The Seventy Weeks

 Daniel 9:20-27

Here’s the caveat:

I reserve the right to change my mind

later today

next week - next month - next year

until I finally settle everything and all

the surrounding details.

With all of this, that probably won’t happen this side of heaven…

The goal in studying Scripture is not to land in one particular “camp,” but to arrive at a right understanding of what the Bible teaches. 

Remember Basic Bible study principles

• What does it say?

• What does it mean? (Holy Spirit inspired/

guided study leads you)

• How am I changed?
  How will I act or think differently tomorrow, 

  next week, month, year, etc.

It’s a long term thing - sanctification

Remember: this passage is about Jesus. 

Any interpretation that doesn’t highlight the gospel - the redemption that Jesus came to accomplish on the cross, I’m going to be skeptical of.

We must always make much of Jesus

Daniel 9:20-27 is considered one of the most difficult passages in the Old Testament

Verses 20-23 summarize the prayer

Daniel is a wonderful example of what prayer should look like.

James 4:3

Central importance in prayer:

who to - what for - how - motive - all matter

Daniel’s prayer, and Gabriel’s response shows us that we should consider all of this carefully, and that God wants us to understand:

The Seventy Weeks

And it’s almost universally agreed that “Seventy Weeks” should be understood: Seventy Sevens

Or: 490 years. 

Verse 25 gives us the timeline start.

But before the starting point is given, 

The center of the prophecy

This is what we’re looking toward

In verse 24, there are six events listed

(Don’t disconnect verse 24 from 25, 26, 27)

What are the six events?

1. To Finish the Transgression

We’re pointed to the Cross as the culmination of the sin of God’s people. Their transgression will be finished when they crucify Jesus on the cross (See Matthew 21, The Parable of the Tenants).

2. To put an end to sin

The idea here is a “sealing up”

God’s people rejected Him. He is now sealing/storing up, or reserving, their sins for later punishment. 

(Acts 17:30, Romans 2:5)

3. To Atone for Iniquity

It’s impossible to understand this as anything other than what Jesus did on the cross.

Memorize 2 Corinthians 5:21 – For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

4. To Bring in everlasting righteousness

This is what Jesus accomplished on the cross

Salvations’s goal for you: 

• that you should be holy and blameless

• you were created for good works

• zealous to do good works

2 Tim 2:22, Romans 3:20-25 (esp. v. 21)

Our righteousness will be everlasting, not temporary, not there for as long as you maintain it, or keep up the right standards. It’s there forever. 

5. To Seal Both Vision and Prophecy

When He fulfilled prophecy, He confirmed that it was true. 

In Luke 18:31-33, Jesus told His disciples, for the third time, what was going to happen:

Acts 3:18 – But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled

I think the 70 weeks are about the plan

6. To Anoint the Most Holy

Newer translations tend to say “Most Holy Place.” Older translations mostly say “Most Holy.”

Some say it points to the anointing of the Temple at some point in the future. 

Don’t miss that the term “place” isn’t in the original text.

Remember: this passage is inherently Messianic

I believe that the phrase, most holy points to Jesus.

Two more times, in the next two verses, “anointed” is used of Christ, the Anointed One

Luke 1:35, Mark 1:24, John 6:69, Mark 1:10-11 all call Jesus the Holy One.

In Isaiah 61:1, which Jesus read in the temple, was about Him.

And in Mark’s Gospel, immediately following the anointing of the Spirit at His baptism:

Mark 1:15 – Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

(Seems like the time is fulfilled could refer to this prophecy)

Jesus Christ IS the Anointed One!

Next week, we’ll start looking at the timeline and see even more how all of this is about Jesus!!

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob