Program 184: Daniel’s 70-week prophecy fulfilled!

Learn what events fulfilled Daniel’s 70-week prophecy nearly two millennia ago.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: There is something in each one of us that is at once curious and frightened of the future. We want to know what’s going to happen, but … what if it’s something horrible? Hi, I’m Miles Robey and this is WLC Radio.

Today, Dave Wright is going to be talking about the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9. Different denominations interpret this prophecy differently. One of the most common interpretations of Daniel 9 is that 69 weeks have been fulfilled so we’re just waiting for the fulfillment of the final week. Dave’s going to be showing us that actually the entire prophecy has already been fulfilled and it was fulfilled a long time ago.

Later, he’ll share with us some warning signs to watch for to know if you or someone you’re close to is in danger of falling into apostasy. That’s helpful information for all of us. We’ll get to that in our daily mailbag segment.

For now … Dave? What can you tell us about this prophecy?

Dave Wright: Well, generally when people hear the word “prophecy,” they automatically think of the future. But the truth is, any time we’re talking about the future, there is no way to ever be 100% sure on any interpretation because . . . it’s in the future. It hasn’t happened yet. We may be ever so sure that our understanding of prophecy is correct, but there is always the possibility that new light will reveal an error in our understanding and how it affects prophecy.

This is why it’s always important to keep learning and never be dogmatic when it comes to future events.

Miles laughs: This is so true! Remember what they said about the Titanic? That she was “unsinkable.”

Dave: Oh, there’s a whole lot more prophecies than that. Here. I’ve printed off a few for you to read. What’s the first one say?

Miles: Uhhh … It says, “There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will.”

Dave: You laughed. Tell our listeners who said that.

Miles: That was said by Albert Einstein in 1932.

Oh, here’s a good one. In 1966, Time Magazine confidently declared, quote: “Remote shopping, while entirely feasible, will flop, because women like to get out of the house, like to handle the merchandise, like to be able to change their minds.”

Dave: The reality is online sales account for a huge part of the economy. A few years ago, it made up $2.3 Trillion of the annual economy and, back then, was projected to grow to $4.88 trillion US dollars in 2021. But then, we know what happened during Covid, right?

Miles: Yeah, on-line purchasing exploded. It’s probably way over 4.88 trillion now.

Dave: Probably so. My point is, we can never with 100% accuracy foretell the future. In a recent radio program we learned the reason Scripture gives for prophecy and that is, when it happens, people may know who Yahuwah is.

Miles: Yeah, I remember. Ezekiel 38:23: “Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am Yahuwah.”

Dave: Sure, prophecy is given to us to prepare us for the future. And it does that . . . if our interpretations are correct. Sometimes they are but often they’re not. According to Scripture, the real purpose behind prophesy is so that when it comes to pass, when we have knowledge of the true and accurate fulfillment of that prophecy, our faith will be strengthened, and we will know that Yahuwah is the one and only true God. He is our Elohim.

So, let’s jump into Daniel 9 and the 70-week prophecy. I do believe this prophecy has already been fulfilled and when we look at the evidence of that, our faith will be strengthened in Yahuwah as our Elohim.

Let’s take just a moment to read it. It’s very short. Turn to Daniel 9.

The first three verses give us the context of what’s happening. Go ahead and read those.

Miles:

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of Yahuwah through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Then I set my face toward Yahuwah Elohim to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. [Daniel 9:1-3]

Dave: Daniel’s an old man by this point. Babylon has fallen to the Medes and Persians and Daniel knows that, by the sure word of prophecy, it’s almost time for the Israelites to return home. So, he determines to ask Yahuwah for more knowledge. Verses 4 to 19, which is most of the rest of that chapter, record Daniel’s prayer.

In response, Yahuwah sends the angel, Gabriel, to him. Let’s pick up the story at verse 22 and read on from there.

Miles: All right, uh …

And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision. [Daniel 9:22-23]

Dave: Notice that in Gabriel’s greeting is the divine directive that Daniel is to “understand the vision.” That’s why Gabriel’s come. It’s not meant to be some huge mystery. It’s meant to be understood.

Okay. Go on. Up next is the actual prophecy itself.

Miles:

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.

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.

And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself;
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.
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.
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]

Dave: Satan likes it when we make simple things complicated, and clear passages abstruse. If he can get us to do this, then our understanding of truth will be off.

We can see this in this prophecy. There are many people who believe that 69 of the weeks of this prophecy have been fulfilled, but not the last week. They believe the 70^th week has yet to be fulfilled.

Miles: That makes it really complicated, doesn’t it?

