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"THE BOOK OF DANIEL"
The Vision Of The Seventy Weeks (Dan 9:20-27)
INTRODUCTION
1. We come now to one of the most difficult passages of the Old Testament...
a. Commonly called "The Vision Of The Seventy Weeks" - Dan 9:20-27
b. Edward J. Young describes it as "one of the most difficult in all
the OT, and the interpretations which have been offered are
almost legion."
c. Stuart says that "it would require a volume of considerable
magnitude even to give a history of the ever-varying and
contradictory opinions that have been offered"
2. With such a difficult passage before us, we should ...
a. Approach it with humility, and not dogmatically
b. Not draw conclusions that would contradict clear teachings of
Scripture
[We begin our study with verse 20, in which Daniel first describes...]
I. THE ARRIVAL OF GABRIEL
A. AT THE TIME OF EVENING OFFERING...
1. Even as Daniel was confessing his sin and the sin of his
people, and making supplication for the holy mountain of God
(i.e., Jerusalem) - Dan 9:20-21
2. This was the same person seen in the vision at the beginning
- cf. Dan 8:16
B. TO GIVE DANIEL SKILL TO UNDERSTAND...
1. Commanded to do so even at the beginning of Daniel's prayer
- Dan 9:22-23
2. For Daniel was "greatly beloved" - cf. Dan 10:11, Dan 10:19
[And so Gabriel, who provided explanation to Daniel regarding the
vision of the ram and the goat (Dan 8:16), now proceeds to give
details concerning...]
II. THE VISION OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS
A. A GENERAL STATEMENT OF WHAT IS TO OCCUR...
1. 70 "weeks" are determined for Daniel's people (Israel) and his
holy city (Jerusalem) - Dan 9:24
a. The word "weeks" in Hebrew is actually "sevens"
(i.e., 70 "sevens")
b. Most agree it likely refers to "weeks", but weeks of what?
1) Weeks of days?
a) Then it would be 490 days
b) Few believe this to be the case as there would not
be enough time for all prophesies to be fullfilled
2) Weeks of years (i.e., each day representing a year)?
a) Then it would be 490 years
b) But the Jews used a lunar calendar (360 days/yr), so
it would be 483 years according to our calendar)
c) Many suggest this to be the answer, but it is not
without difficulty
3) Of some finite, yet non-specific period of time?
a) Then it may just refer to seventy complete periods of
time
b) And each week may not be equivalent in time (i.e.,
one "week" may be longer than other "weeks")
2. This period of time will be for the fulfillment of six things,
each apparently related to the work of the coming Messiah
a. To finish the transgression
1) The marginal reading has "restrain" for "finish"
2) The idea is that Messiah would provide a restraining
power and influence which would check the progress of
sin (Barnes) - cf. Ac 3:25-26
b. To make an end of sins
1) The marginal reading has "to seal up" for "make an end"
2) The idea is that sins will be sealed up, or closed, or
hidden, so that they will not be seen, or will not
develop themselves (Barnes) - cf. Ac 3:19
c. To make reconciliation for iniquity
1) Literally, to cover iniquity
2) How this would be done is not stated here, but
compare Isa 53:5-6; Isa 53:10-12
-- Note: The first three things relate to our Lord's work of
dealing with the problem of sin, how sin would be
"restrained", "sealed up", and "covered over"
d. To bring in everlasting righteousness
1) Literally, to cause to come
2) To provide a way by which a man could become righteous
and holy - cf. Ro 3:21-26; 2 Co 5:21
e. To seal up the vision and the prophecy
1) To complete, to finish, meaning the prophecies would be
fulfilled (Barnes)
2) Young suggests that it is referring to OT prophecies,
especially those related to the work of the Messiah
making an end of sin - cf. Lk 24:44-47
f. To anoint the Most Holy
1) Barnes opines that the Most Holy refers to the temple in
Jerusalem, with its Holy of Holies
2) And that the anointing of the temple refers to the
presence of the Messiah in the temple - cf. Mal 3:1-2;
Mt 12:6
3) Especially regarding the presence of the Lord in the
temple during His final week - cf. Mt 21:1-16
[ Perhaps Barnes noticed the many times the Temple is referred to
as the "Most Holy" Ezek 44:13; Exod 26:33-34; 2 Chron 3:8-10
But the phrase is also used referring to things eaten Ezra 2:63; Neh 7:63
And Jude refers to your "most holy" faith Jude 1:20 ]
