Daniel's 70th Week

[for_his_glory]

The command to rebuild Jerusalem was in 457BC. Daniel 9:25 says it took 7 weeks (49 years) to rebuild. This brings us to 408BC.

Daniel says 62 weeks later (434 years) Messiah will arrive. This brings us to 27AD which is the end of week 69 and start of week 70. (408 -343 = 26. Add 1 year for year “0” and you come to 27AD)

Daniel 9:26, 27 says Messiah is cut off and in the midst of week 70th Jesus shall confirm the covenant (grace) and that which is determined (judged) will be that of Gods judgment of those not found written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Note 1: There are different opinions on who “the people of the prince” refers to in Daniel 9:26 but the majority of scholars however do agree that the destruction of the city and the sanctuary applies to the second destruction of Jerusalem and the rebuilt sanctuary by Roman armies under Prince Titus in 70 A.D.

Note 2: Remember the 70 weeks or 490 years was the time God gave His chosen nation to end their rebellion where they would then be forgiven for their transgressions. Now note that Jesus references this prophetic time period while conversing with Peter on the topic forgiveness. 70 times 7 is of course 490.

Matthew 18:21 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

For those wondering, the well known and accepted day for a year rule is correct or otherwise the entire ministry of Jesus would have only been 3.5 days instead of 3.5 years and the entire prophecy would have only lasted about 1.3 years. That would be from 457 B.C. to approximately 455 B.C. The temple and the streets and the walls of Jerusalem etc would have had to have been rebuilt in 49 days. This would be an impossible task and it certainly did take every bit of the 49 years as one would expect.

So let’s just clarify these times again. Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon your people” Seventy weeks is 70 x 7 days which is 490 prophetic days, which on the day for a year rule is 490 years.

 

[lecoop]

It seems you did not insert the same GAP that Daniel did - between the 69th week and 70th week....or maybe I did not understand you. As I see it, the 70th week is still future.

 

[for_his_glory]

It seems you did not insert the same GAP that Daniel did - between the 69th week and 70th week....or maybe I did not understand you. As I see it, the 70th week is still future.

The 70th week with Jesus being cut off in the midst of it means His death. From the time of His death and resurrection until He returns again is the gap of Daniel's 70 weeks as it ends with the return of Christ.

 

[Cyberseeker]

Hi. Your dates are good, but there is no need to employ a "day-year" scheme. Its better, IMO, to treat the "weeks" as part of the regular sabbatical years as set in motion by Moses, Although many were missed, the Sabbath years were known for the entire era between Moses and Christ.

For example, 458 BC was a Sabbath year. So, the date you gave of 457 BC was the first year of the next Sabbath cycle. Similarly, 26 AD was a Sabbath year, so 27 AD was the first year of the 70th week.

 

[for_his_glory]

Cyberseeker

The 70 week prophecy of Daniel 9:24, however, establishes a principle related to prophetic time that few completely understand. Virtually everyone acknowledges that the 70 weeks are not literally 70 weeks, but rather 70 weeks of years, or 490 years. The principle is that in Bible prophecy, you must substitute a period of a year in place of a day. This is the day=year principle. This equation is clearly established in scripture-

Num 14:34 after the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

In this verse, a relationship between day and year is clear, each day will equate to a literal year. For the forty days that Israel spied in Canaan in unbelief, they would be punished by wandering forty years in the desert.

Ezek 4:6 and when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.

Here again, the equation is stated quite openly, a prophetic day represents a literal year. So to return to the 70 weeks of Daniel, you must first determine the number of days represented. Seventy weeks is 70 x 7 or 490 days, which will then equate to a literal 490 years in the fulfillment of the prophecy.

 

[dianegcook]

The command to rebuild Jerusalem was in 457BC. Daniel 9:25 says it took 7 weeks (49 years) to rebuild. This brings us to 408BC.

Daniel says 62 weeks later (434 years) Messiah will arrive. This brings us to 27AD which is the end of week 69 and start of week 70. (408 -343 = 26. Add 1 year for year “0” and you come to 27AD)

Daniel 9:26, 27 says Messiah is cut off and in the midst of week 70th Jesus shall confirm the covenant (grace) and that which is determined (judged) will be that of Gods judgment of those not found written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Note 1: There are different opinions on who “the people of the prince” refers to in Daniel 9:26 but the majority of scholars however do agree that the destruction of the city and the sanctuary applies to the second destruction of Jerusalem and the rebuilt sanctuary by Roman armies under Prince Titus in 70 A.D.

