Daniel prophecy of seventy weeks is the backbone of all Bible End Time prophecy. No prophecy in the entire Bible is more critical to understanding the End Times than the seventy weeks of Daniel.
It is the foundation (roots) of all End Time prophecy even the John’s apocalypse (The book of Revelation).
When Daniel was presented with the prophecy of seventy weeks, he was in Babylon, having been carried into captivity when Israel was conquered in times of prophet Jeremiah.
He was probably about eighty years having been in Babylon for almost seventy years and he had known that the seventy years of Israel captivity in Babylon was almost over according to the word of God to prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:8-11). He turned to God in prayer.
In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes (Daniel 9:2-3).
While he was praying, angel Gabriel came to him in a swift flight.
Dan 9:20-21: And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God. Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Angel Gabriel brought wisdom and understanding (Dan 9:22) and this is what we are going to get from this study of Daniel prophecy of seventy weeks: the wisdom angel Gabriel brought to Daniel.
Daniel prophecy of seventy weeks
Dan 9:24-25: Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your 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.
Dan 9:26-27: 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.
Before we interpret this prophecy for the wisdom and understanding, you have to understand the meaning of some words as used in the Bible.
Week as used in the Bible
The word week in Hebrew is ‘Heptad’ meaning seven.
From the ‘First Mention Principle’ I have defined the meaning of the word ‘week’ as used in the Bible.
The Biblical usage of the word ‘week’ means a period of 7 years (One week = 7 years).
So seventy weeks in this Daniel prophecy means;
70 weeks = 70 x 7 = 490 years
God’s plan within seventy weeks
God declares that 490 years (seventy weeks) are decreed for Daniel people (Israel) and the Holy City (Jerusalem).
These 490 years are determined to (Dan 9:24):-
- Finish the transgression,
- Make an end of sins,
- Make reconciliation for iniquity
- Bring in everlasting righteousness
- seal up the vision and prophecy, and
- To anoint the most Holy
In Hebrew these things read a little different but so clear and perfect. God says that He has determined to;
- Restrict or restrain the transgression (also translated as rebellion)
- Seal up their sins (as if putting away in a sealed container)
- Make atonement (pay the penalty) for their iniquity
- Bring them in a state of everlasting righteousness
- Seal up vision and prophecy
- Anoint (consecrate) the most High place (sanctuary)
In plain language, God says that He would put an end to their rebellion against Him, put away their sins and pay the penalties they had accrued, bring the people into a state of perpetual righteousness, fulfill the remaining prophecies, and anoint the Temple within the period 490 years.
Let us first see the fulfilled weeks of Daniel seventy weeks prophecy.
God bless you.
