There are many books and Hollywood-type movies about the rapture and end-time events. This material is impressively presented using modern entertainment production methods, but the producers take liberties with the truth of God’s word. It has led many Christians to believe and put their faith in books and movies rather than the plain teachings of God’s word.
The modern scenarios taught regarding the return of Jesus, the time of trouble, the anti-christ, the millennium are new to the Christian church. These popular teachings of Jesus return we not taught until recently. The early church and teachers since the availability of the Bible to the public have not taught anything but the simple Biblical teachings concerning the return of Jesus and the end-time events
Today’s movie producers include a 7 year period of tribulation initiated by the “rapture” of the church being “caught up” to heaven and Israel’s agreement with the Anti-Christ. It gives the Christian the warm feeling of avoiding any uncomfortable situations on earth before Jesus comes.
Contrary to the Bible the authors and producers split the coming of Jesus into two parts. According to them, the unprepared (including the Jewish nation) remain on the earth to endure the “time of trouble” for a second shot at salvation. During this time there are terrible events on earth, unlike anything that has ever been seen. At some point of these several years, the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” finally accept Jesus as a nation and go about evangelizing the world in preparation for the return of Christ. They present a part “A” of the return of Jesus. Part “A” is Jesus coming for His church before the 7 years of tribulation. Part “B” is the “glorious return” at the end of the 7 years where “every eye” will see Him.
These popular views are based on erroneous interpretations of Daniel, particularly Daniel 9, the plain teachings about the return of Christ; and a misunderstanding of most of Revelation.
When Jesus was asked about the signs of His coming, the first words out of His mouth were a warning to watch out for deception:
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
Matthew 24: 3-4
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In this study, we will look at the 70-week prophecy of Daniel and the core message which is primarily a warning to Israel to prepare for the first coming of Jesus. This is a wonderful study that gives historically accurate times lines for the coming and mission of Jesus.
As I studied my way out of atheism, this prophecy helped me understand Jesus was all that the prophets, the disciples, and Jesus Himself claimed to be. It will reveal the mercy and love extended to rebellious Israel and give evidence for your faith in Jesus. The events proclaimed here were made hundreds of years before Jesus appeared on the banks of Jordan to be baptized by John and begin His earthly ministry.
As we read the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 and compare it with actual history and Biblically documented historical dates. We will discover the power of this prophecy written almost 500 years before Jesus and we will understand more about Israel and end time events!
Please follow closely. When we are finished, I recommend you verify the dates at your local library or other resources. Beware of the confusion of the internet. Also, I have included a chart at the end in the “Appendix” to make these dates easier to see and follow. There are also other helpful references.
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Let’s start by reading Daniel 9: 24-27
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7), and threescore (60) and two weeks (2): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
And after threescore (60) and two weeks (2) 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.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (1): 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.”
Daniel 9: 24-27
If you count up the number in parenthesis, you will have the 70 years mentioned at the start. There is a reason why they are split up that way. I will not go into those historical reasons in this writing.
The setting for these verses is important in understanding the prophecy. Daniel and his people (The Jews) had been taken captive by Babylon and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and lay desolate as prophesied by Jeremiah. It was predicted by Jeremiah that they would be in captivity for 70 years!
“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
Daniel 9:2
As the 70 years drew near to the end, Daniel began to pray and confess his sins and the sins of the people (Verses 4-20). Then Gabriel (an angel) came and informed Daniel that he had come to
“give thee skill and understanding.”
Daniel 9:22
Then Gabriel gives the vision as stated in Verses 24-27 above. This is the skill and understanding Daniel needed other than simply knowing the Jews would soon be freed after 70 years of captivity.
From Daniel 9: 24-27 above, we observe the following:
70 weeks was given to Daniels people (Israelites) and the city of Jerusalem to:
- Finish the transgression
- Make an end of sins
- Make reconciliation for iniquity
- Bring in everlasting righteousness
- Seal up the vision and prophecy
- Anoint the most Holy
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:24, 25
All the festivals, drink and meat offerings, and special Sabbath days (Not the weekly Sabbath) were shadows pointing to the body of Jesus. All those had served their purpose and were fulfilled in Christ:
“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Colossians 2:17
On the other side of the cross, the people looked forward in faith to Jesus (the Messiah) and what He would do for them. All of us on this side of the cross look back in faith at what Jesus has done for us.
