{"id":38,"date":"2021-03-05T09:43:30","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T09:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/servantsvoice.com\/?p=38"},"modified":"2022-01-22T16:26:31","modified_gmt":"2022-01-22T16:26:31","slug":"what-starts-the-prophecy-of-daniel-925","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/servantsvoice.com\/?p=38","title":{"rendered":"What starts the prophecy of Daniel 9:25? — HIA"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post can be downloaded as a PDF for easy printing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you would like to make comments on specific sections of this document you can do so in a shared Google Doc<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What starts the prophecy of Daniel 9:25?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel 9:25 LEB\u00a0 And you must know and you must understand that from the time of the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem until an anointed one\u2014a leader\u2014will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be restored and will be built with streets and a moat, but in a time of oppression.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Many books have been written in response to this question. Entire denominations have been established based on the answer to this question.\u00a0 Millions of people have had their faith in God strengthened based on the idea that this is a prophecy predicting Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thousands of churches teach that the answer to this question is BC 457. Any challenge to this date is met with a full range of reactions from incredulity to hostility.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Click on image to view full size.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some variation of this graphic is seen by everyone who studies Daniel 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are two key events which never change, regardless of who is presenting the topic. One is the year BC 457, and the other is Jesus dying in the middle of the 70th week..\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The question is whether the BC 457 date is correct. This paper explores when the instruction was given and by whom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who was the last high priest in Solomon\u2019s temple when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the first temple?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer: Seraiah<\/span><\/p>\n

Credit – William Struse for his genealogy work<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n

Seraiah was arrested and killed when Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. (<\/span>2 Kings 25:18-21<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Seraiah had at least two sons. One was named Jehozadak, who was taken to Babylon as a captive. His other son was Ezra, who wrote the book of Ezra. Ezra was the son of the last high priest of Solomon\u2019s temple. Ezra listed his ancestry in Ezra 7 and we can compare that to the genealogy given in <\/span>
\n<\/span>1 Chronicles 6.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Solomon\u2019s temple was destroyed in 586 BC. It was in 586 that Seraiah was killed by Nebuchadnezzar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two of Seraiah\u2019s sons were taken to Babylon. The reason we care is that this lets us know who wrote the book of Ezra, and it tells us under which Persian ruler it was written. The reason we care about these two things is that it tells us which dates we should use when we look at the prophecies given to Daniel by Gabriel in Daniel, chapter 9.\u00a0 The upcoming graphic helps us see who was in power in the various years that we are considering.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Jeremiah, the Jews were to be held captive in Babylon for 70 years. During this time, Jeremiah wrote a letter to the Jews in Babylon, telling them that God wanted them to cooperate with their captors because, as the captors prospeed, so would the captives. (<\/span>Jeremiah 29:7<\/span><\/a>)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During this captivity, a number of events happened that are very important — not only to the people who experienced them, but also to us today. Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Nebuchadnezzar all wrote parts of our Bible. Cyrus and Darius played very important roles in the history of God\u2019s people. Our most important prophecies come from this time. It is what was written during this time that Jesus tells us to look to for a better relationship with Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Was Seraiah really the father of Ezra?\u00a0 Many Bible commentators will tell you that Ezra was not the son of Seraiah.<\/span><\/p>\n

If Ezra was alive when the temple was destroyed in 586 BC and in BC 457, then he would have been at least 129 years old — or more likely 140 or 150 — in BC 457. Everyone agrees that humans didn’t live to be that old after the days of Moses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This leaves many commentators with a problem. There is a desire by many for the events of Ezra 7 to happen in the year BC 457 so that the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 can be used as a prophecy foretelling Jesus.\u00a0 Others want to use 457 as a start date for the 2,300 evenings and mornings of Daniel 8:14. The year 457 as the year for the decree to build and restore is an extremely important foundation for many people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, there are two options.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The first option is that Ezra was the son of Seraiah. And, we\u2019d need to read the events of Ezra 7 as having happened in the reign of Artaxerxes Darius in the year 515 BC. If we do this, Ezra would be at least 71 years old and more likely 81 or 91 when he reads the law in Jerusalem as described in Ezra 7.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The second option is that we would need to read that the events of Ezra 7 happened in the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus in the year BC 457. This would mean that Ezra did not accurately name his father.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For many commentators, making sure that the events of Ezra 7 happen in BC 457 causes them to decide that the genealogy of Ezra must be inaccurate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It is not uncommon for genealogy lists in the Bible to skip generations. In Zechariah 1:1, we are told that Zechariah is the son of Berekiah who is the son of Iddo. In Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 6:14, we are told that Zechariah was the son of Iddo. Berekiah is not mentioned. If the only thing we had to go on was the genealogy of Ezra, we would not be able to state with certainty that the author of Ezra was alive in 586 when the 1st temple was destroyed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    For many commentators, BC 457 is more sacred than the accuracy of Ezra 7:1.<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, the genealogy of Seraiah is a minor challenge compared to the prophecy of Jeremiah 29:10.<\/span><\/p>\n

