Jack Hibbs Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Unlocking Daniel’s 70 Weeks Mystery
Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Jack Hibbs
Podcast: Jack Hibbs Podcast / JackHibbs.com

Episode Overview

In this engaging and bold episode, Pastor Jack Hibbs dives deep into the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks (Daniel 9:24-27), often called the “holy of holies” of Bible prophecy. Hibbs unpacks the profound timeline God gives the prophet Daniel and explores its precise fulfillment in history, linking it to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the future of Israel. The episode challenges listeners’ faith and understanding of biblical prophecy, stirring both skepticism and awe at its specificity and fulfillment.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Foundational Role of Bible Prophecy (01:40–05:00)

• Importance of Prophecy: Hibbs stresses that prophecy is foundational to Christian confidence:

  “If God does not keep his prophetic promises, then he's not God... If the God of this book, the Bible, fails in any part of the then I have no God and I have no salvation.” (03:19)

• Uniqueness of the God of the Bible:
  Hibbs distinguishes the God of the Bible from other world religions based on fulfilled prophecy:

  “The God of the Bible is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and even his promises to those three patriarchs is all based upon prophecy.” (04:31)

• Call to Study Prophecy:
  He laments the neglect of key prophecies in the church and encourages critical examination and deeper study.

Introducing Daniel’s 70 Weeks (05:00–08:00)

• Daniel 9:24–27 Called “The Holy of Holies” of Prophecy:
  Hibbs shares that Dr. John Walvoord referred to this passage as the most important in all of prophecy, because its precision and fulfillment are undeniable:

  “He called it the holy of holies of all Bible prophecy... because it cannot be refuted.” (06:33)

• A Foundation for God’s Existence:
  Hibbs boldly claims:

  “I no longer tolerate or allow someone to say that you cannot prove the existence of God. I think that's a false statement... Daniel, chapter 9, verses 24 to 27 proves that.” (07:20)

Unpacking the 70 Weeks Prophecy (08:00–23:00)

• Context and Structure:
  • 70 “weeks” described in Daniel are interpreted as weeks of years, totaling 490 years owed by Israel for breaking Sabbaths (Lev 26:34–35).
  • The timeline is specific to “your people and your holy city”—meaning the Jews and Jerusalem.
  • The prophecy is broken into three parts: 7 weeks (49 years), 62 weeks (434 years), and 1 week (7 years).
• Historical Anchor Point:
  • Nehemiah receives Artaxerxes’ decree to rebuild Jerusalem on March 14, 445 BC.

    “We know through archaeological antiquity that Nehemiah got his paperwork signed on March 14, 445 B.C.” (15:30)

• Mathematical Precision:
  • 7 weeks (49 years): The time to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and streets (fulfilled in Nehemiah’s time).
  • 62 weeks (434 years): Brings the total to 483 years from the decree.
• Climax at 483rd Year:
  • Prophecy predicts “the Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself”—a capital death for someone else’s crime.

    “The Messiah is going to die, but he's not going to be guilty of the crime for which he's charged... the Book of Daniel 9:26 says the Messiah is going to die for others.” (21:50)

  • This was fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion.

Calculating the Timeline in Calendar Days (23:00–32:00)

• Calendar Specifics:
  • The Bible uses a 360-day prophetic year, not the 365-day solar year.
  • 483 years x 360 days = 173,880 days
• Exact Fulfillment:
  • From March 14, 445 BC, counting 173,880 days lands on April 6, 32 AD—recognized by many as the exact day Jesus entered Jerusalem (Palm Sunday).
  • Prophecies in Zechariah 9:9 and Psalm 118 corroborate this: the Messiah arrives riding a colt while people proclaim, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

The Remaining Seven Years and Future Prophecy (32:00–37:00)

• The Final Week (Seven Years):
  • After the 483 years, one week (seven years) remains unfulfilled, referred to as the time of tribulation (see Revelation, Daniel 12).
  • This will begin when “the prince who is to come” (Antichrist) makes a covenant with Israel, but breaks it after 3.5 years, desecrating the temple—echoing Matthew 23–24 and Daniel 9:27.
  • Modern return of the Jews to Israel, particularly post–May 14, 1948, is seen as further fulfillment.

“When does God get his seven years that's owed to him? … The Messiah entered into Jerusalem in Matthew chapter 23 and 24.” (34:40)

Evidence Against Critics and Affirming Faith (37:00–38:00)

• Responding to Skeptics:
  • Critics once claimed the prophecy’s detail meant it was written after the event, but findings like the Dead Sea Scrolls and the establishment of Israel as a nation debunk these arguments.
• Faith Encouragement:
  • Hibbs encourages all listeners, especially skeptics and Jews, that careful study of Daniel 9 proves God’s existence and faithfulness.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Prophecy and Skepticism:

  “I want to approach this as I think we should, as big skeptics... We got a prophecy here... that's 100% true.” (00:39)

• On Faith and Weakness:

  “If you don’t understand that... that explains why your walk might be so pathetically weak and... prone to fear and intimidation...” (04:21)

• On the Prophecy’s Precision:

  “From March 14, 445 B.C. to April 6, 32 A.D it is 483 years. Based on a 360-day-year calendar, that's 173,880 days to the day.” (29:30)

• On Fulfilled Prophecy and Israel:

  “On May 14, 1948, when Israel became a nation in one day, as Isaiah 66, 8 said they would, it just destroyed them. And you've never even heard of them [the critics] because they just blew away in the dust of history.” (26:50)

• On God's Faithfulness:

  “Jesus held Israel and their spiritual leadership accountable to know that day.” (35:50)

Timestamped Key Segments

• [01:40] – The uniqueness and reliability of biblical prophecy
• [06:33] – Daniel 9:24-27 as the key to all Bible prophecy
• [15:30] – Archaeological and historical setting: Artaxerxes’ decree (March 14, 445 B.C.)
• [21:50] – The cutting off of the Messiah “not for himself”—Jesus’ crucifixion
• [29:30] – Exact fulfillment: 173,880 days from decree to Palm Sunday
• [32:00] – The “final week” of prophecy: tribulation and the Antichrist
• [34:40] – Modern evidence and Israel’s rebirth reinforce prophecy
• [35:50] – Jesus holds His people accountable for prophecy
• [37:00] – Answering critics with the proof of prophecy’s fulfillment

Conclusion

Pastor Jack Hibbs delivers a compelling case for the divine inspiration and reliability of the Bible, centering on Daniel’s 70 Weeks prophecy. Through detailed historical analysis, biblical cross-reference, and impassioned challenges to faith and skepticism alike, Hibbs encourages listeners to recognize both fulfilled and yet-to-be-fulfilled elements of prophecy—placing the person and work of Jesus Christ at the center. Whether new to the topic or seasoned in eschatology, listeners are left inspired to deeper study and stronger confidence in the God of the Bible.

For further study or to access outlines, visit jackhibbs.com/podcast.