Daniel 9

22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thouart greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The first siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians began shortly after Nebuchadnezzar became king in 609 B.C. After several attacks to the city by the Babylonian army, it was completely destroyed and the Jewish people were exiled and taken into captivity (Dan. 1:1).

It was 523 B.C. in Darius' first year as king of Chaldea. God sends the angel Gabriel to deliver Daniel a prophecy.

Before Daniel was given this prophecy, he was remembering the Jeremiah 70-year exile prophecy (Jer. 29:10) and wanted to know how things would eventually play out.

2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Daniel understood there would be 70 years from the time of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon in 609 B.C. and the Jewish exile to a decree allowing the Jewish people to return to their homeland.

Jeremiah 29 10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

This prophecy was due to be fulfilled in 539 B.C.

The Jeremiah prophecy was fulfilled in 539 B.C. when Cyrus the Great became king of Babylon and gave a proclamation allowing the Jewish people to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple.

2 Chronicles 36 21 To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.

[The "threescore and ten years" are 70 years.]

In 523 B.C. when Darius first became king, Daniel is wondering when the Jewish people will rebuild their city. The temple had since been rebuilt but the city itself lay waste.

God witnessed Daniel's tears of compassion for his people (Dan. 9:20) and in His mercy (and for the sake of many others who would later read it) He gives Daniel a prophecy.

God tells Daniel there would be 70 weeks from the time the city would be rebuilt to when the Messiah would be crucified.

Daniel 9 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

["week" from Hebrew shabuwa: a week or seven days") (Strong 7620) is notable with the seventh day Jewish sabbath (shabbath) (Strong 7676).]

Seventy years later at the request of Nehemiah, Artaxerxes Longimanus King of the Persian Empire gave a command to rebuild Jerusalem (Neh. 2) ( one hundred and fifty-six years after the kingdom of Babylon began rule and exiled the Jewish people). The city and its walls were rebuilt.

523 B.C. - 70 years = 453 B.C.

His decree was issued in 453 B.C. thus fulfilling the Daniel prophecy that the city would be rebuilt.

The time from the command to rebuild Jerusalem in 453 B.C. to the time of the Messiah's crucifixion would be would be "seven weeks and three score and two weeks" (v. 25). Three score is equal to sixty. So, there would be 7 weeks and 60 + 2 weeks or 7 weeks and 62 weeks.

After "three score and two weeks" (62 weeks), the Messiah would be crucified for the sins of many ("cut off but not for himself") (v. 26).

These weeks are prophetic weeks.

One prophetic day is equal to one year. Seven prophetic days is equal to seven years. Since there are seven days in a week, one prophetic week is equal to seven years.

Prophetic days:

1 day = 1 year

7 days = 7 years

1 week = 7 years

7 sevens = 7 x 7 = 49 days = 49 years

62 x 7 = 434 days = 434 years

49 years + 434 years = 483 years

This means from the date of the building of Jerusalem to when the Messiah would be crucified would be 483 years.

The 69-week prophecy (62 weeks plus 7 weeks) began when Artaxerxes gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem in 453 B.C. (when the 70-weeks prophecy was fulfilled).

Jesus was crucified in 30 A.D.

From 453 B.C. to A.D. 30 is 483 years.

Daniel predicted that 69 sevens (69 weeks), or 483 years, would pass between the issuing of the decree to build Jerusalem and the "cutting off" of the Messiah. That is how many years passed between 453 B.C. and Jesus' death in 30 A.D.

God gave Daniel this prophecy about one half of a mellenium before Jesus the Messiah was crucified (523 B.C.).

Recall the 483-year period was divided into two periods: 7 sevens (49 years) and 62 sevens (434 years).

History reveals that it took the Jews 49 years from the time the decree was issued (453 B.C.) to when the walls and streets of Jerusalem were rebuilt (404 B.C.), thus fulfilling the first 49-year period.

453 B.C. - 49 = 404 B.C.

Once Jerusalem was rebuilt, it was exactly 434 years (62 sevens) later that Jesus the Messiah was crucified.

(404 B.C. to 30 A.D.)

Daniel's prophecy of when the Messiah would be crucified for His people proves fulfilled in Jesus.

The Daniel vision tells there was yet another prophecy that would happen after the Messiah's crucifixion.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

God tells Daniel that the temple would again be destroyed ("abominations he shall make it desolate").

This prophecy was fulfilled under the rule of Prince Titus. Titus fulfilled the prophecy of this "abomination" when the Temple was destroyed and sacrifices no longer took place, an event Jesus prophecied as the "abomination of desolation" (Matt.. 24:15).

Rulers from Nero to Vespasian, father of Prince Titus:

Nero ruled from A.D. 54-68.

The year of four emperors was A.D. 68-69.

Vespasian ruled A.D. 69-79.

