THE GREAT DECEPTION
Excerpts from Pastor Bernard’s New Book
“And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 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. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: 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. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: 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, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Daniel 9:20-27
Seventy weeks (490years) were determined by God to accomplish His divine purpose on earth:
• To finish the transgression
• To make an end of sins
• To make reconciliation for iniquity
• To bring in everlasting righteousness
• To seal up the vision and prophecy
• To anoint the most holy
The above six items sets forth the primary objective of Christ’s mission to Earth:
First, the Messiah would be anointed as prophet to take His ministerial position. And this was done at the beginning of Jesus ministry (Matthew 3:16; Acts 10:38).
Secondly, He would deal with the problem of human sin. He would finish transgression, make an end of sins, and make peace between God and man (reconciliation).
Thirdly, He would usher in everlasting righteousness (Romans 3:21-22; Matthew 5:20).
Finally, He would seal up the vision and prophecy, which refers to the events that completed the book of Revelation in the New Testament.
It is interesting to note that, the seventy weeks of Daniel prophecy only focus upon the Jewish people and their great City Jerusalem, and also the Savior’s first advent.
It is also worthy of mention at this point that this prophecy has nothing to do with the Anti-Christ.
“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.”
From the above scripture we can see that, the death of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, occurred after the sixty-ninth week. This means He died in the midst of the final week, the seventieth week.
The baptism and the anointing of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River mark the beginning of the seventieth-week, the final week of the prophecy. I will like to point out that, there is no time gap between the sixty-ninth week and the seventieth-week. Jesus started His ministry at the beginning of the seventieth week.
“And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.”
The above scripture has nothing to do with the Anti-Christ. It speaks only about Jesus.
After three and half years of ministry, Jesus Christ was arrested and crucified. He offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. As a result of His death on the cross, the Jewish rite of ceremonial ordinances (the sacrifice and the oblation) was brought to an end. Therefore, there is no need for animal sacrifices for sin; Since the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, has already offered Himself.
The removal of the veil in the Temple bears testimony to the fact that the old style of Temple worship is over: They that worship God, must now worship Him in spirit and truth. (Colossians 2:16; Ephesians 2:13-15; Hebrews 10:9-10)
As a result of that vicarious sacrifice of Christ, He has brought an end to sacrifices and oblations. So it was Christ, the messiah, who caused sacrifices and oblations to cease, and not the Anti-Christ.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” Daniel 9:27
Notice the words ‘He’ and ‘the Covenant’.
The question here is, who is he, and what covenant?
A great number of people have been taught to believe that the above passage of scripture is to do with the Anti-Christ. But I bet to differ.
We have been told to believe that this prophecy is in the future, and yet to be fulfilled: When the Anti-Christ will make a seven year agreement with the Jewish people. And the end of those seven years will be the end of the world.
What a great deception! How can one predict the end of the world while Jesus Himself said He did not know?
“And he shall confirm the covenant”
This statement indicates that there has been a Covenant that was already in place of which the person (he) is to confirm. In other words, it is not a new thing he is going to make or do, but something that is already there but needs confirmation.
Now let us look into the meaning of the word confirm:
To confirm a thing according to the Oxford Illustrated Dictionary is to establish more firmly; to ratify; to corroborate.
To ratify, also means: to confirm or make valid especially what has been done or arranged for by another by giving consent, approval, or formal sanction.
“What has been done or arranged?”
Answer: Salvation – This is God’s pre-arrangement for man before the creation man (Revelation 13:8).
In 2 Timothy 1:9-10 we read this from Apostle Paul:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
“It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began – to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all this plain to us by the coming of Christ Jesus, our savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the way to everlasting life through the Good News.” (New Living Translation)
The Covenant which was mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy was no other than the Good News of God – the gospel of Salvation. This is the eternal plan of God which was given to man in Christ before the foundation of the world, and was made plain (confirmed) to us by the coming of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Hebrews 4:2
We should remember that, Jesus Christ did not come to introduce a new gospel; the gospel He came to preached is the same gospel that was preached to the Jews in the Old Testament. But to the Jews, it was delivered to them in symbols and types. The whole plan of redemption was veiled in symbols and types. But Jesus came to remove the veil for us to see it clear. One cannot fully understand the concept of salvation until he sees both the Old and the New Testament as one.
Sabbath, the Covenant of Grace:
In our struggle with sin under the old covenant, the Sabbath was there as a sign of the eternal covenant of GRACE that was foreordained by God before time began and was to be revealed or confirmed by the coming Messiah. It was there in the Old Testament as a sign of our hope of redemption from the curse of the law through Christ. (Read Ezekiel 20:11-12). It was in the Old Covenant directing our attention to Calvary where the work of sin is brought to an end, and God ushering all mankind into His rest through Jesus Christ, our Lord (Read Matthew 11:28-29, Mark 2:27-28).
The message of the Sabbath is that, salvation is not about your work, but about the work of God which has been accomplished through Christ. This is the Good News – Salvation is not about your work, but by Grace through Faith in Christ.
This is why the Jews were instructed by God in the Old Testament to observe the Sabbath day by ceasing from working: For until your work is finish, you cannot enter God’s rest (Hebrews 4:10).
Now we can enter His rest through faith in Jesus Christ; because Christ our Saviour, has brought to an end, the work of man on the cross and said, ‘It is finished.’ Since the work of man is finish, man can now rest with God through Jesus Christ. The veil of sin that was separating us from God and hiding His face from us (Isaiah 59:1-2), was immediately removed the moment He said, ‘It is finished’.
The Abrahamic Covenant of Circumcision and also the Sabbath are all the signs of the New Covenant which Jesus Christ came to confirmed. Circumcision is an admission into the family of Abraham – God’s chosen people. It represents baptism in the New Covenant.
Jesus fulfils the entire law, circumcises us in heart, and justifies us and who also cleanses us and makes us holy by His Blood.
The Sabbath is the Covenant that was set apart for man. In Mark 2:27, Jesus revealed to us that, the Sabbath was made for man. It was made for our freedom from the Slave Camp of Sin. In John 5:17, He made it clear to us that the Sabbath is not a Holiday but a HOLY DAY; A day that was set apart for the freedom of mankind: A day of rest, not only for the body, but for the spirit, soul and body. A day to cease from laboring in sin; to call an end to the works of the flesh (Read Galatians 5:13-21)
The Sabbath represents the dispensation of the gospel of Christ. This is the Covenant that Jesus Christ came to confirmed. It is the New Covenant that was concealed in the Old Covenant.
In Isaiah 42:6-9 we read:
‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hands; I will keep you and give you as a COVENANT to the people, as a LIGHT to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house (From Satan’s domain). I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and New things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.’
From the above prophecy, Isaiah spoke of Jesus as the Covenant that would be given to the people, and the light to the Gentiles. He spoke of Him as the New Covenant, the covenant of freedom and deliverance.
In Luke’s gospel (Luke 4:16-21), Jesus quoted this very prophecy to confirm Himself as the anointed Christ.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” Daniel 9:27a
Jesus used the last week of Daniel’s prophecy (the Seventieth Week) to define and confirm the New Covenant. In the first part of the week beginning from 27AD, when he was baptized in river Jordan and was anointed by the Holy Spirit, He confirmed the covenant by Himself for three and half years and was cut off (killed) in the midst of the week. His death took place in the middle of the final seven year period of the prophecy (30AD). But after His death and resurrection He continued to confirm the covenant through His disciples by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Confirmation of the Covenant:
“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written; ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. And He began to say unto them, ‘This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:16-21
As His custom was, Jesus went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and confirmed the covenant. When He said, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me’ He was quoting the Father what He has already spoken concerning Him through the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hands; I will keep you and give you as a COVENANT to the people, as a LIGHT to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house (From Satan’s domain). I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and New things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.’ Isaiah 42:1, 6-9
From then on, He went ahead confirming the covenant with many by:
• Preaching the gospel to the poor,
• Healing the sick,
• Raising the dead,
• Opening the eyes of the blind,
• Healing the broken hearts,
• And delivering the captives
This was the confirmation John the Baptist was looking for when he sent a delegation to Jesus.
