Deeper Reflection
We can look at the prophetic-theological vision of Daniel (vv.25-27) as being initially fulfilled historically “in the period of time running up to the terrible blasphemy and persecution of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and especially his desecration of the temple in 167 BC [v.27].”²³The seventy “weeks”/“sevens” (v.24) are divided into three distinct periods of seven weeks, sixty-two weeks, and one week, as summarised by Bible scholar Robert Chisholm Jr.: “The first period of seven weeks begins with a decree to rebuild Jerusalem and ends with the arrival of an anointed ruler, whose task appears to be to carry out the decree [v.25a]. A period of sixty-two weeks then follows, during which the city is rebuilt [v.25b] and after which an anointed one (not referred to as a ruler) is cut off. Jerusalem is destroyed by the people (or army) of a ruler who is to come [v.26]. War persists to the end, when an unidentified individual (presumably the ruler who is to come) ratifies a covenant with many for one week, but then desecrates the temple before meeting his demise [v.27].”²⁴Note that descriptions like “anointed one”, “times of distress”, “the prince to come”, “war”, “flood” and “one who make desolate” are not specific enough for specific identification.²⁵ They are symbols – theological symbols. ²⁶ Daniel’s prophetic-theological vision is a prophetic-theological paradigm for strong>reapplication”²⁷ . An initial fulfilment of the vision will be followed by further partial fulfilments in history – characteristically marked by opposition to worship to God and desecration of God’s temple (v.27; cf. 2 Thess 2:3-4) – until it reaches the climactic fulfilment.

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²³ Christopher J. H. Wright, 208 ²⁴ Robert B. Chisholm Jr., 314; emphasis mine ²⁵ John E. Goldingay, 267 ²⁶ John E. Goldingay, 267-68 ²⁷ John E. Goldingay, 267