"In the first year of the reign of Darius son of Ahasuerus, a descendant of the Medes, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans,— in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, noted in the Scripture the total years that were assigned by the message from the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem: 70 years. "So I turned my attention to the Lord God, seeking him in prayer and supplication, accompanied with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
I prayed to the LORD my God, confessing and saying: ………..
"While I was still speaking in prayer, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and placing my request in the presence of the LORD my God on behalf of the holy mountain of God—while I was still speaking, Gabriel the man of God whom I had seen in the previous vision, appeared to me about the time of the evening offering. He gave instructions, and this is what he spoke to me:
'Daniel, I've now come to give you insight and understanding. Because you're highly regarded, the answer was issued when you began your prayer, and I've come to tell you. Pay attention to my message and you'll understand the vision.
The Seventy Weeks
Seventy weeks have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city: to restrain transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for lawlessness, to establish everlasting righteousness, to conclude vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
So be informed and discern that seven weeks and 62 weeks will elapse from the issuance of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the anointed commander. The street will be rebuilt, along with the wall, though in troubled times.
Then after the 62 weeks, the anointed one will be cut off, and will have no successor. Then the people of the coming commander will destroy both the city and the Sanctuary. Its ending will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war, with desolations having been decreed.
He will make a binding covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he will pause both the sacrifice and grain offerings. Destructive people will cause desolation on the pinnacle until it is complete and what has been decreed is poured out on the desolator.'"
Daniel is concerned about Jeremiah’s prophecy regarding Israel’s exile to Babylon. He is contemplating the years of their captivity and the time of their liberation. From the time of the besieging of Jerusalem, it was almost 70years and the liberation seemed not to be forthcoming. He begins to pray for the forgiveness of the sins of the people of Israel and for their return to their homeland. As Daniel was trying to understand the seventy years of Jeremiah’s prophecy, Angel Gabriel brings to him its revelation.
Jeremiah gave out two prophecies of seventy years of captivity.
“and this nation shall serve the king of Babylon for seventy years and it shall come to pass when seventy years are accomplished that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation…and make it an everlasting desolation” (Jeremiah 25:11-12).
“After 70years are accomplished to Babylon I will take heed of you and perform My good word towards you in causing you to return to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10).
While they were still in Jerusalem, Jeremiah gave the Jews the word of Babylon captivity. Daniel gave the first prophecy before Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. In the first prophecy, Israel will suffer for 70 years and at the end of the seventy years, the king of Babylon will be punished and Babylon will be made desolate.
Daniel gave the second prophecy following the deportation of the Jews to Babylon. In the second prophecy, after seventy years, God will cause them to return and rebuild Jerusalem.
This second prophecy was given to inform them of their time of return from Babylonian exile. After seventy years of Babylonian captivity, they would return to their homeland. The seventy years began from the initial subjugation of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon 19years before the destruction of Jerusalem and subsequent deportation of Jews. Nebuchadnezzar began to subjugate Jerusalem in the first year of his rule (Daniel 1.1; Jeremiah 25.1).
The 70 years’ captivity covered a period of 19 years of Israel’s subjugation by the Babylonians starting from 605BC to 586BC and a period of 49 years of exile after the deportation of 10,000 Jews (their finest men and princes) to Babylon from 586-537BC). After 18years of subjugation, in 586BC, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed (Jeremiah 52:12-13) and the remaining Jews were deported to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36.20).
Scriptures indicate that Jeremiah’s second prophecy of seventy years was fulfilled with the advent of Cyrus the king of the Persian Empire (Ezra 1:1-3; 2 Chron. 36:22-23).
From the destruction and desolation of the Jerusalem in 586BC to the rise of Cyrus in 537BC is 49 years. Adding the previous 19 years of subjugation makes a total of 68years. Cyrus was God’s anointed one (Isaiah 45.1). The two remaining years is probably the time between when the decree was passed and the eventual settlement of the Jews in their homeland. The second seventy years’ prophesy of “return and rebuild” covers:
--19years of initial subjugation of Israel by Babylon in 605
--49years of exile in Babylon
--2years return and settlement to rebuild of the temple in Israel.
“and this nation shall serve the king of Babylon for seventy years and it shall come to pass when seventy years are accomplished that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation…and make it an everlasting desolation” (Jeremiah 25:11-12).
Jeremiah gave this word while the Jews were still in Jerusalem before the coming of Nebuchadnezzar. In the expiration of the seventy years’ period, the king of Babylon will be punished and Babylon will be laid waste.
As seen earlier, Babylon transformed from a winged lion to a standing man. The standing man comprised four kingdoms (Babylon, Mede and Persia, Greece, and Seleucid Greece). Seleucid Greece was the last and dreadful kingdoms of all and from it, arose a peculiar king called Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus IV Epiphanes is the king of Babylon. His reign marks the expiration of the first prophecy. The King of Babylon is neither Nebuchadnezzar nor Cyrus. Nebuchadnezzar was punished for self-exaltation way before the expiration of seventy years. Cyrus, God’s anointed one, was the reigning king during the expiration of seventy years but he was never punished.
