Among the prophecies that speak most directly to our time, today, one stands out above the others. It is often considered the backbone of biblical prophecy and appears in Daniel 9:24–27.
This prophecy describes a total period of 490 years and is divided into two main sections.
The first section spans 483 years, separating Daniel’s timeframe from the Messiah’s arrival. This segment is divided into two parts: 49 years, during which Jerusalem and the Second Temple were rebuilt under Ezra and Nehemiah, followed by 434 further years leading up to the Messiah’s first coming. Then, in verse 26, it states that “the Messiah will be cut off,” and that “the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This aligns precisely with what happened when Yeshua was crucified, and later when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD.
Daniel’s prophecies about these events, especially those in chapters 9 through 11, are so accurate that even Flavius Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian who wasn’t a Messianic believer, was greatly impressed. He wrote: “All these things did this man Daniel leave in writing, as God had shown them to him; so that those who read his prophecies and see how they have been fulfilled would wonder at the honor with which God honored Daniel.” Antiquities of the Jews 10.11.7. Josephus noted that, because of this remarkable accuracy, some critics even argued that the Book of Daniel was written after the events had occurred. In fact, this is still the view held by many modern scholars.
However, today, the second part of Daniel’s prophecy particularly concerns us. This final section begins in verse 27 and reveals what will happen next in the unfolding of world history. This last verse introduces the final seven years of the prophecy, a period that will bring the end-times events to their climax.
This is what the prophecy tells us, and this is what we ought to expect in the near future: “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for seven years, but in the middle of the seven year, he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” Daniel 9:27
Here, Daniel introduces a new figure who will make a covenant of peace with Israel for seven years. These are the missing seven years of the 490-year period. 483 years have already passed, leaving this seven-year period to come, which will represent the time of peace enforced by this individual, whom John calls the Antichrist (1 John 2:18), and later as the Beast rising out of the nations to reign over the world (Rev. 13). He will first come as the deliverer of Israel, guaranteeing peace and safety.
But it will be a deceptive peace. And notice what Daniel tells us immediately: in the middle of the seven years, he will introduce what is called the abomination of desolation. This phrase appears again in Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11, and it is also referenced by Jesus the Messiah in the Gospel of Matthew 24:15. This is a phrase Yeshua Himself asked Israel to be on the lookout for after 3.5 years of signing this covenant.
According to the Book of Revelation, the second half of the 7-year period is a time of intense wars and the final, destructive battle of Armageddon. John also confirms this by mentioning the duration in months (42) and days (1260), which together total exactly 3.5 years. Keep in mind that John and Daniel used the Biblical lunar calendar, with a year consisting of 360 days.
Furthermore, the covenant of false peace mentioned in Daniel 9:27 must be significant in the prophetic context, as the idea of such deceptive peace appears in several other Scripture passages.
For example, the prophetic Book of Ezekiel describes Israel living with a sense of security just before the war of Gog and Magog. This is an event that both ancient rabbis and many modern Jewish interpreters associate with the coming of the Messiah. Here, Israel is described as believing that it is living in safety.
At the beginning of chapter 38, we read that the Lord addresses the northern leader known as Gog, saying: “In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many peoples on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They were brought out from the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.” Ezekiel 38:8
The word translated as “safely” in this passage is not the Hebrew word shalom, which means true peace. Instead, the word used is beṭaḥ, which conveys a sense of security, confidence, or carelessness; a feeling of being safe or unsuspecting. We see the same word used elsewhere in the Scriptures. In the Book of Genesis, chapter 34, when Simeon and Levi attacked the city of Shechem, the people were caught completely unaware, the same word. The same word appears again in Judges 8:11, when Gideon came upon the enemy camp while they were unsuspecting.
When we look at current events, one may see early developments that could move toward false peace. In recent years, several Arab nations have entered into negotiations and agreements with Israel, creating the appearance of increased regional stability. Two initiatives often mentioned in this context are the Abraham Accords and the proposed Board of Peace.
The Abraham Accords are a series of diplomatic agreements signed in 2020, through which several Arab countries normalized relations with Israel, establishing official diplomatic, economic, and security ties after decades of hostility. The Board of Peace is a proposed international framework intended to coordinate political and economic cooperation among several nations to promote regional stability and facilitate peace negotiations in the Middle East.
It is possible that this atmosphere of increasing security could continue and eventually lead to a moment when a powerful leader establishes a broader covenant of peace, one that Scripture describes as lasting seven years but ultimately turns out to be a false peace. The Scriptures, therefore, warn us that the final great conflict will not start with war, but with the promise of peace; a peace that will ultimately become the greatest deception of all.