Special Note: Due to the limited availability of credible commentary on the Book of Daniel, the author(s) of this Website relied heavily upon the translation and interpretations of Sir Isaac Newton, in his book entitled, Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John, published in 1733 by J. Darby and T. Browne. Newton was a formidable Bible scholar, fluent in Hebrew, Greek and Latin with an unsurpassed prodigious knowledge of ancient history. Beginning his personal study of Daniel at the age of twelve, Newton spent his life in notable scholarship, with a special interest in prophecy. Opposed to using prophecy to foretell future events, Newton believed that the numbers cited as days in the Book of Daniel represented eschatological years, mathematically descriptive of recognizable future times divinely intended to demonstrate the providence of God.

After the capture of Babylon by Cyrus, king of Persia, in 538 BC, Darius the Mede was established as the reigning monarch over Babylon. Knowing the prophecy of Jeremiah, Chapter 25, regarding seventy years of Babylonian captivity, Daniel was aware that a return to the promised land by the Jews was imminent, therefore, he submitted himself in prayer and fasting, with a petition to God to end the desolation of Jerusalem.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame - the men of Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. O Lord, we and our Kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. [Daniel 9:4 - 9:11]

Daniel confessed that Israel was rebellious and sinful, and, had failed to listen to the prophets. Therefore, as prophesied in Leviticus, Chapter 26, the Jews were scattered among other countries, because of Israel's national unfaithfulness and transgression of God's law.

Aware of the sworn curses and judgements outlined in the Law of Moses in Leviticus, Chapter 26, and, aware of the prophecy of God to Moses in Deuteronomy, Chapter 31, regarding the destruction of Israel, Daniel petitioned God on behalf of the Jewish nation. Fearful of God's seven times over punishment for an unrepentant Israelite nation as decreed four times in Leviticus 26:19, 26:22, 26:31-32, 26:33-35, and 26:43, Daniel appealed to God's mercy for the Jews, despite the failure of the ten tribes of Israel and two tribes of Judah to humble themselves.

Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to the this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name. [Daniel 9:15 - 9:19]

Requesting an end to the desolation of Jerusalem and the sanctuary at the hand of God's great mercy, Daniel acknowledged to God that such a return was certainly not due to righteousness on the part of Israel, and, he humbly petitioned God to return Israel to their land, for the sake of God's great name, borne by the Holy City and God's chosen people.

While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill - while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision: [Daniel 9:20 - 9:23]

The angel Gabriel, who had explained the dream in Daniel, Chapter 7, and the vision in Daniel, Chapter 8, appeared at the time of the evening sacrifice, and told Daniel that humility and love for the Almighty placed him and his request in high esteem. God had heard Daniel's prayer and had determined a prompt response. Describing the response from God to be both a message and a vision, Gabriel instructed Daniel to consider with insight and understanding what was said.

Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler comes, there will be seven sevens, and sixty-two sevens. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two sevens, the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood; war will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of a seven, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. [Daniel 9:24 - 9:27]

Special Note: Because of the extremely important eschatological significance of the Biblical passage in Daniel 9:24-27, and due to the numerous erroneous interpretations which have historically been applied the passage, the author(s) of this Website elected to reproduce verbatim the translation of the encompassed text directly from Chapter 10 of Sir Isaac Newton's book, Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John, published in 1733. Similarly, the interpretation(s) of the referenced passage, as summarized and expressed herewith by the author of this Website, are in large part extracted from the same chapter of Newton's book.

In the words of Sir Isaac Newton, "This prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27), like all the rest of Daniel's, consists of two parts, an introductory prophecy and an explanation thereof; the whole I thus translate and interpret."

Seventy weeks are cut upon thy people, and upon the holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, to expiate iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, to consummate the Vision and the Prophet, and to anoint the most Holy. Know also and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to cause to return and to build Jerusalem, unto the Anointed the Prince, shall be seven weeks. Yet threescore and two weeks shall it return, and the street be built and the wall; but in troublesome times: and after the threescore and two weeks, the Anointed shall be cut off, and it shall not be his; but the people of a Prince to come shall destroy the city and the Sanctuary: and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war, desolations are determined. Yet shall he confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in half a week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease: and upon a wing of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that which is determined be poured upon the desolate. [Daniel 9:24 - 9:27]

Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. [Daniel 9:24]

The seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus occurred in the third year of the eightieth Olympiad in the year 4257 of the Julian Period. Per Newton, counting in Judaic years and reckoning from the first autumn after Ezra's return and execution of the decree of Artaxerxes, four hundred and ninety (490) years elapsed until the death and resurrection of Christ, in the year 4747 of the Julian Period. While the various historical calendars may be confusing, by employing the conventions and the corrections in common use, it is has been historically determined that Ezra and the Babylonian exiles returned to Jerusalem around 458-457 BC, and circa 32-33 AD, Christ was crucified.