In A.D. 66, the Jews of Judea revolted against the Roman Empire (Josephus). Nero appointed Vespasian to put down the rebellion; he was later joined by his son, Titus. The Romans, with 60,000 soldiers, prepared to march against Jews from Galilee to Jerusalem, where the most important fortresses of Jewish resistance were located. At Nero's death, the campaign against Jerusalem came to a halt. By A.D. 69, after three emperors, Vespasian was chosen as emperor. Titus, again, went to war against the Jews, this time to Jerusalem. Josephus, a Roman-Jewish historian, had been put in charge to settle peace with the Jews since A.D. 67. By A.D. 70, Josephus was still unable to get the Jews to negotiate a surrender. As result, Titus sacked Jerusalem, destroying both the city of Jerusalem and the temple. According to Josephus, 1,100,000 people were killed, most of which were Jewish. The war lasted until A.D. 73.

From the time that Titus worked with Josephus to contract peace, A.D. 67, to the end of the war, A.D. 73, was a total of 7 years. This fulfilled the week prophecy of Daniel 9:27 where 7 days is equal to 7 years.

The early Christians had already left Jerusalem and all of the Judaean Province before the war. They had been forewarned by the Lord of the abomination predicted by Daniel and that it was soon to happen (Matt. 24: 15-16, 21; Mark 13:14-16).

Scripture proves the Titus event had been fulfilled during the time of first-century Christianity by information from three of the four primary gospels:

Both Matthew and Mark died before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Therefore, their letters were written previous to this event. Luke lived until after the destruction of the Temple. His letter was written after the destruction had taken place.

Both the book of Matthew and the book of Mark mention "the abomination of desolation" as if it is still to take place.

Matthew 24 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.

14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains.

Luke refers to the event as simply the "desolation" and describes what actually happened as if it already took place.

Luke 21 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

Jerusalem was "compassed with armies."

Daniel wanted to know when his people would return to Jerusalem. He was told much more. He would learn the date the prophets and sages of long ago yearned to know and by faith could only comprehend:

When the long awaited Messiah would arrive.

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Josephus, Flavius. The Jewish War:Revised Edition. Penguin Publishing Group, 1989.

Strong, James. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Hendrickson Publishers, Incorporated, 2009.




