Summary note on Daniel’s 70 week prophecy

In order to understand Daniel’s prophecy in chapter 9, be aware that we need to make a distinction between literal days and prophetic days. Unless otherwise mentioned in scripture, all days mentioned are to be considered literal days, except, within symbolic, visionary or a prophetic context. More specifically, within a prophetic context throughout the bible, ‘days’ are actually accounted for as ‘years’.

One example we can find back in Numbers, embedded in God’s judgment to the Israelites before entering the promised land.

After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, [even] forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. [NUMBERS 14:34]

Another example we can find in Ezekiel.

And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. [EZEKIEL 4:6]

Now read Daniel’s prophecy upon the Messiah and grasp the context first (markings in red added for prophetic calculation). Bear in mind that the ‘Messiah’ or ‘Christ’, means “the anointed one”.

Seventy weeks [70x7d=490d=490y] 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. 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 [(7x7d)+(62x7d))=483d=483y] : the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks [62x7d=434d=434y] 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. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [1x7d=7d=7y]: and in the midst of the week [½x7d=3.5d=3.5y] 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. [DANIEL 9:24-27]

Let us now carefully calculate according to Daniel’s vision and split the verses for analysis:

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city […]

 

[BEGIN]
70 weeks or 490 years from begin to end in Daniel’s vision, “upon thy people”, i.e. the Hebrews.

[…] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem

Decree [a] of Artaxerxes I to rebuild temple: 

457 BC

[…] unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks

Baptism of Jesus Christ, after 69 weeks

27 AD
= (457 BC + 483 years) + 1[b]

[ …] and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease

Crucifixion of Christ in the mid final week of the prophecy

31 AD
= 27 AD + 3.5 years

Gospel to Hebrews

= second half of last week (3.5 year)

[END]
of 70 week prophecy for Hebrews with stoning of Stephen

34 AD                             
= (31 AD + 3.5 years); or
= (457 BC + 490 years) +1[b]

 

Thereafter, the begin of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Some argue that the book of Daniel ‘must’ be written after the crucifixion of Christ, because it just cannot be that the dates exactly fit? Suggesting the book of Daniel to be written somewhere between the first or second century AD. An argument to undermine the prophetic value of Daniel’s vision and trying to match Jesus as the Messiah, “the anointed one” of God, as a hoax.

Fortunately, in 1946, a little Shepard boy wandering in the dessert with his sheep, found the first of the papyrus scrolls in a cave, later named: “the Dead Sea Scrolls /or the Qumran Caves Scrolls". These scrolls were later carefully analyzed and scrutinized and were dated as from 250 BC for Old Testament texts. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain many books of the Old Testament, including the book of Daniel.

In fact there is no way that the book of Daniel was written after Christ, but no doubt hundreds of years in advance, originated by Daniel himself, sitting at the court of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC). Note that even the most skeptical archeologists who do not want to admit that the book of Daniel was written during Babylonian rule, estimate the writings of Daniel 'at least' before 2nd century BC.

Case closed.

It is clear that archangel Gabriel, when passing on this vision to Daniel, was mentioning the first coming of Jesus Christ. There can be no mistake in the dates, all does fit perfectly and without err. God’s Word is without err … and even so are His promises.

[a]    Decree of Artaxerxes I (reign 465-424 BC) to rebuild temple in 7th year of reign (i.e. fall of 458 BC to summer 457 BC):

And there went up [some] of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which [was] in the seventh year of the king. For upon the first [day] of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first [day] of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do [it,] and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Now this [is] the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, [even] a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace,] and at such a time. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which [is] in thine hand; And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation [is] in Jerusalem, And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which [is] in Jerusalem: That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which [is] in Jerusalem. And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, [those] deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow [it] out of the king’s treasure house. And I, [even] I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which [are] beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing [how much. ] Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that [is] in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that [are] beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know [them] not.  And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether [it be] unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Blessed [be] the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put [such a thing] as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem: And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God [was] upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. [EZRA 7:7-28]

[b]    Plus +1 year when going from BC to AD, as year ‘0’ does not exist.