70 Weeks Chart Made Easy in a Nutshell… 2nd Edition

July 28th 2024

Intro: The time ticking for the seventy weeks prophecy does not depend on whether Jerusalem had been completed with re-building it. But it did have to do with when the command to re-build it. And again as I said in my article that the words written decree can only be found in one translation which happens to be my favourite the NASB all others use “word” to re-build or “command” to re-build. Only the NASB uses decree in Daniel 9:25.

Which leaves us with what do we do about what Isaiah claims God said about Cyrus would be the only who would say “not write a decree” right here in the NASB which people make it to contradict itself between Daniel 9:25 and Isaiah 44:28 which was written about 200 years before Daniel was born…?

Isaiah 44:28

New American Standard Bible 1995

28 “It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”

Daniel 9:25

New American Standard Bible 1995

25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a [a]decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until [b]Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with [c]plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

Daniel 9:25

New King James Version

25 “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.

Daniel 9:25

Young’s Literal Translation

25 And thou dost know, and dost consider wisely, from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem till Messiah the Leader [is] seven weeks, and sixty and two weeks: the broad place hath been built again, and the rampart, even in the distress of the times.

Romans 3:4

New American Standard Bible 1995

4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”

1 You would be surprise how many Full Preterist believe all of these things were fulfilled at the cross for the sake of their 490 consecutive view so they can won’t be guilty of using a gap like the Futurist do.

2 A 117 year gap makes sense when place in between the 62 weeks to build Jerusalem to the 7 weeks for the Messiah to build the Spiritual New Jerusalem and Temple that is in Heaven.

3 Timing the Events of Daniel 9:24

Daniel 9:24

“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, ….. AD70

Daniel 12:7

to finish the transgression, …….AD30

Rom. 4:15, Gal. 3:18-20, Heb. 9:15

to make an end of sin, …..AD70

Rom.8:21, Heb. 9:28

to make atonement for iniquity, …… AD30 – AD70

Atonement was only complete when the High Priest came out of the Most Holy Place….

Matt. 27:50-51, Heb.9:28

to bring in everlasting righteousness, ……? AD26 – AD70

Matt. 3:15, Gal. 5:5, 2 Pet. 3:13

to seal up vision and prophecy ……AD70

1 Cor. 13:9-10, Luke 21:20-22

and to anoint the most holy …..AD26

Matt. 3:16-17

4 OT scholars Keil Delitzsch correctly give the meaning of “seal up vision and prophet” to be:

“ Prophecies and prophets are sealed, when by the full realization of all prophecies prophecy ceases, no more prophets appear.” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 9, (Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 1975), 344)

5 Charles John Ellicott,

“The impression of translators being that all visions and prophecies were to receive completed fulfillment in the coarse of these seventy weeks. It appears…, to be more agreeable to the context to suppose that the prophet is speaking of the absolute cessation of all prophecy” (1 Cor. 13:8. (Charles John Ellicott, Commentary on the Whole Bible, (Cassell and Co; London, 1884), 387).

6 How was the 70 Weeks in Daniel 9:25 to begin with. A written decree or by a verbal command or of the word spoken to start to the count down…?

Daniel 9:25So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks….

“from the issuing of a decree to restore” 62 Weeks… 538BC Isa. 44:28, Isa. 45:13, 2 Chronicles 36:22, Ezra 1:2-4, Isaiah 28:16

(117 year Gap)

“Until Messiah the Prince 7 Weeks” AD14 – AD63 Luke 2:49-50, Isaiah 28:16, 1 Peter 2:6-7,

and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

“decree to restore” 538BC – 104BC

7 We have discovered that statutes and ordinances are essentially the same thing; they are decrees, requirements, or boundaries set by the Creator; Judgments instruct us in what to do in a situation, and commandments are orders, or charges, given to be followed.

8 The New American Standard Bible and the updated version of 1995 are the only translations I could find the use the word decree in Danial 9:25. 9 There were three decrees written concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple and that is maybe why the used the word decree.

10 The original American Standard Bible did not use the word decree, but used command like the Septuagint Bible, New King James Version; Almost if not all other translations use the going forth or going out “of the word”. Here are some of the mostly used translations how the phased it.

Daniel 9: 25

NKJV: “Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem.

KJV: And thou dost know, and dost consider wisely, from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem.

ESV: Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem

Septuagint Bible: And thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem.

Young’s Literal Translation: And thou dost know, and dost consider wisely, from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem.

New American Standard Bible 1995: So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a “DECREE” to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks

American Standard Version: Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem

11 By looking at the New American Standard Bible 1995 in Isaiah 44 and 45 we can see the a written decree is not mention, nor do I believe it was required to start the 70 weeks in Daniel 9:25. 12 All that was needed was a verbal command by the word going forth to rebuild Jerusalem, there was no requirement that is needed to be recorded and written down in scriptures, though three decrees were. 13 It is most likely the King Cyrus gave the word by verbal command to rebuild Jerusalem and because the Temple was the main focusing point he only mentions rebuilding the Temple in a written decree. 14 How do we know this, because God said Cyrus would verbally give the command by word to build Jerusalem. 15 In order to accept the 70 weeks to begin with King Cyrus at some point in time giving a verbal command by word to rebuild Jerusalem, we have to take into account what Isaiah said: that King Cyrus would have given a verbal command by word to rebuild Jerusalem. 16 Therefore the 70 weeks count down had to have started around 538 BC which then demands a 116 -117 years gap within the 70 weeks timeframe in order not to violate any scriptures. 17 There are no scriptures that says there has to be a 490 consecutive run. 18 But there are three distinct segments of weeks with signs applied to each one of them including the 7 weeks which is connected to the end of the 70 Weeks timeframe unto the Messiah. 19 The 70 weeks started with the 62 weeks ending with a 116 -117 years gap, unto the Messiah’s 7 weeks, with the last week to confirm the New Covenant by the taking away of the Old Covenant.

Hebrews 10:9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

Isaiah 44:26 Confirming the word of His servant
And performing the purpose of His messengers.
It is I who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited!’
And of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built.’
And I will raise up her ruins again.

Isaiah 44:28 “It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd!
And he will perform all My desire.’
And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’
And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”

Isaiah 45:13 “I have aroused him in righteousness
And I will make all his ways smooth;
He will build My city and will let My exiles go free,
Without any payment or reward,” says the Lord of hosts.

20 Just after Israel was set free from the Babylonian captivity a series of Jubilee’s began and what better time for it the start with the 62 weeks which are a series of seven 49 years where it fits in the best, but all of them had no 50th Jubilee year.

2 Chronicles 36:20 Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, 21to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.

21 The Seven Weeks = “49 Years” Days of of the Messiah

Daniel 9:26:

NASB 1995: Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

22 I believe the 7 weeks begins after the 116 -117 years gap from the 62 weeks of rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple etc. were done. 23 The seven weeks is only connected to the timeframe that expanded from when the 70 weeks began with from the command to build Jerusalem to the Messiah’s seven weeks as shown in verse 25. 24 After the 62 weeks the seven weeks began after a 117 year delay or gap around the time Jesus was 12 -14 years old in AD14 and then the anointed one was cut off or destroyed at the cross but the 7 weeks continued with Jesus Ascended into Heaven.

25 During The Days of the Messiah was when the new creation of the New Jerusalem and Temple built that are in the unseen Spiritual realm which is the antitype to what King Cyrus did in the natural realm as a type.

1 Corinthians 15:46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

Daniel 9:26aThen after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing,: … AD30

Daniel 9:26b and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary: …… AD70

26 I believe this second half of verse 26b is the second coming of Christ which took place over three and a half years that fulfilled the destruction of the city and the sanctuary. 27 Verse 26 in Daniel 9 is speaking of Christ first and second coming and this is where the 7 weeks fit into perfectly from AD14 to AD63 but verse 26 also ties into verses 27 timeframe as we can see similars words are used.

