Confirmation of the Covenant: Who are “He” and “the Many”?

Which Christ confirms the covenant in Daniel 9:27 for seven years, Jesus or Antichrist? And who is this covenant made with that is only described as "the many?" Is it the Jews or someone else?

A Reader's Question

Tim: My question is in regard to the word "many". I used my concordance with not much luck. I noted that you had written down in your book, the meaning of the word HaRabim translated "the many". Where do I find the Hebrew meaning for many? Where did you come up with HaRabim?

I was in a very large bible study class last evening. We have been studying Daniel and at this point it was on Daniel 9. I was fine until we got to the word many and our Bible Study teacher indicated it was Jews. I raised the question as to why it was a covenant only with the Jews as the word stated many. Our teacher stated it was written to the Jews so therefore the many were the Jews. HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We use the precept method which is asking who,what, why, where, when, how etc., Many would mean to me people other than Israel/Jews or whatever. A group or many nations.

I hope you can help me out. I love your articles and books. Keep up the good work.

Linda

Linda's question comes from this verse:

Daniel 9:27 (HCSB) He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”

The question is, who is the "he?" The traditional view of this passage is that "he" here refers to the Antichrist. The Antichrist will confirm a covenant and stop sacrifices that at some point a future will resume, and set up the Abomination of Desolation.

Preterists say that he refers to the real Christ; Jesus Christ is actually the one that causes sacrifices to stop by sacrificing himself. As far as the overspreading of abominations I don't know how they explain that.

Confirmer of the Covenant Confirmed Elsewhere

So how do we know who the he is? We can know for sure who he is. The he of Daniel 9:27 does three things: he first confirms the covenant, he stops the daily sacrifices, and he sets up the Abomination of Desolation.

In Daniel 11 we have a discourse about the King of the North. When you get to verse 31, it talks about the Antichrist and his partners placing a abomination that makes desolate and stopping the sacrifices. This is absolute proof that the he of Daniel 9:27 is the Antichrist not the real Christ.

Daniel 11:31 (KJV) And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

If you're not sure this is the Antichrist, read on what else this man does:

Daniel 11:36 (KJV) And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

Christ Speaking Against God?

Is that Jesus Christ speaking against the God of gods? Obviously not. It's the Antichrist exalting himself above all that is called God.

The apostle Paul referred to the same thing. In 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4 the apostle Paul said that day shall not come, speaking of the second coming, until there comes a rebellion first and that Man of Sin is revealed, the Son of Perdition, who exalts himself above all that is called God of that is worshiped and sits in the Temple of God claiming to be God. So both of these phrases talking about the Antichrist talk about him exalting himself above God and claiming to be God. Daniel 9:27 is speaking about the Antichrist which is also the reason that Preterism is a false doctrine and should not be believed.

When?

The timing of the Confirmation of the Covenant is another issue that I have researched with great success. Certain things Jesus said that most Christians overlook unlock even the very day that this event will happen, as well as the day of the rapture. See this long study for the two overlooked statements of Jesus revealing the Book of Revelation's Timeline.

Who Are "The Many" (HaRabim)?

There is nothing in the passage to indicate who the many (haRabim) refers to. However, Dan 12 does say that Daniel was sealed until later...

I believe the book of Revelation that came later showed us the rest of the story on that Antichrist covenant. Rev 17 talks about the Beast (AC) having a covenant with ten rulers who don't have a kingdom but have the power to make him king and then receive rulership with him. HaRabim can also be translated "the great" which is what Rav (rabbi) is connoted to mean when Jews call their teachers rabbi (my great one). The Ten Rulers are indeed great ones to have power over the earth and make him supreme, not Jewish ones.

Article continues below...

"Depart From Me, I Never Knew you!" - Jesus

Jesus predicted that he will tell many sincere believers to basically "get lost" instead of welcoming them into the Kingdom. So...who are they and what did they miss or do wrong? In this study, get those answers and the one requirement for salvation Jesus taught (that Christianity misses) so that you can make sure you don't hear these dreaded words yourself!

