“‘Know therefore and understand,

That from the going forth of the command

To restore and build Jerusalem

Until Messiah the Prince,

There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;

The street shall be built again, and the wall,

“Know therefore and understand,

That from the going forth of the command

To restore and build Jerusalem

Until Messiah the Prince,”

The seventy sevens will begin with the “command” (decree) to “restore and build Jerusalem.” The Scripture records four decrees to rebuild Jerusalem by the Persians:

Cyrus’ decree (to rebuild the temple) in 538 B.C. (2 Chr 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; 5:13; 6:1-5).

Decree of Darius I (confirming Cyrus’ decree) in 520 B.C. (Ezra 6:6-12).

Artaxerxes Longimanus’ decree in 458 B.C. (Ezra 7:11-26).

Artaxerxes Longimanus’ decree (authorizing Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem) in 445 B.C. (Ne 2:1-8).

The first two decrees authorize the rebuilding of the temple, whereas the last two authorize the Jews to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. None of the prophecies in 2^nd Chronicles or Ezra mentions the rebuilding of the city per se but only the rebuilding of the temple. The fourth decree by 445 B.C. is the decree of our verse. The beginning of the 490 years begins in 445 B.C. The Jews gained permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with this decree about ninety years after the first captives returned to rebuild the temple.

“There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;

The street shall be built again, and the wall,

Even in troublesome times.

”Gabriel introduces Daniel to two immediately consecutive time periods. First, seven sevens (49 years) and then sixty-two sevens (434 years) – “There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.” The “street” and “wall” will be built in “troublesome times.” This occurred in the days of Nehemiah when the streets were covered with debris and the wall broken down. This time was a “troublesome” period.

The “seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” is 483 years. There will be 483 years until the “Messiah the Prince” is “cut off.” Jesus died on the cross 483 years later. 483 years brings us to the death of Christ.

This prophecy of seventy sevens does not end with the First Advent of Christ, but with the Second Advent and the establishing of the Millennial kingdom. Thus, Daniel divides the 490 years into three sections:

7 sevens (49 years) = this was the rebuilding of Jerusalem allowed by Artaxerxes (445-395 B.C.)

62 sevens (434 years) = this is the period from the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem to the first coming of Christ

1 seven (7 years) = this is the seven years of tribulation

PRINCIPLE:

God predetermined the payment for sin through Jesus’ death on the cross before any human contingency.

APPLICATION:

The Father delivered Jesus to death, according to His foreknowledge and counsel.

Ac 2:23, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death…”

Jesus’ death was voluntary. That made His death unique. He voluntarily laid down His life as a sacrifice for the sheep. Death did not overtake Him; He died willingly.

Jn 10:15-18, “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

God cut the Messiah off to die for the sins of the world.

Jn 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”