Yesterday was Palm Sunday and I got to thinking about the 70 weeks of Daniel 9. This is one of the most amazing prophecies in the Bible. Other prophecies spoke of Messiah’s family, birth, and ministry, but Daniel 9 actually provides the time of his coming! The Jews knew their Bible. And their math. Small wonder there was a fever pitch of anticipation for Messiah. And then John appeared, the first prophet in 400 years. And his message was “the kingdom of God is at hand”!
As I said, I got to thinking about this prophecy. I mean it was Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, commemorating the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection. And Daniel’s 70 weeks are vitally linked to it all.
I don’t presume to offer a detailed explanation of the passage, I just want to offer a few observations on this exciting prophecy.
Daniel 9:24 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.
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city” It has always been generally accepted that the weeks in Daniel 9:24 are weeks of years.† So the total period covered in this prophecy is 70 sevens or 490 years. And this concerns Israel and Jerusalem. But, as the next verse makes plain, this is all in relation to the coming of the Messiah.
And this verse mentions six amazing things are to be accomplished when the Messiah comes.
25 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.
“unto the Messiah” this is exciting. We don’t have to guess who the passage is talking about, he tells us, the Messiah! “The coming of Christ after 483 years (69 times 7), thus fulfilling this prophecy, is one of the greatest proofs of the divine inspiration of the Bible.” †
I believe one of the reasons the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were written was the mark the beginning of the countdown. And when do we reach the end of the 69th week (or 483 years)? I believe it was at the baptism of Jesus, for it was then that he was anointed with the Spirit (Messiah or Christ means anointed one) and began his public ministry. Mark 1:14-15 tells us, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” The time is fulfilled. What time? The time prophesied by Daniel!
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.
“Messiah shall be cut off” what a shocking development! Elsewhere, Daniel speaks of Messiah appearing in glory and establishing his kingdom, but here he is cut off. Thus, clearly teaching two advents of Messiah. He was cut off by the cross.
“but not for himself” Jesus died for us, gave Himself for us, that he might by His death accomplish the six things mentioned in v. 24.
“The people of the prince that shall come” this seems to be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome. And it would appear that the prince here is antichrist. Daniel also mentions the man of sin in chapters 7 and 11.
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.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” this is where it gets tricky. Who is this “he”? Is it Messiah or the prince that shall come? I believe the focus of this passage is Messiah and that this is a return to that theme. So, I believe that it is the Messiah who “shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” This would be the ministry of Jesus.
“and in the midst of the week” Jesus had a 3 ½ year ministry. And this is the time of year we remember the end of that ministry, when he was “cut off, but not for himself.”
This sounds like there are 3 ½ years left of the 70 weeks. Jesus was manifested at the end of 69 weeks and his public ministry was the first half of the 70th week. Where is the other half week or 3 ½ years? Is there a gap in this 70th week? There are many who see all 70 weeks fulfilled in the first advent of Christ. But, if verses 26 and 27 have any reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, then a gap has already been introduced. And it is interesting that Daniel, who was careful to delineate the 69 weeks and takes us to “the midst of the [70th] week,” does not then tell us about the other half of the 70th week. Or does he? In chapter 7, when telling us about antichrist, he writes, “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High…and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” This same theme is picked up in the book of Revelation. Whenever the length of the tribulation or the reign of the beast is mentioned, whether in days, months, or times (time, times, and half a time) it always adds up to 3 ½ years. Interesting.
As I mentioned at the beginning, it is not my intention to attempt a detailed explanation. I’m simply sharing my astonishment and excitement at the detail God provided concerning the coming of Christ. He promised that after 483 years the Messiah would appear – and he did! And Jesus himself began his ministry with, “The time is fulfilled.” Amen! Furthermore, God declared that in the midst of the week Messiah would be “cut off, but not for himself.” And he was. And as the Lord promised, Jesus was cut off “to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.” Amen! No wonder Jesus said, Repent, and believe the good news!
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