2. Is the 70 Weeks passage Christological or non-Christological? What are the theological consequences of each position?



2. Is the 70 Weeks passage Christological or non-Christological? What are the theological consequences of each position?

Introduction

The 70 Weeks passage was totally Christological. Since the 70 weeks prophecy reveals the key chronological features of Israel's history from the decree to restore Jerusalem, up to the establishment of the millennial kingdom, it is the key to understanding events leading up to the second coming of Christ, most particularly the events of the tribulation period. Thus the 70 weeks prophecy provides the chronological structure for understanding both Jesus' Olivet Discourse and much of the book of Revelation. [1]

The year was approximately 539 BC. The 70 year exile to Babylon was about complete as Daniel had discerned from reading Jeremiah's prophecy (cf. Dan. 9:2). He was in prayer about the future of his people because it was their sin and transgression towards God that had sent them into exile. While in prayer, Daniel was visited by the angel Gabriel who had been sent by God to give him "insight and understanding" (Dan. 9:22) regarding a "70 week" program for his people and his holy city (Dan. 9:24-25). Upon completion of the 70th week, Israel's "transgression" would be finished, her "sin" ended and her "iniquity" would be atoned for.

Gabriel clearly told Daniel that the 70 week program would begin when a decree was issued to "restore and rebuild Jerusalem..." (Dan. 9:25). It is important to note that the decree was to restore and rebuild "Jerusalem". When that event took place, the countdown had begun.

Sir Robert Anderson, in his monumental work, The Coming Prince, has detailed for us when that decree was given and by whom. Here is a summary of his investigative research:

"The edict spoken of was issued by Artaxerxes Longimanus (a Persian King) in the 20th year of his reign. (Neh. 2:1,5) The date can be computed via the Jewish calendar which has been closely regulated since the first paschal observance in Egypt, as well as the computation of the Astronomer Royal of England, who calculated the issuing of the decree of Artaxerxes to be on the 14th of March, 445 BC. According to the Jewish calendar, that decree was on the 1st of Nisan." [2]

Discussion

Premillennialists interpret the prophecy of the 70 weeks as a literal chronology leading up to the second coming, at which time Christ will establish the visible aspect of the kingdom of God on earth, the first phase of which is the millennium. They also regard the 70th week as the future time of tribulation described by Christ in the first half of the Olivet Discourse, and by John in Revelation (chaps. 6:1-20:3). Dispensational premillennialists view the prophecy as pertaining to Israel, not the Church, in accordance with the opening statement of the prophecy (cf. v.24, “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city”). Accordingly, they view the present Church age as falling parenthetically between the 69th and ...