The question was raised as to why this "covenant" is only for seven years rather than being a "forever" covenant like all other Biblical agreements. If it has to do with granting rights to rebuild the temple and restoring the Law of Moses then why would there be a time limit on it? Many have speculated that it is a peace deal but that is not implied by Daniel 9:27 although peace and a third temple are the two top items Israel would want. Perhaps this is more like a contract that must be mediated and renewed every seven years. A pay-for-play contract where Israel pays rent for space on the Temple Mount. That is exactly what I was asking. I like your idea, or maybe Israel would recognize that they still have 7 years left before a jubilee year and be led to believe that something new begins then. And it will! Or is the beginning of the tribulation the jubilee year? I forget. I can get myself so confused. In Daniel, a week is a week of years....7 years. One of the older peace plans, which of course never came to fruition, had a seven-year duration. At the time, they said five years is too short and ten years is too long, so they compromised with seven years. Hi all. Thanks for sharing, Loz! 
Daniel 9:26 ends with the destruction of Jerusalem and the second temple. It was that temple Jesus prophesied would have not one stone left upon another. Consequently, the idea of making the covenant strong with Israel is predicated upon rebuilding the temple. Ezekiel's temple is the only temple left which Scripture regards as not having been built yet. Language in that prophecy mirrors Rev 11. It is the measuring of that temple which is date-specific in Ezekiel 40 and pinpoints precisely the start of the Week.
