The Lord now turns to the seventy years that Daniel mentioned earlier and which he had read about in Jeremiah’s prophecy. God’s answer is more than just the announcement that Israel will return to the Promised Land. The Lord shows what else will happen to the city and the temple in the future. He shows everything until the moment that Israel’s independent existence in Canaan will come to an end. He uses a division into seventy weeks. Again the number seven plays an important role. Seven is the number of divine fullness and perfection. The Lord shows us that what is going to happen to the city and the temple is according to his perfect plan.
The period of seventy weeks is necessary to give God’s people a good future. It is the period in which God’s people truly receive reconciliation. It is the period in which the payment for the guilt of sin takes place. The full measure of sin will become visible during this period. Then the atonement will take place that earns eternal righteousness for believers. This period is necessary to see that the prophecy, i.e., the prophetic vision, arrives at its goal. This period is needed to seal this prophecy, which implies that its full truth will become evident. Then the service to the Lord comes to life again. The most holy place, that is then anointed and consecrated, points to a new beginning of worship—the worship of God by his people.
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.