Daniel 9

The Seventy Weeks

The Most Amazing Passage in the Bible!

Authentication

LXX Background: Daniel was part of the Old Testament which was translated into Greek 285 - 270 B.C. Although Daniel is one of the most authenticated books of the Bible, this serves to easily establish its existence long before the events it predicts.

Matthew 24 - The Confidential Briefing: Four disciples came to Jesus for a confidential prophecy briefing on His Second Coming: Matthew 24 & Matthew 25; Mark 13 & Mark 14, and Luk 21 & Luk 22. Jesus highlighted this very passage as the key to prophecy in Matthew 24:15.

Responsible to understand. Note Jewishness: "Pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath Day."

[Daniel 9: Time, 538 B.C. Feast of Dan 5 between Dan 8 & Dan 9.]

[1] Darius: Uncle of Cyrus? [Same as Dan 6?] "…was made": passive.

[Review Daniel presenting Isa 44; Isa 45, to Cyrus.] Here he was reading Jeremiah's prophecy.

[2] Daniel took it literally! [Jer 25:11-12; Jer 29:10] 67 of 70 years had passed…

YHWH: 7X in this chapter only.

[3] Prayer (for that which was certain?): Daniel is, again, our example: in the Word and in Prayer! (Prayers: Ezr 9; Neh 9?)

Fasting: Mat 9:14-15; Act 13:2-3; Act 14:23; 1Cr 7:5; 2Cr 6:5; 2Cr 11:27.

[5] "We have sinned…": (Only two in OT of which no evil spoken of…Joseph and Daniel.)

[11] National destiny determined by their behavior . (2Ch 7:14)!

[16] Focus: Jerusalem.

[17-19] Note the increasing tempo of the verbs of action…

[20] "The Interrupted Prayer of the OT" (2/3 of chapter).

[21] "man": ish, servant.

Gabriel: Always on a mission of Messianic announcement.

"Beginning": Dan 8:15-16.

23] "Beloved": Abraham, disciples: "friends" => prophecy. Daniel, John: "beloved" => apocalyptic details.

The Seventy Weeks

24] shabu'im = sevens, "week." (Gen 29:26-28; Lev 25; Lev 26.) hatak, determined, reckoned.

Scope (Verse 24)

1) The focus of the passage is on the Jews, not the Church or the Gentile world.

2) The six major items listed have yet to be completed.

Unfulfilled in 2000 years (therefore, are not contiguous!).

The Structure of the Passage

[Dan 9:24] The Scope of the entire passage.

[Dan 9:25] The 69 Weeks.

[Dan 9:26] The Interval Between the 69th & 70th Week . The key to understanding this passage is to realize that the 70 "Weeks" are not all contiguous. (At least 40 years +…)

[Dan 9:27] The 70th Week.

Background: Sabbatical Years

Note: focus of entire prophecy is Israel, not the Gentile world (Dan 9:24).

Seventy "Sevens" imply weeks of years (Gen 29:27, et al.).

Sabbath for the land ordained: Lev 25:1-22; Lev 26:33-35; Deu 15; Exd 23:10-11. Failure to keep the sabbath of the land was basis for 70 years captivity: 2Ch 36:19-21.

The 69 Weeks (Verse 25)

360-Day Years (Background): All ancient calendars were based on a 360-day calendar: Assyrians, Chaldeans, Egyptians, Hebrews, Persians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Chinese, Mayans, Hindus, Carthaginians, Etruscans, Teutons, etc.

All these calendars were based on a 360-day year; typically, twelve 30-day months. (In ancient Chaldea, their calendar was based on a 360-day year and it is from this Babylonian tradition that we have 360 degrees in a circle, 60 minutes to an hour, 60 seconds in each minute.)

All Calendars Change in 701 BC?

In 701 BC, all calendars appear to have been reorganized. Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome, reorganized the original calendar of 360 days per year, by adding 5 days per year. King Hezekiah, Numa's contemporary, reorganized his Jewish calendar by adding a month each Jewish leap year (on a cycle of 7 every 19 years).

(A fascinating conjecture as to the cause of this calendar change is detailed in Signs in the Heavens, a Briefing Package exploring the possible orbital antics of the Planet Mars.)

The Biblical Calendar uses 360-day years (Gen 7:24; Gen 8:3-4, etc. In Revelation, 42 months = 3 1/2 years = 1260 days, etc.). We are indebted to Sir Robert Anderson's milestone work for this insight.

