THE MYSTERY OF THE 70 WEEKS
Understanding the prophecy that revealed the coming of Jesus Christ and the last week of years of this Age, often called the Tribulation.
Whether pre, mid or post tribulation, almost all agree on one thing: there will be 7 years of tribulation that are the last seven years of this age. How did this concept come into being? It is derived from a prophecy in the book of Daniel. The angel Gabriel came to Daniel and gave him the prophecy.
First, the verses from which the prophecy comes.
Daniel 9:22-27 "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
"Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, 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. "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. "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. 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."
Understanding of the prophecy.
Part 1: 7 weeks & 62 weeks (of years) = 7 weeks = 49 years (until the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem) & 62 weeks = 434 years (from then until Messiah cut off and Jerusalem destroyed/trampled)
(7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks of the 70 prophesied)
From the time of Daniel's writing it would be: The seven weeks of years, forty-nine years from “the command to restore Jerusalem." Then, afterward sixty-two weeks (of years), 434 years from then to the completion of the ministry of Messiah and eventually to the trampling of Jerusalem (70 AD). At this point we can clearly see the 69 weeks have come into fruition!
Part 1 RECAP: It can be seen that there were 7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks (of years) 483 years total. These 483 years covered the time period from "the command to the rebuilding of Jerusalem to Messiah and His Life and Ministry and to the re-trampling of Jerusalem again... fulfilled in 70 AD."
Daniel lived through the fall of Jerusalem and the punishment of the Jewish people for 70 years in captivity. Jerusalem had been utterly destroyed. Finally, the 70 years were completed and restoration was to come. And the "command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem" came. Daniel's prophecy in Daniel chapter 9, foretold that a Messiah was to come; from these very records "the wise men from the East" knew to expect the birth of Jesus Christ. Eventually, in 70 AD, Jerusalem was trampled and destroyed again. At this point, the prophetic clock went on pause and it became "the time of the Gentiles - also called the Church Age." ***
More Confirmation: Jesus said while speaking of the last days tribulations in
Luke 21:24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until "the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
But! 70 weeks (of years) are determined!
What about the one week of years left? (the last 7 years)
(7 + 62 = 69, now add the last one, + 1 = 70 weeks (490 years)
Part 2: One last week left: When "the prophetic clock starts ticking again" and the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled (the Church Age) and the last week will happen. A covenant/treaty will be made for one week of years (7 years) which the evil one will confirm and break mid-week (3 1/2 years into it) (He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering - followed with setting up the abomination of desolation) according to Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and also referenced by the Lord in Matthew 24:15/Mark 13:14. Much more will be shared on this later.
At the conclusion of these 70 weeks, it will virtually be: "The End of This Entire Age." Jesus will revive this earth and set up a millennial kingdom. Satan will be bound for a thousand years and it will be a whole new era. After the completion of the thousand years, the devil will be loosed for a short season of testing; ending with one final battle between the devil and God. After which will come the Great White Throne of Judgment and the end of this earth and universe. There will be a new heavens and a new earth and sin will be no more! The glory of the Lord will be the light of it, as there will be no more need for a sun.
*** some of the verses that coordinate with this part of the prophecy are: Jeremiah 25:8-11,29:10; Zechariah 1:12; Ezra 1:1-4
First, the verses from which the prophecy comes.
Daniel 9:22-27 "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
"Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, 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. "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. "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. 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."
Understanding of the prophecy.
Part 1: 7 weeks & 62 weeks (of years) = 7 weeks = 49 years (until the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem) & 62 weeks = 434 years (from then until Messiah cut off and Jerusalem destroyed/trampled)
(7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks of the 70 prophesied)
From the time of Daniel's writing it would be: The seven weeks of years, forty-nine years from “the command to restore Jerusalem." Then, afterward sixty-two weeks (of years), 434 years from then to the completion of the ministry of Messiah and eventually to the trampling of Jerusalem (70 AD). At this point we can clearly see the 69 weeks have come into fruition!
Part 1 RECAP: It can be seen that there were 7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks (of years) 483 years total. These 483 years covered the time period from "the command to the rebuilding of Jerusalem to Messiah and His Life and Ministry and to the re-trampling of Jerusalem again... fulfilled in 70 AD."
Daniel lived through the fall of Jerusalem and the punishment of the Jewish people for 70 years in captivity. Jerusalem had been utterly destroyed. Finally, the 70 years were completed and restoration was to come. And the "command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem" came. Daniel's prophecy in Daniel chapter 9, foretold that a Messiah was to come; from these very records "the wise men from the East" knew to expect the birth of Jesus Christ. Eventually, in 70 AD, Jerusalem was trampled and destroyed again. At this point, the prophetic clock went on pause and it became "the time of the Gentiles - also called the Church Age." ***
More Confirmation: Jesus said while speaking of the last days tribulations in
Luke 21:24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until "the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
But! 70 weeks (of years) are determined!
What about the one week of years left? (the last 7 years)
(7 + 62 = 69, now add the last one, + 1 = 70 weeks (490 years)
Part 2: One last week left: When "the prophetic clock starts ticking again" and the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled (the Church Age) and the last week will happen. A covenant/treaty will be made for one week of years (7 years) which the evil one will confirm and break mid-week (3 1/2 years into it) (He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering - followed with setting up the abomination of desolation) according to Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and also referenced by the Lord in Matthew 24:15/Mark 13:14. Much more will be shared on this later.
At the conclusion of these 70 weeks, it will virtually be: "The End of This Entire Age." Jesus will revive this earth and set up a millennial kingdom. Satan will be bound for a thousand years and it will be a whole new era. After the completion of the thousand years, the devil will be loosed for a short season of testing; ending with one final battle between the devil and God. After which will come the Great White Throne of Judgment and the end of this earth and universe. There will be a new heavens and a new earth and sin will be no more! The glory of the Lord will be the light of it, as there will be no more need for a sun.
*** some of the verses that coordinate with this part of the prophecy are: Jeremiah 25:8-11,29:10; Zechariah 1:12; Ezra 1:1-4
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Copyright 2014 E. Cockrell May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
