In light of Daniel 9-24, I interpret the remaining verses to center in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.----This is why I understand the Lord Jesus to be the subject of Daniel 9-27, -He -the Messiah- shall confirm the covenant with many- ------------- -------- ----------, --- ----------- - ------- --- --------.----Therefore, I interpret the -many- as referring to the Jewish remnant, in keeping with Isaiah 53-11-12, fulfilled on the cross -Matthew 20-28-, and anticipated in the cup of the Lord's Supper -Matthew 26-27-28- Mark 14-23-24- Luke 22-20-.----The Lord Jesus made strong God's covenant with Abraham by suffering the curse of that covenant -Genesis 15-18-, because God had called down damnation on his own head if the promise to Abram failed -Genesis 15-8-17 with Jeremiah 34-18-20-.----The whole context of the Lord's Supper is the eternal covenant, initially inaugurated with Abraham, confirmed in the cross, and sealed in the cup -Luke 22-29-.----In light of Matthew 24-15-16, Mark 13-14, and Luke 21-20 , we must understand the last part of Daniel 9-26-27 as pointing to the Roman prince Titus who accomplished this in A.D. 70, within the lifetime of those who witnessed the Messiah's being cut off by his crucifixion.

What does it mean for the Messiah to be cut off ----- after Daniel's 69th -week- -Daniel 9-26------This takes us back to Genesis 15-18 when God cut ----- a covenant --------- with Abram, where the LORD himself passes between the slaughtered animals, calling down a curse on himself if the covenant is not confirmed -Genesis 15-17-.----It also points to how the covenant was sealed with an external token, circumcision- -It shall be the sign of the covenant --------- between me and you- -Genesis 17-11- .----However, when someone refused to submit to circumcision, -That person shall be cut off ----- from his people- he has broken my covenant ---------- -Genesis 17-14-.----The Lord Jesus' ultimate baptism did not take place in A.D. 26, when he was baptized by John in the Jordan River- it was in A.D. 30 when the wrath of God was poured out on him on the cross, and he was immersed under divine judgment -Matthew 20-22-. His baptism is our baptism -Romans 6-2-11-.----Jesus true circumcision did not take place when was eight days old, but when he was cut off in covenant judgment on the cross. Because all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily in the Lord Jesus Christ, his circumcision is our circumcision and his baptism is our baptism -Colossians 2-9-12-

This is the memorial for Joseph L. Appalucci.----Joe was born in a poor, Polish-Italian neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 1, 1930.----But he climbed the ladder of success and became the Partner and Creative Director of Lieberman-Appalucci, the largest advertising agency in Northeast Pennsylvania.----He was a syndicated cartoonist and artist, and he designed his own home.----He served as a U.S. Marine for two years during the Korean Conflict within 1949-52 and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with one star and the United Nations Service Medal.----He loved his wife of almost 60 years, Eileen, and their three daughters.----Due to his knowledge of history and his experiences in Korea, Joe was a deeply cynical man. He despised hypocrisy and that carried over to political and religious leaders. But he and I became very close friends, and one day he asked if he could paint me. That painting is linked as a PDF.----The Holy Spirit pursued Joe, and on Thursday evening, July 16, 2021, he laid Joe bare.----His memorial service was attended by a wide spectrum of people, and I used his painting of me to explain the gospel. I spoke about his placing me inside the cross as my only hope. A bright Muslim woman came up to me afterwards and said, -I think he painted you as carrying the cross.- I thanked her for her insight and I also see that as part of the meaning as well.

John 2-20 informs us that Herod the Great's remodeling program had been going on for 46 years, from 19 B.C., putting Jesus' first cleansing of the Temple around A.D. 26-27, at the beginning of his ministry.--The Lord Jesus refers to his own physical body -John 2-21- when he declares- -Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up- -John 2-19-. Yet as is often the case, Jesus' words are a double entendre- He is talking about his human body, but there is a deeper meaning- By his death and resurrection, he replaces the shadow of the Old Covenant Temple with the substance of the Temple of the New Covenant -Hebrews 8-1-5- 9-1-10-22.--Peter declares that the LORD Jesus Christ is the living Stone -1 Peter 2-4-. Jesus is the Rock who traveled with Israel in the Wilderness -1 Corinthians 10-4-. We, too, are built on this solid foundation -Ephesians 2-19-22-. We, too, are living stones of the Temple that God is continuing to build -1 Peter 2-5-.--Individual believers are living stones in the Temple of the New Covenant -1 Corinthians 3-9-17-. These stones are not lying here and there along the road- they are being fitted into the ever increasing Temple of the New Covenant -1 Corinthians 3-16- Ephesians 2-20-22- Revelation 21-16, where this structure is a cube over 1,300 miles on each side-.--Believers cannot be lost, but they can lose rewards -1 Corinthians 3-12-15-. --First Corinthians 3-16-17 is not about taking care of our bodies- it is about people who destroy God's Temple by false doctrine. Jim Jones of the so-called Peoples' Temple destroyed God's Church and is in hell -1 Corinthians 3-16-17-.