The Trigger: (terminus ad quo)

The Decrees to "Rebuild Jerusalem"?
    1) Cyrus, 537 BC, Ezr 1:2-4;
    2) Darius, Ezr 6:1-5, 8, 12;
    3) Artaxerxes, 458 BC. Ezr 7:11-26;
    4) Artaxerxes, 445 BC, Neh 2:5-8, 17-18.

(1) (2) & (3) were to build the Temple. Only the last one (4) was to rebuild the city, the walls, etc. Note: rehob, "street"; haruts, moat, fortification.

Why "7 + 62"? Time to build the city? Time to close the OT canon? Time between testaments?

The Target (terminus ad quem)

The Meshiach Nagid: "The Messiah the King." The prediction is to the presentation of the Messiah the King ("Nagid" is first used of King Saul).

On several occasions in the New Testament when they attempted to take Jesus as a King, He invariably declined, "Mine hour is not yet come." (Jhn 6:15; Jhn 7:30, 44; etc.) Then one day, He arranges it.

The Triumphal Entry: All four Gospels, Mat 21:1-9; Mar 11:1-10; Luk 19:29-39; Jhn 12:12-16. Nisan 10: "take to everyone a lamb." Jesus deliberately arranges to fulfill Zec 9:9. This is the only day He allows them to proclaim Him King (Luk 19:38).

The Pharisees assure our noticing the significance! Hallel Psalm: Psa 118:26. Jesus held them accountable to recognize this day. (Luk 19:41-44).

This was the 10th of Nisan, prior to the Passover on the 14th of Nisan, 32 AD: (Luk 3:1: Tiberius appointed, 14 AD; 15th year = 29 AD; 4th Passover, 32 AD (April 6). See the chart on next page.

[Other examples of Precision: Gen 8:4, Noah's new beginning, 7th month, 17th day. (Exodus 12:2: Nisan becomes 1st month). Jesus resurrected on anniversary of the "New Beginning" under Noah!]

Interval (Dan 9:26)

26] After the 69th, before the 70th:

Karat, execution; death penalty (Lev 7:20; Psa 37:9; Pro 2:22). "Not for Himself": nothingness: rejection, substitution. "Flood": diaspora.

Titus Vespasian: 38 years later; (not 3½!).

An interval, or gap, clearly required by Dan 9:26: events described are after the 69th and prior to the 70th week: Messiah "cut off" (karat = executed); Sanctuary destroyed, etc.

38 years are included with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD 1900 years have transpired so far.

Interval also implied: Dan 9:26; Isa 61:1-2 (re: Luk 4:18-20); Rev 12:5-6. Also: Isa 54:7; Hos 3:4-5; Amo 9:10-11; (Act 15:13-18); Micah 5:2-3; Zec 9:9-10; Luk 1:31-32; Luk 21:24.

Interval defined: Luk 19:42 until Rom 11:25. This interval is the period of the Church, an era kept secret in OT: Mat 13:34-35; Eph 3:5, 9.

"Israel" is never used of the Church (73X). [Gal 6:16 misunderstood, by ignoring the kai in the Greek which clearly distinguishes the two groups.] Heresy: Rom 9; Rom 10; Rom 11.

It seems that the Lord deals with Israel and the Church mutually& exclusively. [The example of a Chess Clock...]

The Church: (Our need: Ecclesiology, not Eschatology!)
Born at Pentecost: Col 1:18; 1Cr 12:13; Act 1:5; Act 11:15-16.
Prerequisites—Atonement: Mat 16:18, 21;
Resurrection: Eph 1:20-23;
Ascension: Eph 4:7-11
(Spiritual gifts only after ascension).

70th Week (Dan 9:27)

"Midst of the week" - The most documented period of time in the Bible. Time, times, the dividing of time (Dan 7:25; Dan 4:16, 23, 25).

Which "Prince"? Antecedent: "The Prince that shall come…"

After death of Nero, General Galba was recalled to become Emperor. A conspiracy had him assassinated. After Galba, Ortho was made emperor; he was unfit and committed suicide. After revolution and political instability, the general-in-command of the Roman-Israeli expedition was recalled to restore order and become Emperor: General Vespasian, father of Captain Titus who remained general in charge of the siege. Just a few days before the final assault on Jerusalem, Vespasian was crowned Emperor of the Roman Empire, making Titus a prince.

