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The Encyclopedia Britannica reveals that Artaxerxes I of Persia ruled from 465 BC to 425 BC. He is the king who gave the “going forth of the commandment to restore.” Ezra 7: 6-7 tells us that Ezra received this command in the seventh year of this King’s reign. Therefore, simple arithmetic demonstrates that Ezra departed Babylon with his 49,000 Judahites, Benjamites and Levites (the Jews) in 458 BC. Determination of this date then makes it easy to determine the end of the 483 years mentioned above and in Daniel 9: 25, that is, the 7 weeks (49 years) plus the 62 weeks (434 years).

As an aside, Daniel 9: 25 refers to the re-building taking place in troublesome times and it might be well to briefly note how this prophecy was fulfilled. After the Persian Empire (the conquerors of Babylon who freed the Jews) fell, times were not easy for the young Jewish nation. They not only faced much persecution because of their religion (Judaism), but, they often found their country in between opposing armies and thus becoming the battleground. The Greeks conquered them in 175 BC, plundered their temple and vilified Judaism in an effort to convert them to their own false religion. That oppression lasted for nine years and brought on what is known as the "Macabee" wars, bringing forth a short period of independence. Jewish wars with neighbours during this period at least bore some fruit. They conquered Idumea, home of Esau’s dependents, and forced them to accept Judaism. Also, many more of their neighbours converted through fear of the Jews. Presumably, this means many of the peoples formally known as Philistines, Canaanites, Hittites, Ammonites, Moabites and Samaritans. Still, a little more than sixty years before the birth of Christ, the Romans conquered the Jews and formed the province of Judea. Armed with this knowledge, it must be emphasized that all the residents of the Judean territory, regardless of their actual nationality, became known as Judeans or Jews. They were certainly not all Israelites. (Refer to Josephus “Antiquities of the Jews” and Esther 8: 17).

Many Christians believe that after 3½ years from the beginning of Daniel’s seventieth week, Christ was crucified. Yet, this simply does not fit the numerical pattern nor does it conform to Daniel 9: 27, which suggests the Messiah will confirm the covenant for one week. Knowing this and the date the 483 years ended, that is 26 AD, it makes more sense to look at the 3 ½ years to the midst of the week as follows:

Obviously some proof has to be put forth to demonstrate that the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized in 29 AD. Also, it is at this point in this thesis that the year of Christ’s Birth must be determined. As far as the Baptism fitting the prophecy of Daniel 9: 27 is concerned, Mr. Jones believes that it was at the point when God had effectively caused the “sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” It had to be finalized on the Cross, for as the Apostle Paul stated, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2: 14). Still, through the Baptism, God took the first step to eliminate the Law of Ordinances, or the sacrifice of animals as sin offerings. Ironically, most theologians today believe it was the total Laws of God nailed to the Cross and by preaching this false doctrine, have been very instrumental for the deteriorating state of our present day lack of values. “Woe to the shepherd” should be clearly in mind for all such teachers.

Many Bible scholars see Daniel’s seventieth week beginning at 26 or 27 AD, at least the 69th week completing. However, they also have him being baptized at that time and this, according to the Scriptures and secular history, is numerically impossible. For a clearer understanding, the following facts, again detailed by Christian writer Stephen Jones, will be presented in point form.