Daniel s Seventy Sevens: An Exposition of Daniel 9:24-27

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1 Liberty University From the SelectedWorks of Wes Green Spring April 21, 2014 Daniel s Seventy Sevens: An Exposition of Daniel 9:24-27 Wes Green, Liberty University Available at:

2 Liberty University Daniel s Seventy Sevens: An Exposition of Daniel 9:24-27 A research paper submitted to Mr. Walter White Jr. In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for BIBL450 Liberty University Online By Wesley Green April 21, 2014

3 2 Contents Introduction Understanding the Interpretive Views Verse 24: The Prophecy Verse 25: The Anointed One Verse 26: The Prince to Come Verse 27: The Final Week Conclusion Bibliography

4 3 Introduction Throughout the Old Testament book of Daniel, Daniel writes of how God is always in control and that he protects those who remain faithful to him. Though the book of Daniel was written down by Daniel, the words are from God, and God knows when the son will return. Therefore, the Book of Daniel makes a strong apologetic case for Jesus coming. 1 Daniel is divided into three main sections: (1) understanding who Daniel is in Chapter 1, (2) God s plan for the Gentiles in chapters 2-7, and (3) the prophesy of the future of Israel and Jerusalem in chapters From the early church fathers to today s predominant theologians, Daniel s Seventy Sevens prophecy has been one of the most controversial verses in the Bible. 3 Stephen B. Miller, a dean and a professor at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, quotes Baldwin stating these verses are the most difficult text in the book. 4 The chapter opens with Daniel reading the prophecy of Jeremiah, and when the reading is concluded, he prays that the Lord will save Israel. The prophecy is found in Jeremiah 25:11, where Jeremiah writes, This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 5 During Daniel s praying, fasting, and repenting, he is vexed by this vision of the desolation of Jerusalem. Dr. Richard S. Hess, a professor at Denver Seminary, states, Daniel 9 forms a penitential prayer, which is the same type written after the 1. Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes On Daniel 2014 Edition, Sonic Light, April 10, 2014, accessed April 10, 2014, 2. Ibid. 3. Stephen B. Miller, Daniel (New American Commentary, 18) (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Reference, 1994), Ibid. 5. Unless otherwise stated all Scripture is quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV).

5 4 fall of Jerusalem as documented in other Jewish scrolls, such as Ezra 9 and Nehemiah 9. 6 Daniel is praying for his beloved city because of the demolition of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the exile of his people to Babylon. 7 Daniel feels alone and, as he is praying, God sends the angel Gabriel to proclaim the message found in chapter 9: This prophecy of the Seventy Sevens is found in Daniel 9: Verse 24 introduces the prophecy by describing the six events within the prophecy. Verse 25 describes the first sixtytwo weeks and verses 26 and 27 breakdown the final week until the decreed end and the final half week. 9 There are multiple ways to interpret this complex passage of Scripture. Daniel 9:24-27 can be interpreted in either a symbolic or a literal sense. Through a deep study of the scriptures, one can begin to understand this profound prophecy for Israel. Daniel writes: [24] Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. [25] Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. [26] And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. [27] And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator (Daniel 9:24-27). 6. Richard S. Hess. The seventy sevens of Daniel 9: a timetable for the future?. Bulletin For Biblical Research 21, no. 3 (January 1, 2011): ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 27, 2014). 7. Ibid. 8. Ibid.. 9. John J. Collins, Daniel: with an Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1984), 90.

6 5 Understanding the Interpretive Views Over the centuries, this passage of Scripture has been very controversial and the interpretations of these verses have become very elaborate. In Miller s commentary, he states there are many variations of interpretation, but there are four main views that most scholars hold today. 10 The first interpretation is one of literal years through the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. 11 This view dates around 586 B.C., which corresponds to Jeremiah s prophecy the destruction of Jerusalem and the 490 years. This would end when God begins his earthly kingdom while Antiochus IV Epiphanes is reigning. 12 Miller suggests this view is incorrect because it is difficult to believe the writer could have been so historically uninformed that he would lose track of over half a century, sixty-seven years to be exact. This interpretation should be rejected because the writer of this passage mistakenly predicted the coming of the Lord in his day, which is to be alleged as the time of Antiochus IV. 13 The second interpretation is that the seventy sevens are symbolic periods of time ending in the first century A.D. 14 This view holds that the first set of seventy sevens runs from the decree of Cyrus to the return of the Jewish exiles in 538 B.C. to approximately B.C. 15 As broken down in verse 25, the sixty-two sevens span from about 400 B.C. until the first 10. Miller, Miller, Ibid. 13. Miller, Ibid. 15. Ibid.

