Daniel's seventy weeks are a 490-year prophetic timetable determined for Israel and Jerusalem, with 483 years fulfilled at the crucifixion and the final seven years still future.
Les Feldick teaches that the seventy weeks are weeks of years—seventy times seven totaling 490 years—which God determined upon Daniel's people, Israel, and the holy city. The first 483 years ran from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah was cut off at the cross, and the remaining seven years, called Daniel's 70th week, are still ahead and will begin when the Antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel.
Daniel 9:24-27 — This is the full prophecy of the seventy weeks, giving the 490-year timeframe and its six stated purposes for Israel and Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:24-27 records the angel Gabriel's revelation of the seventy weeks to Daniel. The prophecy declares that seventy weeks are determined upon Daniel's people and upon the holy city, with six stated purposes: to finish transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. The passage then lays out the timeline: from the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks. After threescore and two weeks, Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself. The text also declares that the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and that the prince shall confirm the covenant with many for one week, causing sacrifice and oblation to cease in the midst of the week.
Les Feldick explains that the word 'weeks' in Daniel's prophecy is used as we would use 'dozen'—a week is always seven, so seventy weeks of years equals 490 years. These 490 years were determined upon Daniel's people, Israel, and upon the holy city, Jerusalem. Les shows that 483 of those years were fulfilled from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the crucifixion of Christ, leaving seven years unfulfilled. Those final seven years—Daniel's 70th week—are still future and are the Tribulation period. He teaches that God's clock for Israel stopped at the cross and the last seven years still have to be fulfilled. Les also teaches that the purposes of finishing transgression, making an end of sins, and making reconciliation for iniquity were all accomplished when Christ died on the cross. But the remaining purposes—bringing in everlasting righteousness, sealing up the vision and prophecy, and anointing the most Holy—did not happen at Christ's first coming; they will be fulfilled when He returns and sets up His kingdom. Regarding the final week, Les teaches that the seven unfulfilled years will be triggered by the signing of a peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel. He identifies the 'prince that shall come' in Daniel 9:26 as the Antichrist, and notes that the people of that prince shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The seventy weeks are seventy weeks of years, which Les Feldick explains totals 490 years. From the decree of Nehemiah 2, Les teaches that 483 years were fulfilled up to the crucifixion of Christ. Since the total was 490, that leaves seven years unfulfilled. Those seven years are Daniel's 70th week, still future and pushed out to the end of the age.
Les teaches that 'Messiah shall be cut off' in Daniel 9:26 speaks of the crucifixion—and 'not for Himself.' This occurred at the end of the 483-year period. At the cross, the purposes of finishing transgression, making an end of sins, and making reconciliation for iniquity were fulfilled.
Daniel's 70th week is the final seven years of the 490-year prophecy. Les teaches that sixty-nine of the seventy weeks were fulfilled at the cross, God's clock stopped, and the last seven years are still ahead. This final seven-year period is the Tribulation, and Les says we think we are getting close to it. The time clock for the 70th week will be triggered by the signing of a peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel.
Les teaches that the coming prince in Daniel 9:26 is the Antichrist. He quotes the verse that 'the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary,' connecting the prince's people to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
Les teaches that the purposes of bringing in everlasting righteousness, sealing up the vision and prophecy, and anointing the most Holy did not happen at Christ's first coming. They are still future and will take place when He returns and establishes His kingdom.
Les mentions that the Tribulation Temple will become the third temple, replacing Herod's temple. He notes that the Jews are more than ready to rebuild their next temple, which connects to the events of the end-time seven years.
The Tribulation Temple as the Third Temple
Les describes the coming Tribulation Temple as the third temple and notes that the Jews are already ready to rebuild it, showing how the end-time seven years will involve a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
483 Years Fulfilled at the Cross, Seven Years Remaining
Les explains that 483 of the 490 years were fulfilled by the crucifixion, leaving seven years—Daniel's 70th week—still to be fulfilled in the future.
The Antichrist as the Coming Prince
Les identifies the 'prince that shall come' as the Antichrist and quotes that his people will destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The Peace Treaty That Triggers the Final Seven Years
Les teaches that the seven unfulfilled years will begin when the Antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel.
Daniel's 70th Week Is the Final Seven Years of Tribulation
Les explains that Daniel's 70th week is the still-future seven-year period, the final seven years of the Tribulation, which he says we are close to.
Seventy Weeks of Years Equals 490 Years
Les teaches that 'weeks' means weeks of years, so seventy weeks equal 490 years determined for Israel and Jerusalem, and that the purposes of ending sin and reconciliation were fulfilled at the cross.
The Historical Decree and the Unfulfilled 70th Week
Les cites the found decree dated 445 B.C. and notes it was exactly 483 years to Palm Sunday, leaving the 70th week still unfulfilled and pushed into the future.
The Still-Future Purposes of Daniel 9:24
Les teaches that bringing in everlasting righteousness, sealing up the vision and prophecy, and anointing the most Holy did not happen at Christ's first coming but will happen when He returns and sets up His kingdom.
Daniel 9:24: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
This is the foundational verse of the seventy weeks prophecy, giving the 490-year timeframe and its six purposes.
Daniel 9:25: 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.
This marks the start of the 483-year countdown from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to Messiah the Prince.
Daniel 9:26: And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
This verse describes Messiah being cut off at the end of the 483 years and the coming prince's people destroying the city and sanctuary.
Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This describes the final 'one week'—the seven-year period—during which the prince confirms a covenant and stops sacrifice and oblation.
A week in Daniel's prophecy is a week of years, meaning seven years. Les Feldick explains that just as a dozen means twelve, a week always means seven, so seventy weeks of years total 490 years.
No. Les teaches that 483 years were fulfilled at the crucifixion, leaving seven years unfulfilled. Those final seven years—Daniel's 70th week—are still future and will be the Tribulation.
Les teaches that the time clock for the final seven years will be triggered by the signing of a peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel.
Yes. Les teaches that the final seven years—Daniel's 70th week—are the Tribulation period, the still-future seven years of prophecy.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens at the Midpoint of the Tribulation?