Topical Encyclopedia The term "Seventy Weeks" refers to a prophetic period mentioned in the Book of Daniel, specifically in Daniel 9:24-27. This prophecy is one of the most significant and debated passages in biblical eschatology, providing a timeline for the coming of the Messiah and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan for Israel and the world.Biblical Context The prophecy of the Seventy Weeks is delivered to Daniel by the angel Gabriel during the Babylonian exile. Daniel, having understood from the writings of Jeremiah that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years, seeks God in prayer and supplication for the restoration of his people (Daniel 9:2-3). In response, Gabriel provides Daniel with a vision of "seventy weeks" that are decreed for his people and the holy city. Textual Analysis Daniel 9:24-27 states: "Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations are decreed. And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations will come one who causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him." Interpretation 1. Seventy Weeks as Seventy Sevens: The term "weeks" is understood to mean "sevens," referring to a period of seventy sets of seven years, totaling 490 years. This interpretation aligns with the Jewish understanding of a "week" as a unit of seven, similar to the Sabbath cycle. 2. Division of the Weeks: The prophecy divides the seventy weeks into three distinct periods: seven weeks (49 years), sixty-two weeks (434 years), and one final week (7 years). The first period covers the time from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to its completion. The second period extends to the coming of the Messiah. 3. The Coming of the Messiah: The prophecy indicates that after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be "cut off and will have nothing," a reference understood by many to signify the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the fulfillment of this prophecy. 4. Destruction of Jerusalem: The prophecy foretells the destruction of the city and the sanctuary by "the people of the prince who is to come," often interpreted as the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. 5. The Final Week: The last week is often associated with end-time events. The "prince" who confirms a covenant for one week is seen by some as a future Antichrist figure. The cessation of sacrifice and the abomination of desolation are linked to future tribulation events. Theological Significance The prophecy of the Seventy Weeks is pivotal in understanding the timeline of messianic prophecy and eschatology. It underscores the sovereignty of God in history, the centrality of the Messiah in God's redemptive plan, and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. The prophecy also serves as a foundation for the study of the end times, providing a framework for interpreting the events leading to the second coming of Christ. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Seventy WeeksSEVENTY WEEKS The "seventy weeks" of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 have long been a subject of controversy in the critical schools. The conflicting views may be seen very fully in Dr. Driver's Daniel, 94;, 143;, and Dr. Pusey's Daniel the Prophet, lectionaries II, III, IV. On both sides it is agreed that the "weeks" in this prophecy are to be interpreted as "weeks of years," i.e. the 70 weeks represent 490 years. This period, commencing with "the going forth of the commandments to restore and build Jerus" (Daniel 9:25), is divided into three parts, 7 weeks (49 years), 62 weeks (434 years), and one week (7 years). The 69 weeks extend to the appearance of "an anointed one (Hebrew "Messiah"), the prince" (Daniel 9:25), who, after the 62 weeks, shall be "cut off" (Daniel 9:26), apparently in the "midst" of the 70th week (Daniel 9:27). On the traditional view (see Pusey), the 69 weeks (483 years) mark the interval from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem till the appearance of Christ; and if, with Pusey, the decree in question be taken to be that of the 7th year of Artaxerxes (457-56 B.C.; the mission of Ezra; compare Ezra 7:8;), confirmed and extended in the 20th year of the same king (mission of Nehemiah; compare Nehemiah 2:1;), the 483 years run out about 27-28 A.D., when our Lord's public ministry began. On the other hand, the view which supposes that the Book of Daniel belongs wholly to the Maccabean age, and does not here contain genuine prediction, is under the necessity of making the 490 years terminate with the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes (171-164 B.C.), and this, it is admitted, cannot be done. To give time the violent expedient is adopted of dating the commencement of the 70 weeks from the prophecy of Jeremiah of the 70 years' captivity, or of the rebuilding of Jerusalem (606 or 587 B.C.), i.e. before the captivity had begun. Even this, as Dr. Driver admits (p. 146), leaves us in 171 B.C., some 67 years short of the duration of the 62 weeks, and a huge blunder of the writer of Daniel has to be assumed. The divergent reckonings are legion, and are mutually contradictory (see table in Pusey, p. 217). To invalidate the older view Dr. Driver avails himself of the altered renderings of Daniel 9:25 and 27 in the English Revised Version. It is to be noted, however, that the American Standard Revised Version does not follow the English Revised Version in these changes. Thus, whereas the English Revised Version reads in 9:25, "Unto the anointed one; the prince, shall be seven weeks: and threescore and two weeks, it shall be built again," and accordingly takes "the anointed one" of 9:26 to be a distinct person, the American Standard Revised Version (as also the English Revised Version margin) reads, as in the King James Version, "shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks." Again, where the English Revised Version reads in Daniel 9:27 "For the half of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease," the American Standard Revised Version (and the English Revised Version margin) has as formerly, "In the midst of the week he shall cause" etc. (conversely, in 9:25 the American Revised Version margin gives the English Revised Version rendering). The question cannot be discussed here, but it is believed that the traditional interpretation may yet claim acceptance from those who do not accept the postulates of the newer critical writers. Library Fragment xvi. On the Seventy Weeks of Daniel. ... Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ... "The Kingdom of God is at Hand" An American Reformer. An American Reformer Daniel General Account of Jesus' Teaching. Antichrist in Daniel Light through Darkness. Of the Times of Christ's Birth and Passion, and of Jerusalem's ... Resources What does it mean that God sent Jesus in the “fullness of time”? Why did God send Jesus when He did? | GotQuestions.orgQuestions about the End Times (All) | GotQuestions.org Who was Quadratus of Athens? | GotQuestions.org Seventy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Seventy: 70 Weeks in the Vision of Daniel Seventy: The Jews in Captivity in Babylon for Seventy Years Seventy: The Senate of the Israilites Composed of Seventy Elders Seventy: The Seventy Disciples Sent Forth by Jesus (Though the Best Greek Mss Have "Seventy-Two") Related Terms Seventy-sevenfold (1 Occurrence) Meat-offering (111 Occurrences) Meal-offering (120 Occurrences) |
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