Bible Study - 490 Years of Daniel 9:24-27 Bible-Reading.com > Bible Studies > 490 Years What's New? (Aug 8, 2000) [ 490 Years | Atonement ] Have you used the Bible Reading Calendar?

Bible Study - 490 Years of Daniel 9:24-27

If you'd like to download this bible study in Word (6.0 or 7.0) format (65k), click on the highlighted text. If you'd prefer a zip'd copy (23k), click here. If you have problems downloading or have comments on the study, please contact me.

1. ISRAEL, THE KEY TO INTERPRETING PROPHECY
• Importance of prophecy about Israel to Christians
• Study of Israel neglected, but revived in twentieth century
• Daniel 9:24-27 focused on Israel. Difficult passage. Many interpretations.
1. Importance of this prophecy. Liberal, literal, and Jewish interpretations.
2. Questions concerning the prophecy.
1. What people are in view in the prophecy?
2. What is meant chronologically by the seventy "sevens"?
3. What are the major six events described in Daniel 9:24 for the first seven "sevens"?
4. Most important: What is prophesied in the seventieth "seven"?
3. Background of the prophecy.
1. Babylon succeeded by Medo-Persia.
2. Prophecies of Jeremiah 25:11, 29:10.
4. Daniel's prayer.
1. Sixty seven years had elapsed. Prayer for fulfillment.
2. God sends Gabriel with a vision concerning the 490 years.
5. Gabriel's prophecy.
[Top]
2. THE SEVENTY "SEVENS"
1. Unit is years
2. Three divisions. Seven sevens, sixty-two sevens, and one seven.
[Top]
3. THE PEOPLE ADDRESSED: ISRAEL
1. Who are "your people and your holy city"? Must be Israel and Jerusalem, not the church.
2. Unusual privilege of Daniel: Outlining of Gentile and Israel's prophetic history.
[Top]
4. THE SIX MAJOR EVENTS PROPHESIED IN Daniel 9:24
1. Finishing transgression. Israel's apostasy. Restoration in millennial kingdom.
2. Ending sin. Forgiveness and restoration. Beginning of a new spiritual plateau.
3. Atoning for wickedness. Death of Christ. Basis of God's grace.
4. Bringing everlasting righteousness. Grace of God through death of Christ. Jeremiah 23:5-6.
5. Sealing up vision and prophecy. No additional prophecy will be necessary after second coming.
6. Anointing the most holy. Millennial temple in Ezekiel 40-43.
[Top]
5. THE BEGINNING OF THE SEVENTY "SEVENS"
• When did the 490 years begin? Area of most controversy.
1. Daniel 9:25 "From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem"
2. Amillenarians: 486 BC, when Jerusalem was destroyed. Non-literal fulfillment.
3. Four decrees.
1. Cyrus in 538 BC "rebuilding the temple"
2. Darius [in 519 BC] "confirmed the decree of Cyrus"
3. Artaxerxes [in 458 BC] "to build a temple to God in Jerusalem"
4. Artaxerxes [in 445 BC] "to build the city and the walls"
4. Only final decree fits the detail of the prophecy.
[Top]
6. FULFILLMENT OF THE SEVENTY "SEVENS"
• If start is 445 BC, 483 years is 33 AD.
1. 360 days/year, [1 BC to 1 AD = 1 year]
2. Support for 360 days/year: Daniel 7:25, 12:7; Rev 11:3, 12:6,14, 13:5
3. Death of Christ in 33 AD.
[Top]
7. THE SEVENTY "SEVENS": THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS
• The first 49 years: Rebuilding the city of Jerusalem.
[Top]
8. THE SIXTY-TWO "SEVENS," 434 YEARS
• Immediately followed, with no specific prophecies in this time period.
[Top]
9. THE FINAL SEVEN YEARS
1. Two major events prophesied. After the sixty-ninth seven, but before the seventieth seven.
1. "the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing" (Daniel 9:26a). 33 AD.
2. "the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed" (Daniel 9:26b). 70 A.D.
2. Amillennial interpretation.
1. Last seven years began when Jesus began his public ministry.
2. Jesus was cut off in the middle of the last 7 years, not after the sixty-ninth "seven".
3. Covenant is the new covenant of grace brought in through the death of Christ.
3. Numerous problems with and objections to the Amillennial interpretation.
1. 490 years must begin before 444 BC.
1. Isaiah 44:28 and Ezra 1:2-4 apply to the temple, not the city.
2. City was in ruins until the time of Nehemiah in 445 BC.
3. Ezra 6:3-5, decree is searched out but only applies to the temple.
2. New covenant of Christ couldn't be the seven-year covenant.
1. Christ's covenant continues forever, not seven years.
2. No restoration of Israel 3 1/2 years after His death.
4. Premillennial interpretation.
1. Preferable interpretation since death of Christ and destruction of Jerusalem were at least 33 years apart, and thus couldn't have occurred in the last 3 1/2 years of the prophecy.
2. The last 7 years is still future.
3. "he" in Daniel 9:27 refers to the nearest antecedent (the ruler, not Jesus).
4. Last 7 years is a time of trouble leading up to the second coming of Christ.
1. In the first half, a covenant will be made and observed with Israel.
2. In the second half, it will be broken.
1. Ending of sacrifice and offering in the temple. (Daniel 12:11)
2. Desecration of the temple at beginning of Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:15-22)
3. Statue of ruler placed in the temple (2 Thess 2:4; Rev. 13:14-15)
4. Great Tribulation is still future from the viewpoint of the book of Revelation.
5. The prophecies yet to be fulfilled coincide with what occurred at the time of Antiochus.
6. The ruler who introduces the final 3 1/2 years of Great Tribulation will be judged at Christ's second coming.
[Top]
10. CONCLUSION
1. Only point of view that satisfies the passage and provides a literal interpretation is:
1. 490 years begins at 445 BC,
2. 483 years concludes in 33 AD at the time of Christ's death,
3. last 7 years precedes the second coming of Christ, which is still future,
1. A future ruler will observe a covenant with Israel during the first 3 1/2 years and will become the world ruler in the final years before the Second Coming.
2. He will break this covenant with Israel after 3 1/2 years, and the Great Tribulation will be brought upon the entire world as well as on the people of Israel, climaxing in the Second Coming.
4. Christ will judge the world and bring in his millennial kingdom.
2. Daniel was given the broad sweep of prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27
1. Not only embracing the four final Gentile kingdoms and climaxing in the kingdom from heaven at the Second Coming,
2. but also covering the 490 years for Israel and likewise terminating at the Second Coming.
3. Israel's place in the world events leading up to the Second Coming.
4. Present age is not included in the prophecy.
3. World events are shaping up into a situation that is similar to what one would expect if the rapture of the church were about to occur.
4. Just as prophecy was literally fulfilled at the first coming of Christ in hundreds of particulars, so will the Word be fulfilled in connection with the second coming of Christ.
5. If the coming of Christ for His church is near, Christians should evaluate their lives in keeping with the eternal values of God.

[Top]
1. New Revelation in Daniel 9:24-27
1. Chastisement of Israel for at least 490 years beyond the end of the Babylonian captivity.
2. Only prophecy presenting the exact time of Messiah's presentation to Israel in His first coming.
[Top]
2. Several significant things that must be noted to properly understand the revelation.
[Top]
1. Prophecy concerns Daniel's people and holy city, and must be applied completed to Israel and Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:24)
[Top]
2. The amount of time covered by the prophecy is 490 years. (Daniel 9:24)
1. Is seventy weeks (literally seventy sevens) days, weeks, months, or years?
1. 490 time units started in 445 BC.
2. Jesus not present in 490 days (about 1 1/3 years), 490 weeks (about 9 1/2 years), or 490 months (about 41 years).
2. Seventy sevens of years would have been meaningful to the Jews.
1. God divided their calendar into seven years periods, with every seventh year being a sabbatic year (Lev. 25:3-9)
2. Their Babylonian captivity was to last seventy years because they had violated seventy sabbatic years over the course of 490 years (2 Chr. 36:21).
