Daniel 9:20-27, The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (2)

God has given Daniel the picture of His completed work concerning Israel (your people) and Jerusalem (your holy city).  Now, in 9:25-27, God reveals to Daniel mile-markers along the way, over the 490 years (70 weeks of years).

First, there is a period of 483 years (seven weeks plus sixty-two weeks), beginning with the command to restore and build Jerusalem and ending with Messiah the Prince.  The command to restore Jerusalem is generally placed between 444-454BC, and the death of Christ around 32AD, a period of 483 years.  (See the Bibliography for additional information on this confirmation of precise fulfillment.)  Jerusalem will be built, street and wall (plaza and moat), even in troublesome times.  From Daniel's time until Christ’s time, the times were constantly troublesome.

After the sixty-two weeks (i.e. after 483 years, with 49 years or seven weeks followed by 434 years or 62 weeks) Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.  What a great description of the cross.  Jesus was cut off, and it was because of those for whom He died. 

Gabriel then refers to the people of the prince who is to come.  This refers to Rome, the last of the four coming empires.  The “prince” is the horn that speaks pompous words against the Most High and persecutes the saints of the Most High (Dan. 7:25).  He is also the sinister king of Dan. 8:23-25).  His people will destroy Jerusalem, which Rome did in 70AD, an end that certainly came with a flood of destruction. 

The next line says, till the end of the war desolations are determined.  Undoubtedly Daniel would have been perplexed at this.  As Peter said, the prophets struggled to understand the glory and sufferings of Messiah (1 Pt. 1:10-12).  The Messiah came.  But then is cut off.  After that the city is destroyed, and desolations continue.  Daniel might have wondered, “where are the glories of Messiah and His reign?”  From our perspective, we even know that the period of “desolations” is over 2000 years, so far.

The answer is that there is still one week, seven years left.  We know this as “the tribulation period” or “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7).  The Roman prince will make a seven-year covenant “with many,” perhaps many in Israel or with others including Israel.  But in the middle of the week he will end the temple-worship in Jerusalem and will make desolations brought about by abominations.  Jesus referred to this in Mt. 24:15 as the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. 

Interestingly, that concludes Gabriel’s words to Daniel.  By the end of the 70^th week all the prophecies will be fulfilled.  But we do not get the story as to how this happens.  What do we know?   We know Daniel is trusting in the Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him (Dan. 9:4).  Daniel trusts the faithful God!  May we do the same in these troublesome days.