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Thirteen years after Daniel's second vision in chapter 8, the Temple at Jerusalem still lay in ruins from Babylon's attack.  With the time nearing for the end of their captivity, which the prophet Jeremiah predicted would last seventy years (Jeremiah 25:12), Daniel cried out in humble petition to God in a Day of Atonement prayer of restoration.  During this prayer the man, Gabriel, touched Daniel and said, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding, " Daniel 9:23.  Gabriel then relayed time periods and events, specific to Israel, that would bring an end to sin and finalize the vision concerning Jerusalem.  We will discover the time periods of (70 X 7 = 490), made up of three distinct segments of time (49 + 434 + 7 = 490), are not relics of the past but are viable time periods, which will unfold during the final days.

There are two common interpretations of the 70 Week prophecy.  First, the "historicist" view which was likely introduced in the 13th century.  This view promotes a 490 “year” interpretation of the prophecy based on a "day for a year" concept.  The 490 years are believed to be representative of historical events, which began with a decree to rebuild Jerusalem and ended around the time of the cross.  

There are two problems with this view.  The "day for a year" principle is borrowed, and is not necessary or implied.  The day for a year teaching is found in two locations: Ezekiel, a contemporary prophet to Daniel, was told to lie on his side for 40 days, "each day for each year," (4:6).  As you can see this is a reversal of concepts, for in this case Ezekiel's prophecy reduces the 40 years down to 40 days--the opposite of what scholars would use in Daniel 9:24 where the attempt is made to turn 490 days into 490 years.   The second reference is in Numbers 14:34.  The Israelites were told they would have to spend 40 years in the desert, "one year for each of the forty days" the spies explored the land.  From here, scholars attempt to turn the 490 days of Daniel 9:24 into years.  However, this view disregards the literal language of Daniel 9, which simply implies a period of 490 literal days.  

This interpretation disregards the "end-of-the-world" context of verse 24 and throws the predictions into the past history.  Nevertheless, every attempt should be made to understand the Bible in its literal language first, and if this exegesis (critical explanation of Scripture text) does not blend with Daniel's book, only then should other schemes be considered.  

The second common interpretation is the "futurist" view.  Scholars of this view have also turned the 490-day prophecy into years, but instead of holding to a complete fulfillment in the past they recognize the end-of-the-world context of Daniel's prophecy.  The futurist interpretation places 69 weeks in the past, ending around the death of Christ.  This is followed by a mysterious gap of time until Israel reaches the final events of the age, where the prophecy picks back up again with one final week of years, producing a seven year tribulation period.

There are two concerns with this view as well.  First, like the historical view, the "day for a year" concept is used, which is not called for contextually.  There is simply no support for turning the 490 days into 490 years.  The futurist view also disregards the literal reading of "seventy sevens" (that is, 490 days) in which every prediction of the prophecy will meet fulfillment.  Second, there is no evidence in the vision or in the prophetic predictions for a gap of time between the 69th and 70th weeks. 

As noted in the introduction to our lesson series, the apostles, Bible writers and early church held a literal view of Daniel.  It was not until the thirteenth century that a monk first interpreted the prophetic days of Daniel to be years.  This idea was picked up by Cardinal Nicholas Krebs (c. 1400-1464), whose work popularized the application of the day-year measurement of time.  From these roots many scholars' comments, such as found in modern Bibles and commentaries, have repeated this idea so that now both the historical and now popular futurist views have been widely promoted.  Nevertheless, in this lesson we will return to the early church's literal interpretation of Daniel 9.  We will attempt to understand the events of this important time frame, then we will merge it alongside the 1,335 days, 1,290 days, 1,260 days and 1,150 days of Daniel's visions as charted in the Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar.  If the 490 days fit alongside the other periods, then we must consider this complete prophecy of times and events to be valid for the end of time, and not a relic of the past as though already used up.

1. For the benefit of what people and what city is the vision of Daniel 9:24 specifically given?

Israel and Jerusalem

2. How long is "seventy sevens," literally, "seventy weeks"?

70 X 7 = 490 

70 weeks equal 490 days

3. What six events will bring the prophecy for Israel and Jerusalem to fulfillment (v. 24)?

1) to finish transgression

2) to put an end to sin

3) to atone for wickedness (Day of Atonement event)

4) to bring in everlasting righteousness (Kingdom of Righteousness)

5) to seal up vision and prophecy

6) to anoint the most holy (return the Most Holy to the proper state)

All six predictions represent "Day of the Lord" fulfillments and are "end-of-the-world" in their context.  These six elements blend alongside the predictions of the three additional visions Daniel received about the appointed time of the end in chapters 7, 8 and 10-12.  When the vision and its 490-day time frame meets fulfillment it will finish transgression, put an end to sin, seal up the vision and return the sanctuary to its rightful state... events surrounding Israel and Jerusalem, which take us to the end of sinful activities and the dawning of God's eternal Kingdom.

In Chart I below the 490 literal day periods is charted in its most basic form with the six predictions meeting fulfillment at the Day of the Lord. 

4. There are three segments of time that make up the 490 days-- 49 days, followed by 434 days, completed by 7 days.  Verse 25 introduces two of the three divisions-- "seven sevens [49 days] and sixty-two sevens [434 days]."  There are several events also included.  What are the three major events that will take place during these two prophetic periods, which are linked to one another in verse 25?

1) issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem   

2) anointed one, the ruler, comes [to Jerusalem]   

3) rebuilding of [Jerusalem] streets and a trench in times of trouble

Gabriel states "from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the anointed one, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' (49 days) and sixty-two 'sevens" (434 days)."  It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble."