Biblical explanation
Gabriel told Daniel: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city” (). The prophecy is divided into 7 weeks, 62 weeks, and one final week. A major principle used in biblical prophecy is the symbolic relationship between days and years. says: “Each day for a year” (). similarly says: “I have appointed thee each day for a year.” Using this prophetic day-year principle, 70 weeks represent 490 years. The prophecy begins with the command concerning the restoration of Jerusalem and reaches forward to the appearance of Messiah. Daniel says that after the 69 weeks: “shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself” (). The prophecy also speaks of a covenant, the ending of sacrifice and offering, and the destruction of Jerusalem. The Common Prophetic Calculation The traditional biblical-historicist calculation understands the 70 weeks as: 7 weeks = 49 years 62 weeks = 434 years 1 week = 7 years Total = 490 years The starting point is connected with the decree to restore Jerusalem recorded in . Under this interpretation, the 69 weeks reach the time of Christ's appearance and baptism, and the final week reaches the events surrounding Christ's ministry and crucifixion. Daniel explicitly gives the 70-week period and its major events. The exact chronological calculation depends upon identifying the starting decree and applying the prophetic day-year principle. Therefore, the individual historical dates are an interpretation of the prophetic data rather than dates stated directly in Daniel.
In brief
Gabriel told Daniel: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city” ().
Bible references
Go deeper into this topic Bible Prophecy: A Roadmap to the Future Start the studyThis answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.