As we have patently suggested before, Daniel 9:24-27 may actually refer to 490 literal days yet in the future. There is no 7 Year Tribulation Period. There are only these 490 days that precede the days of the Great Tribulation which will last 3.5 years.
They clearly tie into the Tribulation because of the Abomination of Desolation (see also Matthew 24:15), but the 490 days mentioned here most likely immediately precede the Tribulation. As stated, we are not convinced by any of the evidence that:
1) These events were fulfilled in the past;
2) The anointed one in the text is Jesus;
3) There is a gap of 2,000 years between the 69th and 70th weeks; or that
4) This prophecy necessarily relates to 490 years.
We see no textual basis for rejecting a 490 day chronology (70 literal weeks). Practically, if the Empire State Building could be built in 410 days, why couldn’t the groundwork for the rebuilding of Jerusalem (literally, just the “squares and moat”) be substantially in progress in 434 days?
We take squares and moat to essentially mean that excavations have been made and perhaps that foundations have been poured, but that’s all. (Apparently, Jerusalem does have a moat near the Jaffa gate)
The text never says that this rebuilding will be complete or that anything more than the excavations will have been made when the prince (The Messiah) who is to come destroys the city.
In fact, the text says the effort to rebuild will come to nothing, which suggests that no structures will actually be erected. So what is it exactly about a 434 day excavation project that makes it an unreasonable interpretation?
A closer look at v. 27 also reveals that the last sentence is not directly stated to be completed within the 70th week. That is, the “wing of abominations” and the “one who makes desolate” are not said to be consummated in the 70th week.
The use of the word “wing” suggests being carried away, and with speed. Thus, the “wing of abominations” infers it will follow the 70th week quickly, or perhaps begin in the 70th week, but nothing says it will be completed in that week.
Stopping the sacrifices after 486½ days could simply be the start of the beginning of the 1260/1290 day period of Dan. 12:11.
They clearly tie into the Tribulation because of the Abomination of Desolation (see also Matthew 24:15), but the 490 days mentioned here most likely immediately precede the Tribulation. As stated, we are not convinced by any of the evidence that:
1) These events were fulfilled in the past;
2) The anointed one in the text is Jesus;
3) There is a gap of 2,000 years between the 69th and 70th weeks; or that
4) This prophecy necessarily relates to 490 years.
We see no textual basis for rejecting a 490 day chronology (70 literal weeks). Practically, if the Empire State Building could be built in 410 days, why couldn’t the groundwork for the rebuilding of Jerusalem (literally, just the “squares and moat”) be substantially in progress in 434 days?
We take squares and moat to essentially mean that excavations have been made and perhaps that foundations have been poured, but that’s all. (Apparently, Jerusalem does have a moat near the Jaffa gate)
The text never says that this rebuilding will be complete or that anything more than the excavations will have been made when the prince (The Messiah) who is to come destroys the city.
In fact, the text says the effort to rebuild will come to nothing, which suggests that no structures will actually be erected. So what is it exactly about a 434 day excavation project that makes it an unreasonable interpretation?
A closer look at v. 27 also reveals that the last sentence is not directly stated to be completed within the 70th week. That is, the “wing of abominations” and the “one who makes desolate” are not said to be consummated in the 70th week.
The use of the word “wing” suggests being carried away, and with speed. Thus, the “wing of abominations” infers it will follow the 70th week quickly, or perhaps begin in the 70th week, but nothing says it will be completed in that week.
Stopping the sacrifices after 486½ days could simply be the start of the beginning of the 1260/1290 day period of Dan. 12:11.
70 weeks (490 days) are given to Israel and Jerusalem to wrap up some big things in God’s plan (1 to finish the transgression, 2 to make an end of sin, 3 to make atonement for iniquity, 4 to bring in everlasting righteousness, 5 to seal up vision and prophecy, 6 and to anoint the most holy place).
