This date is specifically marked in scripture:  'From the going forth of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem...' Dan 9:25.  From this date there would be 69 'sevens' or 483 years to the coming of the messiah.  483 years from 457 BC brings us to 27 AD, the opening of Jesus' earthly ministry.

The rise of Alexander is clearly described in scripture. In Daniel 8:7-8 he is the notable horn on the 'He-Goat'.  His reign is also mentioned in Daniel 11:3-4.  His reign is important because it marks the prophetic transition between the second and third of the four kingdoms of Daniel's prophecies (1 Babylon - 2 Medo-Persia - 3 Greece - 4 Rome). 

The battle of Granicus marked the beginning of the Grecian victory over the Persians by Alexander the Great.  This conquest is described in Dan 8:5-7.  It is the opening vision of this long prophecy which Daniel was told would last for '2300 Evenings and Mornings'.  The vision concerned the Jewish people and the place of the sanctuary.  2300 years from 334 BC brings us to 1967 AD, the very year that the Jewish people captured the temple mount.  This was the first time in almost 2500 years that the temple mount returned to Jewish possession.

The division of the Grecian empire is mentioned in Dan 8:8, 22 and Daniel 11:4.  Alexander the Great died and left no heir to his kingdom.  His kingdom was divided to his four generals.  This division is important because it is in this form that the transition to Daniel's fourth kingdom (Rome) would take place.  See below.

The Roman conquest of Macedonia in 168 BC marks the prophetic transition from Daniel's third kingdom (Greece) to the fourth (Rome).  This transition is highly misunderstood but critical to a proper understanding of prophecy.  This transition is marked in Daniel 8:9-12, 23-25 and Daniel 11:31 (Arms shall stand on his part...).  This 'little horn' of Daniel 8 would become world's mightiest power; the one which would cast down the sanctuary, stand up against the 'prince of princes' and 'destroy the mighty and the holy people.'

The expansion of the Roman Empire is described in Dan 8:9-12, 23, 25, Dan 11:31, etc.  It was the power which was to 'wax great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the pleasant land (Judea/Jerusalem)' which was conquered by the Roman general Pompey in 63 BC.  The entire time of this last kingdom's power is known is scripture as 'The Time of the End'.

This battle is described in detail in Daniel 11:40-45.  Daniel 11:40 ('And at the time of the end, etc...') marks a transition in the text and begins a retrogression.  Daniel 11:31-39 traces the history of the Roman power through its final form (the papal).  Beginning in verse 40 the prophecy begins to describe this battle which would mark the time in which 'Michael the Great Prince' (a reference to Christ) would stand up, and the Jewish 'Great Time of Trouble' was to begin.  The victory of Octavian (the 'King of the North') over Marc Anthony and Cleopatra of Egypt (the 'King of the South') left Rome as the world's sole great power, and Octavian (later Augustus) as its sole ruler.  This also marks the transition of Rome from it's fifth ruling head to its sixth. Thus this battle in history sets the stage for the coming of the Messiah and the destruction of the Jewish nation.

Marks the transition of Rome from its fifth form of administration to its sixth (the imperial).  As was told to John when he received the Revelation: ' There are seven kings, five are fallen, one IS (the imperial).  It is under this form of Roman government that Jesus would be born, the apostles persecuted, and the early Christians martyred as the new faith struggled to exist under Roman Imperial pagan rule.

Jesus our Savior is born.  Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:27

The baptism and opening of Jesus' ministry marks the beginning of Daniel's seventieth week. ('And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week' Dan 9:27).   Jesus came to confirm the promises made to the fathers. Romans 15:8.

Jesus was crucified and died for the sins of mankind in the middle of Daniel's seventieth week: 'And after threescore and two weeks shall messiah be cut off but not for himself' (Dan 9:26). 'In the midst of the week he shall cause sacrifice and oblation to cease' (Dan 9:27)

The stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr marks the end of Daniel's seventieth week.  After the crucifixion of Jesus the gospel of the new covenant continued to be preached almost exclusively to the Jewish nation.  At the end of three and one half years (the last half of Daniel's 70th week) the Gospel began to be preached to the gentile nations.

