Last Sunday's consideration of Daniel 9:24-27 provided me with a remarkable and rich week of study. There are several items worthy of greater consideration which did not fit the time constraints of our study. Therefore, if you would like to benefit from a more in-depth examination of this passage, I would highly recommend: Wayne Jackson's article "Daniel's Prophecy of Seventy Weeks" (on the website of christiancourier.com) and Allen Webster's article "Daniel's Seventy Weeks: A Timed Prophecy" in the October, 2026 issue of The Spiritual Sword.

The mathematical precision of this prophecy is incredible. Interpreting the prophetic use of the word "week" (literally, "seven") as figurative and thus representing a year, we learn that Daniel is informed by Gabriel that it will take 49 years to rebuild Jerusalem during "troublous times" (Dan. 9:25). The books of Ezra and Nehemiah clearly describe the great challenges and long delays the Jews had from the first year of Cyrus (when the first return from exile led by Zerubbabel occurred - Ezra 1:1, 2:2) to the final restoration and building of Jerusalem, with its streets and walls completed (Dan. 9:25). Ezra 7:11-26 informs us that it was not until the seventh year of Artaxerxes (with only the temple having been rebuilt) that the decree to "giturdun" went forth.

The seventh year of Artaxerxes (the son of the King Ahasuerus who was married to Esther [Esther 1:1]) is 457 B. C. According to Daniel 9:24, seventy weeks (i.e., 490 years) after this reconstruction of the city and its walls was begun, the work of the Messiah (of finishing the transgression, making an end of sins, bringing in everlasting righteousness, sealing up/fulfilling the vision and prophecy [of the Old Testament], and the anointing of the Most Holy will occur. In fact, halfway through the final week (i.e., 3 ½ years) the Messiah would be cut off (Dan. 9:26); and because of this, the city rebuilt by Ezra and Nehemiah will become desolate (Dan. 9:26).

Now note: from the decree of Artaxerxes in 457 B. C. to the cutting off of the Messiah the Prince in the spring (i.e. Passover time) would 487 ½ years. This places the crucifixion of Jesus at April of A. D. 30 (the Jewish new year began in October, a few days before the annual Day of Atonement and six months prior to the Passover).

Because of this precise dating in Daniel and Jesus' knowledge of it, there are several times and places prior to April of A. D. 30 where we read:

  • "Jesus saith unto her, ‘Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come'" (John 2:4);
  • "Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come" (John 7:30);
  • "These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come" (John 8:20).

Then as the predicted cutting off of the Messiah (Dan. 9:26) is a few days or hours away, we read:

  • "And Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified'" (John 12:23);
  • "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour" (John 12:27);
  • "Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father..." (John 13:1);
  • "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee'" (John 17:1).

Because of Daniel's prophecy, there was no margin of error in the timing of Jesus' death. None was given, and none was needed. Jesus died "according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3). Therefore, all things written in the law of Moses, the prophets (including Daniel), and the psalms about Jesus the Christ were fulfilled (Luke 24:44).

  • The existence and reality of predictive prophecy demonstrates the existence and reality of the true and living God.
  • Predictive prophecy is also infallible proof that the Scriptures are the inspired revelation of that true and living God.

The prophecies precisely fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth - from His birth to His death - are irrefutable evidence that He is deity in the flesh, Immanuel/God with us. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mat. 16:16; John 20:31).

Therefore, the publication of the good news of salvation in Christ is an undeniable demonstration and declaration of God's sovereignty: "Our God reigneth" (Is. 52:7).