“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto Him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see:
• The blind receive their sight,
• The lame walk,
• The lepers are cleansed,
• The deaf hear,
• The dead are raised up,
• And the poor have the gospel preached to them. Matthew 11:2-5
After receiving this confirmation from Jesus, John became aware that he had fulfilled his ministry and it was time for him to go.
The prophecy of Daniel showed that the Messiah would usher in an era of ‘everlasting righteousness.’ This obviously is a reference to the Gospel dispensation.
This 490 years prophecy was divided into three seasons. The first season which consists of 49 years was to do with the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which was to start with a commandment.
Bible historians believe that the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem was given to Ezra in the year 456 B.C. by Cyrus, king of Babylon.
“The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah record the long period of difficulties met in accomplishing the completion of the city of Jerusalem.
The next period that followed the rebuilding of the City was the 434 years of waiting to receive the Messiah. Adding the first two periods together (49yrs + 434yrs), we arrive at 483yrs.
Now counting down 483 years from the year 456 B.C. will take us to 27A.D, the year that the Messiah supposed to appear. This is the exact year Jesus was baptized in river Jordan by John, and was anointed by the Holy Spirit to begin His ministry (Acts 10:38).
“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.” Daniel 9:25
The 69 weeks bring us to the first advent of the Messiah. At the end of 483 years of the prophecy, Jesus was anointed as Christ, the Messiah, and began His ministry. The remaining 7 years from the prophecy were for Christ to confirm the covenant to the Jews. It does not make sense to separate the last week from the prophecy to a future date.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: 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, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Daniel 9:27
Jesus made the sacrifice and the oblation non effective. He caused it to cease in effectiveness. He made the Temple worship desolate at the cross. The whole concept is that as a result of Jesus Christ offering Himself for our sins, there is no need for any more sacrifice for sin. He brought down the veil and ushered in a new beginning. The entrance into God’s presence was made opened to all men.
History:
9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: 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 to the end of the war desolations are determined.
Daniel’s prophecy depicted the Roman invasion of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Jewish temple. The prophet spoke of a certain prince that shall come, who would destroy the city and the sanctuary like an overwhelming flood. This particular prince is not the Anti-Christ, but Titus, son and successor of the famous Vespasian, who overthrew the city of Jerusalem (after a five-month siege) in the summer of A.D. 70.
The holy city was burned and the “sanctuary” (temple) was demolished, as it was foretold by Jesus in the gospel of Matthew chapter 22:7.
All of this was “determined” by God because of the Jews’ rejection of his Son (Reference: Matthew 21:37-45; 22:1-7).
Question:
Is this judgment of God against the Jews means a total rejection and replacement? No, not at all; the covenant keeping God of Abraham will keep His word concerning His covenant people. And this is what He has said concerning Israel:
Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (The Lord of hosts is His name), “If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.” Jeremiah 31:35-36
The Lord told Jeremiah, if laws that govern the sun, stars, moon and the oceans depart then the descendents of Israel will cease from being His chosen nation. God reassured His people that, despite the judgments His relationship with Israel is eternal.
In Isaiah 54:5-8 we read,
“For thy Maker is thine husband; and the Lord of host is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou were refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.”
Jeremiah 32:40-42 also says,
“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in the land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. For thus saith the Lord; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.”
“And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah23:3-4
“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, the LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.” Jeremiah 23:7-8
In 1948, Israel became a nation again in the Middle East; this was part of God’s plan to fulfill his words that he gave through the Prophets.
