Bible Prophecy Numbers:
The Writing on the Wall
Ch. 2d, "How Long?"
To
ch. 2e
Back to ch. 2c
The Origin of Bible Prophecy Numbers...
3½, 7, 40, 49, 390, 430, 490, 1150, (2300), 1260, 1290, and 1335
Scriptural References for the Bible Prophecy
Numbers:{8)
The number 490 found in Daniel 9:24-27 is a key number, for in it are found all other bible prophecy numbers. It's breakdown is as follows:
"70 x 7" = 490 days/years, which is further broken down as:
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(7 x 7 = 49)
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+ (62 x 7 = 434)
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+ (3½ + 3½ = 7) = 490 days/ years.
The (70 x
7) 490:
The entire above formula was based upon the jubilee/Sabbath structure of the bible, which occurred in unbroken cycles of seven days or years, with additional special 7 x 7 (49) days or years, (Lev.23-25). (The 50th year does not break
the regular ongoing cycles; hence, the 50th year is simply the first year of the next jubilee cycle.)
When this prophecy came to Daniel (ch. 9), the exile was just concluding its predicted 70-year span. This was the period prophesied by Jeremiah the prophet concerning the land of Judah, which he said would
lay fallow "70 years"
to make up for its missing
Sabbaths. (Hence, a 490-year period; [70 x 6] work-years plus [70 x 1] failed Sabbaths.) This is a
wonderful study in and of itself! But the point for now is that the response to Daniel as he prayed about the lapsed 70 years
was that God had assigned yet another 70 x 7 years/days for the accomplishment of other specific things. Hence, there is a clear connection between the 70 x 7 of Daniel's prophecy and the jubilee/Sabbath system of the bible. To miss this point is to miss much!
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(7 x 7) = 49
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+ (62 x 7) = 434
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+ ( 3½ + 3½) = 7
total = 490 days/years
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1) (7 x 7 = 49). (49) days/years, (and 490). "Seventy
Weeks"{11} (Daniel 9:24, RSV, cf. ch. 9–12.)
(I.e., literally "seventy weeks," KJV. Can denote years or days.)
" Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end
to sin, to atone for wickedness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy," (Daniel 9:24,
NIV).
2) (62 x 7 = 434). 434 (430) days/years. (This number works with the 430 of Daniel, as 430 + 3½.)
Ezekiel's "Siege" (Ezekiel 4:2, cf. 4–5)
- 390 (see next) ('390' is simply 360 with a leap month, just as 1290 is simply 1260 with a leap
month, and as 1299 is simply 1270 with its lunar leap month of 2Adar.)
"I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin.
So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 4:5).
- 390 + 40 = 430 days or years
"After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day
for each year" (Ezekiel 4:6).
3) (3½ + 3½ = 7). (Divided-seven) (1260 days)
- (1150 days) (3¼ years) "The Daily Sacrifice,"
(Daniel 8:13, cf. ch. 8). The 1150 at first appears to be a number completely separate from the 7-years period. But a close study reveals that it is simply a shorted form of it. The 2300 stands as full, or half that as 1150, just as seven can stand in
full or half. Scholars are divided as to whether the 2300 is to be halved, but as is so often the case, both views are correct.
1150 days{9} equals 2300 "evenings and mornings" of consecutive
"sacrifices" (Daniel 8:13; 9:21; cf. Exodus 29:38-42; i.e., it can be viewed as either 2300 full days or 2300 half-days){10}
"How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled––the vision concerning the daily sacrifice…?"
"He said to me, "It will take 2300
evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconstructed"’" (Daniel 8:13a,14).
- ( 3½ + 3½ = 7). (Divided-seven)
(3½ years) (I.e., "a half-week," or, "half-of-seven years". There are seven variations)
The "middle" of the last "week" (‘seven’) of the 490 represents a 7-year period divided into two equal parts (i.e., 3½ + 3½ = 7 years, Daniel 9:27), just as the "2300" (i.e., 6½ years) also divides in half.
"He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of
the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation…" (Daniel 9:27)
a.) 1260 days:
"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth" (Revelation 11:3).
"The women fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1260 days" (Revelation 12:6).
b.) 1290 days: (The 1290 is the 1260, except with the 30-day intercalary month added,
just as 1299 is simply 1270 with its lunar leap month of 2Adar.){12} (1290 is also 430 x 3.)
c.) 1335 days: ("1335" is both inclusive or exclusive of the 1290, for a total of 3½ or 7 years).
"Three-and-a-half-years" can be identified four other ways besides the above three ways. However, since they are found in the Bible implicitly rather than explicitly, these four will be utilized on a secondary
level, and only in amalgamation with the above three primary forms.{13}
d.) 1270 days: A normal lunar 3½ years of the Jewish cal. is 1270 days.
e.) 1299 days: However, the next (lunar) 3½-year period that completes the full 7-years is generally 1299 days. (Thus
there are ordinarily about 2,569 days within any given 7-year period; i.e., 1,270 + 1,299. Yet, "1,270" occurs more frequently over any given 3½-year period.)
f.) 1240 days: Moreover, a strict "42 months" of the lunar cal. amounts to only 1240 days: (I.e.,
"42 months" is 3½ years without its leap months; 3.5 x 12 = 42.){14}
g.) 1278 days: Correspondingly, "42 months" of our modern solar calendar amounts to 3½ solar years, or 1278
days.
"The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for 42 months" (Revelation 13:5).
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The 3½ years (1260 or 1290 days) is further broken down into a "time, times, and half-a-time." (Click here for a fuller discussion of the "time,
times, and half-a-time," of Daniel 7:25; 12:7 and Revelation 12:14.)
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TIME
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TIMES
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HALF-TIME
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==> 3½ times
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(1 year)
360 days
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(2 years)
720 days
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(½-year)
180 days
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= 3½ years
= 1260 days
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Or, + 30 days = 390 (if we here add the leap month)
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Or, + 30 days = 750 (if we here add the leap month)
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Or, + 30 days = 210 (if we here add the leap month)
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= 1290
(or 1260 + 30 days)
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Next to continue
To ch. 2e
Back to
ch. 2c
Also see, "How the Ministry of Christ
Lasted
1150, 1260, 1290, and 1335 days"
Bible Prophecy Numbers
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