Daniel, a prominent figure during the Babylonian Exile, was a prophet with profound visions concerning the future of Israel and the world. Among his most significant prophecies is the vision of the seventy sevens, detailed in Daniel 9:24-27. This prophecy outlines a timeline for Israel’s restoration, the coming of the Messiah, and the end times. To fully appreciate the depth of this prophecy, we must examine its historical context, the specific details of the prophecy, and its implications for both Israel and the broader eschatological timeline.
Word Count: 2454 / Time to read: 13 minutes
Historical Context
Daniel was taken into Babylonian captivity in 605 B.C. as a young man, possibly a teenager. Throughout his life, he maintained his faithfulness to God, which earned him high regard among the Babylonian and Persian leaders. His wisdom and ability to interpret dreams were divinely granted, positioning him as a key figure in both the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires.
One of Daniel’s most significant moments came when he was reading the prophet Jeremiah and realized that the prophesied seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem were nearing completion (Jeremiah 25:11-12). This realization prompted Daniel to pray earnestly for his people’s forgiveness and restoration. In response to his prayer, the angel Gabriel delivered a message that expanded the seventy years into seventy sevens.
The Prophecy of the Seventy Sevens
Gabriel’s message to Daniel is recorded in Daniel 9:24-27:
“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
“Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
This passage is complex, but it can be broken down into distinct periods and events.
The Periods of the Seventy Sevens
The First Period: Seven Sevens (49 Years) This period began with the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Historical records indicate that this decree was given by King Artaxerxes in 445 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1-8). The initial rebuilding phase, marked by opposition and hardship, took approximately 49 years.
The Second Period: Sixty-Two Sevens (434 Years) Following the first period, an additional 434 years would pass, bringing the total to 483 years. This timeline leads up to the coming of the Anointed One, Jesus Christ. According to the prophecy, after these 62 sevens, the Messiah would be “cut off” (crucified), and Jerusalem would eventually be destroyed by the people of the coming ruler (Romans under Titus in A.D. 70).
The Gap and The Final Seven There is a notable gap between the 69th and 70th seven. This gap encompasses the Church Age, a period not revealed in the Old Testament but explained in the New Testament (Ephesians 3:2-6). The final seven years, often referred to as the Tribulation, will begin with the Antichrist confirming a covenant with many for one seven. Midway through this period, the Antichrist will break the covenant, ending sacrifices and setting up an abomination that causes desolation.
The Timing and Calendar Observations
Understanding the prophetic timeline requires recognizing the differences in calendars. The prophecy uses a 360-day year, consistent with the biblical prophetic calendar. This differs from the 365-day Gregorian calendar used today. Therefore, calculating the prophecy’s timeline involves converting these periods to the appropriate calendar system.
From the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 445 B.C. to the crucifixion of Christ in A.D. 33 aligns with the 483 years (69 sevens) when calculated using the 360-day prophetic year. This precise fulfillment underscores the divine accuracy of biblical prophecy.
John Walvoord, in his book “Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation,” explains, “The prophecy of the seventy sevens provides the chronological framework for Messianic prophecy, pointing precisely to the time of Christ’s first coming and his sacrificial death.” This highlights the importance of the prophecy in validating the messianic timeline.
Distinction Between Israel and the Church
It is essential to recognize that this prophecy was given with Israel in mind. Daniel 9:24 specifically states, “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city.” This is in stark contrast to the vision of the statue in Daniel 2, which outlines the course of Gentile kingdoms. The prophecy in Daniel 2 was directed at Gentiles, represented by Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, whereas the seventy sevens are specifically directed at Israel. This distinction explains why the Church Age, a period primarily concerning Gentile believers, is not included in the seventy sevens. The Church Age is effectively a parenthesis in God’s plan for Israel.
Charles Ryrie, in the “Ryrie Study Bible,” notes, “The seventy weeks prophecy is a remarkable testament to God’s sovereign control over history, detailing not only the events leading up to Christ’s first coming but also the events that will culminate in his second coming.” This emphasizes the divine orchestration of history, both for Israel and the Gentile world.
Symbolism and Importance
The seventy sevens prophecy serves as a backbone for understanding God’s plan for Israel and the world. It emphasizes the necessity of Israel’s restoration and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom. The detailed timeline demonstrates God’s sovereignty and the precise fulfillment of His word.
The prophecy also serves as a foundation for understanding the end times. The final seven years, or the Tribulation, will be a period of intense suffering and judgment, culminating in the Second Coming of Christ. This period will witness the rise and fall of the Antichrist, the abomination of desolation, and the ultimate victory of Christ.
J. Dwight Pentecost, in “Things to Come,” emphasizes, “Understanding the seventy weeks is crucial for comprehending the broader scope of biblical prophecy, as it ties together the past, present, and future plans of God for Israel and the world.”
The Church Age
The gap in the seventy sevens prophecy coincides with the Church Age. The Church Age was not revealed to any of the Old Testament prophets. It remained a mystery until New Testament times. During the Church Age, Jew and Gentile believers are equally joined together to form a new special company of believers known as the Church or the body and bride of Christ. The 490 years are focused on Israel’s destiny. During the Church Age, Israel is set on the back burner and the advancement of their prophetic clock is paused. At the end of the Church Age, the focus will again be on Israel and their prophetic clock will start back up again. Israel’s unbelief opened the door for the Gospel to reach the entire world and will continue until the “full number of Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). It was God’s original intention that Israel would have been a light to the world and an example for other Gentile nations to come to a saving relationship with God. Ancient Israel failed to meet God’s expectations and so God is using their unbelief to bring people to Himself. Our God is amazing. He can take the worst of circumstances and make them work together for good. For the sake of the elect, God will keep His beloved nation on hold while the rest of us are saved. God is presently forming the Body and Bride of Christ from both Jew and Gentile individuals. Israel was privileged prior to the Church age and will again be privileged following it, but this is our time of great blessing. If you are reading this, you should be grateful for God’s grace which paused the prophetic clock concerning Israel.
When Christ returns, all the things mentioned in the prophecy regarding Israel will be accomplished:
- To finish transgression
- To put an end to sin
- To atone for wickedness
- To bring in everlasting righteousness
- To seal up vision and prophecy
- To anoint the Most Holy Place
In other words, Israel as a nation will be restored to their Messiah. As a nation, they will repent and stop sinning, they will establish righteousness and the prophecies recorded about their restoration will be fulfilled. The New Temple will be constructed and anointed (Ezekiel 40-48). Since the last of the 490 years will have elapsed, the Millennial Kingdom, which lasts for 1,000 years, will begin with Christ as King (Revelation 20).
More Details on the Prophecy
To help clearly explain my understanding of the prophecy, I’ll add my notes in brackets interwoven into the recorded prophecy from Daniel 9:24-27:
“Seventy ‘sevens’ [490 years] are decreed for your people and your holy city [the Nation Israel / Jerusalem] to [1] finish transgression, to [2] put an end to sin, to [3] atone for wickedness, to [4] bring in everlasting righteousness, to [5] seal up vision and prophecy and to [6] anoint the Most Holy Place [all six things summarize the establishment of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom on earth, which includes Israel’s restoration to a right relationship with God and acceptance of Christ as Messiah].
“Know and understand this [though it may be complicated, you should be able to decipher and comprehend the contents]: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem [445 B.C. as recorded in Nehemiah 2:4-8] until the Anointed One [Christ], the ruler, comes [in his incarnation to be an atoning sacrifice for the race of mankind], there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ [the first period is 7×7=49 years; the second period is 62×7=434 years; the two periods added together is 49+434= 483 years]. It [Jerusalem] will be rebuilt with streets and a trench [a basic infrastructure which will be added to over time], but in times of trouble [opposition from enemies]. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ [after the first and second consecutive periods which total 483 years] the Anointed One [Christ] will be put to death and will have nothing [the crucifixion in A.D. 33] [The time gap begins here following the repulsive act of Israel when they demanded the crucifixion of their promised Messiah]. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary [Titus and his Roman army in A.D. 70]. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. [The Church Age when the Body and Bride is being formed from both believing Jews and Gentiles and many wars, turmoil, and Christian persecutions will be common]. He [the Antichrist] will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ [the peace treaty which marks the beginning of the Tribulation period, which coincides with the last period of 7 years referred to in the prophecy] In the middle of the ‘seven’ [3 ½ years into the 7-year Tribulation period] he [the Antichrist] will put an end to sacrifice and offering [stop the Orthodox Jews from their ritual worship in the Temple during the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period]. And at the Temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation [an animated image of the Antichrist himself, or the Antichrist personally present will be worshipped by all who have taken the mark of the beast], until the end that is decreed is poured out on him [the Antichrist will be consigned to the lake of fire for eternity].”
The consistent message of Biblical prophecy is that Israel will be forgiven, restored, and exalted above all other nations of the world. They are God’s chosen nation, and it was from Israel that Christ was conceived and given to be the Savior of the world. In our age, it is confusing how they can be chosen for this honor since they presently reject Christ as their Messiah. This prophecy helps clear that up because we know there will be an end to that rebellion. They will repent and believe after the Second Coming of Christ. It is at that time when they will be restored. Individual Jews may decide to believe in Christ as their Savior during this age and be saved by grace just like Gentiles. However, Israel as a nation will continue in unbelief until the Second Coming. We must endure patiently until the full duration of prophesied time elapses – “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression…” (Daniel 9:24).
God has promised things to Israel and He can and will fulfill His promises based on the grace available through the death and resurrection of Christ. We gain salvation apart from works or payment through faith in the Gospel, but remember that a huge payment was made by Christ to obtain that redemption. He is free to redeem Israel no matter how badly they failed as a nation just as He is free to redeem any of us no matter how badly we have failed as individuals. The grace of God is infinite because the value of the blood of Christ is infinite. The doctrine of Election will be proven true by the actions of Christ our Judge!
Conclusion
Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy sevens is a profound and intricate revelation of God’s plan for Israel and the world. It underscores the accuracy of biblical prophecy and the sovereignty of God in orchestrating history. As we study this prophecy, we gain a deeper understanding of God’s redemptive plan and the assurance that His promises will be fulfilled.
The seventy sevens not only point to the first coming of Christ but also to His return, offering hope and assurance to believers. In the words of Daniel 9:24, this prophecy promises an end to transgression, the establishment of everlasting righteousness, and the fulfillment of all vision and prophecy.
For a more in-depth study, readers are encouraged to explore John Walvoord’s “Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation,” Charles Ryrie’s notes in the “Ryrie Study Bible,” and J. Dwight Pentecost’s “Things to Come.” These works provide extensive insights into the prophecy of the seventy sevens and its significance in biblical eschatology.
He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20
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New International Version (NIV)
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