The Last Half of the 70th Week of Daniel
What of the balance of the 70th week, the 3 ½ years of it which extended beyond the cross? Did God promise to set aside seventy weeks of favor upon Israel, and really give them but sixty-nine and a half? At first glance it has this appearance, especially when we recall that it was just five days before his death “in the midst of the week” that Jesus wept over their city and gave them up, saying, “Your house is left unto you desolate.” But not so: God knew the end from the beginning; and when he promised 70 weeks, he meant it. Hence we must look for favor upon that people for three and a half years after the crucifixion; notwithstanding they were left desolate nationally.
That the Israelite's as a nation were not fit to be recipients of the chief or spiritual favor (nor of the earthly favor either) was demonstrated by their rejection of Messiah, as God had foreseen and foretold; hence it was profitless to them to continue their national testing beyond the midst of their 70th week, and it was cut short there, when they were left “desolate”, rejected from favor.
During the remaining portion (three and a half years) of their period, the favor was INCREASED, though confined to the “remnant,” the most holy, the purest or fittest, which alone it could benefit. (Isa 10:22, 23 also compare Rom 9:28). The increase of favor consisted in the fact that it gave to that remnant three and a half years of exclusive attention and ministration, under the increased advantages of the spirit dispensation, which, beginning with the disciples at Pentecost, reached probably all the ripe wheat of that nation, during that period of special favor. See Acts 2:41 and 4:4 for the results of the first few days. Thus was the Wheat of that nation separated from the chaff in the Jewish Harvest.
It was for this reason that, though Jesus had tasted death for all, and the Gospel was to be proclaimed to all, yet his instructions to his disciples were that they BEGIN AT JERUSALEM. Nor were they to leave that special work, or offer the favor of the new dispensation (the Gospel Age) to any others, until the three and a half years of PROMISED FAVOR TO ISRAEL were fulfilled, until God specially sent it to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. (Acts 10)
The exact date of the conversion of Cornelius, chronologist can only guess at; and hence it is variously estimated as having occurred from A.D. 37 to 40; but in view of this marked prophecy which we are now considering, we doubt not that it was in the autumn of A.D. 36; for there the 70 weeks, or 490 years, of favor upon Israel ended. Since their exclusive favor ended there, most appropriately should sending the gospel to the Gentiles mark it. Israelite's were not deprived of the gospel after that, but were treated the same as the Gentiles, though prejudice no doubt placed the remainder in a less favorable position. The “most holy” of that nation having been already chosen out, the gospel was no longer confined to them exclusively, but was open to every creature having an ear to hear.
After the 70 weeks came the distress and trouble mentioned in the latter clauses of Verses 26 and 27. The Roman prince came, and did destroy the city and the Temple, an, “like a flood”, he left behind him terrible waste and destruction. And Messiah, whom they rejected, has permitted various evils to befall that people ever since, and will continue to permit them “until the consummation,” until they shall have had enough, until he shall say, “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her that her appointed time is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned.” (Isa 40:2)
Meantime THAT IS DETERMINED shall be poured upon that desolate one (or cast off people) till her cup be full of sorrow, until that day when they shall say, “Bless is he that comes in the name of the Lord.” That day of Israel’s deliverance is now dawning, thank God; and though their desolation and distress are not yet at an end, each hour hastens the time when their prejudice-blinded minds shall see out of obscurity him whom they have pierced, and when they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, (Zech 12:10).
