Exact dates about Christ
  1. What was Daniel doing when an angel appeared to him in Daniel 9:20-21?

  2. What was Daniel told to do? verse 23


    Note: Daniel was told to consider the vision of the previous chapter, Daniel 8, which has a long time period. He was about to receive information about a shorter time period "cut off" from Daniel 8's longer time period (as verse 24 literally says.)

  3. What did the angel Gabriel say was the start of this time period? verse 25


    Note: A command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem is recorded in Ezra 7 and was issued in 457 BC. This was the start of a new 49-year time period. The Jews measured time in seven year periods and the end of seven such periods was the year of Jubilee.

  4. How long was the time period in this prophecy? verse 24


    Verse 24 uses the word used by the Jews for seven year periods. We don't have a word in English for a seven-year period, so translators must use other words like "weeks," "sevens," or "weeks of years."

  5. In English terms, how long was this time period of "seventy weeks" or "seventy sevens"? Answer: 490 years

  6. What six things were to happen during this 490 year period? verse 24


  7. Who would come on the scene at the end of 69 of these seven-year periods? verse 25

    Note: The word "Messiah" literally means "Anointed One," which is how some versions translate this term. At the end of this period, Jesus was anointed (baptised). Other translations use the word "Christ" in this passage, which is the Greek word for "Messiah."

  8. Who would be killed and what was to happen in the middle of the last of these seven-year periods? verses 26-27


    Note: It may not be clear that this happens in the middle of the seven-year period. However it is legitimate to translate this passage that this happened in the middle of the last seven-year period. In summary:

    • This prophecy starts in 457 BC and runs until AD 34.
    • Jesus was baptised in AD 27 (Luke 3:1, 21), at the start of the last seven-year period.
    • Jesus died three and a half years later (in AD 31) in the middle of the last seven-year period. His death ended the need for sacrifices and offerings, as predicted in verse 27.
    • The total period of 490 years was dedicated to the Jews (verse 24). At the end of that time, when Stephen was executed (Acts 7-8), the Christian religion was taken to other nations -- not just the Jews (Matt 28:19; Acts 8:1; 10:1-48).