The Seventy Weeks
“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.
And Jesus said unto him, “I say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven.
A refrain is a group of lyrics that are repeated in a song. Sometimes it is also referred to as a chorus. In the bible forgiveness and love are repeated 694 times but no musical refrain warms my heart nearly as much as the opening refrain.
Jesus by His proclamation of forgiveness being repeated (refrain) seventy times seven is literally saying, “I am He who Daniel prophesied would come to put an end to sin.” That is my quote, not one from another source.
I have researched theological sources on the meaning of The Seventy Weeks and those scholars twist themselves in knots trying to explain the meaning in terms of calendar events that match up to specific lines of scripture surrounding Daniel’s prophecy. All I have to do is look to my heart to hear that sweet refrain that calms my soul.
The world seeks to argue and debunk whereas faith provides insights that no argument can erase. Sure sin still exists but it is no longer a barrier in having a relationship with God. The atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God put an end to sin as the obstacle in law.
We can look up all the passages concerning love and forgiveness and overwhelm ourselves with all that is said, or we can see that the cumulative effect is the life in Christ obtained by faith in that atoning work.
Yes, sing His praises but do it from a heart of love and not some notes on a musical score.