Daniel 9:20-27, The 70 Weeks of Daniel (1)

 God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer came quickly, and yet with a significant delay.  The angel Gabriel came with the answer while he was still praying.  That’s fast.  But what Gabriel brought was a revelation of God’s plan that would extend for 490 years, and then some.  At that time all God’s plans for Israel would be fulfilled. 

“Gabriel” means “man or mighty one of God.”  He appeared twice to Daniel (8:16 and here), and also to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist (Lk. 1:19), and Mary, the mother of Jesus (Lk. 1:26).  He described himself as one who stands in the presence of God (Lk. 1:19).  He was significant in the angelic host.  He comes here because this is an important prophecy in terms of the timing of the fulfillment of God’s promise to His Son in Psalm 2.

Dan. 9:24 says, Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city.  The term “weeks” actually refers to “units of seven.”  It is not the normal word for “weeks.”  I believe you will easily see why this refers to “seventy periods of seven years.”  What happens in these 490 years has to do with Daniel’s people and holy city.  In other words, it involves Israel and Jerusalem.  In that sense, Daniel’s prayer was answered.  But Daniel was thinking about a return to the land in the time of the Medes and Persians.  God’s answer took Daniel all the way through to the salvation of the nation and the exaltation of a King on David’s throne.

There are six purposes to be accomplished during this time.  As is common in Jewish poetry, it appears that the six are actually three couplets.

·       To finish transgression, to make an end of sins.  Remember, this refers to Israel, Daniel’s people.  It indicates an end of the sins of the nation that regularly brought on them God’s judgment.  Some day Israel will be faithful to God.

·       To make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness.  The reconciliation must refer to the cross of Christ.  Everlasting righteousness refers to the establishment of His Kingdom when He brings in righteousness and peace.

·       To seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.  The first phrase indicates the fulfillment of all the prophecies related to the Father’s exaltation of His Son.  Some take the “Most Holy” as referring to Messiah when He is anointed and set on His throne.  He is “the Holy One” (Mk. 1:24; Acts 3:14).  But this exact phrase appears numerous times in the OT and always refers to the temple or to aspects of the temple.  We take it to refer to the worship that is established in the time of Jesus’ Millennial reign (cf. Isa. 2:1-4; Ezek. 41-45, e.g. 44:13; 45:3).

Daniel lives in the area of Chaldea, far removed from the Promised Land.  He may wonder if God is done with his people.  But of course, He is not.  Gabriel speaks of God’s faithful completion of all the promises made regarding Israel and Jerusalem.  These will be fulfilled!  There is more to uncover tomorrow.