9:27 he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week. Advocates of the first-advent view (9:24–27 note) understand that “anointed one” will “make a strong covenant,” that is, live out His public ministry. Advocates of the second-advent view posit a time interval between vv. 26 and 27 and understand that the “prince” will “make a strong covenant.” The “prince” is identified as Antichrist, who will establish a covenant with Jewish people regathered in the land of Israel during a “tribulation” period (12:1; Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14) of seven years (the seventieth “week”).

an end to sacrifice. According to advocates of the first-advent view (9:24–27 note) this refers to the termination of the Old Testament sacrificial system brought about by the death of Christ. According to advocates of the second-advent view this is a reference to the Antichrist’s prohibition of “sacrifice and offering” (perhaps standing for religious practice in general) by the regathered Jewish people after three-and-a-half years (Rev. 11:2; 12:6, 14) of the tribulation period.

one who makes desolate. According to the first-advent view (9:24–27 note) this describes the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in a.d. 70. According to the second-advent view it describes a catastrophe that will come upon Jerusalem in connection with the activities of the Antichrist. Phrases similar to “an abomination that makes desolate” occur in Dan. 8:13; 11:31; 12:11 (notes) as well as 1 Macc. 1:54. Dan. 8:13 and 1 Macc. 1:54 are clearly references to the activities of Antiochus IV. Jesus refers to this “abomination” in His prophecy of events yet future (Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14).