The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD is a pivotal event in prophecy and marks the end of the Jewish dispensation.  This event was mentioned by Moses (Deut 28), Daniel (Dan 8, 9, 11, 12), Jesus (Matt 23, 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, etc) and Paul (1 Thess 2), and nearly all other Old Testament prophets.  The Roman destruction of Jerusalem begins the time when the 'Abomination of Desolation' would be set up (Matt 24:15, Dan 11:31, 12:11, etc.), and the holy people (the Jews) scattered.  

From 70 AD to 180 AD marks the era of Rome's 'golden age' and coincides with the First Horse Rider of the book of Revelation.  The rider on the white horse goes forth conquering and to conquer, and as such, Rome was prosperous and victorious in this period.

In 284 Diocletian significantly changed the form of Roman administration and assumed for himself the Asiatic Diadem as a symbol of imperial power.  This change of power marks the transition from Rome's sixth head to it's seventh.  This would be the last form of administration under Rome as a pagan nation and according to Revelation 17:10 it would continue only a 'short space'. Little over 40 years later the empire found itself in a struggle for control between paganism and Christianity.  This period between 180 and 284 AD marks the period of Revelation's Red Horse.  This horse which has power to take peace from the earth marks a time of unprecedented bloodshed and civil war within the Roman Empire. 

The 'conversion' of Constantine, while a seeming victory for the Christian religion, also quickly led to the infiltration of the Christian religion by scores of unconverted pagans. This influence severely corrupted the pure faith as pagan doctrines and practices were adopted into the Christian religion.

By 325 AD philosophical and metaphysical quarrelling about the nature of the relationship between Jesus and the Father became so intense that the feud threatened to tear apart the Roman Empire.  The council of Nicea was called by Constantine in 325 for the express purpose of unifying Christianity within the empire.  The Christian bishops emerged from the council with a formal creed couched in unscriptural language stating that Jesus was 'of the same substance as the father.'  This became the 'orthodox' view and dissenters to it would become increasingly persecuted.

In 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' Edward Gibbon writes: 'The ruin of Paganism, in the age of Theodosius, is perhaps the only example of the total extirpation of any ancient and popular superstition; and may therefore deserve to be considered as a singular event in the history of the human mind.'  The conversion of the Roman Empire to 'Christianity' as a state religion is described in Revelation 12 under the figure of a great dragon cast out of heaven to the earth.  Rev 12:9.  The reign of Theodosius also ends the era of the 'Black Horse' rider of Revelation - a period of excessive taxation and fiscal oppression within the empire.

In 395 AD the Roman Empire began to be invaded by 'barbarian' Germanic tribes along their borders.  The strength of the empire had kept these invasions at bay for centuries.  But now, the empire weakened by civil war, strife, and taxation could no longer defend itself.  The Barbarian invasions under Alaric (King of the Visigoths) are represented by the first trumpet blast of Revelation Rev 8:7.  This era also marks the opening of the fourth seal.  The first four trumpet blasts fall under the fourth seal, and these collective judgments bring about the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

The barbarian invasions under Genseric (King of the Vandals) are represented in Rev 8:8 under the figure of the second trumpet - a great mountain (a kingdom) burning with fire thrown into the sea.  This is a fitting symbol as Genseric was known as the 'tyrant of the sea' and most of his victories were naval battles.

The barbarian invasions under Attila (King of the Huns) are represented in Rev 8:10-11 under the figure of the third trumpet - a star which fell from heaven turning the waters to wormwood.  Attila was nicknamed by his enemies 'The Scourge of God'.

The fall of the Western Roman Empire was accomplished in 476 AD with the extinction of the Imperial title and the departure of the last western emperor (Romulus Augustulus) from Rome.  The extinction of the sun, moon and stars under this symbol represents the darkening of these ruling bodies.  This period also brings to a close the era of the fourth seal.