7 6 advent of Christ and the final seven stretches from the first advent through an unknown time after the ministry of Christ and before Jerusalem s desecration in 70 A.D. 16 Miller brings up multiple dilemmas with this view. Based upon the revelation of Daniel in 9:24, a seven is best interpreted to represent seven years, not an indefinite period of time. But in this interpretation, each seven differs notably in length. Miller states that Young, a modern postmillennialist, puts the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. (v. 26) after, rather than during, the seventy sevens. However, in verse 26, Jerusalem s desecration happened after the sixtynine weeks, but before the seventieth week in v. 27. The final problem that Miller states is a strained interpretation of verse 24 sees its complete fulfillment in Christ s first advent. 17 The third interpretive understanding of this passage is also symbolic, but this time the years are symbolic periods of time ending with the second coming of Christ. This view holds the seventy sevens as a church historical prophecy from the decree of 538 B.C. until the Anointed One Jesus Christ returns. This view holds to the understanding of the city being built in times of trouble, meaning that the next set of sevens would be from the time of Christ to the persecution of the church by the Antichrist at the end of the age. 18 The fourth and final view makes the most sense according to the Holy Scripture of God. This analysis interprets the years as literal, ending with Christ s second coming. 19 The 490 years are broken down into seventy seven-year periods. The first forty-nine years (7 times 7 years) aligns with Ezra s (458 B.C.) or Nehemiah s (445 B.C.) decree and will end when the 16. Ibid. 17. Miller, Miller, Miller, 257.

8 7 temple is rebuilt in either ca. 409 B.C. or ca. 396 B.C. 20 The second set of sevens (62 times 7 years) ends at Jesus baptism or at his death. Jesus is rejected by his people of Israel and the final set of sevens (1 x 7 years) will begin when the Antichrist reigns. 21 This view is the most messianic and doctrinally sound in nature. The views outlined by Miller are only some of the possible understandings of this highly complex piece of prophecy. Each view may be interpreted in different ways, but through a more exegetical study of each individual verse, one may find points supporting and opposing each interpretation. Verse 24: The Prophecy Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place (v. 24). In order to understand this verse, one must understand what seventy weeks means. A week is a unit of measurement that is symbolic and that the Hebrew people could easily understand. A week, in Hebrew terms, constitutes a group of time periods whether it be hours or years. 22 In this case, a week is a group of seven years; therefore, seventy weeks is translated to seven times seventy, or a time period of 490 years. This time period began in 445 B.C. with a decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem after King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11-28). Only sixty-nine of the seventy weeks (483 years) are complete at this time because God stopped the counting at the crucifixion of Jesus in the New Testament. 23 This means there is one seven-year period left 20. Ibid. 21. Ibid. 22. Ron Daniel, Study Notes: Daniel 9:20-27 Ron Daniel's Bible Studies, March 30, 2014, accessed March 30, 2014, Ibid.

