THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL CHAPTER 9

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The seventy "weeks" of Daniel is about the prophecy given by angel Gabriel to Daniel in chapter 9 of the book of Daniel in verses 24-27 in respect of the people of Israel and Jerusalem. The seventy "weeks" is otherwise known as seventy "sevens" or 490 days (i.e. 70 multiplied by 7 days). In using the year-for-a-day principle of the scriptures for its interpretation, each day represents a year which means the 490 days represent 490 years. Now, let us take step by step review of all aspects of this prophecy.

(Daniel 9:24-27 KJV) 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. vs 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. vs 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. vs 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. 


Verse 24 tells us that the entire 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 simply means that seventy weeks have been assigned to Daniel's people and Jerusalem.
  • TO FINISH TRANSGRESSION AND MAKE AN END OF SINS: It means that in seventy weeks, sacrifices for transgressions and sins will cease. Jesus finished transgression on the cross of calvary when he became sin for us. He made an eternal sacrifice for sin thereby making an end to both present and future sins. Hebrews 10:4-5 says, For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he [Jesus] saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.
  • TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY: This means to make atonement/ reparation for iniquity. Hebrew 2:17 says Jesus made reconciliation for the sons of the people. Also read 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians. 1:20-22 and Ephesians. 2:16.
  • TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS: This was also accomplished by the redemptive work of Christ. Hebrew 9:12 says, "Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption [everlasting righteousness]."
  • TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY: Jesus, Most Holy was baptized and anointed when the Spirit of God, in Matthew 3:16-17, descended on him like a dove and a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased"
  • TO SEAL UP THE VISION AND PROPHECY: It simply means that this vision and prophecy to Daniel is to be fulfilled [sealed up] within the 70 weeks [490 years] assigned for it. There are those who however believe that the 70th week will be fulfiled in future and that there is a gap between the 69th week and the 70 week. They believe that the 70th week refers to the Antichrist who will make a covenant with the Jews and that this covenant will allow them to offer sacrifices in a “rebuilt” temple at Jerusalem for seven years, but after three and a half years he will break this covenant and cause the sacrifices to cease. Well, Daniel was told that seventy "sevens" [490 years] was assigned for the vision and prophecy to be sealed up [fulfilled]. There's no basis from the scripture to assume that the fulfilment of the prophecy was put on hold to be fulfilled in future.

Verse 25 tells us 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.
  • This simply means from the time the commandment [decree] to restore and build Jerusalem up to the Messiah would be 7 plus 62 weeks (i.e. 69 weeks or 483 years). 
  • The 69 weeks measured from 457 B.C. when Artaxerxes issued the decree to restore and build Jerusalem to the time when Jesus was baptized and anointed to begin his ministry.
  • THE STREET SHALL BE BUILT AGAIN AND THE WALL IN TROUBLOUS TIMES: This statement is to confirm to Daniel that not only will a decree be issued but that Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and a wall, but it will happen in difficult times.
Verse 26 says, "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."
  • The Messiah would be cut off after the 69 weeks, but not by himself. In other words, he would not die a natural death rather he would be killed.
  • Note that if the Messiah would be cut off AFTER the 69 weeks, it means he would be cut off IN the 70th week.
  • THE PEOPLE OF THE PRINCE THAT SHALL COME SHALL DESTROY THE CITY: It means other nations whom the devil will stir up against Jerusalem after the Messiah is cut off would destroy the city. He will bring the armies of these nations against Jerusalem so the city and the sanctuary will be totally destroyed. Jerusalem will be devastated, just like the results of a great flood. Jerusalem and the sanctuary was indeed destroyed by the armies of other nations.
Verse 27 says, "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."
  • HE SHALL CONFIRM THE COVENANT FOR ONE WEEK: Jesus commenced his minstry from the beginning of the 70th week. This ministry to the children of Israel for a period of one week [i.e. 7 years]. In preaching the gospel to many and shedding his blood on the cross, he confirmed the [new] covenant [testament] to only Daniel's people [i.e the children of Israel] as prophesied in Daniel 9:24. In the middle of the week [i.e. after three and half years], he was cut off [killed]. However, his disciples continued to confirm the covenant after his death and resurrection but were limiting it to the children of Israel until the one week [7 years] is completed; thereafter they took the gospel to the Gentiles. Bible references: Matthew 15:24; Matthew 10:5-6; Mark. 16:19-20; Acts 10:1-48; Acts 11:1-18
  • IN THE MIDST OF THE WEEK: This is the length of Jesus' ministry. The book of John mentioned a total of four Passovers that occurred during his ministry in John 2:13, 5:1, 6:4, 13:1. This can be equated to a period of about three and half years.
  • HE SHALL CAUSE THE SACRIFICE AND THE OBLATION TO CEASE: This was fulfilled in the death of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were repeatedly made. The moment Jesus gave up the ghost, the curtain of the temple which is a barrier to the Holy of Holies, was torn in two, from top to bottom. This signifies that there is no longer a need for a Jewish high priest to stand before the Lord and make atonement/ sacrifices for our sins. Despite the fact that the Jews have continued making such sacrifices till this day, the bible reference in Matthew 27:51 suggests that they are no longer recognized by God.

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