Dave: And difficult to understand. The truth is this prophecy was fulfilled in its entirety 2,000 years ago! Clear back in the first century. It’s a fulfilled prophecy. There’s nothing more to be fulfilled. I’d like to spend the rest of our time looking at five different points that prove this prophecy has been fulfilled. And once we’ve done that, I believe the effect on all of us will be increased faith in Yahuwah. After all, that is the purpose of prophecy, right? “That they might know I am Yahuwah”?

Miles: Right. So, what’s the first point?

Dave: All right. Let’s apply logic to this. Gabriel tells Daniel that he is to understand. We’re not dealing with symbolic beasts or anything that really has to be interpreted or deciphered. The prophecy is very straightforward, and in that very straightforwardness, we can see that there is nothing in there that suggests the seventy weeks are supposed to be split up or divided. Gabriel goes from one point to another. Yes, he gives details of what was to occur during the first 69 weeks of the prophecy, but there’s absolutely nothing in there indicating that there is a big time gap between the 69^th week and the 70^th week. Certainly nothing to suggest that you can squeeze two thousand years in there somewhere!

Miles: Yeah, that’s quite a stretch. So are you saying that these are 70 literal weeks?

Dave: No. We are dealing with prophetic time here, and in prophetic time, a day can equal a thousand years! Turn to 2 Peter 3 and read verse 8 for us. That’s 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 8.

Miles: “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with Yahuwah one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Dave: When Ezekiel was told to lie on his side first for 390 days and then later for 40 days, it was to represent the years Israel and Judah had spent in apostasy. So for him, years were changed into days.

Miles: What about the Children of Israel? Forty years in the wilderness.

Dave: That was my next point. Turn to Numbers 14. Approximately two years after the Children of Israel left Egypt—most of which time was spent at Sinai and building the tabernacle—they finally arrived on the borders of the Promised Land. Moses sent spies in and they spent 40 days spying it all out.

You’ll recall that only Caleb and Joshua brought back a good report. The rest of the spies claimed it was an “evil land” that “ate up the inhabitants thereof.”

Miles: Right. And they got all the rest of the Israelites to gripe and complain until Yahuwah decided, “Fine. You don’t want to go in? You can stay in the wilderness until you die there.”

Dave: The principle Yahuwah used for determining their sentence was another instance that explains the use of time in Scripture. You’ve got Numbers 14?

Miles: Yep.

Dave: Read verse 34 for us.

Miles: “According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.”

Dave: So this is where we get a day equals a year.

Miles: Okay, but how do you know which to use? A day for a thousand years, a year for a day, or a day for a year?

Dave: Context. Consider each one and the one that makes logical sense is the one you use. Remember, prophecy is to be understood. It’s not meant to be some cosmic mystery.

Miles: That’s true.

Dave: So, when you look at Daniel 9 logically, there is nothing that fits a literal day for a day, or a year for a day. Certainly a thousand years for a day doesn’t fit. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that in this particular prophecy, a day equals a year.

Now, 70 weeks is 490 days. That translates into 490 years. That’s in total. It’s not 483 years, plus 2,000 years, plus 7 more years. That’s adding to Scripture what isn’t there.

Miles: All right, yeah. There’s nothing in there about an additional 2,000 years. You’re right. More than adding to Scripture, it just adds confusion.

Dave: The point of this prophecy was to give Daniel hope. We didn’t take the time to read his prayer, but it is a heart-broken prayer, full of contrition for his own sins and the sins of Israel. Yahuwah’s gift to him was to encourage him by giving him a very clear timeline, pointing to the coming of the Messiah.

Miles: So can you take us through the prophesy and explain, precisely, what it means?

Dave: Sure! And I just want to reinforce that the only reason we can do that with total accuracy is that this prophecy has been fulfilled.

All right. Verse 24 says that 70 weeks are “determined” or set apart for the people of Israel. That is the length of the prophecy. With one day equaling one year, that’s 490 years.

Verse 25 gives us the starting point for the prophecy, and that is …?

Miles: Uhhh …

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.

Dave: So the starting point is when a royal decree was issued to restore and build Jerusalem again. Sixty-two plus seven equals …?

Miles: Sixty-nine.

Dave: Or 483 literal years. Now, we know that the decree to build Jerusalem was issued by Artaxerxes in 457 BCE. So, 483 years later we arrive at the year 27 in the first century CE. And for those of you doing the math, remember: there was no “0” year. By our modern reckoning, it goes from 1 BCE to 1 CE.

Miles: You’re not saying that’s when the Messiah was born, are you? That late?

