What are the 70 “sevens”?
“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. (Daniel 9: 24) (NIV)
When the Babylonians destroyed the 1st Temple, the Jewish people were taken into exile. While in captivity, Daniel was given a prophecy regarding their exile. There would be 70 “sevens” (490 years) to atone for wickedness and before everlasting righteousness is brought.
Just as God established a Sabbath day, He also established a Sabbath year (aka Shemitah) that must be observed in God’s holy land. It is a 7 year cycle and the 7th year is a Sabbath year. The land was to rest during the Sabbath year. The term “sevens” refers to the groups of 7 years. When the ancient Jewish people rebelled against God, one of the things they did was stop observing the Sabbath year in God’s holy land.
Punishment for Disobedience
27 “‘If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, 28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over… 33 I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins. 34 Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it. (Leviticus 26: 27-35)
God promised to bless the Jewish people if they remained in obedience to Him and the covenant they made with Him. God also promised to punish them if they broke that covenant. In keeping with God’s promised consequence for rebellion, they were to be exiled so that the land could observe the Sabbath rest that it did not get.
However the 490 years were not to be completed all at once. Daniel’s prophecy describes the 70 “sevens” as divided into 3 different periods: 7 “sevens,” 62 “sevens,” and 1 “seven.”
7 “sevens” & 62 “sevens”
Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. (Daniel 9: 25-26)
44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.’” (Leviticus 26: 44-45)
Daniel’s prophecy includes the timing of the Anointed One’s (the Jewish Messiah‘s) first arrival.
From the time that they began building the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem, there would be seven “sevens” (49 years) and sixty-two “sevens” (434 years). After the 434 years, the Anointed One (the Jewish Messiah) would be put to death. This timing coincides with the crucifixion of Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
Notice that there is still one “seven” of the seventy “sevens” that remains unfulfilled.
The Jews did not recognize their Messiah
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (Isaiah 53: 1)
9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6: 9-10)
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. (John 12: 37-41)
41 As he [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Luke 19: 41-44)
Because the Jewish people had hardened their hearts against the Lord God, He kept them from understanding the prophesies. This is why most of the Jewish people were unable to recognize their Messiah when he first arrived. Jesus Christ wept over the Jewish people because he loved them and knew what was going to happen to them.
The Romans destroyed the 2nd Temple in 69 AD. This event took place on the exact same day of the Hebrew calendar as when the 1st Temple was destroyed: the 9th of Av. The Lord God was making sure that His chosen people knew that He allowed it to happen because of their disobedience.
The end of this age began about 2,000 years ago when the Jewish Messiah (aka Yeshua, Jesus Christ) was born. In the last days of this age, the Jewish Messiah will return to redeem Israel.
But before that happens, the final “seven” will take place.
The final “seven”
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. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ (Daniel 9: 26)
21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. (Daniel 11: 21-23)
The ruler who will come, the contemptible person, is the Antichrist. He has not been given the honor of royalty (by birth or election). He will seize a kingdom through intrigue when its people feel secure (possibly Europe).
An overwhelming army will be swept away (the 6th Trumpet war involves 200 million soldiers and kills a third of mankind). The overwhelming army and a leader of Israel will be destroyed.
The Antichrist will confirm a treaty with many (with Israel and other nations). He will act deceitfully and will rise to power with only a few people.
The unprecedented peace treaty will allow the Temple to be rebuilt and will encourage the Jewish people to return to their homeland: Israel (the holy land that God gave them). The first 3-1/2 years of the treaty will be a time of unprecedented peace.
The Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt in a land recovering from war (the 6th Trumpet war) and during a time of unprecedented peace (the 7-year treaty). During the first half of the treaty, the Jewish people will dwell in safety without the need for protective walls.
The Antichrist breaks the treaty
In the middle of the ‘seven’ he [the Antichrist] will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” (Daniel 9: 27)
24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he [the Antichrist] will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time. (Daniel 11: 22-24)
In future years you [Gog, Antichrist] will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. 9 You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land… 11 You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. (Ezekiel 38: 8-11)
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog [the Antichrist]: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? 15 You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. (Ezekiel 38: 14-15) (NIV)
Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you [Israel] will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14: 1-2) (ESV)
Halfway through the 7-year treaty, the Antichrist will break the peace treaty and attack a Jerusalem. During a time of unprecedented peace, the Antichrist will attack an unsuspecting people. Their homes will be plundered. Their possessions will be taken from them. Women will be raped. Half of the people in city will go into exile (taken captive). This marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
A warning to flee Jerusalem
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Luke 21: 20-21)
15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24: 15-16)
God’s people are warned to flee Judea when the Antichrist attacks Jerusalem and exalts himself. This event marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
The Great Tribulation
There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” (Daniel 12: 1-4)
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. (Matthew 24: 21-25)
Daniel’s prophecy warns God’s people about a time of unequaled distress coming upon the earth. Jesus warns God’s people to not be fooled by false messiahs and false prophets who will perform great signs and wonders in an attempt to deceive everyone – even the elect.
