[Roman_War_Criminal]

They knew....the timeline of the end of Daniel’s 70 “sevens” was exactly around the time of Christ’s ministry.

http://www.gotquestions.org/seventy-sevens.html

[CynicalBear]

"After the culmination of the 62 seven-year periods, or after 483rd year, the Messiah would be cut off."

And there is one week (seven years) left for the nation of Israel.