In Daniel 9, Daniel is given a prophecy known as the “70 weeks.” Here, 490 years are delineated as the time within which all of Jewish spiritual history and prophecy will be fulfilled. 483 of those years have clearly taken place, ending abruptly sometime during the life of Jesus the Messiah.

Seven years remain. Occasionally we hear that a seven-year tribulation is coming. Not so. At the beginning of that seven years a treaty is signed with Israel. Then, in the “middle” of that seven-year time, or three and one half years later, the treaty is broken, and serious problems begin.

This lays the foundation for all the other times that three and one-half years is mentioned in one form or another.

For example, also in Daniel, chapter 12, an angel announces that the time for fulfillment of the tribulation of God’s people, when the “power of the holy people has been completely shattered” will be a “time”, “times”, and half a “time.” Though there is no clue in this passage as to the length of a “time”, we combine this expression with the many others and conclude that a “time” is nothing more than a year. Hence, One year, plus two years, plus half a year, or three and one-half years.

The Holy Spirit picks up in John where he leaves off in Daniel. Revelation 11, 12, and 13, all mention this time period. In Revelation 11, the Holy City, Jerusalem, is to be overcome and occupied by Gentiles for 42 months. (Three and one half years.) God’s two special prophets, widely believed to be Elijah and Enoch come back to earth and will prophesy during this entire time, as the church’s witness will be all but smothered. The period of their prophecy is said to be 1260 days. I’ll let you do the math on this one.

Also allotted 1260 days is a “woman”, thought to stand for Israel, who will be called by God into the wilderness to encounter the risen Lord. The 144,000 will finally accept their Messiah. (Revelation 12)

But during this same period, this time 42 months again, antichrist is given authority over the entire earth. (Revelation 13) Even the two prophets finally die under his supervision. Unfortunately for his public relations department however, these two will rise from the dead on international cable television.