In this daily Bible reading Daniel prays to God about Jerusalem. God had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel prayed for Jerusalem’s restoration and the return of God’s favor for Israel.
While Daniel was praying, the angel, Gabriel, came to Daniel and revealed what would happen in the future. Gabriel said to Daniel, “70 weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgressions, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness.” According to the Bible, a ‘week’ is seven years. So, Gabriel was speaking of a 490-year period. Gabriel said that this 490-year period would be separated into two periods. The first period would be 483 years. The final period would be seven years.
Jesus lived in Israel at the end of the first period. Gabriel said that at the end of this first period, “The Messiah would be cut off.” Israel did not accept Jesus. They murdered Him.
The Bible says that Jesus will return at the end of the final seven-year period. This period will be a time of great suffering in the world. The final 3 ½ years will be characterized by much destruction and death. It will be a period of final atonement for the sins of mankind. Finally, Jesus will return and restore order and righteousness in the world.
