Weeks, Seventy

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 11
These are found in Dan. 9:2424Seventy 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), and show in years, instead of days, the duration of time that would elapse ere the transgressions and sins of God’s ancient people should finally be made an end of. This we know will happen when they shall look upon Him whom they have pierced, and mourn at the Lord’s return. Inasmuch as seventy weeks only amount to 490 years, and as over 2,000 have elapsed since the prophecy, some explanation is necessary. This is found in the fact that this prophecy is distinctly Jewish, and solely refers to God’s ancient people. We find in ver. 25 that this period is sub-divided into seven weeks, sixty-two weeks and one week, also that the street and wall should be built in “strait of time,” or in the seven weeks, and that then, after sixty-two weeks, Messiah should be cut off, the end of the sixty-ninth week being marked by the advent of Messiah the Prince. This event probably took place on the day of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, when the Lord said, “If thou hadst known, oven in this thy day.” It is also found, by accurate calculation, that the sixty-ninth week expired on this very day. Shortly after this, according to ver. 26, Messiah was cut off, but not for Himself. Since that time, Israel has been Loammi, “not my people,” and has been scattered and rejected. Time with the Jews, therefore, is not now counted, God being engaged in calling a heavenly people out of the world to form a bride for Christ. When this is completed, and the Lord has come and fetched His people away to be with Himself, then, and not till then, Daniel’s last week will run its course under the fearful reign of Anti-Christ.