Dave: No, no. Not at all. Most Bible students recognize the start of the Messiah’s public ministry as being when he was anointed by the Holy Spirit at his baptism by John. So, that’s what happened in 27 CE.

It’s after this point that the prophecy has confused people. Futurists say the events of the final week haven’t yet been fulfilled, but you’ll see as we go along that they’ve all been fulfilled already.

Miles: Okay, we’re going to take a quick break and when we come back, let’s look at those points that prove the prophecy has already been fulfilled in its entirety. We’ll be right back.

* * *

Advertisement

Marriage is one of Yahuwah’s precious gifts to humanity. A close, loving, supportive, intimate relationship with your best friend not only contributes to your daily enjoyment of life, but also reveals insights into Yahuwah’s love for the human race.

It is somewhat surprising, then, that a number of Christians believe that the institution of marriage will cease to exist once Yahushua returns. To support this belief, they point to a statement made by Yahushua when some Sadducees asked him a question about the resurrection. Taking Yahushua’s response out of context has led to the mistaken belief that the redeemed will not have marriage in the Kingdom of Yah. This has, naturally, discouraged some and secretly planted the hope that Yahushua won’t return until after they’ve had a chance to experience marriage and being a parent.

Satan is behind all such discouraging and erroneous beliefs. To learn what Scripture has to say about marriage in Yah’s kingdom, listen to the previous released radio program titled, “Will there be marriage in Yah’s kingdom?” [Program 180] It’s a good question, one that has troubled a number of believers. Learn the truth from Scripture. Look for “Will there be marriage in Yah’s kingdom?” You can find it on our website or on YouTube!

* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: All right. Knowing that this prophecy pinpoints the coming of the Messiah, read again the first part of verse 26. What does that have to say about Yahushua?

Miles: Umm … “And after the sixty-two weeks, Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself.”

Dave: This is a very specific time prophecy that we can understand with full clarity because it has already occurred. When it says that Messiah would be “cut off, but not for himself,” that’s, of course, referring to his crucifixion. Three and a half years after his baptism in the fall of 27 CE, Yahushua was crucified. That’s what Gabriel tells Daniel and notice that the fulfillment occurred immediately after the 69 weeks had expired. There’s no gap between the 69^th and the 70^th week time periods.

Miles: I have a copy of Brenton’s translation of the Septuagint and there, instead of saying “Messiah shall be cut off,” it says, quote: “The anointed one shall be destroyed.”

Dave: Perfect description of what happened at the crucifixion.

This alone proves that the 70^th week cannot have a future fulfilment because this event foretold in verse 26 and which happens half-way through the 70^th week, has already happened!

Even if you want to argue over the precise year of Christ’s baptism and crucifixion, the problem remains that they both occurred after the 69 weeks and are actions that took place in the midst of the 70^th week. You can’t put the 70^th week into the future when we know that Christ was already cut off for the sins of the people.

Miles: Could you say that insisting the 70^th week is yet future in a way denies the death of Yahushua?

Dave: You could absolutely say that. It may be inadvertently done, but that’s what it’s really saying.

Miles: That’s serious!

Dave: It is. Turn to 1 John 4 and read the first three verses. Let’s see what the apostle John had to say about denying Yahushua.

Miles: Okay, it says:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from [Yahuwah], because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of [Yah]: Every spirit that acknowledges that Yahushua Christ has come in the flesh is from [Yah], but every spirit that does not acknowledge Yahushua is not from [Yahuwah]. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Dave: Now, obviously, applying these verses to a misinterpretation of Daniel 9 is not a complete application of this passage in 1 John. At the same time, however, it should make us seriously contemplate if—even inadvertently—any of our beliefs deny the death of Yahushua.

All right. You read just the first part of verse 26, but let’s go back and read the whole thing again. This prophecy is packed with information and every word counts, so we don’t want to miss any details. Daniel 9 verse 26.

Miles:

And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself;
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.

Dave: This is a fascinating prediction. In verse 24, we read 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.”

Now, just two verses later in verse 26, we read that the people of the prince that’s to come, shall destroy what was just built! This is further confirmation that this prophecy was fulfilled in the first century.

Miles: How so? I’m not seeing that.

Dave: The very first words of the prophecy reveal that 70 weeks (or 490 years) were determined, or decreed, or set apart for Daniel’s people. Daniel’s people are the Jews. So, while the prophecy started with the decree to restore and build Jerusalem, we read that after the 70 weeks have been fulfilled, the “people of the prince that shall come” will destroy what was built, and that happened when Titus destroyed the temple and Jerusalem itself in 70 CE. This is history! It’s documented and established, not only from prophecy but from extra-Biblical documentation and archeology! We know this happened.