3. Daniel had been thinking in the terms of years in the context of this prophecy (Daniel 9:1-2)
[Top]
3. The 490 years of the prophecy would be necessary to accomplish six things with regard to Israel and Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:24)
1. "to finish the transgression."
   1. Root meaning of word translated transgression is "to rebel".
   2. Refers to the Jews' specific sin of rebellion against the rule of God.
   3. This is the root of all of Israel's other sins.
   4. Israel will not stop its rebellion against God until these 490 years run their course.
   1. This will coincide with the second coming of Christ.
   2. Agreement with other scripture: Zech. 12:10-13:1; Rom 11:25-27
2. "to make an end of sin."
1. Word translated "sin" is plural.
2. Refers to the actual sins of daily life.
3. "to make atonement for iniquity."
1. Jesus Christ atoned Israel's perverse sins when He died on the cross.
2. This atonement will not be applied to Israel until the nation personally appropriates it by accepting Jesus as Messiah and Savior at Christ's second coming at the end of the 490 years.
4. "to bring in everlasting righteousness."
1. Could refer to the righteousness that will be brought to Israel at the end of the 490 years.
1. Israel has experience temporary righteousness as the result of periodic revivals.
2. When they repent and believe in Jesus Christ at His second coming, they will never rebel again.
2. Could refer to the righteous rule that the Messiah will establish on earth in conjunction with His second coming.
1. Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 33:15-18
2. Christ's rule will be characterized by the righteousness that has been characteristic of God throughout the ages.
5. "to seal up vision and prophecy."
1. Revelation through vision or prophecy no longer has to be of concern to people once the revelation has been fulfilled.
2. The word translated "seal up" was translated "to make an end" earlier.
• When Israel will make an end of its daily sins at the end of the 490 years, then all revelation that came through vision and prophecy concerning God's chastening of Israel can be sealed up.
6. "to anoint the most holy place."
1. Literal translation: "to anoint a holy of holies"
2. In biblical times, anointing was consecration for service (Ex. 9:36, 28:41, 40:9-15).
3. holy of holies without "the" usually referred to the holy articles of the Tabernacle or Temple (Ex. 29:37) or to the whole Temple complex area (Ezekiel 43:12)
4. In light of these factors and the context, it appears that Gabriel was saying the following: When Messiah will come in His second coming, the Temple complex area in Jerusalem will be anointed in consecration for God's service.
[Top]
4. Starting point of 490 years. (Daniel 9:25)
1. Gabriel indicated that the starting point would be the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem with plaza and moat.
2. There were several different decrees permitting rebuilding of various parts of Jerusalem.
1. by Cyrus in 538 BC or 537 BC.
2. by Darius in 519 BC
3. by Artaxerxes in 458 BC
4. by Artaxerxes in 445 BC
3. Two things must be noted about the decree.
1. Rebuilding of plaza and moat.
1. Plaza is the broad open space just inside a city's gates. A city doesn't have gates without a wall.
2. Moat is a trench or ditch around the walls of a city, built for defense.
3. Both imply that the decree permitted rebuilding of Jerusalem's defenses, especially the wall.
2. This decree would be the starting point of the 483 years before the first coming.
4. How the four decrees measure up.
1. The first three fail the first test.
1. The defenses of Jerusalem were not rebuilt as a result of any of these decrees.
2. As late as 445 BC Nehemiah received word that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down (Neh 1-2).
3. Some time after the third decree in 458 BC by Artaxerxes, the Jews began to rebuild the walls on their own.
1. They didn't complete the work.
2. Enemies wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:8-16) warning him.
3. In response, Artaxerxes decreed that the Jews stop rebuilding until he issued a future decree allowing it.
1. Left a loophole. Medo-Persian law didn't allow a king to reverse an earlier decree made by himself or any of his predecessors. (Est. 1:19, 8:8; Daniel 6:8,12,15)
2. In light of this (since the decree stopped the rebuilding of the walls and defenses), none of the three earlier decrees could have permitted it.
