The prophecy of Daniel’s 70 weeks stands as one of the most fascinating and detailed timelines in biblical prophecy. Found in Daniel 9:24–27, it provides a divinely ordained framework that spans from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah and beyond. It not only unveils God’s plan for Israel but also sheds light on the destiny of humanity, pointing to events that resonate even in today’s world.
What Is Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy?
In the ninth chapter of the book of Daniel, the prophet records a prayer of repentance for his people, Israel, while in Babylonian exile. In response, the angel Gabriel delivers a remarkable revelation: a prophetic timetable consisting of 70 ‘weeks’. These weeks are widely understood as periods of seven years each, making the entire prophecy span 490 years. The prophecy is divided into three segments:
- Seven weeks (49 years) – The rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
- Sixty-two weeks (434 years) – The time from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the arrival of the Messiah.
- One final week (7 years) – A future period of tribulation, often referred to as the “70th week,” which holds profound eschatological significance.
The Starting Point: The Command to Rebuild Jerusalem
The 70 weeks prophecy begins with a specific command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Historical records align this command with the decree issued by Persian King Artaxerxes in 445 BC (Nehemiah 2:1-8). The rebuilding of the city, including its walls, was completed amidst opposition and hardship, fulfilling the first seven weeks (49 years).
The decree of King Artaxerxes is a pivotal moment in biblical and historical narratives, with profound implications for the Jewish people and their prophetic timeline.
The Decree of King Artaxerxes: Its Biblical Context
The decree issued by King Artaxerxes I of Persia (reigned 465–424 BC) is recorded in the book of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:1–8). In the 20th year of his reign (445 BC), Nehemiah, a Jewish cupbearer in the king’s court, was moved to seek permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls, which lay in ruins. Artaxerxes granted this request, providing letters of authority, safe passage, and resources for the project.
This decree stands as the official starting point of Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:25), which calculates a timeline for the coming of the Messiah and the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan.
The Historical and Spiritual Significance of the Decree
- The Restoration of Jerusalem’s Walls
The decree marked the beginning of a critical phase of restoration for the Jewish people. While the temple had already been rebuilt under Zerubbabel’s leadership, the city itself remained vulnerable and desolate. The rebuilding of the walls symbolized security, identity, and the re-establishment of Jerusalem as the spiritual and political center of the Jewish nation. - The Fulfilment of Prophecy
Artaxerxes’ decree directly fulfils the prophecy of Daniel 9:25, which foretold the rebuilding of Jerusalem “with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.” The rebuilding effort was fraught with opposition, as recorded in Nehemiah, yet it was completed in an astonishing 52 days through God’s provision and the determination of the Jewish people (Nehemiah 6:15). - A Beacon of God’s Faithfulness
The decree highlights God’s sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant promises. Though the Jews had been exiled due to their disobedience, God stirred the hearts of Persian kings—first Cyrus, then Darius, and finally Artaxerxes—to fulfil His promise to restore His people to their land (Jeremiah 29:10, Isaiah 44:28). - The Connection to the Coming Messiah
The decree’s prophetic significance lies in its timing. Daniel 9:25 states that from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah comes, there would be “seven sevens” and “sixty-two sevens” (a total of 69 weeks of years, or 483 years). Calculating from 445 BC using the prophetic calendar (360 days per year), this timeline aligns remarkably with Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. This precision underscores the divine orchestration of history.
Implications for the Jewish People
- Hope and Identity
The decree reinforced the Jewish people’s identity as God’s chosen nation and gave them hope for restoration after decades of exile. It was a tangible sign that God had not abandoned them and was working to fulfil His promises. - Renewed Covenant Commitment
The return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding efforts under Nehemiah sparked a spiritual renewal among the Jewish people. Nehemiah led the community in rededicating themselves to God’s laws, as described in Nehemiah 8–10. The rebuilding of the walls became a catalyst for both physical and spiritual restoration. - The Prophetic Roadmap
For the Jewish people, the decree also set in motion a divine timetable that would ultimately reveal the Messiah. Though many failed to recognize Jesus as the fulfilment of this prophecy, the decree remains a cornerstone of messianic expectation and eschatological understanding.
Modern Reflections
For believers today, the decree of Artaxerxes serves as a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness. It demonstrates that God’s plans unfold precisely according to His will, even through secular leaders and world events. Moreover, it invites us to trust in His promises and to see history as part of His redemptive narrative.
The Messiah and the End of 69 Weeks
From the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, Gabriel specifies 69 weeks (483 years) until the coming of the “Anointed One” or Messiah. When calculated using the prophetic calendar (360 days per year), this timeline aligns remarkably with Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. This fulfilment underscores the precision of God’s timetable and highlights Jesus as the promised Saviour.
The Gap: The Mystery of the Church Age
After the 69th week, the prophecy mentions the Messiah being “cut off” (Daniel 9:26), an unmistakable reference to His death. It also foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the sanctuary, fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans demolished the city and its temple. At this point, the prophetic timeline pauses, ushering in what many scholars call the “Church Age”—a period where God’s focus broadens to include Gentiles alongside Israel in His redemptive plan. We are currently living in the ‘church age’.