Note 2: Remember the 70 weeks or 490 years was the time God gave His chosen nation to end their rebellion where they would then be forgiven for their transgressions. Now note that Jesus references this prophetic time period while conversing with Peter on the topic forgiveness. 70 times 7 is of course 490.

Matthew 18:21 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

For those wondering, the well known and accepted day for a year rule is correct or otherwise the entire ministry of Jesus would have only been 3.5 days instead of 3.5 years and the entire prophecy would have only lasted about 1.3 years. That would be from 457 B.C. to approximately 455 B.C. The temple and the streets and the walls of Jerusalem etc would have had to have been rebuilt in 49 days. This would be an impossible task and it certainly did take every bit of the 49 years as one would expect.

So let’s just clarify these times again. Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon your people” Seventy weeks is 70 x 7 days which is 490 prophetic days, which on the day for a year rule is 490 years.

I believe in Dan.9:26, 27
That it speaks of the abomination of desolation, spoken of in Matt.24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the Holy place, ( who so readeth, let him understand)
Also in Mark 13:14 and in also 2Thess.2:4

And also Dan.11:36

In Dan.9:27 it states that in the midst of the week, which is 3 1/2 days, or other words 3 1/2 years confirms Dan.7:25
And He shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws, and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
3 1/2

 

[Cyberseeker]

Here again, the equation is stated quite openly, a prophetic day represents a literal year. So to return to the 70 weeks of Daniel, you must first determine the number of days represented. Seventy weeks is 70 x 7 or 490 days, which will then equate to a literal 490 years in the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Well, Im just glad to be able to agree that Daniel 9 refers to 490 years. Have you ever considered the possibility that the 'weeks' were in fact the Sabbatical year cycle? Here is a paper showing every 'week' (with the 7th years marked) from the captivity through to Christ. It fits with your dates exactly.

Count of Sabbath years to Christ

 

[for_his_glory]

Well, Im just glad to be able to agree that Daniel 9 refers to 490 years. Have you ever considered the possibility that the 'weeks' were in fact the Sabbatical year cycle? Here is a paper showing every 'week' (with the 7th years marked) from the captivity through to Christ. It fits with your dates exactly.

Count of Sabbath years to Christ

The seventy weeks were defiantly a part of the Sabbatical years considering the seventy weeks began with the command that Ezra rebuild the temple, streets and walls in Ezra Chapters 1-6 that took 49 years to accomplish. This began the 490 years God gave Israel to repent after their 70 year captivity in Babylon when the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon (Chaldeans) around 538 B.C. They were allowed back in the land and to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, however, they still did not repent for their sin of idol worshipping as they continue to follow Judaism and receive punishment from God as the kingdom was taken away and eventually taken over by the Roman Empire. Malachi Chapter 1-4.

 

[john darling]

Hi all. The word week can mean a period of 7 days or a period of 7 years, depending on the context. The context of the 70 weeks prophecy makes it pretty clear now (with hindsight) that the weeks are 7 year periods rather than 7 day periods.

Also, I think this prophecy can say a couple different things at the same time. For example, it talks about messiah the prince, but then later talks about a prince who causes abominations. In both cases they make an agreement with many for one week (i.e. 7 years). This is likely a reference to parallel agreements, one between Jesus and his followers (i.e. the 144k who are sealed) and the AntiChrist and the Jews to rebuild the 3rd temple. In the middle of this agreement (i.e. 3.5 years later) the AntiChrist reneges on his part of the deal and starts the GT. The Revelation deals with this 3.5 years using different measurements to make it clear, using days (e.g. 1260 days), months (e.g. 42 months) and years (e.g. 3.5 years).

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this video which goes into more detail. Let me know what you think.

With regard to the day for a year and year for a day issue, I don't think there is any rule as you've suggested, FHG. The examples you listed from Numbers and Ezekiel are situational. There's nothing about them to suggest that this switching days for years is a rule for all instances of time periods related to prophecy. Neither of those examples are even a prophecy. It's just God declaring a judgment on the people.