2. The first two fail the second test.
1. With Cyrus' decree, the 483 years would have ended 50 years before the birth of Jesus.
2. With Darius' decree, the 483 years would end more than 30 years before the birth of Jesus.
3. Both of Artaxerxes' decrees pass this test, but his first decree in 458 BC was disqualified by the first test.
3. The only decree that passes both tests is Artaxerxes' second decree in March, 445 BC (Neh 2:1-8).
[Top]
5. The first coming of the Messiah
1. 483 years after 445 BC (divided into 7 sevens and 62 sevens)
1. 7 sevens (49 years) to rebuild the temple, because of opposition (Neh 4, 6:1-7:4).
2. 62 additional sevens (434 years) before the first coming.
2. When in Jesus' lifetime did the 483 years end?
1. Keeping in mind 360 days made a year (Gen 7:11,24, 8:4; Rev. 11:2-3, 12:6,14, 13:5)
2. 483 years was 173,880 days.
3. Started in March, 445 BC. Sir Robert Anderson's research shows the day to be March 14, 445 BC.
4. This ends on April 6, 32 AD. What significant thing happen to Jesus on that day?
1. Must relate to His being a prince ("until Messiah the Prince.")
1. Sir Robert Anderson's research showed that April 6 was the day Jesus presented Himself as Messiah to Israel through His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey.
2. Zechariah 9:9 had declared that Israel could identify its King in the following manner: He would come to Jerusalem mounted on the foal of a donkey.
3. Some of the crowd on that Palm Sunday recognized the significance of Jesus' actions on that day, for they called Him King (Luke 19:37-38).
4. As Jesus approached Jerusalem that day, He wept over the city and said: "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes."
1. He warned Jerusalem that it would suffer great disaster "because you did not recognize the time of your visitation" (Luke 19:41-44)
2. Jesus' language indicated that that particular day had been marked out by God as the time of Jerusalem's visitation by her Messiah Prince--the day which could have brought lasting peace to that city if its people had accepted Jesus for who He was.
3. It also indicated that the Jews should have recognized that that particular day (April 6,3 2 AD) was the day on which Messiah would visit Jerusalem as Prince. Why? Because several centuries earlier in Daniel 9:25, God revealed the exact time when Messiah would present Himself as Prince to Israel.
[Top]
6. After the first 483 years, Messiah would be "cut off and have nothing" (Daniel 9:26)
1. Word translated "cut off"
1. Was used for the death penalty (Lev. 7:20-21,25,27)
2. Often referred to a violent death ()
3. In this instance it referred to the fact that Messiah would be condemned to suffer the death penalty by crucifixion.
2. Expression "and have nothing" meant that when Messiah would die, He would not have all that should belong to Messiah.
1. A crown of thorns instead of a royal crown of gold and precious jewels (Matt. 27:19).
2. Stripped of His clothing instead of a royal robe (John 19:23-24).
3. A cross instead of a royal throne (John 19:17-18).
4. Rejection and scorn instead of reception and acclaim of His people (Matt. 27:39-44; John 19:14-15).
3. It is a fact of history that several days after His triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, Jesus was crucified.
1. Chronology in relationship to Tiberius' reign.
1. John the Baptist started his ministry in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1-3)
2. Substantial evidence shows that Tiberius started his reign in 14 AD.
3. John started his ministry in 28 AD, then.
4. Statements by John in his early ministry indicate that be began in the spring.
5. He had an established ministry before Christ came to him (Mark 1:5-9) so it is probable that Christ was baptized and began His ministry late in the fall of 28 AD.
