Timing Daniel’s 70 Weeks and the Tribulation

by John H. Swain
As much as I abhor the thought of being one more “I’m right and everyone else is wrong” end-times
writer, I feel I have a responsibility to promulgate the pattern that I see. My analysis is based on a plain
reading of scripture, making use of the information contained therein. I do not employ 360-day years,
year-for-a-day scenarios, or other, what I consider to be, artificial contrivances. All Bible verses are taken
from the King James Version.

Most Christians are familiar with Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks:

Dan. 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.
Dan. 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.
I date the beginning of the seventy weeks from Ezra’s departure from Babylon in the spring of 457 BC.
Ezra 8:31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go
unto Jerusalem.
The river of Ahava (from 8:15, the river that runs to Ahava) from context appears to mark the
metropolitan limit of Babylon. Up to this river, although outside the wall, they are under the protection of
Babylonian civil authority. Crossing this river means “going forth” on their own. This is why Ezra had the
people stop there to fast and pray for God’s protection.
Jerusalem had been destroyed by Babylon in 586 BC, but was apparently destroyed again after Ezra’s
rebuilding. Nehemiah’s reaction to Hanani’s report seems to indicate a recent destruction, not one that
had occurred 140 years earlier.
Neh. 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned
certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
The end of the seven weeks would be in the spring of 408 BC. We don’t have a record of a particular
event at this time, but this probably marks the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. In the days of
Nehemiah, the city was in such shambles that they had to draw lots to pick people to live in it.
Neh. 11:1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots,
to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
Dating the end of the 69 weeks to coincide with the crucifixion has been problematic for Christians over
the years. 483 years from spring 457 BC brings us to spring 27 AD. The problem with this is that Luke
3:1 dates the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry to the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar.
Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being
governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of
Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
 Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son
of Zacharias in the wilderness.
History books tell us that Augustus Caesar died in 14 AD and was immediately succeeded by Tiberius;
thus Tiberius’ 15th year would be 29 AD. Depending on which calendar Luke used, the year may have
started in January or, more likely, the previous fall. Even counting Tiberius’ accession year as his first
year only backs up John’s ministry to 28 AD, still after the end of the 483 years. Backing up two more
years for a possible co-regency with Augustus gets us to 26 AD, but this still doesn’t give us enough time
for Jesus’ ministry.
I contend that Augustus actually died in 10 AD. Many ancient dates, it turns out, are not nearly as secure
as historians would like them to be. Using astronomical data, we can push back Tiberius’ accession. One
clue to the year of Augustus’ death is that a solar eclipse occurred shortly before Augustus died on Aug.
19, per Dio Cassius.
According to NASA, at http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov, a total eclipse occurred on June 30, 10 AD that was
visible from Rome. Another eclipse occurred in November of that year, but the next eclipse visible from
Rome would not happen until February 15, 17 AD. The eclipse of June 30, 10 AD appears to be the
eclipse that Dio Cassius referred to, as it would have preceded Augustus’ death on Aug. 19 closely
enough to be recorded as an omen.
Moving Augustus’ death back four years helps us with dating John’s ministry but it creates a problem
with the death of Augustus’ predecessor, Julius Caesar. The events following Julius Caesar’s death and
Augustus’ 40-year reign are too well documented to allow us to arbitrarily chop off four years. History
books tell us that Julius Caesar died March 15, 44 BC. Again, history books may not be as accurate as
we’d like. Pliny records that, following Caesar’s assassination, both a comet and eclipse occurred. An
eclipse occurred Aug 9, 49 BC which may well be the one to which Pliny referred. The comet, however,
which was recorded by Chinese astronomers April-May 49 BC in Cassiopeia is certainly the comet
described to Pliny by Augustus Caesar.
“On the very days of my Games a comet was visible for seven days in the northern part of the
sky. It was [in ‘the eleventh hour of the day’], and was a bright star visible from all lands.”
Pliny, Natural History, quoting Augustus.
This comet is recorded in Cometography: A Catalog of Comets: Volume 1, Ancient-1799, by Gary W.
Kronk.
Accepting then Julius Caesar’s death in 49 BC and Augustus’s death in 10 AD, we can now start John’s
ministry in 24 or 25 AD. This allows time for Jesus’ ministry leading up to His crucifixion at Passover 27
AD.
In the year of the crucifixion, the 14th of Nisan, the day they killed the Passover lamb, needs to fall on
Friday, so the first new moon in spring must come on or about Thursday. I say on or about because the
Sanhedrin started the month only after a new moon was sighted and verified by two witnesses. Cloudy
