What Herb thinks
Daniel 9:27

Jesus was referring to Daniel 9:27 when He said:

Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will (Matthew 24:15-21 New American Standard Bible).

What always jumps out at me is the part in parenthesis that says, "let the reader understand." It's evident that something of potentially great importance is being communicated. So, let's take a close look at the passage that Jesus was referring to. The prophet Daniel wrote:

And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27).

It is commonly understood that the "he" in this passage is referring to the "prince who is to come" that is mentioned in the preceding verse -- Daniel 9:26. Since the people who destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish temple back in 70 AD were Roman, it is believed this coming prince will be from a revived Roman Empire.

Where it says this prince will "make a firm covenant with the many," some other translations -- such as the King James -- says he will "confirm a covenant." In other words, instead of making a new covenant, the prince that will come will confirm, or make strong, an existing covenant -- one that's already on the books but not working.

The duration of this agreement with many will be for "one week." The Jewish calendar didn't only have weeks of days, it also had weeks of years. So, it is believed this confirming action will be for a period of seven years.

In the middle of this seven-year period, this prince will put a stop to "sacrifices and grain offering." This suggests that a part of this seven-year agreement will allow Israel to return to their temple services. However, after only 3 1/2 years, the agreement will be terminated.

This brings us to today's news. A center piece of the Jewish temple services has to do with animal sacrifices. And, it's interesting that part of the EU's seven-year budget for external actions will be directed at what's called "thematic strategies." Among these strategies will include an action plan geared at bringing the participating nations in line with EU standards on animal welfare  Read about it here  I  And here.

Now, notice the date when they want these new standards to be established -- 2010. Friends, that's the middle of the EU's next seven-year budget period that will begin on January 1, 2007.

Is that the way the events foretold in Daniel 9:27 are going to come down? Is the 1995 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace the foretold covenant with the many Read about it here? Is the new European Neighbourhood Policy that will begin on January 1, 2007, along with its many action plans, the seven-year confirming process? Will a thematic element that has to do with animal welfare lead to a termination of this agreement with Israel 3 1/2 years later in 2010? Remember, it says, "in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering."

There's no way to know for certain. But, as God's people, we need to be aware of what's going on around us. Especially, in these last days as we read more and more about geo-political realities that seem to fit the prophetic picture. The most important being, the prophecy that Jesus referred to -- that one about the coming prince and his agreement with Israel.

The one that's up to us readers to understand.

01-23-06
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Copyright 2005, 2006 Herbert L. Peters. All rights reserved.