The Vision of the Seventy Weeks
Dan. 9:20-27
Introduction
We continue Chapter 9. Last week we talked about the prayer of Daniel. Today we talk about the Seventy Weeks.
I. Daniel’s Holy Visitor (vs. 20-23). This is the only “interrupted prayer” in the Bible, and yet it is exactly what God promised in Isaiah 65:24. This same promise is given to the believer today. (Matt. 6:8, Rom. 8:26).
Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
A. The Angelic Caller (v. 21). There are only three spirit beings whose actual names are given in the Word of God:
1. The Archangel Michael- Dan. 10:13,21, 12:1, Jude 9, Rev. 12:7.
2. The Cherub Lucifer – Isa. 14:12, Ezek. 28:14
3. The angel Gabriel – Dan. 8:16, 9:21, Lk. 1;19,26. There are several things we know about Gabriel:
a. His name Gabriel means “the servant, the strong one of the Strong God.”
b. His appearance. Gabriel appeared to Daniel as a man. All angels (which are spirit beings) appear as men when they do materialize in human form (Gen. 18:2, 19:1). There is no evidence in the bible for portraying angels with long golden hair and wings. (Only the seraphim and probably the cherubim are said to have wings. Isa. 6:2, Ex. 25:20
c. His duties – from the reference above, it would appear that Gabriel is associated with bringing important messages from the throne room of God to people on the earth.
d. His abilities – According to verse 21 Gabriel could fly and that he is very swift. The distance between heaven and earth is not so great as far as the spirit world is concerned. Gabriel left heaven as Daniel began to pray (v. 23) and arrived on earth before he finished his prayer
B. The Angelic Arrival (v. 21). Gabriel came to Daniel at the time of “the evening oblation”. This has the reference to the Jewish sacrifices made around 3 p.m. Ex. 12:6. The amazing thing about this is that there had not been any evening oblation since the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C.
No doubt as a young boy, Daniel would have seen the smoke of the sacrifice every day- a continual reminder that God accepts sinners only on the basis of the substitutionary blood sacrifice. Apparently, even though the long years of captivity, Daniel faithfully continued to pray at this time.
C. The Angelic Message (vs. 22,23). Gabriel has come to answer Daniel’s questions and show him more of God’s plans for his people. Note: Daniel is referred to as “greatly beloved.” This is how God views a faithful, praying saint. See also Dan. 10:11, 19.
1. The guilty parties (vs. 5,6). This list covers everyone from “kings” to “all”.
2. The guilty acts (vs. 6, 10 -12) Sin is named! It is not generalized. The greatest sin of the Jews was their disregarding the word of God (which is the beginning of all moral disorders)
a. They rejected Moses (vs. 11,13, Deut. 28:63-65)
b. They rejected the prophets (vs. 6,10, 2 Chr. 36: 15, 16.
3. The guilty verdict. In series of contrasts, Daniel acknowledges the rightness of God and the wrongness of Judah.
a. God’s righteousness vs. Israel’s confusion (vs. 7,8).
b. God’s love vs. Israel’s rebellion (v. 9)
c. God’s longsuffering vs. Israel’s disobedience (vs. 10-15)
Note: The above are excellent definition of confession. Confession is simply agreeing with God as to the cause and character of our sin. (1Jn. 1:9). The reason so many Christians struggle with sin, and continue to fall over and over into the same sin is because they have never agreed with God about it.
II. Daniel’s Petition (vs. 16-19)
A. His approach (vs. 16-19) Daniel invokes God’s refutation. It is “Thy City”, “Thy Holy Mountain”, and “Thy people,” which Daniel expresses concern over. He in effect reminds God of the reproach that would come upon His name should Jerusalem remain desolate and the Jews stay in captivity.
B. His appeal. Daniel asks God to cease from His anger and restore the nation according to his promises
C. His argument (v. 18b). This statement is the OT way of saying, “For Jesus sake”. Daniel’s only argument before GOD is God’s righteousness and mercy. See also vs. 17, 19, “…for the Lord’s sake…” “for thine own sake…”
Note: Our Julian calendar follows a solar year of 365 ¼ days, counting 1year to be 365 days long with a leap year every fourth year. The OT uses a lunisolar year of 12 months of 291/2 days or 354 days. In reality, the Jewish year has 12 months of 29 and 30 days alternatively with 30 day “leap month” added every 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th year of a 19 year cycle. The scriptural demonstration of this reckoning may be seen by comparing Genesis 7:11 with Gen. 8:3,4. This shows 5 months to equal 150 days. Furthermore, a comparison of Rev. 13:5 shows 42 months to be 1,260 days (average 30 days per month
III. There are 4 personages to note.
A. Thy people (v. 24)- This refers to Daniel’s people, the Jews. The reference to “thy holy city” further confirms this fact. This is a vital point. There is nothing Gentile or Christian about this prophecy.
B. The Messiah (v. 25)- The prince – there can be no doubt this refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. “3. The people of the coming prince (v. 26) – This “prince that shall come” refers to the anti-Christ . Since Daniel 7 reveals that the Antichrist will rise out of the latter stages of the fourth world empire (Rome), these people must belong to the Roman empire at some stages of its existence. Messiah” is the name used by the people.
C. The people of the coming prince (v. 26) – This “prince that shall come” refers to the anti-Christ . Since Daniel 7 reveals that the Antichrist will rise out of the latter stages of the fourth world empire (Rome), these people must belong to the Roman empire at some stages of its existence.