Daniel 9:26c And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. …. AD70

Daniel 9:27And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

28 The last third of verse 26 ends the same as the last part of verse 27 with desolations, which show how the time spans between the Messiah’s first coming to the His second coming in verse 26; but in verse 27 the time spans only within the 70th week which weakness the case for a view with a consecutive 490 years ending in AD33 of the 70 weeks.

29 In order for the King Artaxerxes 458 BC to AD33 to have been accurate Daniel 9:24-27 would have had to look like this using the only translation that uses the word decree which means written, while all other translations use the word command or word going forth which means verbal:

Daniel 9:24“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people, to finish the transgression, and to anoint the most holy.

Daniel 9:25So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree “not by a command by verbal word” to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

Daniel 9:26Then the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing,

Daniel 9:27N/A

30 The middle of the 70th Week was AD66; “Not at the Cross”

Daniel 9:27:

NASB 1995: And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

31 Daniel 9:27 is all about the 70th week and the second coming from AD63 to AD70. 32 The way we know when the 7th weeks began is by counting backwards from the middle of the 70th week in AD66 when the High Priest ordered the regular sacrifice to cease.

33 Edward E. Stevens “quote” AD 66 — That prince (Eleazar b. Ananias) took full control of the temple and stopped all sacrifices for Gentiles and put the sacrificial system and priesthood in disarray. Thus began his reign of tyranny over the Temple complex. The other Zealot factions (John of Gischala and Simon b. Giora) polluted the temple and ravaged the city with their internecine strife. Throughout all that internal conflict, they also had to deal with the forces of Vespasian and Titus on the outside (constant war and desolations inside and out). “End Quote”

34 For the last 2000 years the 70 weeks of Daniel’s timeframe has been established as having started with King Artaxerxes in 458 BC when he wrote a decree to buy timbers for the gates. 35 This starting point is ironic because they discredit King Cyrus for not writing in his decree for consideration for the binding of Jerusalem yet use King Artaxerxes who only wrote a decree to buy timbers for the gates. 36 This has caused so many different views within it that has caused much confusion about the mystery of the 70 weeks. 37 Futurist spin off Daniel 9:26-27 to the twilight zone by making the Messiah “Jesus Christ” to be their created Antichrist and place the 70th week way off with a 2000 years gap and counting into the future. 38 Some not all Full Preterist try not to be guilty of placing a gap, bring the word of God through Isaiah and Daniel, to of no importance by saying Isaiah did not make a written decree about rebuilding Jerusalem but only the Temple. Then pick King Artaxerxes who never wrote a decree to build Jerusalem, but a decree to buy timbers for the gates.

39 Daniel confirmed that the daily sacrifice and grain offering that would cease in the middle of the last week in Daniel 9:27, was not at the cross; with the regular sacrifice just before the abomination of desolation as mentioned in Daniel 12:11; and the daily sacrifices ceasing in the middle of the last week in AD66 was a big part of confirming the New Covenant; along with when on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate happened, and great tribulation began in AD66.

Daniel 12:11 From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

40 This first half of Daniel 9:26 is the only place where the cross is mentioned at, with the Messiah being cut off or destroyed, in all of everything thing in between Daniel 9:24-27. 41 The the middle of the 70th week is not connected to the cross but to the ceasing of the regular sacrifice. 42 If you can see this, then most of Daniel 9:27 has been revealed to you.

43 If you have an open mind that has not been so influenced by the popular views out there, you might be able to understand what is meant by confirming the Covenant. 44 In order for the New Covenant to be confirmed the Old Covenant had to be taken away by the destruction of the Temple which was the centre of the Old Covenant.

Hebrews 10:9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

The law was still in effect until the Old Heaven and Earth passed away:

45 Those who say that the laws passed away at the cross would also have to say that was when the New Heaven and Earth begin with the second coming of the Christ, and that would make the old heaven and earth to have passed away. 46 If this was true it would have made the book of Revelation obsolete during the first century before it was even written. 47 In reality the Old Covenant had to be taken away with the destruction of the Temple on August 10th AD70 before the New Heaven and Earth began in order to confirm the New Covenant.

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Hebrews 8:13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

48 The Old Covenant had to be completely taken away for the restoration of all things with the deliverance of the Whole Creation out from the bondage of Corruption in AD70.

