Month: July 2026

What Are the Seventy Sevens in Daniel 9?

there are at least two great Veggie Tales flicks centering on stories from Daniel. Who doesn’t love the story of Rack, Shack, and Benny not bowing to idols? And how are we not inspired by the story of Daniel choosing the lion’s den over betraying God? The first few chapters of Daniel would make great children’s ministry sermons. But then it’d get more difficult.

The latter part of Daniel is…well…weird. He has dreams and visions of beasts and other creatures which correspond to world powers. He talks about events that will happen in his lifetime and in many years to come. He even talks about one angel getting held up in heavenly traffic having to fight another angel before he could get to Daniel. (Okay, there is no mention of traffic, but that is how it might read in our day.)

Then we come to Daniel 9 and it gets even more confusing. When is this referring to? What do all these numbers represent? Or, to answer our question today, what are the seventy sevens of Daniel 9? I’ll try to give you an answer and show you the significance of the meaning.

The Messiah Factors and Daniel 9

This background concerning shaba and seven brings me to Messiah Factors and Daniel 9. Remember Daniel 9 is the only prophecy in the Bible which provides a specific and datable timeline for the coming of the Messiah. It is my belief that these numbers, these prophetic messianic symbols are the means by which Yahweh intended the prophecy of 70 sevens to be calculated. What better way to ensure that His people (the Jewish People) understood that Yeshua is the Messiah of the Scriptures than connect the fulfillment of the prophecy of 70 Sevens with symbolism of Yahweh’s redemptive plan as found in the Torah of Moses?

Many well-meaning scholars and teachers on the other hand believe each “seven” of the 70 sevens represents either a day, a year, or even a so called “prophetic year”. The fact of this case is Daniel 9 simply does not provide a direct statement which tells us how long each of these sevens should be. Yahweh purposely withheld that information from the prophecy, or did He? Maybe be we just haven’t been paying attention.

If you’ve read my book Daniel’s 70 Weeks: Keystone of the Bible prophecy and the many articles I’ve written on the subject then you know that from Yahweh’s divine “commandment” (Hebrew – dabar) in 520 BC, using the Messiah Factors of 13 & 14 they give us the year of Yeshua birth (the coming of the Messiah) as well as the start of his ministry and the transfiguration. The astounding facts of the matter is that the Messiah Factors do in fact provide a solution which proves that Yeshua is the Messiah. They work, but the question remains, where they the intended solution?

My Answer to Dr. Henebury’s question: Which Covenant Could Christ Be?

Good evening Dr. Henebury,

I’ve enjoyed reading your latest articles exploring the covenants. They make for such a wonderful treasure hunt in Yahweh’s word.

You asked “Which covenant could Christ be?” This is a wonderful challenge so here is my take for what it is worth.

I agree that Matthew 12 can be seen within the messianic redemptive theme of Isaiah 42.

Concerning Matthew’s quote of “in His name Gentiles will trust.”, this is more directly expanded upon in Isaiah 11 where the passage describes the ‘Branch’, the “root of Jesse” to whom the “Gentiles seek”. In Romans 15 Paul quotes Isaiah (11?) describing Jesus as the “minister of (to) the circumcision for the truth of God” which truth “confirms the promises made unto the fathers”. Those promises made to the fathers, Paul explains, are related (in part) to the “mercy” Yahweh will show the gentiles.

Romans 15:8-12 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Isaiah 11:1,10
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:….

10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Isaiah 49 builds upon this theme by describing a “servant”, a “light to the Gentiles”, a “Redeemer of Israel” , a “covenant for the people”.

Which covenant can Christ be?

For what it is worth my reply to Dr. Henebury is below. For those interested, before you read my reply I’d encourage you to read his article to get the full context of his question and then see what you come up with yourself. It’s a wonderful subject and worthy of every Berean’s consideration. Dr. Henebury’s article is here.

Authors Note:
For those of you wondering, I hope to finish up Part II of Rebooting a Christian Conspiracy Theory by next week. I was hoping to post it this week but not quite done yet.

The Heart of Daniel 9

With all we have learned in these article the one thing that stands out to me, is how intimately Daniel 9 and the 70 Seven’s (shabuwa) are connect to the Oath (shebuw’ah) Yahweh swore (shaba) with Abraham. An oath confirmed to Isaac, Jacob, and David, brought to Israel’s attention by Moses, mentioned by Daniel in his opening plea to Yahweh (Dan. 9:4), mentioned by Zacharias (father of John), Mary, Peter, and Paul.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess [OT- shaba] to God. (Romans 14:11 insertions mine) I Swear Indeed!

The Messiah Factors and Daniel 9
This background concerning shaba and seven brings me to Messiah Factors and Daniel 9. Remember Daniel 9 is the only prophecy in the Bible which provides a specific and datable timeline for the coming of the Messiah. It is my belief that these numbers, these prophetic messianic symbols are the means by which Yahweh intended the prophecy of 70 sevens to be calculated. What better way to ensure that His people (the Jewish People) understood that Yeshua is the Messiah of the Scriptures than connect the fulfillment of the prophecy of 70 Sevens with symbolism of Yahweh’s redemptive plan as found in the Torah of Moses?

And then there is apostle Paul’s quote from this famous passage:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; that every tongue should confess [shaba/swear] that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

How many times have you heard or read Phillippians 2:9-11 and not realized its awesome context. Do you understand that someday every single one of us will bow a knee and every one of our tongues will confess (sware-shaba an oath of seven) that Yeshua is our Lord and our Savior?

By the way, for those who doubt that Paul is referencing an Old Testament quote here in Phillipians, take note of Romans 14:11 where he used the same quote only prefaces it with “it is written” a clear reference to the Old Testament.

Daniel 9 and the Oath of Sevens

Are you beginning to see the connection? Daniel’s opening words in chapter 9 are a plea for Yahweh to remember the “covenant and mercy” which we now know was an oath of sevens He the living God of the Bible made with Abraham, an oath (shabuw’ah) which foretold the coming Messiah. While Daniel was praying for this “covenant and mercy” Yahweh sends the angel Gabriel with a prophecy of 70 Sevens.

Are you beginning to see the connection? Daniel’s opening words in chapter 9 are a plea for Yahweh to remember the “covenant and mercy” which we now know was an oath of sevens He the living God of the Bible made with Abraham, an oath (shabuw’ah) which foretold the coming Messiah. While Daniel was praying for this “covenant and mercy” Yahweh sends the angel Gabriel with a prophecy of 70 Sevens.