This verse is another part of the prophecy that is both literal and figurative at the same time.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/daniel-9-26.html figuratively explains how Jerusalem, rebuilt after the time of Daniel, would be destroyed by pagans (Rome), who would overcome it like a flood (with a massive army). https://ebible.com/questions/17587-what-does-it-mean-in-daniel-9-26-that-the-end-of-it-shall-be-with-a-flood talks about how this will all occur at the end of time, how this verse is apocalyptic in its meaning. And the Anointed One? Jesus, of course; see https://www.free-bible-study-lessons.com/people-of-the-prince.html.
Happy Monday, my friend. What does this mean for us today?
John Fogerty knows. “I see a bad moon rising…I see trouble on the way.” It was figurative trouble for the people after Daniel. It’s trouble for us and perhaps those after. In this verse, the Bible is figurative in how it describes long timeframes, savior Messiah, future peoples, and the destruction of God’s temple. How God’s people – His real temple – will be led astray by a new ruler, who will deceive and destroy. How the end of all things will arrive like a torrential flood cascading down. It will be unstoppable, massive, unavoidable. We don’t know the exact times and dates; we only know that God, via Gabriel, through Daniel, prophesied it.
And it’s literal in that it tells of the “Anointed One.” That means Messiah; that means Jesus Christ. The verse mentions that wars will continue throughout time, how the character of war is always violent, destructive, bringing desolation and waste. How people are always sinful and easily deceived. It tells that Christ will be put to death. That the holy city of Jerusalem will be destroyed. These things are verifiable history; they actually happened. And will happen again.
Bad moon and trouble indeed.
Yet isn’t it amazing that God gave us this warning AND still provided His Anointed One to save us anyway. He gave Daniel this prophecy to tell people to come back to Him, to seek refuge in Him from the destruction of the world. He sent Gabriel to announce, long before he ever spoke with Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) or Mary, that the Savior would be coming to save all humanity from the true destruction that sin brings: eternal separation from God. Despite knowing ahead all that would devastate humanity – as a consequence for humanity’s many sins – God saved us anyway. That ain’t no bad moon rising, even if that is a cool song.
For further reading: Psalm 46:8, Isaiah 28:2, Isaiah 53:8, Isaiah 59:19, Isaiah 61:1, Ezekiel 4:5-6, Nahum 1:8, Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:14, Matthew 16:21, Daniel 9:27
Savior Jesus, You came to save us anyway! Thank You!
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