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7comments
Rick - April 9, 2020

In the eight years of president Obama I didn’t hear anything of interest so I didn’t listen to any politics. One day I saw the president on the news discussing ISIS and their territory. The pres mentioned the word Levant, and that became the most important word of the day for me. I studied this word and found a lot of interesting details. You should research it. In Daniel the statue is being described, you know the story. Each of the kingdoms in the statue took the Levant from the prior king. This is the ONLY possible thread or key to know where we are today. Almost all prophecy teachers say that Rome was the last kingdom and we are waiting for Rome to be reinstated. Not so, after Rome fell, the Ottoman Empire came to be and they ruled the Levant until 1925 when England France and Russia conquered them. They formed the League of Nations. After WW2 they changed to the United Nations and this group still today is busy controlling the Levant. When God is describing the end time kingdom, he says it is multi national, multi languages and so on.

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Rick - April 6, 2020

I have been studying God’s word for over 40 years daily. To this time I have NEVER read or seen or heard of any covenant made between Satan and any other man on earth. In Genesis it does show the covenant between YHWH God and all men. This was shown first like I said in Genesis when the constellation Virgo gave birth to the man child and Satan was there ready to devour him. I can show you using the statue in Daniel that the timing for the nation that will be in power described there is none other than the UN. If you open your eyes you will see that the destruction of Israel will be 70 years after the command goes forth to rebuild Jerusalem (Jeremiah) . The command went forth in 1947, maybe you think that it is just a coincidence that on 23 sept 2017 (70 years later) that the constellation Virgo did indeed give birth to the King planet (Confirmation). Exactly three and a half years later is May 2021. Just a little food for thought. No one knows everything but it sure fits

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Aaron - February 22, 2020

The covenant with many I believe involves many nations, to include the state of Israel. For in the last days (which we are living), perplexities will multiply and make way for destruction against the Jewish nation. But this one world leader that rises to power will confirm a covenant with many that will start the final week. Notice how this is not the anti-christ yet. The devil hasn’t lost the war against Michael and his angels until Rev 12. In Rev 13, the beast out of the sea represents that vast empire that the antichrist will control. But it also reads on in 13 that he is mortally wounded. And the wound was healed and the world rejoiced and marveled. I believe the time of the second three and a half years, also known as the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24, will see this leader incarnated from Lucifer. Another beast rises up from the earth in Rev 13 (the false prophet) which forces all people to worship the image of the first beast. And he also forces all people – small and great, rich and poor, free and captive, to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead.
The covenant is a way to disarm and bring about a false peace as shortly described in 1st Thessalonians 5:3- when they cry out peace and safety, then sudden destruction come upon them.

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James Fulton - December 8, 2019

Hi Tim,
After having read Isaiah 28 and about the covenant of death. This seems to be echoed in the covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27. Also Isaiah 33:7-9. If that is true, then wouldn’t the “many” actually be Israel? How can the covenant of death be explained with regards to Daniel 9:27?
I’m felling confused. I need some guidance on this.

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    Tim McHyde - December 8, 2019

    James, Michael Rood thinks Isaiah’s “Covenant with Death” is about an Israel land-for-peace deal that already happened with Olso that the Intifada disrupted and is not related to the 70th week. I don’t know, but agree it’s not related to Daniel 9:27 which is about a covenant between the Antichrist and “ha-rabim” which can be translated the powerful or the many which either way does not fit Israel but does fit the ten powerful rulers the Antichrist makes a covenant with (Rev 17).

    Reply
      James Fulton - December 9, 2019

      Thanks Tim, that really helped! I should really get myself a good study bible. I probably will do that real soon!

      Reply
Donny Chartrand - August 2, 2017

I lean more to a post trib rapture because it says in REV 6-11 about the opening of the fifth seal and them that were slain for the word of God so to me obviously christians are still here on earth and another thing what would be the point of the mark of the beast and persecution if all of the believers were raptured then you wouldn,t have no one to force or causeth if you will to take the mark. REV 3,10 also talks about the tribulation we will have to go through but if we are faithful even unto death God will give us a crown of life.

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