By his death, Christ took upon himself the sins of mankind, broke the demands of the old covenant, put an end to the law of sin and death, and brought everlasting life for those who believe in the name of Christ, placing Him above all others. Forever after called the Anointed One, Jesus Christ the Messiah, came to fulfill the prophecy as the one who would end all prophecy.

Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven sevens.   [Daniel 9:25]

Per Newton, virtually every prophecy in the Old Testament concerning Christ, in some way or another relates to the Second Coming, as does Daniel 9:25, which indicates that Christ will return as the Anointed One, the King or ruling monarch, after the Jews return to the land for the final time as a political body, just as they did under Ezra.

History records that after World War II, at the urging of, and, in concert with the political maneuvering of President Harry Truman of the United States of America, the United Nations voted to grant sovereign nation status to the Jews allowing them to return to Palestine in 1948, in complete political autonomy. Individuals representing all twelve tribes of the nation of Israel returned and established the newly chartered country of Israel in May 1948, under the watchful eye of America, a Gentile nation friendly to the Jews which orchestrated their return, as described by Newton, and, as prophesied in Chapter 49 of the Book of Isaiah.

In simple terms, per Newton's discussion, the second coming of Christ occurs in a Jubilee year return, after seven weeks of years have passed, following the return of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel to the promised land, in political autonomy, from the great Diaspora.

As recorded in Nehemiah, Chapters 4 & 6, during the rebuilding of the wall with streets and trench around the Holy Hill, there was opposition from the Gentile inhabitants in and around Jerusalem, however, the wall was successfully completed in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of Artaxerxes in the 4278 year of the Julian Period. Counting in Judaic years from September, four hundred and thirty four (434) years elapsed, until the birth of Jesus (first coming), in September of the year 4712 of the Julian period. Per Newton, year 4712 of the Julian Period was acknowledged in writing, as the birth year of Jesus, by numerous ancient historians in the first four hundred years after Jesus lived, including Clemens Alexandrinus, Irenaeus, Eusebius, Epiphanius, Jerome, Orosius, and Cassiodorus. History records that in 532 AD, the date of Christ's birth was erroneously changed to two years later, known as the vulgar account, by the Scythian monk Dionysius Exiguus. Because Irenaeus (130-200 AD) was a student of Polycarp, who was a student of the Apostle John, who was a disciple of Jesus, it is likely that the birth of Jesus was accurately recorded by Irenaeus.

History records that the final Jewish war against the Romans erupted in 66 AD, lasted three and a half years until 70 AD, and resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the great Herodian temple by the Roman forces under the leadership of Prince Titus, the son of Roman Caeser Vespasian. The battle resulted in a massive loss of Jewish life via starvation, crucifixion, and the sword. Subsequently, both Jews and Christians were forbidden by the Romans to re-enter Jerusalem, which was plowed under with salt. Around 130 AD, the Roman emperor Hadrian built a new Roman colony in Jerusalem, named Aelia Capitolina, and, he erected a temple to Jupiter Capitolinus on the Holy Hill. As prophesied, Israel was broken up, the remnant of Jews in Jerusalem were dispersed into the Roman Empire (final dispersion stage of the great Diaspora) and strife, conflict and/or war to gain and/or maintain political control over Jerusalem and the Holy Lands has been a constant throughout the past twenty centuries.

Per Newton, after the Jewish War, decimation of the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem would occur, the remaining saints from the remnant would be dispersed, and desolation of the land would occur. Strife and war in Israel would then continue until the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel returned to the land for the final time, the consummation of the Anointed One, as King, occurred, and, the "time of the Gentiles" was fulfilled.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of a seven, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. [Daniel 9:27]

Per Newton, on page 136 of Chapter 10 of the Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John, according to Newton's translation of Daniel 9:27, seven years after the death and resurrection of Christ, the calling and conversion of Cornelius occurred, in which a covenant was established between Christ the Anointed One and many peoples (Gentiles).

In the middle of a seven, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. [Daniel 9:27]

The Jewish war against the Romans lasted three and a half years from 66 AD until 70 AD, when, contrary to the direct orders of Prince Titus, the great Herodian temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by fire, in August of 70 AD, by troops under the leadership of the prince. At that time, in 70 AD, the daily sacrifice and offering in a Jewish temple on the Holy Hill, ended. To this day, the Holy Hill remains desolate of the final temple prophesied in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 43, awaiting the Second Coming of the Anointed One, as King or ruler.