What a wonderful study we had in Daniel 9:21-27! It was so incredible to see that God sent the messenger angel Gabrielle to deliver this message of the most important prophetic moments in history. He came to give Daniel “skill and understanding” concerning these 70 weeks. Daniel 9:22
The 70 weeks = 490 years. V.24 lists 7 particular things that God is going to accomplish through this prophetic event.
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, (1) to finish the transgression, and (2) to make an end of sins, and (3) to make reconciliation for iniquity, and (4) to bring in everlasting righteousness, and (5) to seal up the vision and (6) prophecy, and (7) to anoint the most Holy.
The message culminates in anointing the Messiah as King! What is the process that gets us to the anointing?
Dan 9:25 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: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troubled times.
1. This verse is prophetic concerning the rebuilding the city in the book of Nehemiah. It takes 7 weeks (49 years) to rebuild Jerusalem. This is the first step in fulfilling the prophecy.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
2. Messiah Jesus is crucified after 62 more weeks (434 years). The 49 years of v.24 + the 434 years of v.25 = 483 years.
One week of 7 years is unaccounted for…the 70th week!
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
3. Daniel’s 70th week is the week of the tribulation (7 years) that John describes in Revelation 6-18. The antichrist makes a covenant, or treaty of peace, with Israel and convinces the world through his great swelling words, that he has the answer or the plan for everyone to live in peace and harmony. Of course, the abomination of desolation changes all that. Matt. 24:15; Romans 11:25-27; Rev. 12:6
War is brought upon the whole world, as a result of the “man of sin” or the “son of perdition” being revealed! 2 Thess. 2:3-12
We now have complete understanding that the tribulation is divided into 2 parts — the first 3 1/2 years of false peace, and the second 3 1/2 years of war, famine, and death, also known as the “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14). The abomination of desolation is the dividing point in the middle of the tribulation. It is the lynch pin moment that brings all these prophetic moments together! Daniel 12:11-12