Daniel’s 70th week symbolizes two periods of 1260 days, during which Jesus confirms the covenant with His followers.
Two things occur in the lives of Jesus people during this period, obedience and disobedience.
1260 Days equals a “Time-Times and Half a time or 42 months. This is seen through the comparison of Rev 11:2, Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14, and Rev 13:5.
The end result or goal of these periods is summarized by the Angel in Dan 7:17 and 18.
Da 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
The result of Jesus confirming the covenant with His people is this –
Although opposition will arise from the earth, the Saints will ultimately possess the Kingdom (Righteousness {the ability to do what is right}, Joy, and Peace in the Holy Spirit, Rm 14:17) forever.
Revelation 11:2 and 3 seem to define these two time periods.
One of the 1260-day time periods is given to the “nations” or unbelievers (Rev 11:2) and the authority of the “beast”, Rev 13:5, and Dan 7:25.
Re 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.
During half of this week, God is going to use exposure to unbelievers and the Authority of the Beast to confirm His covenant with His people. This can be called passing under the Rod, Eze 20:37.
Eze 20:37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
This period can also be called the “Day of the Lord”.
Da 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Re 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.
God is preparing a meal for Christians among their enemies, Ps 22:5.
The 1260-day period in Rev 11:2 is possibly the “outer darkness” that Jesus mentions in Matt 8:12. , Matt 22:13, and Matt 25:30.
He supervises the affliction/discipline of His people as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
During this time when the covenant is being confirmed the believers undergoing discipline will not be tempted more than they are able, 1 Cor 10:13.
The other half of the “week” (summarized in Rev 11:3) is the times of obedience when Christians are witnesses of Jesus.
Re 11:3 ¶ And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
This obedient period of 1260 Days is the obedient period in their lives and can be compared to the millennium of Rev 20 when the Devil is bound.
During the 2 periods of Obedience and Disobedience, the Grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness, Titus 2:11-12.
During or “Amidst” the 70th week Christians will sin willfully, and the sacrifice for sin ceases (meaning that forgiveness is no longer sought).
This is seen through a comparison of Dan 9:27 and Heb 10:26.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
If a Christian (A person who has agreed to the Covenant relationship with God) does not “love the truth” God sends the person a delusion so that they believe a lie, and that causes them to sin willfully (The sacrifice ceases, Heb 10:26), which means that they no longer seek forgiveness, and the discipline begins (the overspreading of abominations).
2Th 2:10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (ASV)
11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: (ASV)
12 that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ASV)
From the beginning of our willful sin until we are given over to the Abomination bringing desolation (Judgment) is 1290 Days according to Dan 12:11, meaning that there is no instant Judgment.
We are given a time between when we fall into willful sin and when God judges us for it.
Da 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away (willful sin), and the abomination that maketh desolate (Divine judgment) set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety (1290) days.
During the 70th week or 2520-day period, there will be a time when God allows us to become deluded and sin willfully.
1290 days after we begin to willfully sin the Abomination that results in Desolation starts, which means God’s judgment begins.
On Day 1290 of the willful sin the abomination that desolates is “set up” (Judgment), and we are blessed if we endure the judgment from Day 1290 until Day 1335, Dan 12:12.
We are blessed if we endure the discipline for 45 days (1290 to 1335) we will be blessed, 1 Pet 5:10.
1Pe 5:10 ¶ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
The cleansing of the sanctuary appears to require 2300 of the total 2520-day period which comprises the confirmation week.
Dan 7:25 tells us that Jesus people are given into Satan’s hands for 1260 days and Rev 11:3 tells us that they are Jesus witnesses for 1260 days for a total of 2520 days.
Da 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
During the week in which Jesus is confirming the covenant half of it will be spent in the hand of, or under the Authority of, Satan, Rev 13:5.
It needs here to be remembered that as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus supervises the discipline of his people.
We are then blessed if we endure to the 1335 day.
Da 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
On Day 1290 the abomination is “set up” and we are blessed if we endure from Day 1290 until Day 1335, Dan 12:12. Christians are blessed if they endure God’s chastening on the Day of the Lord.
This 70th week is a timeline during which the Grace of God (brought by Jesus) teaches Christians to deny ungodliness through both obedience and discipline, in which Jesus confirms the covenant with His people.
Da 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.
God then sends (allows) a delusion to the sinning Christian causing them to believe a lie, 2 Thess 2:11-12, so that the person can be judged (on Day 1290) and cleansed.
Dal 8:13 … 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 underfoot?
From when God determines that the willful sinner needs judgment (Dan 8:13) until they are cleansed is 2300 days.
The person (Sanctuary) is cleansed on day 2300, Dan 8:14.
These actions can be seen when a person sins willfully and no longer seeks forgiveness in Heb 10:26.
If we sin willfully after coming to a knowledge of Christ there is no more sacrifice but an anticipation of judgment.
Just as the Father did in Job, Jesus both causes the sacrifice to cease and sends the person into the presence of the Devil in Hell when that individual sins willfully and no longer seeks forgiveness for unlawful behavior.
This is also alluded to in Daniel 7:25 when “They shall be given into the Devil’s hands” “for a time -times and half a time”, even though we are told when the chapter is summarized by an Angel in 7:17 and 18 that the saints will triumph.
That judgment of his people is summarized in 1 Cor 11:32.
1 Cor 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
They are encouraged to believe a lie so that they can be judged and corrected through that judgment, 2 Thess 2:11-12.
The Sanctuary is cleansed on Day 2300.
2 times 1260 = 2520
God disciplines everyone He accepts as a Son so we are all corrected during this 70th week, and willful sin is corrected through passing under the “Rod”, Eze 20:37.
Eze 20:37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
The process describing discipline is seen in Matt 5. It involves being accused by Satan – delivered, and then released from Hell which is the consummation or the consuming of the flesh nature spoken of in 2 Thess 2:8.