 Passovers that scripture mentions Yeshua participating in during His ministry, the final one being that of His crucifixion. This gives us a ministry of 2½ years, not 3½.
    • 3rd Passover/Crucifixion (30 AD) from John 11:55; 12:1; 13:1; 18:28,39; 19:14
    • 2nd Passover (29 AD) from John 6:4
    • 1st Passover (28 AD) from John 2:13 (just after the turning water to wine at the marriage just after His ministry started)
  • The Messiah is said to confirm, that is to strengthen or make firm, the covenant with many for one week as meaning  an everlasting covenant that strengthened the basic requirements of the old covenant. In one sense, looking at the ten commandments, the New Covenant could be seen as confirming them. I think the ten commandments are like shadows of love, they tell you the things not to do in the flesh, while in the spirit with the law written on our hearts. Jeremiah 31:31-37 Loving God and our neighbors selflessly naturally follows the law, not doing those things in the flesh contrary to the spirit of God. At the same time, the Old Covenant was specifically between Israel and God, and included many more commandments than those ten, which christians are not bound to those laws. Hebrews 9 So if this is a New Covenant, can it be said to be strengthening the Old Covenant or replacing its foreshadow with the only one worthy? And if this is an eternal Covenant, why is it only strengthened for one week?
  • As stated in the intro, a plain reading of the 70 weeks prophecy makes sense how it is. To introduce poetic license that completely jumbles the text in favor of reading it as written feels like a dangerous game of word play.
  • The statement is made that the verses are formatted to help in understanding the prophecy and “if it is not heeded, one will credit Antichrist with things that should be credited to the true Messiah.” I would say the same thing regarding changing the plain reading that makes sense in order to attribute what would seem to be the antichrist's action to that of the Messiah. In addition to the statement, “we do not have to look for the false sign of Antichrist's treaty with the Jews,” this places potentially large and effective blinders on the watchman.
  • Regarding the idea of not having to look for a false sign of the antichrist's treaty with the Jews, there are a couple places in scripture that suggest just this sort of thing.
    • In the studies of the visions of Daniel and John, Daniel 7 speaks of these symbolic beasts as diverse from each other with distinctive characteristics, yet contemporaneous with each other. One of those has ten horns. Revelation 13 then shows a unified beast coming from the sea, whose symbolic depictions of four animals all match, only now it is one unified beast with seven heads and ten horns. Those ten horns were on just one of the four beasts in Daniel, but in the antichrist kingdom they are part of the unified beast. This indicates Daniel's vision as a pre-antichrist kingdom vision of the political build up to the consolidated post-abomination of desolation kingdom of the antichrist. There seems to be a clear alliance of ten nations led by ten kings on whose heart God puts to give their power to the beast. This would certainly seem to indicate the possibility of some kind of political treaty with the antichrist by ten kings. If the Jewish Antichrist theory is accurate, this is exactly the thing that this view would be attempting to obfuscate. Given how little we constantly find we know, it's best to keep an eye on various possibilities.
  • It seems that some of the motivation behind this view is a need to remove Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter. I've come to learn these obscure the truth about history and scripture. The Christmas story makes it seem that Yeshua was born in December, that there were 3 wise men, etc. In reality, things like shepherds in the field wouldn't have been common in winter and many believe it was a fall birth. However, it could be that the group of wise men from the East did arrive months later and fit with the timeframe of Christmas. Regardless of timing it's a celebration of the Messiah's birth, so while I recognize the false traditions that have grown around it I'm not wanting to abolish it. For Good Friday and Easter, I very much would like to see a return to the scripture and Hebraic nature of Pesach and Pesach Seder to undertand the origins, fulfillment, and connection of Gentile christians to the root to which they are grafted in a greater way. What I learned is that misunderstanding this time of year leads to an assumption of a Friday crucifixion due to a lack of understanding Hebrew origins.

70th Week Fully Future

Much more detail is covered in the study of Daniel 9 and the more focused study of Daniel's 70 Weeks Prophecy, but I would like to present my futurist interpretation of this prophecy in the same format as above. For more detail, check those studies out.

Daniel 9:25-27
69 Weeks
Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem (1 Tishri - 9/19/457 BC) unto the Messiah the Prince (1 Tishri - 9/20/27 AD) [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Gap
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: (14 Nisan - 4/5/30 AD) and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; (9 Av - 8/4/70 AD) and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (21 Nisan - 4/16/73 AD)
70th Week
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (Future) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, (Future)  even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Future)

My interpretation is that the final 70th week is entirely future, but could begin at any time. There are several reasons for this I have covered above in looking at the historical perspectives, but a big reason is that a plain reading of the prophecy fits with the rest of scripture in every way I've looked at it. I'm open to having missed something, but if the plain reading makes sense and does not contradict other prophecy, and even confirms it, then that is always my default position.

The historical nature of the first 69 weeks goes from the combination of the command to restore and build Jerusalem and Israel starting to follow the Law again, when Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fall of 457 BC, after the Babylonian exile. It extends to be the fall of 27 AD when Yeshua began His ministry. Over the next 2½ years He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and fulfilled many prophecies and prophesied many new ones. As depicted in the titles of the Old and New Testaments, He came to make a new Covenant with mankind, forgiveness of sin, not reminders of it. His Law written on our hearts and distilled down to loving God and your neighbor as yourself, representing all the law and the prophets, the shadows of love.