		Chapter 9 of Daniel records the “seventy weeks” prophecy God gave Daniel during Darius the Meade's first year as king of Chaldea (Dan. 9:1). This prophecy reveals a timeline showing when the Messiah would die for the sins of mankind. *Daniel* 9 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thouart greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. The first siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians began shortly after Nebuchadnezzar became king in 609 B.C. After several attacks to the city by the Babylonian army, it was completely destroyed and the Jewish people were exiled and taken into captivity (Dan. 1:1). It was 523 B.C. in Darius' first year as king of Chaldea. God sends the angel Gabriel to deliver Daniel a prophecy. Before Daniel was given this prophecy, he was remembering the Jeremiah 70-year exile prophecy (Jer. 29:10) and wanted to know how things would eventually play out. Daniel 9 2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Daniel understood there would be 70 years from the time of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon in 609 B.C. and the Jewish exile to a decree allowing the Jewish people to return to their homeland. Jeremiah 29 10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. This prophecy was due to be fulfilled in 539 B.C. 609-70 = 539 The Jeremiah prophecy was fulfilled in 539 B.C. when Cyrus the Great became king of Babylon and gave a proclamation allowing the Jewish people to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple. 2 Chronicles 36 21 To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up. [The "threescore and ten years" are 70 years.] In 523 B.C. when Darius first became king, Daniel is wondering when the Jewish people will rebuild their city. The temple had since been rebuilt but the city itself lay waste. *God witnessed Daniel's tears of compassion for his people (Dan. 9:20) and in His mercy (and for the sake of many others who would later read it) He gives Daniel a prophecy.* God tells Daniel there would be 70 weeks from the time the city would be rebuilt to when the Messiah would be crucified. Daniel 9 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ["week" from Hebrew **shabuwa: a week or seven days") (Strong 7620) is notable with the seventh day Jewish sabbath (shabbath) (Strong 7676).] Seventy years later at the request of Nehemiah, Artaxerxes Longimanus King of the Persian Empire gave a command to rebuild Jerusalem (*Neh. 2) (* one hundred and fifty-six years after the kingdom of Babylon began rule and exiled the Jewish people). The city and its walls were rebuilt. 523 B.C. - 70 years = 453 B.C. His decree was issued in 453 B.C. thus fulfilling the Daniel prophecy that the city would be rebuilt. The time from the command to rebuild Jerusalem in 453 B.C. to the time of the Messiah's crucifixion would be would be "seven weeks and three score and two weeks" (v. 25). Three score is equal to sixty. So, there would be 7 weeks and 60 + 2 weeks or 7 weeks and 62 weeks. After "three score and two weeks" (62 weeks), the Messiah would be crucified for the sins of many (*"cut off but not for himself") (v. 26).* These weeks are prophetic weeks. One prophetic day is equal to one year. Seven prophetic days is equal to seven years. Since there are seven days in a week, one prophetic week is equal to seven years. Prophetic days: 1 day = 1 year 7 days = 7 years 1 week = 7 years 7 weeks: 7 sevens = 7 x 7 = 49 days = 49 years 62 weeks: 62 x 7 = 434 days = 434 years 49 years + 434 years = 483 years This means from the date of the building of Jerusalem to when the Messiah would be crucified would be 483 years. The 69-week prophecy (62 weeks plus 7 weeks) began when Artaxerxes gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem in 453 B.C. (when the 70-weeks prophecy was fulfilled). Jesus was crucified in 30 A.D. 453 + 30 = 483 From 453 B.C. to A.D. 30 is 483 years. Daniel predicted that 69 sevens (69 weeks), or 483 years, would pass between the issuing of the decree to build Jerusalem and the "cutting off" of the Messiah. That is how many years passed between 453 B.C. and Jesus' death in 30 A.D. God gave Daniel this prophecy about one half of a mellenium before Jesus the Messiah was crucified (523 B.C.). Recall the 483-year period was divided into two periods: 7 sevens (49 years) and 62 sevens (434 years). History reveals that it took the Jews 49 years from the time the decree was issued (453 B.C.) to when the walls and streets of Jerusalem were rebuilt (404 B.C.), thus fulfilling the first 49-year period. 453 B.C. - 49 = 404 B.C. Once Jerusalem was rebuilt, it was exactly 434 years (62 sevens) later that Jesus the Messiah was crucified. (404 B.C. to 30 A.D.) Daniel's prophecy of when the Messiah would be crucified for His people proves fulfilled in Jesus. The Daniel vision tells there was yet another prophecy that would happen after the Messiah's crucifixion. *Daniel 9* 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. God tells Daniel that the temple would again be destroyed (*"abominations he shall make it desolate"). This prophecy was fulfilled under the rule of Prince Titus. Titus fulfilled the prophecy of this "abomination" when the Temple was destroyed and sacrifices no longer took place, an event Jesus prophecied as the "abomination of desolation" (Matt.. 24:15). Rulers from Nero to Vespasian, father of Prince Titus:* Nero ruled from A.D. 54-68. The year of four emperors was A.D. 68-69. Vespasian ruled A.D. 69-79. In A.D. 66, the Jews of Judea revolted against the Roman Empire (Josephus). Nero appointed Vespasian to put down the rebellion; he was later joined by his son, Titus. The Romans, with 60,000 soldiers, prepared to march against Jews from Galilee to Jerusalem, where the most important fortresses of Jewish resistance were located. At Nero's death, the campaign against Jerusalem came to a halt. By A.D. 69, after three emperors, Vespasian was chosen as emperor. Titus, again, went to war against the Jews, this time to Jerusalem. Josephus, a Roman-Jewish historian, had been put in charge to settle peace with the Jews since A.D. 67. By A.D. 70, Josephus was still unable to get the Jews to negotiate a surrender. As result, Titus sacked Jerusalem, destroying both the city of Jerusalem and the temple. According to Josephus, 1,100,000 people were killed, most of which were Jewish. The war lasted until A.D. 73. From the time that Titus worked with Josephus to contract peace, A.D. 67, to the end of the war, A.D. 73, was a total of 7 years. This fulfilled the week prophecy of *Daniel 9:27* where 7 days is equal to 7 years. The early Christians had already left Jerusalem and all of the Judaean Province before the war. They had been forewarned by the Lord of the abomination predicted by Daniel and that it was soon to happen (Matt. 24: 15-16, 21; Mark 13:14-16). Scripture proves the Titus event had been fulfilled during the time of first-century Christianity by information from three of the four primary gospels: Both Matthew and Mark died before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Therefore, their letters were written previous to this event. Luke lived until after the destruction of the Temple. His letter was written after the destruction had taken place. Both the book of Matthew and the book of Mark mention "the abomination of desolation" as if it is still to take place. Matthew 24 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains. Mark 13 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains. Luke does not. Luke refers to the event as simply the "desolation" and describes what actually happened as if it already took place. Luke 21 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. Jerusalem was "compassed with armies." Daniel wanted to know when his people would return to Jerusalem. He was told much more. He would learn the date the prophets and sages of long ago yearned to know and by faith could only comprehend: When the long awaited Messiah would arrive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Works Cited Josephus, Flavius. The Jewish War:Revised Edition. Penguin Publishing Group, 1989. Strong, James. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Hendrickson Publishers, Incorporated, 2009.