And after three score 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.--Daniel ix. 26.
This vision of Daniel appears involved in considerable obscurity,
by the diversity of time alluded to in the several parts of
the prophecy, and renders it difficult to prove its exact
accomplishment. But we hope we have shown in the preceding part,
that it does not militate against "the truth as it is in Jesus,"
it rather tends to strengthen the testimony, by affording an
additional opportunity of proving, from sacred and profane history,
the fulfilment of the great event. The proof of its accomplishment
does not rest on the insulated fact, but is established by a chain
of evidence, derived from the annals of nations. For, whichever of
the decrees we take, it is clear from ancient chronology, that the
period alluded to is passed, and the Messiah did appear not far
from the time named by any decree. As we have attempted to prove the
fulfilment of the first part of the prophetic vision, it may not be
improper if we now endeavour to show that the remaining part of this
interesting prophecy has also been accomplished.
"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." "Secret things belong unto God;
but things that are revealed, to you and your children." We cannot
ascertain to a certainty when the seventy-two weeks commence, but
it is evident they terminate at the cutting off of the Messiah.
From the words "And the end thereof shall be with a flood, and
unto the end of the war desolations are determined," it appears,
also, to allude to the destruction of the city, previous to which
event the Messiah should be cut off. We hope we shall not offer
any violence to the words, if we give them this interpretation.
The destruction of Jerusalem is not the only event alluded to in
this interesting prophecy; there is one of paramount importance
to the ruin of Salem's palaces, though that involved the fate
of Judah's sons. On the other momentous fact hang the highest
interests of Jew and Gentile, bond and free, past, present, and
future generations; not only the happiness of earth, but much of
the glory of heaven, depends on its accomplishment. Without it no
sweet song of "Salvation to God and the Lamb," would have echoed
amidst the heavenly hills, none of the race of Adam would be seen
worshipping before the presence of Jehovah with the angels of light;
those melodious hymns of redemption, now chaunted by ten thousand
times ten thousand glorified Saints, had not been heard but for the
vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God,[127] who not only covenanted,
but did actually lay down his life a ransom for sinners. When
Jesus, the Christ of God, the Prince Messiah, appeared on earth,
it was not simply to set the children of men an example of piety
and virtue; we ardently admire his glorious example, and consider
his followers bound to imitate the bright pattern he has left them;
yet we dare not believe that _that_ was the only object he designed
to accomplish when he visited our world.[128] No, he came as the
federal Head, the Representative and Surety of his people.[129] He
was "cut off from the land of the living," by a violent and cruel
death; yet not for himself, not for any sin of his own,[130] nor
purposely to set us a pattern of patience and resignation; but to
discharge the debt of sin, he had covenanted to cancel on man's
account. Jehovah executed towards him the severest justice, and
permitted his crucifiers to exercise the blackest ingratitude, and
most inhuman cruelty. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou who killest
the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often
would the Lord have gathered thee under his protecting care as a
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not." Thy
awful doom was sealed when thou didst reject the authority, and
persecute unto death Jesus the Messiah, thy prophet and benefactor,
thy God and King. The thought of thy approaching misery drew tears
from the eyes, and groans from the heart, of Incarnate Deity; yet
thy children beheld, with feelings of triumphant scorn, the sorrows
and sufferings their wanton cruelty inflicted on the Holy Jesus.
But heaven marked the impious deed.[131] The blood of Jesus, of
prophets, of apostles, and of martyrs, called for vengeance on
thy guilty land; the cry was heard, justice remembered thy black
catalogue of crimes, the King of heaven beheld the insult offered
to his beloved Son, and Jehovah arose to punish thy rejection of
Jesus the Messiah, whom "ye would not have to reign over you." The
crimes of Jerusalem were of the blackest and most awful character,
and her punishment was tremendously dreadful.[132] The Israelites,
once the peculiar favourites of Heaven[133]--nursed in the lap of
plenty, instructed in the oracles of God--blessed with the temple
of Jehovah--taught to adore the God of truth whom their forefathers
worshipped; this people, who once had the Lord for their Law-giver
and King,[134] were compelled to bow beneath the oppressive power of
arbitrary despots--the law of truth was exchanged for the tyrant's
mandate--equity and justice were banished the walls of Salem, and
despotism, oppression, blasphemy, and pride, reigned within that
devoted, miserable, city. Anarchy and confusion ruled that senate
and sanctuary, once as gloriously "distinguished from the rest of
the world by the purity of its government, as by the richness and
elegance of its buildings. Jerusalem was devoted to destruction,
and she sunk beneath the accumulated horrors of war, famine, fire,
and pestilence. Internal faction and a foreign foe reduced that
beauteous city and magnificent sanctuary, to a heap of ruins. The
temple fell--not all the commands, promises, or threats of Titus,
could save that splendid edifice from destruction; the people of the
prince, regardless of their general's orders, helped to complete
the work of desolation;--but prophecy was fulfilled, Jerusalem was
overwhelmed with the flood of divine vengeance, and desolation
prevailed even unto the end of the war.
[127] John xiv. 6.
[128] John xii, 27.
[129] 1 Corinthians xv. 22. Romans v. 17-19.
[130] Luke xxiii. 4. Isaiah liii. 5, 10.
[131] Matthew xxiii. 35-37.
[132] Matthew xxiv. 21.
[133] Deuteronomy iv. 7.
[134] Deuteronomy iv. 5, 8.