Seventy Weeks in the Prophecy of Daniel 9: Part 1
Fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy from the books of Isaiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah
There have been many false prophecies of the 2nd coming of Christ that are based upon interpretations using numbers.
The heart of the Dispensational belief system is a numerical interpretation of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:24-27.
Caution: Numbers that seem impressive to us can bewitch us into false beliefs.
Dispensationalists believe and teach that the future will have (first) the rapture of the Church and the judgment of the raptured saints, which is the 1st part of the 2nd coming of Christ, (then) will come [they say] the 7- year Tribulation, (then) a 2nd part of the second coming of Christ, (then) a 1000-year millennium, (then) a 3rd part of the 2nd coming of Christ, (then) the general judgment of all people, (then) the destruction of the heavens and the earth, and (finally) the creation of the new heavens and a new earth.
Dispensationalists derive this sequence of the events of the future from a numerical interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27.
Dispensationalists can [they believe] document the order of all these events.
Though no text of Scripture literally says it all like the above, Dispensationalists are sure that this chronology is true.
But the plain Biblical literal interpretation of the sequence of end time events is (First) We are in tribulation. Many Christians in this world are experiencing Great Tribulation now. (Second) The rapture of the saints will occur at the imminent 2nd coming of Christ. (Third) The judgment of the saints rapidly follows His coming. (Fourth) The judgment of all people proceeds on the heels of the judgment of the Church. (Fifth) The second coming of Christ also ushers in the destruction of the present universe. (Sixth) God will create new heavens and a new earth.
To see documentation of this order of future events please follow our link below:
https://www.williamrandolphpublishing.com/prophecy/new-testament-timelines
So, in the common-sense literal reading of the New Testament there are only our Lord’s first and second comings. There are not three second comings (Hebrews 9:28).
We may trace the false interpretation back to a numerical misinterpretation of Daniel 9:24-27. Dispensationalists can [they believe] document the order of all these events.
Upon this interpretation Dispensationalists base the rest of their prophetic beliefs.
The most fundamental of all the Biblical texts upon which Dispensationalists lean to form this belief is Daniel 9:24-27.
They can show us to the very day when the prophetic clock begins to tick, stops, starts again, and then stops.
This is very impressive! But we must ask the question, “Are all those clock movements acceptable to Scripture?
In this post we are proving from the Bible that the very first start of the time clock is at the decree by Cyrus. His decree fulfills Daniel 9:25, which says,
“…From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks…” (Daniel 9:25b).
We are proving that Isaiah’s prophecy was correct in Isaiah 44:28 when he said that Cyrus would decree about Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt.”
Isaiah 44:28 says, “who [Yahweh] says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd [Cyrus] will fulfill all that I desire,’ who [Cyrus] says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”
We are only dealing with the name and date of the prophesied decree-maker in this post. The decree-maker is Cyrus, and the date of the decree was 538-536 BC.
Dispensationalists say(1) that the prophetic clock of the 490 years of Daniel began, not at the decree of King Cyrus, but much later, either at the decree of King Darius or at a decree by one of the two Kings named Artaxerxes.
Dispensationalists believe that there were three separate decrees of the return of Israelites to the Holy Land in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. They think each of those decrees by three different kings have their own authority.
But when we read Ezra and Nehemiah, we conclude that there was only one decree that covered it all. It was the decree of King Cyrus in 538-536 BC.
The other decrees, by King Darius, King Artaxerxes, and King Artaxerxes Longimanus, were merely to grant protection for later returning Israelites.
We shall prove that those three kings made their decrees, not under their own authority, but under the authority of the original decree by King Cyrus II of Persia.
Therefore, King Cyrus’ decree is the one that did all the authorizing. The decrees of later kings merely enforced Cyrus’ decree against the enemies of the Jews who worked to stop the progress of the building in Jerusalem.
We will prove that there were not three decrees of equal weight from three separate kings (as note 2 on page 915 (Daniel 9:25) of the Scofield Reference Bible says.)
Instead, there was only one decree, which was by King Cyrus. All the decrees by later kings merely enforced that first decree.
THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH THAT FORETOLD THAT CYRUS WOULD DECREE THE REBUILDING OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE (DANIEL 9:24-25)
Note that there were two prophets who foretold the end of the Babylonian Captivity. Isaiah prophesied that the name of the decree-maker of Daniel 9:25 would be Cyrus. Jeremiah predicted that the length of the captivity would be 70 years.
Daniel 9:24 says, “Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.” (2)
Note that the literal interpretation of Daniel 9:24 is that the end of sin and the end of the seventy weeks of years both occur at the same time. That is at the time of the creation of the new heavens and the new earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). (3)
2 Peter 3:13 says, “But according to His promise, we are awaiting new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
Daniel 9:25 says, “Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decreet to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.”
Those two prophets who foretold Cyrus’ decree were Jeremiah and Isaiah. Jeremiah foretold the length of the captivity as 70-years.
Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would make the decree that authorized the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem.
TABULAR VIEW OF THE PROPHECIES OF JEREMIAH AND ISAIAH ABOUT CYRUS MAKING THE DECREE
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DATE OF THE PROPHECY |
TEXT OF THE PROPHECY |
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730 BC |
“For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10). |
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690 BC |
“Who [Yahweh] says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd [Cyrus] will fulfill all that I desire,’ who [Cyrus] says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ (4) and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid’” (Isaiah 44:28). Brackets mine. |
In 730 BC Yahweh, through Jeremiah foretold that He would evict Judah from her land for 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10).
Jeremiah 29:10 says, “For this is what the LORD says: ‘When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you [Jews of the Babylonian Captivity] and confirm My promise to restore you to this place [Judea and Jerusalem].
God, through Isaiah prophesied in 690 BC that a King named Cyrus would decree the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem and the laying of the Temple’s foundation (Isaiah 44:28).
Isaiah 44:28 says, “Who [Yahweh] says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd [Cyrus] will fulfill all that I desire,’ who [Cyrus] says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’” Berean Study Bible
TABULAR VIEW OF THE TRANSLATIONS OF OTHER VERSIONS OF ISAIAH 44:28
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KJV |
“That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, ‘Thou shalt be built;’ and to the temple, ‘Thy foundation shall be laid.’” |
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NKJV |
“Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.’” |
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NIV |
“Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.’" |
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NLT |
“When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’ he will certainly do as I say. He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’; he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’” |
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ESV |
“Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” |
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NASB |
“It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he will carry out all My desire.’ And he says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’” |
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NET |
“Who commissions Cyrus, the one I appointed as shepherd to carry out all my wishes and to decree concerning Jerusalem, 'She will be rebuilt,' and concerning the temple, 'It will be reconstructed.'" |
Cyrus was the greatest King of Persia. Historians call him “Cyrus the Great. “He conquered the Babylonian Empire which had held Judah captive for 70 years.
God gave this prophecy to Isaiah in 690 BC (5), which was over 150 years before 538-536 BC, the date that God raised up Cyrus as King over Persia, Media, Babylon and Judah.
God named Cyrus in advance, either in a vision, a dream, or an audible voice by which He spoke to Isaiah (Numbers 12:6).
Numbers 12:6 says, “…Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD [Yahweh], will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.”
Yahweh foretold through Jeremiah that the Captivity would be over after 70 years. And He prophesied through Isaiah that Cyrus would decree that the Jews would rebuild the city and lay the foundation of the Temple.
Note that the Bible is a book that has the miracles of God. And the giving of prophecy is miraculous.
TABULAR VIEW OF CYRUS AS THE FULFILLER OF ISAIAH’S PROPHECY
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FULFILLMENT OF ISAIAH 44:28 OF GOD’S PROPHECY MADE IN 690 BC |
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By Cyrus’ decree: Isaiah 44:28a “…My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,” (6) |
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By Cyrus’ decree: Isaiah 44:28b “who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’” |
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By Cyrus’ decree: Isaiah 44:28c “and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’” |
FULFILLMENT OF ISAIAH’S PROPHECY IN DANIEL 9:24-27 IN THE BOOK OF EZRA
When we believe in the literal method of the interpretation of the Bible, it is easy to see that Cyrus’ decree fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 44:28.
