Purpose
Verse 26 ends with the destruction of Jerusalem. Verse 27 begins with the seven last years and ends with further destruction. The purpose of this article is to identify what that last destruction is.
Translations Differ.
In most translations, the last part of verse 27 says that a desolator will be desolated. In the context of verse 26, where the Roman Empire destroys Jerusalem, this seems to refer to the destruction of the Roman Empire. Assuming that translation, and assuming that this destruction will be at the end of the last 7 years, Dispensationalism proposes that this will be the destruction of an end-time revived Roman Empire, at Christ’s return.
However, in the more literal translations of verse 27, such as the KJV, Young’s Literal Translation, and the Literal Standard Version, the desolated one will be completely destroyed (Biblehub). In that case, in the context, it would be the destruction of the one who is desolated in verse 26, which is Jerusalem in AD 70.
Purpose
The question, therefore, is whether verse 27 describes the destruction of Jerusalem or the Roman Empire. Since different translations present this verse differently, the context must interpret this verse.
Destruction of Jerusalem
For the reasons below, it is proposed that the desolations in verse 27 are the same as the destruction mentioned in the previous verse, namely, Jerusalem in AD 70:
(1) Poetic Pattern
As discussed, the prophecy has a poetic pattern that alternates between Jerusalem and the Messiah. In this pattern, the destruction in verse 27 is the destruction of Jerusalem:
| JERUSALEM | MESSIAH |
| 25a Decree to restore Jerusalem | 25b Until Messiah the Prince |
| 25c There will be seven weeks | 25d and sixty-two weeks |
| 25e It will be built again … | 26a Messiah cut off |
| 26b People … destroy the city | 27a He will make a firm covenant and put a stop to sacrifice |
| 27b destruction |
(2) Chiasm
As also discussed, the events in the prophecy of Daniel 9 also form a chiasm. In this chiasm, the destruction in the last part of verse 27 aligns with the decree to restore Jerusalem (verse 25a):
25a From the decree to restore Jerusalem
25b Until Messiah the Prince
25c It will be built again
26a Messiah will be cut off
26b People will destroy the city and the sanctuary
27a He will make a firm covenant / put a stop to sacrifice
27b A complete destruction
(3) Repeated Words and Phrases
The destruction in verse 27 repeats the key words and concepts from the destruction of Jerusalem in verse 26. The following compares the relevant parts of the two verses (NASB):
| v26: The people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end, there will be war; desolations are determined. | v27: On the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” |
The following are key phrases from verse 26 that are repeated in verse 27:
Both verses refer to desolations (Strong number H8074) that are decreed or determined (Strong number H2782).
Both verses use water as a symbol of the force of destruction: In verse 26, desolations will come with a “flood.” In verse 27, they are “poured out.”
Both verses include the concept of completion: Verse 26 refers to the “end” (of the city). Verse 27 refers to a “complete destruction.”
The similarities of the destructions in the two verses imply that they describe the same event. Verse 26 identifies it as the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
(4) Abomination of Desolation
Jesus possibly associated the last part of verse 27 with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 when He said:
“Therefore, when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand) …” (Matt 24:15)
Here, Jesus refers to Daniel by name and to the “abomination of desolation.” This phrase appears a number of times in Daniel. Daniel 9 does not use this exact phrase, but the last part of verse 27 does say that desolation will follow after abominations: “On the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate.” It is, therefore, possible that Jesus was referring to the last part of verse 27.
In Dispensationalism, Jesus, with this statement, put the “abomination of desolation” at the end of the age. However, the parallel statement is Luke 21:20-23 (compare to Matt 24:16-19). Luke, writing to Gentiles, who were not equally familiar with the Book of Daniel, interpreted Jesus’ reference to the abomination of desolation as the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem. This provides possible support for the conclusion that the destruction in verse 27 describes the events of AD 70.
Conclusions
Verse 27 repeats verse 26.
The previous article has concluded that it is the Messiah, who dies in verse 26, who confirms the covenant for the last seven years and who puts a stop to sacrifices in verse 27. Since the current article has shown that the destruction in verse 27 is the same as the destruction of Jerusalem in verse 26, the entire verse 27 repeats and elaborates on verse 26:
| A: Messiah | B: Jerusalem | |
| 26 | Cut off after the 62 weeks | People of the prince would destroy the city. |
| 27 | Firm covenant for one week Put a stop to sacrifice |
on the wing of abominations … one who makes desolate, … a complete destruction |
Jerusalem was destroyed because it killed the Messiah.
Verse 25 promises the reconstruction of Jerusalem to receive the Messiah. Verse 26, by mentioning the destruction of Jerusalem after the killing of the Messiah, implies that the city would be destroyed because it killed the Messiah. Verse 27 repeats that principle. It says that a desolator (a destroyer) will make a complete destruction on the wing of (meaning, shortly after) abominations (meaning, some repulsive sin). In the context, the abomination is Israel’s rejection and killing of its Messiah. Shortly after, the complete destruction of Jerusalem followed.
Other Articles
Other Core Articles
For general theology, I recommend Graham Maxwell, whom you will find here.