I would like to express a point of view that is not much promoted these days, that is with all the sensationalism on a 7 year tribulation. Here's what I believe to be the historical view on Daniel 9:24-27. It is from these verses that the entire 7 year tribulation is contrived.

The 70th week is over and completed. Daniel 9:24-27 states that there are 70 weeks determined for the OT system (not the Je.ws themselves) because the messiah, which is the focus of these verses, shall fulfil the typical OT system of priest and prophet with the reality, that is the shadow of things with the true substance of things.
Note: all commentators to be 490 years using the day/year principle implied in Daniel.

The verse cleary states that all will be accomplished IN the 70 weeks. I will show that Jesus's work was all accomplished in the 70 week. There many ways to prove this but I will stick with the text it self.

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon the people and upon the holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make and end of sins, and to make reconciliation, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and the prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

Dan 9:25 Know therefor and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem UNTO the Messiah the Prince (Note: Jesus Christ) shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks: (Note: 7+62= 69 weeks) the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.


It is clear from the passage that the first 7 weeks relate to the exiles return and the rebuilding of the temple. The following 62 weeks begin after the first 7 weeks complete and go UNTO the completion of all 62 weeks and then the messiah, and although not directly stated takes place in the 70 week. So that 69 weeks complete UNTO the messiah. If that not clear here then the following verse makes it very clear.

Dan 9:26 And AFTER threescore and two (62) weeks shall the messiah be cutoff, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come (the Prince is Jesus Christ) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end therof will be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

It's clear that the Messiah is cutoff AFTER the 7 + 62 (69) weeks, putting his work in the 70th week. It would not be after if the work of Christ was in the 69th week!

Note: The city (church of God) and the sanctuary (the temple) is Jesus Christ and the people of the Prince are the J.ews.

John 2:19 Destroy this temple/sacntuary, and in three days I will raise it up.

Jesus is the greater temple and we the church are the city of God with Jesus as it's founding Prince.

And finally in verse 27 we see that the Messiah is to be cutoff in the MIDDLE of the 70th week (3.5 years into the 70th week).

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (that is the NT covenant) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrafice and the oblation to cease,

Matt 27:51 And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (This signified that God had left the temple for good!)

We see in Hebrews 2:1-3 that God did confirm the NT covenant.

Heb 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest head to the things which we have heard, lest at anytime we should let them slip. 2. For the words spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation; Which AT FIRST BEGAN TO BE SPOKEN BY THE LORD, AND WAS CONFIRMED UNTO US BY THEM THAT HEARD HIM;

Note: When the bible speaks of confirmation it is done by God's prophets and usually attended with signs, wonders, and miracles. That's true confirmation.

Dan 27 (cont.) and for the overspreading of abominations (what could be more abominable than destroying the messiah) he shall make it desolate (the shadow temple), (how long?) even until the consummation (the end of time), at that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (nothing will change this decree and punishment on the desolate).


Dispensationalist theology believes that Dan 9:27 refers to the anti-christ which is absurd! It would be completely out of context to bring in the anti-christ in a passage that is dedicated to the Messiah. This is the greatest prophecy in the OT, next to Issiah 53 in that it pinpoints the exact date of the appearance of Jesus Christ. Let's not screw it up with 70th week GAP theories that make no sense. There and no NT passages that talk about 7 week tribulation. Personally, I agree with the reformers in that I believe the tribulation is 1260 lunar years (began around 800AD) and will end around 2034. The worst appears just before the conclusion of the 1260 years (as with a women in birth pangs).

Dispensationalist theology is mostly nonsense and is not based in the bible. In fact its entire system is built on the 70th week theory which I hope I proved is false.

Thanks!