THE 70 WEEKS
INTERACTIVE BIBLE STUDY

In Daniel 9:26, it states that the Messiah will be cut off, but not for himself. Jesus was killed by men, for men. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This prophecy is part of the angel's interpretation of Daniel's vision of the 2300 days. It provides detail on the part of Jesus' ministry while He was on earth, including the specific nature of the Messiah’s ministry, the start date and the date of His death. It presents a solid immovable foundation for faith in Jesus.

Bible Reference: Daniel 9

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Introduction

1
"...I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes" (Daniel 9:2-3).
1
Daniel here refers to a separate prophecy by Jeremiah that specified the length of time Israel would be in captivity by Babylon (70 years). Knowing the captivity could soon be over, Daniel seeks earnestly for God's deliverance of his people and the restoration of their city, Jerusalem.
2
"...I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision" (Daniel 9:22-23).
2
The angel tells Daniel to consider "the vision". The last vision Daniel had was of the 2300 days in chapter 8. After the angel had partially explained it, Daniel had fainted and become sick. Now, the angel had come back to give Daniel understanding and finish the interpretation. The 70 Weeks is not a new vision, but actually part of the interpretation of the 2300 day prophecy.




The Purpose of the 70 Weeks

1
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy" (Daniel 9:24).
1
The 70 Weeks was a time period especially allocated to the Jews and Jerusalem ("thy people" and "thy city"). The word in Hebrew that is translated to "determined" means to cut off. Thus, the 70 weeks were cut off from another time period, namely the larger period of 2300 days given during the vision.

Many wonderful things were to occur during the 70 weeks. The description of these events clearly point to the activities that only the Messiah could accomplish. Jesus' ministry on earth is the focal point of the 70 weeks.




The Beginning Date

1
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem...” (Daniel 9:25).
1
The 70 Week prophecy begins when the command was given to restore and build Jerusalem.
2
"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven...charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah" (Ezra 1:2).
2
It was Cyrus the Great who set the stage for the Jews to return to their homeland. This event was foretold long before it actually occurred, and even Cyrus’ name was prophesied (Is. 44:28, 45:1). A declaration issued by Cyrus, inscribed on a clay cylinder, was discovered in 1879 by an archaeologist in the foundation of the Marduk temple of Babylon. This declaration is often referred to as the world’s first charter of human rights, confirming the Biblical view of Cyrus’ generosity and religious tolerance.
3
"Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven..." (Ezra 7:23)
3
There were three decrees that made it possible for the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem:
  • 539 BC by Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4)
  • 519 BC by Darius (Ezra 6:1-12)
  • 457 BC by Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11-28)
It wasn’t until the comprehensive decree by Artaxerxes that the work was actually begun.




Messiah The Prince

1
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” (Daniel 9:25).
1
According to this prophecy, the Messiah could be expected in 27 AD. Jesus Christ was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit (“anoint the most Holy” - v24), in the fall of 27 AD, which marked the beginning of His ministry (John 1:32-34, Acts 10:38), exactly 69 weeks into the prophecy.

Calculate the number of years:
7 weeks
+ 62 weeks (1 score = 20)
= 69 weeks (483 days)
= 483 days = 483 prophetic years

Calculate the date:
457 BC (the command to restore Jerusalem)
+ 483 years
= 27 AD

Note: When calculating dates, remember that there is no "zero" year. 1 BC is followed by 1 AD.




The Last Week

1
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week" (Daniel 9:27).

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles... But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 10:6).
1
During Jesus’ ministry (3-1/2 years) and for 3-1/2 years after (7 years total), the gospel was preached primarily to the Jews. This was a time when the special covenant God had made with the Jewish nation was strengthened and confirmed by Christ Himself and also by His apostles.
2
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before the coming of the Just One; of who ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it" (Acts 7:51-53).
2
In 34 AD, Stephen preached a final, convincing sermon to the leaders of the Jewish nation, giving them one last chance to keep God’s covenant. But, they rejected the message (Acts 7:57-59) and stoned Stephen, making him the first Christian martyr. After that, the apostles shifted their focus to the Gentiles. The Jews, while entitled to salvation just like everyone else (Rom. 11:23-24), lost their special privileges as a nation and the responsibility of caring for and growing God’s body of believers was given to His Christian church.




The Last Week

1
“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise...Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph. 2:12,16).

“For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel...They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed" (Rom. 9:6-8).
1
The New Testament writers make it clear that God's covenant promises are to be fulfilled to those who are part of Christ's body/church. This group is often referred to as "Spiritual Israel" or the "Israel of God". These are they which live according to the Spirit of God instead of their own selfish desires.
2
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:15-16).
2
We see again and again throughout Scripture, that the need for honesty of heart to recognize that only Christ can change us is key. God desires our minds to make an individual, intelligent, free choice to follow Him. It's not your lineage that's important to God, it is your decision for Christ that allows Him to count you as His child.




The Midst of the Last Week

1
“...and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease" (Daniel 9:27).
1
In the spring of 31 AD, half way through 69th prophetic week, Christ died on the cross (on the exact day of the Jewish passover). This eliminated the need for animal sacrifices, because His great sacrifice was what all the animal sacrifices foreshadowed.

Summary





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