It happened right on time and it was in perfect keeping with Gabriel’s prophecy.

Miles: Soooo … if we try and say that part of this prophecy hasn’t been fulfilled yet, we’re … what? Dismissing the fact that the destruction of Jerusalem fulfilled prophecy?

Dave: Exactly. And not just this prophecy, but Christ’s own prophecies as recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. This was divine judgment on Jerusalem as the symbol of the Israelite nation. Long-delayed divine judgment, but judgment all the same.

Miles: So, just to be clear: the “people of the prince that shall come” refers to the Romans, specifically the Romans that destroyed the temple in 70 CE. It’s not another reference to Christ.

Dave: Correct. In the Old Testament, there’s a very interesting phrase you find a half dozen times or so. It’s the “sword of the Lord” or “the sword of Yahuwah.” Let’s look at a couple of them. Turn to, uh … let me see … Jeremiah 12 and read verse … well, start at verse 10. This is Yahuwah speaking here. Go ahead.

Miles: Okay, um … “Many rulers have destroyed My vineyard, they have trodden My portion underfoot; they have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate; Desolate, it mourns to Me; The whole land is made desolate, Because no one takes it to heart.” [Jeremiah 12:10-11]

Dave: So that’s what the problem is. Now, verse 12. This is the solution. This is what Yahuwah’s going to do to remedy the situation. Go ahead.

Miles: “The plunderers have come on all the desolate heights in the wilderness, For the sword of Yahuwah shall devour from one end of the land to the other end of the land; No flesh shall have peace.”

Dave: “The sword of Yahuwah” is a euphemism for divine justice. When a person or a nation is bringing judgment down onto a deserving person or nation—deserving for the wickedness they’ve done—then they are, in a very real sense, the “sword of Yahuwah.”

Miles: Yeah … I’m thinking … wasn’t that what Gideon and his soldiers yelled? Wasn’t that their battle cry in the fight with the Midianites and the Amelakites? Let me look for it here just a moment …

… Aw, yes. It’s in Judges. Judges chapter 7. It says:

So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of Yahuwah and of Gideon!” And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. When the three hundred blew the trumpets, Yahuwah set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp. [Judges 7:19-22]

Dave: Yes! Gideon and his three hundred men were the “sword of Yahuwah” to bring justice to the heathen that had invaded Israel.

Now often—in fact, more often than not—the “sword of Yahuwah” was actually foreign nations that attacked Israel when Israel was in apostasy. Nebuchadnezzar was the “sword of Yahuwah.” There were others, too. And in the first century, it was the Romans under Titus. General Titus was the sword of Yahuwah when final justice was brought, bringing to a close the 70 weeks that had been set apart for the Israelites as a nation.

Miles: So what does it mean when it says “the end of it shall be with a flood”?

Dave: That’s referring to how quickly judgment fell. See, Yahuwah doesn’t like to punish. In Scripture, He’s said to be “long-suffering.” He’s patient.

Peter talks about this divine attribute in 2 Peter 3, verse 9. Why don’t you read that for us? I think, of anywhere, it says it most clearly there: 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 9.

Miles: “[Yahuwah] is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Dave: Yahuwah doesn’t enjoy suffering. He doesn’t like to punish. In fact, in Isaiah 28 verse 21, the act of punishment is called His “strange” work. Can you turn there really quickly? I don’t want to take too long on this, but it proves my point. Isaiah 28 verse 21.

Miles:

Yahuwah will rise up as He did at Mount Perazim,
He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon—
to do His work, His strange work,
and perform His task, His alien task.

Dave: Punishment is an alien act to our loving Creator.

But we tend to take advantage of that. Instead of using the time to repent and get to know our loving heavenly Father, we humans tend to like to use probationary time to continue living in sin and rebellion as we’ve always done. So, when judgment finally comes, it comes swiftly. That’s what “the end of it shall be with a flood” means.

Miles: Okay, what about in verse, uh … 26, where it says, “And till the end of the war desolations are determined.” What does that mean?

Dave: It’s revealing that from the destruction of Jerusalem until Yahushua returns to set up Yah’s everlasting Kingdom, the nation of Israel—both the race and that particular geographical location—will know no peace or stability. You can see that in the endless strife and controversy in the Middle East.

Miles: Right! And that’s not just—I like how you said that: “that particular geographical location.” It’s the race itself. You look at the pogroms that took place, the unending persecution of the Israelites during the dark ages and the Middle Ages. They’ve never again had a peaceful period, have they?

