The Prophecy Every Modern Teacher Gets Wrong—Daniel’s 70 Weeks

Have We Misunderstood Daniel’s 70 Weeks?

What if one of the most debated prophecies in the Bible has been misunderstood for centuries? What if Daniel 9’s 70 Weeks Prophecy is not about a future Antichrist, but instead about Jesus Christ and His redemptive work?

Many turn to Daniel 9—just as they do with Matthew 24—searching for insight into the end times. However, just as with Matthew 24, this prophecy is often taken out of context and forced into speculative theories about the last days.

But here’s a crucial principle:

A text taken out of context becomes a pretext.

For generations, the 70 Weeks Prophecy has been widely debated. Many interpretations shift the focus away from Christ, emphasizing the Antichrist and end-time chaos. But what if we’ve been reading it all wrong?

In this study, we will restore the context and allow Scripture to interpret Scripture—because only then can we grasp the true significance of this prophecy.

What We’ll Cover in Part 1

Before debating how the 70 Weeks unfold, we must first understand why they exist. In this first part, we will:

✅ Examine Daniel’s prayer and how it connects to the warnings of Jeremiah.

✅ Understand why Gabriel was sent and what his name signifies.

✅ Unpack the six purposes of the 70 Weeks and why they point to Christ, not the Antichrist.

If we do not first establish the purpose of the prophecy, we risk misinterpreting how it unfolds.

Setting the Stage: The Historical Context of Daniel 9

A Prayer in a Time of Exile

📖 Daniel 9:1 provides a historical anchor for this prophecy:

“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 9:1, KJV)

According to historical records, this places us in 537 B.C., just one year before Cyrus issued the decree allowing the Jews to return from exile. By this point, Daniel had been in captivity for 69 years—having been taken from Judah as a young man in 606 B.C.

Why Does This Matter?

1️⃣ Daniel’s prayer and the vision that follows are deeply connected to Israel’s exile and God’s promise of restoration.

2️⃣ The 70 Weeks prophecy is not a random apocalyptic puzzle—it is a direct continuation of God’s covenant dealings with His people.

3️⃣ Understanding this setting helps us interpret the prophecy properly, keeping the focus on redemption rather than speculation.

Daniel’s Study of Prophecy: A Model for Seeking Understanding

📖 Daniel 9:2 gives us an important insight into Daniel’s approach to prophecy:

“In the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” (Daniel 9:2, KJV)

Daniel—one of the wisest men of his time—was studying Scripture to understand prophecy. Specifically, he was reading the writings of Jeremiah, who had foretold the 70-year exile of Israel in Babylon.

What Was Daniel Reading?

Daniel was likely studying passages such as Jeremiah 29, where God declared:

“For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.” (Jeremiah 29:10, KJV)

This prophecy was a direct promise: after 70 years, God would restore His people.

Daniel’s Realization: The Time Was Near!

By Daniel’s time, almost 69 years had passed since the exile began. As he read Jeremiah’s words, he realized that the time of restoration was close.

But there was a condition—repentance.

📖 Jeremiah 29:12-13 revealed the people’s required response:

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

God’s promise of restoration was not just about a set timeline—it required the people to turn back to Him in repentance.

So what does Daniel do? He prays.

Daniel’s Prayer of Repentance: A Model of Humility and Intercession

📖 Daniel 9:3 describes his response:

“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.” (Daniel 9:3, KJV)

Daniel didn’t passively wait for God’s promise to be fulfilled. He interceded on behalf of his people, following the pattern set in Jeremiah 29:12-13.

A Prayer of True Repentance

Daniel humbles himself through:

✔️ Fasting—a sign of dependence on God.

✔️ Sackcloth and ashes—symbols of mourning and deep repentance.

✔️ Confession—acknowledging Israel’s failure to keep God’s covenant.

📖 Daniel 9:4 begins his prayer:

“And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.”

Daniel recognizes God’s faithfulness but also acknowledges Israel’s unfaithfulness.

Daniel Takes Ownership for National Sin

Daniel was a righteous man, yet he prays as one with the people:

📖 Daniel 9:5-6

“We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled.”“Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets.”

This aligns with Jeremiah 25:4-7, where God warned Israel through the prophets, but they refused to listen.

What We Learn from Daniel’s Prayer

✅ Biblical leadership includes interceding for others, not just pointing fingers.

✅ Repentance is necessary for restoration.

✅ Even though God had set a timeline, He called His people to prayer.

Breaking Down Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:5-19 is one of the most profound prayers of repentance in Scripture. It is deeply confessional and intercessory, acknowledging Israel’s sin and pleading for God’s mercy. This prayer is directly connected to God’s covenant warnings in Jeremiah 25 and the promise of restoration in Jeremiah 29.

