Dan. 9:24-27 - Seventy weeks, or seventy “sevens”, that is periods of seven years, were declared to:
- finish transgressions and make an end of sins
- make reconciliation (atonement) for iniquity (Is. 53:4-6, 1 Jo. 2:1-2)
- to bring everlasting righteousness (2 Co. 5:21, Heb. 10:14)
- to seal up the vision and prophecy (Lu. 24:44)
This is the purpose of God’s 490 year plan. The plan was broken into three periods. Seven weeks, or 49 years appears to have been the allotted time given to the rebuilding of Jerusalem, as seen in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Sixty-nine weeks (total) or 483 years was the appointed time between the beginning of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the time when the Messiah, meaning Anointed or Chosen One, was to be cut off, not for Himself but for others. (Is. 53:8, Jo. 11:51-52)
The final week or seven year period will begin with a covenant initiated by the “prince that shall come”. This covenant is referred to in Is. 28:14-22 as a covenant with death and hell. This coming prince is readily identified by numerous scriptural passages. We know him by the term “anti-christ”, or one who comes in place of the true Christ. (Zech. 11:15-17, Rev. 13:1-8,
