Daniel 9:24 says, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make atonement for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy place." The six things listed are divided into two groups: the first group of three is negative and relates to sin. It's important to understand each!
Table of contentsThe First Group of ThreeFinish the TransgressionMake an End of SinsMake Atonement for IniquityThe Second Group of ThreeBring in Everlasting RighteousnessSeal Up Vision and ProphecyAnoint the Most Holy Place
Daniel 9:24 says, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make atonement for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy place."
The Hebrew word for weeks is šāḇûaʿ and it means seven like our word dozen means 12, so it’s saying 70 sevens, or 490. Daniel’s people would be the Jews and Daniel’s holy city would be Jerusalem. So this is not a prophecy primarily for Gentiles or the church. The only way Bible prophecy makes sense is by understanding God has a separate and distinct plan for the Jews and the church.
The second half of the verse lists six things that will mostly be accomplished during the 70th week, which is discussed in Daniel 9:27. The six are broken up into two groups.
The First Group of Three
The first group of three is negative and relates to sin.
Finish the Transgression
Daniel 9:24b to finish the transgression
Notice two things. First, it says transgression, a type of sin where people sin willfully when they should know better; it’s like people see the line but step over it anyway. Second, transgression is singular because it refers to one specific transgression of the Jews. No matter how many sins the Jews have committed, there’s one transgression that trumps all others combined and that’s their rejection of Jesus.
And it’s the same today: if someone isn’t a believer, no matter how many sins are in that person’s life, there’s only one sin that matters at that moment, and it’s that person’s rejection of Christ…because that is the sin that determines where they spend eternity. Consider:
John 16:9 [Jesus said], “When the Holy Spirit has come, He will convict the world of sin, because they do not believe in Me.”
That doesn’t sound like it makes much sense. Still, Jesus says it because even though there are tons of different sins, the one sin that matters is whether we believe in Jesus, and that’s why that’s the sin the Holy Spirit is going to convict the world of because if you believe in Jesus, I don’t want to say your other sins don’t matter. Still, IN A WAY, they don’t matter because they’re forgiven and paid for by Christ. And if you don’t believe in Jesus, your other sins don’t matter in a way because you’re going to be condemned for not believing in Jesus anyway:
John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God
John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him
This is why the Unpardonable or Unforgivable Sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. It refers to people deliberately, willfully rejecting the Holy Spirit’s work in pointing them to believe in Christ. That’s the sin they can never be forgiven for because they will have rejected the one way God has chosen to give us salvation.
This means that by the end of the 70th week, the Jews will have received their Messiah.
Make an End of Sins
Daniel 9:24c to put an end to sin,
There will also be an end to the Jews’ other sins because coming to Christ, or conversion, produces sanctification.
Make Atonement for Iniquity