What is the post-tribulationist's view of Daniel's 70th week?

Restoration End Times & Eternity End Times

TL;DR:

Post-tribulationists believe Daniel's 70th week was fulfilled continuously after the first 69 weeks, climaxing with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 rather than in a future seven-year tribulation. Because they see the tribulation as preceding Christ's return, they conclude that Jesus will gather His church after the tribulation, not before it.

what does the bible say?

In Daniel 9:24–27, there are 70 prophetic weeks (Daniel 9:4). A week refers to 7 years, meaning the prophecy spans 490 years. However, the text separates the final week from the first 483 years (Daniel 9:25, 27), causing interpretative disagreement. While scholars generally agree that the first 69 weeks pinpoint the Messiah’s arrival, opinions diverge on the final week.

Since the first 69 weeks are an unbroken chain, post-tribulationists argue that inserting a gap before the 70th week is unwarranted, in contrast to the pre-tribulationist view. Most argue that the 70th week occurred in the first century during or just after Jesus’ ministry and concluded with the destruction of the temple in AD 70. Regarding the desolator in Daniel 9:27, they argue that Titus ruled when the temple was destroyed.

Because the 70th week is believed to be the time of tribulation, their view is that the church is saved after the tribulation. Not all post-tribulationists believe the first-century tribulation was final, with some expecting another wave in the final days. In either case, they hold that Jesus returns for His church after the tribulation.

Whether one agrees with the post-tribulationists’ view of the end times, believers can all agree that Jesus is coming and that we can only survive trials and tribulations when we ground ourselves in Him and the reality of His return.

from the old testament

Daniel 9:24–27 is a foundational prophetic passage. It says, “Seventy weeks are decreed … 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. … 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. And 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.”
A week refers to seven years (e.g., Leviticus 25:8). This passage describes 3 sets of years. Seven weeks (49 years) followed by sixty-two weeks (434 years) followed by one week (7 years). Combined, this is 490 years. Scholars are generally agreed that the first two sets, the 69 weeks, count from the completion of Jeremiah’s prophecy (cf. Daniel 9:2) to Jesus’ arrival and death (when the anointed one was “cut off”).
It is here where they diverge. Pre-tribulationists believe the 70th week is unique, with a gap of time, the church age, inserted between Jesus’ death and the described tribulation. Post-tribulationists, however, argue that because the first 69 years are unbroken, it’s unnecessary to insert a gap before the 70th week.
They, thus, argue that the references to the desolator (Daniel 9:27) are not references to the end-times Antichrist but to Emperor Titus, who oversaw the Temple’s destruction in AD 70.

from the new testament

In Matthew 24, Jesus refers to Daniel’s 70 weeks. He said, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15–16). Because Jesus appears to be applying the Daniel prophecy to His audience, they thus argue that this means the 70th week was at hand. Since the initial discussion began with the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:1–2), they thus argue that Daniel’s 70th week referred to the temple’s destruction.
The Emperor Titus led its destruction, so they most often (though not always) point to him as the “abomination of desolation.”
Because they believe that most, if not all, of Matthew 24 was fulfilled in the first century, they then argue that Jesus’ return is post-tribulation. Note that some point to other passages about tribulation connected to the fulfillment of the time of the Gentiles (e.g., Luke 21:20–24) as indicating that there is still a future tribulation. However, even then they argue that Jesus won’t come until after that tribulation, meaning they still believe in a post-tribulation return of Jesus.
While pre-tribulationists have sound theological justifications for deducing a gap between the 69th and 70th week, post-tribulationists are right to note that nowhere in Scripture is that gap explicit. They add that to the list of arguments to say that the 70th week directly followed the 69th and thus has already been fulfilled.

implications for today

While Got Questions Ministries, the owner of this site, holds to a pre-tribulationist view and thus argues that the church will be rescued from the final Tribulation, we respect those who hold the post-tribulationist view, as they come to their convictions through the genuine study of Scripture.

One point in particular that the post-tribulationists contribute to Christian thought of the end times is the exhortation to be spiritually prepared for the future. Even if Jesus rescues the church before the great Tribulation, believers for two thousand years have faced other great horrors and tribulations, whether that included being torn apart by lions, burned at the stake, or carved to death. They were able to endure because their hope was not in the comforts of this life, but in Jesus and the sure hope of living with Him forever. What the post-tribulationist reminds us of is not to grow complacent or rest, expecting rescue from difficult times.

They also remind us of the seriousness of Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24 to stay awake and watch. A time of tribulation is coming. The world will grow darker before Jesus comes. Therefore, we must all keep our lamps lit (Matthew 25:1–13) and be ready for that day!

understand

The post-tribulationist view of Daniel's 70th week argues that no gap exists between the 69th and 70th week, meaning the 490 years ran continuously from the completion of Jeremiah's prophecy to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
Post-tribulationists generally identify the desolator of Daniel 9:27 as Emperor Titus, whose destruction of the temple in AD 70 fulfilled the 70th week.
Because they view the tribulation as already fulfilled (though some see a future tribulation that the church will pass through), they hold that Jesus returns after the tribulation.

reflect

How does the post-tribulationist reading of Daniel's 70th week challenge the way you think about the relationship between biblical prophecy and historical events?
In what ways does the question of whether a gap exists between Daniel's 69th and 70th week illustrate the importance of careful, text-driven interpretation rather than assuming a passage's meaning?
How might the post-tribulationist expectation that the church passes through tribulation cause you to consider what it means to trust God to help you endure difficulties?

engage

What strengths and weaknesses are in the post-tribulationist position, and how should Christians evaluate those claims biblically?
How can we biblically interpret prophecy while remaining humble toward believers who reach different conclusions?
Regardless of your view of the timing of the tribulation, how should the certainty of Christ's return influence the way believers prepare for suffering, persevere in faith, and encourage one another today?

More Resources

End Times

Is pretribulationism right? Will the church be raptured before the tribulation?

Pretribulationism teaches that Jesus will rapture the church before the seven-year tribulation, sparing believers from God's wrath. Knowing that the rapture can happen at any time, we are called to continue reaching the world for Christ while we are still here.

End Times

What is posttribulationism? Will the church be raptured after the tribulation?

Posttribulationism teaches that the Church will go through the Great Tribulation and be raptured at the end. They will endure the Antichrist’s persecution but will be protected from God's wrath in the final judgment. Regardless of the timing of end-times events, we are called to stay faithful to Christ and live on mission, reflecting Him to the world and sharing the gospel.

Studying the Bible

Should the Bible be interpreted literally?

The Bible should be interpreted literally. At the same time, the Bible makes use of many literary devices, and these should be interpreted accordingly. Understanding the Bible in its historical, cultural, grammatical, and literary contexts does not undermine the literal message but enhances our understanding.

End Times

What does the Bible say about the end times tribulation?

The end times tribulation is a seven-year period when God judges Israel and the world, marked by the rise of the Antichrist, intense judgment, and the return of Christ. It calls for repentance, especially from Israel, and offers hope for those who trust in Jesus.