Ezra 1:1 says, “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation [decree] throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:”
So, God not only foretold that King Cyrus would make the proclamation [decree], but He also stirred the spirit of Cyrus to cause Cyrus to make it.
Ezra 1:2 says, “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.”
Ezra 1:3 says, “Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.”
Ezra 1:4 says, “And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.”
The Book of Ezra reports Jewish Exile history from 538 BC until 457 BC. Historically speaking, Ezra begins where 2 Chronicles leaves off in 538-536 BC. Ezra writes of the fulfillment of some of Daniel’s prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27.
So, Ezra reports Cyrus’ proclamation to the people of his domain in which Ezra begins his letter quoting at least part of Cyrus’ decree in Ezra 1:2-4.
Those Jews who returned to Jerusalem numbered 42,360 besides maids and servants (Ezra 2:64-65).
Ezra 2:64-65 says, “The whole assembly numbered 42,360, 65in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 200 male and female singers.”
Those returning people had to live somewhere in Judah and Jerusalem, so they built houses. Some were in the city of Jerusalem, and others were in the Judean towns and countryside.
Some scholars mistakenly believe that the decree of Cyrus only spoke of the restoration of the Temple as per Ezra’s letter.
Ezra, the author, was a priest as well as a scribe. He reported primarily about Temple matters. Ezra also wrote 2 Chronicles, in which he detailed the building and dedication of the Temple Solomon built in 967 BC.
The main work of the returnees in 538 BC was rebuilding the temple. They only repaired houses if it was a necessity.
The Babylonians had left the houses and buildings of Jerusalem in rubble when they finished conquering in 586 BC.
Those who returned after 70 years rebuilt their houses but did not build them for others. So, there was still rubble in the city in 444 BC.
Isaiah had prophesied in 690 BC that Cyrus would rebuild the city and the Temple.
Isaiah 44:28 says, “who [God] says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who [God through Cyrus] says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’’’
Not only did Isaiah foretell that Cyrus would decree that the Jews could return to the Holy Land, but he also prophesied that Cyrus would decree the building of houses in Jerusalem.
CYRUS INCLUDED PERMISSION TO REBUILD HOMES IN HIS DECREE.
Perhaps Cyrus thought that the right to rebuild the Temple automatically granted the right of the returning Jews to build and live in homes.
Maybe Cyrus thought building homes was common sense since workers must live somewhere.
Great kings, as Cyrus II was, are not micromanagers by nature.
Ezra records the laying of the foundation of the Temple in Ezra 3:8-10 under Zerubbabel and Joshua. Enemies hindered this work for 20 years according to Ezra 4:6-23, during the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes 483 BC – 465 BC) and Artaxerxes Longimanus (464-424 BC).
IN 520 BC GOD REVIVED THE JEWS, USING THE PROPHESYING OF HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH (EZRA 6:14).
Haggai 1:4 says to these returnees, “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house [Temple] lies in ruins?”
So, just 18 years after Cyrus made his decree that authorized the return of Jews to Jerusalem, there were Jews living in Jerusalem and Judea in paneled homes.
Cyrus made his decree in 538-536 BC, and Haggai prophesied in 520 BC.
Returnees completed the restoration and dedicated the temple in 515 BC (Ezra 6:15).
Ezra 6:15 says, “Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house [Temple] of God with joy.”
They had done this work because of the decree by Cyrus according to Ezra 6:3 as follows (Ezra 6:1-3):
Ezra 6:1-3 says, “Thus, King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon. 2And a scroll was found in the fortress of Ecbatana, in the province of Media, with the following written on it: “Memorandum: 3In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: ‘Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide’”
Though Ezra quotes only the part of Cyrus’ decree that speaks of the Temple in Ezra 1:2-4, he also records the following from the enemies of the builders in Ezra 4:12:
Ezra 4:12 says, “Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.”
So, the Jews understood that the decree of Cyrus authorized them to rebuild the Temple and the city. They were building houses. But they would not have dared to do so had Cyrus’ decree not authorized it, either explicitly or implicitly.
Though they halted the rebuilding project for a while, in Ezra 6 King Darius referenced Cyrus’ original decree when he authorized the restoration of the house of God at Jerusalem (Ezra 6:6).