Acts 3:20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

Matthew 24:34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

49 Jesus didn’t put an end to animal sacrifices. The Second Temple existed throughout Jesus’s life, and animal sacrifices were offered the entire time. All sacrifices would have ended in 70 AD when the Temple was destroyed by the Romans, but the regular sacrifices actually ended in AD66 when Israel’s High Priest order them to be ceased. 50 Jesus had nothing to do with it. 51 For those in the Christian faith, animal sacrifices stopped with the death and resurrection of Christ.

NASB 1995

Daniel 12:11 From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Daniel 12:

51 We have to go to Daniel 12:7 to be able to determined the outcome for the holy people and their city that is mentioned in Daniel 9:24. 52 Daniel ties all seven things in chapter 12 to the last half of the 70th week by the timing of three and a half years which was AD66 in the middle of the week with three and a half years to AD70.

1 The Great Tribulation Vs. 1

2 The resurrection of the just and the unjust Vs. 2

3 Three and a Half Years Vs.7

4 Finish shattering the power of the holy people Vs. 7

5 Regular Sacrifice cease Vs. 11 = In the middle of the Week….Daniel 9:27

6 The abomination of desolation Vs. 11 = Dan. 9:26-27, Matthew 24:15

7 There will be 1,290 days Vs. 11 = Three and a Half Years

Four Different Views on Daniel 9:24-27 Within Full Preterism:

1. King Artaxerxes 458 BC View to AD70

53 This is the view that Charles Meek has and Don Preston though Don said to me he does not have a starting point figured out yet.

Cons: I disagree on the sacrifices that ceased in the middle of the 70th week was referring to the cross Vs. the regular sacrifices and grain offerings. But I mostly agree with they view says that occurred during the last half of the week.

I’m glad this view is at least open to there being a gap somewhere, it is the second best choice and it is the view that Don K. Preston and Charles Meek have.

However it is one thing to have a gap outside of the 3 segments of weeks but when the gap is within a segment of weeks you really are extending that segment to a longer term it was intended for. The last week if it bridged from the cross to AD66 then it turns the last week into 6.2 weeks. Wouldn’t it make more sense for a gap to be in between two other segments of weeks so you don’t affect the amount of weeks it claims to have. Otherwise Daniel should have written 7 weeks , 62 weeks, 6.2 weeks.

This view fails at the starting point in 458 BC. which does not line up with what the scriptures say about what Isaiah said in: Isa. 44:28, Isa. 45:13 which forces the 70 weeks to begin in another timeframe eliminating King Cyrus as the starting point for the 70 weeks to begin.

2. King Artaxerxes 458 BC View to AD33

54 This is the view that Gary DeMar has and many others who believe in a 490 consecutive years without a gap.

Cons:

This view fails at the starting point in 458 BC. which does not line up with what the scriptures say about what Isaiah said in: Isa. 44:28, Isa. 45:13 which forces the 70 weeks to start in another timeframe eliminating King Cyrus as the starting point for the 70 weeks to start.
This view ends in AD33 which forces to leave out many things that are needed to be fulfilled in Daniel 9:24-27, and puts the timing of when the sacrifices ceased at the cross when the regular sacrifices ceased in AD66 through an order by the High Priest of Israel.
Does not have three segments of time of the 7 weeks, 62 weeks, and the week called the ONE in Dan 9 which was the 70th week immediately following the 69th. They use a consecutive run of 490 years which would mean that anyone would have known the day and hour of the second coming of Christ would be.
They say Futurist are wrong because they have a 2000 gap, so they fear the use of any gap at all, and call any gap an error.

3. 420 BC to AD70

55 This is the view that Mike Sullivan has based on the Jewish calendar.

Cons:

It starts in 420 BC which does not line up with what the scriptures say about what Isaiah said, but it is in line with the 50 year Jubilee cycles; as well as with what some of the Jewish people would agree with because of the Temple being destroyed in AD70.
Does not have three segments of time of the 7 weeks, 62 weeks, and the week called the ONE in Dan 9 was the week immediately following the 69th. They use a consecutive run of 490 years which would mean that anyone would have known the day and hour of the second coming of Christ would be.

