A fresh look at Daniel 9:27

Let me say from the start this post will be considered as everything from the ramblings of a man with too much time on his hands by some to out and out heresy by others. I say that because some of what I am about to write goes against some of the traditional views we have had of end time events in the church. This post is not meant to start a new doctrine or teaching, but rather to provoke thought and prayerful consideration.

Daniel 9:27 is one of the most studied and quoted verses by students of end time prophecy. It is the verse where we learn of the Antichrist's seven year peace agreement with Israel. Here is the text of Daniel 9:27 - Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. There is one word I want to take a closer look at in this verse, and that word is confirm.

In Hebrew the word confirm is gabar which means: exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more strength, strengthen, be stronger, be valiant. (New Strong's Dictionary of Greek and Hebrew Words)

Many Biblical scholars, especially those who study the end times, believe that a better understanding of this verse is not that the Antichrist will make a new covenant with Israel, but rather he will confirm (strengthen, make stronger) one that already exists. This confirmation (strengthening, making stronger) will be for seven years.

Since we the church will be raptured before this occurs, what does this have to do with us? Consider if you will the overwhelming effort underway to bring peace to the Middle East. Rarely a day goes by that there is not a story in the news about movement on the Middle East peace process. Could it be that in the coming months and years we will see a peace agreement reached involving Israel that will be the peace agreement the Antichrist confirms (strengthens, makes stronger) when he arrives?

No one can say for sure. Israel will be living in peace at the time of the Gog-Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38-39 (Ezekiel 38:8,11,14). It could be that any peace reached in the near future is the peace that will be in place then. Could that peace be confirmed (strengthened, made stronger) by the Antichrist after Gog-Magog?

Only the unfolding of time will tell if a peace agreement reached in the coming moths and years is one that will be confirmed (strengthened, made stronger) by the Antichrist. What we do know is this, someday there will be a peace agreement involving Israel and calls and progress toward one are a sure sign that we are living in the last days.