In 529 AD Justinian codified Roman law outlawing anything not in submission to the Roman state church.  The capital of the empire had earlier been moved to Constantinople under Constantine.  After the collapse of the empire in the west, a power vacuum  developed into which the Roman bishops became increasingly more powerful  The Justinian code gave the Roman Bishops almost excusive power in the west, and marked the final and complete overthrow of the pagan religion in Rome.  In this the hindering power of the emperor in the west was 'taken out of the way' (2 Thess 2:7) and 'the dragon gave him (the beast) his power, seat and great authority. (Rev 13:2).  This date is of immense importance in Bible prophecy because it marks both the fall of Paganism (the binding of the dragon - Rev 20:1), and the start of the reign of the 'Man of San'.  This reign was to last 1260 years. Rev 13:5, Dan 7:25, Dan 12:7

The founder of the Islamic religion was born in 570 AD. While this date itself is not clearly defined in scripture, his birth is important because the Islamic scourge is represented by both the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments - invasions of the eastern Roman Empire by Muslim armies.

The Saracen invasions of the Eastern Roman Empire which began in 612 AD are symbolized in scripture under the fifth trumpet blast.  Rev 9:1-11.  The torment inflicted by these invasions was to last for '5 months' or 150 years.

In 70 AD the Jewish people revolted against Roman Rule.  The Roman General Titus sacked the city, razed it to the ground and burned the temple thus fulfilling the words of Jesus - 'there shall not be left one stone upon another which shall not be thrown down' Matt 24:2.  Approximately 1,000,000 Jews perished in the revolt.  In 132 AD remaining Jews in Jerusalem once again rose up in revolt against Rome - 600,000 Jews perished in the revolt.  A Temple to the god Jupiter was built in Jerusalem and Jews were banished from the city on pain of death.  Judea was renamed 'Palestina' after the Philistines, the ancient enemy of Israel. After Rome became a 'Christian' Empire numerous churches and shrines were built in the city.  These Roman abominations remained in Jerusalem until Rome lost the city to Persian invaders in 614 AD.  This marks the end of the period in which the Abomination of Desolation would be set up.  The time periods of 1290 and 1335 days (Dan 12) begin with this date.

The Saracen invasions under the fifth trumpet began in 612 AD and were to last a prophetic '5 months' - or 150 years (Rev 9:5).  The end of the Saracen invasions in 763 AD marks the end of this time period.

The conquest of Baghdad by the Turks marks the beginning of the sixth trumpet judgment (Rev 9:13-21).  The time period in which these invasions was to last is described as 'an hour a day a month and a year'.  These time periods - aggregated in prophetic time - bring us to the fall of Constantinople. (See Below)

The remnant of Christ's true church is described in prophecy under the figure of two witnesses who prophecy in sack cloth during the reign of the Papal apostasy (Rev 11).  In 1170 this remnant effectively 'finished (or rather 'perfected') their testimony when they began to identify the Papacy as the predicted 'man of sin' or 'beast' of prophecy.  From this point the Catholic church would wage an all-out war on the true witnesses, and would seek to stamp out their testimony.  (Rev 11:7)

The third Lateran council marks the beginning of the war against the Two Witnesses (Rev 11:7).  This council forbid the harboring of 'heretics' and denied them proper burial.

The fall of Constantinople to Turkish armies marks the end of the sixth trumpet judgment.  From the beginning of the Turkish invasions to the fall of Constantinople is 396 years and 106 days.  See Elliot - Horae Apocalypticae.

In 1179 the Catholic Church began an all-out war to stamp out 'heresy' - the testimony of Christ's true witnesses.  At the Fifth Lateran Council in 1514 they declared that heresy had been completely expunged and that all of Europe was subject to the Catholic Church.  This proclamation of the Fifth Lateran Council marks the slaying of the Two Witnesses. Rev 11:7

Exactly three and one half years to the day after the Roman Catholic Church had declared an and to all 'heresy' Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five Theses on the door of Wittenberg Castle thus beginning the protestant reformation.  The event represents the raising of the Two Witnesses. Rev 11:11

Upon the resurrection of the two witnesses, Revelation 11:13 records that 'The same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell'.  This symbolically represents the fall of one of the ten nations which had been loyal to the Papacy.  This was fulfilled when England broke away from papal dominion shortly after the start of the protestant reformation.

