Daniel 9 - Prophecy of 70 Sevens

by Katrina

LINK: Daniel 9

BACKGROUND

Daniel was reading Jeremiah and found it clearly stated by God that the captivity was to last 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Since this was the first year of Darius, it was 538 B.C., 67 years after Daniel had been taken captive in the first group of deportees from Palestine to Babylon. He knew the captivity would soon end. But at the same time, he knew from his vision in chapter 8 (13 years previously) that there would be many more years of chastening from God. Daniel couldn't understand how both prophecies could be true at the same time. They both came from God, yet they seemed to contradict each other. One said the captivity would last only 70 years, and the other said that there would be many more years of judgment to come.

So Daniel turned to God in prayer. He confessed the sins of Israel, not separating himself from those sins. He acknowledged that they deserved God's punishment and begged God to turn His wrath away and restore His people for His own sake. What a passionate prayer! Daniel wanted God to go with the 70 year chastisement and restore his people to their homeland.

God responded by sending Gabriel with another prophecy. This Gabriel is the same angel who interpreted the vision of the ram and the goat (chap 8) and who will one day tell Mary that she will conceive and bear the Son of the Most High (Luke 2:26-38).

The prophecy is found in verses 24-27. The term "week" refers to a period of seven years. God decreed 70 sevens, which would mean 490 years. At the end of this time, Israel will have completed its transgression, ended its sin, made atonement, and have everlasting righteousness. Then all the prophecy concerning Israel's chastisement will be completed and can be "sealed up," and the temple will be anointed for God's service.

But the time is broken down into two periods -- 7 and 62 weeks (69 weeks altogether), and the final (70th) week. During the first time period Jerusalem would be restored and the Messiah would be on the earth. The rebuilding of Jerusalem would occur in the first seven sevens (49 years), and the Messiah (scarlet thread of redemption!) would be on the earth before the end of the 62 sevens (so before the end of a total 483 years).

Artaxerxes' second decree sending Jews back to Israel, allowed them to build the city and walls under the direction of Nehemiah. This decree was issued in the spring of 445 B.C., and within 49 years the city was rebuilt.

Using the lunar calendar of the day, the 483 years (69 weeks) brings us to spring A.D. 32. The 69 weeks are concluded, probably with triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Verse 26 has specific events that seem to occur between the 69th week and the 70th week. This is when the Messiah would be "cut off" and the people of the prince would destroy the city and temple again. (This news must have greatly disappointed Daniel!) Messiah being cut off would refer to His crucifixion, and we know from history that Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70.

The final (70th) week will commence with a treaty between this prince who is to come (we call him Antichrist) and the people of Israel. The treaty would be for seven years but would be broken by the prince halfway through. He will completely desecrate the temple. Many theologians call this seven-year period the "Great Tribulation" and believe it is synonymous with the time Jesus referred to in Matthew 24. By this view, Jesus will return to earth following the seven years of tribulation.

So, both prophecies were true at the same time. The Babylonian captivity would last 70 years and Jerusalem would be restored. But there would continue to be a cycle of destruction and rebuilding until the end when the final desolation would take place under Antichrist.

There is a clear, more detailed explanation in this book if you are interested in further reading. We will also discuss all these prophecies again when we get to Revelation.

I don't know about you, but all this thinking has made my brain tired! I can only imagine how much more distressed Daniel would have been, since he never had the hindsight of history to understand how the prophecies would be fulfilled!

PRAYER
Lord, once again you prove yourself to be the all-knowing God who controls all of history. Thank you for sending Messiah to make atonement for the sins of Israel. And thank you for extending that atonement to Gentiles as well. You are truly a loving God, desiring that all should be restored to you. And thank you for providing that salvation to me! Amen.