The Covenant Enforced with "The Many" - "The many" is an idiom for Israel. This is the "Covenant with Hell," Isa 28:15; Zec 11:15-17 etc.

The Abomination of Desolation

Historical precedent: 167 BC, Antiochus IV ("Epiphanes") desecrated the Temple, erecting a pagan idol in the Holy of Holies; incited the Maccabbean Revolt, which succeeded in rededicating the Temple. This is still commemorated at Hanukkah. (Authenticated by the Holy Spirit: John 10:22.)

The sacrifices and oblations cease; 2Th 2:4. These require a Temple previously consecrated in Jerusalem. (Preparations have begun!)

The Great Tribulation

This "Time of Jacob's Trouble" climaxes in the "Day of the Lord": Isa 61:2; Zec 12; Zec 14; Rev 19:19; et al. (Note that this is 3 1/2 years, not 7, as is so often assumed.)

Revelation 6 through 19 is essentially an elaboration of the events during the "70th Week" of Daniel 9.

Historical Review

The Issue of Imminence (80 anti-Nicene references, 325 AD). Upon conversion of Constantine: Edict of Toleration made Christian Church official state religion in AD 325. Premillennial view of Christ became unpopular with Roman leadership.

Allegorical methods adopted by third century theologian Origen; Augustine adopted the amillennial view; it becomes the dominant view of the Roman Catholic Church. Many of the Protestant reformers failed to adequately challenge these views from the medieval Church. A literal interpretation was favored by Irenaeus, Sir Isaac Newton, et al.

The perception of the "gap" of Dan 9:26 appears in the Epistle of Barnabas, AD 100 and other early writings.

[The perception of the "gap" did not begin with Emmanuael Lacunza (Ben Ezra), 1812; Edward Irving, 1816; Margaret McDonald, 1830; or J.N. Darby (1820).]

Other early writers: Irenaeus, Against Heresies; Hippolytus, a disciple of Irenaeus, (second century) (Ante Nicene Fathers, Vol v. p. 182.); Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho.

Later writers: Peter Jurieu, 1687,Approaching Deliverance of the Church, (courtesy of Grant Jeffrey); Philip Doddridge's Commentary on the New Testament, 1738; Dr. John Gill's Commentary on the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 1748; James Macknight's Commentary on the Apostolical Epistles, 1763; Thomas Scott's Commentary on the Holy Bible, 1792.

Timing of the Rapture (Greek, harpazo, Latin, rapturo)

1)   70th Week is defined by the enforcement of a covenant with the Coming World Leader (Dan 9:27).

2)   The Leader cannot enforce the covenant until after he appears in power.

3)   He cannot even appear until after the Restrainer (the Holy Spirit as He indwells the Church) is removed: 2Th 2:7-9.

4)   Therefore, the rapture of the Church precedes (by an indeterminate amount) the entire 70th Week, not just the Great Tribulation.

Is the "70th Week" Near?

Israel Now Regathered as a Nation: On May 14, 1948, Israel was re-established exactly as the Bible predicted. On June 6, 1967, Israel regained control of Biblical Jerusalem, the "Old City."

Temple Being Rebuilt: This is explicitly predicted three times in the New Testament (Mat 24:15; 2Th 2:4; Rev 11:1-2.) This Temple is a prerequisite for the desecration described by Daniel and Jesus as the "Abomination of Desolation." After 1900 years a Temple is now being prepared to be built in Jerusalem.

Babylon Being Rebuilt: Isa 13 & Isa 14; Jer 50 & Jer 51, and Rev 17 & Rev 18, describe the destruction of the city of Babylon as a climactic event at the end of the "70th Week." Although Babylon was conquered by the Persians, it was never destroyed in the manner that the Bible has detailed. (Saddam Hussein has spent over 20 years rebuilding the city of Babylon on its traditional site.)

European Suprastate Emerging: The confederation of almost 30 European countries is setting the stage for the very scenarios predicted in Dan 2 and Dan 7.

Russia and the Islamic Invasion Imminent: Russia ("Magog" of Eze 38 & Eze 39) and the Moslem republics of Iran and those of Central Asia (which this passage has detailed) now appear to be setting the stage for the very events that Ezekiel so clearly described. The apparent use of nuclear weapons in Eze 39 is also descriptive of current technology. It is our view that this battle could happen at any time, and would thus set up the need for the famous "peace treaty" of the Biblical scenario.

The "Seventy Sevens" of Israel