Here again is something from
Daniel that just might be a reference to the Beast in the context of prophecy.
Daniel 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even
the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused
to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and
said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the
commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly
beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people
and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and 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. 25 Know therefore and understand,
that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem
unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:
the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall
Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that
shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall
be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 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.
That passage in Daniel
seems to favor an Historicist sort of interpretation as the figure that cuts
off the Messiah is Rome, a system of government and an empire. Some
commentators mark a break between verse 26 and 27 in chapter nine of Daniel to
refer to the Beast making covenant or confirming a covenant for a week. As
weeks are said to represent years by some this suggests the Beast’s wrath
against the Jews will take place in the middle of the week or 3 ½ years. Do you
see how complicated this can get with interpretations within interpretations
and people lining up on different sides of any argument?
Speculation and theorizing
aside let us move on with the text and things that can be drawn directly from
it.
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