I've had some discussion with some of the participants in another thread and was intrigued by the idea that Jesus fulfilled the first 3.5 years of the tribulation.
The desolating abominations are associated with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and it's not unusual for apocalyptic/prophetic literature to mix two different topics into one and the same verse in one and the same text: We see it in prophetic literature all the time - the mention of the destruction of Israel (the Northern kingdom) in the Valley of Jezreel in one and the same verse where the uniting of Israel and Judah into one nation (after the restoration of both to God) is suddenly introduced - being a good example:
Hosea 1:11
(a) Then the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel shall be gathered together, and shall set over themselves one head,
(b) and they shall come up out of the land. For great shall be the day of Jezreel.
The part speaking about the coming up out of the land and the day of Jezreel (the day and place that Israel was judged) happened in circa 722 B.C (see Hosea 1:4-5), which is what Hosea Chapter 1 is talking about, but the first part of Hosea 1:11 is speaking of a future time that would occur 2,700+ years later.
Notice that Hosea did not write,
"Reader, please take note: This prophecy is about the judgment of the Northern kingdom of Israel ONLY. It's not about anything else just because God inspired me to pop into verse 11 an extra piece of information about the eventual reuniting of Israel and Judah into one nation with one Head.
Daniel 9:24-27
Subject: The coming of the Messiah.
Timing: 70 weeks from a certain point in time.
Purpose: 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.
Determined upon: Thy people and thy holy city.
Subject of verse 24: The Messiah.
Subject of verse 25: The Messiah.
Subject of verses 26-27: (a) The Messiah; and (b) the destruction of the city and the sanctuary by the prince of the people who was to come.
The prophecy was about the coming of the Messiah. Whatever else is said has to be understood in light of the subject. The desolating abominations are associated with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, which is an added piece of information.
If the prophecy was about both the Messiah AND the people of the prince who was to come, the latter would also have got a mention in the beginning, in verses 24-25.
The 40-year gap between the crucifixion of the Messiah and the destruction of the city and temple does not change the meaning of the prophecy in any way - it's an added piece of information that is not part of the same 70-weeks prophecy.
Placing the fulfillment of Daniel's 70th "week" (Daniel 9:24-27) at the end of this Age as though it's referring to the final seven years of this Age is an anachronism.
Matthew 20
28 even as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom
for many.
Jeremiah 31
31 Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah,
Matthew 26
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins.
How many is many? Is it all?
27 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.
.. to make atonement for iniquity.
Hebrews 10
5 Wherefore when he comes into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering you would not, but a body have you prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you have had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do your will, O God.
He caused sacrifice and offering to cease in the midst of the 70th week:
26 And
after sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself. And the people of the ruler who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. And the end of it shall be with the flood, and ruins are determined, until the end shall be war.
After the first 7+62 weeks = in the 70th week. The prince of the people who was to come destroyed the city and temple 40 years later. The desolating abominations are associated with this.