The End

to be precisely 490 years, something that can be determined by

comparing scriptures. For example, during the second 70-week

period, from the Exodus to the building of Solomon’s temple,

is shown in Acts 13:18-22 to total 591 years. I Kings 6:1

shows the same period of history to last 480 years. This dis-

crepancy of 111 years is the total of six different periods during

which Israel was in servitude to others (see the book of Judg-

es)—when they were out of God’s favor or will.= Since we

know that the Bible cannot contradict itself, what we should

gather is that God does not include those years when Israel is

out of favor.

Following is an explanation of the four 70 week periods:

(1)

The first 70 weeks, or 490 years, was from the birth of

Abraham to the Exodus. The actual time was 505 years

but God didn’t count the 15 years that Ishmael was a

usurper.

(2)

The second 70 weeks, or 490 years, was from the Exo-

dus to the dedication (not the building) of Solomon’s

Temple. The actual time was 601 years, but God didn’t

include 111 years of servitude when Israel was out of

favor.

(3)

The third 70 weeks, or 490 years, was from the dedica-

tion of Solomon’s Temple to the Edict of Artaxerxes.

The actual time was 560 years, but God didn’t count

the 70 years of Babylonian captivity.

(4)

The fourth 70 weeks, or 490 years, is from the Edict of

Artaxerxes to the second coming of Christ. A total of

483 years elapsed from the Edict to the point that Mes-

siah was cut off (Dan 9:25), and God has not included

the period of time from then until the present. There-