The Vision
7 weeks after an order is given to rebuild Jerusalem, a righteous leader will appear. He will work to rebuild the city in troubled times for 62 weeks (434 days), only digging the moat and the city foundations, but in the end his efforts will come to nothing. The followers of the Antichrist will destroy Jerusalem and the temple at that time. War will come suddenly, and the invaders will desecrate the city. The Antichrist will make a multilateral pact to cease hostilities for a week, and for half that time Jewish sacrifices and offerings will be stopped. Then, 1) hating the holy things of God and 2) acting quickly, the Antichrist will desecrate Jerusalem 3) and set up the Abomination of Desolation until he is finally conquered.
Many people look for the inauguration of a seven year peace treaty with Israel as the reference point by which they will know the end times have begun – others think the Rapture will be the sign. It will never happen for them, they will be waiting forever and a day.
For us, we are only looking for two things as being the key indicators that the end times have begun: 1) an event which triggers an order to rebuild Jerusalem (such as a destruction of the mosques currently on the temple mount, or a military attack on the city); and 2) the formation of the beast kingdom consisting of 10 Arab Nations
The mere fact the events in Daniel 9:24-27 are so clearly mapped out and are patently obvious (and prominent in prophecy) that leads us to believe the issuance of an order to rebuild Jerusalem is when people will be able to look each other in the eye and say, “The end times are here.” Nothing more, nothing less.
Actually, the main time marker used to compute dates in scripture is the stopping of the sacrifices, but that is the end of the beginning. The beginning of the beginning comes when the decree to rebuild is issued.
The beast kingdom will likely take a while to fully develop, and its arrival will precede the arrival of the Antichrist, as he will come up afterwards and replace three of the initial rulers.
So, while this may be in progress and advance, the rebuilding project will and should be the first thing we will see. But at the time, when this occurs, people are likely to chalk it up to politics as usual and shrug off its importance. Nonetheless, from God’s perspective, and to those who are perceptive, such events will be obvious birth pangs Matthew 24:8.
The order to rebuild Jerusalem will be the inauguration of the end times. The Last 16 Months before the End Time or Great Tribulation begins.
The event triggering a rebuilding is likely to come quite suddenly, and when it comes it will be unmistakable. It will also start the running of the end times clock in a way the gradual formation of the beast kingdom will not, because it is attached to a specific time period.
The other major time marker for prophetic purposes is the Second Coming.
We have stated before, that the Bible is a Jewish Middle Eastern Book and it must be read with Jewish understanding.
Many people look for the inauguration of a seven year peace treaty with Israel as the reference point by which they will know the end times have begun – others think the Rapture will be the sign. It will never happen for them, they will be waiting forever and a day.
For us, we are only looking for two things as being the key indicators that the end times have begun: 1) an event which triggers an order to rebuild Jerusalem (such as a destruction of the mosques currently on the temple mount, or a military attack on the city); and 2) the formation of the beast kingdom consisting of 10 Arab Nations
The mere fact the events in Daniel 9:24-27 are so clearly mapped out and are patently obvious (and prominent in prophecy) that leads us to believe the issuance of an order to rebuild Jerusalem is when people will be able to look each other in the eye and say, “The end times are here.” Nothing more, nothing less.
Actually, the main time marker used to compute dates in scripture is the stopping of the sacrifices, but that is the end of the beginning. The beginning of the beginning comes when the decree to rebuild is issued.
The beast kingdom will likely take a while to fully develop, and its arrival will precede the arrival of the Antichrist, as he will come up afterwards and replace three of the initial rulers.
So, while this may be in progress and advance, the rebuilding project will and should be the first thing we will see. But at the time, when this occurs, people are likely to chalk it up to politics as usual and shrug off its importance. Nonetheless, from God’s perspective, and to those who are perceptive, such events will be obvious birth pangs Matthew 24:8.
The order to rebuild Jerusalem will be the inauguration of the end times. The Last 16 Months before the End Time or Great Tribulation begins.
The event triggering a rebuilding is likely to come quite suddenly, and when it comes it will be unmistakable. It will also start the running of the end times clock in a way the gradual formation of the beast kingdom will not, because it is attached to a specific time period.
The other major time marker for prophetic purposes is the Second Coming.
We have stated before, that the Bible is a Jewish Middle Eastern Book and it must be read with Jewish understanding.
Saul Anderson