The time periods are separated by time whose events are not part of the time period.
The 70 weeks are made up of three time periods that are not continuous:
7 Weeks
62 weeks
1 Week
No one is claiming that time stops and starts again.
The prophecy given through Daniel by the Spirit of Christ, is foretelling of 70 weeks that has three parts.
These three distinct periods of time are governed by the world ruler during each period of time.
In other words the time periods began and by those who are ruling the world kingdom at that time, or by the event being fulfilled.
“Know therefore and understand,
That from
the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.
Daniel 9:25
The event time period markers were:
- the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem
and
The command is what begins the time period of 7 weeks.
The work of rebuilding Jerusalem is the event time marker.
The reason the 69 weeks are indicated by two separate periods of time, is the work of restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem is halted by the ruler of the world kingdom during that time.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,
that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also
put it in writing, saying,
2
Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which
is in Judah. 3 Who
is among you of all His people? May his God be with him,
and let him go up to Jerusalem which
is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He
is God), which
is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-3
This is the command to release the children of Israel for the work of restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem, as foretold by Jeremiah, and also Daniel.
This began the prophetic clock countdown to Messiah the Prince.
This is what stopped the work, and therefore the prophetic clock.
23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter
was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24
Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ezra 4:23-24
This was the end of the first 7 weeks.
More to come.
JLB
The first "seven weeks" began and ended because of the ruling king's command.
“Know therefore and understand,
That from
the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;...
Daniel 9:25
The command given by Cyrus that began the prophetic clock of the first seven weeks:
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,
that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also
put it in writing, saying,
2
Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which
is in Judah. 3 Who
is among you of all His people? May his God be with him,
and let him go up to Jerusalem which
is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He
is God), which
is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-3
The command given by King Artaxerxes that stopped the work, which is the time marker of the prophetic clock of the first seven weeks:
23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter
was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24
Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ezra 4:23-24
....it was discontinued
until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
The decree of the ruling king that began the work again and thus the prophetic clock of the sixty two weeks:
Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 And at Achmetha, in the palace that
is in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record
was written thus:
3
In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: “Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits
and its width sixty cubits, 4
with three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber. Let the expenses be paid from the king’s treasury. 5 Also let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple which
is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple which
is in Jerusalem,
each to its place; and deposit
them in the house of God”—
6 Now
therefore, Tattenai, governor of
the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and your companions the Persians who
are beyond the River, keep yourselves far from there. 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site.
8 Moreover I issue a decree
as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God: Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes
on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered. 9 And whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests who
are in Jerusalem—let it be given them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11 Also
I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this. 12 And may the God who causes His name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.
3 Then Tattenai, governor of
the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent. 14
So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished
it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel,
and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Cyrus - the command to start the prophetic clock.
Artaxerxes - The command to stop the work which ended the seven weeks.
Darius - The command to begin the work again, which began the 62 weeks.
Messiah the Prince - The event that ended the 62 weeks.
“And after the sixty-two weeks
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 it
shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolation's are determined.
Daniel 9:26
The events of verse 26 span a period of time, that is greater than the seven years left in the prophecy.
Messiah cut off [crucified] - 33 AD
The city and sanctuary destroyed - 70 AD
- That's a 37 year time span that occurs after the 69th week, and does not "fit" in a seven year period.
Things to understand at this point in the prophecy.
- The events of verse 26 does not take place during the 70 week prophecy.
- The prophecy has not been fulfilled.
- The 70th week has not begun.
JLB
