[SoothingDave]

The difference is in definition of the "week". There is factual basis for defining a week as 7 years or for defining it as 7 days.

Where is the English or Hebrew or Greek word for "week" defined as 7 years?

What is this factual basis you speak of?

SD

[JohnnyM]

"What is this factual basis you speak of?"

Ezekiel 4:6
When you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah; I have assigned it to you for forty days, a day for each year.

So here we have precedent of a day signifying a year in terms of prophecy. Now we have the benefit of hindsight on the issue and know for a fact that there was no fulfillment of this prophecy 70 weeks (490 days) after Daniel received it. We can, however, make a strong case using weeks as 7 years to pinpoint the coming of Christ. A more strict translation of weeks would actually result in the term "seven's" which would give more foundation to the the 490 years translation. So an interpretation of the 70 weeks using years is a valid exegesis using Scripture.

JM