The 70 Weeks

This is probably the most controversial passage in all of scripture

It’s my desire to avoid the controversial and instead focus on the absolutes.

Daniel 9 starts with Daniel praying for Israel and the city of Jerusalem.

Daniels Prayer Get’s Answered Immediately

The Purpose of the 70 Weeks

To finish the transgression

Put an end to sin

Atone for iniquity

Bring everlasting righteousness

Seal both vision and prophet

Anoint a most holy (place)

The Time of the 70 Weeks

There are two main views

The cultural popular view: Dispensational pre-millennial

The historical and scholarly view: Covenantal, amillenial and post-millennial view

From the decree to rebuild Jerusalem

There were 4 different decree’s spanning over 100 years

Which decree you believe is the one Gabriel is speaking of depends on your interpretation of “70 weeks”

If you believe a more figurative stance on 70 weeks you’ll believe it is the 538 BC decree of Cyrus

70 x 7 is never taken as literal

Ezra 1

If you hold to a literal take on the 70 weeks then you would believe it to be the 4th decree, made by Artaxerxes in 444 BC

Daniel 2 is where this is found

One of the coolest points of this stance is that it is 473 years between the decree and Christ’s death

7 + 62 = 69*7=483

483 Jewish years is 473 years on our calendar

This means the 4th decree would be exactly 69 weeks of years until Christ

Points of agreement

v26: the anointed one is Christ

v26: cut off refers to the cross

v26: the destruction of the city is 70 AD

But that’s about it

Compare the two:

Interpretation: literal vs figurative (typology)

Focus: Israel vs The Church

Rapture: Yes vs No

The Destruction of Jerusalem: By a Roman King, vs By Christ as Judgement

The Final week: Some unknown time int the future vs. 70 AD

The Covenant: Made by the antichrist with Israel during the great tribulation and will be broken vs Made by Christ with the Church and will be unbroken

The End of Sacrifices: because the temple is destroyed vs. because Christ fulfilled the Old Testaments