To my Jewish brothers....

Consider the prophecy of Daniel in the time of the captivity.

First, the Messiah would enter history to overcome the problem of the human condition. He would “finish transgressions,” make an “end of sins,” and effect “reconciliation for iniquity.”

Second, in addition to his redeeming work in connection with sin, Daniel showed that the Messiah would usher in an era of “everlasting righteousness.”

Third, the angel’s message suggested that as a result of the Messiah’s work, “vision and prophecy” would be “sealed up.” The Hebrew term means to bring to a conclusion or finish.

Fourth, Daniel stated that the “most holy” would be anointed.

Seventy weeks of Daniel’s prophecy are divided into three segments—seven weeks, sixty-two weeks, and the “midst” of one week? There was purpose in this breakdown.

1. The first division of “seven weeks” (literally, forty-nine years) covers that period of time during which the actual rebuilding of Jerusalem would be underway, following the Hebrews’ return to Palestine (9:25b). This was the answer to Daniel’s prayer (9:16). That reconstruction era was to be one of “troublous times.” The Jews’ enemies had harassed them in earlier days (see Ezra 4:1-6), and they continued to do so in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

2. The second segment of sixty-two weeks (434 years), when added to the previous forty-nine, yields a total of 483 years. When this figure is computed from 457 B.C., it terminates at A.D. 26. This was the year of Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his public ministry.

3. Finally, the “midst of the week” (three and one-half years) reflects the time of the Lord’s preaching ministry. This segment of the prophecy concludes in A.D. 30—the year of the Savior’s death.

“In the midst of the week” – which day is the midst of the week? Wednesday of Passover week the Messiah is executed. He said I give you Jonah who was in the belly of the whale three days. Yeshua was in the grave three days and rose again Saturday eve at the end of Shabbat. (no, there’s no such thing as “good Friday”)
….and then came the destruction!

To be continued…….