Ezra 6:6a says, “Therefore Darius decreed...”
So, King Darius, using the word “Therefore,” pointed back to Cyrus’ decree for authorization to protect the Jewish returnees.
Thus, Darius’ decree was not an independent decree that he made in his own authority. He did not make it until he was sure of the wording of Cyrus’ decree. Cyrus had authorized the return, the building of the city and the temple, and protection for the returnees (Ezra 6:6; Isaiah 44:28).
Ezra 6:6 says, “Therefore Darius decreed: ‘To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place [Judea and Jerusalem]!’”
King Darius then made his own decree. But, in it he called attention to the authority for the work on the temple and the city, which King Cyrus authorized as prophesied by Isaiah.
So, Ezra does not cite the entirety of Cyrus’ decree in Ezra 1:1-4.
EZRA 6:3-5 QUOTES MORE OF CYRUS’ DECREE THAN EZRA 1:2-4 AS FOLLOWS:
Ezra 6:3-5 says, “In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: ‘Let the house [Temple] be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide, 4with three layers of cut stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid from the royal treasury. 5Furthermore, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, must also be returned to the temple in Jerusalem and deposited in the house of God.”
Ezra 1:2-4 says nothing of the rebuilding of the Temple as a place for offering sacrifices, of the laying of its foundation, of the dimensions of the sanctuary, or of the three layers of cut stones, with one layer of timbers.
So, Ezra 1:2-4 is only a skeletal summary of part of Cyrus’ decree. Ezra 6:3-5 quotes other portions of that same decree.
Ezra 1:2-4 quoted the parts of Cyrus’ decree that Ezra needed to make his point. He was a Priest and focused on the rebuilding of the Temple. As Ezra saw it, the rebuilding of residential houses was a secondary issue to the construction of God’s Temple.
To point to Ezra and to Chronicles, saying that the Cyrus decree, recorded in Ezra chapter 1 and in 2 Chronicles chapter 36 is Cyrus’ complete decree is misleading.
Perhaps Dispensationalists are trying to prove that the Dispensational numbers of days from 444 BC until Christ are correct. Numbers can charm and hypnotize us.
But that belief does not fit the history of the Book of Ezra.
The decree that started the prophetic clock was by Cyrus in 538-536 BC.
THE CELEBRATION OF PASSOVER IN HOMES IN JERUSALEM
Jews celebrated Passover in Jerusalem. To worship at this feast required houses in which to live (7) (Ezra 6:19).
Ezra 6:19 says, “On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles kept the Passover.”
HOW BIBLICAL WRITERS CHOSE WHAT TO QUOTE:
It is commonplace in the Bible for one writer to report a single aspect of an event while another author quotes a different one. Each penman cites what he needs to make his point.
Omission of an historical event in the Bible is certainly not a solid foundation upon which to build a doctrine. For example, notice below how the different Gospel writers referenced Pilate’s writing on our Lord Jesus’ indictment board. By harmonizing these four citations, we conclude that the full inscription on His cross was, “[This is] Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
But only John wrote the entire inscription. Neither Matthew, Mark, or Luke wrote Pilate’s entire inscription.
It was customary to compose in the language and in the manner of Bible times. And we must interpret the Bible in the light of the time in which God inspired it.”
So, it should not be strange that Ezra 1:2-4 quoted nothing about the houses that the exiles built upon their return to Jerusalem.
TABULAR VIEW OF OMITTED WORDS FROM JESUS’ INDICTMENT BOARD
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VERSE |
QUOTES OF THE INSCRIPTIONS ON JESUS’ INDICTMENT BOARD |
WHAT THE GOSPEL WRITER OMITS: |
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Matthew 27:37 |
“THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS” |
“Of Nazareth” |
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Mark 15:26 |
“THE KING OF THE JEWS” |
“This is Jesus of Nazareth” |
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Luke 23:38 |
“THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS” |
“Jesus of Nazareth” |
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John 19:19 |
“JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS” |
“This is” (8)(Omitted in Greek) |
Notice that the reason for Darius’ decree was simply to forbid enemies from destroying Jewish work. It was not a decree that authorized something that Cyrus did not include in his decree of Ezra 1:2-4.
