Daniel’s Seventy Weeks
Daniel 9:24-27 –
“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 prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
“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.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Volumes have been written about this vision of Daniel, the man of God. There is no way I can cover every verse in great detail. I will hit the main points to show God’s dealings with Israel during the Great Tribulation.
The Events That Brought About This Vision
The ninth chapter of Daniel opens with Daniel’s investigation of the seventy-year captivity of the Jews. The Jews were at this time slaves in the country of Babylon (although Babylon at this time was under Medo-Persian rule). Daniel, by reading Jeremiah’s writings, saw that the Jews were only to be in captivity to the Chaldees for seventy years. Knowing that the seventy years were nearly expired, this brought Daniel the prophet to his knees. He prayed one of the most humble, most powerful prayers in the entire Bible. He prayed a prayer of confession, confessing Israel’s sins to their God. He then asks for the mercy of God upon the grounds of His promises.
In response to his prayer, the angel Gabriel interrupted Daniel to give him the answer to his prayer; that is, the vision of the seventy weeks.
Daniel's Vision of the Seventy Weeks Concerns the Jews
While some attempt to “spiritualize” Daniel’s seventy weeks, making it apply to the church, the scripture is clear – the subject of the seventy weeks is concerning the nation of Israel:
Daniel 9:24 – “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city…”
Gabriel makes it plain – “Seventy weeks are determined upon THY PEOPLE, and upon THY HOLY CITY.” It makes no sense to make this vision of the seventy weeks apply to the church, or to the church age. This vision came as an answer to Daniel’s prayer. Daniel’s prayer regarded the Jews specifically. He refers specifically in his prayer to the seventy-year captivity of the Jews in Babylon, an event peculiar to the Jews. He refers to God’s commandments to the Jews given in the Law of Moses. It would be a dishonest interpretation of scripture to say that Daniel’s prayer was concerning his people, the Jews, and concerning the city of Jerusalem; and then turn around and teach that the answer to Daniel’s prayer, the vision of the seventy weeks, is concerning the New Testament church. This vision of the seventy weeks strictly relates to the Jewish people and the Jewish city of Jerusalem.
What is the Meaning of the Term “Weeks”?
Gabriel tells Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city.” What does the angel mean by the word “weeks”? In the twenty-first century, we think of a “week” as being a period of seven days. However, in Daniel’s time, especially in the Hebrew language, the term “seventy weeks” simply meant “seventy sevens.” Let me say it another way. A “week” is simply “a period of seven.” That’s not a typo. Let me type it again. A “week” is simply “a period of seven.” Here in the west, in the twenty-first century, when we hear the word, “week,” we think of a period of seven days. And that’s right. A week is a period of seven days. But it can also be a period of seven years. That is exactly what is meant in our text.
Gabriel tells Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city.” God’s dealings with the Jews would consist of seventy periods of seven years each. God’s would deal with Israel for 490 years.
What Will God Do For Israel in 490 Years?
At the end of seventy weeks, or 490 years, six great purposes in the plan of God for the nation of Israel will be accomplished. They are listed clearly in Daniel 9:24 –
1) To finish the transgression – Israel will no longer transgress the law of their God.
2) To make an end of sins – Israel’s sins will be completely blotted out. Their sins will not just be temporarily and annually atoned for, as they were under the law, but Christ’s blood will completely abolish their sins.
3) To make reconciliation for iniquity – Because of the “end of sins” made by the blood of Christ, Israel will enjoy limitless fellowship with God, completely and forever reconciled to Him.
4) To bring in everlasting righteousness – Righteousness will be imputed to the nation of Israel – eternally.
5) To seal up the vision and the prophecy – Daniel’s vision and prophecy of the seventy weeks, as well as every prophecy to Israel as a nation will be fulfilled at the end of the seventy weeks.
6) To anoint the Most holy – This refers to the “Most holy,” or “the holiest of all,” or “the holy of holies.” It is the compartment in the Jewish temple where the presence of God dwells. At the end of seventy weeks, Israel will have their temple in their possession from the man of sin.
The Events of the Seventy Weeks
Now, we get into the meat of the seventy weeks. I will keep it as brief as I can, and try to make it as simple to understand as possible. Daniel 9:27 deals with the final “week,” or the final seven-year period of the seventy weeks. I will examine that final week shortly. First, let us examine the sixty-nine weeks prior to the final “week.” Look again at Daniel 9:25, 26 –
“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.”
Here is what we learn from these verses:
1) There are three major events that will occur in these sixty-nine “weeks,” or 483 years. First, there is the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem. Second, there is the rebuilding of the street and the wall of Jerusalem. Third, there is the coming of Messiah the Prince (Christ’s first coming). Each of these three events has already been fulfilled.
