The 70 Weeks of Daniel :: By Joe Hawkins

[Andy C]

Few passages in Scripture are as precise, profound, and prophetically loaded as the seventy-weeks prophecy of Daniel 9. Though often overlooked or misunderstood, this single revelation forms one of the strongest chronological backbones in all of biblical prophecy. It explains Israel’s history, foretells the first coming of Messiah with astonishing accuracy, and sets the boundaries for the coming Tribulation—all while making one thing unmistakably clear: God is not finished with Israel, and the Church is not appointed to Daniel’s final week.

Daniel’s Prayer and God’s Answer

Daniel 9 opens not with prophecy, but with prayer. Daniel, now an elderly man living in Babylonian captivity, studies the writings of Jeremiah and realizes Israel’s seventy-year exile is nearing its end. Rather than celebrating prematurely, Daniel is broken. He prays a confession not only for the sins of the nation, but for his own. His prayer is saturated with humility, repentance, and reverence for God’s covenant faithfulness.

This matters. Daniel’s prayer becomes a model for believers today—intercessory, Scripture-driven, and grounded in God’s mercy rather than human merit. And while Daniel is still praying, God answers.

The angel Gabriel is dispatched with a message that reaches far beyond Daniel’s immediate concern. Instead of merely addressing the end of Babylonian captivity, God reveals His entire redemptive timetable for Israel—from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the Second Coming of Christ.

What Are the Seventy Weeks?

Daniel 9:24–27 introduces the prophecy:

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city…”

The phrase “seventy weeks” does not refer to days, but to weeks of years. In Hebrew usage, a “week” (shabua) simply means a unit of seven. Scripture itself establishes this pattern. Israel observed sabbatical years grouped into seven-year cycles (Leviticus 25), and Genesis 29 records Jacob serving “a week” of years—seven full years—for Rachel.

Seventy weeks, then, equals 490 years. These years are specifically “determined” for Daniel’s people (Israel) and Daniel’s city (Jerusalem). This is not a general prophecy for the world, nor a symbolic framework for the Church. It is a literal, chronological program for national Israel.

Why This Prophecy Is So Important

The 70 Weeks of Daniel :: By Joe Hawkins

Few passages in Scripture are as precise, profound, and prophetically loaded as the seventy-weeks prophecy of Daniel 9. Though often overlooked or

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[mattfivefour]

This is probably the very best article on Daniel's eschatology that I have EVER read! Absolutely excellent! Absolutely correct! And, to be accurate, this is not Daniel's eschatology: it is God's.

For those lacking the time to read the entire article, allow me to extract a few short paragraphs that will summarize what you need to know
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Daniel’s seventy weeks remind us that God’s plan is orderly, intentional, and unstoppable. History is not spiraling randomly—it is moving toward a divinely appointed conclusion.

Daniel’s seventy weeks are not symbolic poetry or theological abstraction. They are a literal roadmap of redemptive history. When interpreted plainly, they align perfectly with Christ’s first coming, explain the present age, and illuminate the final events of human history.

The greatest mistake we can make is forcing the Church into a prophecy where it does not belong.

God has not confused His programs. He has not merged His covenants. He has not rewritten His promises. Daniel’s prophecy stands as written—precise, powerful, and prophetic.

And it reminds us of this unshakable truth: God keeps His word.