We visit the ruins of the Roman Empire on vacation, but Christ’s kingdom is still spreading its empire to the ends of the earth. I remember the first time I heard some teaching on Daniel chapter nine and was just struck by the divine inspiration of Holy Scripture because you have all these amazing things prophesied centuries before they happened. What an encouragement for us as believers. 

Editor’s Note: There are many difficult passages in the Bible and Daniel 9:24-27 is one that many people are confused about. What do the 70 weeks described in the passage refer to? Is it referring to the events of Daniel’s day, or to the future of the nation of Israel? Or something else entirely? Dr. Horton gives an answer in Episode 28 of the Core Christianity Radio Show.

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. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks, it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week, he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering.And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator. (Dan. 9:24-27) 

There are various approaches that Christians take to explain these 70 weeks. Almost everyone interprets the weeks as symbolic. This is part of what’s called the “apocalyptic literature” where often you have numbers and extraordinary natural occurrences, moons being turned to blood and that sort of thing, as symbolic of earth-shattering historical events. ​

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