Seventy weeks are determined

.... for your people and for your holy city ... to make an end of sins..... to bring in everlasting righteousness .... Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks .... And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself ... And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Daniel 9:24 - 26). There is much debate about the meaning of these verses, especial among those who wish to eliminate the supernatural from the Bible, or from who want to deny  Jesus is the Christ (Greek), the Messiah (Hebrew).  And  490 years (= 70 x 7) from the  decree to rebuilt Jerusalem (verse 25, Nehemiah 2:1) brings us to the time of Christ, and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (the sanctuary).  And after 69 weeks (7 + 62 verses 24,  25) Messiah is cut off.  Some have  deduce that Jesus was 33 when He was crucified.  

The word Messiah occurs many times in the Old Testament,  and can refer to the coming Messiah for whom the Jews are still waiting.  It also refers to Cyrus for example (Isaiah 45:1). The word simply means anointed one, as does the Greek equivalent Christ. But this Messiah is the Prince,  and Jesus Prophet and priest and  King and Priest. Also this messiah is cut off, but “not for Himself,” and it is “to make an end of sins.”  So then the atonement – the making of us “at-one-ment” with God,  is already established (Hebrews 19:12). But this leaves one week (seven years) left. What's that about?

Again there's much debate, and very little agreement. Here are some thoughts. Jesus Himself seem to see a gap in God's timetable  between His coming,  and the bring in of “everlasting righteousness” (verse 24). I mean in quoting Isaiah 61 in Luke 4:18, He stops at a comma. He ends with “to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” comma. Isaiah continues “and the day of vengeance of our God (Isaiah 61:2). There's a theory, and some evidence for it,  that God does not count time when Israel is in exile. But what if it's when there's no temple? There is much talk right now about rebuilding the third (Ezekiel's) temple (Google third temple Jerusalem). The seventieth week also seems to be connected to the seven year tribulation period “Even in troublesome times” (verse 25). Much of this is speculation and again there is great debate as to whether the church will go through the tribulation,  or will be raptured before, in the middle or after it. Some things are sure, the Bible gives us enough to be confident that we have not believed cunningly devised fables (2 Peter 1:16),  that Jesus is coming again (acts 1:11), and that in the end good triumphs over evil (the book of Revelation).

Father, it has been with some fear and trepidation that I followed Your leading this morning,  and wrote about these things. I am so aware that we should not be many teachers (James 3:2), and that “he who thinks He knows something should acknowledge that he knows nothing as he aught to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2). Lord if I have written anything that is not of You,  let it fall to the ground. But Lord let the certainly of what is certain comfort,  and  help establish Your saints, in Jesus Name Amen