Daniel chapter nine verses 24-27 records an absolutely stunning prediction regarding the date for the arrival of Jesus. God had predicted in advance and established in writing the exact year that Jesus would show up and begin his public ministry. And God had proclaimed this prophecy approximately 500 years before He fulfilled it. Again, the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 is as stunning as it is fascinating.
In the audio article about that passage, I make the case for an interpretation of this prophecy that is in agreement with how this passage was understood at the time of the Reformation approximately 400 years ago. In order to support that perspective, I highlighted the point that when Gabriel showed up to make the declaration that Daniel recorded, it had been exactly 980 years since Israel had left Egypt. Obviously 980 years is two consecutive 490-year segments and that point factors into the discussion regarding our understanding of that passage. So below is the documentation and Biblical references for how that number was determined.
Basically, the number of years between the Exodus and the moment when Gabriel showed up were calculated using the only method possible which is the length of time that each successive king served the Israelites. The length of time that each king served is listed in both the Books of Kings and Chronicles. The number of years is listed first, and to the right of the number of years are the Biblical references.
480 years after leaving Egypt, fourth year of King Solomons reign: 1 Kings 6:1
36 more years for Solomon’s reign: 1 Kings 11:42 & 2 Chronicles 9:30
17 years of Rehoboam’s reign(evil): 1 Kings 14:21 & 2 Chronicles12:13
3 years of Abijam’s reign (evil): 1 Kings 15:2 & 2 Chronicles 13 :2
41 years of Asa’s reign (good): 1 Kings 15:10 & 2 Chronicles 16:13
25 years of Jehoshaphat’s reign (good): 1 Kings 22:42 & 2 Chronicles 20:31
8 years of Jehoram’s reign (evil) : 2 Kings 8:17 & 2 Chronicles 21:5
1 year of Ahaziah’s reign (evil) : 2 Kings 8:26 & 22:2
6 years of Athalia’s(mother) reign(evil) : 2 Kings 11:3 & 21 & Chronicles 22:12
40 years of Jehoash/Joash’s reign ( good): 2 Kings 12:1 & 2 Chronicle 24:1
29 years of Amaziah’s reign (mostly good) : 2 Kings 14:2 & 2 Chronicles 25:1
52 years of Azariah/Uzziah’s reign (mostly good) : 2 Kings 15:2 & 2 Chronicles 26:3
16 years of Jotham’s reign (mostly good) : 2 Kings 15:33 & 2 Chronicles 27:1
16 years of Ahaz’s reign (evil) : 2 Kings 16:2 & 2 Chronicles 28:1
29 years of Hezekiah’s reign (good) : 2 Kings 18:2 & 2 Chronicles 29:1
55 years of Manasseh’s reign(evil but repented) :2 Kings 21:1 & 2 Chronicles 33:1
2 years of Amon’s reign (evil) : 2 Kings 21:19 & 2 Chronicles 33:21
31 years of Josiah’s reign (good) : 2 Kings 22:1 & 2 Chronicles 34:1
3 months of Jehoahaz’s reign (evil) 2 Kings 23:31 & 2 Chronicles36:2
11 years of Eliakim/Jehoiakim’s reign (evil) 2 Kings 23:36 2 Chronicles 36:5
3 months and ten days of Jehoiachin’s reign (evil) : 2 Kings 24:8 & 2 Chronicles 36:9
11 years of Mattaniah/Zedekiah’s reign (evil) : 2 Kings 24:14 & 25:2& 6 & 2 Chronicles 36:11
70 years of Exile 2 Chronicles 36:21
980 years total since leaving Egypt.