70 Sevens Equals 490 Years

Dan 9:25 -
c. The divisions of the 70 "sevens" (Dan_9:25-27)
Important revelation was then given Daniel about the inception
of this important time period and its divisions. The 70
"sevens" would begin, Gabriel said, with the issuing of the
decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This decree was the
fourth of four decrees made by Persian rulers in reference to
the Jews. The first was Cyrus' decree in 538 b.c.
(2Ch_36:22-23; Ezr_1:1-4; Ezr_5:13). The second was the decree
of Darius I (522-486) in 520 b.c. (Ezr_6:1, Ezr_6:6-12). This
decree actually was a confirmation of the first decree. The
third was the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus (464-424) in 458
b.c. (Ezr_7:11-26). The first two decrees pertain to the
rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and the third relates to
finances for animal sacrifices at the temple. These three say
nothing about the rebuilding of the city itself. Since an
unwalled city was no threat to a military power, a religious
temple could be rebuilt without jeopardizing the military
authority of those granting permission to rebuild it. No one
of these three decrees, then, was the decree that formed the
beginning of the 70 sevens.

The fourth decree was also by Artaxerxes Longimanus, issued on
March 5, 444 b.c. (Neh_2:1-8). On that occasion Artaxerxes
granted the Jews permission to rebuild Jerusalem's city walls.
This decree is the one referred to in Dan_9:25.

The end or goal of the prophecy is the appearance of the
Anointed One, the Ruler. This refers to Christ Himself. God
the Father anointed Christ with the Spirit at the time of His
water baptism (Act_10:38), but the anointing referred to here
is the anointing of Christ as the Ruler in His kingdom (cf.
comments on "anoint the Most Holy" in Dan_9:24). This prophecy
of the 70 sevens, then, ends not with the First Advent of
Christ, as some suggest, but rather with the Second Advent and
the establishing of the millennial kingdom.

This 490-year period is divided into three segments; (a) 7
"sevens" (49 years), (b) 62 "sevens" (434 years), and (c) 1
"seven" (Dan_9:27; Dan_7:1-28 years). The first period of 49
years may refer to the time in which the rebuilding of the
city of Jerusalem, permitted by Artaxerxes' decree, was
completed (444-395 b.c.). Though Nehemiah's wall construction
project took only 52 days, many years may have been needed to
remove the city's debris (after being desolate for many
decades), to build adequate housing, and to rebuild the
streets and a trench.

Dan 9:26 -
The 62 "sevens" (434 years) extend up to the introduction of
the Messiah to the nation Israel. This second period concluded
on the day of the Triumphal Entry just before Christ was cut
off, that is, crucified. In His Triumphal Entry, Christ, in
fulfillment of Zec_9:9, officially presented Himself to the
nation of Israel as the Messiah. He was evidently familiar
with Daniel's prophecy when on that occasion He said, "If you,
even you, had only known on this day what would bring you
peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes" (Luk_19:42).

Thus the first two segments of the important time period - the
7 sevens (49 years) and the 62 sevens (434 years) - ran
consecutively with no time between them. They totaled 483
years and extended from March 5, 444 b.c. to March 30, a.d.
33. How can 444 b.c. to a.d. 33 equal 483 years? For an answer
see the chart "The 483 Years in the Jewish and Gregorian
Calendars." (For more details see Harold W. Hoehner,
Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1977, and Alva J. McClain,
Daniel's Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1969.)

According to Dan_9:26 the Anointed One was not "cut off" in
the 70th "seven"; He was cut off after the 7 and 62 "sevens"
had run their course. This means that there is an interval
between the 69th and 70th "sevens." Christ's crucifixion,
then, was in that interval, right after His Triumphal Entry,
which concluded the 69th "seven." This interval was
anticipated by Christ when He prophesied the establishing of
the church (Mat_16:18). This necessitated the setting aside of
the nation Israel for a season in order that His new program
for the church might be instituted. Christ predicted the
setting aside of the nation (Mat_21:42-43). The present Church
Age is the interval between the 69th and 70th "sevens."

Amillenarians teach that Christ's First Advent ministry was in
the 70th "seven," that there was no interval between the 69th
and 70th "sevens," and that the six actions predicted in
Dan_9:24 are being fulfilled today in the church. This view,
however, (a) ignores the fact that Dan_9:26 says "after the 62
'sevens,'" not "in the 70th 'seven,'" (b) overlooks the fact
that Christ's ministry on earth was three and one-half years
in length, not seven, and (c) ignores the fact that God's six
actions pertain to Daniel's "people" (Israel) and His "Holy
City" (Jerusalem), not the church.

When the Anointed One would be cut off, Daniel was told, he
would have nothing. The word translated "cut off" is used of
executing the death penalty on a criminal. Thus the prophecy
clearly points to the crucifixion of Christ. At His
crucifixion He would "have nothing" in the sense that Israel
had rejected Him and the kingdom could not be instituted at
that time. Therefore He did not then receive the royal glory
as the King on David's throne over Israel. John referred to
this when he wrote, "He came to that which was His own [i.e.,
the throne to which He had been appointed by the Father] but
His own [i.e., His own people] did not receive Him"
(Joh_1:11). Daniel's prophecy, then, anticipated Christ's
offer of Himself to the nation Israel as her Messiah, the
nation's rejection of Him as Messiah, and His crucifixion.

The prophecy continues with a description of the judgment that
would come on the generation that rejected the Messiah. The
city which contains the sanctuary, that is, Jerusalem, would
be destroyed by the people of the ruler who will come. The
ruler who will come is that final head of the Roman Empire,
the little horn of Dan_7:8. It is significant that the people
of the ruler, not the ruler himself, will destroy Jerusalem.
Since he will be the final Roman ruler, the people of that
ruler must be the Romans themselves. This, then, is a prophecy
of the destruction of Jerusalem about which Christ spoke in
His ministry.

When the leaders of the nation registered their rejection of
Christ by attributing His power to Beelzebub, the prince of
the demons (Mat_12:24), Christ warned that if they persisted
in that view they would be guilty of sin for which there would
be no forgiveness (Mat_12:31-32). He also warned the nation
that Jerusalem would be destroyed by Gentiles (Luk_21:24),
that it would be desolate (Mat_23:38), and that the
destruction would be so complete that not one stone would be
left on another (Mat_24:2). This destruction was accomplished
by Titus in a.d. 70 when he destroyed the city of Jerusalem
and killed thousands of Jews. But that invasion, awesome as it
was, did not end the nation's sufferings, for war, Gabriel
said, would continue until the end. Even though Israel was to
be set aside, she would continue to suffer until the
prophecies of the 70 "sevens" were completely fulfilled. Her
sufferings span the entire period from the destruction of
Jerusalem in a.d. 70 to Jerusalem's deliverance from Gentile
dominion at the Second Advent of Christ.
Dan 9:27 -

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.

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. 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 (2Th_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.

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, Dan_7:26).

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; Dan_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; Rev_12:6) and with 42 months (Rev_11:2; Rev_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.

(The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
Daniel 9, And The 360 Day Prophetic Year