When Daniel was contemplating Jeremiah’s prophecy, angel Gabriel gave Daniel a revelation of Jeremiah’s first prophecy of seventy years.
“Seventy weeks of years are predestined to let wrong doing be complete and sin come to its full limit, and for the clearing away of evil doing and the coming in of eternal righteousness”
The first prophecy of seventy years is a prophecy of seventy weeks of years (70*7=490years).
Israel will be punished for 490years as atonement for her sins. The prophets of old warned Israel of her idolatry but she continued in her sin. Israel will not only suffer seventy years as Daniel thought but seventy weeks of years (490 years) of Babylonian captivity (Babylon, Mede and Persia, Greece and Seleucid Greece). Babylon will rule Israel for 490years. 490 years are decreed for Israel to atone for her iniquities. The retribution will purge the land of idols and usher in everlasting righteousness (the purification of some Jews whose faith was tried in fire by their death).
The 490 years are divided into three prophetic seasons: 7 weeks (49years) in a 62 weeks (434years) and 1 week (7years).
Have then the certain knowledge that from the going out of the word for the building again of Jerusalem till the coming of a prince, on whom the holy oil has been put, will be seven weeks: in sixty-two weeks its building will be complete, with square and earthwork (BBE)
From the time the order to rebuild Jerusalem was given until an anointed leader comes, there shall be seven weeks. Then in sixty-two weeks squares and walls will be rebuilt, but in a difficult time. (Catholic Bible)
From the time that the second prophetic word of Jeremiah was spoken to the rise of King Cyrus (the one on whom the holy oil is put) will be seven weeks. From the time, Jeremiah gave his word (he spoke when the Jews were deported) to the rise of King Cyrus was seven weeks (49years).
The verse, “From the time…. there shall be seven weeks. Then in sixty-two weeks.”, would mean, “When the seven weeks of Jewish Babylonian exile has ended with the rise of Cyrus, then the sixty weeks’ period will continue”.
The sixty-two weeks and seven weeks are two distinct prophetic periods but both run concurrently. Both periods are of one prophecy (the first prophecy) even though the seven weeks was included in the second prophecy because it marked the expiration of the exile. Both periods flow simultaneously. The periods are prophetic and so, they must not flow consecutively. If 69 weeks were to be said in the Hebrew language, it will be sixty and nine weeks rather than seven weeks and 62 weeks. The word, “In” and “then”, shows an inclusion of one in the other.
Both the first and second prophecies began in 605BC but the 49 years’ period began in 586BC. The second prophetic season ended in 535BC but the first prophecy continued to 164BC.
--586BC to 537BC = 49 years of Jewish exile
--605BC to 171BC = 434 years of Israel being subjugated to Babylon (Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece, and Seleucid Greece).
--171BC to 164BC = 7 years of sufferings under the king of Babylon (Antiochus IV Epiphanes).
Many people have failed to interpret these days because they have mistaken the seventy weeks of years as calendar years. They have failed to see the simultaneous flow of the two prophetic eras (seven weeks and sixty-two weeks).
The first period: Sixty-Two Weeks
This period began from the time Israel was besieged by Nebuzaradan (Nebuchadnezzar’s official). It marked the beginning of the two prophecies of Daniel. Babylon (Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece) ruled Israel during these 62 weeks. Within this period, the temple was rebuilt even though in trouble times.
The trouble times refers to the foreign dominion of the Persian and Grecian Empire. It was built with plaza and moat. Though they had returned from Babylon captivity, they were still “slaves” in their own land. The books of Nehemiah and Ezra record some interruptions and difficulties they faced in rebuilding the temple. They were building with swords in their hands and at other times, the work was interrupted (Nehemiah 4.11-12; Ezra 4.24). The temple was rebuilt by 515BC and Ezra, the Priest-Scribe, taught the people the law (Nehemiah 8.9). The walls were built later during the reign of Artaxerxes I in December 446BC. Artaxerxes I reigned from 464BC - 423BC with Esther (Ezra 4.12). Even after the walls were rebuilt, the city was still in ruins because many houses had not yet been rebuilt. It took several years for the entire city to be rebuilt. Nehemiah served as Governor of Judean province.
The death of the anointed one (Onias III) who succeeded Theod., marked the end of the 62 weeks and the beginning of the last prophetic era. He was deposed and assassinated by the followers of Antiochus Epiphanes in 171BC. 605BC – 434years (62 weeks) = 171BC. This date corresponds exactly to the date of the death of Onias III.
The Second Period – The Seven Weeks
The second period of seven weeks (49 years) began from the year of the deportation of the Jews after the utter destruction of Jerusalem in 586BC to the rise of Cyrus as King in 537BC. King Cyrus passed a decree which ended 49 years of exile. The seven weeks’ period flows simultaneously with the 62 weeks i.e. 586BC – 537BC is in 605BC – 171BC.
The Third Period – One Week
“Then after the 62 weeks, the anointed one will be cut off, and will have no successor.”
