When it comes to prophecy, perhaps none is more amazing than the one we call the 70 weeks of Daniel (Dan. 9:24–27). God gave this astounding glimpse of the future to the Jewish prophet Daniel in 538 BC, 48 years after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and burned Solomon’s Temple to the ground.
Not only does this prophecy pinpoint the exact time the Messiah would be on Earth, but it also reaches thousands of years into the future to describe end-times events still on the horizon, including a unique time of horror and judgment known as the Great Tribulation, as well as God’s final deliverance of a redeemed Israel.
The prophecy begins, “Seventy weeks are determined for your people [Israel] and for your holy city [Jerusalem]” (v. 24). The weeks are weeks of years (Hebrew, “seventy sevens”) totaling 490 years, each being a biblical year of 360 days. This period of years is divided into three parts:
1. Seven Weeks (49 years). “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times” (v. 25).
The countdown began in 445 BC, when Persian King Artaxerxes commanded the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Both the city and walls were reconstructed (Neh. 1—13).
2. Sixty-Two Weeks (434 years). “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off [die], but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” (Dan. 9:26). Jesus was crucified in ca. AD 33. In AD 70, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple.
3. One Week (seven years, yet to come). “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate” (v. 27).
As with many prophecies, a time gap exists. Here the gap shows up between the 69th and 70th weeks. After the Messiah’s death and resurrection, God stopped the countdown and inserted the Church Age, the age of grace, which will end with the Rapture when He removes His church from Earth. Then the Antichrist (“the prince who is to come,” v. 26) will appear and confirm a strong, binding covenant with Israel for “one week” (the final seven years). This is the 70th week of Daniel.
It encompasses the Great Tribulation, which will occur after the Rapture but before Christ’s Second Coming and before Christ sets up His Millennial Kingdom. Daniel 9:24 states the purpose of the 70th week:
1. To finish the transgression
2. To make an end of sins
3. To make reconciliation for iniquity
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness
5. To seal up vision and prophecy
6. To anoint the Most Holy
Today the world is living in the gap between the 69th and 70th weeks. The 70th week will begin when the Antichrist confirms a seven-year covenant with many in Israel, committing himself to Israel’s protection. However, Scripture says he will break the covenant after three and a half years; defile the Jewish Temple (there again will be a Temple on Mount Moriah); and sit in the Temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Th. 2:4). Jesus called this self-deification the “‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (Mt. 24:15; cf. Dan. 11:31; 12:11).
A remnant in Israel will try to hide from the Antichrist’s persecution and rule (Mt. 24:15–28; Rev. 12:13–17). The 70th week will culminate with Jesus’ glorious Second Coming to deliver Israel and destroy and judge the Antichrist and his kingdom of Gentile oppressors.
