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Various Schools of Interpretation
Not surprisingly, different interpreters have
reached very different (and often very colorful) conclusions as to what this
prophecy is supposed to mean. However, the main differences eventually
boil down to which method
of interpretation--historical-grammatical (literal), or
allegorical (figurative)--the interpreter employs. The more one spiritualizes passages by
means of figurative interpretation the more subjective (and therefore more dubious)
the conclusions
become--this prophecy is no
exception. Even among the many who
interpret with some degree of literalness, there are still disputes
over word meanings and the degree of literalness which should be applied.
Non-Christological Views
- Liberal critical.
This view considers
the book of Daniel to be a 2nd Century forgery written
long after the events actually occurred. All 70 weeks were fulfilled in events following the Maccabean persecution.
- Conservative amillennial.
This view considers the
"weeks" to be
of an intentionally indefinite length--some period of time measured by the number seven.
They conclude the
duration has to be determined
by other
[subjective] means.
- Orthodox Jewish.
This view considers the 70 weeks
to have ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
This is essentially the preterist view.
Christological Views
- Amillennial view.
This view considers the 70th week to immediately follow the 69th, and therefore
is historically
fulfilled--ending 3-1/2 years after Christ's death. This is the
Roman Catholic view, and has historically been the predominant view of the
Church since Augustine.- Futuristic view.
This view considers a necessary time gap between the 69th and 70th
week (for reasons I will explain later), and a yet future fulfillment of events described in the 70th
week. Only this view allows for complete literal fulfillment.
[Daniel--The Key To Prophetic Revelation,
Walvoord]


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