Dave: They really haven’t. People talk about “peace in the Middle East.” Let’s have “peace in the Middle East,” but there won’t be until Yahushua returns, setting up an everlasting kingdom of peace. Then Jerusalem and the entire earth will have peace.

All right. Moving on. Read the first half of verse 27 again.

Miles: “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.”

Dave: There are some important details in this sentence. First, we’re told that the Messiah would “confirm the covenant with many for one week.” But then, in the very next phrase, we’re told that in the middle of the week, he’d “bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” This, we know, he did with his death on the cross, so we can place Christ’s crucifixion as happening in the middle of this “week” of time, or seven-year time period.

Miles: All right, so the first half of this “week” of seven years was Christ’s public ministry of three and a half years. What was the second three-and-a-half year time period?

Dave: Just before Yahushua’s ascension, he told his loyal followers to wait in Jerusalem for “power from on high.” They did. We read in Acts that on the day of Pentecost, there were about 120 of Christ’s followers gathered in the upper room when the spirit of Yah was poured out on them. This was, as we all know, to enable them to take the gospel message to the world, but for the first three and a half years, the focus was on taking the message of a crucified and risen Messiah to the Jews. Later, Paul and the others would take the gospel to the gentiles, but that final three and a half years of the 70^th “week” of time was devoted in a special way to the Jews.

Miles: So what happened at the end? I’d think for such a long and important time period, there’d be a specific event to signal the end of that prophecy.

Dave: Well, you think right! Yes, something did happen. And, in the mysterious ways of Yah, it was this very event that ended up propelling the early believers to take the gospel to the rest of the world.

Three and a half years after Yahushua’s ascension, three and a half years after Pentecost, the Jews finalized their rejection of the gospel when they stoned Stephen. This was the impetus the early believers needed to scatter from Jerusalem and, really, all of Israel. And, of course, as they moved to other parts of the Roman Empire, they took the good news of the gospel with them.

Miles: Stephen was the very first Christian martyr, wasn’t he?

Dave: Yes. Now, what’s interesting was that Saul of Tarsus witnessed Stephen’s trial and execution. Acts 7:58 reveals that the men stoning Stephen gave Saul their outer robes to watch over, so he was definitely there. But witnessing Stephen’s bravery didn’t turn Saul to the truth, at least not yet. Turn to Acts chapter 8 and read verses 1 to 3.

Miles:

Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Dave: This was the great scattering that took the gospel to the gentiles. It happened right on time at the close of the 70^th week. All this is how the “covenant was confirmed with many” for one week.

Miles: Well, you know, this has really serious implications for anyone still insisting that the final week hasn’t yet been fulfilled. If you believe that, then what you’re really saying is that Christ hasn’t actually established the “New Covenant” yet. That’s not something I’d feel comfortable claiming.

Dave: Well, there’s more. If you claim that the 70^th week is yet future, then that throws off your entire interpretation of the text and what’s happening in the prophecy. The result is that those who hold this belief say that the “he” in verse 27 is actually the antichrist.

Miles: What?? There’s no mention of “antichrist” anywhere at all in the text. Not even in the entire chapter!

Dave: Yah forbid that any of us ever refer to His anointed as “antichrist.” That is blasphemy.

All right. One final point. In verse 27 the prophecy declares what action the Messiah takes. And that is, quote: “In the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” It is Christ’s death on the cross that all the blood sacrifices had been pointing forward to. The animals that were sacrificed were a “type,” a symbol. Yahushua was the great “antitype.” He was the true; all the symbols were pointing forward to him.

This is why the prophecy says he “brought an end” to the sacrifices because he was the great sacrifice.

Miles: Like John said, “Behold the Lamb of Yah that takes away the sins of the world.”

Dave: Precisely. The Book of Hebrews spends quite a bit of time on this point, showing how Yahushua’s sacrifice has eternal efficacy. It doesn’t have to be repeated.

Let’s turn to Hebrews chapter 9. This point is explained so beautifully there. Hebrews 9, verse 11 to 16. And as you read, I want you to notice how Christ’s death, that we know was in the middle of the 70^th week of Daniel’s prophecy, is linked to the establishment of the New Covenant.

Miles: Okay, it says:

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to [Yah], cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God [or theos]? And for this reason he is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Dave: “For this reason.” It’s because he died that Yahushua is the Mediator of the new covenant. As Daniel said, Yahushua “confirmed the covenant with many for one week.” That has happened. It’s in the past, not the future.

Hebrews 10:10 states that “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Yahushua Christ once for all.” It doesn’t have to be done again and this is why the prophecy states that in the 70^th week Messiah brings an end to sacrifice and offering.

