The Secret to Understanding Revelation: Why Daniel’s 70 Weeks is the Master Key

 

Have you ever tried reading the Book of Revelation and felt like you were walking into the middle of a movie without knowing the plot? Between the dragons, the seals, and the "Mark of the Beast," it’s easy to get lost in the symbols.

Many modern interpretations suggest that Revelation is a roadmap for future geopolitical events in the Middle East. However, according to Reformed theologian Kim Riddlebarger, the secret to unlocking Revelation isn't found in today’s news headlines—it’s found in the Old Testament, specifically in Daniel’s 70 Weeks.

If you want to understand the "End Times" without the sensationalism, you need to understand how these two prophetic books work together.

The 70 Weeks of Daniel: A Super-Jubilee, Not a Countdown


In Daniel 9:24–27, the prophet receives a vision of "seventy weeks" (490 years) decreed for his people. While many "End Times" charts insert a 2,000-year "gap" between the 69th and 70th week, Riddlebarger argues this misses the theological point.

The 70 weeks represent a "Super-Jubilee"—a symbolic period of time signifying God’s complete work of redemption.

  • The Goal: To finish transgression, put an end to sin, and bring in everlasting righteousness.

  • The Hero: It isn't the Antichrist. Riddlebarger argues that the "He" who confirms the covenant in the 70th week is Jesus Christ.

When Jesus died on the cross in the "middle of the week," He put an end to the need for animal sacrifices. He didn't break a treaty; He fulfilled the Law.

How the 70th Week Explains Revelation

So, where is the second half of that final "week"? This is where the Book of Revelation comes in.

In Revelation, we repeatedly see a specific time frame: 1,260 days, 42 months, or "a time, times, and half a time." All of these equal exactly 3.5 years—or half of a seven-year "week."

From Riddlebarger’s Amillennial perspective:

  1. The First Half (3.5 years): Represented Christ’s earthly ministry ending at the Cross.

  2. The Second Half (3.5 years): Represents the Church Age.

This means we are currently living in the second half of Daniel's 70th week! This is why John describes himself in Revelation 1:9 as a "partner in the tribulation." The "tribulation" isn't a future seven-year period; it is the entire era of the church witnessing for Christ in a hostile world.

Recapitulation: How to Read Revelation Like a Pro


If you read Revelation chronologically (like a history book), it gets confusing fast. Riddlebarger teaches the principle of Recapitulation.

Think of Revelation like a movie that shows the same scene from seven different camera angles. Each cycle (the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls) covers the time from Christ's first coming to His final return.

  • The Seals show the era from the perspective of God’s providence.

  • The Trumpets show it from the perspective of warning and judgment.

  • The Bowls show the finality of God’s wrath.

Each cycle ends with the same event: The Second Coming of Christ.

Why This Matters for You Today

Understanding Revelation through the lens of Daniel’s 70 weeks changes everything. It shifts the book from a source of fear to a source of comfort.

If the 70th week is about Christ’s victory rather than the Antichrist’s treaty, then the "Mark of the Beast" and the "Great Tribulation" aren't things for Christians to hide from. Instead, they are realities we overcome through the blood of the Lamb.

The takeaway? The King has already won the middle of the week at Calvary, and He is coming back to finish the final scene.

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