The Seventy Weeks
Daniel 9:27 "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: 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."
And he shall... A significant event that will mark the beginning of this seven-year period is the confirming of a covenant. This covenant will be made with many, that is, with Daniel’s people, the nation Israel. “The ruler who will come” (Dan. 9:26) will be this covenant-maker, for that person is the antecedent of the word he in Dan. 9:27. As a yet-future ruler he will be the final head of the fourth empire (the little horn of the fourth beast, Dan. 7:8). The covenant he will make will evidently be a peace covenant, in which he will guarantee Israel’s safety in the land. This suggests that Israel will be in her land but will be unable to defend herself for she will have lost any support she may have had previously. Therefore she will need and welcome the peacemaking role of this head of the confederation of 10 European (Roman) nations. In offering this covenant, this ruler will pose as a prince of peace, and Israel will accept his authority.
he shall cause... But then in the middle of that “seven,” after three and one-half years, he will break the covenant. According to Dan. 11:45, he will then move from Europe into the land of Israel. This ruler will end… sacrifice and offering. This expression refers to the entire Levitical system, which suggests that Israel will have restored that system in the first half of the 70th “seven.” After this ruler gains worldwide political power, he will assume power in the religious realm as well and will cause the world to worship him (2Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:8). To receive such worship, he will terminate all organized religions. Posing as the world’s rightful king and god and as Israel’s prince of peace, he will then turn against Israel and become her destroyer and defiler.
and for the... Daniel was told that “the ruler who will come” (Dan. 9:26) will place abominations on a wing of the temple. Christ referred to this incident: “You [will] see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation” (Mat. 24:15). John wrote that the false prophet will set up an image to this ruler and that the world will be compelled to worship it (Rev. 13:14-15). But then his end will come (the end that is decreed is poured out on him). With his false prophet he will be cast into the lake of fire when Christ returns to the earth (Rev. 19:20; cf. Dan. 7:11, 7:26).
make [it] desolate... The temple (Dan. 8:9-14; 11:45; Mat. 24:15; 2Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:1-18).
until the consummation... Until the end of the 70th week.
and that determine... Hebrew: charats, to point sharply; to decide; to decree (Dan. 9:26-27; Job 14:5; Isa. 10:23; 28:22). Destruction is decreed for Antichrist (Dan. 7:11, 7:25, 7:26; 8:25; 11:45; Isa. 11:4; Eze. 38:17-21; 2Thes. 2:8; Rev. 19:20; 20:10).
upon the desolate... Not upon the desolate place, but upon the one making the temple desolate.
This verse unveils what will occur in the 70th seven years. This seven-year period will begin after the Rapture of the church (which will consummate God’s program in this present Age). The 70th “seven” will continue till the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Because Jesus said this will be a time of “great distress” (Mat. 24:21), this period is often called the Tribulation.
This covenant could not have been made or confirmed by Christ at His First Advent, as amillenarians teach, because: (a) His ministry did not last seven years, (b) His death did not stop sacrifices and offerings, (c) He did not set up “the abomination that causes desolation” (Mat. 24:15). amillenarians suggest that Christ confirmed (in the sense of fulfilling) the Abrahamic Covenant but the Gospels give no indication He did that in His First Advent.
As stated, the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel at the beginning of the second half of the 70th “seven,” that is, it will be broken for three and one-half years. This is called “a time, times, and half a time” (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 12:14). The fact that this is the same as the three and one-half years, which in turn are equated with 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6) and with 42 months (Rev. 11:2; 13:5), means that in Jewish reckoning each month has 30 days and each year 360 days. This confirms the 360-day Jewish year used in the calculations in the chart, “The 483 Years in the Jewish and Gregorian Calendars” (near Dan. 9:26). Since the events in the 69 sevens (Dan. 9:24-26) were fulfilled literally, the 70th “seven,” yet unfulfilled, must likewise be fulfilled literally.
Outline of End-Time Events Predicted in the Bible
I. Events Before, During, and After the Seven-Year End-Time Period (This seven-year period is the 70th “seven” of Daniel, Dan. 9:27.)