Miles: Claiming that all these deeds done by the Messiah are really yet future and going to be done by some future antichrist really degrades the value of Yahushua’s sacrifice, doesn’t it?

Dave: Such interpretations are really not consistent with the rest of Scripture or even the rest of that passage. We must always make sure our interpretations are consistent with the rest of Scripture and the context.

Miles: It’s true. Like we’ve said before, and I’ll say again: truth is consistent, folks! It doesn’t contradict itself.

If anyone is interested in studying more into this particular prophecy—and let me just add that there are layers and layers of truth here—we have several things on our website that might interest you. Look for the article entitled, “The Crucifixion: Disproving the Continuous Weekly Cycle.” That’s an article that looks at Daniel 9 from a very unique perspective.

Dave: What was the name again?

Miles: “The Crucifixion: Disproving the Continuous Weekly Cycle.”

We’re going to take another really short break. When we return, Dave will share with us warning signs that can let us know when we or someone we love is in danger of slipping into apostasy. Stay tuned! We’ll be right back.

* * *

You are listening to World's Last Chance Radio.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Advertisement

Christians are often likened to soldiers. Believers are said to be in Yahuwah’s army. “Onward Christian Soldiers” is a time-honored hymn. Do you know what “weapons” believers have at their disposal?

Every soldier is armed with the weapons of their warfare and believers are no different. Of course, there is the “sword of the spirit” and the “helmet of salvation.” There’s the “breastplate of righteousness” and the “shield of faith,” but for believers of the final generation, there is something else. Something more, and it is a very powerful weapon of asymmetrical warfare. That weapon is … praise! Yes, praising Yahuwah is an incredibly powerful tool against the enemy.

If you would like to learn more, listen to the previously aired program entitled “Asymmetrical warfare and the power of praise.” [Program 181] Look for “Asymmetrical warfare and the power of praise.” Learn Yahuwah’s secret weapon for these last days. Previously aired programs can be found on our website or on YouTube!

* * *Daily Mailbag (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Today’s question from our daily mailbag is coming from one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations.

Dave: India? No! No … uh … Persia! Iran. Iran.

Miles: Now, how’d you know that?

Dave: Well, Persia. That was the name up until the 1930s. Did you know Iran is one of the world’s top 10 host countries? In 2018 alone, they opened their borders to almost 1 million refugees.

Miles: Wow. That’s really impressive.

Our letter today is from Dilara in Qazvin, Iran, the calligraphy capital of Iran. She writes, “I don’t believe in the heresy of ‘once saved, always saved.’ I believe that Yahuwah guarantees our freedom of choice. Therefore, it is possible to be saved and later to apostatize. My question is: are there any warning signs to look for that lets you know you or someone you know are in danger of falling into apostasy?”

Dave: Hmmm! What an intriguing question! I’d say that yes, there are some signs to watch for. The word “apostasy” comes from the Latin word apostasia. It means to revolt or defect. Literally translated it means to “stand off.” So, instead of standing on the truth, you’re standing a far off from it.

Miles: Could you say that apostasy is abandoning what you once believed?

Dave: Absolutely! That’s a good way to put it. To use an example given in the New Testament: if we believe that Yahushua is the Messiah come in the flesh, but then later we abandon that truth, we reject it, then we’ve become an apostate and the truth is not in us.

Miles: The Bible actually has quite a bit to say about falling into apostasy. I’m remembering something in the book of Jude … give me just a moment to find it here …

Here it is. It’s Jude 1 verse 3. Notice the urgency Jude says is driving his desire to write his epistle. He says, quote: “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to [Yahuwah’s] holy people.” Unquote.

So, he’s feeling concern. He’s worried that the people he’s writing to might slip into apostasy. Then, verse 4, he says, quote: “For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Yahushua Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Unquote. So, like you said, even though we may start out as believers, we can still fall away from the truth.

So, yeah. How can we know if we’re in danger of falling into apostasy? What are the signs we can look for in ourselves? And in others, too?

Dave: Christ gave us several signs to look for. In fact, when the disciples came to him and asked him to tell them the signs of his return and the end of the world, the very first thing he said was a warning. Read it for us: Matthew 24 verses 4 and 5.

Miles: All right, uh … “Yahushua answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many.’”

Dave: So the danger of falling away from the truth is very real. Now drop down to verses 10 and 13. What do those say?

Miles: Um … “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Dave: So right here we’ve got a big sign of apostasy that you can easily see right off, and that is when the love and compassion in the heart grows cold. It’s not always possible, right away, to know whether a new teacher is a false prophet. It’s not always possible to know right away if the ideas being presented are new light, or just more error. Often, it takes being a Berean, studying things out for ourselves, letting the Holy Spirit impress us to know if something is true or not.

