Is this speaking of a literal flood, or just that the end will be sudden and destructive like a flood? Did this happen in AD70 when the Romans armies destroyed the city of Jerusalem, or does it refer to a future event?
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The book of Daniel is difficult, and this verse is particularly difficult, since it jumps from the time of the Roman destruction in 70 AD up to the time of the fourth beast within one sentence. The whole of chapter 9 occurs during the reign of Darius I, who was a Mede under the high angel called the Prince of Persia (Dan 10:13, 20). The people of the prince that shall come are the people of the prince of Javan, a high angel who comes after the prince of Persia. Javan was translated as Grecia, but actually the similarity between the Greeks and Romans is so close that they both should be spiritually classified as included in Javan, who had four sons (representing four different peoples). The "end thereof shall be with a flood and unto the end of the war desolations are determined." This means that the whole matter of rebuilding a new Temple (sanctuary) will not be resolved until the end, or specifically, the end of the times of the Gentiles, since war and desolations will prevent it. Any attempt to prematurely rebuild the Temple on a permanent basis will be unsuccessful until the fourth beast is destroyed. In fact, after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans, no temple has yet been built, even though the Jews now occupy the land. The flood is a flood of unstoppable war and violence, as described in Isaiah 59:19: "...When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." The next verse confirms that even though the temple will be rebuilt at the time of the fourth beast, it will be suffer desolation because of the abominations. The beast is engaged at that time in war with the kings of the east (Dan 11:44) and after his defeat the times of the Gentiles will be over (Dan 7:11, Rev 10:6). It is only after this time that a permanent Temple (sanctuary) can be functioning. For a more detailed explanation of the four beasts and great image of Daniel, read the free download at http://theheckhypothesis.com/downloads.html
The context of the “flood”, the “people”, and the “prince” of Daniel 9:26 is in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Romans (under the command of General Titus). The destruction was like/as a flood: decisive, complete and many were slain (including civilians) and taken captives and sold into slavery – as in being washed away by a flood. Jesus predicted this also: "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Mat. 24:2). This was verified by Josephus. The “people” here, besides the Romans, refers to the Arabs, Syrians, Greeks, Turkish, et. Al. that mostly composed of the Roman army of Titus. But the “prince” here does not refer to Titus; it refers to Satan himself or his incarnate, the Anti-Christ. This mixed-people army was also described in Daniel 2:33 as “part of iron and part of clay”. These are the same mixed peoples that shall make war with Jesus in His 2nd coming in the final battle of Armageddon.
Daniel 9:26 (NKJV): "…And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.” The prince who is to come is the Antichrist, for we see in Dan. 9:27 that this same person makes a covenant with the many (the Jews) for one week (Daniel’s 70th Week – the Tribulation), but in the middle of the Week he removes the regular sacrifice, and sets up the abomination of desolation (a statue that he will require people to honor and worship). “The end of it shall be with a flood” is in reference to the sanctuary being destroyed. Currently, the only sanctuary on the Temple Mount is the Muslim Dome of the Rock. I believe it will be destroyed in a time of war, and I believe this happens concurrent with the First Seal (Rev. 6:2) when the Antichrist goes out conquering and to conquer. The word, ‘flood’, in Dan. 9:26, is tied into a war by the last sentence, but it is also conjoined with the word, ‘war’ in the eleventh chapter of Daniel. The NASB for Dan 11:22 reads, “The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant.” This is saying that the armies gathered before him (the Antichrist) will be “flooded away” and ‘shattered’ (broken in pieces – Strong’s). It is implying a war breaks out when the Antichrist comes to power. Most commentators ascribe Dan. 11:20-35 to Antiochus the IV, but I believe he should be limited to Dan. 11:20 only. To my knowledge, everyone agrees that the person in Dan. 11:19 is Antiochus the III. In Dan. 11:20 we have a new person (then shall arise in his place) that “sends an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom.” Here is a quote from my book, The Rapture and the Last Seven Years: “Antiochus IV sent a man by the name of Menelaus through Jerusalem to convert Jews to the worship of Greek gods. This is the person who is referred to as an oppressor in verse twenty. The NASB alternate translation for oppressor is "exactor of tribute.” This is exactly what Menelaus did. He had the sacred name of God, Yahweh, identified with Zeus. He also ordered the Jews to sacrifice to Hellenic deities. His demands for tribute came by way of asking the Jews to sell their temple vessels to pay for taxes.” Then in Dan. 11:21 we have a new person (the Antichrist) who comes “in the place” of Antiochus the IV in Dan. 11:20. Here is a second quote from my book: “The person in verse twenty dies "neither in anger nor in battle.” Antiochus IV died in route to a war on the Arabian coast from an unknown disease. It is speculated that he may have died from epilepsy, or madness, in the year 164 BC. Antiochus IV fulfills everything that is mentioned in verse twenty. His exploits do not comply with the description found in verse twenty-one. Verse twenty-one is the turning point, from past to future, for the vision that is explained to Daniel in Chapter Eleven.” So, what this does is open up the eleventh chapter of Daniel to a more detailed view of what will transpire when the Antichrist comes to power. And Dan. 11:22 in the NASB, ties it to the word flood: Daniel 11:22 (NASB) "The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant.” God bless!
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