“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people (the Jews) and upon thy holy city (Jerusalem), to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy (Jesus).”

Daniel 9:24

The archangel Gabriel told Daniel in a vision that the Jews and Jerusalem were to be given 70 weeks before the end of their transgressions and when the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus will “…make an end of sins.” After that, all the prophecies would be completed when Jesus is recognized by the Jews and is anointed “…most Holy.” It is generally agreed by Biblical and prophetic scholars that the “…seventy weeks” actually refers to seventy weeks of YEARS. If you do the math, that would mean that a week of years equals seven years and seventy weeks of years amounts to a total of 490 years.

So, if we know the Jews would be the chosen people of God and live in their God-given land and in the Holy city of Jerusalem, how do we know when the “weeks” start and when they will end? First of all, we need to look at when God chose the Jews with what is now known as the Abrahamic Covenant, i.e., the Covenant (Promise) God made to Abraham:

“In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram (before he became known as Abraham), saying, Unto they seed (the Jews) have I given this land (Israel), from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”

Genesis 15:18

God made a Covenant with Abraham, the father of the Jewish people and Daniel much later received a vision from Gabriel that the Jews would be in their land and in the City of Jerusalem for a total of 490 years BEFORE Jesus was anointed the most Holy. Furthermore, we know when it all started! In Daniel 9:25 Gabriel told Daniel:

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7 weeks of years = 49 years), and threescore and two weeks (62 weeks of years = 434 years. When you add the 49 you have a total of 483 years): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

Historically, the Persian king Artaxerxes gave in 445 B.C. his support for the return of the Jews to Israel and the building of walls around the city. Most scholars believe Jesus was crucified (“…cut off”) in 33 A.D. If you add 445 and 32 (remember, there was no year 0 A.D. or B.C.) you only get 477. We are looking for a time period of 483 years.There is some confusion as to the 6 year time gap between the order by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah and the actual completion of building the walls. Doing this calculation, it appears to have been approximately 6 years, validating the 49 and 434 years for a total of 69 weeks of years or 483 years! Gabriel then proceeds to finish the timetable given by God to Daniel when he said in the next verse (Daniel 9:26):

“And after threescore and two weeks (62 weeks = 434 years) shall Messiah be cut off (crucified), but not for himself: and the people of the prince (Romans under Titus) that SHALL COME (capitals mine) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Holy Temple); and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”

I need you to stay with me on this one as it may be a bit confusing. God told the Jews they would be in the land of Israel for a TOTAL of 490 years before the Messiah was anointed as Most Holy. He furthermore went on to say that the 490 years would be broken into three very distinct periods of time. The first would be for 49 years and would begin with the declaration to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Historically, we know that on March 5, 445 B.C. Artaxerxes gave the decree to Nehemiah to do both (with a 6 year lag due to revolt issues with the population)!!

What does this mean? God gave us the EXACT timing in Daniel 9:25 that from the proclamation to rebuild the city of Jerusalem AND until Christ was “cut off” (rejected by His Jewish people) would be a total of 7 and 62 (69)  weeks of years, or 483 total years! Coincidence that is what happened? I doubt it!!!

If my math is correct, we have already seen the completion of 69 of the 70 weeks of years. What happened to the other week of years or 7 year time period? Since Christ’s Crucifixion, nearly 2,000 years have passed without seeing those last things happen which Gabriel told Daniel:

“And he (the anti-christ) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week (3 1/2 years later) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Daniel 9:27

Here we see the seven years BEGINS when we see a “peace” treaty by the unknown (at that time) anti-christ signed between the Jews and the Palestinians. Later, in Matthew 24:15 the seven years “pops” up again!

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whosoreadeth, let him understand:)”…For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not seen since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21).

The anti-christ will become world famous when he brokers a 7 year covenant  (“peace agreement”) between the Jews and the Palestinians. Most believe this will do two things: One, it will allow the Palestinians to create their own “state” in Judea, in what we today refer to as the West Bank. We know this because the Jews living in Judea will be told to flee to the mountains when this agreement is signed, knowing they would have no protection in the new  Palestinian state. Secondly, we also know that the ONLY way the anti-christ could enter the rebuilt 3rd Temple is if there IS a rebuilt 3rd Temple! If he is to cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, it has to be in existence! Interestingly, part of the peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians would enable them to SHARE the Temple Mount, therefore being able to rebuild their Temple:

“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar and them that worship therein. BUT the court (the Temple Mount) which is without the temple LEAVE OUT, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot for forty and two months (3 1/2 years!)”

Revelation 11:1-2

Can you see the logical conclusion of this 490 year prophecy and the final 7 year time period happening in the near future? Someone comes along and has a final solution to the Jewish/Palestinian “problem” and puts together a two state solution that allows the Palestinians to take over Judea as their land and for Israel to rebuild their 3rd Temple? This could happen TODAY!!! Just know that if we are here to see it (I believe, however Christians will be Raptured by Christ beforehand so we won’t have to go through the trials and TRIBULATION spoken of by Matthew) we would witness not only the start of the FINAL 7 years to complete the 490 year Promise from God but all the horrible things to occur on earth.  Again, as the Bible says in Matthew 24:21-22:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

At the end of this 7 year Tribulation period, Christ will return in His Glory at Armageddon, defeat Satan’s forces of evil and begin his 1,000 year earthly Millennium rule.

It is with exceedingly great comfort that I am allowed to pass this message of good news to you and hope you feel likewise to share it with your friends and family, so that we may all do as the Bible says and that is to “…comfort one another with these words.” May God Bless you!