Seven + Sixty-Two + One Series

The Prophecies of Daniel

Part 9: Seven + Sixty-two + One (Daniel 9)

We are still working our way through the prophecies God gave to the Old Testament prophet Daniel. We have seen visions of giant statues, wild beasts, little horns, and a ram and a goat. All of these visions are God’s way of revealing to His children what they were going to have to face in the future. They all concern a period of time known as the Times of the Gentiles.

Last week we began to look at the prophecy found in Daniel chapter nine, which most prophecy scholars would claim to be the most important prophecy found in the Bible. It is the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. All Bible Prophecy centers around the Jewish people, and this prophecy is no exception. In fact in verse 24 of this chapter we read specifically that the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks is determined upon the Jews, Daniel’s people.

The Seventy Weeks covers a period of time that lasts 490 years in length. It is the length of time determined by God that the Jews would have to face oppression from the Gentiles because of their disobedience to Him. They had let 70 Sabbath years pass without observance and since this Sabbath year occurred only every seven years, they had 70 x 7 or 490 years which to atone for.

Now, the study of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks is a very advanced prophetical study. I’ve tried to keep it as simple as possible, but if you pick up a copy of this morning’s teachings on your way out, you will find that I’ve included more information there than what I’m going to present to you this morning. The reason I did this is because, one, I don’t have enough time to go into great detail from the pulpit, and two, there is some information that you just have to read and study and absorb some before you can understand it.

So, if you take a copy and find yourself bogged down in the extra details or confused, I’d be happy to discuss it with you and try to explain it. Call me or come in before services one Sunday morning and we’ll discuss it. If you don’t take a copy of this teaching, I’m covering the basics this morning. So you should have a good understanding of the Seventy Weeks without the extra details.

So, let’s reread our passage in Daniel 9:24-27 (NKJV), to familiarize ourselves with what we are trying to interpret. “Seventy weeks are determined for your people [Jews] and for your holy city [Jerusalem], to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. [25] 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. [26] And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. [27] 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, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”

I. Prophetic Time

When we take a look at the Seventy Weeks of Daniel we see that it is divided up into three parts. It’s separated into a first period of seven weeks, another period of sixty-two weeks, and a third period of one week.

Last Sunday, we learned that on God’s calendar while He is dealing with the Jews, a week stands for a period of seven years. So this time of punishment for the Jews is divided into a period of 49 years, a period of 434 years, and a period of 7 years, which total up to 490 years.

But before we can put these periods of time into history and actually calculate them out and see where they fit we have to know a few things first.

A. Which Calendar?

First, we need to know God’s prophetic calendar. Last week we talked about a day standing for a year when we calculated how long 70 weeks was. This week, since we’re talking about years and we’re going to try to put these 490 years into history, we need to know how long a year is on God’s calendar.