If you were the sovereign of this world for a day and you had a message for a generation 2500 years in the future, a message so important that their very lives depended upon it, how would you go about ensuring that they got the message?
Would you give this message yourself?
would the message have credible witnesses to support its authenticity?
Would the message have a clear date time stamp which could be historically verified?
I think most of us would agree, that at a minimum, the answers would be yes to the above three questions.
Now let’s take these questions one step further. If YHWH, the sovereign of this world, wanted to ensure that a future generation would know and understand, 2500 years in the future, the date He would send His son to redeem mankind, would He Continue reading →
So who gave the commandment which began the countdown to the Messiah mentioned in Daniel 9:25? In last weeks post A Divine “Command” to Return and Build Jerusalem we asked whether this commandment was of men or God. Scholars have long held that there were four Persian decrees or commandment which might qualify. In this weeks post we will look at the first of four Persian rulers who have been deemed the person who gave the “commandment” of Daniel 9:25.
“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.” Isaiah 44:28
We begin our search for the “commandment” of Daniel 9:25 with Cyrus the Great of Persia, founder of the Achaemenid Empire. It is believed by some scholars that it was Cyrus’s viceroy or general, Darius the Median, who is mentioned in Daniel 5:31. If you recall, this Darius conquered Babylon on that infamous night when Belshazzar, king of Babylon, asked Daniel to Continue reading →
You know, the Bible has a lot to say about words. The book of Proverbs tells us that a well turned word is like “apples of gold in pictures of silver” or that a “word spoken in due season” is a very good thing. In other places in the Bible it tells us how words can be used for evil means. For instance the book of James reminds us how dangerous our tongue can be and by implication the words it issues. James opines the paradox of how we use our tongue (words) to both bless God and then curse our fellow man who is made in the likeness of God.
Of all the words in the Bible there are some which are in a class by themselves. The words I’m talking about are those words which are spoken directly by YHWH the living God of the Bible. The apostle Peter tells us that “by the word of God the heavens were of old”. The book of Hebrews confirms this by saying that the “worlds were framed by the word of God.” Our understanding of the Word is brought full circle by the gospel of John in one of the most profound and far reaching explanations of the Word of God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men….
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1-14
Two thousand years ago in the most selfless act ever recorded the Word became flesh in the person of Yeshua (Jesus), so that He, the living God of the Bible, might pay the righteous penalty for our sins. How unfathomable is that?
But I have a question for you. Okay, a couple of questions…
Did you know the Bible predicted when the Word would become flesh? It’s true, in Daniel chapter 9 we find the most important Messianic prophecy in the Bible, a prophecy which gives us a detailed blueprint for the countdown to the Messiah. Now here’s my second question. Did you know this countdown to the Messiah begins with a Word? Yes, that countdown begins with a very special word. Let’s take look:
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, Daniel 9:25
The above verse begins the most famous countdown in the Bible. Here it tells us that from a “commandment to restore and build Jerusalem” there will be 7 “weeks” until the Messiah or as he is called by the apostle John, the Word.
I know many of you have read this verse over the years but let’s look at this so called “commandment” a little closer. Scholars have long proposed four commandments or decrees issued by kings of Persia as the starting point for this prophecy. Briefly they are as follows:
The decree of Cyrus in 536 BC.
The decree of Darius “the Great” Artaxerxes in 520 BC
The decree of “Artaxerxes” Longimanus in 458 BC
The decree of “Artaxerxes” Longimanus in 444 BC
Each of the above decrees have arguments for and against them being the “commandment” of Daniel 9:25, but all of them have one thing in common. They are issued by secular rulers of Persia. But there is more to this story.
The English word “commandment” in this text of Daniel 9 is the Hebrew word dabar. This Hebrew word is used 1439 times in the Bible and it means speech, word, or speaking. Did you know it is only used 20 times in the Bible as a “commandment”? The vast majority of the time the word dabar is used to reference the “Word” of YHWH, the living God of the Bible. Let me give you a few examples.
To start with, let’s look at Daniel 9. Dabar is used four times in Daniel 9 and the first three times it is clearly used to reference the Words of YHWH. The final usage of dabar is the famous passage of Daniel 9:25:
Daniel 9:2 the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word [dabar] of YHWH came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:12 And he [YHWH] hath confirmed his words [dabar], which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment [word / dabar] came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment [word / dabar] to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks,
In view of the fact that the word dabar is used three other times in Daniel 9 to refer to the spoken words of YHWH as well as hundreds of other times in the same manner throughout the Bible , don’t you think it is at least worth considering that the dabar of Daniel 9:25 also refers to the Words of YHWH? I’m mean aren’t we talking about the very prophecy in the Bible which tells us the precise time when Yeshua, the living Word, came to reconcile mankind to YHWH? How could a prophecy so important begin with anything less than the dabar or word of our Creator?
For those of you who are Bereans, I challenge you to search the Scriptures to see if you can find a “word to restore and build Jerusalem”. To me anyway, one of my greatest pleasures is searching the Scriptures for the treasures YHWH has left for us to find, so I won’t spoil your own treasure hunt by giving it away in this article. What I will do is give a couple of clues to start you on your way.
