To answer this question, we need to first study Daniel 9:24-27 and determine the identity of the “anointed leader” described in this passage. There are 38 references to the word “anointed” as it is used in this passage. Of the 38:
27 refer to an anointed king
1 refers to the anointing of a king
5 refer to an anointed priest
5 refer to the Messiah
- So how can we determine if the anointed leader is a king, a priest, or the Messiah?
“You must know and understand: From the issuance of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the [time of the] anointed leader is seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks it will be rebuilt, square and moat, but in a time of distress.” (Daniel 9:25)
Answer: Daniel 9:25 says that this leader is to be anointed “69 weeks” after the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem is given. If we can learn when this command was given and what is meant by “69 weeks”, we can determine if the anointed leader is a king, priest, or the Messiah.
- When was the command given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem?
Answer: The Tanakh highlights several decrees given in relation to this event.
The decree of Cyrus given in 536 BC. (Ezra 1:1-4)
The decree of Darius Hystapses given in 519 BC. (Ezra 6:8-12)
The decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus given in 457 BC. (Ezra 7:11-26)
The commission of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 444 BC. (Nehemiah 2:5,7,8)
While the first two decrees refer to the rebuilding of the house of God and restoration of temple worship, only the third refers to additional provision of restoring Jerusalem’s civil power and government. Moreover, these three decrees are reckoned as one decree in the book of Ezra (Ezra 6:14). This means that the decree was only completed when the third one was given.
Since the decree was already being carried before Nehemiah received his commission, it cannot be the commandment referred to in this prophecy. As such, the 70-Week prophecy began in the year 457 BC, specifically the fall. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fall of 457 BC. It was only during his arrival that Artaxerxes’ decree could have gone into effect.
- What do the 69 Weeks represent?
“You must know and understand: From the issuance of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the [time of the] anointed leader is seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks it will be rebuilt, square and moat, but in a time of distress.” (Daniel 9:25)
Answer: The Hebrew word for “weeks” in Daniel 9:24,25 translate to “weeks of years”, not “weeks of days” as in your regular seven-day week. Each week, then, represents seven years, each day representing one year. As such, the 69 weeks of Daniel 9:24 is actually 483 years.
69 weeks x 7 years = 483 years
Further Reading: Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6
- So when did the time of the anointed leader start?
Answer: The prophecy says that the anointed leader would come 69 weeks (483 years) after Artaxerxes’ decree went into effect in the fall of 457 BC. So with a little math, we can determine that the leader of Daniel 9:24-27 would come and be anointed in the fall of 27 AD.
457 BC + 483 years = 27* AD
(*You have to add 1 year since there’s no Year 0.)
- So based on the year 27 AD, was the anointed leader a king, a priest, or the Messiah?
Answer: In the year 27 AD, the Jewish people and Jerusalem not an independent nation. They were subject to the Roman authority. As such, the Messiah could not have been a king.
Moreover, Josef ben Caiaphas, the high priest of Jersualem, began his service in the year 18 AD, nine years before the time of the anointed leader. As such, the Messiah could not have been the high priest.
The only person who could be anointed at this time, was the Messiah.
- How was the Messiah to be anointed?
“This is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one, in whom I delight. I have put My spirit upon him…” (Isaiah 42:1)
“The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me…” (Isaiah 61:1)
Answer:The Scriptures say that the Messiah would be anointed by the Spirit of the L-rd.
Further Reading: Isaiah 11:1,2
- Was Jesus Christ anointed by the Spirit of the L-rd in 27 AD?
“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar…the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:1-3)
“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11)
“…Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:14,15)
Answer: Yes. Tiberius Caesar began his reign with Augustus Caesar in the year 12 AD, which means the fifteenth year of his reign was 27 AD. It was at this time that Jesus baptized by John the Baptist.
At this event, in the presence of many witnesses, Jesus was anointed by the Spirit of the L-rd. After He returned from the wilderness, Jesus spoke to this supernatural event as a fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel 9:25.
Further Reading: Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 1:21,22; John 1:28-34
Sources: Tiberius , Biography of Tiberius, 1st Century Roman Emperor
SUMMARY
In this first study, we confirmed that Jesus is the anointed leader of Daniel 9:24-27 and that He would come in 27 AD. In our next study, we will learn why He did not overthrow the Roman Empire.
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