Daniel’s Seventy Weeks The Most Significant Prophecy In The Bible - Predicting Twelve Major Events

1. Specific events are to occur for the nation of Israel and Jerusalem within predetermined periods of time – Vs: 24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city” Fulfilled: First 69 weeks fulfilled, the last week unfulfilled

2. The eradication of sin and introduction of everlasting righteousness – Vs: 24 “to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness” Fulfilled: When Jesus on the cross declared, “It is finished,” in John 19:30, the work of salvation was completed

3. Termination of visions and prophecies – Vs: 24 “to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place” After the cannon of Scripture was completed, no more revelation necessary.

4. Anointing of temple – Vs: 24 “and to anoint the most holy place.” Fulfilled: Zerubbabel’s temple and in millennium temple

5. A decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem – Vs: 25 “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” Fulfilled: 444 BC in Neh. 2:1-8

6. The specific time of the coming of Messiah – Vs: 25 “until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” Fulfilled in Christ’s first coming

7. Jerusalem will be rebuilt amidst much distress – Vs: 25 “it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress” Fulfilled: See Ezra and Nehemiah

8. Messiah will be cut off (idiom for killed or destroyed) at a specific time – Vs: 26 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing,.” Fulfilled: Christ’s crucifixion

9. A coming prince’s people will destroy Jerusalem and the temple – Vs: 26 “and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined” Fulfilled: Titus and his Roman army in destroys Jerusalem in 70 AD

10. The antichrist makes a treaty with the Jews for seven years – Vs: 27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week” Unfulfilled

11. After three and a half years will put an end to the temple service – Vs: 27. “but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate” Unfulfilled

12. The Antichrist will be judged – Vs: 27 “even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate” Unfulfilled

When does the clock start ticking? Options for the when the prophecy begins: Ezra 1:1-4 – The decree from Cyrus in 539 BC Ezra 5:3-7 – The decree from Darius in 519 BC Ezra 7:11-16 – The decree from Artaxerxes to Ezra in 457 BC Neh. 2:1-8 - The decree from Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 444 BC.

Best answer: Neh. 2:1-8 - The decree from Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 444 BC. This is the only decree that has to do with the city being rebuilt. The others have to with the temple.

Meaning of the “seventy weeks” “Weeks" is misleading, actually it is the plural of the word "seven, therefore seventy sevens or 490. (The NIV uses “sevens” not ”weeks.” ) Context best suits one day = one year (Lev. 25:8) Babylonian captivity lasted 70 years – Dan. 9:2 Answer: 490 years

Countdown: Jewish year = 360 days (see Rev. 12:6 and 14) 69 weeks X 7 X 360 = 173,880 days Decree goes out March 4, 444 BC plus 173,880 days bring us to March 30, 33 AD when converted to solar years March 30, 33 AD Christ presents Himself to Israel by His Triumphal Entry (Zech. 9:9 and Luke 19:28-40) Crucifixion - April 3, 33 AD