But what we often can see right away is the effect on the heart of the person. Are they more loving and kind, reflecting more of the divine character than ever? Or is the effect on the person to make them more cold and unfeeling? Do they denounce you for not agreeing with them and hold themselves apart?

This is a big red flag. It is NOT a sign of the truth to hold yourself apart, cold and aloof, from those who disagree with you. That’s not what Yahuwah did! When we sinned, He determined to provide a Savior so He could draw even closer to us.

Miles: That’s a good point. Yeah, a lot of Christians have this real “us versus them” mentality. And if you’re outside their narrowly defined “us,” you can really feel the chill.

Dave: Which is the very opposite of how Yahushua acted! That’s how the Pharisees acted, and one of their biggest complaints against the Savior was that he “received sinners.” Holding yourself aloof—standing afar off—from those who don’t believe the way you do is a sure sign of apostasy from the truth as it is in Yahushua.

Miles: What about false teachings, though? We can certainly be led astray if we accept error. Besides, Revelation 18 tells us to “Go out of her, My people, so that you receive not of her plagues.”

Dave: Of course. I’m not denying that. But this refers to “the establishment.” Religious organizations. That’s what Yahushua did. After the Pharisees continued to reject the truth, Yahushua started a new movement with the early believers. But he never rejected individuals, as seen in the fact that both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were part of the “establishment.” They were members of the Sanhedrin! So we don’t reject individuals.

Turn to 1 Timothy chapter 4 and read the first verse.

Miles: All right, uh … “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Dave: We see some of these doctrines of devils today in any form of legalism, the errors that were embraced by the church when they made compromises with paganism and so much more. Read the next two verses now. Let’s see the impact this has on believers.

Miles: “Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which [Yah] created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Dave: “Speaking lies in hypocrisy,” embracing doctrines of devils, clinging to error … all of this sears the conscience. Also, we’re not to add on manmade requirements, such as forbidding marriage, or abstaining from foods which Yahuwah intended for us to, as Paul puts it, receive “with thanksgiving.”

Miles: Are you saying that those meats traditionally considered “unclean” can be eaten by Yah’s people?

Dave: I’m not saying that at all. A lot of people claim that the dietary requirements were done away with at the cross. That they were just for the Jews. But that’s not true. Those requirements were set down well before there was a nation of Israel. In fact, before Abraham was born! So, no. One part of Scripture does not invalidate another part of Scripture. Paul knew this and was always careful to remain consistent.

Turn to the first chapter of Galatians. Galatians 1 and read verses 6 to 9.

Miles:

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Dave: We are to be Bereans, studying the truth for ourselves. We don’t have to fear studying new ideas, but we are not to accept anything that is not consistent with Scripture.

In Matthew 24, Yahushua gave several signs of apostasy. He said that “many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” [Matthew 24:10-11]. We’re not to let that dissuade us from giving new ideas a thorough study, but we are to be aware that there will be many new erroneous ideas circulating, too.

Miles: What about what Paul said about “itching ears”? Let me find it here … I’ve heard some pastors accuse believers who accept new light as having “itching ears.”

Here it is: 2 Timothy 4 verses 3 and 4. It says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Dave: “Itching ears” is not referring to new ideas. Anyone who has ever experienced the shock and heartbreak of discovering that something you thought was truth was, in fact, error, can tell you that is not a pleasant experience to go through.

Miles: That’s the truth! It’s hard work to be presented with a new concept, spend the hours, and sometimes days or weeks, to truly study it out, and in the end accept you’ve been wrong. It’s not easy.

Dave: Another translation says, quote: “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” Itching ears is never actively searching for truth. It’s simply affirming what you already believe by only listening to pastors, only reading books, that repeat what you already believe. Itching ears want soothing messages, and it’s not soothing to be confronted with new ideas that must then be studied out. It’s certainly not soothing to realize you’ve spent your whole life believing error!

Miles: It’s really not!

So let’s talk now about some ways to avoid falling into error. How can we do that?

Dave: Well, it’s important to catch it early. Don’t let it continue on and on. Remember what Paul said? Our consciences become “seared” when we obstinately play with error, or reject truth, too long.

It’s also very important to really pray before you ever change your beliefs. Pray when a new idea is presented to you. Pray when you study it out. Ask for an open mind; ask to be convicted of the truth. Prayer is very important.

Miles: What about asking other believers?

Dave: Yeah, but … what if they’re wrong? You can certainly listen to what they have to say, but always study things out for yourself.