A. Events immediately before the seven-year period
1. Church raptured (John 14:1-3; 1Cor. 15:51-52; 1Thes. 4:16-18; Rev. 3:10)
2. Restrainer removed (2Thes. 2:7)
3. Judgment seat of Christ (in heaven, 1Cor. 3:12-15; 2Cor. 5:10)
4. Antichrist rises to power over the Roman confederacy (Dan. 7:20, 7:24)
B. Event at the beginning of the seven-year period Antichrist (the coming “ruler”) makes a covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:26-27)
C. Events in the first half of the seven-year period
1. Israel living in peace in the land (Eze. 38:8)
2. Temple sacrifices instituted (Rev. 11:1-2)
3. World church dominates religion and the Antichrist (Rev. 17:1-18)
D. Events perhaps just before the middle of the seven-year period
1. Gog and his allies invade Israel from the north (Eze. 38:2, 38:5-6, 38:22)
2. Gog and his allies destroyed by God (Eze. 38:17-23)
E. Events at the middle of the seven-year period
1 . Satan cast down from heaven and energizes the Antichrist (Rev. 12:12-17)
2. Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, causing her sacrifices to cease (Dan. 9:27)
3. The 10 kings under the Antichrist destroy the world church (Rev. 17:16-18)
4. The 144,000 Israelites saved and sealed (Rev. 7:1-8)
F. Events of the second half of the seven-year period These three-and-one-half years are called “the Great Tribulation” (Rev. 7:14; cf. “great distress,” Mat. 24:21; “time of distress,” Dan. 12:1; and “a time of trouble for Jacob,” Jer. 30:7)
1. Rebellion (apostasy) against the truth in the professing church (Mat. 24:12; 2Thes. 2:3)
2. Antichrist becomes a world ruler (1st seal, Rev. 6:1-2) with support of the Western confederacy (Rev. 13:5, 13:7; 17:12-13)
3. Antichrist revealed as “the man of lawlessness,” “the lawless one” (2Thes. 2:3, 2:8-9)
4. War, famine, and death (2nd, 3rd, and 4th seals, Rev. 6:3-8)
5. Converted multitudes from every nation martyred (5th seal, Rev. 6:9-11; 7:9-14; Mat. 24:9)
6. Natural disturbances and worldwide fear of divine wrath (6th seal, Rev. 6:12-17)
7. Antichrist’s image (an “abomination”) set up for worship (Dan. 9:27; Mat. 24:15; 2Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:14-15)
8. Two witnesses begin their ministry (Rev. 11:3)
9. The false prophet promotes the Antichrist, who is worshiped by nations and unbelieving Israel (Mat. 24:11-12; 2Thes. 2:11; Rev. 13:4, 13:11-15)
10. Mark of the beast used to promote worship of the Antichrist (Rev. 13:16-18)
11. Israel scattered because of the anger of Satan (Rev. 12:6, Rev. 12:13-17) and because of the “abomination” (Antichrist’s image) in the temple (Mat. 24:15-26)
12. Jerusalem overrun by Gentiles (Luke 21:24; Rev. 11:2)
13. Antichrist and false prophets deceive many people (Mat. 24:11; 2Thes. 2:9-11)
14. The gospel of the kingdom proclaimed (Mat. 24:14)
15 Israel persecuted by the Antichrist (Jer. 30:5-7; Dan. 12:1; Zec. 13:8; Mat. 24:21-22)
16. Trumpet judgments (Rev. 8-9) and bowl judgments (Rev. 16:1-21) poured out by God on Antichrist’s empire
17. Blasphemy increases as the judgments intensify (Rev. 16:8-11)
G. Events concluding the seven-year period
1. Two witnesses slain by the Antichrist (Rev. 11:7)
2. Two witnesses resurrected (Rev. 11:11-12)
3. The king of the South (Egypt) and the king of the North fight against the Antichrist (Dan. 11:40)
4. Antichrist enters Israel and defeats Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia (Dan. 11:40-43)
5. Armies from the East and the North move toward Israel (Dan. 11:44; Rev. 16:12)
6. Jerusalem is ravaged (Zec. 14:1-4)
7. Commercial Babylon is destroyed (Rev. 16:19; 18:1-3, 18:21-24)
8. Signs appear in the earth and sky (Isa. 13:10; Joel 2:10, 2:30-31; 3:15; Mat. 24:29)
9. Christ returns with the armies of heaven (Mat. 24:27-31; Rev. 19:11-16)
10. Jews flee Jerusalem facilitated by topographical changes (Zec. 14:5)
11. Armies unite at Armageddon against Christ and the armies of heaven (Joel 3:9-11; Rev. 16:16; 19:17-19)
12. Armies are destroyed by Christ (Rev. 19:19, 19:21)
13. The “beast” (Antichrist) and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20)
H. Events following the seven-year period
1 Final regathering of Israel (Isa. 11:11-12; Jer. 30:3; Eze. 36:24; 37:1-14; Amos 9:14-15; Mic. 4:6-7; Mat. 24:31)
2. A remnant of Israelites turn to the Lord and are forgiven and cleansed (Hos. 14:1-5; Zec. 12:10; 13:1)
3. National deliverance of Israel from the Antichrist (Dan. 12:1; Zec. 12:10; 13:1; Rom. 11:26-27)
4. Judgment of living Israel (Eze. 20:33-38; Mat. 25:1-30)
5. Judgment of living Gentiles (Mat. 25:31-46)