2) The seventy weeks of Daniel did not begin until the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem was given. This commandment marks the beginning of the seventy weeks. Ezra and Nehemiah record the fulfillment of this event, and the seventy weeks hereby began.
3) From the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to Messiah the Prince (Christ’s first coming) was a sum seven weeks (49 years) and threescore and two weeks (62 weeks, or 434 years), for a total of sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years.
4) After sixty-nine weeks, Messiah (Christ) would be cut off; that is, He would die. Also, after the sixty-nine weeks, the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. Christ’s death has been fulfilled, and shortly thereafter, Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D.
Dear reader, do not let all this information overwhelm you. The important thing about the seventy weeks of Daniel is this: sixty-nine “weeks” have definitely been fulfilled. We know this because the events that happen therein are now recorded history. Ezra and Nehemiah record both the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the actual rebuilding of it. Christ literally was born sixty-nine “weeks,” or 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Christ has indeed been cut off, but not for Himself. Sixty-nine weeks of Daniel’s seventy weeks are history.
Daniel’s Seventieth Week
While some insist that Daniel’s seventieth week is fulfilled, just as the previous sixty-nine weeks are fulfilled, the scriptures make it clear that the seventieth week of Daniel has not yet been fulfilled. Notice:
Daniel 9:27 – “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
There is one phrase in the above verse that shows that the seventieth week of Daniel is yet unfulfilled. It is this phrase: “…and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate.” This is a key event regarding end-time prophecy. The scriptures call this event “the abomination of desolation.” This is when a man with whom the above verse deals sits in the temple, claiming to be God, breaks his seven-year covenant with the Jews, and causes the sacrifices in the temple to cease (I will identify this man momentarily). Jesus spoke about this event, showing that it would occur during the Great Tribulation, before His second coming:
Matthew 24:15, 21, 29 – “When ye therefore shall see THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)… For THEN SHALL BE GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be…IMMEDATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Clearly, the abomination of desolation is associated with the Great Tribulation, which will consummate with the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that the abomination of desolation will occur in the Great Tribulation. Daniel said that the abomination of desolation would occur in the midst of the seventieth week. The Great Tribulation, which ends with the second coming of Christ with His saints, has not yet occurred. It is therefore impossible for the seventieth week of Daniel to have occurred. Daniel’s seventieth week is therefore none other than what Christ calls “Great Tribulation.”
The Man of Daniel’s Seventieth Week
Who is the man that will make the temple desolate with his abominations? Let us look at it again:
Daniel 9:27 – “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
There is a “he” in this verse. “He” does several things. Let us examine them, so we can clearly identify this man:
1) “And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” – This man will make a covenant with the Jews for one “week,” or for one period of seven years.
2) “…and in the midst of the week HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations HE shall make it desolate…” – This man will cause all sacrifices to cease in the Jewish temple. They will cease because of his committing of abominations.
Now, some insist that the man of this verse is Jesus Christ. This is impossible. Christ certainly not cause any sacrifice to cease as a result of His own abominations. The previous verse shines some light:
Daniel 9:26 – “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.”
The last person mentioned in the previous verse is “the prince that shall come.” This is the man whose people destroyed the temple. Surely, this is not Jesus Christ. This is none other than the man of sin, the beast of revelation, the man often referred to as the antichrist.
Jesus states that the abomination of desolation would occur in the tribulation, and that Christ would come at the end of the tribulation. Paul reiterates this. Paul speaks of the abomination of desolation, stating that the man of sin would sit in the temple, claiming to be God. Paul goes on to say that the man of sin would be destroyed by Christ’s second coming:
II Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 8 – “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God… And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”
Conclusion
There is much more to say about Daniel’s seventy weeks, especially the one period of seven years that is yet to come – the seventieth week, but time only allows me to conclude. The church has no part in the seventieth week of Daniel. Seeing that this last period of seven years is the time period that Christ calls the Great Tribulation, I have already established in previous posts that the church is delivered from the wrath of God occurring on the day of the Lord, which includes the Great Tribulation. After Christ comes for His church and the church is removed from the scene, the man of sin will be revealed. He will begin a seven-year covenant with the nation of Israel, and he will break that covenant in the middle of the seven-year period. During this time, God Almighty will again deal with the Jewish people. Do not forget – Daniel was told that the seventy weeks were determined on “thy people,” the Jews, and “upon thy holy city,” Jerusalem. The Great Tribulation is very much of Jewish concern.
TO BE CONTINUED…
