The Eschatological View of the Church in Light of Daniel 9:24-27 - Essay Example

The Eschatological View of the Church in Light of Daniel 9:24-27 The Church views Daniel 9:24-27 as representing one of the major phrases in the bible regarding “end times” prophecy. The church sees this verse as the backbone of all the biblical prophecy as it holds the key to biblical prophetic interpretations. The church as noted by Dwight (1981) sees these verses are the framework for understanding other versus in the Holy Scripture that talks about the future. This paper builds on these three points to argue that the Church has a single eschatological view in light of Daniel 9:24-25. Dwight (1981) contends that the New Testament is an expansion of what is represented in Daniel 9:24-27. He notes that this passage provides the concept of the future seven-year tribulation period. Paul refers to this chapter in 2Th 2:1-4. Similarly, Jesus referred to this passage in Mt 24:15. It is also worth mentioning that the amazing events demonstrated in Revelation 6-19 are typically the expansion of Daniel 9:27 (Alva, 1960). According to Mills (1999) Dan 9:24-27 reveals the vision of the 70 weeks, which demonstrates that this passage is the backbone of all the biblical prophecy. According to Ironside (1943) the interpretation of Daniel’s revelation about the seventy weeks (Dan 9:24-27) is one of the major determinants in the system of prophecy. The interpretation and attention of all schools of interpretation alongside the attack on the authenticity of the book of Daniel combine to focus white light of research on it. According to Miller (1994), a proper understanding of the passage is the sine qua non of prophecy. This passage outline clearly the future history of (Israel, 1977). It provides a summary of the timetable of all events that would impact Israel (Robert, 1977). For instance, in the passage it is reported that Jews could have been aware of the time that the Messiah would arrive. It is reported that Jews will able to know or informed of the time the arrival of the “Anti-Christ” (Anti-Messiah) (cf 2Th 2:1, 2,3 4, Mathew 24:15). Daniel 9: 24-27 provides evidence that the Holy Scripture was inspired by God. Undisputedly, the accurate prediction of the Messiah’s coming provides clear evidence that the Bible was not inspired by man but God who knows the future. According to Clarence (1929), the author and a pastor, Daniel 9:24-27 is provides strong evidence that proves that the God’s divine inspiration of the Bible. According to Clarence (1929), this passage sets forth clear predictive elements that indicate the unmistakable ability of the Bible to predict distant future events. Clarence contents that Daniel 9:24-27 pinpoints the exact historic moment when Messiah would come to the Jewish people. He notes that this passage does so for more than 500 years before all event happened. Further, Clarences notes that the passage is so detailed and plain and has been always acutely embarrassed the Jewish commentators. Dan 9: 24-27 substantiate the truth and confirms that God has sovereign powers. The prophecy in this passage is compellingly accurate and does not leave any doubt that God has sovereign powers and is fully in control over affairs of men and time. This grand truth needs to frighten the sinners and encourage the saint to consider claims. Daniel 9:24-27 has inspired many Gentiles and Jews to consider the Messiah’s claims. Although most of the stories appear anecdotal, the truth presented in this passage has made those seeking to refute the Messiah’s prophecies to find that they become confronted with evidence of undisputable Messiah. Daniel 9:24-27 refute an attempt by those who question the date when Daniel’s prophecies were written. Liberal scholars both the Jews and Gentiles have attempted to late-date Daniel with a view to removing the element of predictive prophecy (Ironside, 1911). They hold that the book of Daniel was written after the occurrence of the events but in the way that appears the book was written beforehand (Ironside, 1911). This passage of Daniel 9:24-27 provides an irrefutable evidence that the prophecy of the coming of Messiah and this prophecy being cut off is quite true. Now that no person has “late-dated” Daniel to the Christ’s time, Daniel 9:24, 25, 26, 27 is a clear case of predictive prophecy that provides the credibility of other issues. This observation explains why try to debunk this passage. As noted by Miller (1994) Daniel’s prophecy was presented more than half a millennium before it came to be fulfilled. Morris suggests that there is zero probability that Daniel could successful guess the time of crucifixion and manifestation of the Messiah. Morris noted that the fulfilment of such prophecies could only be counted for by supernatural inspiration. Morris contends that these events were, in fact, fulfilled about two centuries after the real date assigned by scholar to Daniel. These scholars deny that these prophesies could be valid. Daniel 9: 24-27 stimulates a heightened or increased anticipation of the eminent comeback of the Messiah. This generally applies to Daniel. Besides, there is no any book in the Bible that talks more about the “end times” that it does the book of Daniel. Many conservative and orthodox Jews believe that time has come for the Messiah to return. They see the return of Israel to her land after a period of more than 19,000 years of the nation’s dispersion as having prophetic significance. They believe that the rebirth of Israel in May 1948 and waves of immigration from other parts of the world are converging for many other factors in order to set the way for the predicted return of a national Deliverer. In their view, the return of Messiah is a good for Israel and the entire world. In Is 2:4, it is reported that He will cause their spears into the pruning hooks and make the nations beat their swords; nation shall neither lift up sword against nation nor shall they learn war anymore (Miller, 1994). Writing on interpretive difficulties of Dan 9:24-27, Montgomery (1964) one of the most vital Old Testament prophecies of is contained in the four verses of Chapter 9 of Daniel’s book. He notes that although there has been various divergent interpretation of the explanation of the Daniel’s prophecies, these interpretations can be categorized into two key divisions: the Christological and non-Christological views. The no-Christological approach is sub-divided into conservative amillennial and liberal critical view (Dwight, 1981). The Christological approach interprets Daniel’s first 69 weeks as culminating into the Christ. The non-Christological group finds the fulfilment of the prophecy of Daniel in events after and before Christ. This group finds the fulfilment of the prophecy of Daniel 70 weeks in events that lead to Antiochus Epiphanes’s persecution (Dwight, 1981). On the other hand, there are those who hold a contrary view that Daniel 9:24-25 is not a prophecy of the messiah. The argument of this group is that the book of Daniel was written at a late date (second century) after all the historical events that have been prophesized had come to pass (Brown, Fitzmyer, & Murphy, 1968; Matthews, Chavalas, & Walton, 2000). Thus, their conclusion is that the entire book of Daniel represents the interpretation of past history by the author (not the original Daniel). Generally, the non-Christological commentator’s attempts to obtain fulfilment from seventy weeks put forward by Danielin the events that lead to the Antiochus Epiphanes’ persecution (Matthews, Chavalas, & Walton, 2000). In 168 B.C, people constructed a pagan altar on top of the altar of burned sacrifices. The pagan sacrifice was given out under Antiochus Epiphanes’ reign. Such an action precipitated into the Maccabean revolution. Antiochus made many attempts with great cruelty to try and put down (167-164 B.C) (Russell, 1981) In conclusion, although antagonists group hold a different view that Daniel 9:24-25 is not a prophecy of the messiah and hence this claim is unsubstantiated. As clearly demonstrated in this paper, the church is right to see this verse as the backbone of all the biblical prophecy as it holds the key to biblical prophetic interpretations. Undisputedly, Daniel 924-27 is the framework for understanding other versus in the Holy Scripture that talks about the future. The verse does not only provide the concept of the future seven-year tribulation period, but also outline clearly the future history of Israel. Besides, it provides a summary of the timetable of all events that would impact Israel References Alva, MC. 1960.  Daniels Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. New York: Zondervan Goldingay, E. 1989. Daniel. Word Biblical Commentary. Volume 30. Dallas: Word Books, Brown, R. Fitzmyer, J., & Murphy, R. 1968. The Jerome Biblical commentary (1968) Clarence, L. (1929). The Book of Daniel. New York: Larkin Estate. Dwight, P. 1971. Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (Zondervan, 1971) Dwight, P. 1981.  Bible Knowledge Commentary. New York: Victor Books. Ironside, H. 1943. The Great Parenthesis. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Ironside, H. 1911: Daniel Expository Commentary. New York: Loizeaux Brothers. Miller, S. R. 1994. Daniel: The New American Commentary 1994. Lagos: Wordsearch. Mills, M. 1999. Daniel: A study guide to the book of Daniel. Dallas: 3E Ministries. Matthews, V., Chavalas, M., & Walton, J. 2000. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. New York: InterVarsity Press. Montgomery, A. 1964. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel. New York: The International Critical Commentary. Robert, R. 1977. Daniel and the Latter Days. New York: Moody Press. Russell, D. 1981. Daniel. The Daily Study Bible series. New York: Westminster John Knox Press. Read More