6. Satan cast into the abyss (Rev. 20:1-3)
7. Old Testament saints resurrected (Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:1-3)
8. Tribulation saints resurrected (Rev. 20:4-6)
9. Dan. 9:24 fulfilled
10. Marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9)
11. Christ begins His reign on earth (Psm. 72:8; Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 2:14-35, 2:44; 7:13-14; Zec. 9:10; Rev. 20:4)
II. Characteristics and Events of the Millennium
A. Physical characteristics
1 Topography and geography of the earth changed (Isa. 2:2; Eze. 47:1-12; Eze. 48:8-20; Zec. 14:4, 14:8, 14:10)
2. Wild animals tamed (Isa. 11:6-9; 35:9; Eze. 34:25)
3. Crops abundant (Isa. 27:6; 35:1-2, 35:6-7; Amos 9:13; Zec. 14:8)
4. Human longevity increased (Isa. 65:20-23)
B. Spiritual and religious characteristics and events
1 Satan confined in the abyss (Rev. 20:1-3)
2. Millennial temple built (Eze. 40:5-43:27)
3. Animal sacrifices offered as memorials to Christ’s death (Isa. 56:7; 66:20-23; Jer. 33:17-18; Eze. 43:18-27; 45:13-46:24; Mal. 3:3-4)
4.. Feasts of the New Year, Passover, and Tabernacles re-instituted (Eze. 45:18-25; Zec. 14:16-21)
5. Nations worship in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-4; Mic. 4:2; 7:12; Zec. 8:20-23; 14:16-21)
6. Worldwide knowledge of God (Isa. 11:9; Jer. 31:34; Mic. 4:5; Hab. 2:14)
7. Unparalleled filling of and empowerment by the Holy Spirit on Israel (Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Eze. 36:24-29; 39:29; Joel 2:28-29)
8. New Covenant with Israel fulfilled (Jer. 31:31-34; Eze. 11:19-20; 36:25-32)
9. Righteousness and justice prevails (Isa. 9:7; 11:4; 42:1-4; Jer. 23:5)
C. Political characteristics and events
1. Israel reunited as a nation (Jer. 3:18; Eze. 37:15-23)
2. Israel at peace in the land (Deut. 30:1-10; Isa. 32:18; Hos. 14:5, 14:7; Amos 9:15; Mic. 4:4; 5:4-5; Zec. 3:10; 14:11)
3. Abrahamic Covenant land — grant boundaries established (Gen. 15:18-21; Eze. 47:13-48:8, 48:23-27)
4. Christ in Jerusalem rules over Israel (Isa. 40:11; Mic. 4:7; 5:2)
5. Davidic Covenant fulfilled (Christ on the throne of David, 2Sam. 7:11-16; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 33:17-26; Amos 9:11-12; Luke 1:32-33)
6. Christ rules over and judges the nations (Isa. 11:3-5; Mic. 4:2-3; Zec. 14:9; Rev. 19:15)
7. Resurrected saints reign with Christ (Mat. 19:28; 2Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10; 20:6)
8. Universal peace prevails (Isa. 2:4; 32:17-18; 60:18; Hos. 2:18; Mic. 4:2-4; 5:4; Zec. 9:10)
9. Jerusalem made the world’s capital (Jer. 3:17; Eze. 48:30-35; Joel 3:16-17; Mic. 4:1, 4:6-8; Zec. 8:2-3)
10. Israel exalted above the Gentiles (Isa. 14:1-2; 49:22-23; 60:14-17; 61:5-9)
11. The world blessed through Israel (Mic. 5:7)
D. Events following the Millennium
1 Satan released from the abyss (Rev. 20:7)
2. Satan deceives the nations (Rev. 20:8)
3. Global armies besiege Jerusalem (Rev. 20:9)
4. Global armies destroyed by fire (Rev. 20:9)
5 Satan cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10)
6. Evil angels judged (1Cor. 6:3)
7. The wicked dead resurrected (Dan. 12:2; John 5:29)
8. The wicked judged at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-14)
9. The wicked cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15; 21:8)
III. Eternity
A Christ delivers the mediatorial (millennial) kingdom to God the Father (1Cor. 15:24)
B. Present heavens and earth demolished (Rev. 21:1)
C. New heavens and new earth created (2Pet. 3:10; Rev. 21:1)
D. New Jerusalem descends to the new earth (Rev. 21:2, 21:10-27)
E. Christ rules forever in the eternal kingdom (Isa. 9:6-7; Eze_. 7:24-28; Dan. 7:13-14; Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 11:15)
Notes
1. Some identify Antichrist’s initial rise to power with the first seal judgment (Rev. 6:1-2)
2. Some place the battle of Gog and his allies at the very middle of the seven-year period; others place it later.
3. Some say the 144,000 will be saved and sealed in the first half of the seven-year period.
4. According to some, this apostasy will begin in the first half of the seven-year period.
5. Many pre millenarians place the seal judgments in the first half of the seven-year period.
6. Some Bible scholars say the work of the two witnesses will be in the first half of the seven-year period.
7. Some suggest that the two witnesses will be slain and resurrected in the first half of the seven-year period.
8. Some equate these events with the battle of Gog and his allies.
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