1789 marks the end of the Papal reign of 1260 years at which point judgment would immediately begin to be poured out.  As Jesus stated 'Immediately after the tribulation of those days - the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.' Matt 24:29

The French Revolution is described in scripture under the figure of the first bowl judgment - a noisesome and grievous sore which appeared on the worshippers of the beast (Rev 16:2)  In 1789 a plague of atheism and moral collapse spread over France and resulted in the bloodiest revolution the world had ever seen.  This atheist and humanistic spirit has spread throughout western civilization ever since.  The eras of the sixth seal and seventh trumpet commence from this period.

The capture and imprisonment of Pope Pius VI by Napoleon in 1798 marks a turning point in the history of Europe.  From this time the Papacy would lose the temporal power over Europe that it had held for centuries and the entire fabric of government would be changed.  These changes in the ruling authority (the heavens departing as a scroll, etc) were symbolically described by Jesus (Matt 24:29-30, and in the book of Revelation under the symbolism of the Sixth Seal.  Rev 6:12-17

The naval wars which ravaged Europe between 1793 and 1804 are described symbolically in the book of Revelation under the images of the second bowl judgment in which the sea would turn to blood. Rev 16:3

The bloody revolutions which swept over Europe in 1848 are described symbolically in the book of Revelation under the images of the third bowl judgment in which the rivers and fountains of waters were turned to blood. Rev 16:4-7

1904 marked the beginning of the 'Second Aliyah' or 'ascent' - an event in which approximately 40,000 Jewish people returned to Israel and revived the use of the Hebrew language.  For the first time in nearly 2000 years Jewish hopes of having an independent nation were revived.  The returning Jews who waited until 1949 would see these hopes realized.

The First World War which broke out in 1914 marked the end of the remaining ruling monarchies in Europe and is described in the Book of Revelation under the image of the fourth bowl judgment which was poured out upon the sun. Rev 16:8-9

The Second World War which broke out in 1939 was caused by the rise of Fascism which spread from Italy and into Germany.  This war is fittingly described in the Book of Revelation under the symbolism of the fifth bowl judgment - a judgment upon the seat of the beast (Italy) which filled its kingdom with darkness.

The day after Israel declared its independence in 1948 the new tiny nation was attacked by six Arab nations.  Against all odds Israel was victorious and won this war of independence in 1949.  This event is described in Daniel chapter 12 - 'Blessed is he who waits and comes to the 1335 days'. Dan 12:12

After World War 1 and the collapse of the the Ottoman Empire, western Europe had colonized almost all of the entire middle east.  After World War 2 this colonization was rapidly reversed as western influence withdrew from the region.  This withdraw of the west from the middle east is symbolized by the sixth bowl judgment which was poured out on the great river Euphrates (Rev 16:12).  The western 'waters' (peoples) in those regions have dried up so that 'the way of the kings of the east may be prepared' - hence, these nations are now ruled by eastern peoples.

The Israeli victory in the Six Day War in which Israel obtained possession of the temple mount for the first time in well over 2000 years marks the end of the long period of 2300 years as noted in Daniel 8:14.  The fact that this prophecy concerning the sanctuary - the last known prophetic time period given - has finally found its fulfillment in our time, and that God's attention has once again turned to the Jewish people should cause all of God's children to look up.  Surely the time of our Lord's coming is near - even at the door.

The battle of Armageddon still remains just over the prophetic horizon.  We do not yet know how this final battle of human history will play out.  We know however that all nations are now being gathered together for the destruction of this great day (Rev 16:13).  May we all be watching, and keeping our garments unspotted from the world.

The final times of the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21).