ANSWER: This prophecy foretells of the coming of the Messiah. The seventy weeks, or 490 days, is, for many reasons, to be understood as representing 490 years. This practice was often the case in biblical prophecy (Ezekiel 4:6). In Daniel 9:24-27 we learn that the Messiah was to appear and accomplish His mission during the 70 weeks or within the 490 year period from the decree (commandment) going forth to rebuild the temple. This period was to include 69 (7+60+2) weeks (483 years - perhaps to the recognition by the Father that Christ was His Son, the promised Messiah) in additon to the final (70 th ) week or 7 years.

The decree to rebuild the temple (Ezra 7) went forth in about 454 BC. Adding thirty-three years (the approximate age of Christ at His death), we are now in the midst of the seventieth week of the 490-year prophetic period (486-487). His mission (as described in Daniel 9:24), during the final week, including His death on the behalf of others (Daniel 9:26), was completely fulfilled. There is little, if any, doubt that this final week also included the establishment and confirmation (through the giving of the Holy Spirit) of the kingdom (the church) of which Daniel had previously prophesied (chapters two and seven). Certainly, this, and the complete fulfillment of all other Old Testament prophesies, attests mightily to the inspiration and accuracy of God’s Word.