6. Substantial evidence shows that Jesus ministered for three years plus several months.
7. This ends, therefore, in the spring of 32 D.
2. In the fourth century, Bishop Epiphanius stated that Christ died in the spring of 32 AD.
3. Chronology in relationship to the temple.
1. During the first Passover of Jesus' ministry, He cleansed Herod's Temple. (John 2:11-16)
2. At that time the Jews said "It took forty-six years to build this temple" (John 2:20)
3. Historians agree that the temple wasn't completed until 64 AD. Since it wasn't complete, the Jews were really saying that it was in the forty-sixth year of its building at that time.
4. Historians conclude that Herod started building the Temple in 18 BC.
5. Forty-six years would be 29 AD (only one year from 1 BC to 1 AD).
6. Thus, the first Passover of Jesus was in 29 AD.
7. Jesus' ministry covered four Passovers, once again leaving us in the spring of 32 AD.
[Top]
7. Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed after the first 483 years (Daniel 9:26)
1. Confirmed to Daniel that God would continue to chasten Israel after the end of the Babylonian captivity.
2. Would help Daniel understand why the vision in Daniel 8 portrayed more suffering for Israel for centuries to come.
3. Indicated that that future destruction would be God's sovereign judgment upon Israel for rejecting Messiah in His first coming. Jesus warned again in Luke 19:41-44.
4. Destruction would be from the Romans (the fourth empire).
5. Declared that the Romans would be "of the prince that shall come" This refers to the Antichrist (the final ruler of the Roman Empire), not the Messiah.
6. "And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined."
1. "flood" is used in Nahum 1:8 for the outpouring of God's wrath.
2. "its" refer back to the coming prince (the Antichrist), NOT Jerusalem.
3. Antichrist will wage war against God and God's people until his judgment at the second coming.
4. God had already determined irrevocably the extent of desolations necessary to bring Israel back to Himself through its Messiah, Jesus.
[Top]
8. The seventieth seven of years did not follow immediately after the first sixty-nine sevens of years.
1. Gabriel referred to two significant events that took place during the gap: the death of Messiah in 32 AD and the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
2. Several evidences of this gap:
1. If the last seven years happened immediately after the first 483, the six things that were to happen to Israel and Jerusalem at the end of the 490 years (Daniel 9:24) should have happened in 39 AD.
2. Daniel 9:27 teaches that the abomination will come with desolation during the last seven of the 490 years, but Jesus indicated that this abomination spoken of by Daniel would come shortly before His second coming (Matt. 24:15-21,29-31). Thus the seven years must as well.
3. Death of Messiah and destruction of temple fit within the scope of the 490 year prophecy. If the last seven years followed immediately, the temple would have been destroyed by 39 AD, not 70.
4. It is not unusual for biblical prophecies to contain gaps of time. Isaiah 9:6; Zechariah 9:9-10.
3. We conclude, then, that the gap started after April 6, 32 AD, and will continue until seven years before the second coming of Christ.
[Top]
9. The activities of the coming prince or Antichrist during the last seven years. (Daniel 9:27)
1. Some scholars say that the "he" in v27 refers to the Messiah and things he would do during His first coming. Several things militate against this view.
1. Jesus never made a seven years covenant.
2. The context concerns the coming Roman price, the Antichrist.
3. Other verses that clearly relate to the Antichrist parallel the activities of the "he" in v27.
2. The Antichrist will do several significant things during the seventieth seven of years.
1. He would "make a firm covenant with many for one seven."
1. To have authority to do this, the Antichrist must already possess the position of head of the confederated Revived Roman Empire.
2. This will be a historic event which will officially begin the seventieth seven of years.
3. Since the 490 years relate to Israel and Jerusalem, "the many" must be the people of Israel living at that time.
4. Covenant will be designated to last for seven years.
5. Language is strong, indicating that the Antichrist would force or impose the covenant.
2. "but in the middle of the sevens, he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering"
1. Implies that Jerusalem will have the temple rebuilt by this time, in order to sacrifice. See also Matt. 24:15,21,29-31; 2 Thess 2:2-4
2. His motivation: the desire to be worshipped as God. (Daniel 11:36-37; 2 Thess 2:4)
3. "and on the wing of abominations one who makes desolate"
1. "wing" refers to the pinnacle or extreme point of something.
