NOTE: This prophecy is discussed in depth (complete with skeptic interjections) in this article concerning the
Messianic prophecies (See: The Messianic Timing). This is simply the "Cliff notes" version.

THE TIMING OF THE MESSIAH FORETOLD
PROPHECY: “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city... Know therefore and
understand this: from the
issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks
and sixty-two weeks... After sixty-two weeks the Messiah shall be cut off... And the people of the ruler who is to
come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary... Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week...”
Daniel 9:24-27
FULFILLMENT: This prophecy is known as Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy. Biblical scholars agree the interpretation
of the word week represents seven years. This comes from the Hebrew word for week (shabua) which literally
means seven. So seven sets of seven (49 years) added to sixty-two sets of seven (434 years) added to one
seven (7 years) gives us a total of 490 years. God reveals to Daniel 483 years would pass between the decree to
rebuild Jerusalem and the Messiah's death.

We see in the second chapter of Nehemiah it was in the month of Nisan in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes when
Nehemiah petitioned the king to rebuild Jerusalem. Artaxerxes agreed to issue him a letter of approval to rebuild
the city. From history, we know Artaxerxes ascended the throne in 465 B.C., making 444 B.C. the 20th year of
his reign.

Our prophecy in Daniel tells us there will be 483 prophetic years between the decree to restore Jerusalem and
the death of the Messiah. We now know:
  • A prophetic year is equivalent to 360 days.
  • There will be 483 prophetic years between the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the execution of the
    Messiah.
  • The decree to rebuild Jerusalem was issued in 444 B.C.
  • Jesus was crucified in approximately 33 A.D.
  • The solar-year difference between 444 B.C. and 33 A.D. is 476 years (Remember, there was no year 0 A.
    D. so our answer is not 477 years).

Using this information, we can show how Daniel was able to precisely predict the year of the coming Messiah:
  • Since our difference between 444 B.C. and 33 A.D. is in modern solar years, we will need to convert the
    amount into prophetic years by multiplying our 476 solar-year difference by 365.25 days (the amount of
    time it takes our earth to fully revolve around the sun). We get 173,859 days as our answer.
  • Now take our 173,859 days and divide it by 360 to reach the amount of prophetic years. Our answer is
    483 years.

Just like Daniel prophesied.
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