There are seven years in the future that will be unlike any period in human history — a time of global tribulation so severe that Jesus described it as greater than anything that has come before or will come after Matthew 24:21. Daniel predicted it six centuries before Christ. Jesus confirmed it. Revelation describes it in chapter-by-chapter detail. And yet most Christians alive today have given these seven years less thought than they've given their retirement plan.

Last time we established Daniel as the prophetic backbone of all end-times understanding. Now we zoom into his most precise prophecy: the seventieth week — the final seven-year period that completes God's plan for Israel and the world.

When Daniel received this vision, the phrase "seventy weeks" literally means "seventy sevens" of years. If days were meant, Scripture would say so directly, as it does in Daniel 10:3.

Daniel's prayer that prompted this vision wasn't about days — it was about years Daniel 9:2. We also know from Scripture that the last week Daniel 9:27 divides into two parts of 3½ years each Daniel 7:25Daniel 12:7Revelation 11:2, 3Revelation 12:5, 14Revelation 13:5.

So the whole period of "seventy sevens" equals 490 years. These years are marked off from all other years and concern only "thy people [Israel] and thy holy city [Jerusalem]" — the very things Daniel was praying for Daniel 6:10Daniel 9:1-23.

Six prophetic events will take place during these 490 years, all relating to Israel and Jerusalem:

1. "To finish the transgression." The Hebrew word "pasha" means "to revolt," "rebel," or "sin against lawful authority." It's often translated "transgression" Psalms 51:13Isaiah 43:27. This refers to Israel's rebellion against God, and this prophecy foretells when that rebellion will finally reach its culmination.

The law was added because of transgression until the Seed should come, serving as a schoolmaster to lead Israel to Christ Galatians 3:17-25. But Israel failed to receive the Messiah and was broken off in unbelief from God's favor as a nation. She won't be fully received again until Christ's second coming, when He will turn ungodliness from Jacob and cause a nation to be born at once Romans 11:25-29Isaiah 66:7-10Ezekiel 36:24-30.

2. "To make an end of sins." If you could gather all of Israel's sins into concrete matter, they would fill the whole earth. She has been in rebellion against God from her beginning and will continue until this prophecy is fulfilled at Christ's return.

This "end of sins" won't happen until after the Tribulation. But from that time forward, Israel will obey God forever Ezekiel 36:24-30Ezekiel 37:24-27Ezekiel 43:7Zechariah 4:1-21.

3. "To make reconciliation [atonement] for iniquity." The Hebrew word "avon" means "perverseness," "to be crooked," or "wrung out of course" 1 Samuel 20:302 Samuel 19:19. Atonement was made on the cross for the whole world, but Israel as a nation hasn't yet appropriated its benefits. They won't until Christ returns Zechariah 13:1-7Romans 11:25-27.

4. "To bring in everlasting righteousness." When the transgression has been finished, the end of sins made, and Israel fully realizes the benefits of atonement, then everlasting righteousness will be ushered in Isaiah 9:6, 7Isaiah 12:1-6Daniel 7:13, 14, 18, 27Matthew 25:31-46Ezekiel 43:7Romans 11:25-29.

5. "To seal up the vision and prophecy." This means prophecies will end because they'll all be fulfilled regarding Israel and Jerusalem. The word "prophecy" should actually be translated "prophet." There will be no need for inspired men to rebuke Israel and lead them toward righteousness "for all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest" Jeremiah 31:31-40Isaiah 11:9.

6. "To anoint the most Holy." This refers to cleansing the Holy of Holies, the temple, and Jerusalem from the abomination of desolation and Gentile sacrilege. It also involves establishing and anointing the Millennial temple described in Ezek. 40-43; Zechariah 6:12, 13.

The "most Holy" is never used for a person, nor would Jews ever associate this term with their Messiah. The Messiah is actually distinguished from this term in this passage by His own title. This vision needs no interpretation beyond what the angel gave Daniel — we simply need to understand that explanation, connect it with other Scriptures on the same subject, and determine when it will be fulfilled.