“Therefore say, ‘Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh; That they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for them whose heart walked after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 11:17-20
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:24-28
“Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously.” 2 Samuel 7:10
“And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 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. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: 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. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: 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, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Daniel 9:20-27
Seventy weeks (490years) were determined by God to accomplish His divine purpose on earth:
• To finish the transgression
• To make an end of sins
• To make reconciliation for iniquity
• To bring in everlasting righteousness
• To seal up the vision and prophecy
• To anoint the most holy
The above six items sets forth the primary objective of Christ’s mission to Earth:
First, the Messiah would be anointed as prophet to take His ministerial position. And this was done at the beginning of Jesus ministry (Matthew 3:16; Acts 10:38).
Secondly, He would deal with the problem of human sin. He would finish transgression, make an end of sins, and make peace between God and man (reconciliation).
Thirdly, He would usher in everlasting righteousness (Romans 3:21-22; Matthew 5:20).
Finally, He would seal up the vision and prophecy, which refers to the events that completed the book of Revelation in the New Testament.
It is interesting to note that, the seventy weeks of Daniel prophecy only focus upon the Jewish people and their great City Jerusalem, and also the Savior’s first advent.
It is also worthy of mention at this point that this prophecy has nothing to do with the Anti-Christ.
“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.”
From the above scripture we can see that, the death of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, occurred after the sixty-ninth week. This means He died in the midst of the final week, the seventieth week.
The baptism and the anointing of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River mark the beginning of the seventieth-week, the final week of the prophecy. I will like to point out that, there is no time gap between the sixty-ninth week and the seventieth-week. Jesus started His ministry at the beginning of the seventieth week.
“And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.”
The above scripture has nothing to do with the Anti-Christ. It speaks only about Jesus.
After three and half years of ministry, Jesus Christ was arrested and crucified. He offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. As a result of His death on the cross, the Jewish rite of ceremonial ordinances (the sacrifice and the oblation) was brought to an end. Therefore, there is no need for animal sacrifices for sin; Since the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, has already offered Himself.
The removal of the veil in the Temple bears testimony to the fact that the old style of Temple worship is over: They that worship God, must now worship Him in spirit and truth. (Colossians 2:16; Ephesians 2:13-15; Hebrews 10:9-10)
As a result of that vicarious sacrifice of Christ, He has brought an end to sacrifices and oblations. So it was Christ, the messiah, who caused sacrifices and oblations to cease, and not the Anti-Christ.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” Daniel 9:27
Notice the words ‘He’ and ‘the Covenant’.
The question here is, who is he, and what covenant?
A great number of people have been taught to believe that the above passage of scripture is to do with the Anti-Christ. But I bet to differ.
We have been told to believe that this prophecy is in the future, and yet to be fulfilled: When the Anti-Christ will make a seven year agreement with the Jewish people. And the end of those seven years will be the end of the world.
What a great deception! How can one predict the end of the world while Jesus Himself said He did not know?
“And he shall confirm the covenant”
This statement indicates that there has been a Covenant that was already in place of which the person (he) is to confirm. In other words, it is not a new thing he is going to make or do, but something that is already there but needs confirmation.
Now let us look into the meaning of the word confirm:
To confirm a thing according to the Oxford Illustrated Dictionary is to establish more firmly; to ratify; to corroborate.
To ratify, also means: to confirm or make valid especially what has been done or arranged for by another by giving consent, approval, or formal sanction.
“What has been done or arranged?”
Answer: Salvation – This is God’s pre-arrangement for man before the creation man (Revelation 13:8).
In 2 Timothy 1:9-10 we read this from Apostle Paul:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
“It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began – to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all this plain to us by the coming of Christ Jesus, our savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the way to everlasting life through the Good News.” (New Living Translation)
The Covenant which was mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy was no other than the Good News of God – the gospel of Salvation. This is the eternal plan of God which was given to man in Christ before the foundation of the world, and was made plain (confirmed) to us by the coming of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Hebrews 4:2
We should remember that, Jesus Christ did not come to introduce a new gospel; the gospel He came to preached is the same gospel that was preached to the Jews in the Old Testament. But to the Jews, it was delivered to them in symbols and types. The whole plan of redemption was veiled in symbols and types. But Jesus came to remove the veil for us to see it clear. One cannot fully understand the concept of salvation until he sees both the Old and the New Testament as one.