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10: 5, 6
This the disciples did for 3 1/2 more years after Jesus was “cut off” or crucified in 31 AD.
This takes us 3 1/2 years forward to the end of the 70 weeks or 490 years.
In the year 34 AD some interesting things happen to mark the end of the 490 years “determined” or given unto the Jewish nation:
In this year Stephen was martyred and Paul was converted to be the teacher to the Gentiles
“I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 1:11
A very interesting passage of scripture also marks the end of 70 weeks given to the Jews to do all those things of the covenant listed in Daniel 9. It is a point where the burden of carrying the gospel to the entire world is taken off the shoulders of the Jews and given to the Gentiles. It is the point where God determines who is a real Jew or seed of Abraham.
Paul and Barnabas were preaching to a large group but were interrupted by the Jews because of the large following of the two disciples. Those religious leaders who were interrupting contradicted Paul and Barnabas and actually blasphemed God! But it is what Paul and Barnabas say that marks the transition from Jew to Gentile or Spiritual Jew:
“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13: 45, 46
The appointed people of God had failed to keep the covenant (agreement) and God turned to the Gentiles and made them heir to the promises of God:
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“
Galatians 3:29
No longer was there a distinction between literal Jew and the God’s chosen people simply identified as belonging to Christ:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.“
Galatians 3:28
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 2:28, 29
Thus the 70-week prophecy came to an end! There is no room or context in the prophecy for 7 years of tribulation or the Anti Christ. It is simply not there. To try to force it takes away from a beautiful and important part of the ministry of Christ.
While Hal Lindsey has everyone looking at Jerusalem for the rebuilding of the temple to mark the soon return of Jesus, the Anti Christ is at work elsewhere in the world. this we will see in future studies. This is so deceptive that almost the whole world is taken in. What a great diversion by the enemy of mankind!
In conclusion, the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9 is mishandled to try and support 7 years of tribulation at the end of time and the work of the Anti Christ. If the prophecy is kept in its context, it becomes a prophecy to support Jesus as the Messiah, his crucifixion, the spread of the gospel, and God’s long-suffering with the lost sheep of the house of Israel!
Again, the summary chart of the dates demonstrate the accuracy of the events we have discussed above:
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APPENDIX
Below is information if you want more detail otherwise I hope this prophecy helped you see how God is in control.
*Notes about the dates described above:
Ezra has three decrees with different dates that could be used. Nehemiah has a date also. But the decision as to which one to use, you must keep in mind the key words of the prophecy: “the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.”
The decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4)
The decree of Darius I (Ezra 6:1-12)
The decree of Artaxerxes I (Longimanuus) (Ezra 7: 12-26)
The decree of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah Chapters 1 and 2)
The Babylonian business tablets
Elephantine papyri from Egypt
From the above documents, we know that Xerxes was killed in late December of 465 B.C. and the reign of Artaxerxes began at the time.
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Artaxerxes Reign |
Fall to Fall |
| First year | 464/463 B.C. |
| Second year | 463/462 B.C. |
| Third year | 462/461 B.C. |
| Fourth year | 461/460 B.C. |
| Fifth year | 460/459 B.C. |
| Sixth year | 459/458 B.C. |
| Seventh year | 458/457 B.C. |
Therefore, the seventh year of Artaxerxes, according to Jewish reckoning, extended from the fall of 458 to the fall of 457 B. C.
Note: the references in this prophecy to the destruction of the city and temple and desolations:
“….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… 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
This is not referenced to a small historical character called Antiochus or a future Anti-Christ, but to the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD as predicted by Jesus himself when he told the disciples. There has never been a temple since then and never will be!
“Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Matthew 24:2
“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. 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.”
Matthew 24: 15-22
The total destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman soldiers was horrible. Many who tried to escape were crucified outside the city. At one time, the number of crosses outside the city almost made it look like a forest of trees. Those who heeded the advice of Jesus escaped the city and remained alive.