While Daniel was praying, confessing his sins and the sins of Israel, and pleading with God to restore Jerusalem, God sent Gabriel. Daniel was concerned about God’s plan for Israel. He had been studying the prophecies of Jeremiah which revealed God’s plan up until that time. Now God sent the angel Gabriel with a revelation of God’s plan for Israel’s future. Gabriel arrived at the time of the evening sacrifice. Because of the exile to Babylon, no literal sacrifices were taking place but times of the morning and evening sacrifices were likely two of the three daily times Daniel would have prayed. Daniel’s humility and fervent prayer invoked a special response from God. He was greeted as one greatly loved by God. God loves all His children, but there is a special relationship for those who draw close to Him and walk with Him in humble reliance (John 15:4-5).

Gabriel revealed that God’s future program for Israel would take place over seventy weeks (seventy sevens). While there is no unit specified, it makes sense that the message refers to seventy groups of seven years (490 years). God had instituted seven days as the week and seven years as the sabbatical year of rest. One of the results of Israel’s seventy-year exile to Babylon was that the land was allowed to rest to make up for all the sabbath years they had failed to keep. Because seventy groups of seven days don’t make sense in the context, seventy weeks of years are generally accepted. These seventy weeks deal specifically with the future of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. By the end of this time period, God promised to fulfill six things. God would finish the transgression of Israel. Israel’s continued rebellion would come to an end as the nation repents and accepts Jesus as her Messiah. God will put an end to sin. This was made possible by Jesus’ death on the cross and will be made permanent when Christ returns. God will atone for wickedness. God would make a way to forgive sin while remaining true to justice and His righteousness. Jesus was the atonement for all sin on the cross. God would bring everlasting righteousness. The end of the seventy weeks will usher in a period of righteousness that will last for eternity. God will seal both vision and prophet. When Christ returns in glory, every vision and prophesy will have been fulfilled, and with Him forever present, there will be no further need for either. Finally, God will anoint a most holy place. This is likely the dedication of the millennial temple described in Ezekiel 41-46.

Gabriel unveiled that the period of seventy weeks would begin with the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This was the decree by Artaxerxes in 444 B.C. (Neh 2:1-8). The 490 year period was divided into three segments; seven sevens (49 years), sixty-two sevens (434 years), and the final seven (7 years). The first period of 49 years includes the time in which Jerusalem was rebuilt. The walls were restored in a short time under Nehemiah, but the full restoration of the city would have taken a lot longer. The next 434 years extend up until the time Messiah appeared to Israel. This period has been calculated to have concluded on the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just before he was “cut-off” at His crucifixion (the prophecy specified that the anointed one would be cut-off after the conclusion of the 62 sevens). When Jesus was crucified he had nothing just as prophesied. He did not receive the royal throne of King David and the few possessions He had were divided and lots were cast for them as He hung on the cross. Following the rejection of the Messiah, judgment came on Israel when Jerusalem was destroyed by A.D. 70.

There is a gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks. This gap is the church age in which we now live. It extends from Pentecost until the Rapture. This period is never mentioned in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, it is referred to as a mystery or secret that was hidden by God from the foundation of the world until it was revealed by the apostles and prophets of the New Testament. Jesus illustrated this gap when he read from Isaiah 61:1-2 but cut short the reading of verse 2 indicating that there would be a time between “the year of the Lord’s favour” and “the day of vengeance of our God” (Luke 4:18-19). The final seven years will be divided into two halves. In the beginning, the Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel but after three and a half years he will break the covenant, put an end to sacrifices and offerings and he will set up an abominable idolatrous image in the temple persecuting those who refuse to worship the image. Terrible persecution will befall Israel for the last half of the seventieth week before God finally destroys the Antichrist and casts him into the lake of fire (Rev 19:20).

God is not finished with the nation of Israel. But in His mercy, He included a gap in His plan to allow all nations to be included in His promise to rid the world of sin. Jesus’ death on the cross didn’t just atone for the sins of Israel but for all who believe.