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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 prophet, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.  Daniel 9:24

There is no more anointed prophecy in Tenach than the prophecy of Daniel 9.  This message was not given by a prophet of old, but by an ageless messenger of haShem.  It gives not only details that point to the identity of Messiah, but also information concerning the purpose of his coming.

First of all, Messiah is coming for Daniel's people and his holy city.  We are the people of Daniel and the cry of our heart has always been Jerusalem.  So the work of Messiah pertains to the Jew, who has always been haShem's beloved on the earth.  What can we learn from this passage as it applies to us?

"to finish the transgression"  The context in which Daniel had been praying was the captivity at Babylon.  The transgression for which he asked forgiveness at the beginning of this passage was our failure to keep the commandment of Torah that the land should be given a Sabbath on the seventh year.  For that transgression of the Law our fathers were brought into captivity for 70 years.  Yet, here the messenger tells Daniel that not 70 years but 70 Sabbaths of the years must be completed to finish paying for this transgression.  The first work of Messiah is to turn the heart of Israel toward the Mitzvot (Commandments), to restore a monarchy that honors the commandment above all and thus heal the land of Israel as well as the heart of Israel.

"to make an end of sins"  Messiah shall bring righteousness into the earth, not just to the children of Israel but to the nations as well.  Under his reign sin will be dealt with as with an iron rod, and like stubborn children we will learn the ways of Torah.

"to make reconciliation for iniquity"  That is the heart of Yom Kippur, when we reflect upon our own sinful nature and repent before haShem.  But in the days of the tabernacle and later in the Holy Temple, a high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for sins of all our people.  So then Messiah will not only be our King but also our priest.  Not after the manner of Aaron, who in less than forty days fashioned an idol of Egypt for our rebellious ancestors, but like Melchizedek, the King of Righteousness, for whom there is no recorded sin.

"to bring in everlasting righteousness"  When sin has been ended by adherence to the commandments and the heart of man has been reconciled to haShem then shall righteousness rule over Israel and over the entire earth.

"to seal up the vision and the prophet"  Messiah is the culmination of ALL prophecy.  He is the promise made to the Serpent, to our fathers, to all the nations.  When his righteousness fills the earth then all the promises of G-d will be fulfilled.  Baruch haba b'shem Adonai.

"to anoint the Holy of Holies"  Once again the work of a High Priest, and necessary under the commandments of haShem for atonement.  It is King Messiah who will fulfill the totality of the Law and the Prophets and bring righteousness back unto the earth.  The annual outpouring of the blood of sheep and goats upon the Mercy Seat was a only temporary atonement.  Year after year it was necessary to repeat that action.  But under our high priest, Messiah, that atonement will be done once for all time.

What a glorious day that will be!  When Messiah comes to his throne in the Holy City, Jerusalem, and makes reconciliation to haShem for us.  Are you ready?

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.

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.  Daniel 9:25-26

Once again we see that the Messiah will be slain.  Therefore, we are expecting a King, to triumph over the enemies of haShem, to make an atonement between rebellious Israel and her G-d, and to fulfill the totality of the promises of G-d.

The passage also talks of the destruction of Jerusalem and of another prince besides King Messiah?  What can this mean?