4. King Cyrus 538BC to AD70

56 This is the view I have that is based on Edward Stevens framework that he is flexible with, but I have added to his framework. 57 It starts with the 62 weeks with a 117 year gap after with 7 weeks beginning in AD14 with the last one week following right behind with no gap. 58 Those who have a consecutive run of 490 call this an error because of it not having a consecutive run of 490 years that the scriptures do not mention anything about or even give us a hint about. 59 The last one week was a segment of time for a special purpose and that was to confirm the New Covenant and have it be established as the only Covenant, when the Old Covenant was taken away by the destruction of the Temple in AD70.

60 A written decree was not required, to start the 70 Weeks in Daniel 9:25 unless the NASB which is the only Bible that uses the word decree, all other translations of the Bible either say: by word going forth, or by command to rebuild Jerusalem.

61 King Artaxerxes never wrote a decree about building Jerusalem, his decree was only for buying timbers for the gates. 62 That a far cry from building Jerusalem which Isaiah said Cyrus would say for a command to start the 70 weeks which was right after Israel came out of the Babylon captivity. 63 Why would a written decree to buy timbers for the gates 117 years later out qualify Cyrus’s spoken word to build Jerusalem like Isaiah said Cyrus would say to start the 70 weeks Daniel wrote about in 9:25.

64 I give Edward Stevens credit for seeing the framework for the King Cyrus 538BC to AD70 view, with a 116 -117 years gap.

Edward E. Stevens in his article called Dan 9:24-27 – The Seventy Weeks – June 3, 2020 says Quote: I definitely agree that the seventy weeks ended in AD 70. However, I do not think that the seventy weeks were a strict literal 490 years. Otherwise, the Jews and Christians would have known exactly when the Messiah would appear. Yet the Jews and Jesus and everyone else did NOT “know the exact day or hour” of His coming. Instead, Jesus told them to watch for the signs. When they saw all these things take place, THEN they would know that His return was very near.

I believe the same thing holds true in Daniel 9:24-27. Daniel was not given a literal 490 years to calculate the time of the Messiah1s coming. Instead, he was given a length of time divided into three distinct periods, each of which were marked off by signs to look for. When those signs appeared and were fulfilled, THEN they would know when each of the three periods had been, or were about to be, fulfilled. So it was a sign-based reckoning, NOT a year-based calculation.

Daniel 9:24 lists all the things that had to be accomplished by the end of the seventy weeks. Several of those items in the list imply that the end of the seventy weeks was AD 70. And the beginning of the seventy weeks is marked off by the decree of Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple in 536 BC (which was the end of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity). Thus the seventy weeks was a period of 606 years (536 BC + 70 AD). The difference between 606 and

490 is 116 years. That is where the gaps come into play. The Jews knew about the three different divisions of Daniel’s prophecy, and were watching the signs to determine when each of the three periods began and ended. It was not a literal consecutive 490 years.

Instead, it was three periods of time (7 weeks, 62 weeks, and 1 week), marked off by distinctive signs. This means that the three periods were either relative in length, or they had gaps between them. Again, if it was a literal consecutive 490 years, then the Jews and Christians would have known exactly when it was to occur. They would not have needed any signs to look for. This is why the Jews demanded that Jesus produce the signs to confirm that he was the Messiah that they were looking for. They could not be sure that it was the right TIME for the Messiah to appear, unless that would-be Messiah could produce the right SIGNS that they were looking for.

What I find extremely interesting is the premil suggestion that the “prince” mentioned in Dan 9:26 is the future antichrist. That idea would work just as well (or better) in the preterist past-fulfillment scenario. In my research for my historical book (Final Decade Before the End), I have begun to zero-in on this same idea. The Messiah Prince mentioned in verses 25 and 26 appears to be a different Prince than the one introduced in verse 26. Since the people of this other prince abominate the city and sanctuary, causing it to be completely destroyed and desolated, this seems to fit the Zealot leader Eleazar b. Ananias and his band of Zealots who polluted the city of Jerusalem and especially the temple area. Josephus talks about the abomination of the city and temple that was done by the Zealots in their internecine strife and rivalry. Since Eleazar “sat in the temple” and made numerous lawless changes in the sacrificial system, and lawlessly broke his covenant with the Romans and the Jewish people as well, it appears that he is the prime candidate for the “Prince” designation here in Dan 9:26, as well as the “man of lawlessness” prediction in 2 Thess 2. And he was a “prince” in the sense that he was the priestly (anointed) son of the most powerful High Priest at that time (Ananias b. Nedebaeus).