First, this “word to restore and build Jerusalem” was given by YHWH directly to, not one, but two Old Testament prophets.
Second, Ezra the Priest and Scribe mentions this “word” in a very specific context.
Finally, this “word” can be accurately dated by Scriptural and secular means.
Happy treasure hunting!
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2
Book 1
Book I - Description
The 13th Enumeration
"A book that will change how you look at the Bible's Messianic Symbolism."
The Jubilee Code -
"A book that will show you real Biblical evidence for Yahweh's guiding in hand history bringing about His redemptive plan for mankind."
In the 1st year of the Median king, Ahasuerus, a Judean captive named Daniel was given a prophecy concerning events which were going to happen to his people and to the city of Jerusalem. He was told the prophecy would commence with a “commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.”
Daniel 9:2525 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks.
2500 years removed from the time of Daniel, we see the history of that era in a different light than the people who lived it. How do you think they would have recognized the “commandment to restore and to build”? What would they have looked for? Whose command would they have recognized? From the perspective of the returning captives, what act would have constituted the building of Jerusalem? If we want to understand the prophecy of Daniel 9 we must understand it in the context it was given.
Today most scholars identify four possible commands which they believe qualify as a “commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.”
The decree by Cyrus in 536 BC (To rebuild the temple and Jerusalem)
The decree by Darius (son of Hystaspes) the “Great” in 520 BC (To restart construction of the temple)
The decree by “Artaxerxes” in his 7th year (given to Ezra to return to Jerusalem)
The decree by “Artaxerxes” in his 21st year (granting Nehemiah permission to build the wall of Jerusalem)
Some claim the first two “commands” are disqualified because they refer to the building of the temple and have nothing to do with building Jerusalem. I would ask if building the temple was not the de facto event in building Jerusalem, what event would have constituted it? As you will see in the verses below, building the Temple was in fact “building Jerusalem”.
First, let’s look at Daniel 9:25 a little closer: Have any of you ever wondered why the verse says “restore” and “build”? A look at the origins of the word “restore” brings some insight to the verse. “Restore” is the Hebrew word shuwb and its primary meaning is to return or turn back. When Daniel 9:25 is read in this light, it offers another perspective on how the early Judeans might have understood the commandment to return (shuwb) and to build (banah) Jerusalem.
In 536 BC, Cyrus gave the initial decree that allowed the Jews to go up to Jerusalem and build the temple. The enemies of the Jews harassed them for the next 16 years, so instead of building the temple the people worked on their own houses. What some today may not realize but the enemies of the Jews knew without a doubt was that Jerusalem was nothing without the house of YHWH. To them building the Temple of YHWH was building Jerusalem.
KJVEzra 4:1-5 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto YHWH God of Israel;………Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
According to the decree of Artaxerxes (Bardis the Magian usurper) building the temple was building Jerusalem.
Ezra 4:21-24 21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. 22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
There is another underlying dynamic which is not obvious with just a casual observation of these events. Even though YHWH stirred up Cyrus to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem and build the temple, (thus ending the 70 years of Jeremiah) it was not until the 2nd year of Darius that YHWH’s divine anger ended. (See Zech 1:12-17 below) When YHWH’s anger towards the people finally ended He commanded them to return and build the temple.
KJVZechariah 1:7-177 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of YHWH unto Zechariah, ……12 Then the angel of YHWH answered and said, O YHWH of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? 13 And YHWH answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. 14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith YHWH of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. 16Therefore thus saith YHWH; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith YHWH of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. 17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith YHWH of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and YHWH shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
Just to make sure the people got His point YHWH expressed similar sentiments to Haggai:
KJVHaggai 1:1-9In the second year of Darius the king….came the word of YHWH by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel …..and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus speaketh YHWH of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that YHWH’S house should be built…. Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?5 Now therefore thus saith YHWH of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith YHWH of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith YHWH. 9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith YHWH of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
The whole matter was summarized by Ezra 6:14:
KJVEzra 6:1414 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, even Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Now let’s look at Daniel 9:25 as Daniel’s people would have understood it:
KJVDaniel 9:25 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to return (shuwb) and to build (banah) Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks.
Regardless of what we believe about Daniel 9, there was only one commandment the Jewish people would have recognized. Only one command they would have acknowledged. That is the “commandment to return and to build Jerusalem” given by YHWH, proclaimed by Haggai and Zechariah and witness by Ezra 6:14.
16 Therefore thus saith YHWH; I am returned (shuwb) to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built (banah) in it, saith YHWH of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.KJVZechariah 1:16
Why have we ignored the Fifth Command?
Book 1
Book I - Description
The 13th Enumeration
"A book that will change how you look at the Bible's Messianic Symbolism."
The Jubilee Code -
"A book that will show you real Biblical evidence for Yahweh's guiding in hand history bringing about His redemptive plan for mankind."
If you were the sovereign of this world for a day and you had a message for a generation 2500 years in the future, a message so important that their very lives depended upon it, how would you go about ensuring that they got the message?
