“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” — Daniel 9:24 (KJV)
The Context of Daniel’s Prophecy
The prophecy of the seventy weeks stands as one of the most profound revelations in Scripture, providing a divine timeline that spans from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the final consummation of all things.
Daniel received this prophecy during the Babylonian captivity, as he sought the Lord through prayer and fasting concerning the seventy years of desolation spoken of by Jeremiah (Daniel 9:2–3). His prayer of confession and supplication for Israel’s restoration was interrupted by the angel Gabriel, who brought him a revelation not merely of seventy years, but of seventy weeks—a much greater timeline stretching to the coming of the Messiah and the end of sin.
Understanding the “Seventy Weeks”
The “weeks” spoken of are not weeks of days but weeks of years—a Hebrew idiom known as the heptad, meaning a group of seven. Thus, seventy weeks represent seventy sets of seven years, or 490 years total (70 x 7 = 490).
Gabriel’s words outline six divine purposes that would be accomplished within this prophetic period (Daniel 9:24):
- To finish the transgression — Israel’s rebellion would come to its climax and be dealt with.
- To make an end of sins — Sin would be judged and atoned for.
- To make reconciliation for iniquity — The Messiah would bring redemption through His sacrifice.
- To bring in everlasting righteousness — The Kingdom of God’s righteousness would ultimately prevail.
- To seal up the vision and prophecy — All prophecy would be fulfilled and completed.
- To anoint the most Holy — This points to the consecration of the Millennial Temple or, spiritually, the anointing of the Messiah Himself as King and High Priest.
The Division of the Seventy Weeks
Gabriel divides the seventy weeks into three distinct periods (Daniel 9:25–27):
- Seven weeks (49 years)
From the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until the completion of its reconstruction. Most scholars identify this decree with the one issued by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 445 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1–8). During this time, Jerusalem was rebuilt “even in troublous times.” - Sixty-two weeks (434 years)
Following the rebuilding, there would be a long span leading to the coming of Messiah the Prince. This brings us to the time of Christ’s ministry and His presentation to Israel as their rightful King—fulfilled in the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:28–44). Adding 49 years + 434 years = 483 years, which leads precisely to the time of Christ’s public appearance and crucifixion when calculated according to the prophetic calendar (360-day years). - The final week (7 years)
After the sixty-nine weeks (483 years), “Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself” (Daniel 9:26). This speaks unmistakably of Christ’s death for the sins of others. Following His crucifixion, the prophetic clock pauses—Israel is set aside temporarily while the Gentile age unfolds. The final, seventieth week remains yet to be fulfilled.
The Gap Between the Sixty-Ninth and Seventieth Weeks
The Church Age—spanning from Pentecost to the Rapture—constitutes the prophetic gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks. During this period, God’s redemptive focus turns to the Gentiles while Israel remains spiritually blinded (Romans 11:25).
This gap was not revealed to Daniel but is made clear in the New Testament. The Church is a mystery hidden from the prophets (Ephesians 3:3–6). When the Church is removed, God will resume His dealings with Israel, initiating the events of the final, seventieth week.
The Seventieth Week: The Tribulation Period
Daniel 9:27 describes the climactic seven-year period known as the Seventieth Week, or the Tribulation:
“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…”
The “he” here refers to the prince that shall come (Daniel 9:26)—the Antichrist. He will confirm a covenant with Israel, initiating a deceptive peace. Midway through the seven years (after 3½ years), he will break this covenant, desecrate the rebuilt Temple, and set up the “abomination of desolation” (cf. Matthew 24:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:4).
This period is also described in Revelation 6–19 as the time of divine wrath, when God judges the nations and prepares Israel for repentance and restoration. The seventieth week concludes with the return of Christ to destroy the Antichrist, deliver Israel, and establish His Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 19:11–21).
The Prophetic Fulfillment and the Messiah
Daniel’s prophecy reveals both the precision and purpose of God’s redemptive plan:
- The first 69 weeks point directly to the coming and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
- The final week reveals the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), culminating in Israel’s national repentance and Christ’s second coming.
Thus, Daniel’s seventy weeks chart the entire prophetic program—from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the return of the Messiah in glory.
The Eternal Outcome: Everlasting Righteousness
At the end of the seventy weeks, all that was prophesied will be fulfilled: sin will be judged, the curse broken, and everlasting righteousness established. The Messiah will reign from Jerusalem, the vision will be complete, and the Most Holy will be anointed as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The prophecy is therefore both historical and eschatological—rooted in the past fulfillment of Christ’s atonement yet reaching toward the future restoration of Israel and the consummation of God’s Kingdom.
Conclusion
The prophecy of Daniel’s seventy weeks is the divine calendar of redemption—marking the timeline of Israel’s destiny, the Church’s mystery, and the world’s consummation.
In it, we see the absolute sovereignty of God who controls time, rulers, and events. Christ fulfilled the first sixty-nine weeks with precision, dying “not for himself” but for us. The last week yet awaits fulfillment—a time of judgment and purification before the return of the Lord in glory.
Therefore, believers are called to watch, to be sober, and to understand the times. The same God who fulfilled every past detail will surely complete His Word. The seventy weeks remind us that history is not random—it is redemptive. It marches according to the divine decree toward one climactic end: “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth.” — Zechariah 14:9 (KJV)