The "gap" between the 69th and 70th week explained. The reason for the two comings of Messiah the Prince/King into Jerusalem explored.

Daniel's prophecy concerning the first part of the 70 weeks was an electrifying Word from God. At the terminus of the 69 weeks a momentous day would dawn. It would present a public spectacle of enormous import. The day would bring nothing less than the coming of the Messiah into His holy city.

In His first prophesied entry into Jerusalem just how would He come?
Would He enter in vengeance as the Deliverer, the Conquering King, riding upon a white horse with a sword to smite the nations?

No. Not this time. Those other prophecies (Isa.63:1-6, Rev.19:11-21 etc.) would have to wait for His later coming, - the second coming.

In His first coming Jesus would make a more humble entrance. In all of His three and a half year ministry He would only present Himself as Messiah on just one special day. That day was Palm Sunday. On this day Jesus made His only Messianic and therefore political entry into Jerusalem.
He had taught and ministered with us for three and a half years. But this day, this special moment in time, was the only time He was seen in His role as Messiah. On that auspicious day He entered Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, crossed the Kidron Valley, came through the Eastern
Gate and passed on into the Holy City. It was a joyful parade. Those who loved Him were there and greeted Him with shouts of joy. Palm branches were thrown before Him in the manner of a king returning to his city in triumph.

However this moment was short lived. The religious leaders were furious. In spite of it being Passover week they immediately plotted to kill Him. Four days later, just as Daniel's prophecy had stated, He was "cut off" or put to death.

Why is there a "gap" in the seventy weeks? Why 69 weeks, ....a gap, and then the resumption of the 70 weeks with the final 70th week some 2,000+ years later? Well to answer that question we may as well ask ourselves this question at the same time. Why should our Messiah come twice? Why two comings, the first as a priestly suffering servant, lowly and riding on a donkey, and later as a deliverer and conquering King riding upon a white horse?

The rabbis as they read the scriptures in the old testament had pondered over this. They had even come to the point of speculating that there might be two messiahs, one a messiah of mercy and grace named "Mashiach ben Joseph" and another, a messiah of righteous rule of law which they named "Mashiach ben David". Joseph was the key patriach of ministering the bread of life and bringing salvation to the world in a 7 year famine whilst exiled in Egypt. David was the royal family of the Jewish house of Judah and the carried the promised Seed of Abraham who would become the long expected King of Kings in a coming glorious millennium.-Isa.11:1-6, Isa.60, Hos.6:2 So why this split role for the coming messiah?

Here is a possible explanation. Our God is a God of "grace" and also a God of "law". The 69 weeks would terminate in His Messianic coming as the minister of grace, the Suffering Servant, bringing His betrothal gift of salvation for His Elect and riding in humility upon a donkey. In this first coming into Jerusalem He would bring His grace to this world.

Then comes the gap; Hosea hints that this pause in the 70 weeks may be 2,000 prophetic, (360 day), years: -Hos.6:2 (He actually said "two days" but elsewhere in scripture it states that "a day with the Lord is as one thousand years......" -2Pet.3:8 And the phrase "on the third day we shall live in His sight" sounds distinctly millennial. 2,000 years is 40 jubilees. (40 x 50 =2,000) Again the number 40 is an auspicious number, the number of trial. It would fit for the church in the wilderness just as it fit for the children of Israel on trial for 40 years in the wilderness. This, is sheer speculation on my part. But interesting nevertheless.

Fact is on 11 April 2002, there has been 60 plus nations ratify this treaty called The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The RSICC now comes into force: 1 July 2002, in accordance with article 126. Status: Signatories: 139, Parties: 66 .... have now ratified.
In real terms the Rome Statute is a SEVEN YEAR PEACE TREATY!!! and begins the last week of Daniel's 70 weeks.

At the end of the coming 70th week He will come a second time to Jerusalem. This time He will come as the Deliverer, the Conquering King, riding upon a white horse. In this coming as the Lion of the Jewish house of Judah He will bring law and order, and His righteous rule as the long expected Son of David. Indeed He will rule this earth from the Throne of David.-Luke 1:30-33. The crowds of this present evil age do not like His rule. This explains the Amillennialism doctrine seen in state licensed christianity which also denies His Millennial rule. It also explains the awful antisemitism seen in modern history as the endtime drama heats up.

So the two comings are also linked to the two offices of the Messiah.
Upon His return He is to function as Messiah under the dual offices of the order of Melchizedek. He is to be both priest and king. He is to head up both the the priestly and the royal kingdom offices. We saw Him operate primarily in the office of His priestly ministry 2,000 years ago as the Kinsman Redeemer bringing an endowment of grace and salvation to His people and to the world. We are yet to see Him come in the office of His kingdom authority bringing righteous judgement and rule to this uncared for, polluted and war ravaged earth with its poor, sin-sick and distressed people. But He will do so. After the coming Great Tribulation all the inhabitants of this earth will witness His second coming. -Mat.24:29-31 In the Day of the Lord He will come with His angelic host. -Jude 14-15 He will execute vengeance on His enemies -Isa.34:8, Isa.63:1-6, Rev.19:11-21 and bring deliverance to His covenant people.-Mic.2:12-13, 1Thes.4:13-18

So His first coming occurred right on schedule at the end of the 69th week.
His second coming will be toward the end of the 70th week.
The coming Millennium (1000 years) of Messiah will follow. -Rev.20:1-9
There our Messiah will preside over both the politics and the religion of His earthly realm from His Holy City, - just as Melchizedek did.

"And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine. And He was the priest of God Most High." -Gen. 14:18

And speaking of the coming Messiah;

"The Lord has sworn, and will not change His mind: You are a priest forever, after the manner and order of Melchizedek." - Psalm 110:4

So Yeshua Hamashiach/Jesus Christ/Messiah, like Melchizedek, is both priest and king. In His first coming He would declare His arrival in His priestly office and authority as the Suffering Servant, the promised Sacrifice Lamb of God. Only later, at the end of this evil age, will He come in His kingdom office and authority as the Conquering King.
Five centuries before, the prophet Zechariah, had seen Him coming in this very humble way. He saw Him enter Jerusalem, the City of Shalom/Peace in lowly manner, riding upon a donkey. In this first coming He was not pursuing conquest. Rather, He was bringing an endowment to His covenant people, - His bride to be. He was bringing the gift of salvation.