1️⃣ Confession of National Sin (Daniel 9:5-6)

📖 Daniel 9:5-6

“We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments.”“Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name.”

Daniel Acknowledges Four Aspects of Sin:

✔️ Sin (missing the mark)

✔️ Iniquity (moral corruption)

✔️ Wickedness (active rebellion)

✔️ Rebellion (turning away from God's authority)

📖 Parallel to Jeremiah 25:5-7

Jeremiah warned the people to turn from evil and obey God, but they refused.They departed from God’s law, just as Daniel admits here.

2️⃣ The Righteousness of God vs. The Shame of Israel (Daniel 9:7-8)

📖 Daniel 9:7

“O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces…”

✔️ God is just in His actions; Israel deserves their shame.✔️ The phrase "confusion of faces" represents national disgrace and humiliation.

📖 Parallel to Jeremiah 25:9-11

God sent Nebuchadnezzar to judge Israel, making them an astonishment and desolation.

📖 Daniel 9:8

“To us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.”

✔️ Leaders and people alike bear the guilt.

📖 Parallel to Jeremiah 25:8-9

Because they did not listen, God raised up Babylon to destroy the nation.

3️⃣ Acknowledging the Fulfillment of God’s Judgment (Daniel 9:9-14)

📖 Daniel 9:9

“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him.”

✔️ Despite judgment, God remains merciful.

📖 Daniel 9:10-11

“Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God… therefore the curse is poured upon us.”

✔️ Israel’s suffering is the result of God fulfilling His covenant warnings.

📖 Parallel to Jeremiah 25:11

“This whole land shall be a desolation… these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”

✔️ Daniel acknowledges that this prophecy has come to pass.

📖 Daniel 9:12

“He hath confirmed his words… by bringing upon us a great evil.”

✔️ The exile proves God’s faithfulness to His word, even in judgment.

📖 Parallel to Jeremiah 25:9

God warned of destruction, and Daniel affirms that God has carried it out.

📖 Daniel 9:13

“Yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God.”

✔️ Even in exile, Israel failed to seek God.

📖 Parallel to Jeremiah 29:12-13

God promised to listen when they prayed and sought Him with their whole heart.

4️⃣ Plea for God’s Mercy and Restoration (Daniel 9:15-19)

📖 Daniel 9:15

“O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt… we have sinned, we have done wickedly.”

✔️ Appeal to past redemption: Just as God delivered Israel from Egypt, Daniel asks Him to act again.

📖 Parallel to Jeremiah 25:6

God warned them not to go after other gods, yet they disobeyed.

📖 Daniel 9:16

“Let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem.”

✔️ Daniel pleads for God to restore His holy city.

📖 Daniel 9:17

“Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.”

✔️ The temple lies in ruins, but Daniel appeals for God’s glory.

📖 Daniel 9:18

“O my God, incline thine ear, and hear… not for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.”

✔️ Daniel does not appeal to Israel’s worthiness but to God’s mercy.

📖 Final plea (Daniel 9:19)

“O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake.”

✔️ A passionate cry for divine intervention.

Summary of Daniel’s Prayer in Connection to Jeremiah 25

🔹 Daniel confesses the same sins Jeremiah warned about: rebellion, idolatry, and ignoring the prophets. (Daniel 9:5-6 → Jeremiah 25:4-7)

🔹 Daniel acknowledges the just punishment of exile, fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy. (Daniel 9:7-12 → Jeremiah 25:8-11)

🔹 Daniel appeals to God’s mercy, recognizing that restoration depends on seeking Him. (Daniel 9:13-19 → Jeremiah 29:12-13)

Daniel’s prayer is a direct response to the prophetic warnings of Jeremiah. He does not question why Israel was judged—he fully accepts their guilt. Instead, he prays for the promised restoration that God had spoken of, showing a biblical pattern of repentance, humility, and intercession.

Gabriel’s Arrival & The Purpose of the 70 Weeks

As Daniel was still in the midst of his prayer, confession, and supplication, God responded immediately by sending the angel Gabriel with a message of understanding and revelation.

📖 Daniel 9:20-21

“And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.”

This is significant: Daniel’s prayer was not yet finished, yet God had already dispatched His answer. This aligns with Isaiah 65:24:

📖 Isaiah 65:24

“Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

Gabriel: The Messenger of Strength

Who is Gabriel?

Gabriel is an angelic messenger, one of the few angels named in Scripture. His appearances in the Bible are strategically placed at pivotal moments in God’s redemptive plan:

✔️ Daniel 8:16 – Gabriel explains the vision of the ram and the goat.

✔️ Daniel 9:21 – Gabriel delivers the prophecy of the 70 Weeks.

✔️ Luke 1:19 – Gabriel announces the birth of John the Baptist.

✔️ Luke 1:26-31 – Gabriel proclaims to Mary the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.

The Meaning of Gabriel’s Name

Gabriel’s name carries deep theological significance:

🔹 Gabar (verb) → “To add strength”

🔹 El → “God”

🔹 In English order: “God makes strong”

🔹 Noun form (Gebbar): “Warrior”

Although Gabriel is not a warrior like Michael, he is a divine herald, bringing messages related to God’s redemptive plan.

📖 Daniel 9:23

“At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.”

🔹 God’s response to Daniel’s prayer was immediate—before he even finished praying.

🔹 Daniel is “greatly beloved”—a phrase emphasizing his favored status in God’s plan.

Gabriel’s mission was clear: he was sent to give Daniel skill and understanding. This means that what follows is meant to be understood, not shrouded in mystery or endless speculation.

The Purpose of the 70 Weeks

📖 Daniel 9:24 outlines six divine purposes for the 70 Weeks prophecy. These tell us why God has determined this specific time period:

1️⃣ “To Finish the Transgression”

🔹 The word “transgression” refers to Israel’s rebellion against God.

🔹 This is the same covenant-breaking sin that led to their exile (Daniel 9:11).

🔹 This suggests that by the end of the 70 Weeks, Israel’s covenant rebellion will be dealt with.

2️⃣ “To Make an End of Sins”

🔹 This points to a final resolution of sin, not just for Israel, but for all people.

🔹 In Christ’s first coming, sin was condemned on the cross (Romans 8:3).

🔹 The ultimate fulfillment will be when sin is fully eradicated in the new creation.

3️⃣ “To Make Reconciliation for Iniquity”

🔹 Reconciliation means to atone for or restore fellowship.

🔹 This was accomplished through Jesus’ death on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

🔹 The Hebrew word used here for reconciliation is kaphar—the same word used for atonement in the sacrificial system.

🔹 Messiah’s sacrifice is the fulfillment of this purpose.

4️⃣ “To Bring in Everlasting Righteousness”

🔹 Not just a temporary righteousness, but an eternal, unshakable righteousness.

🔹 Christ’s kingdom is one of righteousness (Isaiah 9:7, Jeremiah 23:5-6).

🔹 Through faith in Christ, believers receive His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

5️⃣ “To Seal Up the Vision and Prophecy”

🔹 To seal up means to fulfill and complete.

🔹 This suggests that the prophetic revelations regarding redemption will reach their fulfillment by the end of the 70 Weeks.

🔹 Christ is the fulfillment of all prophecy (Luke 24:44).

6️⃣ “To Anoint the Most Holy”

🔹 This phrase can refer to:

✔️ The anointing of Christ as the Holy One of God (Luke 4:18, Acts 10:38).

✔️ The anointing of the heavenly temple (Hebrews 9:11-12).

✔️ The future consecration of God’s dwelling in the New Heavens and New Earth.

The Context of the 70 Weeks

Before getting into how the 70 Weeks unfold, we must establish why they exist.

📌 This prophecy is not about the Antichrist—it is about Messiah’s redemptive work.

✔️ The six purposes listed in Daniel 9:24 center on Christ’s atoning work and ultimate kingdom.

✔️ Many interpretations of Daniel’s 70th week exist, and we will examine them carefully.

✔️ But before debating the details, we must remember this: The focus of the prophecy is on Christ, not the Antichrist.

The True Focus of Daniel’s Prophecy

Daniel 9 is not a prophecy of fear, speculation, or apocalyptic confusion—it is a prophecy of redemption.

From the moment Daniel humbled himself in prayer, God responded swiftly, sending Gabriel to reveal a timeline that would accomplish God’s ultimate purpose through the Messiah.

🔹 The six divine purposes of the 70 Weeks point us not to the schemes of an Antichrist, but to the work of Christ—His atoning sacrifice, His righteousness, and the fulfillment of God’s prophetic word.

However, the prophecy does not end here. In the next part, we will examine how the 70 Weeks are structured, how they lead directly to the coming of Messiah, and why so many have misunderstood the final week.

❓ Is the 70th week yet to come, or was it fulfilled in Christ’s ministry?

❓ Who is the “he” that confirms the covenant in Daniel 9:27?

❓ What does this prophecy reveal about God’s timeline for His people?

We will explore these questions in Part 2, where we break down the details of the 70 Weeks and uncover their full significance in God’s redemptive plan. 🚀

To read part 2 Click here