Daniel 9:25 King Cyrus the Anointed One’s 62 Weeks 

by Brad Baker

January 25th 2023

1 Daniel wrote what things would happen within the 70 weeks that were determined upon the people, and upon the holy city that would end in AD70; one week represented seven years for a total of 490 years.


Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks have been determined upon thy people, and upon the holy city, for sin to be ended, and to seal up transgressions, and to blot out the iniquities, and to make atonement for iniquities, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal the vision and the prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy.


2 He begins in Daniel 9:25 with the word or command to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple as the starting point for the sixty-two weeks; and then shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.

Daniel 9:25 And thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem until Christ the prince seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks; and then shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.

3 The Hebrews used a circular way of writing things and not liner like we do today. 4 What I just saw in Daniel 9 amazed me how we could have taken it wrong by assuming that it was in the middle of the last week that Christ was destroyed or crucified at that time. 5 Daniel 9:26a does not mention that, but only that: And after the sixty-two weeks, the anointed one shall be destroyed, and there is no judgment in him. 6 The anointed one is destroyed or crucified and saying there is no judgment in him, is like Jesus saying Father forgive them for they know not what they do.


Then in: 26b Daniel says: and he shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming: So now this anointed one Jesus Christ destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming.

7 The question I have now is, who was this prince that was coming. 8 Was it Jesus Christ in His second coming or was it Jesus Christ with another prince. 9 If it was another prince did Jesus make a covenant with him to destroy the city and the sanctuary. 10 In other words did Jesus use the commander of Roman Army to execute judgment on Israel to cut Israel off, where Daniel says in 9:26b they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall appoint to desolations.


11 If this was what God meant for Daniel to write then Daniel 9:27 should easily fall into place with the 70th week beginning in AD63, then in the middle of the week sacrifices were ordered to cease in AD66. 12 Then with on the temple the abomination of desolations following soon after to the Temple being destroyed in AD70 to end the last of the 70 Weeks which would have fulfilled Romans 8:21.

Daniel 9:27 And one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple the abomination of desolations; and at the end of time an end shall be put to the desolation.

Romans 8:21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

13 Ed 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

Conclusion:


14 If Daniel’s 70 weeks begin in 458 BC with King Artaxerxes assuringly giving the word or command to rebuild Jerusalem, the Temple, the walls etc. how would you explain why 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 is not the inspired word of God, Ezra and Isaiah were false Prophets…?

15 How does King Artaxerxes compete with Isaiah when compared to what God said about King Cyrus His anointed one…?


16 Answer: King Cyrus somewhere between 539 -536 BC. started the 62 Weeks, when Artaxerxes not yet the king at the time, stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple with a letter to King Darius because he thought that once Israel gained strength they would not pay taxes and cause other problems for them.

17 King Darius wrote a decree to restart the building of Jerusalem and the Temple less than 20 years later. 18 After King Darius died, Artaxerxes his brother becomes the king in 457 BC. 19 King Artaxerxes then writes a letter to give approval for timber to be bought for the beams and walls, as well as gives the okay to put all of the vessels of gold, silver etc back into the Temple that was there. 20 All that Daniel 9:25a required for the 70 Weeks to begin was the word or command to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. 21 It did not required for them to be built; And thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem.

22 King Cyrus gave the word or command to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple soon after he destroyed Babylon where the nation of Israel were held captive for 70 years. 23 King Cyrus also allowed everyone in Israel to go back to the places where they came from. This all happened around somewhere between 539 -536 BC.

According to the Young’s Literal Translation

Isaiah 44:28 Who is saying of Cyrus, My shepherd, And all my delight He doth perfect, So as to say of Jerusalem, Thou art built, And of the temple, Thou art founded.

Isaiah 45:13 I have stirred him up in righteousness, And all his ways I make straight, He doth build My city, and My captivity doth send out, Not for price, nor for bribe, said Jehovah of Hosts.

The Proclamation of Cyrus

2 Chronicles 36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

23 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:

All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!

24 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

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.

Daniel 9: 25b: and sixty-two weeks; and then shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.

Ezra 1

End of the Babylonian Captivity

1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

2Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:

All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. 3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 2

The Captives Who Returned to Jerusalem

2 Now these are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his own city.

Rebuilding of Jerusalem Ceased by Decree of Artaxerxes:

Ezra 4

6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language. 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion:

9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions—representatives of the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia and Erech and Babylon and Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond the River—and so forth.

11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him.)

To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth:

Ezra 4:12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished. 24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Darius’s Decree 524 BC to Finish Building in Jerusalem:

Ezra 5:8 `To Darius the king, all peace! be it known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the great house of God, and it is built with rolled stones, and wood is placed in the walls, and this work is done speedily, and prospering in their hand.

9 Then we have asked of these elders, thus we have said to them, Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?

The construction of the Temple was halted for about 18 years, and it was not until the ascension of Darius I to the Persian throne that the rebuilding was resumed. In the second year of King Darius, the prophet Haggai urged the Jews to erect the Second Temple.


Haggai 1:1In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2“Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ”


Darius I, commonly known as Darius the Great, was a Persian ruler who served as the third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 BCE until his death in 486 BCE.

Cyrus’s Decree to build Acknowledged:

Ezra 5:13 but in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God,

Ezra 6:3`In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king hath made a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: the house let be builded in the place where they are sacrificing sacrifices, and its foundations strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, its breadth sixty cubits;

Cyrus’s Decree to Defend:

11 Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this. 12 And may the God who causes His name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.

Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes kings of Persia all made Decrees:

Ezra 6:14 So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

king Artaxerxes’s Decree in 458 BC to Provide Supples for the Temple Already Built:

Nehemiah 2:1 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.

Nehemiah 2:7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.

Conclusion: 

26 I believe Daniel’s 70 Weeks began when King Cyrus gave the word or command to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple in 536 BC and that was when the 62 Weeks began to start the 70 Weeks. 27 When the 62 Weeks were exhausted after 434 years there was a gap of 117 years until Christ’s Seven Weeks started in AD14 to AD63; then the last week AD63 to AD70.


28 I believe that all of these were fulfilled within Christ’s Seven Weeks by reading Daniel 9:25 this way: “until Christ the prince seven weeks”; so both the seven weeks and the last Week that started together from AD14 to AD70. 29 It was during the Seven Weeks that Jesus Christ built the New Jerusalem and the Heavenly Temple. 30 That Temple was built out of Lively Stones which Christ was the Cornerstone of, that came with a Royal Priesthood of those who had the First Fruits of the Spirit. 31 Later on the 144,000 who were sealed with the seal of God according to Revelation 7, were the ones raised from the dead in Matthew 27:51-53 just before the Great Tribulation began in AD66 which was in the middle of the 70th Week when the sacrifices and offerings ceased.

1)-for sin to be ended

2)-and to seal up transgressions

3)-and to blot out the iniquities

4)-and to make atonement for iniquities

5)-and to bring in everlasting righteousness

6)-and to seal the vision and the prophet

7)-and to anoint the Most Holy

AD14 to AD63 for Christ’s Seven Weeks

AD63 to AD70 for the 70th Week to confirm the Covenant for the Grand Ultimate Jubilee 

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

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

1 Peter 2:4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.

Daniel 9:25

62 Week for the natural by Cyrus the anointed one

7 Weeks for the Spiritual by Jesus Christ the anointed one