The verse from 2nd peter 3 says a day with the lord is like a year and vice versa. It's not a formula for working out prophecy or any rule about time, but rather a reminder to us that God is not affected by time like we are. As time passes we tend to forget. As the saying goes, those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, but God is not like that. Even when a thousand years passes, he can remember it like it was only a day. This is consistent with the context of Peter's admonishment that we should not think the Lord has forgotten us.

 

[for_his_glory]

Hi all. The word week can mean a period of 7 days or a period of 7 years, depending on the context. The context of the 70 weeks prophecy makes it pretty clear now (with hindsight) that the weeks are 7 year periods rather than 7 day periods.

Also, I think this prophecy can say a couple different things at the same time. For example, it talks about messiah the prince, but then later talks about a prince who causes abominations. In both cases they make an agreement with many for one week (i.e. 7 years). This is likely a reference to parallel agreements, one between Jesus and his followers (i.e. the 144k who are sealed) and the AntiChrist and the Jews to rebuild the 3rd temple. In the middle of this agreement (i.e. 3.5 years later) the AntiChrist reneges on his part of the deal and starts the GT. The Revelation deals with this 3.5 years using different measurements to make it clear, using days (e.g. 1260 days), months (e.g. 42 months) and years (e.g. 3.5 years).

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this video which goes into more detail. Let me know what you think.

With regard to the day for a year and year for a day issue, I don't think there is any rule as you've suggested, FHG. The examples you listed from Numbers and Ezekiel are situational. There's nothing about them to suggest that this switching days for years is a rule for all instances of time periods related to prophecy. Neither of those examples are even a prophecy. It's just God declaring a judgment on the people.

The verse from 2nd peter 3 says a day with the lord is like a year and vice versa. It's not a formula for working out prophecy or any rule about time, but rather a reminder to us that God is not affected by time like we are. As time passes we tend to forget. As the saying goes, those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, but God is not like that. Even when a thousand years passes, he can remember it like it was only a day. This is consistent with the context of Peter's admonishment that we should not think the Lord has forgotten us.

Is there a link to this video as I'm on dial up and can't watch it here.

 

[Nathan12]

For those wondering, the well known and accepted day for a year rule is correct...

Not correct. A day for a year simply cannot be correct, and here's the proof. God assigns 42 months to the reign of the Antichrist. Those are literally 42 months of 30 days each. Now, in order for Christians to be clear that God means this period to be a literal 42 months (3 1/2 years) we have the following equivalencies in both Daniel and Revelation:

1260 days/30 = 42 months/12 = 3 1/2 years = time (1 yr) + times (2 yrs) + the dividing of time or half a time (6 months).

It is a very serious error to ARBITRARILY convert 1260 days to 1260 years, or 2300 days to 2300 years. Indeed that is bizarre.

As to Daniel's 70th week, it has nothing to do with Christ's ministry on earth for approximately 3 1/2 years. But it does have everything to do with the future reign of the Antichrist for the first 3 1/2 years (Rev 13:4,5).
And they worshipped the dragon [Satan] which gave power unto the beast [the Antichrist]: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

 

[Nathan12]

This is likely a reference to parallel agreements, one between Jesus and his followers (i.e. the 144k who are sealed) and the AntiChrist and the Jews to rebuild the 3rd temple.

A careful reading of Daniel's prophecy of 70 weeks will show that the 70th week (which is yet future) has nothing to do with Christ. So there are no parallel agreements. It is all about the Antichrist, who deceives Israel into thinking that they will be able to perform their temple sacrifices under him undisturbed, and then violates his covenant with Israel after 3 1/2 years ("in the midst of the week"). So let's take a closer look at the actual Scriptures (Dan 9:26,27):

FIRST 69 WEEKS [ADD 49 YEARS FROM THE DECREE OF CYRUS TO THE COMPLETION OF THE REBUILT JERUSALEM AND TEMPLE, FOR A TOTAL OF 483 YEARS]
[1] And after threescore [sixty] and two weeks [62 x 7 = 434 years from the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem] shall Messiah [Christ] be cut off, but not for himself: [the crucifixion of Christ in 30 AD] ...