Miles: That’s true. That gives the Holy Spirit the chance to impress our minds, doesn’t it? He can’t do that if we never study for ourselves.

Dave: One of the best ways to keep from falling into error is to dig deep into Scripture. Do word studies. Use a concordance. Cross reference other Bible verses on the topic you’re looking at. This is how the Holy Spirit can sink the truth home so deeply that you’ll never be shaken.

Miles: Reminds me of something I read once. To teach bank tellers how to tell true money from the counterfeit, they, apparently, don’t show them the counterfeit. Instead, they show them the real deal. Tellers become so good at knowing the true, that the counterfeit is then easily seen.

Dave: That makes a lot of sense because the counterfeit can always change. the genuine never changes. And that’s how it is with Yah’s truth, too.

Paul’s advice to Timothy is applicable to believers today. Why don’t you read it for us? 2 Timothy 3 verses 14-15.

Miles: “Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Yahushua.”

Dave: This is how we stay true to Yahuwah and free from apostasy.

Miles: Keep sending us your questions, comments, and prayer requests! Just click on Contact Us on WorldsLastChance.com. We enjoy hearing from our listeners.

* * *Daily Promise

Hello! This is Elise O’Brien with your daily promise from Yah’s word.

I don’t remember where I first read this story, and I wasn’t able to track down the name of the author so I’m just going to call her Sue.

Sue was an older student. The last class she had to take to get her university degree was Sociology. Sue found the professor utterly inspiring, recalling that she had character qualities Sue wished everyone had. The last assignment of the class was to simply go out and smile at three different people and see what their reactions were.

Sue figured that should be a very easy assignment as she was, by nature, a very friendly person anyway. One chilly morning shortly after the assignment had been given, Sue and her husband took their youngest son to MacDonald’s for breakfast as a way to have special playtime with their little boy.

While waiting in line for their order, Sue suddenly noticed everyone was backing away from them. Then her husband, too, backed away. A horrendous smell assaulted Sue’s nose. She turned around to see two poor homeless men standing behind her. The shorter one smiled at her and said, “Good morning!” In his dirty hand was clutched a handful of coins. Behind him stood another man who was fidgeting with his hands. Sue realized instantly that the taller man was mentally challenged while the shorter man was looking out for him, helping him as he could.

When the shorter man placed his order for two coffees, Sue realized that that was all they could afford and that to have a place where they could come in out of the cold, they had to order something. They just wanted a chance to warm up. Sue turned back and asked for two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. When they came, she carried the tray over to the two men and placed it in front of them.

The shorter man looked up with tears in his eyes. “Thank you,” he said softly.

She smiled back at him. “Yah is here working through me to give you hope,” she said.

Remembering how the experience changed her, Sue recalls, quote: “I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in ‘my project’ and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, ‘Can I share this?’ I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of [Yah] share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way, I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.” Unquote.

I like the lesson Sue drew from her experience. It reminds me of how Yahushua treated people. He befriended the outcasts: the publicans and prostitutes. Sinners of all types were drawn to him because he accepted them unconditionally. He never refused invitations to their homes through fear of making it appear he “approved” of their sin. That’s what the Pharisees did! Instead, Yahushua revealed the love of the Father by how he treated the outcast of society. He treated them with kindness, courtesy, dignity and respect. He never criticized them.

When a woman who had been caught in adultery was brought before Yahushua, he refused to condemn her. Instead, he gently asked, “Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”

When she said, “No one, Lord,” he kindly reassured her, “Neither do I condemn you.”

Yahushua showed us the Father’s love by his kindness, his love, and his unconditional acceptance. It doesn’t matter what you have done. It doesn’t matter what you have failed to do. The Father still loves you with a love that can never be broken. His words to you today are, “Neither do I condemn you.”

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Today’s discussion has really underscored for me the importance of making sure our interpretations of prophecy are consistent with the rest of Scripture.

Dave: And not reading into passages ideas that simply aren’t there. It’s so easy, when we do that, to get off. Way off.

The good news, though, is that Yahushua promised to send the Comforter to us to lead us into all truth. We can claim that promise.

Miles: Well, another thing, too, is that this side of eternity, none of us have beliefs that are entirely free from error. That’s why we always want to urge our listeners to never take anyone’s word for what you should believe. Not your spouse or your pastor. Not even us!

Dave: It’s true. We like to believe we’re free of error, and we are free of known error, but there are certainly areas where we can learn more. Use our articles, videos and radio programs as a springboard for your own study.

Miles: Studying for yourself is sooo important! That’s how the Holy Spirit sinks home the truths you need to know.

Well, we hope you can join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

* * *

You have been listening to WLC Radio.

This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.