4) Since "most holy" is not specific others believe it refers to
the baptism of Jesus when the Spirit came upon Him in the form
of a dove - Mt 3:16-17
B. A SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF HOW THIS WOULD OCCUR...
1. There shall be 7 weeks and 62 weeks - Dan 9:25
a. Beginning with the command to restore and build Jerusalem,
until Messiah the prince (the street and the wall shall be
built, even in troublesome times)
b. At least three possible decrees may serve as the "terminus
pro quo" (starting point) of the 70 "weeks"
1) The decree of Cyrus (539-538 BC) - cf. Ezr 1:1-4
a) To rebuild the temple (and the city, cf. Isa 44:26-28;
Isa 45:13)
b) If one starts here, then the 70 weeks could not be
490 literal years, for that would place the end of
the 70 weeks around 55 B.C. (much too early)
c) The appeal of using this decree as the starting point
1] It is the most well-known decree regarding the
restoration of Israel
2] It was given about the time Daniel received his
vision of the 70 weeks
-- This decree is preferred by many who do not hold to a
literal 490 years (Young, Harkrider, McGuiggan)
2) The decree of Artaxerxes (457 BC) - cf. Ezr 7:13-14
a) For Ezra to restore the Law and its worship
b) Starting here, 490 Julian years would end the 70
weeks around 33 A.D.
c) But 490 lunar years end the 70 weeks around 26 A.D.
(seven years too early)
-- This decree is preferred by some amillenialists who
hold to a literal 490 years, but not lunar years
(Haley's Bible Handbook)
3) The second decree of Artaxerxes (445-444 BC) - cf. Neh 2:1-8
a) For Nehemiah to build the city
b) Starting here, 490 lunar years end the 70 weeks
around 38 A.D.
c) This would place the start of the 70th week near the
beginning of Jesus' public ministry (ca. 30 A.D.)
d) There are problems with the first 7 weeks ending
around 396 B.C., which some contend is too late for
the restoration of the city
-- Premillenialists prefer to start with this decree, but
so do some amillenialists such as Albert Barnes
c. Each starting date has its problems, but we lean towards
Barnes' choice of the second decree of Artaxerxes in 445
B.C. as the terminus a quo for this prophecy
1) The 7 and 62 "weeks" is the period of time from the
decree until "Messiah the Prince"
2) Barnes has this period ending with the baptism (anointing of
the Most Holy) of Jesus and the beginning of His public ministry
2. After the 62 weeks, certain events will occur - Dan 9:26-27
a. Messiah will be cut off, but not for Himself
1) This refers to the death of Christ
2) Whose death occurs midway during the 70th week
(see below)
b. People of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city
and the sanctuary
1) The end of it shall be with a flood; until the end of
the war, desolations are determined
a) The people are generally accepted to be the Romans,
who destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70
b) The "prince" is thought to be either Titus, the Roman
general, or perhaps referring to Jesus Himself (with
the Roman army as the instrument of God's judgment
upon Jerusalem)
2) Many contend that the destruction must fall within the
70th week
a) However, Young and Barnes argue that such is not
necessarily required by the text
b) The desolation to befall Jerusalem may be the
consequence of events during the 70th week, and not
fall within the period of the 70th week
c. For 1 week, he shall confirm a covenant with many
1) "He" refers to Jesus (Barnes)
2) "Confirm a covenant" describes the work done by Jesus
and His apostles in Israel, before and immediately after
His death (Barnes)
a) His earthly ministry lasted about 3 and half years
b) The gospel was preached for another 3 1/2 years but
only to Jews. Then Cornelius became the first "gentile"
convert and the kingdom was open to all the world!
d. In the middle of the week he shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offering
1) This refers to Jesus who was cut off, but not for
Himself (Barnes)
2) Through His death, He brought the need for sacrifices to
an end - He 10:12-18
e. The abomination and desolation to come - Dan 9:27
1) Alluding to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70
2) Jesus referred to this in Mt 24:15
3) Again, this desolation may be the consequence of what
occurred in the 70th week, even though it occurred after
the 70th week
4) But if required to occur during the 70th week, then the
70th week must extend beyond A.D. 70 (Harkrider,
McGuiggan)
CONCLUSION
1. Such a brief look at this difficult passage will naturally raise
many questions, which are beyond the scope of our study
2. For more detailed study, one might consider the following
commentaries which provide several alternative views...
a. Commentary on Daniel, Albert Barnes
b. The Prophecy of Daniel, Edward J. Young
c. Commentary on Revelation, Robert F. Harkrider
d. The Book Of Daniel, Jim McGuiggan
e. Exposition Of Daniel, H. C. Leupold
-- Each of these examine the passage from the amillenial
perspective, which finds no place for the "gap theory" favored by
dispensational premillenialists. Nowhere is there an indication
the 70 weeks are separated. They are consecutive and have been
completed. When Jesus returns it is to take His kingdom
up to heaven 1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thess 4:16 thus bringing
about the end of the world 2 Pe 3:9-10
While the passage is admittedly difficult, let's not lose sight of the
wonderful promises concerning the Messiah's work related to sin and
righteousness. For Jesus through His death has truly brought an end to
the consequences of sin and introduced everlasting righteousness!
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