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What is the longest time prophecy in the Bible?
“Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:13-14.

How do we know that a day in prophetic time equals a year?
“And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.” Ezekiel 4:6 “And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.” Number 14:34.

What is the beginning point of the prophecy?
“Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 7:11-26.

Note: There were several decrees concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but the most far reaching and permanent decree was by the Persian King Artaxerxes in 457 BC.

What happened after the 7 weeks?
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” Daniel 9:25.

Note: The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell us of the rebuilding of Jerusalem in troubling times, during the seven-week period of Daniel’s prophecy. Because of enemy attacks, the men had to keep their swords by them as they rebuilt the walls. The rebuilding of Jerusalem was completed and the gates rededicated right at the end of the 49 years.

What happened after the next 62-week period?
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17.

Note: Daniel 9:25 predicted that after the seven-week period and the 62-week period, the Messiah the Prince would officially be set up, or begin, His ministry. This began at the baptism of Jesus.

Who is the Messiah who appeared in AD 27?
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:14-17.

What happened to “cut off” the Messiah after 3½ weeks (years) of ministry?
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” Matthew 27:45-54.

Note: After 3½ years of ministry, Jesus died on the cross in the “midst” of the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy, right on time! He died “not for himself,” but for the whole world.

The Apostles were to speak only to the Jews for another 3½ years. What event brought the 70-week period to a close?
“And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:58-60.

What power was to arise after the Roman empire breakup that would become a persecuting power, and when would that happen?
“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” Daniel 7:7-8.

Note: Horns represent kingdoms. The fourth beast mentioned is the pagan Roman Empire, which broke up into ten divisions. A power (horn) was to arise that would become great and different form other horns. The previous horns were political powers, but this power was a political and a religious power. History shows that as the old Roman Empire was falling, the power of the Caesars was transferred to the Bishop of Rome. This church, now with an army, destroyed three other Arian nations of the old empire. In AD 538, the last of these three powers fell, and the new papal religious/political kingdom became the default power, arising from Old Rome.

What happened to the papal power in 1798?
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:25.

Note: The Antichrist power was to have dominion for “a time and times and the dividing of time.” Using a day for a year, that equals 1260 years (a “time” = 360 days; “times” = 720 days; “dividing of time” = 180 days; 360 + 720 + 180 = 1260). The papacy came to power in AD 538. Counting forward 1260 years brings us to 1798. What happened to the papacy that ended its period of unbroken power? In 1798, Napoleon’s general, Louis Alexandre Berthier, marched into Rome and captured the pope and cast him into prison where he died. The power that the church once had was broken, and it received a “deadly wound.” “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:3. Scripture declares, and history confirms, that later the deadly wound would be healed; then all the world would wonder after the beast. Looking at the rise of papal influence today bears out the fulfillment of prophecy!

What happened at the end of the 2300 years when the prophecy ended?
“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:7-10.

“Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:13-14.

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:6-7.

Note: After the 2300 years, which ended in 1844, something in heaven began to happen — the judgment of the dead and the living began, to determine who would receive eternal life when Jesus comes back. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12. For every man to receive his reward when Jesus comes, it is only fair that they have had a trial to determine that. Since 1844, we have been in the “last days.” The judgment occurs in heaven; and all people from Adam to all who would live later, have had their cases come up to determine their eternal destiny — beginning with the dead, and later passing to those now living. In 1844, the final warning to Earth began to sound in the three angels’ messages to the world. They declare the judgment hour, and urge us to return to the true worship of God “who made the heavens and the earth,” the creator God.

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Other Resources
•  Bible study guides on this topic and others from Amazing Facts.
•  Bible study guides on this topic and others from The Voice of Prophecy.
•  Bible prophecy charts and other resources.
•  Details about the 70 week prophecy and other resources.