2. Most extreme abominations performed against the Temples of God in Jerusalem.
1. Antiochus Epiphanies rededicated the temple to Zeus, had a pagan alter built over the alter of God, and instituted the sacrifice of pigs between 171 and 165 BC.
2. Romans destroyed the temple in 70 AD.
3. Abominations of the Antichrist will be worse still.
3. "abominations" means things detestable. What could be so detestable?
1. After Antichrist stops the sacrifices of the future Temple, he will magnify himself to the level of deity, take his seat in the Temple, announce that he is God, demand worship of himself by his subjects and set up some detestable thing (probably an image of himself) in the Temple (Daniel 7:8,11,20,25, 11:36-37; 2 Thess 2:3-4; Rev. 11-17, 19:20, 20:4).
2. Jesus seemed to refer the term "abomination of desolation" in Daniel 9 to the detestable thing that Antichrist will set up in the Temple (Matt. 24:15). What can be more detestable than the image of the Antichrist standing where only God is supposed to.
4. Gabriel warned that when Antichrist sets up his image in the Temple, he will make something desolate.
1. Since the 490 year prophecy refers to Israel and Jerusalem, they must be the targets.
2. Jesus warned that when the Jews see Antichrists image standing in the temple, they should flee Judea rapidly "for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall" (Matt. 24:15-21).
3. God revealed to John that Israel (represented by a beautiful woman) will have to flee to the wilderness for 1,260 days or three and one-half times in the future (Rev. 12:5-6,13-15), and that Antichrist once he makes his arrogant claim of deity, will have authority to act for forty-two months (Rev. 13:5). (Compare to Daniel 7:25.)
4. Israel's worst days are still ahead.
5. Antichrist's desolation of Israel will have a limit. It would continue "until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out."
1. Once the judgment that God has sovereignly determined has been administered, it will stop.
2. On whom will this divine judgment be poured out?
1. On the one who makes desolate?
2. Or on the desolate?

Study Questions about the 490 Years of Israel's Prophetic Destiny

1. Background
• What is the importance of prophecy about Israel to Christians?
  Walvoord: p190
• What is the background of the prophecy?
  • Who controls Israel?
    Walvoord: p191
  • What prophecy is about to be fulfilled?
    Walvoord: p192
  • What does Daniel do?
    Walvoord: p192
• What evidence do we have that the unit of time in the "seventy sevens" is years?
  Walvoord: p193
  Showers: B.2
• What people are in view in the 490 year prophecy?
  Walvoord: p193-194
  Showers: B.1
[Top]
2. Overview
• What six major events are to be fulfilled at the end of the 490 years?
  Walvoord: p194-195
  Showers: B.3
• What four decrees can be considered as the start of the 490 years?
  Walvoord: p196-197
  Showers: B.4.b-d
• Which one is the right one?
• What evidence do we have that rules out the others?
• When does the first sixty-nine sevens end?
  Walvoord: p197
  Showers: B.5
• What evidence do we have of that?
[Top]
3. The time gap and the final seven years
• What events occurred after the sixty-nine sevens, but before the seventieth seven?
  Walvoord: p198-199
  Showers: B.6-7
• What evidence do we have that there is a gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth seven?
  Walvoord: p199
  Showers: B.8
• What is the Amillennial interpretation of the final seven years?
  Walvoord: p199
• What problems does it have?
• Who does "he" refer to in Daniel 9:27?
  Walvoord: p200
  Showers: B.9.a
• How do we know this?
• What does the prophecy say that the Antichrist will do during the final seven years?
  Walvoord: p200-201
  Showers: B.9.b
• How encompassing was the prophecy given to Daniel?
  Walvoord: p202

DISCLOSURE: We may earn a commission when you use one of our coupons/links to make a purchase.

Privacy Statement - Broken Links / Suggestions / Comments Copyright © 1995-2023 Bible-Reading.com - Page last modified E-mail to Michael