Daniel's 70 Weeks: The Common Sense Prophecy (Dan 9:24-27), part 2/5

Daniel’s “70 weeks” prophecy gets quoted constantly in end-times debates, but most arguments skip the simplest step: read what Daniel 9 actually says, then let the text drive the timeline. We start by asking a bigger framing question first, because it changes everything downstream, including how you read Daniel: were the Old Testament’s prophecies given to point people to Jesus Christ, or do they mainly predict events far beyond his first coming? Our panel presses that question hard, working through the claim that the prophets speak with one central target, Christ and his finished work. 

A heated interruption forces a blunt line in the sand about Christ’s identity, and it becomes a reminder that biblical theology is not just information, it’s confession. From there we pivot into the opening of a new series on the 70 weeks of Daniel, reading Daniel 9:24–27 out loud and doing the “no chart required” math: 70 weeks as 490 years. We connect Daniel’s framework to Jeremiah’s 70-year Babylonian captivity and argue for a consecutive timeline that aims at Messiah the Prince, Messiah being “cut off,” covenant language, and the stated end goals of the prophecy. 

We also challenge a popular talking point with biblical precision: Daniel 9 mentions troublous times, but it doesn’t explicitly teach a separate seven-year tribulation period the way it’s often presented. If you’ve ever wondered whether your prophecy view is built on the passage or imported onto it, you’ll get a clean starting point here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves Bible prophecy, and leave a review with your take: does Daniel 9 point mostly to Christ’s first coming, or to future events?

Transcript

The Gospel Must Reach Everyone

SPEAKER_04 0:00

The gatekeeper. That's right. He comes into the sheep boat once those are all there. Because his will is being done on the planet as we speak. Those who are hearing his word here from the beginning. I know we're I kind of think where I know where you're going, but I'm just going to be quiet and let you keep talking.

SPEAKER_06 0:16

No, no, I like what you talk. Light Barry, like Light Barry, any any input on this you want to add to this so far?

SPEAKER_00 0:27

The only thing I can say is for what I know from the scripture, though Jesus said, you know the end will come and the gospel is preached through the whole world. Right. So I believe that until the whole world, that means every nook and cranny of each culture has heard the gospel of Christ. I believe he will not come until that happens.

SPEAKER_06 0:56

Right. I I believe that, and I believe that that and I believe that what I was trying to convey earlier is that very thing. So I I I'm I I'm with you on that one. Flavio, what do you think, brother? Oh, you're taking off. Okay. Yeah, I apologize. Yeah, God bless. All right, man. Take it easy, brother. I'm sorry. No worries. All right,

Do All Prophecies Point To Christ

SPEAKER_06 1:18

so now. So now I'm coming to the book of Daniel, but but I want to ask you, I want to ask everybody something else. In the old covenant, in the old testament with the prophets, we have 300 prophecies. 300 prophecies. Now, what I want to ask you is to what end these prophecies, to what end were they given? Meg, what do you think? What were the prophecies of the old covenant? What were they what were they talking and speaking to?

SPEAKER_09 2:02

I think the only answer that I have right now is the verse where it said every jot and every tittle will be completed. And if Christ's work is finished, and it says that his work is finished, God doesn't lie, brother. So I I believe that his work is finished. I believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_06 2:35

So my question is this, sister. My question is this are there any prophecies out of these 300 prophecies in the old covenant, in the old testament? Out of these 300 prophecies, do any of them are any of them pointing to pointing to something other than Christ Himself?

SPEAKER_09 3:00

No. I mean, no, I believe every like I said, I believe everything is finished. Now I mean that's what I believe. Now, now, how? You know what I mean? I believe that he, you know, he was the word. You know, when it when in scripture, when it says the word cannot return unto God void, he was the word that did not return to the father void.

SPEAKER_06 3:29

All right. Nicole, are you there, sister?

SPEAKER_10 3:34

Yes, I'm here.

SPEAKER_06 3:35

All right. Out of the 300 prophecies in the listed in the old testament, do any of those prophecies speak about anything other than Christ or beyond Christ?

SPEAKER_10 3:51

They speak about Christ. I know a lot of people feel like it doesn't, but I see it. Uh, we like we can go to Micah, I want to say Micah 5.2.

SPEAKER_06 4:02

Right. That's spoken to Christ. I know what you're talking about. That spoke to Christ.

SPEAKER_10 4:08

It was in Deuteronomy.

SPEAKER_05 4:12

So your answer is yes.

SPEAKER_10 4:15

Also, it was. I mean, Genesis, that like I I really um almost feel like the 2 Samuel, Isaiah 53. It's a lot.

SPEAKER_06 4:27

That what are they talking about?

SPEAKER_10 4:30

They're talking about they're talking about Christ. They're talking about Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_06 4:34

Like most are any are any of them talking about anything other than Christ or anything that happens beyond Christ, after his coming to earth, and his in his ministry?

unknown 4:46

Oh.

SPEAKER_06 4:47

This is what I'm getting at.

SPEAKER_10 4:49

Does any of them speak about him after he comes to the ministry? Uh yes, yes.

SPEAKER_06 4:55

Really? Like what?

SPEAKER_10 4:58

I'm trying to think. It's just like it almost like kind of. I'm trying to think.

SPEAKER_06 5:07

Let me come back to you. Jerry, what do you think?

SPEAKER_07 5:10

Yes, I think all the prophecies point to Jesus, his coming, and his fulfilling the law and the prophets, and fulfilling all righteousness.

SPEAKER_06 5:22

Absolutely. Esco, brother, how are you doing? Good, how are you? I'm doing all right. Glad you can make it up here with us, brother. Yes, sir, yes, sir. What are your thoughts? Prophecy. Christ already came. So what I'm asking is this the prophecies, the 300 prophecies of the old covenant, of the old testament, the prophets, every prophecy they made, were they speaking about Christ or are they speaking about or any of them, do any of them go beyond Christ or after his first coming? I don't believe so. All right. So I'm I'm in agreement with most of you guys. I I don't know about Bill Keith. Are you there, brother? Because I I haven't heard from you yet. But I think he's sort of chilling out. But anyway, all right. So I agree with that. I believe that all of the 300 prophecies that we were given, all, every single one of them, has to do with the Lord Jesus

A Deity Challenge Disrupts The Panel

SPEAKER_06 6:25

Christ. Every one of them.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Blessings. Can I ask you how how are you able to come up with that conclusion? Were you are you talking about the Bible? What else would I be talking about? The Bible? I mean, well, how would you how are you able to let me ask you let me ask you a question?

SPEAKER_06 6:46

Was Jesus Christ at his first coming, was he fulfilling all 300 prophecies that were stated in the Old Testament? In your mind?

SPEAKER_01 6:56

No.

SPEAKER_06 6:57

Okay, so what prophecies were speaking about something different than him?

SPEAKER_01 7:02

So the the whole entire prophecies was speaking about Christ's Father, not Christ. Christ, what? It was speaking about Christ's Father.

SPEAKER_06 7:15

So you're saying that none of the Old Testament, none of the Old Testament prophecies were speaking about Christ. They're speaking about not the Son, but the Father.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Yeah, let me give you an example. In the book of Revelations, I'm gonna give you two references to prove my case, yo. The first reference is Revelations chapter 6, verse 16. All right. Let me see if I can get it right quick.

SPEAKER_06 7:39

Can I ask you a question in the meantime while you're looking? Yes, sir. Was the father the one virgin born?

SPEAKER_01 7:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 7:49

So you don't believe that Jesus Christ is deity.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

When you say deity, I don't understand.

SPEAKER_06 7:56

Was Jesus God or not? This is simple, brother. Was Jesus God in the flesh or not?

SPEAKER_01 8:02

No, Jesus was the Son of God.

SPEAKER_06 8:04

All right. So you're Jehovah's Witness.

SPEAKER_01 8:07

No, I'm a Christian.

SPEAKER_06 8:08

No, you're not.

SPEAKER_01 8:09

Jonathan. Jonathan. Why do you say I'm not a Christian?

SPEAKER_06 8:13

Let me ask you a question. Let me ask you a question.

SPEAKER_03 8:15

Jonathan.

SPEAKER_06 8:16

No, hold on, brother.

SPEAKER_03 8:17

Hold on. I knew this guy. He's going to obstruct the whole life.

SPEAKER_06 8:21

Meg, you know what to do? Anyone that denies Christ is an antichrist. Meg, not no, the other. Yeah, yeah. See, people like this. See, I'm going to tell you something else. While we're here, while we're here, brothers and sisters. And I'm going to say this to all my Christian brothers and sisters who are on the panel and whoever's listening. Whenever we engage in a conversation about the Lord, don't be a snake about what you believe. Don't try to hide it. And don't try to like sneak in your belief. Let people know what you believe and defend it. Amen. Defend it. Don't be a snake. Like that guy, people like him, they want to come in and you ask them a simple question and they should say, you know what? By the way, I want you to know I'm a JW or I'm a Mormon or I'm a whatever. We should, when we are dealing with the word of God, we should respect our Lord and respect his word and let people know where we stand. You know, and so, but to me, that what what this kind of thing is a serpent mentality. I'm going to sneak in, I'm going to slither in, and I'm not going to let people know what I really think. So I'm going to let them flounder on these errors. I'm going to get off my heart, my heart, my high horse.

