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How Daniel Identified Jesus as the Christ
137
Then, the angel said, “He shall confirm the covenant with many
for one week [seven years].” KJV. For seven years after the Savior
entered on His ministry, the gospel was to be preached especially to
the Jews—for three and a half years by Christ Himself, and afterward
by the apostles. “In the middle of the week He shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offering.”
Daniel 9:27
. In the spring of a.d. 31, Christ,
the True Sacrifice, was offered on Calvary. Then the veil of the
temple was torn in two, showing that the sacrificial service had lost
its sacredness and significance. The time had come for the earthly
sacrifice and offering to cease.
The one week—seven years—ended in a.d. 34. Then, by stoning
Stephen, the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel. Per-
secution scattered the disciples, who “went everywhere preaching
the word.”
Acts 8:4
. A little later, Saul the persecutor was converted
and became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.
The angel had definitely pointed out the time of Christ’s coming,
His death, and the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles. It was the
privilege of the Jews to understand these prophecies and to recognize
their fulfillment in Jesus’ mission. Referring to the prophecy given
to Daniel concerning their time, Christ said, “Whoever reads, let
him understand.”
Matthew 24:15
. After His resurrection, He ex-
plained to the disciples in “all the Prophets” “the things concerning
Himself.”
Luke 24:27
. The Savior had spoken through the prophets
and “testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that
would follow.”
1 Peter 1:11
.
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It was Gabriel, the angel next in rank to the Son of God, who
came with the divine message to Daniel. It was Gabriel whom Christ
sent to open the future to John; and a blessing is pronounced on
those who read and hear the words of the prophecy and keep the
things written in it. See
Revelation 1:3
. God will bless the reverent,
prayerful study of the prophetic Scriptures.
The message of Christ’s first advent announced the kingdom of
His grace. Likewise, the message of His second advent announces
the kingdom of His glory. And the second message, like the first,
is based on the prophecies. The Savior Himself has given signs of
His coming, and He says, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts
be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this
life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” “Watch therefore,