The Great Tribulation is a time of great distress that is beyond anything the world has ever experienced. The Holocaust was part of the 2nd Trumpet. The Great Tribulation is part of the 6th Trumpet and takes place AFTER the 6th Trumpet war. Therefore, it has not yet happened. When it happens, God’s people will be persecuted more than any time in history.
Faithfulness & Patient Endurance
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. (Revelation 13: 9-10)
12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14: 12-13)
35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21: 35-36)
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. (Revelation 3: 10)
This time of great distress will come upon the entire earth. God’s people will be severely persecuted. This calls for faithfulness and patient endurance on the part of God’s people. God promises to help His people through the trial. In addition, He will spare some Christians from the trial and He will take a remnant of Jews to safety.
God protects a remnant of Jews
5 She [Israel] gave birth to a son [Jesus Messiah], a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12: 5-6)
14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. (Revelation 12: 14)
During the time of Great Tribulation, God brings the Jewish people to a place of safety in the wilderness where He will protect and provide for them as He did when He brought them out of Egypt. Although they don’t know it, that appears to be one of the reasons that the Jewish people have been mandated to continue practicing the construction of temporary shelters during the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Antichrist corrupts
32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. (Daniel 11: 32)
During the time of Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will use flattery to corrupt God’s people and seduce them into violating the covenant they made with God. The Antichrist will reward those who violate God’s covenant.
God’s 2 Witnesses
And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11: 2-3)
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11: 4-6)
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11: 7-8)
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11: 11-13)
During the time of Great Tribulation, God will appoint 2 special Witnesses to testify for Him. There are 2 witnesses because that is the number that is needed to officially bear witness before judgment is given.
Some scholars believe that the 2 Witnesses will be the 2 righteous people from ancient times who were taken up to heaven and did not die: Elijah and Enoch.
The 2 Witnesses will have supernatural powers. They will prophesy for 1,260 days and then be killed. After 3-3/2 days, God will resurrect them and the people will be terrified by what they see. There will be a great earthquake to announce the end of the Great Tribulation and the beginning of God’s wrath.
This takes place BEFORE the Jewish Messiah returns.
God pours out His wrath
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” (Revelation 16: 1)
After the Great Tribulation, God unleashes His wrath onto the world. He punishes the world for their blasphemies, destruction, the dividing up of His holy land, and the martyring of His holy people. The final bowl of God’s wrath is poured out at the battle of Armageddon: when the Jewish Messiah arrives to save and redeem the Jewish people.
The Jewish Messiah returns
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24: 29-10)
10 The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. (Isaiah 13: 10)
4 All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. (Isaiah 34: 4)
3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him… 9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. (Zechariah 14: 3-5, 9)
When Gog [the Antichrist] attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord. 19 In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel… and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. (Ezekiel 38: 18-20)
18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. (Revelation 16: 18)
27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24: 27)
When the Jewish Messiah first came into the world, it was with humility and gentleness. When he returns, the Jewish Messiah will arrive in power and great glory. There will be lightning, thunder, and a massive earthquake. His arrival will be unmistakable. Everyone on the earth will know (at exactly the same time) that He is the true Messiah: Jesus Christ.
The Battle of Armageddon
2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat [aka Jezreel Valley, Armageddon]. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. (Joel 3: 2)
The Jewish Messiah will arrive in time to save the Jewish people at the battle of Armageddon.
The Jewish people will recognize their true Messiah
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. (Zechariah 12: 9-11)
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23: 34)
The Jewish people will look upon the one they had pierced (Jesus Christ) and will grieve deeply for what their ancestors did to their Messiah. But Jesus loves them and already forgave them when he was paying the sin debt at the cross.
God will dwell among His people
17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. (Jeremiah 3: 17)
27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’” (Ezekiel 37: 27-28)
The Jewish Messiah will establish the eternal reign of God among His people.
Please note that the Jewish Messiah is NOT the one who makes the treaty or rebuilds the temple. The Temple will be rebuilt BEFORE the time of Great Tribulation. Whereas, the Jewish Messiah arrives AFTER the time of Great Tribulation. God presence is not established among His people until AFTER the battle of Armageddon.
God’s Prophetic Timeline
“How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” (Daniel 12: 6-7)
10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. 11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. (Daniel 12: 10-12)
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24: 12-14)
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