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Lesson 7

Seventy-Week Prophecy Divided

Daniel 9:25

Introduction

“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: the street shall be built again,” Daniel 9:25b.

Gabriel told Daniel that within the timeframe of 490 years God’s people would become holy, everlasting righteousness would reign and His church would be eternally secure.

• Revelation 19:6 speaks of this time through an angelic song.

“Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” “the marriage of the Lamb is come.”

• Timing key: Babylon, the apostate church, has recently fallen. The remnant church, the pure woman, is ready to become the Lamb’s wife.

If everlasting righteousness comes to the universe only at the end of time, could the 70 weeks of years somehow encompass the end of time also?

The Onset of the 70 Weeks

We have already noted that the command to restore and build Jerusalem was a spiritual restoration decree.

• Artaxerxes I proclaimed it in 457 B.C.

• Gabriel now builds on unusual timing divisions in this 70-week prophecy.

“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: the street shall be built again,” Daniel 9:25.

• This first period is a Messianic prophecy.

• Within the 70 weeks-of-years, at 69 weeks, Messiah the Prince appears.

Why is the prophecy divided?

• 7 weeks + 62 weeks + (1 week remaining)

• 457 B.C. + 490 (zero accounting for 1 year) = 34 A.D.

But what about the end of the 7 weeks?

• That would be 408 B.C.

• Nothing was significant in secular history relative to the Jews (www.attalvs.org/bc4/year408.html) at that time.

• It was during inter-testamental times.

What about that time “period?”

• 7 weeks-of-years = 49 years

• That was the duration of a Jubilee cycle and would end the first cycle of 10 Jubilee cycles within the 490 years.

• 408 B.C. was a Sabbatical year for the land to rest.

• 407 B.C. would be a Jubilee year.

Israel had been in captivity because of idolatry and had not observed the land rest statutes (Leviticus 25:3-7, II Chronicles 36:21). The Jubilee (50th year) was not only a double land rest year but the year of restoration.

• It was a holy year of celebration.

• Everything was to be restored.

• It symbolized the future time when God’s people would be restored to eternal holiness.

• That is exactly what 8:14 promised would occur after the 2300 “days” (cf. Leviticus 25:8-55).

That first Jubilee cycle was part of a restoration theme, guiding Israel’s journey to holiness – liberty – salvation.

• It was a solemn reminder.

Ten in prophecy means “complete” or a “whole.” God gave His people a “complete” period of ten Jubilee cycles to be fully restored into His favor and kingdom – eternally.

• God began with this period, so we and the Jews wouldn’t err in this restoration understanding, by a 49-year period.

At the end of the 69 weeks of years – amazing – God (Messiah the Prince) would come personally to be the Deliverer and Restorer.

• This would begin the last seven-year land rest cycle.

• This would also be the seventh period of sevens in the tenth Jubilee cycle.

That puts Messiah the Prince 483 years after the secular decree to restore God’s people, which would come to 27 A.D. (counting zero). 69 weeks x 7 = 483 – 457 B.C. + 1 = 27 A.D.

The Messiah did not come on a Jubilee year. That would be right after the end of the 490 years.

• His first coming was to make all things ready for a future restoration.

• All provisions were made for the completion of everlasting righteousness.

The City, Street and Wall

“the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” Daniel 9:25b.

This phrase comes at a most unusual place in Gabriel’s message! Right in the middle of a Messianic prophecy comes this verse. Did Daniel make a mistake when writing it down?

• If it is in the middle of the Restorer theme,

• The street and wall in a time of trouble must also be part of a spiritual restoration theme.

We previously noted the words “restore” and “build” refer to the spiritual reclamation of God’s people. The same must belong here.

Street in Hebrew is r@chub, best understood as an “open area.”

• Usually it referred to the city square – center of activity for the town.

• If Jerusalem represents God’s people, the center of their worship must be restored!

• That center – the temple – had become idolatrous and the service corrupt.

• It was to be built up (banah) or restored with the Messiah’s coming.

• The pure woman in Revelation 12:1 is the imagery of this having occurred.

What about the walls?

• Hebrew word (charuwts) means a moat or trench.

• It refers to something sharply demarcated that won’t change.

• During troublous times (Time of Trouble) God’s people will be brought back to holiness.

• Like a moat around a city, the law and testimony will be its protective barrier.

• For the remnant, that would be their irrevocable guide.

At a time of great spiritual darkness and in troublous times the redemptive work of the Messiah will shine forth.

• When is God’s church finally restored, rebuilt, held securely by the law and testimony of Jesus during a time of trouble?

• It is at the “appointed time,” during the Little Time of Trouble, when the Loud Cry comes under the power of the latter rain. it is also at the judgment of the living, making up the final numbers of the kingdom.

“And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and [they shall be] driven to darkness.... The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined....

“For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior [is] with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but [this] shall be with burning [and] fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 8:22; 9:2, 4-7.

This is the announcement of the start of the Christian church. But there is a dual application. Israel failed, and it will not be until the end of time that this is fulfilled.

Christ’s Day – First Messianic prophecy fulfilled

– That verified the promise of restoration.

– Time of trouble for the Jewish nation – they failed their part in the covenant.

– The woman – God’s true Christian church (Revelation 12) – again, in
promise, would triumph.

End-Time – During a time of great trouble

– God’s people are made perfect and sealed (Revelation 7) – the church
triumphs.

– Then the Messiah will come (Revelation 1:7).

– The issues of Israel’s restoration become complete.

This is so wonderful!

• The application was incomplete for Daniel’s day.

• The 2300 atonement evening and morning prophecy (part of the mareh vision) makes it clear that the restoration wouldn’t be until after that time!

Does that mean the antitypical or greater fulfillment of the 70-week prophecy is at the end of time?

• That’s what the Bible says.

• The 144,000 will be the holy people, the firstfruits (Revelation 14:4) “unto God,” fully meeting Daniel 9:24!

In 27 A.D. the “anointed one” was baptized as the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world” – 483 years after the 457 B.C. decree.

• He came as a Lamb to be sacrificed.

• John bore record that He was the Son of God (John 1:34).

• When He arose He was the Messiah – the Savior – the Prince.

“Messiah the prince”