In Daniel 9:22-27 we find an angel explaining God’s plan for Israel.
In the seventieth week of Daniel God confirms the covenant with His people.
The seventieth week symbolizes the Christian lifetime.
That symbolic week will be interrupted when an individual sins willfully and God causes the sacrifice to cease so that the Christian can be corrected, 1 Cor 11:32.
That is the interpretation of Daniel’s seventieth week, Dan 9:27.
Interestingly, the same basic message is conveyed by many of the misunderstood parables in the Bible.
Along with Daniel 9 (Daniel’s seventieth week), Ezekiel chapters 38-39 (Gog and Magog) refer to aspects of this process, as does 1 Thess 4 (Rapture Theory), 2 Thess 2 (Man of in), and Revelation 20 (Millennium). This is also the case in 2 Peter 3 where the elemental things melt, Gal 4:3.
This is also a part of the events described in Matt 24, where the Lord employs the symbolic vultures (demons) as part of God’s disciplinary process. The Day of the Lord is not the Second Coming, it is the scriptural term used to describe a time of God’s judgment.
God has used the parable process to conceal the truth in those scriptures. This is of course very effective in misguiding unbelievers and unlearned Christians, 1 Cor 14:23.
1Co 14:23 If therefore the whole church have come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
What follows is the explanation of Daniel 9:27.
Daniel 9:27 tells us that God causes the sacrifice to cease during the seventieth week and the desolation follows.
Willful sin is the “abomination” which causes God to send “desolation”. The willfully sinful Christian is, after committing the “abomination” of willful sin, in a desolate state onto which the “determined” discipline is poured out.
He causes the sacrifice to cease by sending the willfully sinful Christians (Man of sin) a delusion so that they believe a lie so that they can be judged for their willful sin. The judgment is designed by God to encourage repentance from willful sin, 1 Cor 11:32.
This is referred to in Daniel 9:27 using the phrase, “and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”.
Da 9:27 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.
Jesus dies for the past sins of a person, as Paul says in Romans 3:35. Christians are also forgiven for sins when they are confessed to Jesus, 1 Jn 1:9.
Ro 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)
If however a Christian sins willfully after coming to a knowledge of the truth it is going to bring God’s judgment, Heb 10:26.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
The New Testament example of the “sacrifice ceasing” is Hebrews 10:26, and this verse explains that the sacrifice “ends” due to willful sin.
God caused the sacrifice to cease in Dan 9:27, and the Bible tells us that Jesus’ sacrifice ceases in Hebrews 10:26.
So the question becomes what does this mean, and why does God cause the “sacrifice” to cease”?
The answer is that God causes the sacrifice to cease so that He can judge the person and express His displeasure regarding the Christian’s willful sin.
The sacrifice of an animal in the Old Covenant was the representation of Jesus’ sacrifice in the New Covenant.
The recognition of an activity as a sin, and then the confession of it to Jesus would bring forgiveness under the new Covenant.
The N.T. reality that the O.T. shadow represents, would according to Dan 9:27 involve God causing a New Covenant Christian that had previously been confessing a particular sin to stop confessing it as a sin.
When a Christian sins willfully God sends them “strong delusion” (2 Thess 2:11) so that they believe a lie so and can be judged for committing that sin, 1 Cor 11:32.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
In other words, in their deluded state, they would be encouraged by God to stop asking for forgiveness.
They would believe a lie concerning the sin and stop confessing it as a sin to obtain forgiveness from Jesus, 1 Jn 1:9.
When the sin is no longer just a mistake but becomes “willful” God sends the delusion so that the person no longer recognizes it as a sin, and no longer confesses it as a sin.
In this manner, they are not forgiven or saved from God’s “determined” judgment upon that particular sin.
The sacrifice for sin is Jesus, and the lack of an appeal to Him for forgiveness is here referred to as the “sacrifice ceasing”.
This is a willful sin, where repentance is not desired.
God sends the Christians a delusion so that they stop recognizing and confessing the activity as a sin (the sacrifice ceases).
They believe in a lie so that God can then judge them, resulting in their correction, 1 Cor 11:32.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Daniel 9:27 shows that the sacrifice ceases mid-week or during the time that God is confirming the covenant or agreement with His followers. The follower of God had been appealing for forgiveness previously, but God causes the person to stop appealing to Him for forgiveness during that symbolic week. Meaning they sin willfully at some point in their Christian lives.
Heb 10:26 and Dan 9:27 refer to the sacrifice ceasing when we willfully sin.
2 Thess 2:10-12 explains this in further detail. When a person sins they stop restraining sin and they become a “Man of Sin”.
2Th 2:10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
12 that they all might be judged (judged = Strong’s # 2919) who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
This willful sin is the “falling away” mentioned in 2 Thess 2:3.
2Th 2:3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
Willful sin is the Abomination that brings desolation.
This “falling away” is the precursor to God’s judgment referred to as the “Day of the Lord”, Joel 1:15.
In 2 Thess 2:10-12, the reason why the sacrifice ceases is explained.
In 2 Thess 2:10-12 God causes the sacrifice to cease because He sends the individual who persists in willful sin a “strong Delusion” so that they believe a lie.
In the deluded state, they continue in sin and experience God’s judgment.
They are corrected by God’s judgment and are brought out of willful sin, 1 Cor 11:32.