There is a decree in Ezra 7:13 by King Artaxerxes that he made in 457 BC.
Ezra 7:13 says, “I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you [Ezra] to Jerusalem.”
The reason for the use of this word “decree” in Ezra 7:13 is that the Medes and Persians forbade any change or alteration of their Kings’ decrees.
Daniel 6:8 says, “Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
The King wanted to make sure that enemies of the Jews did not misinterpret the authorization that he sent with Ezra. King Artaxerxes was ensuring protection for Ezra and his party. He did not want anyone to plunder or imprison Ezra and his people.
This decree was merely that those Jews who, for whatever reason, did not return to Judah and Jerusalem at the time of the decree of Cyrus, would be free to go with Ezra upon his return. They needed recent letters of authorization for the sake of their safety.
However, the main decree was that of Cyrus in 538-536 BC. And no one could change that decree. That was why other kings pointed to Cyrus’ decree for their right to speed up and protect the work of fulfilling Cyrus’ decree.
King Artaxerxes also authorized Ezra to carry silver and gold to buy sacrificial animals for the worship of God in Jerusalem at the new Temple. He decreed that all the treasurers beyond the Euphrates River would give aid to Ezra.
But these decrees by later kings, while they do authorize a return, simply grant the right to go on it. These kings do not substitute their own authority for the authority of the Decree of Cyrus, which granted the return, the building of the temple, the wall, and the construction of houses in the city.
Conclusion: The real decree which fulfilled the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah was that of Cyrus II, King of Persia.
In favor of interpreters who insist that the decree-maker of Daniel 9:25 must be Artaxerxes, is the goodness of their motive for teaching it. They wish to protect God from seeming to give a false prophecy. Also, they want to prove that the literal method of interpretation must be a presupposition to the interpretation of the seventy sevens. But all this is unnecessary when we properly interpret the Book of Ezra which gives more of Cyrus’ original decree.
FULFILLMENT OF DANIEL’S PROPHECY IN THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah was the sequel to the Book of Ezra. Ezra was the author of both “Ezra” and “Nehemiah.” He was both a priest and a Scribe. The Jews treated the two books as if there was only one volume.
Nehemiah was the governor of Jerusalem and the area around it. His commission was from King Artaxerxes in 444 BC. So, he acted in the authority of the Medes and Persians.
Nehemiah had heard that Yahweh’s enemies were afflicting the city of Jerusalem and the people who lived there. So, Nehemiah asked the King for permission to go to Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes made a decree that Nehemiah and other Israelites could go together (Nehemiah 7:13).
Nehemiah 1:3 says, “They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
So, by Nehemiah’s time the Jews had partially built the walls and gates of the city again(9). But there were breaches in the wall. Raiders were entering and plundering the people who lived in the houses of the city.
Nehemiah was concerned and sought help through prayer. Then he spoke to the King, whom he served.
Nehemiah 2:7 says, “I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.’”
Nehemiah went to Jerusalem from Shushan, a capital of the Persian Empire (today’s Shush, Iran), where he served as the cupbearer of the king.
He had heard that Jerusalem had once again fallen into ruins.
Nehemiah 2:8 says, “And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.”
Some Christians believe that the letters referenced in Nehemiah 2:7-8 and the decree of Nehemiah 7:13 fulfill part of Cyrus’ decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem from Daniel 9:25. But that is unnecessary in the light of the foregoing. Please find infallible proofs that it was Cyrus’ decree of 538-536 BC that authorized the return by the Jews and the restoration of Jerusalem. It was 94 years before King Artaxerxes’ follow-up decree in 444 BC.
Nehemiah went to Jerusalem and finished repairing the wall.
Nehemiah 6:15 says, “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.” The date was 444 BC.
Raiders of the city had come in through the breeches in the wall, plundering the inhabitants. So, Nehemiah appointed rulers and organized the city.
Nehemiah 7:2-4 says, “Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. 3And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes. 4Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.” The date was 443 or 444 BC.
Nehemiah 7:2 sets the context as in the city of Jerusalem. And the homes in which the guards lived were in the city.