D. Prince that shall come (v. 27) – The second word of this verse is “he”, and this is critical to the interpretation. Many would say it is Jesus Christ. However, the normal
rules of grammar provide that the antecedent of “he” is the nearest preceding possibility. Backing up to verse 26, therefore, would identify this “he” as the prince that shall come – not the Messiah. The works of this “he” in verse 27 indicates he is an ungodly person.
IV. There are 4 separate events mentioned in prophecy
A. The Going forth of the Commandment (v. 25) – it is vital to establish this date from the historical record, because it is from this point that the 70 weeks begin. There are four possibilities to consider here:
1. The decree by Cyrus in 536 B.C. Ezra 1:1-4, 2 Chr. 36:22,23. This cannot be the date concerned, because it was decree to rebuild the temple, not the city. See also Isa. 44:28
2. The decree by Darius in 519 B.C., Ezra 6:1-12. This cannot be the date concerned because the decree is merely a reaffirmation of Cyrus proclamation.
3. The decree by Artaxerxes in 457 B.C.-Ezra 7:11-22 – This cannot be the date concerned, because it only deals with purchase of sacrifices for the temple.
4. The decree of Artaxerxes Longanimus in 445 B.C.- Neh. 2:5-8. This is the commandment which signalled the beginning of the 70 weeks, because Nehemiah was permitted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city.
B. The street and the walls will be built in troublous times (v. 25) –This portion of the prophecy has now been fulfilled and is recorded in detail for us in the book of Nehemiah. Chapters 4-6 speak of these troublous times.
C. The Messiah was cut off (v.26). This obviously has reference to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice:
a. He was “cut off” indicating a sudden death. Isa. 53:8.
b. But not for Himself – was His substitutionary death for sinners. 2 Cor. 5:21
c. After 7 + 62 = 69 weeks. The end of the 69th week occurred when the Lord rode into the city of Jerusalem and was hailed KING by His followers (Matt. 21:1-11, Lk. 19:28-44 especially 38 & 42). After this that He was “cut off.”
D. The city and the Sanctuary Destroyed (v. 26). This part of the prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. By the complete destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman legions under Titus.
V. Abominations (Dan. 9:26-27)
A. Desolations determined unto the end. (v. 26). See Lk. 24:24 This part of the prophecy speaks of the continuing trouble in Israel right up to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Read Matt. 24:6-14.
B. The Covenant Confirmed (v. 27). Remember the “he” here refers to the coming Antichrist. He will confirm the covenant with the Jews. What covenant? As a counterfeit Messiah (Rev. 6:2) the Antichrist will bring an apparent peace to Israel, and establish an agreement with that nation. From Dan. 11:39-43, it appears that land is involved. The Abrahamic covenant promises the land to Israel-something the Jews are desiring even on this day. See Gen. 13:14-17; 15:18; 17:18. The Jews expect to acquire the full promise of the land when their Messiah comes!
C. The overspreading of Abominations (v. 27). In the midst of the 70th week, the Antichrist will break the covenant, caused the restored animal sacrifices to cease, and install himself as God in the temple. See Matt. 24:15, Dan. 11:36, 2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 13:5, 6.
D. The Consummation (v. 27). This is the final event in the history of the world as we know it. It corresponds to the second coming of Jesus Christ (Dan. 2:45, 7:22) and involves the following:
1. The judgment of the desolator (v. 27), Rev. 19:20.
2. Everlasting Righteousness Established (v. 24; Mic. 4: 1-3, Rev. 20:2
3. The Most Holy Anointed. (v. 24; Isa 9:7)
Note: There is a time gap between the 69th and 70th week. The 70th week of Daniel’s vision is yet to be fulfilled, and the gap between the 69th and 70th week has extended now for almost 2,000 years.
VI. God’s Prophetic Clock Stopped When the Messiah was Cut Off
A. Why is there a gap between the 69th and 70th weeks?
1. If the 70 weeks were continuous (as many suppose), they would have ended around 37 A.D. somewhere in the book of Acts. But everlasting righteousness was not brought in, and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D.!! Which is when the sacrifices ceased. Furthermore, the “consummation” (the second coming of Christ) has certainly not occurred
2. Daniel is a book in which there are several “gaps” or parentheses within its prophecies. There is a time gap between Dan. 2:40 and Dan. 2:41. There is a time gap between Dan. 8:8, and Dan. 8:9 and Dan. 22.
3. The 483 Years in the Jewish and Gregorian Calendar Jewish Calendar Gregorian Calendar
( 360 days per year) (365 days a year)
(7 x 7) + (62 x 7) years = 483 years 444 B.C. to A.D. 33 = 476 years)*
483 years 476 years
x360 days 365 days
173,880 days 173,740 days
+ 116 days in leap years**
+ 24 days (March 5-March 30) 173,880 days
*Since only one year expired between 1 B.C. and A.D. 1, the total is 476 not 477
** A total of 476 years divided by 4 (a leap year every 4 years) gives 119 additional days but three days must be subtracted from 119 because centennial years are not leap years, though every 400th year is a leap year.
VII. Conclusion:
The angel Gabriel interprets chapters 8 and 9 and is both about the end times. He speaks of the little horn which is the coming antichrist. The final event in will be the history of the world is the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ where the antichrist will be punished, and everlasting righteousness will be established.
