Daniel's Prayer Answered - Seventy Weeks

Before we dive deep into the meaning of the dream we first have to get our time reference established with respect to the number of days in a year. In Daniels time, the Jewish calendar was used and it defines one year as being 360 days (Revelation 11:2–3; 12:6; 13:5). It is not the 365 days we are accustomed to using in the Gregorian calendar. The second point is weeks or years. In context we see ‘weeks’ equal ‘weeks of years’. Thus, the beginning of the seventy weeks revealed or the “Seventy weeks” = “seventy weeks of years” (70 x 7 = 490 yrs.). We also find multiple ways to interpret the 70 years: 1. Literal seventy years; 2. 70 represents a round number; 3. Seventy is symbolic. Our position is the literal position. There are three periods of time that we are interested in 1. 7 weeks; 2. 62 weeks; 3. The seventieth final week. In the Greek hepta means seven so we literally see seventy sevens.

In Daniel 9:20-27 we see the answer to Daniels prayer. While in prayer, Daniel confesses to the Lord the sins he and Israel has committed bringing supplication to God verse 20. In that prayer Daniel gets a visit from Gabriel who Daniel has seen before (v. 21). Gabriel proceeds to explain why he has to come, to make him understand what the dream means (vv. 22-23). In verses 24-27 Gabriel starts to explain the seventy weeks. In verse 24 we see that there is a six-fold purpose for the revelation that Gabriel provides: 1. Finish the transgression; 2. Make an end of sin; 3. Make an atonement for iniquity; 4. Bring in everlasting righteousness; 5. Seal up vision and prophecy; 6. Anoint the most holy place. In verse 25 we are told to pay special attention and that the command will come to restore Jerusalem which begins the seventy sevens. There will be seven and sixty-two weeks (7+62 = 69 prophetic years) and the temple will be rebuilt. The word or decree came from Artaxerxes I to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:1-9) authorizing the rebuilding of the temple in 445 B.C. Verse 26 tells us that after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off. Scripture tells us that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey on Psalm Sunday in AD 33. Jesus was crucified shortly after His entry into Jerusalem. This is our starting point in our timeline. We continue on to see that the prince comes (Antichrist). Chapter 7 describes the little horn as the antichrist revived and rising from Rome. At the end of verse 26 it suggests that there will be a gap. The gap will last until the Antichrist comes and brings a peace covenant to Israel. In verse 27 the covenant is defined to be one week or (7 years). In the middle of the week (3.5 years) the antichrist brings an end to the temple sacrifices. The antichrist goes and defiles the temple so they may worship him (Revelation 13:4) as a false god (2 Thessalonians 2:4). We understand from Revelation what happens to the Satan, Antichrist and the beast being thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

It is amazing to me how God so loves us that He would share the future with those who want to know Him. Daniel lived for God and we should take a play out of his playbook. The most important thing we can do to develop a relationship with God is to pray, read His word and share Jesus with as many people as possible. As we pray as Daniel did our lives will be transformed and our hearts will grow closer to God. 2 Peter 3:11 reminds us that (paraphrasing - seeing all these things we should want to live for God).

God deserves and receives all glory through His servants. God wins, and there is no turning back time. We cannot relive our life and the choices we have made. We need to repent and continue to move forward and take advantage of the life that God has for us. The only way we can do it is receiving Christ as our Lord and Savior, repenting our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness of the sins we commit. God never gives up on His people or His land as seen in the prophetic words given to us as a warning of what is to come in the Old and New Testament. We know through scripture that God sends 144,000 to minister to the Jews. We know through scripture that Jesus returns to Jerusalem. We know through scripture that God gives everyone equal opportunity to receive Him even after He calls His church home. So we need to take the opportunity now to receive Christ and start living the life He has given to us and reverence and glorify Him through every circumstance.

I pray that our lives would be given over to the Lord Jesus Christ so that we may live with Him for eternity. I pray that we would embrace the word of God and live out His word to the fullest extent to guide our thoughts and shape our actions and reactions to life’s trials. I pray that we get off the fence and turn our life completely to God for all things sharing Jesus with everyone. In Jesus Mighty Name Amen! Amen!