Sabbath, the Covenant of Grace:
In our struggle with sin under the old covenant, the Sabbath was there as a sign of the eternal covenant of GRACE that was foreordained by God before time began and was to be revealed or confirmed by the coming Messiah. It was there in the Old Testament as a sign of our hope of redemption from the curse of the law through Christ. (Read Ezekiel 20:11-12). It was in the Old Covenant directing our attention to Calvary where the work of sin is brought to an end, and God ushering all mankind into His rest through Jesus Christ, our Lord (Read Matthew 11:28-29, Mark 2:27-28).
The message of the Sabbath is that, salvation is not about your work, but about the work of God which has been accomplished through Christ. This is the Good News – Salvation is not about your work, but by Grace through Faith in Christ.
This is why the Jews were instructed by God in the Old Testament to observe the Sabbath day by ceasing from working: For until your work is finish, you cannot enter God’s rest (Hebrews 4:10).
Now we can enter His rest through faith in Jesus Christ; because Christ our Saviour, has brought to an end, the work of man on the cross and said, ‘It is finished.’ Since the work of man is finish, man can now rest with God through Jesus Christ. The veil of sin that was separating us from God and hiding His face from us (Isaiah 59:1-2), was immediately removed the moment He said, ‘It is finished’.
The Abrahamic Covenant of Circumcision and also the Sabbath are all the signs of the New Covenant which Jesus Christ came to confirmed. Circumcision is an admission into the family of Abraham – God’s chosen people. It represents baptism in the New Covenant.
Jesus fulfils the entire law, circumcises us in heart, and justifies us and who also cleanses us and makes us holy by His Blood.
The Sabbath is the Covenant that was set apart for man. In Mark 2:27, Jesus revealed to us that, the Sabbath was made for man. It was made for our freedom from the Slave Camp of Sin. In John 5:17, He made it clear to us that the Sabbath is not a Holiday but a HOLY DAY; A day that was set apart for the freedom of mankind: A day of rest, not only for the body, but for the spirit, soul and body. A day to cease from laboring in sin; to call an end to the works of the flesh (Read Galatians 5:13-21)
The Sabbath represents the dispensation of the gospel of Christ. This is the Covenant that Jesus Christ came to confirmed. It is the New Covenant that was concealed in the Old Covenant.
In Isaiah 42:6-9 we read:
‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hands; I will keep you and give you as a COVENANT to the people, as a LIGHT to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house (From Satan’s domain). I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and New things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.’
From the above prophecy, Isaiah spoke of Jesus as the Covenant that would be given to the people, and the light to the Gentiles. He spoke of Him as the New Covenant, the covenant of freedom and deliverance.
In Luke’s gospel (Luke 4:16-21), Jesus quoted this very prophecy to confirm Himself as the anointed Christ.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” Daniel 9:27a
Jesus used the last week of Daniel’s prophecy (the Seventieth Week) to define and confirm the New Covenant. In the first part of the week beginning from 27AD, when he was baptized in river Jordan and was anointed by the Holy Spirit, He confirmed the covenant by Himself for three and half years and was cut off (killed) in the midst of the week. His death took place in the middle of the final seven year period of the prophecy (30AD). But after His death and resurrection He continued to confirm the covenant through His disciples by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Confirmation of the Covenant:
“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written; ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. And He began to say unto them, ‘This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:16-21
As His custom was, Jesus went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and confirmed the covenant. When He said, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me’ He was quoting the Father what He has already spoken concerning Him through the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hands; I will keep you and give you as a COVENANT to the people, as a LIGHT to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house (From Satan’s domain). I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and New things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.’ Isaiah 42:1, 6-9
From then on, He went ahead confirming the covenant with many by:
• Preaching the gospel to the poor,
• Healing the sick,
• Raising the dead,
• Opening the eyes of the blind,
• Healing the broken hearts,
• And delivering the captives
This was the confirmation John the Baptist was looking for when he sent a delegation to Jesus.