Yeshua was then cut off on 14 Nisan, April 5, 30 AD, 2½ years after His “arrival” starting His ministry thereby fitting the prophecy that it was after the 69 weeks that Messiah would be cut off, but not for Himself. I actually came to the conclusion of the 30 AD crucifixion separate from anything related to Daniel's 70 weeks, from scripture, history, and lunar cycles tied to the Hebrew calendar.

40½ years later, on 9 Av, August 5, 70 AD, Yeshua's prophesied destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, Matthew 23:37-39 | Luke 13:32-35 | Luke 19:41-44, was accomplished by Titus and the Roman army and it's mercenaries. This culminated in the last Jewish resistance committing suicide before the Roman army breached the gates at Masada 986 days later on the last day of Pesach Seder (Unleavened Bread) 18 Nisan, April 16, 73 AD. At the end of the Jewish-Roman war, the Jewish people were decimated and disbursed throughout the world for the next several millennia until the 19th and 20th centuries as they began to return to the land before and after the establishment of the State of Israel on 5 Iyyar, May 14, 1948.

Following these events there is no seven year period that fits the description of the last verse. However, the clear exact day prophecies tied to the end that has not yet come, and showing the same period of time as half of seven years, should be sufficient to tie the 70th week to a future time and disconnected from the historical fulfillment of the previous verses. (See Daniel 12:5-11, Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5) Since Daniel 9:27 is the only mention of this prophetic seven year period, and Yeshua referred to Daniel when speaking of the arrival of the end at the abomination of desolation, it seems clear to me that a plain reading is the best reading. It is, however, not the only reading and so we'll examine some of the theories that either hold a fully historical or partial historical fulfillment of the 70th week of Daniel. 

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It has been symbolized to mean the stopping of the daily was accomplished by Christ on the cross in 30 AD and the remainder of the week was completed up to the conversion of Paul and the Gospel going to the Gentiles, thereby fulfilling the Gospel first going to the Jews and moving to the Gentiles after their blindness. This necessitates that “he” is defined as Yeshua and the language “for the overspreading of abominations he shall make desolate” as referring to Yeshua. I don’t see a way to symbolize away the contradition that Christ would overspread abominations given that the whole idea is that abominations are detestible to God.

The other view is that the first 3½ years referred to Christ’s ministry the same as the complete historical 30 AD view, but a pause happened at the cross and the abomination of desolation will be yet future and instead of the whole seven years being future, only the last 3½ years will be. While I could accept a pause between stopping the daily and the abomination of desolation, as with the other view, I have issue with the language that Christ’s death and resurrection stopped the daily. Symbolically it accomplished the fulfillment of what was foreshadowed in the sacrifices God commanded of Israel and the veil was rent symbolizing there was no longer a separation of man and God through Christ. However, the daily was not literally stopped and for the next 40 years until the destruction of the temple it continued. Furthermore, it was never possible that any of the sacrificial system atoned for sin, but was just a foreshadow. Hebrews 10 While His death and resurrection took away the first offered by the Law to establish the second offered by His blood, this also necessitates that it is Yeshua who strengthened an existing covenant for just 7 years, which does not fit with the eternal covenant that He established anew, not a strengthening of the Mosaic Covenant.

These also both assume a 3½ year ministry of Christ. The views I’ve seen on this seem to center around mentions of 3 Passovers that Yeshua went to. However, the last one was the one in which He was crucified, which would only mean a 2½ year ministry going just off this. I don’t believe there is enough evidence I’m aware of to define the length of this period.

There is also a historical fulfilled perspective that the whole of it was completed in 70 AD, from the time Vespasian arrives in Ptolemais to begin his campaign in Israel in April 67 AD to the 9th of Av in 70 AD when the temple was destroyed, the abomination of desolation. It then continues until April 16, 73 AD when Masada was breached and the last of the Jewish rebellion ended, effectively ending the campaign against Israel by Rome. The historical events do not fit with the precision of the exact day prophecies as we’ve seen already fulfilled in the 2,300 evenings and mornings in Daniel 8 or even just the first part of the 70 weeks.

Then there is the more common future view where the first 69 weeks were fulfilled up to the beginning of Yeshua’s ministry when He officially “arrived” as the Messiah. Then a gap exists until some future point where the events of the verse will unfold. This gap is necessitated by the events surrounding the time Yeshua is pointing to Daniel for. These have not yet occurred and since Yeshua prophesied Israel’s blindness and her destruction just before His crucifixion, it would seem this gap is necessary. Matthew 23:37-39 | Luke 13:34-35

Of course there are some valid points to all these views and there’s a lot of varied interpretations to get to the points. Daniel 9:24 defines the scope of this prophecy in somewhat general terms, which allows for varied interpretations. My take is that Yeshua points to Daniel regarding a very specific event that would be an unmistakable sign to God’s people that the end has arrived. This event would be the final warning for those in Judea to flee. Daniel mentions the abomination of desolation in different ways four times in scripture, this being one of them. This can’t be a historical mention because the historical event was over 190 years before Christ and this is placed after the Messiah.

Using extremely similar language and tying the stopping of the daily and the abomination of desolation in all four cases seems an obvious correlation being given by the Holy Spirit to us through Daniel’s dreams and visions. The unparalleled tribulation did not happen in 30 or 70 AD at the crucifixion and neither did the events Christ depicted as following the unparalleled tribulation where God’s wrath is poured out after the sixth seal. For this reason primarily, I place the whole of the 70th week as a future time period. We aren’t given much in the way of events for the first half of it, although like others I have some theories about it related to the first and third seals.