This is why Jesus can be called the “Lion” (or devourer) of the tribe of Judah. Jesus supervises the discipline of His followers, Mt 24:22.
Mt 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened.
This is by definition the application of God’s grace which teaches a person to deny ungodliness, Titus 2:11-12.
Tit 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
God’s grace has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11) but only those who humble themselves before God and put their trust in Christ are taught by God’s grace to deny ungodliness, James 4:6.
In this sequence of events, we can see the willfully sinful Christian being taught to deny ungodliness.
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
He does this so the person can be judged for the willful sin, and thereby be corrected through the judgment process as 1 Cor 11:32 shows.
2 Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved 11 And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie 12 (ASV) that they all might be judged who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The reason that God causes the sacrifice to cease in 2 Thess 2:10-12 is so that the individual will not be saved from His judgment upon their “willful sin”.
They will not be saved from his judgment upon their sin, the individual will have to be judged and experience God’s “determined” discipline which is the inevitable fire mentioned in Heb 10:27.
Heb 10:27 (YLT) but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers;
The fire melts all that opposes the truth from within the person’s heart.
In other words, the “elemental things “melt”, 2 Peter 3:10.
Gal 4:3 and 2 Pet 3:10-12 illustrate that the phrase “elemental things” refer to carnal or sinful tendencies within a Christian.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements (Strong’s 4747) will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
Ga 4:3 (KJV) Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements (Strong’s 4747) of the world:
These “elemental things” or elemental tendencies are melted on the “Day of the Lord”.
As Daniel 9:27 describes this process, “They are made desolate until the willful sin is consumed or until the “consummation”. Until the elemental things melt as 2 Peter 3:10 phrases it. In plain language, until they are taught by God’s grace to deny the ungodly activity, Titus 2:11-12 and 1 Cor 11:32.
God is of course patient, and if it takes the Christian a long time to learn to deny the ungodly activity God will temper his judgment accordingly. This would be like being saved through the fire, 1 Cor 3:15.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (KJV)
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Ga 4:3, Even so, we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
When Christians sin willfully they become “The man of sin” and God gives them over to delusion so that they believe the lie (2 Thess 2:11) and continue in that sin.
This abomination of continual willful sin brings desolation, as God judges sinful conduct.
They are judged for a particular sin in order that they will be turned away from the “elemental” things of the world and not be condemned along with the worldly people as 1 Cor 11:32 says.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
As God deals with the willful sin of His people, it is explained differently by other people in scripture.
Dealing first with the parable in Ezekiel 38 and 39 we see Gog and Magog (unbelievers) being used by God to discipline His wilfully sinful people in a similar manner.
It is explained in Ezekiel 38:16 that heathen or unbelievers are used to discipline God’s people and during that divine discipline, some of them will come to know God.
Eze 38:16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
God brings His enemies against His willfully sinful people in order to discipline and correct them. In that process, God saves some of the people He uses to bring about that discipline.
This is God’s evangelistic pattern as can be seen in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.
This is clearly happening in today’s societies all around the world.
This same discipline process is explained by John in parable form in Revelation 20.
We see the enemies surrounding God’s willfully sinful people and then the enemies are devoured by fire in Rev 20:8-9.
This same process is explained by Paul in 1 Thess 4:13-5:11.
The Lord descends to deal with willful sin.
The “sleeping” or willfully sinful Christians are brought back to obedience and join the Christians who have remained obedient.
When a Christian sins willfully (the abomination) it brings about the desolation of the temple seen in Matthew 24.
This is called the “Day of the Lord”, Isaiah 13:6.
Isa 13:6 ¶ Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
Matthew 24 shows us that the Lord Jesus explained the signs of this process of discipline to his obedient disciples.
Jesus clearly told us what to look for before the “Day of the Lord” happens.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
He warned them to flee when they saw the forces that God uses for discipline surrounding His people.
Whether we spiritually sense willful sin in a person’s life, or we see the enemies of God attacking a person or group of people we are to understand that Divine Discipline will certainly follow “an unrepentant attitude towards willful sin”.
This is not the case when a person is overtaken and commits a momentary sin. This is a deliberate willfully sinful state.
Obedient Christians are to separate themselves from these Christians when the particular sin is no longer just a mistake but becomes a pattern of behavior.
Interfering with this process is discouraged as can be seen through 1 Thess 4:15.
1Th 4:15 (MKJV) For we say this to you by the Word of [the] Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.
As obedient Christians see the “Day” coming they are not to “go before” their willfully sinful brethren or try to correct them, 1 Cor 5:11.
1Co 5:5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat.
Re 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Mt 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
The process of discipline that all of these individual Christian writers explained in different ways, is briefly summarized in the following verse.
1Co 5:5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (KJV)
As can be seen, all of the outlandish so-called end-time conclusions regarding parables can be dismissed when it is seen that most are actually parables concealing the degree to which God helps “willfully sinful” Christians become Christlike.
Thus, Christ in you the hope of glory, Col 1:27.
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
God conceals this truth in parables that cause most people to delve into irrelevant doctrinal pursuits His purpose in so doing (among other purposes that I do not understand) is to prevent unbelievers and unlearned Christians from understanding how truly loving He is until they have first submitted to Jesus.
In other words, a person progresses in understanding how loving God is only as they progress in their obedience to Him.