The fifth thing that would be accomplished during Daniel's 70th week was -to seal up vision and prophecy- -Daniel 9-24-.--Hebrews 1-1-2 makes very plain that God has fulfilled this by sending his Son. -In these last days,- should be translated- -At the end of these days,- referring to the completion of the Old Testament, i.e. -to seal up vision and prophecy.----The faith,- the whole body of Apostolic Truth, has been -once for all entrusted to the saints- -Jude 3-.--And we need nothing else by which to measure truth from falsehood. --However, we must remember two truths.--First, the Holy Spirit speaks most frequently through the preaching of the Word of God. He is the one who gives unique, personal application within the general application by a preacher's spoken words.--Secondly, the Bible does us no real good unless we come to the Lord Jesus Christ- -You diligently study the Scriptures because you think -imagine- that by them you possess eternal life,- said the Lord Jesus and added, -These are the Scriptures that testify about me.---The whole Bible should be in -Red Letters,- because the whole Bible is about the Lord Jesus Christ.--But Jesus reminds us that the Bible itself is designed to bring us into a relationship with him- -Yet you refuse to come to me to have life- -John 5-39-40-.--Without that, everything is dead and worthless. Walking with the Lord Jesus Christ, moment by moment, is the secret of happiness.

The heart of the Daniel's prophecy is given in the very first verse- -70 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.- -Daniel 9-24- Of the six things mentioned in Daniel 9-24, the first three have to do with the problem of sin- -to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness.- This problem was effectively dealt with, once and for all, by our Lord when he died on the cross- -But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself- -Hebrews 9-26-.----Jesus came into this world to do more than remove the guilt of our sins- He perfectly obeyed the law of God that his righteousness might be credited to our account. He came that -God's righteousness- might be given -to all who believe- -Romans 3-22- cf. 2 Corinthians 5-21-. This, too, had been revealed to Daniel- The Messiah would come in the seventieth seven -to bring in everlasting righteousness- -Daniel 9-24-. Our Lord finished the work his Father gave him, -having obtained eternal redemption- -Hebrews 9-12-.

WHAT WOMEN KNOW----Luke 1-42-44 teaches us that babies in the womb experience emotion.----THE NATURE OF THE MALE----Mark 6-17-24 describes what might be called a stag party, where the incestuous, lascivious Herod Antipas, along with his prominent men, becomes excited by the dance of his young niece and step-daughter.----THE NATURE OF THE FEMALE----The gentlest and most nurturing of our species can become the most deadly -Isaiah 49-15- Proverbs 30-20- Mark 6-17-20-.----TWO RESPONSES----By God's grace, when we are convicted of our sin, we can choose to respond in repentance and faith. If we do that we will experience peace.----If we do not do that, we will experience growing depression, bitterness, anger, and murderous rage, as exhibited by Herodias.----THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH----True Christianity does not point fingers in heartless condemnation at those who have had abortions- rather, it extends an open hand of help.----If you are anti-abortion, you must be committed to help mothers in need. If not, you're a hypocrite.----The message of the Church should not be simply- -We're going to outlaw abortion so that you will have to bare a child you don't want.-----The Message of the Church must be- -Choose Life, and we'll help you.-

Godly King Hezekiah's pride and selfishness brought judgment on his descendants, yet his response to this was self-centered, -Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime- -2 Kings 20-19-.--In fulfillment of God's judgement regarding some of Hezekiah's descendants becoming eunuchs ------------ plural of ------- in the Babylonian court, almost a century later Daniel is placed under the authority of Ashpenaz, the master of Nebuchadnezzar's eunuchs ------------, Daniel 1-3-.--Yet Daniel who never had children proved to be a father to many people, fulfilling the role of protector and provider. He is the one God chose to be a father to the people of Israel by giving him the prophecy of the 70 weeks.--A far worse example of bad fathers is found in the dreadful words of Matthew 27-25, -His blood be on us and on our children----Sometimes a good father allows his child to feel abandoned. When the Lord Jesus hung on the cross, he cried out- -My God, my God, why have you forsaken me-- -Matthew 27-46 in fulfillment of Psalm 22-1---The Lord Jesus was cut off from the Father when he took our sins on himself. Yet he was not utterly cut off, so as he died, 'Jesus called out with a loud voice, -FATHER, into your hands I commit my spirit.- When he had said this, he breathed his last.' -Luke 23-46 referencing Psalm 31-5-.

The rich man was buried, but there is no record that Lazarus was buried -Luke 16-22-.---Hell- in Luke 16-23 is not the Lake of Fire, Gehenna --------, but Hades ------. It corresponds to Sheol --------- in Hebrew, the intermediate state of the dead. --Prior to Christ's victory over death, the saved and the lost were in Sheol, separated by a great gulf -Luke 16-26-.--This parable is part of a larger context where the Lord Jesus teaches what -is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God- -Luke 16-15-. It includes Jesus' ironical, sarcastic comment about the unrighteous steward being welcomed into hell along with his fellow cheats -Luke 16-1-9-. ---Abraham's bosom- reflects the supreme honor of Lazarus- He who was unrecognized in this world is next to Abraham in the Paradise side of Sheol -Luke 16-19-.--Salvation does not come by being poor, nor damnation by being rich -Luke 18-24-27-. It is always a matter of yielding our hearts to God. When we do that, we acknowledge we own nothing- we are mere stewards of HIS property. Salvation is by grace alone, received through faith alone, in Christ alone, but by a faith that is never alone -Ephesians 2-8-10-. Kindness to the poor and helpless is the focus of true faith -James 2-1-10-.--The rich man finally cares about others -Luke 16-27-28-. If our focus is our cemetery instead of the lost all around us, this church will die. --Jesus' resurrection is the proof of Luke 16-31.