The Final Week: A Future Tribulation
The prophecy’s last segment, the 70th week, remains unfulfilled. This seven-year period is associated with a covenant made by a powerful figure, often identified as the Antichrist. Halfway through, this covenant is broken, leading to intense persecution and events described elsewhere in Scripture as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21, Revelation 13). It culminates in the return of Jesus Christ, who will establish His millennial reign.
Why Is This Prophecy Important Today?
Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy is more than an ancient timeline; it serves as a roadmap for understanding God’s redemptive plan and His dealings with humanity. Its precision affirms the reliability of Scripture and offers hope for the future as we await the fulfilment of the final week. This prophecy reminds believers of God’s sovereignty, the centrality of Jesus Christ in His plan, and the certainty of His promises. It is particularly important to us today because, like the majority of Christians, I believe that we are in the very last of the last days and that this prophecy will be fulfilled very soon.
The Role of the Antichrist in the 70th Week
The final week of Daniel’s prophecy, often called the 70th week, is described in Daniel 9:27:
“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation…”
This passage introduces a figure who emerges as a central antagonist during this climactic period. While not explicitly named in Daniel 9, this individual is commonly identified as the Antichrist based on descriptions in the New Testament (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Revelation 13). The Antichrist is a charismatic and politically shrewd leader who deceives nations and gains significant power during the 70th week.
The Covenant with Many
At the beginning of the 70th week, the Antichrist will “confirm a covenant with many.” This likely refers to a peace treaty or agreement involving Israel and other nations. This covenant may promise stability in the Middle East and even allow for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem—a prospect that is currently fraught with political tension.
While this covenant appears beneficial at first, it is ultimately a deceptive ploy. Midway through the seven years, the Antichrist will break this agreement, revealing his true nature and initiating a period of intense persecution.
The Abomination of Desolation
The “abomination that causes desolation” is a pivotal event described in both Daniel and the New Testament (Matthew 24:15). At the midpoint of the 70th week, the Antichrist will desecrate the Jewish temple. This act could involve setting up an idol of himself or a satanic image in the temple and demanding worship, as described in Revelation 13:14-15. This sacrilegious act marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
The Great Tribulation: A Time of Unprecedented Suffering
The second half of the 70th week, often called the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), is characterized by unparalleled global chaos. During this time, the Antichrist solidifies his power, and his regime enforces absolute allegiance, symbolized by the infamous “mark of the beast” (Revelation 13:16-17). Those who refuse to comply face severe persecution and martyrdom.
Signs of the Tribulation
The Great Tribulation is marked by a series of judgments from God, as described in the book of Revelation. These include:
- Seal Judgments (Revelation 6) – A series of global calamities, including war, famine, and widespread death.
- Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8–9) – Escalating natural and supernatural disasters, such as catastrophic weather events and demonic plagues.
- Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16) – God’s wrath poured out in full measure, resulting in devastation on an unprecedented scale.
The Role of Israel
Israel remains central during this period, as the focus of the prophecy is explicitly directed at Daniel’s people and the holy city (Daniel 9:24). Many Jews will turn to Jesus as their Messiah during the Tribulation, fulfilling passages like Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:26. This period also sets the stage for Christ’s Second Coming, when He will rescue Israel and establish His millennial kingdom.
The End of the 70th Week: Christ’s Return
The culmination of the 70th week occurs with the return of Jesus Christ, often called the Second Coming (Revelation 19:11-16). Unlike His first coming in humility, He will return as a conquering King to defeat the Antichrist, judge the nations, and establish His righteous rule on earth. This marks the fulfilment of God’s promises to Israel and ushers in a time of peace and restoration.
The Rapture: A Blessed Hope for Believers
For those who follow Jesus Christ, the promise of the rapture provides a source of immense comfort and hope. The term “rapture” refers to the moment when believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
This event, distinct from Christ’s Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation, is widely understood by pre-tribulation believers to occur before the onset of Daniel’s 70th week. In this view, the rapture serves as God’s means of delivering His Church from the judgment and wrath poured out during the Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10, Revelation 3:10).
The Urgency of Salvation
The reality of the rapture adds an urgent call to the gospel message. While salvation will still be available during the Tribulation (Revelation 7:14), the period will be one of unparalleled suffering, persecution, and divine judgment. Those left behind will face not only the reign of the Antichrist but also the catastrophic judgments of God.
Why take such a risk when salvation is freely available today? As the apostle Paul writes, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Waiting until after the rapture to come to Christ may mean enduring unimaginable hardship and loss.
A Loving Warning
This belief in a pre-tribulation rapture is not about instilling fear but about offering hope and encouragement. Jesus Himself said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). The rapture is a demonstration of God’s mercy, removing His people before His righteous judgment is unleashed
An Invitation to Receive Christ
If you’ve never placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour, now is the time. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Jesus loves you so much that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins. He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death, so that you could have eternal life with Him.
You don’t need to wait or try to earn salvation on your own—salvation is a gift from God, freely given to those who believe (Ephesians 2:8-9). You can receive this gift by praying a simple prayer from your heart, such as:
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I trust You as my Saviour and follow You as my Lord. Thank You for saving me. Amen.”
If you prayed that prayer sincerely, the Bible promises that you are now a child of God (John 1:12). You can look forward to eternal life with Him and the assurance that you will be with Him when He comes for His Church.
Don’t wait—take this step today and experience the peace, hope, and joy that come from knowing Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord.