By Dr Neville van Eerten
Introduction
The last seven years of the Seventy-Weeks prophecy by Daniel are considered by some to be the Great Tribulation. Daniel teaches that the Great Tribulation lasts 2300 days, or about 6 years and 4 months. We will see that Futurists who claim the Antichrist will arrive midway through the seven-year peace treaty are unknowingly suggesting Jesus is the Antichrist.
The Seventy-Weeks Prophecy
The so-called seven-year peace treaty is part of the Seventy Weeks prophecy given to Daniel.
DANIEL 9:24-27 “SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DETERMINED FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND FOR YOUR HOLY CITY, TO FINISH THE TRANSGRESSION, TO MAKE AN END OF SINS, TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY, TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, TO SEAL UP VISION AND PROPHECY, AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY. “KNOW THEREFORE AND UNDERSTAND, THAT FROM THE GOING FORTH OF THE COMMAND TO RESTORE AND BUILD JERUSALEM UNTIL MESSIAH THE PRINCE, THERE SHALL BE SEVEN WEEKS AND SIXTY-TWO WEEKS; THE STREET SHALL BE BUILT AGAIN, AND THE WALL, EVEN IN TROUBLESOME TIMES. “AND AFTER THE SIXTY-TWO WEEKS MESSIAH SHALL BE CUT OFF, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF; AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME SHALL DESTROY THE CITY AND THE SANCTUARY. THE END OF IT SHALL BE WITH A FLOOD, AND UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR, DESOLATION IS DETERMINED. THEN HE SHALL CONFIRM A COVENANT WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK. BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK HE SHALL BRING AN END TO SACRIFICE AND OFFERING. AND ON THE WING OF ABOMINATIONS SHALL BE ONE WHO MAKES DESOLATE, EVEN UNTIL THE CONSUMMATION, WHICH IS DETERMINED, IS POURED OUT ON THE DESOLATE.”
Now let us go through this logically and chronologically.
One Week for Seven Years
DANIEL 9:24-27 “SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DETERMINED FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND FOR YOUR HOLY CITY,
One Day for Each Year
Most theologians, including myself, agree that one week equals seven years. This is supported by Ezekiel and other scriptures.
EZEKIEL 4:6 AND WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THEM, LIE AGAIN ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE; THEN YOU SHALL BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE HOUSE OF JUDAH FORTY DAYS. I HAVE LAID ON YOU A DAY FOR EACH YEAR.
Therefore, 70 weeks correspond to 490 years.
Sixty-Nine Weeks Until the Start of Jesus’ Ministry
The next verse says that there are seven weeks plus sixty-two weeks.
DANIEL 7:25 UNTIL MESSIAH THE PRINCE, THERE SHALL BE SEVEN WEEKS AND SIXTY-TWO WEEKS;
Seven weeks amount to 49 years, and sixty-two weeks total 434 years. When combined, these total 483 years until the revelation of the Messiah, when Jesus begins His ministry. In 458 BC, Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, issued a decree permitting the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
EZRA 7:23 WHATEVER IS COMMANDED BY THE GOD OF HEAVEN, LET IT DILIGENTLY BE DONE FOR THE HOUSE OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN. FOR WHY SHOULD THERE BE WRATH AGAINST THE REALM OF THE KING AND HIS SONS?
We know this happened shortly before the first day of the Hebrew Year, which was 1 Tishri, 12 September 458 BC.
EZRA 7:23 ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH, HE BEGAN HIS JOURNEY FROM BABYLON, AND ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIFTH MONTH, HE CAME TO JERUSALEM, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD HAND OF HIS GOD UPON HIM.
Forty-nine years later, they completed the Temple, finishing the first seven weeks in 408-409 BCE, depending on which calendar you’re using.
Adding 483 years to the September 458 BC date results in September 26 AD (we do not count 0 BC or 0 AD). This is likely when Jesus began his ministry, but we will check this against the date of his death. We are now at the sixty-ninth week in 26 AD, as shown in this spreadsheet.
Before we consider the seventieth week, we need to establish the date of Jesus’s birth.
Jesus’ Birth Year
Approximately 30 Years Old
We know that Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry after His water baptism by John and His Holy Spirit baptism by God.
LUKE 3:23 NOW JESUS HIMSELF BEGAN HIS MINISTRY AT ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF AGE,
The Greek word for ‘about’ in this verse is:
ὡσεί hōsei, – about, like, as though and is deliberately used to ensure that he did not start on his birthday and is approximate.
Herod the Great’s Demise
Herod the Great’s death confirms that Jesus was not born after 3 BC, as Herod died between January 10, 1 BC, and before Passover, 1 BC. This is supported by Josephus, who mentions an eclipse as a sign of God’s wrath on Herod for killing two rabbis. The NASA website shows a full eclipse on January 10, 1 BC.
We know that Herod issued a decree requiring all boys under the age of two to be put to death.
MATTHEW 2:16 THEN HEROD, WHEN HE SAW THAT THE WISE MEN DECEIVED HIM, WAS EXCEEDINGLY ANGRY; AND HE SENT FORTH AND PUT TO DEATH ALL THE MALE CHILDREN WHO WERE IN BETHLEHEM AND IN ALL ITS DISTRICTS, FROM TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER, ACCORDING TO THE TIME WHICH HE HAD DETERMINED FROM THE WISE MEN.
Therefore, Jesus must have been at least two years old when Herod was alive, born before 20 March, 3 BC.
Most theologians suggest Jesus was born in October rather than December because of the priesthood active at that time, and I agree, pinpointing His birth in the autumn of 4 BC. This aligns with Jesus being around 30 years old when He started His ministry.
Here’s the spreadsheet showing the years and major events from 458 BCE to 33 CE, covering 490 years. There’s also another spreadsheet for the past seven years.
Jesus’ Death
Cut Off Daniel states that sometime after the sixty-ninth week, the Messiah will be cut off.
DANIEL 9:26 “AND AFTER THE SIXTY-TWO WEEKS MESSIAH SHALL BE CUT OFF, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF;
Some might argue that this isn’t correct because Jesus didn’t die during the 69th week; however, it simply says “after this,” not “during the 69th week.” This verse also states that the purpose of the Messiah being cut off (dying and being raised again) isn’t for Himself. And of course, this is precisely what Jesus did: He laid down His life so that humanity could become sons and daughters of God.
Middle of the Week During the middle of the seven-year period when He is cut off, He will bring an end to offerings and sacrifices.
DANIEL 9:27 THEN HE SHALL CONFIRM A COVENANT WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK; BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, HE SHALL BRING AN END TO SACRIFICE AND OFFERING.
We understand this is why Jesus came—to put an end to sin, transgression, and iniquity. Through His covenant, we experience the Great Exchange. We exchange our sins, transgressions, and iniquity for the gift of righteousness.
Daniel 9:24-27 is referring to the Messiah, not the Antichrist.
Destroying Jerusalem
Destroy the Natural Jerusalem
The earthly Jerusalem was about to be destroyed in 70 AD. Likewise, God divinely destroyed Sodom and used Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem; Jesus also intended to destroy the city of Jerusalem.
ALSO,LATION 11:8 AND THEIR DEAD BODIES WILL LIE IN THE STREET OF THE GREAT CITY WHICH SPIRITUALLY IS CALLED SODOM AND EGYPT, WHERE ALSO OUR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED.
People of the Prince
DANIEL 9:25 UNTIL MESSIAH THE PRINCE,
Daniel then states who will destroy the city of Jerusalem.
DANIEL 9:26 “AND AFTER THE SIXTY-TWO WEEKS MESSIAH SHALL BE CUT OFF, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF; AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME SHALL DESTROY THE CITY AND THE SANCTUARY. THE END OF IT SHALL BE WITH A FLOOD, AND TILL THE END OF THE WAR DESOLATIONS ARE DETERMINED.
Daniel then continues to prophesy who will destroy the city. We have seen that Luke identifies the abomination of desolation as the Roman army.
LUKE 21:20” BUT WHEN YOU SEE JERUSALEM SURROUNDED BY ARMIES, THEN KNOW THAT ITS DESOLATION IS NEAR.
But also by the Jews. In later lessons on the Great Tribulation, we will see that Daniel’s prophecy is accurate. The primary responsibility for the destruction of Jerusalem mainly rested with the Jews themselves, due to the fighting among the three factions vying for control over the population. Jesus was a Jew, and the Jews were the people of the Prince during the seventy-week prophecy.
DANIEL 9:26 AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME SHALL DESTROY THE CITY AND THE SANCTUARY.
It was the Jews who set fire to the Temple, as Daniel said, forcing the Romans to attack the Upper City.
The New Jerusalem Another reason for the Messiah’s death is the restoration of Jerusalem.
DANIEL 9:25 TO RESTORE AND BUILD JERUSALEM
Heavenly Jerusalem
The original Jerusalem was called Sodom and Egypt, so this isn’t the one He is referring to. Daniel mentions walls and a street
DANIEL 9:25 THE STREET SHALL BE BUILT AGAIN, AND THE WALL, EVEN IN TROUBLESOME TIMES
The earthly Jerusalem didn’t have a main street, so this is about the heavenly Jerusalem.
Jerusalem’s Walls
“COME, I WILL SHOW YOU THE BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE.” AND HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN THE SPIRIT TO A GREAT AND HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHOWED ME THE GREAT CITY, THE HOLY JERUSALEM, DESCENDING OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, HAVING THE GLORY OF GOD. HER LIGHT WAS LIKE A MOST PRECIOUS STONE, LIKE A JASPER STONE, CLEAR AS CRYSTAL. ALSO, SHE HAD A GREAT AND HIGH WALL WITH TWELVE GATES, AND TWELVE ANGELS AT THE GATES, AND NAMES WRITTEN ON THEM, WHICH ARE THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: THREE GATES ON THE EAST, THREE GATES ON THE NORTH, THREE GATES ON THE SOUTH, AND THREE GATES ON THE WEST.
Jerusalem’s Street
Daniel also mentions that the street is under construction when he wrote his prophecy hundreds of years before Christ’s death and resurrection. John sees that this street was built after Jesus ascended to the throne and became the Bride of Christ.
REVELATION 22:2 IN THE MIDDLE OF ITS STREET, AND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, WAS THE TREE OF LIFE, WHICH BORE TWELVE FRUITS, EACH TREE YIELDING ITS FRUIT EVERY MONTH. THE LEAVES OF THE TREE WERE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS.
Jerusalem in Bondage
Paul, speaking to the Galatians, tells us that the natural Jerusalem is in bondage, along with her children, the Jews.
GALATIANS 4:21, 24-25 TELL ME, YOU WHO DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW, DO YOU NOT HEAR THE LAW? FOR THESE ARE THE TWO COVENANTS: THE ONE FROM MOUNT SINAI, WHICH GIVES BIRTH TO BONDAGE, WHICH IS HAGAR. FOR THIS HAGAR IS MOUNT SINAI IN ARABIA, AND CORRESPONDS TO JERUSALEM, WHICH NOW IS, AND IS IN BONDAGE WITH HER CHILDREN
Galatians was written between 48 and 50 AD, so Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed at that time. It was in bondage because, during this period under Caesar Claudius, Jerusalem still had the freedom to offer sacrifices; the Jewish-Roman wars had not yet started. Therefore, this bondage refers to the law.
Jerusalem Above
The New Jerusalem is associated with the New Covenant, which began in 30 AD with Jesus’ death on the cross.
GALATIANS 4:26 BUT THE JERUSALEM ABOVE IS FREE, WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF US ALL.
When did this occur? We see in Galatians that this pertains to a change in the Covenant. According to Daniel, it will happen during the seven-year period, which would place it in 30 CE. Revelation tells us that the New Jerusalem is the Bride of Christ.
REVELATION 21:9-10 THEN ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN BOWLS FILLED WITH THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES CAME TO ME AND TALKED WITH ME, SAYING, “COME, I WILL SHOW YOU THE BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE.” AND HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN THE SPIRIT TO A GREAT AND HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHOWED ME THE GREAT CITY, THE HOLY JERUSALEM, DESCENDING OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD,
Daniel, Jesus, John and Paul all connected the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ, the walls, and the street to the change of the Covenants at Jesus’ death.
Seal up the Vision
Daniel refers to sealing up the vision.
DANIEL 9:24 TO SEAL UP VISION AND PROPHECY
At some point during the seven-year period, Jesus will seal the scroll. In our lesson on the seven seals, we learned that Jesus opens the scrolls as He stands at Stephen’s martyrdom in 33 AD. Therefore, sealing the vision and prophecy must have happened before this. If He is sealing the prophecy, He is closing it. Which prophecy is He closing? Daniel’s prophecy and His own about the next forty-year and one-hundred-year generation that He made just before His death in April of 30 CE.
Anoint the Most Holy
Daniel also said that during this seven-year period, He would anoint the Most Holy. DANIEL 9:24 AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY
The Hebrew word for Most Holy is:
,qôḏeš; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:- consecrated (something) ֹקֶדׁש dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), saint, sanctuary.
