Bob

Explanation about the 70th week of Daniel. In the book of Daniel we read a remarkable prophecy, 'the revelation concerning the seventy weeks' (Daniel 9). Here we are dealing with a clearly 'fixed period of time', the beginning of which is relatively easy to determine. A week consists of 7 units. We usually speak of seven days. But you can also choose another unit, as the Lord God has done here. The unit is now not a day but a year, we also speak of weeks of years. So we get a period of 7 times 70 weeks of years is 490 years. We can place these weeks of years somewhere on the line of history, but where? They can be included with the dates in our history books, but with which ones? A fascinating passage of the Bible. PURPOSE Why does the Lord God speak through Daniel about this period and especially: what is God's purpose with this time? We read that from Daniel 9:24 'Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy'. The word 'for' stands out. This word indicates the purpose for which that period of 70 weeks of years has been determined and is important. In that period of 490 years the Lord God will tackle things in a fundamental way. What is also striking is the completeness of that approach. The things that God wants to do in that period of 490 years are not left half-finished, as sometimes happens with our efforts. The Lord God completes His work, He finishes things. For example, we see, and how wonderful that is, that transgression and sin will be brought to an end, it is finished, reconciled. In addition, we see how 'everlasting righteousness' is brought. Aren't those wonderful things? Today we still live in a time when sin and unrighteousness destroy people's lives. Today we see how much unrighteousness still goes on in the world and also that there is little and seemingly less justice found. The Lord God promises to change that and in that period of 490 years. We may look forward to the fulfillment of that word. Is that something for us? DANIEL PROPHETS OF JESUS Daniel was an exile, as a young boy he was taken into exile with others to Babylon. The Lord God prophesies about that situation and what will happen to the people of Daniel. So it is not about the church or the world powers but about God's people, about Israel. Daniel prophesies about the downfall of Babylon. It was Cyrus or Kores, as we know him from the Bible, who as a new ruler began to reorganize the Persian-Median empire, that was the new empire that became superior after Babylon. He divided the empire into provinces with their own governor (called satrap). The different peoples were encouraged to preserve their own culture and religion and it is in that context that the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. These things take shape under the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah. After a period of 7 and 62 weeks of years (Daei 9:25) an anointed one will be cut off. We are now about 483 years (69 x 7 year-weeks) further and are at the beginning of our era. It is not difficult to recognize the Lord Jesus in the description of verse 26. He is the Messiah of God, which means the Anointed One of God. Messiah = Christ = Anointed One). We also know what kind of play was performed and how rigged everything was around His trial. There was nothing against Him, yet He was exterminated, crucified. Isn't it breathtaking to realize: all this was prophesied by Daniel, while he had lived many hundreds of years earlier. Yes, God's Word is certain and certain. ⬇️⬇️⬇️