Welcome to another edition of The Teaching Lady. I am grateful you stopped by. Glory to the Lord for another day! Today, we are looking at the book of Daniel; specifically the prophecy of 70 weeks. Grab your paper and pen and jot down some notes.
Let’s jump in.
Many commentators agree that Daniel himself wrote the book of Daniel. His audience was the exiles in Babylonia, of which he was also one. Commentators figure the date of his writing is somewhere around 530 BC. (BC stands for before Christ).
The theme of Daniel is the Most High God is sovereign over all human kingdoms. Daniel’s visions always show God as triumphant.
The book of Daniel is prophetical and divided into two parts. The first part is primarily historical (chapters 1- 6), and the latter half is apocalyptic or revelatory in nature (chapters 7-12).
While many believers are familiar with the two most often told Bible stories in the book of Daniel, the fiery furnace and the lion’s den, Daniel offers more than that for its reader. One needs to pay specific attention to the apocalyptic chapters starting in chapter seven.
One of the big discussion topics in Bible studies are the passages found in Chapter 9:25-27. Let’s look at what the Bible says.
I find it fascinating, especially in regards to end-times events.
Daniel 9:24-27, “24 “Seventy weeks[a] are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.[b] 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks.
Let’s break this down a bit.
- Seventy weeks – 70 sevens or 490 years
- are decreed about your people and your holy city – Daniel, your people, Israel, and your holy city, Jerusalem.
- the transgression? sin against God
- put an end to sin? by sending a Savior
- to atone for iniquity? The Savior’s death on the cross
- brings in everlasting righteousness? Jesus’ kingdom will be established forever
- seal both vision and prophet? Jesus will fulfill the law, and the prophets
- anoint a most holy place? There will be a new Jerusalem
The first three were fulfilled already when Jesus came. The last three will be when Jesus returns a second time.
Let’s continue with Daniel’s message.
Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again[c] with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its[d] end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week,[e] and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
Let’s break this down as well.
- After 62 weeks it shall be built again – the period between the restoration of Jerusalem and the Messiah’s coming to Israel.
- The anointed one cut off? the death of the Messiah, Jesus Christ
- The people of the prince who is to come – they will destroy the city and sanctuary
- Who shall make a strong covenant with many for one week (7 years)? – Many believe this refers to the antichrist who has yet to be revealed. He will make a peace treaty with the Jews, and halfway through the 7 years, he will disrupt their system of worship.
There’s so much to learn about the 70 weeks in Daniel in just these few verses. In our next lesson, I will address the weeks and years. It can get quite lengthy. But in looking at the above, I had this thought – God was not done with the Jewish people then and he is not done with them now. There is a lot more to come.
Join me tomorrow as we look at the Jewish calendar, weeks, and years. This will help us put some dates together that will point to end-times events.
Daniel is an exciting yet complex book to study. I hope you will stick around.
Blessings!
The Teaching Lady
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