    While God\u2019s chosen people were in exile in Babylon, the prophet Jeremiah wrote a letter. He sent the letter from Jerusalem to Babylon, giving instructions from God about what the exiles were to do. Along with this, God told the exiles that they would be captives for 70 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The 70 years began when Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s general destroyed the temple and took thousands prisoner in 586. The story can be found in <\/span>2 Kings 25<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    When does the word to restore and build Jerusalem occur?\u00a0 There are four times when decrees are issued in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These are highlighted with our numbers 1 through 4a.\u00a0 There is universal agreement that the temple was destroyed in BC 586 or 587. The difference is dependent on whether the new year began in the Fall or Spring. Here, we will use the most commonly used year for the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. We will also use the Spring as when the new year begins, as directed by God when the Hebrews left Egypt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    We will examine each of the decrees. Our goal is to identify the year in which the decree to restore and build Jerusalem occurs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"Click on image for full size<\/a><\/p>\n

    Nebuchadnezzar caused the destruction of Jerusalem. It is he who caused thousands of Jews to be killed and exiled. He also wrote some of our Bible.\u00a0 The captivity began in the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    During the 70 years of captivity, there was a succession of rulers of the Babylonian and Persian empires. After Nebuchadnezzar died, there were four more Babylonian rulers. Three of them are shown in our graphic.\u00a0 One is not shown, as his time was so short. The font for Amel Marduk and Nerigliassar is small because they do not play a role in the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Nabonidus is the father of Belshazzar. Nabonidus apparently didn\u2019t enjoy being ruler and spent his time restoring temples in places far away from the palace. He is also the first known archeologist. Belshazzar was responsible for running the empire while his dad was away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The dates we use come from a variety of sources; but they are based on the clay tablets that were found at the Assyrian and Persian ruins and from the histories written by the Greeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Cyrus issued the most famous decree, which we find referenced in Ezra 1. He issued this decree, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem 23 years before God had told them they would be freed from captivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Cyrus issued his decree in BC 539. It was given during his first year of rule. The story can be found in Ezra 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Ezra 1:1-4 LEB\u00a0 \u201cIn the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to accomplish the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, Yahweh stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia and he sent a message to all of his kingdom and also put the message in writing:\u00a0 2)\u00a0 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: Yahweh, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. And he himself has appointed me to build a house for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.\u00a0 3)\u00a0 Whoever among you who is from all of his people, may his God be with him and may he go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may he build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.\u00a0 4)\u00a0 And let every survivor, from wherever he resides be assisted by the men of that place with silver and gold, with possessions and domestic animals, and with the freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.”\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    The decree by Cyrus is an attractive start date for the Daniel 9:25 prophecy. It is an interesting story. It has a date that we can use. But, most Bible students choose not to use this date (539) because it doesn\u2019t get us to Jesus, and that is the end goal for many. It also does not match the prophecy of Jeremiah, which has the Jews captives for 70 years. When Cyrus issued the decree, the Jews had only been in captivity for 47 years. They had another 23 to go. We will return to the decree by Cyrus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Another series of decrees were issued in the year BC 520, which was the second year of Darius\u2019 rule. Ezra 6 gives us the story of the governor of the province Beyond the River, also called Trans Euphrates, and also called Eber-Nari. The governor sent a letter to the new ruler asking Darius if he wanted to continue to block the work on the new temple in Jerusalem, as the previous Artaxerxes had done. Darius responds with explicit instructions that, instead, the block would be removed and the decree by Cyrus would be upheld. He added funds to make sure it was done. Darius also included a threat to anyone who attempted to interfere with the temple being built.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    We also learn, in verse 15 of chapter 6, that the temple is completed in year 6 of Darius, which is the year BC 516.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The temple was destroyed in 586<\/span><\/p>\n

    The 2nd temple was completed in the year 516<\/span><\/p>\n

    There were seventy (70) years between the destruction of the 1st temple and the completion of the 2nd temple.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Part of the reason that Darius confirmed the decree of Cyrus is that, when he took power, there were a lot of people challenging his rule. So, Darius emphasized that he had a common ancestor with Cyrus. He was appealing to the loyalties of those who followed Cyrus by confirming the decrees of Cyrus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    But, even more important than the confirmation by Darius that the decree of Cyrus should be honored is what we find in the book of Haggai. It is a short book with only two chapters; yet, in that book, we find God Himself issuing an instruction to build the temple in Jerusalem. God sends this message to those charged with building the temple in the same year that Darius confirms the decree of Cyrus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Here, we quote all of the book of Haggai. We emphasize the sections that tell us when God gave this message and what the message was.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>To summarize, we have decrees issued in two years so far.<\/span><\/p>\n