skies, rules for juggling month lengths, and the fact that the Pharisees and Sadducees didn’t always agree
with each other, meant that they could be off by a day or two.
In 27 AD, the astronomical new moon, i.e., the moon’s conjunction with the sun, occurred in Jerusalem at
7:00 PM Wednesday, March 26, by our calendar. Of course, the sun and moon would have both already
set. The crescent may or may not have been visible the following evening, so the first of the month could
have been Friday or Saturday. Starting the month on Saturday would put the 14th on Friday. It is quite
possible that the Pharisees and Sadducees disagreed; the Pharisees starting the month on Friday and the
Sadducees starting on Saturday. Thus Jesus could have eaten the Last Supper as the Pharisees’ Passover
meal and been crucified on the day the Sadducees killed their lambs. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and
Luke all refer to the Last Supper as Passover, but John’s does not. John was likely from a Sadducee
background, as we are told that he was known to the High Priest, so to him it was not Passover.
From all the above, it seems probable to me that Jesus was crucified on Nisan 14, 27 AD, 483 years and
two days after Ezra went forth from Babylon. The two extra days are reflected in Matthew 26:2-4, which
verses indicate that Caiaphas and the priests met two days before the Passover and determined to have
Jesus killed. This meeting constituted Israel’s official rejection of God’s Messiah, completing the 69th
week and suspending the time clock.
God allotted 7,000 years for the earth. The first 2,000 years encompassed the time from Adam and Eve up
to the patriarchs. During this period, God’s ministry was directly with individuals. The next 2,000 years
were Israel’s time, when God dealt with a nation. The crucifixion, ressurection, and Pentecost began the
2,000 year Church Age, when God deals with the world through His church.
The final 1,000 years is the millennium, during which the Messiah will rule the world from Jerusalem.
This starts with the seventh trumpet of Revelation.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he
shall reign for ever and ever.
At the seventh trumpet, Satan’s legal authority on earth expires. The events which follow: vials of wrath,
battle of Armageddon, judgment of nations, are acts of the Messiah “cleaning out” His new kingdom.
If the crucifixion occured in 27 AD, we can surmise that the age will end 2,000 years later at the sounding
of the seventh trumpet on the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) 2027. This in turn indicates that the
seven seals begin opening on Rosh Hashanah 2020, with the trumpets sounding on each Rosh Hashanah
following.
Daniel’s final week occurs during this time, but I foresee a 40 day delay between the time the seals begin
opening until the beginning of the week. 40 days from Rosh Hashanah is Heshvan 10, the day Noah
entered the ark. Jesus told us, concerning the end time:
Matt 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
I expect the war of Ezekiel 38 to take place during this 40 day delay.
The two major holy days for Satan worshipers, of whom the antichrist will no doubt be one, are
Halloween and Mayday (May 1), which fall six months apart. Halloween 2020 falls on Heshvan 13, just
after the 40 day delay. Possibly the antichrist will intervene and destroy the invading armies to protect
Israel, then “confirm the covenant” on October 31, 2020, allowing them to rebuild the temple. If Israel
proclaims him as the Messiah, the clock would begin ticking again for the final week. Jesus predicted that
they would embrace the antichrist:
John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his
own name, him ye will receive.
When the temple is rebuilt, Israel will reinstitute the daily sacrifice. This will most likely begin on Rosh
Hashanah, the day on which it was restored under Zerubbabel when they returned from Babylon. It is
possible that the third temple will be built during the first year of the tribulation and dedicated, starting
the daily sacrifice, on Rosh Hashanah, 2021. Daniel’s prophecy of 2300 days concerned the daily
sacrifice:
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which
spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of
desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed.
The sanctuary being cleansed points to Hanukkah, Kislev 25, which commemorates cleansing the temple
after it was defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes. Rosh Hashanah 2021 by the current calendar comes on Sept.
7, but the lunar conjunction with the sun occurs at 3:51 AM on the 7 th, meaning that naked eye
observation of the new moon on the evening of the 7th will not be possible, so Rosh Hashanah would
occur on the 9th by the observed calendar. Using the biblical method of counting the first and last day,
2300 days from Rosh Hashanah, September 9, 2021, brings us to Hanukkah, December 25, 2027. The
2300 days would encompass the period of daily sacrifice and the period after it is halted until the
millennial temple is dedicated.
The time following the third trumpet covers the period from Rosh Hashanah, 2020, to Rosh Hashanah,
2021. Sometime during this year a great star will fall from heaven:
Rev 8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were
a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
This undoubtedly describes an actual meteor or comet striking the earth, or, perhaps, a massive nuclear
weapon. Whatever it is though, it is a physical counterpart to a spiritual event. Satan is cast out of Heaven
at this time:

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which
deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
When Satan is cast out of Heaven, he takes up residence in the antichrist. The midpoint of the antichrist’s
seven year covenant with Israel, which extends from October 31, 2020 to October 31, 2027, would be
Mayday, May 1, 2024. Mayday would be a likely day for Satan to indwell the antichrist. One interesting
facet of this day is that one of its forerunners is the pagan Celtic holiday of Beltane, on which day the
spirits were supposed to be able to cross into the physical world. The antichrist may likely set himself up
in the temple on April 30, along with his idol, in order to hold his satanic Mayday mass in the temple
during the night of April 30 - May 1. He would likely prevent the evening sacrifice on Apr 30.

Dan 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.
The 1260 days of Israel’s exile in Revelation 12:06 probably starts when the antichrist desecrates the
temple on April 30. Jesus warned his disciples of this:
 Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in
Judaea flee to the mountains.
By biblical reckoning, 1260 days from April 30, 2024 leads to Yom Kippur, October 11, 2027, 1290 days
leads to Heshvan 10, and 1335 days leads to Hanukkah, December 25, 2027. As mentioned, the 1260 day
prophecy in Revelation 12:06 concerns Israel’s exile. The 1290 and 1335 day prophecies are from Daniel

Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination
that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Dan 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and
thirty days.
The 1290 days extend to the end of the 70th week of Daniel. By the end of the week, Jesus has returned,
Israel is saved, the battle of Armageddon is over, and Satan is bound. The 1335 days marks the dedication
of the Messiah’s millennial temple.
The 1260 days of Revelation 11:03, the time of the two witnesses’ testimony, covers a slightly different
period from that of Israel’s exile, since it ends before the final trumpet, which comes on Rosh Hashanah.
On the day that the two witnesses ascend to heaven there is a great earthquake in Jerusalem. If this
earthquake destroys the temple, it will probably come on Tisha B’Av, the ninth of Av, August 12, 2027.
Both earlier temples were destroyed on this date; by the Babylonians in 586 BC and by the Romans in 68
AD. (The temple will likely be destroyed before Christ returns, because He will build the final temple.)
Counting back 1260 days plus 3 ½ days they lay dead comes to February 26, 2024. If Israel returns to the
observed calendar, this day will be Purim. Purim is the day that Haman tried to exterminate the Jews
under the Persian Empire, as detailed in the book of Esther. The two witnesses possibly appear as the
antichrist initiates a similar policy, probably starting with the 144,000. Daniel 7:25 tells us, “they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
The 42 months of Revelation 11:02 and 13:05 may both extend from the desecration of the temple to the
earthquake of Revelation 11:13, covering the time that the antichrist has complete control over Jerusalem.

Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given
unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
This period starts in the month of Nisan and includes Iyyar, Sivan, Tammuz, 3 complete years including
one leap year, and ends in Av, for a total of 42 months. During this time the antichrist and gentiles control
Jerusalem, but at the earthquake, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, apparently the same gentiles who have
been treading the city under foot, give glory to God. The antichrist, if present, will suddenly find himself
persona non grata and relocate elsewhere. The battle of Armageddon is his attempt to come back and
regain control of Jerusalem.
The seventh trumpet comes on Rosh Hashanah, October 2, 2027. At this trumpet, Satan’s legal authority
over the earth expires. The first ten days of Tishri are known as the Days of Awe. The seven vials follow
the seventh trumpet; these may well come during the Days of Awe, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is normally celebrated on two days, so between Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur, the day of atonement, which comes on the 10th, are seven days – Tishri 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Israel’s return from exile may begin on Tishri 3. The Sabbath that comes between Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur is known as the Shabat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Return. In 2027 this comes on October 9
(Tishri 8). The Days of Awe are dedicated to Teshuvah, which is understood as meaning repentance but
literally means return. The vial judgments are poured out on the antichrist and his followers as Israel
returns.
Yom Kippur, Tishri 10, is the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year, the “Sabbath of Sabbaths”.
This is the day that the high priest entered the Holy of Holies in the temple, to make atonement for
Israel’s sins. This is likely the day of Jesus’ return. There will be a great earthquake in Jerusalem
following the seventh vial:

Rev 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great
earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so
great.
Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and
great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the
fierceness of his wrath.
Zechariah tells us that there will be such an earthquake at the Messiah’s return:

Zech 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before
Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east
and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall
remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
The Feast of Booths, Succoth, starts on Tishri 15 and lasts 7 days. This is a time to rejoice and celebrate
God’s provision, similar to our Thanksgiving. The Israelites were told to make temporary shelters
(booths) and live in them for 7 days, ostensibly to commemorate leaving Egypt. Zechariah 14:16 tells us
that all of the nations will observe the feast of booths during the millennium, so we can be sure that
something significant takes place during that particular week, perhaps the actual battle of Armageddon.
Immediately following Armageddon, the beast and false prophet are judged, and Satan is bound.

Soon after Jesus’ return, He will rebuild the temple, as God told Zechariah:

Zech 6:12 Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place,
and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
Zech 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit
and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall
be between them both.
The dedication, i.e. cleansing, will come on Hanukkah, Dec. 25, 2027, ending the 1335 days of Daniel
12:12 and beginning the full functioning of Messiah’s kingdom.

To recap:

September 19, 2020 – Rosh Hashanah –7 seals begin to be opened

September 21 – October 31, 2020 – Invasion of Ezekiel 38
October 31, 2020 – Halloween – Antichrist makes 7-year treaty, allows third temple construction (begin
70th week)
September 9, 2021 – Rosh Hashanah – Third temple dedication, first trumpet – 2300 days begin
September 26, 2022 – Rosh Hashanah – Second trumpet
September 16, 2023 – Rosh Hashanah – Third trumpet
February 26, 2024 – Purim – Martyrdom of 144,000, beginning of two witness’ testimony (begin 1260
days of Rev. 11:03)
Apr 30/May 1, 2024 – Mayday – Antichrist desecrates temple, Israel begins exile (begin 1260, 1290,
1335 days, 42 months)
October 3, 2024 – Rosh Hashanah – Fourth trumpet
September 23, 2025 – Rosh Hashanah – Fifth trumpet
September 12, 2026 – Rosh Hashanah – Sixth trumpet
August 8, 2027 – Two witnesses slain (end of 1260 days of Rev. 11:03)
August 12, 2027 – Tisha B’Av – Two witnesses translated, third temple destroyed (end of 42 months)
October 2, 2027 – Rosh Hashanah – Seventh trumpet, legal beginning of Jesus’ reign
October 4 – October 10, 2027 – Days of Awe, 7 vials, Israel returns from exile
October 11, 2027 – Yom Kippur, Jesus returns (end of 1260 day exile), Israel accepts Jesus
October 16 – 23, 2027 – Feast of booths, battle of Armageddon
November 10, 2027 – 10 Heshvan – Judgment of nations, Satan bound (end of 1290 days, 70 th week)
December 25, 2027 – Hanukkah – Millennium Temple dedication (end of 2300 days, 1335 days)