SPEAKER_08 9:52

We all just witnessed the rapture, Brother Jonathan.

SPEAKER_03 9:55

Jonathan, not a cross here. If we didn't do that, if we didn't send him down, this life would have been chaos. I've seen my many lives. He's not a Christian. Right. I know, I know him.

SPEAKER_05 10:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:07

He just came to obstruct the whole life. So that was well done.

SPEAKER_06 10:11

Right. Thank you, brother. I appreciate that. And I'm glad you and I'm glad you gave me that warning, too, because you know, we're not, we're not, we're not gonna have that. I mean, I got too much respect for the Lord, too much respect for his word, and too much respect for his people that are here, that are here contributing like they always do in a very good way. And I got too much respect for the other people who are listening that are standing by. So I appreciate that, and we'll keep going. I forgot where I was last, but we'll get to it.

SPEAKER_09 10:39

So you were talking about, Brother Jonathan, you were talking about the 300 prophecies, did and did Jesus fulfill all of them.

SPEAKER_06 10:48

Right, exactly. So Esko, I think I was left off with you. Were you talking before the interruption?

SPEAKER_07 10:54

Yeah, I told him that anybody who doesn't believe Jesus is is is God is an antichrist. And that's when he left.

SPEAKER_06 11:00

Right.

SPEAKER_07 11:01

So I think I blew his cover, I guess. I don't know.

Why God Cannot Be Wordless

SPEAKER_06 11:05

Well, you know, God has a way of doing it. Good evening, Papa. How are you, brother?

SPEAKER_02 11:09

Yeah, I'm doing good. Listen, I just wonder if if I may, please. I just want to say one thing about that. To deny the eternal existence of the word is to deny the eternal ability of God to speak. You cannot separate God and his word. I know I know exactly where you're where you're going with this one.

SPEAKER_06 11:35

I agree with you, brother. I really do.

SPEAKER_02 11:38

You know, it and in in John 1:1, when it says in the beginning was the word, the key word in all that scripture right there is the word was. Right, it's a durative perfection. And what it means, the meaning of it was it's an ongoing action. In other words, in the beginning was the word, right? Not at the beginning, he was there at the beginning of the creation of all things, is what that means. Right.

SPEAKER_06 12:22

So let me so what I want to do, Papa, because we were dealing with this issue. I'm I'm I'm starting a series on 70 weeks of Daniel. And I know that over time you your your input will be

Setting Up Daniel’s 70 Weeks Series

SPEAKER_06 12:40

invaluable as well as other people here, but I know that you are a student of these things uh as well as I am, and and so a lot of us here like this subject, but but what I was dealing with was what were the 300 prophecies that the old testament made, and to whom and what were they being referred to? Now, so far we sort of we sort of came to a consensus. Now, maybe there's some people that have varying ideas, but as a consensus, we have concluded that the 300 prophecies of the Bible pointed to Christ and his work. And I asked a question: Were there any prophecies in the old testament that spoke to anything that is not Christ or beyond him? And I think that we're all agreed that they all pointed to him. Now, if anybody disagrees, what I just said, because I don't want to misrepresent anybody, is that is anybody disagree with that that's on the panel?

SPEAKER_02 13:52

Not me.

SPEAKER_06 13:53

All right, so now that that that leads me to the next the next point. Thank you, George, George and the Lion. So here's the next thing. Because if we believe this, if we believe this, this tells us something very significant about the 70 weeks of Daniel in Daniel 9, 24 through 27. It tells us something very significant. If all of the prophecies of the old covenant, which would include Daniel's 70-week prophecy, if all of the prophecies, including Daniel's 70 weeks, point to Christ at his first coming, then that has a significant implication about how to interpret Daniel 9, 24 through 27. So my question is this what does that imply? Let me start with you, Papa. What does that imply? If all 300 prophecies of the old covenant, of the old testament, if they all point to Christ and his first coming, not beyond that, but his first coming, then what does that tell us about our interpretation of Daniel 9? Jerry, Jerry, what about what do you say?

SPEAKER_07 15:24

I can't comment on Daniel 9. So I read it again and study it. Okay. Of course, I as I stated before, everything everything is about Jesus Christ and his imminent return.