9 8 for Israel the final seven years when the Antichrist will rise up, strike a covenant, and break it after the first three and a half years. Raymond Hammer, of Cambridge University, suggests that the remaining seven-year period would follow the sabbatical year referenced in Leviticus 25. He states that it is a time for Israel s sin to be eradicated and the completion of the atonement. The new age will then be ushered in, involving everlasting right, the fulfilment of vision and prophecy, and the consecration of the temple (cp. Exod. 30:26-8). 24 Hammer further breaks down the 490 years into three sub-weeks starting with the first seven weeks -- a total of 49 years (586 to 538 B.C.). Next there are 62 weeks, or 434 years from the end of the exile to the murder of Onias III (538 to 171 B.C.). 25 The final week is seven years, from 171 to 164 B.C. divided into two at the desecration of the temple in Kislev (approx. December) 168 B.C. 26 The historical point that the seventy weeks is commonly thought to be derived from is in Leviticus 25:2 and 26: The emphasis on seven times that Israel would be punished would suggest it lasting seven times Jeremiah s 70 years connects with the sabbatical year of Leviticus It is obvious from the first part of the prophecy that the people and your holy city refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem. 28 This prophecy can only be applied to Israel and Jerusalem, and would not fit with any other place or people. 29 The verse in question explains the 24. commentary by Raymond Hammer, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976), Ibid. 26. Ibid. 27. George Arthur Buttrick, ed., The Interpreter s Bible: The Holy Scriptures in the King James and Revised Standard Versions with General Articles and Introduction, Exegesis, Exposition for Each Book of the Bible; The Book of Daniel (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1956), 6: Ibid. 29. Renald E. Showers, The Most High God: a Commentary On the Book of Daniel (New Jersey: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc., 1982), 117.

10 9 prophecy in detail and has six events. The first three events relate to the sins of national Israel, while the final three have to do with her salvation. 30 One day God s people will no longer rebel against him, because all of the sins of God s people would be remitted by the death of Jesus Christ. A kingdom of righteousness will be set up for all eternity, and all the visions and messages of God s prophets will be fulfilled. Finally, God s holy temple will be established. Only one of the six parts of this prophecy has been fulfilled so far the atonement for iniquity. This was conquered by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rebellion against God will continue until he returns and the rest of this prophecy is fulfilled. Verse 25: The Anointed One Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time (v.25). In order to understand the decree, in this verse, one must understand the phrase squares and moat. 31 Seow suggests the squares refer to the plazas that are the centers of lively economic and social activities in the city 32 and he refers to the moat as a trench, which is unique in the Old Testament. 33 In Showers commentary he states when the terms plaza and moat are joined together, they indicate the building of a city s defenses, which includes a wall with gates and a moat. This means that the decree of Daniel 9:25 permits the rebuilding of 30. Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, eds. Seventy Weeks of Daniel. In The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2004), C.L. Seow, Daniel (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), Ibid. 33. Ibid.

11 10 Jerusalem s defenses, 34 which completely restores the city to its socioeconomic infrastructures and its defensive system. 35 Over time there has been much debate over the term anointed one in this verse beginning with those who interpreted it as a literal Messiah and then there were those who interpreted it figuratively. 36 Price states no historical figure could be precisely determined. 37 Moreover, he states, Rashi s opinion is that the anointed one is the King Messiah. 38 The Anointed One, in this verse, is Jesus Christ, when he returns (Isaiah 59:20; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-21). Verse 26: The Prince to Come And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed (v.26). At the end of the first 62 weeks (434 years), an anointed one will be cut off. This verb indicates cutting off by death. The anointed one, in this verse, refers to someone else, not to the anointed one stated in the previous verse. Because 62 sevens have taken place, it could not possibly refer to the same person. Dr. George Arthur Buttrick, a pastor and professor, states, The audience doubtlessly understood who was meant but we are left to conjecture. He believes that it denotes a king, possibly Seleucus Philopator, who died in 175 B.C. One widespread view 34. Showers, Seow, Randall Price, Interpreting Daniel's Seventy Weeks (Three Historic Views), Word of the Bible, April 10, 2014, accessed April 10, 2014, Ibid. 38. Ibid.

12 11 is that the cutting off refers to cutting off of the legitimate line of high priests. 39 Buttrick writes: In this case there are three possibilities: (1) the cutting off of the regular succession by the elevation of Jason in 175 (II Maccabees 4:7-10), (2) the interruption caused by the installation of Menelaus in 172 (II Maccabees 4:23-29), and (3) the murder of the legitimate high priest Onias III, ca. 170 (II Maccabees 4:33-38). The probabilities are that it refers to Onias, whose unjust (start on page 497) deposition and murder deeply affected the people. This, however, is only the narrower meaning of the writer. To him these days are the last days, the days of the great tribulation preceding the end, and prophecies concerning that great tribulation had foretold how the leader of the people would be cut off (Hosea 3:4; Zechariah 13:7-9). 40 When the Messiah is cut off, Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed. 41 The crucifixion marks the end of the first era for the Jewish people. Later in the verse, Daniel writes: And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. He is making a prophetic reference to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., which occurs because the nation of Israel has rejected its own Messiah. The people are the Romans; the city is Jerusalem; the sanctuary is the temple. The Roman Army overthrew Jerusalem and left not one stone remaining, symbolizing the rise of the Antichrist from the Roman Empire (Eastern Europe). Verse 27: The Final Week And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator (v.27). This verse talks about the final week (seven years). Here, the Antichrist will form a strong covenant with several nations and half way (42 months) through the covenant he will break the treaty. He will enact the Old Testament sacrifices and offerings at a rebuilt temple and will then put an end to sacrifices. Within this temple, he will have an altar built for him. He will 39. Buttrick, Ibid. 41. LaHaye and Hindson, eds., 359.

13 12 proclaim he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Dr. Alva McClain, founder of Grace Theological Seminary, states the person depicted here in this verse cannot be the Messiah the prince because Christ s covenant is forever with his chosen people. 42 Many believe the final seven years will not happen because Jesus has died and ascended into heaven, which is the final chapter in the story; however, it is not. Since the Bible is the Word of God, and the words of God are true, then the final seven years has not happened yet. Daniel s prophecy clearly outlines the rise and fall of the Antichrist and the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself alludes to the tribulation while talking to his disciples about what is going to happen to their nation of Israel (Matthew 24-25). 43 Through all this, God will show a blinded Israel that Jesus is the Messiah and the nation will proclaim in the name of Jesus (Zechariah 12:10-11; Romans 11:25-26). Conclusion There are many possible interpretations of this passage of scripture, but there is one interpretation that holds up as true based on the Holy Word of God. The seventy sevens are seventy sets of seven years, with the last seven years still remaining when the Antichrist rises to power and breaks his covenant halfway through. At the end of this seven year period, Jesus, the Messiah, will come to reign forever. The point of the message is that this goes on only so long as God allows. A limit has been set, and when that limit has been reached, destruction will inevitably come. 44 God will prevail in the end when the Antichrist is thrown into the Lake of Fire. 42. Alva J. McClain, Daniels Prophecy of the 70 Weeks (Grand Rapids: BMH Books, 1969), Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody Press, 1989), Buttrick, 6:499.

14 13 Bibliography Buttrick, George Arthur, ed. The Interpreter's Bible: The Holy Scriptures in the King James and Revised Standard Versions with General Articles and Introduction, Exegesis, Exposition for Each Book of the Bible; The Book of Daniel. Vol. 6. Nashville: Abingdon Press, Collins, John J. Daniel: with an Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Constable, Dr. Thomas L. Notes On Daniel 2014 Edition. Sonic Light. April 10, Accessed April 10, Daniel, Ron. Study Notes: Daniel 9: Ron Daniel s Bible Studies. March 30, Accessed March 30, Daniel/Daniel0920.html. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, Hammer, commentary by Raymond. The Book of Daniel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Hess, Richard S. The seventy sevens of Daniel 9: a timetable for the future?. Bulletin For Biblical Research 21, no. 3 (January 1, 2011): ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 27, 2014). LaHaye, Tim, and Ed Hindson, eds. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, McClain, Alva J. Daniels Prophecy of the 70 Weeks. Grand Rapids: BMH Books, Miller, Stephen B. Daniel (New American Commentary, 18). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Reference, Price, Randall. Interpreting Daniel's Seventy Weeks (Three Historic Views). Word of the Bible. April 10, Accessed April 10, Seow, C.L. Daniel. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, Showers, Renald. The Most High God: a Commentary On the Book of Daniel. New Jersey: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc., 1982.