What does Daniel 9:27 mean?
The angel Gabriel (Daniel 9:21–23) predicted the arrival of the Messiah, using an anchor point in history. His message indicated sixty-nine "groups of seven," to begin with a decree about rebuilding Jerusalem, and ending with the arrival and sudden "cut[ting] off" of the promised Anointed One (Daniel 9:25–26). Using simplified prophetic "years," this adds up to 173,880 days. Artaxerxes Longimanus made an edict allowing Israelites to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1–8) on March 4, 444 BC. Jesus likely made His triumphal entry (Matthew 21:9–11) into Jerusalem on March 30, AD 33. The difference between those two dates is exactly 173,880 days.After this comes a gap. The counting of "weeks" will begin again with the arrival of a destroying ruler. This person will make some contract with Israel. However, in the middle of this seven-year agreement, the leader will turn against them, forbidding worship and insisting they bow to him, instead (Revelation 13:11–15). Jesus predicted a partial fulfillment of this event as "the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place" (Matthew 24:15).
However, the desolator will not be allowed to continue his evil works indefinitely. The Lord will pour out His judgment on him (Revelation 19:11–21). Christ will return, destroy the armies of the desolator and the false prophet, and cast these two evil henchmen alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).