“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto Him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see:
• The blind receive their sight,
• The lame walk,
• The lepers are cleansed,
• The deaf hear,
• The dead are raised up,
• And the poor have the gospel preached to them. Matthew 11:2-5
After receiving this confirmation from Jesus, John became aware that he had fulfilled his ministry and it was time for him to go.
The prophecy of Daniel showed that the Messiah would usher in an era of ‘everlasting righteousness.’ This obviously is a reference to the Gospel dispensation.
This 490 years prophecy was divided into three seasons. The first season which consists of 49 years was to do with the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which was to start with a commandment.
Bible historians believe that the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem was given to Ezra in the year 456 B.C. by Cyrus, king of Babylon.
“The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah record the long period of difficulties met in accomplishing the completion of the city of Jerusalem.
The next period that followed the rebuilding of the City was the 434 years of waiting to receive the Messiah. Adding the first two periods together (49yrs + 434yrs), we arrive at 483yrs.
Now counting down 483 years from the year 456 B.C. will take us to 27A.D, the year that the Messiah supposed to appear. This is the exact year Jesus was baptized in river Jordan by John, and was anointed by the Holy Spirit to begin His ministry (Acts 10:38).
“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.” Daniel 9:25
The 69 weeks bring us to the first advent of the Messiah. At the end of 483 years of the prophecy, Jesus was anointed as Christ, the Messiah, and began His ministry. The remaining 7 years from the prophecy were for Christ to confirm the covenant to the Jews. It does not make sense to separate the last week from the prophecy to a future date.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: 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, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Daniel 9:27
Jesus made the sacrifice and the oblation non effective. He caused it to cease in effectiveness. He made the Temple worship desolate at the cross. The whole concept is that as a result of Jesus Christ offering Himself for our sins, there is no need for any more sacrifice for sin. He brought down the veil and ushered in a new beginning. The entrance into God’s presence was made opened to all men.
History:
9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: 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 to the end of the war desolations are determined.
Daniel’s prophecy depicted the Roman invasion of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Jewish temple. The prophet spoke of a certain prince that shall come, who would destroy the city and the sanctuary like an overwhelming flood. This particular prince is not the Anti-Christ, but Titus, son and successor of the famous Vespasian, who overthrew the city of Jerusalem (after a five-month siege) in the summer of A.D. 70.
The holy city was burned and the “sanctuary” (temple) was demolished, as it was foretold by Jesus in the gospel of Matthew chapter 22:7.
All of this was “determined” by God because of the Jews’ rejection of his Son (Reference: Matthew 21:37-45; 22:1-7).
Question:
Is this judgment of God against the Jews means a total rejection and replacement? No, not at all; the covenant keeping God of Abraham will keep His word concerning His covenant people. And this is what He has said concerning Israel:
Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (The Lord of hosts is His name), “If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.” Jeremiah 31:35-36
The Lord told Jeremiah, if laws that govern the sun, stars, moon and the oceans depart then the descendents of Israel will cease from being His chosen nation. God reassured His people that, despite the judgments His relationship with Israel is eternal.
In Isaiah 54:5-8 we read,
“For thy Maker is thine husband; and the Lord of host is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou were refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.”
Jeremiah 32:40-42 also says,
“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in the land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. For thus saith the Lord; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.”
“And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah23:3-4
“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, the LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.” Jeremiah 23:7-8
In 1948, Israel became a nation again in the Middle East; this was part of God’s plan to fulfill his words that he gave through the Prophets.
“Therefore say, ‘Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh; That they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for them whose heart walked after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 11:17-20
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:24-28
“Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously.” 2 Samuel 7:10
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