We now have the starting
point for our 490-year timeline.
The seven weeks, or 49
years (7 x 7 = 49), of the 70-week prophecy refers to the time it took to
finish rebuilding Jerusalem, complete with “plaza and moat”. This takes us to the year 408 BCE.
The 62 weeks, or 434 years
(7 x 62 = 434), of the 70-week prophecy follow the seven weeks so it obviously
begins in 407 BCE and goes through to 27 CE.
Did anything special happen in the year 27 CE? Yes.
Luke Chapter 3 and Verse 1 says that it was the 15th year of
the reign of Tiberius Caesar when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and “Messiah
the Prince”, Jesus, began his ministry here on earth.
Photo by: http://www.dsmedia.org/resources/illustrations/sweet-publishing
The angel Gabriel said
that the Messiah would make a “covenant with the many for one week” (7
years). If Jesus began his ministry in
27 CE, then the covenant week ends in 34 CE.
What is this covenant week? This
is the last 7 years of the 70-week or 490-year, probationary period for the Hebrews. The Messiah was here on earth in person,
ready and willing to make a permanent covenant with the Hebrews if they would accept him.