When and with whom was the pact that was made “with many” in Daniel 9:27?
Question:
I really enjoy the articles on the website. I was reading an article on Daniel at the website, and wanted to bring up a question about it regarding general Titus fulfilling v. 29 of Daniel chapter 9. If indeed it is more likely that it speaks about him, and the information we gather leads us to conclude that v.29 points to him, then would you be able to tell me where and when did he ever make a pact with many as it speaks of in this verse ?
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.
Answer:
I am happy the website has been helpful to you. As for Daniel 9:27, I have always assumed the “obvious” interpretation (of course, obvious is in the eyes of the beholder, yes?), which is that the covenant he is talking about is the New Covenant. In other words, the Messiah who came to Jerusalem in the middle of the seventieth week is the one who confirmed a covenant with many, with the many being those in the Christian church. In the middle of the final week, God abandoned the temple, when the curtain was rent in two. After forty years of the situation, in which the Church was rapidly growing, but the temple still stood as an empty shell which was “old and fading and will soon disappear” (Hebrews 8:13), finally Vespasian and Titus came to Jerusalem, and the city and the temple were destroyed.
John Oakes
