And he must keep the covenant in force for the many for one week; and at the half of the week he will cause sacrifice and gift offering to cease.” (Daniel 9:26a, 27a) The critical time was “at the half of the week,” that is, the middle of the last week of years.

24, 25. (a) As prophesied, when did Christ die, and to what did his death and resurrection bring an end? (b) What did Jesus’ death make possible?

²⁴ Jesus Christ’s public ministry began in the latter part of 29 C.E. and lasted for three and a half years. As prophesied, early in 33 C.E., Christ was “cut off” when he died on a torture stake, giving his human life as a ransom for mankind. (Isaiah 53:8; Matthew 20:28) The need for the animal sacrifices and the gift offerings prescribed by the Law ceased when the resurrected Jesus presented the value of his sacrificed human life to God in heaven. Although the Jewish priests continued to make offerings until the destruction of Jerusalem’s temple in 70 C.E., such sacrifices were no longer acceptable to God. They had been replaced by a better sacrifice, one that never had to be repeated. The apostle Paul wrote: “[Christ] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually . . . For it is by one sacrificial offering that he has made those who are being sanctified perfect perpetually.”—Hebrews 10:12, 14.

26. (a) Although the Law covenant had been removed, what covenant was ‘kept in force for one week’? (b) What took place at the end of the 70th week?

²⁶ So it was that Jehovah removed the Law covenant by means of Christ’s death in 33 C.E. How, then, could it be said that the Messiah “must keep the covenant in force for the many for one week”? Because he kept the Abrahamic covenant in force. Until the 70th week ended, God extended the blessings of that covenant to Abraham’s Hebrew offspring. But at the end of the “seventy weeks” of years, in 36 C.E., the apostle Peter preached to the devout Italian man Cornelius, his household, and other Gentiles. And from that day on, the good news began to be declared among people of the nations.—Acts 3:25, 26; 10:1-48; Galatians 3:8, 9, 14.

29. What was to happen to rebuilt Jerusalem, and for what reason?

²⁹ Gabriel had previously prophesied that Jerusalem would be rebuilt. Now he foretells the destruction of that rebuilt city and its temple, saying: “The city and the holy place the people of a leader that is coming will bring to their ruin. And the end of it will be by the flood. And until the end there will be war; what is decided upon is desolations. . . . And upon the wing of disgusting things there will be the one causing desolation; and until an extermination, the very thing decided upon will go pouring out also upon the one lying desolate.” (Daniel 9:26b, 27b) Although this desolation would take place after the “seventy weeks,” it would be a direct result of happenings during the final “week,” when the Jews rejected Christ and had him put to death.—Matthew 23:37, 38.

30. As shown by the historical record, how was the decree of the Great Timekeeper fulfilled?

³⁰ Historical records show that in 66 C.E., Roman legions under Syrian Governor Cestius Gallus surrounded Jerusalem. Despite Jewish resistance, the Roman forces bearing their idolatrous ensigns, or standards, penetrated the city and started to undermine the temple wall on the north. Their standing there made them a “disgusting thing” that could cause complete desolation. (Matthew 24:15, 16) In 70 C.E., the Romans under General Titus came like a “flood” and desolated the city and its temple. Nothing stopped them, for this had been decreed—“decided upon”—by God. The Great Timekeeper, Jehovah, had again fulfilled his word!