The Seventy Sevens

The seventy sevens in Daniel 9:24-27 are broken down between seven 'sevens,' sixty-two 'sevens,' and one 'seven.' The traditional Lutheran interpretation is as follows:

• The first 'seven' is the restoration of Jerusalem.
• The sixty-two 'sevens' is the time from Jerusalem's rebuilding to the Messiah's coming and death.
• The final one 'seven' represents the completion of all things decreed: 1) Christ would die as an atonement for sins, 2) Christ would confirm a covenant of grace and bring to an end the Old Testament system of sacrifices and offerings, and 3) Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Romans.

Daniel 9:27 appears to be a very difficult verse to interpret. This could be referring to the Romans possibly setting up an idol in the temple. Or it could have something to do with the Antichrist.

An interesting side note is in 9:24 one of the things that would be fulfilled is to "seal up vision and prophecy." The People's Bible says, "During the many centuries of the Old Testament, God spoke through chosen men called prophets. By means of vision and prophecy, he let them see and describe the work the Savior would do for sinners. When Christ came, there was no longer any need for such visions and prophecies. Since Christ's coming had fulfilled them, they were discontinued."