THE EXACT YEAR OF JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION PROPHESIED

The ninth chapter of Daniel is one of the most astoundingly definite, literal time prophecies given in the entire Bible, giving the exact times for both the first and second comings of Jesus Christ!

The chapter opens with Daniel desperately calling out to God on the behalf of his people Israel, who at this time were captive slaves of the Persian Empire ( about 538 B.C.--see verses Daniel 9:1-19 ).

"And whiles I was speaking, and praying, the man Gabriel being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation (worship). And he informed me and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding." ( Dan.9:20-22 )

Daniel had been praying for God to save His city (Jerusalem) and His people (verse 19). the angel now appears to tell Daniel when and how God is going to save them. "Therefore" he says, "understand the matter, and consider the vision." (verse 23)

The actual prediction begins in the 24th verse and continues to the end of the chapter, verse 27. As in the other Daniel prophecies, we will first give the prediction and follow it with the interpretation.

VISION: "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." ( Dan.9:24 )

INTERPRETATION: This word that's translated "WEEKS" here in the King James Bible is the Hebrew word "SHABUA", which literally means "SEVEN". Therefore, a little better translation of this would be "seventy seven's", instead of "seventy weeks".

As we proceed to read and understand the prophecy and its fulfillment, it becomes evident that these seventy sevens are seventy sevens of years, with each "week" representing a period of seven years, for a total of 490 years.

"Thy people", Daniel's people, were God's people. So he says that as far as the history of God's people is concerned, they've got seventy sevens yet to go to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, etc. As we proceed we will find exactly how this was to be fulfilled in seventy sevens.

PROPHECY: "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and to build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince shall be seven sevens, and 62 sevens (or a TOTAL of 69): The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after 62 sevens shall the MESSIAH be CUT OFF, but not for Himself."-Daniel 9:25,26. (Prophecy given 538 B.C.)

FULFILLMENT: The city of Jerusalem was completely destroyed by the armies of Babylon when the Jews went into captivity and exile in 586 B.C. But 133 years later, in 453 B.C., Artaxerxes Longimanus, King of the Persian Empire, gave the Jews the commandment to go forth (from captivity into the land of Israel), "to restore and to build Jerusalem".

We know his decree was issued in 453 B.C., and that Jesus was "cut off" in 30 A.D. Therefore, if we add the 453 years B.C. to the 30 years A.D., it equals 483 YEARS. Let's see now if Daniel's specific time prophecy coincides with this:

The prophecy predicted that from the time of this decree until the death of the Messiah the Prince would be--HOW long?--"7 sevens plus 62 sevens"--or 69 SEVENS. 69 sevens would be 69 x 7, which equals 483. So Daniel predicted that 69 sevens of YEARS, or 483 YEARS, would pass between the issuing of the decree to build Jerusalem and the "cutting off" of the Messiah.--And that's EXACTLY how many years DID pass between 453 B.C. and Jesus' death in 30 A.D.!--What an amazing EXACT FULFILLMENT of prophecy! And this astonishing prophecy was given in the year 538 B.C.--almost 600 years BEFORE Jesus the Messiah was crucified!

It's also interesting to note that this 483-year period was divided into two periods: First a period of 7 sevens (49 years), then a period of 62 sevens (434 years). History reveals that it did take the Jews 49 YEARS from the time the decree was issued to "rebuild the walls and streets of Jerusalem". Once Jerusalem was rebuilt, it was exactly 434 years (62 sevens) later that Jesus the Messiah was crucified!

Though Jesus was 33 years old when He was "cut off", modern historians date the birth of Jesus at 4 "B.C.", and his crucifixion in 30 "A.D.". This is because of a miscalculation on the part of the Catholic monk, Dionysius, who in the 6th century devised our present calendar system.

Therefore, Jesus actually began His ministry at 30 years of age ( Luke 3:23 ), in the year 27 A.D., and was crucified, as we said before, in 30 A.D. So here we have the 69 sevens of years, or the 483 years, giving us the EXACT TIME OF THE MESSIAH'S CRUCIFIXION.

The Scripture says, "MESSIAH shall be CUT OFF, but NOT for himself". Isaiah, in another prophecy, tells why the Messiah was to be "cut off". "For He was CUT OFF out of the land of the living: FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF MY PEOPLE WAS HE STRICKEN... when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin my righteous servant shall justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities." ( Isaiah 53:8,10,11 --750 B.C.) HE DIED FOR US--NOT FOR HIMSELF, but for the transgression of the whole world--for our sins.

When Jesus died on the cross in 30 A.D. He accomplished in Himself the promises of that 24th verse: He finished the transgression, made an end of sins, and made reconciliation for iniquity, etc. As the Apostle Paul said, "We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son", (Romans 5:10) And "He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."         ( Hebrews 9:26 ) He brought in "everlasting righteousness" through salvation. (Romans 10:4)

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WHY did Jesus die on that cross?--Because He LOVED you! He loved you enough to take your punishment, to die and be separated from His Father for a while so that He could bring YOU the LOVE of God and ETERNAL LIFE! As another prophecy says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; each of us have turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on HIM the iniquity of us all. There was no deceit in His mouth, yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer. HIS soul (Jesus') shall be made an offering for SIN, and by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant JUSTIFY (make righteous) many; and HE shall bear THEIR INIQUITIES!"--Isaiah 53:6,9-11. (Prophecy given 750 B.C.)

Jesus died for YOU!--And God gave all these prophecies and had them written down and preserved down through the centuries and millenniums so that your faith might be strengthened by them enough to BELIEVE that "God so LOVED the World, that He gave His only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life."--John 3:16. Do YOU?

God LOVES you and Jesus is just WAITING at your heart's door for you to open to Him. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If ANY man hear My voice, and OPEN the door, I WILL come in to him and WILL sup with him, and he with Me."--Revelation 3:20.

Would YOU like to receive Jesus into your heart? If you would, sincerely pray from your heart this simple prayer:

"Dear Jesus, I know that I've done wrong things and I'm sorry. I believe that You died for my sins and I ask You to please come into my heart and forgive me.-And please help me to live for You and others by reading Your Word and telling others about Your Love!--In Jesus' name, amen."
 

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