The literal translation says “Seventy Sevens”, generally accepted as 490 years prophetically.

25 “KNOW THEREFORE AND UNDERSTAND, THAT FROM THE GOING FORTH OF THE COMMAND TO RESTORE AND BUILD JERUSALEM UNTIL MESSIAH THE PRINCE, THERE SHALL BE SEVEN WEEKS AND SIXTY-TWO WEEKS;

The prophecy gives the starting date: when a decree is issued for the Jews to return to rebuild Jerusalem. This date is generally accepted to be 457 BC, when the decree to rebuild Jerusalem was given by King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:13). Some believe it is 458 BC. The prophecy covers a period of 490 years.

The prophecy says that from that date, it shall be (7 + 62) Sevens, that is 483 years, to the showing of the MESSIAH THE PRINCE to the Jews. This date is 27 AD. This is when the Lord was 30 years old and John the Baptist, the Lord’s Forerunner, proclaimed to Israel, “This is the LAMB OF GOD”. This date is correct historically as the Julian Calendar puts the date of the birth of the Lord as 4 BC.

The prophecy separated the first 7 (that is 49years) from 483 years. The 49 years was the period for the rebuilding of the Temple. Jewish history says it took 46 years.

26 “AND AFTER THE SIXTY-TWO WEEKS MESSIAH SHALL BE CUT OFF, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF;

This is clearly understood to refer to the Lord’s crucifixion and death, after His Baptism and revelation to Israel. This is explained further in verse 27.

27 THEN HE SHALL CONFIRM A COVENANT WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK; BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK HE SHALL BRING AN END TO SACRIFICE AND OFFERING.

This is the last Seven, the 70th Week, that is, the last 7 Years. In the middle of the last 7 years, that is, after 3 and ½ years of His ministry, He shall be killed and would bring an end to the Jewish Sacrifice in the Temple. The year is 31 AD, when He died on the Cross and the veil of the Holy of Holies was torn from Top to Bottom to expose that God was no longer dwelling in their midst.

The end of the prophesy, 490 years from the starting date is 34 AD. This was the year Stephen was stoned to death and the Gospel moved from Jerusalem to the Gentiles.

I have deliberately left out some parts of verse 26 & 27. These are often the portions Satan uses to cause controversies and blind people to the truth of the prophecy. Here is the portion:

“And the people of the prince who is to come

Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

The end of it shall be with a flood,

And till the end of the war desolations are determined…And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined,

Is poured out on the desolate.”

The prophecy speaks of another prince, basically a King, who would come and destroy the Temple and the City of Jerusalem.

Historically, we know that these were Roman soldiers, led by Titus, who burned the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. Over one Million Jews died between 67-70 AD because of the siege on the city. This is not a reference to an anti-Christ. Since that date, the Temple has been in ruins. Israel became a nation again in 1948.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPHECY

1. The prophecy speaks of the exact dates of the Baptism and Crucifixion of the Messiah;

2. The Messiah, as prophesied by the Prophets, came about 2000 years ago. It is a mystery that Jews missed it.

3. There is no other Sacrifice accepted by God. He was the One Who stopped the sacrificial system by the Jews by becoming the Sacrifice, as prophesied by in Isaiah 53.

4. God will not permit another earthly temple to be built until He returns. The Temple of the Lord is the Church.

5. Jesus is the MESSIAH, God’s Sacrifice for Humanity.

6. He is the ONLY WAY to God NOW for both Jews and Gentiles.

7. JESUS DIED FOR YOU AS PROPHESIED. DO NOT REJECT HIM.

On the next GOOD FRIDAY you can embrace the fact that this Day was predicted to happen, right on schedule, many, many years before it occurred. What an amazing prophecy!