Section 6: Opening Prophecy, Article 2 “Seventy Weeks” or Ten Jubilees Page 5
While this interpretation satisfies some aspects of the prophecy, it demonstrates only partial consideration of others, and total disregard for yet others. Further, it shows total misunderstanding of the Scriptural counting of weeks. Daniel states that “the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks,” which, by the reckoning of “traditional view” commentators is forty-nine years and in their assumed application was 408 B.C. No event is ever discussed in connection with this date; rather, this portion of the passage is totally ignored. The sixty-two weeks are then applied to the remaining events of the verse with little regard to the described details.         This is the “inherited lies”-and-“vanity” interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27, but is it what Yehuveh intends us to take from this passage? I’m convinced that it is not, just as I am convinced that there is much deeper truth here. These verses cry for prayerful re-examination. “Seventy Weeks ”         First, are these “seventy weeks” of days or “seventy weeks” of years? The Hebrew simply reads “seventy sevens are determined . . . ” which provides no distinction between applying the numbers to days or years. However, as discussed in detail in the Article Sabbatical and Jubilee Years, Scriptures only once mentions the counting of multiples of seven sevens: “Thou shalt number seven Sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. . . . And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof. . . . A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you.” Leviticus 25:8-12.         How long, then, is “seventy sevens” of years? Since the Jubilee year was always counted when seven sevens of years were completed, it was implied and understood by Daniel when he wrote this passage that to count seven sevens of years was to count forty-nine years plus the Jubilee year, fifty years, then the next Jubilee cycle began.         “Seventy weeks” are simply ten Jubilee cycles, a Mega-Jubilee cycle, if you please. Every Jubilee cycle being fifty years, the Mega-Jubilee cycles are simply ten times that or five hundred years long, not four hundred ninety. Yehuveh says five hundred years years were “determined” or “cut off” for Daniel’s people. IF YOU TAKE FIVE HUNDRED YEARS back into the 457 B.C. to A.D. 34 scenario it is impossible to come out with anything sensible. The foundational assumptions which made this time-conclusion work are inconsistent with Scriptures.         We need to look at something else. Additionally, where is any evidence that during these years anyone was able to “finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness”? To make Daniel 9:24-27 fit into our traditional belief we assert that Yehoshua (Jesus) accomplished all these things for the Israelite people through His life and death. But these Scriptures do not support a mere reckoned righteousness. If transgression is finished and sins are ended, if Yehoshua (Jesus) brought in everlasting righteousness, why have nearly 2000 years of continued aggression and violence followed? Can we read this passage and honestly conclude that Scriptures are asserting only theoretical righteousness or atoned end of sin? That’s not what it says! Read Daniel 9:24 again! Then notice that other believers are seeing this discrepancy as well. Note Wycliffe’s comments on this verse:         “(1) To finish the transgression. ‘Finish’ (Hebrew lekalle') means ‘to complete,’ not ‘to atone,’ as is                 sometimes asserted. The kind of transgressions Daniel had been confessing for his people                 were to come to an end. That has not yet, two and a half millenniums later, occurred.         “(2) To make an end of sins. Literally, to seal up. This word (as in Job 9:7; 37:7) means to bring                 under full restraint. Cf. the sealing of Satan’s prison to restrain him (Revelation 20:1-3).         “(3) To make reconciliation for iniquity (lekap-per `awon) [Not yet done.] The first three items                 of accomplishment are negative. The remaining three are positive:         “(4) To bring in everlasting righteousness. This will be effected by inward moral transformation                 (Jeremiah 31:33, 34).  [Not yet done.]         “(5) To seal up the vision and prophecy (Hebrew prophet). When the people cease sinning, the                 disciplinary oracles of prophets will no longer be needed (Jeremiah 31:34).  [Not yet done.] Gael Bataman          Originally Written:        4 November 2005 Latest Update:            11 February 2010     Return to Zadok Home            Continue . . .          Return One Page          Go to Section 6: Prophecy   Go to Historical Calendar     Go to Daniel 11-12    Go to Revelation    Go to Years of Returning (Darius)