Nehemiah 7:3-4 shows that there was a security problem for the Jews who lived in Jerusalem. So, they had to shut the gates at night.
All the authorization for the work on homes, the wall, and the Temple had originated with the decree of Cyrus, as Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 44:28).
In his Baptist commentary on Nehemiah Dr. John Gill says,
“but the people were few therein; in comparison of the largeness of the place; for though there were 42,360 that came up at first with Zerubbabel, and many more with Ezra, yet a great number chose to settle in the towns and cities in the country, Jerusalem being in such a desolate condition: and the houses were not built; some were, but they were but few, many of them still lay in ruins.” (10)
Isaiah 44:28 had prophesied in 690 BC that Cyrus’ decree would authorize the return to Jerusalem, and the rebuilding of the city and of the Temple. The work on houses and the wall began per King Cyrus’ decree of 538-536 BC, fulfilling Isaiah 44:28.
Isaiah 44:28 says, “who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.”
So, Cyrus decreed in Ezra 1:2-4 that the people could rebuild homes in the city of Jerusalem. Some did. But it was perhaps more expedient for most of them to build homes outside the city rather than living in a place with so much rubble. The Babylonians had left the place in 586 BC as a huge aggregate of demolished houses and buildings.
The decree to authorize that whatever Jews who would return to Judea, rebuild the city, the temple, and wall, was the decree of Cyrus II, King of Persia.
Other kings made decrees in the strength of Cyrus’ decree which no one could change. The purpose of the later kings was always to guarantee freedom for the returning Jews to do their work without hindrance from their enemies. This purpose had nothing to do with decreeing something at Cyrus had omitted in his decree. Cyrus’ decree covered all the essentials.
If we believe in the literal fulfillment of prophecy, we believe in the literal fulfillment of Isaiah 44:28.
If we believe in the literal fulfillment of Isaiah 44:28, we believe that Cyrus, not a later king, authorized the return, the rebuilding of the city, the wall, and the Temple.
Thus, the main proof to which Dispensationalists point to authenticate their interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27 is incorrect and misleading to God’s people. The Dispensational timelines of Daniel 9:24-27 are not Biblical.
Dispensationalists not only misinterpret Daniel 9:24-27, but they build their entire understanding of Bible prophecy upon the foundation that they think Daniel 9:24-27 sets up.
NOTES:
(1) See note 2 on Daniel 9:25 (page 915) of the Scofield Reference Bible
(2) The Hebrew does not have the word “place.” It simply says, “the most holy.” We interpret that to be our Lord Jesus Christ, since He is the ultimate Temple (John 2:19-21).
(3) Maxcey, Zachary C. “A CHRISTOTELIC VIEW OF DANIEL 9:24-27” Providence Theological Seminary, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 2017.
(4) Dr. John Gill, in his Baptist Commentary on Nehemiah 44:28 writes the following on Isaiah 44:28, “even saying to Jerusalem, thou shalt be built; these are not the words of the Lord, as before, but of Cyrus, giving orders that Jerusalem should be built:”
(5) Date of the 690 BC source is KJV Hertel Study Bible Copyright 1971 by Royal Publishers, Inc. Nashville Tennessee. Note that some liberal commentaries on Isaiah say that there was a “second Isaiah” who authored chapters 40-66 of the Book of Isaiah. But this writer believes that the original Isaiah authored the entire book of Isaiah that came down through history to the Church in 66 chapters. May Dispensationalists consider that when they disregard the prophecy of Isaiah 44:28, they are standing with higher critics in their liberal interpretation of that book.
(6) See Dr Gill’s comment on Isaiah’s prophecy in his online commentary at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/isaiah/44.htm
(7) Exodus 12:7 says, “They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.”
(8) Note that Greek manuscripts of John do not have the words “This is.” So, John is the only Gospel writer who quotes the entire inscription.
(9) Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.”
(10) Gill, John. EXPOSITION OF THE OLD & NEW TESTAMENTS VOL 3 London: Printed for Mathews & Leigh 1810 AD Page 143. Also see Dr. Gill’s exposition of Nehemiah 7:2 PDF https://biblehub.com/bsb/nehemiah/7.htm.
