It means the Messiah — Jesus of Nazareth — would be crucified, as Daniel wrote that after threescore and two weeks Messiah would be 'cut off, but not for himself.'
In Daniel 9:26, the phrase 'Messiah shall be cut off' is a prophecy of the crucifixion of Christ. Les Feldick teaches that this took place after 483 years of Daniel's 490-year prophecy had been fulfilled, and that the words 'but not for himself' show He did not die for His own sin but for the sins of the world. The verse then points ahead to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and ultimately to a coming prince — the Antichrist.
Daniel 9:26 — This is the exact verse in question; it explicitly states that the Messiah will be cut off after threescore and two weeks.
In Daniel 9:24-27, the angel Gabriel lays out a prophecy of seventy weeks determined upon Daniel's people. Verse 25 says that from the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks. Verse 26 continues: "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined." Verse 27 adds: "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." The text itself does not define who the prince is; it only connects the destruction of the city and sanctuary with "the people of the prince that shall come."
Les Feldick teaches that Daniel 9:26's phrase "Messiah shall be cut off" is a clear prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Clips 1, 2, 3, 4). He explains that the "not for himself" clause means Christ did not die because He deserved it; He died for the sins of the world (Clips 2, 3). He also teaches that the sixty-two weeks in the verse, added to the earlier seven weeks, bring Daniel's count to 483 years from the decree to build and restore Jerusalem until the crucifixion. That left 7 years of the 490-year prophecy unfulfilled — Daniel's 70th week, which is still future (Clips 2, 3, 5, 7). According to Les, the people of the prince that shall come are the Roman Empire, which destroyed the city and the sanctuary in 70 A.D. (Clips 1, 4). The prince himself, he says, is the Antichrist, who will one day arise out of that Roman Empire and confirm a covenant with many for one seven-year week (Clips 1, 4, 6, 7).
Daniel 9:26 says the Messiah would be cut off "but not for himself." Les Feldick explains that this means the Messiah did not die because He deserved to die; rather, He died for the sins of the world. In Les's words, "He didn't die because He deserved it, He died for the sins of the world, of course." This draws a clear line between the Messiah's death and the reason for it — not His own sin, but the sin of others.
Les Feldick teaches that Daniel 9:26 comes after threescore and two weeks, which added to the preceding seven weeks makes sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years. He says those 483 years were fulfilled from the decree until the crucifixion. Since the total prophecy was 490 years, seven years remain unfulfilled. These remaining seven years — Daniel's 70th week — are still future and will begin when the Antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel.
After the cutting off of Messiah, Daniel 9:26 says the people of the prince that shall come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Les identifies those people as the Roman Empire, which destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D. He places a break in the verse after the word "sanctuary," because everything up to that point was fulfilled at or near Christ's first advent; what follows — the end with a flood, war, and the confirming of the covenant — is still future and connected to the Antichrist.
All Israel Shall Be Saved — What Romans 11:26 Really Means
They'll recognize that Jesus of Nazareth is their Messiah, and God is going to call them My people once again. He doesn't call them that today, but He will then. And this is the New Covenant. Read on one more verse, verse 34, "...and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD.
The Roman People and the Coming Prince
Les teaches that "Messiah cut off" means crucified, and that the people of the prince that shall come are the Roman Empire that destroyed the temple in 70 A.D.; the prince himself will come out of that empire.
483 Years to the Crucifixion
Les shows that 483 years of Daniel's prophecy were fulfilled from Nehemiah's decree to the cross, leaving 7 years, and that verse 26's "Messiah shall be cut off" refers to the crucifixion.
Not for Himself — Died for the World
Les explains that the phrase "not for Himself" means the Messiah did not die because He deserved it but for the sins of the world, and that the people of the coming prince would destroy the city.
The Break in Verse 26
Les teaches that the first part of verse 26 — the crucifixion and Roman destruction — has been fulfilled, while the confirmation of the covenant by the Antichrist is still future.
483 Years Leaves 7
Les explains that from the decree to Christ being cut off is 483 years, which leaves seven years to complete the 490, known as Daniel's 70th week — still future.
The Antichrist's Covenant
Les identifies the prince that shall come as the Antichrist and teaches that he will confirm a seven-year covenant with many Jews back in the land.
Seven Years Still Unfulfilled
Les reviews that 483 of the 490 years were fulfilled at the crucifixion and the remaining seven years will be triggered by the Antichrist's peace treaty with Israel.
Daniel 9:24: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
This verse introduces the seventy-week prophecy that frames the cutting off of the Messiah.
Daniel 9:25: Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
This verse sets the count of seven weeks and threescore and two weeks that leads to the Messiah.
Daniel 9:26: And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
This is the verse in question, declaring that the Messiah will be cut off and that the people of a coming prince will destroy the city and sanctuary.
Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This verse connects the coming prince to a seven-year covenant, which Les relates to the final unfulfilled week of Daniel's prophecy.
In Daniel 9:26, the phrase means the Messiah would be crucified. Les Feldick teaches that this took place after 483 of Daniel's 490 years had been fulfilled, and that the death was not for the Messiah's own sin but for the sins of the world.
Daniel 9:26 connects the cutting off of the Messiah with the later destruction of the city and sanctuary by the people of the prince that shall come. Les identifies those people as the Romans, who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D.
Les teaches that the prince that shall come is the Antichrist, who will come out of the same Roman Empire that destroyed Jerusalem. He will confirm a seven-year covenant with many Jews, triggering Daniel's 70th week.
Yes. Les explains that the Messiah did not die because He deserved it; He died for the sins of the world. The phrase 'not for himself' makes that distinction.
Watch the Teaching: All Israel Shall Be Saved — What Romans 11:26 Really Means