The third period began with the death of Onias III. He was killed by one of Antiochus IV Epiphanes’ followers. Onias III was the high priest at that time. The high priest was God’s anointed one in the land of Israel. A person called into high priesthood was anointed with oil before taking office.
After the death of Onias III, Antiochus IV Epiphanes began selling the office of the high priest to the highest bidder. Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the king of the Seleucid Greece at that time. He appointed as High Priest anyone who could buy it. Jason was appointed high priest, then later, Menelaus.
“… He will make a binding covenant with many for one week…”: Antiochus IV Epiphanes collaborated with the Hellenized Jews. The Hellenized Jews no longer wanted the Jewish customs but rather preferred Greek customs. Antiochus IV Epiphanes favored and spared the Hellenizing faction of the Jews and supported their projects. The Hellenized Jews worked against God and the holy covenant. They attempted at changing temple practices and Jason even built a gymnasium below the sanctuary citadel. Antiochus IV sold the priesthood to the Hellenized Jason who did terrible things to his fellow men, making attempts at changing their laws. The Hellenized Jews wanted a change of Hebrew customs. They had one mind with Antiochus IV. They with the support of Antiochus began to impose their Hellenizing views on the Jews.
“…for half of the week he will pause both the sacrifice and grain offerings. Destructive people will cause desolation on the pinnacle until it is complete and what has been decreed is poured out on the desolator": After three and a half years, Antiochus Epiphanes turned his heart against the holy covenant. He abolished the sacrifices made to God and the offerings. In 167BC, he installed iniquity by installing Zeus Olympios and forcing the Jews to worship it. He even slaughtered a swine on the altar of God. The desecration of the temple lasted for a period of about three years. He also persecuted the faithful Jews for a period of three and half years. His army massacred the people and desecrated the temple. Some of his officials even brought to the temple prostitutes and had sex with them there.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes suffered and died without being hit by any human hand. He was punished for all the atrocity he had committed.
“But the sentence of Heaven was already hanging over him. In his pride, he had said, “When I reach Jerusalem, I shall turn it into a mass grave for the Jews.” But the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with an incurable and unseen complaint. The words were hardly out of his mouth when he was seized with an incurable pain in his bowels and with excruciating internal torture; and this was only right since he had inflicted many barbaric tortures on the bowels of others. Even so, he in no way diminished his arrogance; still bursting with pride, breathing fire in his wrath against the Jews, he was in the act of ordering an even keener pace when the chariot gave a sudden lurch and out he fell and, in this serious fall, was dragged along, every joint of his body wrenched out of place. He who only a little while before had thought in his superhuman boastfulness he could command the waves of the sea, he who had imagined he could weigh mountain peaks in a balance, found himself flat on the ground and then being carried in a litter, a visible demonstration to all mighty power of God, in that the very eyes of this godless man teemed with worms and his flesh rotted away while he lingered on in agonizing pain, and the stench of his decay sickened the whole army. A short while before, he had thought to grasp the stars of heavens now no one could bring himself to act as his bearer, for the stench was unbearable (2 Maccabees 9.4-10).
The prophecy of Daniel does NOT relate to the 70AD temple destruction. "There is no evidence that the altar that stood before the temple was similarly desecrated in Jesus' time. After the temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., however, Roman soldiers celebrated their victory by raising their standards, which bore the image of the emperor, on the holy place." (Robert W. Funk, Roy W. Hoover, and the Jesus Seminar, the Five Gospels). Apart from these, no other sign or desecration was done on the temple in 70AD. Caligula, who had tried to desecrate the temple by asking for his statue to put in the holy place for worship failed.
Jewish antiquity of Josephus regarding the abomination of desolation
So on the five and twentieth day of the month of Chislev, which the Macedonians call Apellaios, they lit the lamps that were on the lampstand, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of showbread], and offered burnt offerings upon the new altar [of burnt offering]. Now it so happened, that these things were done on the very same day on which their divine worship had stopped, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years’ time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. This desolation happened to the temple in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Apellaios, and on the hundred fifty and third Olympiad: but it was dedicated anew, on the same day, the twenty-fifth of the month of Apellaios, on the hundred and forty-eighth year, and on the hundred and fifty-fourth Olympiad. And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would stop that worship [for some time]…… And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights (Antiquities of the Jews 12:319-326.)
Daniel wrote that he saw these visions in the plain of Susa; and he has informed us that God interpreted the appearance of this vision after the following manner….. And that from among them there should arise a certain king that should overcome our nation and their laws, and should take away their political government, and should spoil the temple, and forbid the sacrifices to be offered for three years’ time.” And indeed it so came to pass, that our nation suffered these things under Antiochus Epiphanes, according to Daniel’s vision, and what he wrote many years before they came to pass. In the very same manner Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government, and that our country should be made desolate by them (Antiquities of the Jews 10:272-276).
He also spoiled the temple, and put a stop to the constant practice of offering a daily sacrifice of expiation, for three years and six months (The Jewish War 1:32).