I am not totally convinced that the “anointed one” in Dan 9:25-26 is Messiah Jesus. I lean somewhat in that direction, but am open for a better explanation based on further analysis of the historical data in Josephus, Yosippon, Hegesippus, and Tacitus.

Obviously, I have not finished my research and landed on a firm position, but this will give you the basic framework that I am working within (past fulfillment at AD 70). I would recommend taking a look at Thomas Howe’s very helpful book. Hope that helps.

The interpretation of Dan 9:24-27 points decisively to the decree of Cyrus as the beginning point for the 70 weeks. This is inconsistent with the dates of fulfillment only if one insists (contrary to the vagueness of the word “weeks”) that weeks of ordinary literal years must be involved.

Jeremiah had also prophesied the fall of Babylon at the end of the 70 years (Jer 25:12). Babylon fell to Cyrus in 539-538. The logical conclusion from this language is that the beginning point of the 70 weeks basically coincides with the end of Jeremiah’s 70 years. That is, it occurs in 538 B.C. or shortly thereafter.

“End Quote”

From Ed Stevens article called “Sir Isaac Newton, Daniel 9, & the Rabbinic Forgeries Hypothesis” are true that most Christian scholars today follow in the erroneous footsteps of their Jewish predecessors (by claiming that the “Artaxerxes” of Ezra 6 & 7 is Longimanus):

An Artaxerxes Assumption

61 More importantly though, I call out my Christian peers who in self-righteous indignation point to

the chronological errors of the Jewish rabbis, claiming they were intentionally used to discredit

Yeshua (Jesus) as the promised Messiah, but themselves borrow the very same chronological

errors to prove their own Messianic expectations about Yeshua.

Think about the irony of the situation. Most of today’s respected eschatological teachers,

historians, and scholars claim that “commandment to restore and build Jerusalem” of Daniel 9:25 was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus in his 7th or 21st year. Yet, the very basis for this claim comes from the evolution of the Jewish chronology, (which said chronology erroneously

manipulated the Biblical statement of Ezra 6:14 that Darius “even” Artaxerxes was the Persian

ruler during whose reign when the divine decree was given) so that they (the Jewish people)

could claim their own Messianic heroes were the promised Messiah.

Not only do most Christian scholars today follow in the erroneous footsteps of their Jewish

predecessors (by claiming that the “Artaxerxes” of Ezra 6 & 7 is Longimanus) but they

compound this error by jettisoning the original kernel of truth that provided the basis for the

entire complicated mess in the first place. That original kernel of truth being the certain

knowledge that Daniel 9 and 70 “weeks” prophecy began with a divine command to restore and build Jerusalem by Yahweh the living God of the Bible.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Longimanus; large deep-water shark with white-tipped dorsal fin; worldwide distribution; most dangerous shark.

Artaxerxes of Persia who was surnamed in Greek as μακρόχειρ Macrocheir or Longimanus in Latin.

Josephus Provides a Witness to King Cyrus Giving the Command to Build Jerusalem:

62 The Works of Flavius Josephus, Translated by William Whiston HOW CYRUS, KING OF THE PERSIANS, DELIVERED THE JEWS OUT OF BABYLON AND SUFFERED THEM TO RETURN TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND TO BUILD THEIR TEMPLE, FOR WHICH WORK HE GAVE THEM MONEY. 1. In the first year of the reign of Cyrus (1) which was the seventieth from the day that our people were removed out of their own land into Babylon, God commiserated the captivity and calamity of these poor people, according as he had foretold to them by Jeremiah the prophet, before the destruction of the city, that after they had served Nebuchadnezzar and his posterity, and after they had undergone that servitude seventy years, he would restore them again to the land of their fathers, and they should build their temple, and enjoy their ancient prosperity. And these things God did afford them; for he stirred up the mind of Cyrus, and made him write this throughout all Asia: “Thus saith Cyrus the king: Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be king of the habitable earth, I believe that he is that God which the nation of the Israelites worship; for indeed he foretold my name by the prophets, and that I should build him a house at Jerusalem, in the country of Judea.” 2. This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which Isaiah left behind him of his prophecies; for this prophet said that God had spoken thus to him in a secret vision: “My will is, that Cyrus, whom I have appointed to be king over many and great nations, send back my people to their own land, and build my temple.” This was foretold by Isaiah one hundred and forty years before the temple was demolished. Accordingly, when Cyrus read this, and admired the Divine power, an earnest desire and ambition seized upon him to fulfill what was so written; so he called for the most eminent Jews that were in Babylon, and said to them, that he gave them leave to go back to their own country, and to rebuild their city Jerusalem, (2) and the temple of God, for that he would be their assistant, and that he would write to the rulers and governors that were in the neighborhood of their country of Judea, that they should contribute to them gold and silver for the building of the temple, and besides that, beasts for their sacrifices. 3. When Cyrus had said this to the Israelites, the rulers of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with the Levites and priests, went in haste to Jerusalem; yet did many of them stay at Babylon, as not willing to leave their possessions; and when they were come thither, all the king’s friends assisted them, and brought in, for the building of the temple, some gold, and some silver, and some a great many cattle and horses. So they performed their vows to God, and offered the sacrifices that had been accustomed of old time; I mean this upon the rebuilding of their city, and the revival of the ancient practices relating to their worship. Cyrus also sent back to them the vessels of God which king Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged out of the temple, and had carried to Babylon. So he committed these things to Mithridates, the treasurer, to be sent away, with an order to give them to Sanabassar, that he might keep them till the temple was built; and when it was finished, he might deliver them to the priests and rulers of the multitude, in order to their being restored to the temple. Cyrus also sent an epistle to the governors that were in Syria, the contents whereof here follow: “KING CYRUS TO SISINNES AND SATHRABUZANES SENDETH GREETING. “I have given leave to as many of the Jews that dwell in my country as please to return to their own country, and to REBUILD THEIR CITY, and to build the temple of God at Jerusalem on the same place where it was before. I have also sent my treasurer Mithridates, and Zorobabel, the governor of the Jews, that they may lay the foundations of the temple, and may build it sixty cubits high, and of the same latitude, making three edifices of polished stones, and one of the wood of the country, and the same order extends to the altar whereon they offer sacrifices to God. I require also that the expenses for these things may be given out of my revenues. Moreover, I have also sent the vessels which king Nebuchadnezzar pillaged out of the temple, and have given them to Mithridates the treasurer, and to Zorobabel the governor of the Jews, that they may have them carried to Jerusalem, and may restore them to the temple of God. Now their number is as follows: Fifty chargers of gold, and five hundred of silver; forty Thericlean cups of gold, and five hundred of silver; fifty basons of gold, and five hundred of silver; thirty vessels for pouring [the drink-offerings], and three hundred of silver; thirty vials of gold, and two thousand four hundred of silver; with a thousand other large vessels. (3) I permit them to have the same honor which they were used to have from their forefathers, as also for their small cattle, and for wine and oil, two hundred and five thousand and five hundred drachme; and for wheat flour, twenty thousand and five hundred artabae; and I give order that these expenses shall be given them out of the tributes due from Samaria. The priests shall also offer these sacrifices according to the laws of Moses in Jerusalem; and when they offer them, they shall pray to God for the preservation of the king and of his family, that the kingdom of Persia may continue. But my will is, that those who disobey these injunctions, and make them void, shall be hung upon a cross, and their substance brought into the king’s treasury.” And such was the import of this epistle. Now the number of those that came out of captivity to Jerusalem, were forty-two thousand four hundred and sixty-two.”.

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