When Jesus died, rose again, and ascended, He created a temple within each believer for the Holy Spirit. These temples are the sanctuaries to which Daniel refers. This happens when a person welcomes Jesus into their life. They enter into a Covenant by surrendering their sins to Jesus and accepting God’s righteousness. Jesus and the Holy Spirit enter their lives at this moment.
Seven Years of Confirming the Covenant
Daniel further states that the Messiah will confirm a covenant during the seven-year period.
DANIEL 9:24 THEN HE SHALL CONFIRM A COVENANT WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK.
Three and a Half Years of Jesus’ Ministry
Besides Daniel’s prophecy, we know that Jesus’ ministry lasted at least three years because Jesus was ministering through three different Passovers.
The first one-
JOHN 2:13 NOW THE PASSOVER OF THE JEWS WAS AT HAND, AND JESUS WENT UP TO JERUSALEM.
The second one-
JOHN 6:4 NOW THE PASSOVER, A FEAST OF THE JEWS, WAS NEAR.
The third prior to His crucifixion-
JOHN 11:55 AND THE PASSOVER OF THE JEWS WAS NEAR, AND MANY WENT FROM THE COUNTRY UP TO JERUSALEM BEFORE THE PASSOVER, TO PURIFY THEMSELVES.
Three and a Half Years after Jesus’ Death Revelation tells us that there is another three-and-a-half-year period. John first hints to the readers that this relates to the seventy-year prophecy by linking it to Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus.
REVELATION 12:4 HIS TAIL DREW A THIRD OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN AND THREW THEM TO THE EARTH. AND THE DRAGON STOOD BEFORE THE WOMAN WHO WAS READY TO GIVE BIRTH, TO DEVOUR HER CHILD AS SOON AS IT WAS BORN.
Once John has informed the reader that Revelation 12 is set in the past, he directs their attention to the ascension of Jesus to the throne.
REVELATION 12:5 SHE BORE A MALE CHILD WHO WAS TO RULE ALL NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON. AND HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP TO GOD AND HIS THRONE.
Israel the Woman
In our lesson on Revelation 12, we learned that the woman represents the Jewish people of Israel.
After Jesus’ ascension, there was a period of three and a half years during which the woman (Israel) was sustained.
REVELATION 12:6 THEN THE WOMAN FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS, WHERE SHE HAD A PLACE PREPARED BY GOD, THAT THEY SHOULD FEED HER THERE ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY DAYS.
This is reiterated a few verses later:
REVELATION 12:14 BUT THE WOMAN WAS GIVEN TWO WINGS OF A GREAT EAGLE, THAT SHE MIGHT FLY INTO THE WILDERNESS TO HER PLACE, WHERE SHE IS NOURISHED FOR A TIME AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME, FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE SERPENT.
This seven-year period of confirming the covenant appears in both Daniel and Revelation as two periods of three and a half years (1260 days), separated by a Covenant.
Apostles Feed the Jews
We find that during those three and a half years, it was the apostles who fed the Jews, until the death of Stephen in 33 AD.
ACTS 2:42-43 AND THEY CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE AND FELLOWSHIP, IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD, AND IN PRAYERS. THEN FEAR CAME UPON EVERY SOUL, AND MANY WONDERS AND SIGNS WERE DONE THROUGH THE APOSTLES.
Royal Priesthood Anointing We have seen that the apostles fed the Jews by established doctrine during those three and a half years, but we also see that they moved in the power of the Lord with signs and wonders.
ACTS 2:43 THEN FEAR CAME UPON EVERY SOUL, AND MANY WONDERS AND SIGNS WERE DONE THROUGH THE APOSTLES.
In our lesson on Revelation 11 and the two witnesses, we learned that the two witnesses represented the two anointings the Apostles carried. The kingly and priestly anointings taught the early church to be a royal priesthood.
REVELATION 11:3 AND I WILL GIVE POWER TO MY TWO WITNESSES, AND THEY WILL PROPHESY ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY DAYS, CLOTHED IN SACKCLOTH.”
The apostles taught the early church while “clothed in sackcloth,” carrying the cross of Jesus Christ in their ministry, not ashamed of their testimony.
ACTS 4:33 AND WITH GREAT POWER, THE APOSTLES GAVE WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS. AND GREAT GRACE WAS UPON THEM ALL.
They were mainly limited to Jerusalem for those three and a half years so they could “nourish the woman. With the death of Stephen, many Christians fled Jerusalem and spread through the known world.