CHURCH AGE INTERVENES

DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK
[2] ...and the people of the prince that shall come [the Antichrist] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined [the Great Tribulation]. And he [the Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many [Israel] for one week [7 years]: and in the midst of the week [3 1/2 years] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease [within the temple], and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, [by setting up the Abomination of Desolation, the image of the Beast, the Antichrist] even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

So what we have in this prophecy is:
1. The decree of Cyrus (correctly set at 453 BC) [NOTE: Ptolemy's date of 536 BC is incorrectly higher by 83 years see Anstey's OT Chronology]
2. The completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple 434 BC
3. The crucifixion of Christ 30 AD
4. The Church Age (indeterminate)
5. Daniel's 70th week (future)
6. The first 3 1/2 years (42 months) for the Antichrist

 

[Cyberseeker]

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this video which goes into more detail. Let me know what you think.

I watched it all the way through, but it has several basic errors. First, it starts the count from 445 BC instead of 457 BC. (see the opening post) Second, it uses a theoretical 360-day calendar that, despite his arguments, never existed.

There are good reasons why 457 BC is the better choice. The main reason is that it adds up perfectly with a real calendar. Here is a diagram:

 

[john darling]

Is there a link to this video as I'm on dial up and can't watch it here.

Hi FHG. If you right click on the video you should have the option to copy the url. Then you can open a new browser and paste&go.

 

[john darling]

A careful reading of Daniel's prophecy of 70 weeks will show that the 70th week (which is yet future) has nothing to do with Christ.

Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week 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.

The "and he" part here sounds like it's referring to the Messiah who was just mentioned. "Messiah will be cut off... and he will confirm a convenant with many for one week". But Jesus won't be causing abominations, so it appears the prophecy is talking about two princes at the same time; Jesus the prince of peace and Satan the prince of this world.

They fulfill two different, yet parallel roles. While Jesus gathers his body together into tribes to build his church, which is spiritual, the Anti-Christ will make an agreement with the flesh Jews if physical Israel to build yet another building. This will happen over a 7 year period. In the middle of that 7 year period, the AC will renege on his part of the deal and profane the temple in some shocking way. This is another parallel. He will profane the physical temple, but he will also "make war" (or cause abominations against) the saints who are the real spiritual temple.

 

[john darling]

As to Daniel's 70th week, it has nothing to do with Christ's ministry on earth for approximately 3 1/2 years. But it does have everything to do with the future reign of the Antichrist for the first 3 1/2 years (Rev 13:4,5).

The opening line of the Revelation states that it is a Revelation of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 19 an angel tells John, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy".

If you want to make the Revelation a Revelation of the AC rather than of Jesus, you will always miss the point and probably only distract people away from Jesus.

 

[john darling]

it uses a theoretical 360-day calendar that, despite his arguments, never existed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophetic_Year

 

[Nathan12]

If you want to make the Revelation a Revelation of the AC rather than of Jesus, you will always miss the point and probably only distract people away from Jesus.

The Revelation of Jesus includes the revelation of the Antichrist. See Revelation 11-13, plus portions in several other chapters. So there is no need to make that remark.

 

[john darling]

The Revelation of Jesus includes the revelation of the Antichrist. See Revelation 11-13, plus portions in several other chapters. So there is no need to make that remark.

I'm only remarking that you said the Revelation of Jesus has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus. Yes, the Revelation includes information about things like a Beast, and a Prostitute, and world rules etc, but the bottom line behind all those things will always be a lesson pointing back to Jesus.

If you're interpreting the Revelation in a way that causes you to say, "this part has nothing to do with Jesus' teachings" then you're interpreting it wrongly.

 

[Cyberseeker]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophetic_Year

Wikipedia is written by volunteer contributors. In this case they have simply expressed the theory of Sir Robert Anderson, who developed it about a hundred years ago. There never was a 360-year calendar. Countries that had a 30-day month always added an intercalary (13th month) when the seasons began to fall behind.

As for the 1260 days, it was actually part of a luni-solar formula for adding the above mentioned intercalary month. If you are interested in how it worked, have a look at this link.

Cyber