SPEAKER_06 15:40

Absolutely. So exclamation, so let's take let's take what you said, Jerry, because you you answered you answered the question, actually. So the question is this if what you just said was true, and I believe what you just said is a hundred percent true, so what does that tell you about Daniel 9 or any prophecy in the old covenant?

SPEAKER_07 16:07

Well, Daniel 9 would be prophesying about Christ. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_05 16:12

Absolutely. Does anybody disagree with that? No, eat the book. What's that? Eat the book. Christ is the book. He's it all. He's all of it.

SPEAKER_06 16:24

He he is. So Daniel 9. Let me let me read this. I'm gonna read, I'm gonna start it because this is the introduction to the I'm doing this whole, I'm gonna do this whole thing on this one because I think it's necessary, because the whole word of God, all of it, has to be relevant for every Christian of every age. Does anybody disagree with that? All right, so we're saying we're we are all in agreement that everything in the Word of God, whatever it says, has to have relevance to every Christian, every believer of every age. Correct?

SPEAKER_05 17:09

Correct.

SPEAKER_06 17:10

Right. All right. So for that to be for that to be so, that means that whatever we read in the Bible can have practical relevance to every Christian alive now, in the past, or in the future. Everything.

Reading Daniel 9 With Fresh Ears

SPEAKER_06 17:30

So now I'm gonna read these three verses. Or these, yeah, Daniel 20, these four verses. I'm gonna read it, and then we're gonna get into this. Daniel says, 70 weeks, 70 weeks are determined for your people and for the holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy. And he says, Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the prince shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks, which is sixty-nine weeks, the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. Verse 26. And after the 62 and second week, the Messiah, watch this here. The 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, the end of the end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war, desolations are determined. Last verse. Then he shall, the Messiah, confirm the covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering, and on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation which is determined is poured out on the desolate. Now, I realize that to a lot of people listening, panel or otherwise, that may sound confusing. Now let's talk about something for a second. Daniel gives a prophecy of 70 weeks. 70 weeks. Just so you understand the math here, and this should not require a whiteboard or a chalkboard and all the stuff that people do where they want to give you, you know, the timelines. Very simple.

490 Years And Jeremiah’s 70 Years

SPEAKER_06 20:11

There are 70 weeks that are determined. 70 weeks, each week represents seven years. So Daniel is talking about a prophecy that is 70 times 7. In other words, 490 years. Is everybody with me so far? Yep. All right. 490 years. Each week represents seven years or 70 Sabbaths.

SPEAKER_05 20:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 20:48

All right. Now Daniel says that he understood how to understand his prophecy from the prophecy of Jeremiah that God gave to Jeremiah regarding the captivity that the Israelites had to go into with Babylon. So my question, Papa, is to you Is this how many years did God tell Jeremiah and Isaiah, who are contemporaries, how many years was the Babylonian captivity?

SPEAKER_02 21:32

Wow, you know what? I forgot already. It was. I know in 586 BC is when Babylon came in and got Israel. It lasted for.

SPEAKER_06 22:05

I mean how how how long was the Babylonian captivity that Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied about it? How long was that Babylonian captivity?

SPEAKER_04 22:12

70 years. Yeah, I thought you meant historically why it was for around. 70 years. It was 70 years. 70 years was actually what you were saying, 490 years.

SPEAKER_06 22:25

So you that's that's that's that's right. The Babylonian captivity was 70 years. So Daniel said that he understood the prophecy he received from the angel Gabriel about the 70, the 490 years, or the 70 times 7, the 77s, or the 490 years. So basically, he was able to understand his timeline based on the prophecy that Jeremiah and Isaiah was given by God of the 70-year captivity. So just follow me here for a second because I don't want to I don't want to confuse it by being too overloaded with words. So basically, the only difference between Daniel's vision or the 70 weeks and Jeremiah's was Jeremiah was 70 consecutive years. So Daniel understood his week, his prophecy to be seventy sevens, and they would be consecutive sevens. In other words, it would be 490 consecutive years to the fulfillment of that prophecy that he gave. Alright, so now I laid that foundation. Is everybody with me so far on that? Disagreement, agreement, whatever.

SPEAKER_10 24:01

Anybody I'm understanding.

SPEAKER_06 24:05

Alright. So now, this is what he says, and I'm gonna start with this. I'm gonna start with the verse 24. And I'm not gonna go any, I'm not gonna go anywhere past verse 24 tonight. He says that 70 weeks are determined for your people in your holy city. And here's what he says: he's telling you, he's telling you what will be fulfilled during the 70 weeks. He's telling you what is going to be the end result of these 70 weeks? What is gonna be the what if what can we expect to see completed by the time this 490 years is over? Is everybody with me? Does anybody agree or disagree?

SPEAKER_10 25:01

It will be I I agree.

SPEAKER_06 25:04

All right.

Six Targets Of The 70 Weeks

SPEAKER_06 25:05

So here's what he says. There are six things. There's six things that he said are going to take place, which is gonna signify that the 70 weeks have been accomplished and fulfilled. One to finish the transgression, number two, to make an end of sins, number three, to make reconciliation for iniquity, number four, to bring in everlasting righteousness, number five, to seal up vision and prophecy. Number six, to anoint the most holy. Now, what I'm saying is being a little snarky, and and what I what I'm saying that is that you have 77s, 490 years. Most of us,

Tribulation Claims Versus The Text

SPEAKER_06 26:35

I'm sure all of us have heard about the quote unquote great tribulation, the seven-year tribulation. Well, let me say something about that for a second. If you look at, if you have your Bible with you, and you look at Daniel 20, Daniel 9, verses 24 through 27, and I just read it. So, and most of everybody here heard me read it. Did anybody hear me say, or did you see anywhere where it talks about a tribulation period? Anybody?

SPEAKER_08 27:12

No, no, is it here?

SPEAKER_06 27:19

Now, I'm not asking whether or not I'm not asking anybody if you believe in a seven-year tribulation or not. That's not the issue. No, what I'm asking for is biblical precision. Does anything here say anything about that? No, Nicole.

SPEAKER_10 27:40

It doesn't say anything about a tribulation period.

SPEAKER_06 27:45

All right, just hold it there. Just leave it there. Just leave it there.

unknown 27:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 27:50

I'm expecting you to give me a but and and right it there's no butts. Gary, you see it here.

SPEAKER_05 28:03

Jerry. Lisa? Nope. Let's go.

SPEAKER_10 28:14

I'm just gonna go like 25. It does. It says in trouble is time. Like it, it just I I mean, I I I'm I'm a I like I I like to read words.

SPEAKER_06 28:30

All right, so this this even though I'm dealing with verse 24, I'm gonna deal with that for a second for Nicole. Trouble as times, troubleless times doesn't say tribulation, no, doesn't say anything about seven years, nothing like that. But here's what I want to say. Here's what I want to say. It says that in verse 25, know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until the pride, until Messiah the Prince, there shall be 69 weeks.

Troublous Times Before Messiah Arrives

SPEAKER_06 29:11

And that this and that it will be built again in troubless times. Now, here's your problem, Nicole, because I know where you're going. Here's your problem. This happened before Christ was even born. But this temple, this, this, the, the, the restore, the the the command to go and restore and build Jerusalem was what was given to Cyrus the king.

SPEAKER_10 29:40

Well, and even in troubless times. I'm not trying to go against what you're saying. No, no, no. And even in troubless times. That's like a foreshadowing.

SPEAKER_06 29:50

I know, no, but it's not a foreshadowing. You're reading, there's no foreshadowing. He is saying that that that when they when they are building the temple, it is going to be in troubleless times. But here's the key, here's the key expression here that you need to look at. He says that the res the restoration and the building of Jerusalem would go up until Messiah the Prince, not after. You understand what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_07 30:22

Sounds to me like that's the body of Christ being being fulfilled until the abomination and desolation comes.

SPEAKER_06 30:31

No, but let me, I don't want to, I don't want to get there yet. Okay. Because I want to deal with my sister, and I want to, I want to make sure that I have because I don't like this, I don't like this, I don't like to glaze over anything. I like to deal with it. So, Nicole, what I'm asking is this it says here that the building of this, of the of that the restoration and the building of Jerusalem that was being built in troublous times would be done up until Messiah the Prince. Up until the Messiah. So, the seven-year tribulation that you might be presupposing, according to this passage that you just brought up in verse 25, is it before Christ or after Christ?

SPEAKER_10 31:20

It's it's before, because it says, and after three score and two weeks, shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. So like I almost feel like it's like I reading that, I almost feel like it's before, because then it says, Shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself, and the people of the prince that shall come.

SPEAKER_06 31:52

Yes, I'm gonna put this in the crudest terms possible. There ain't nothing wrong with your eyes. I want to make sure before I go on that you and me are on the same page with this. Do you do you agree with me that this that this building of the temple in troublous times take place takes place before the Messiah?