Daniel Predicted the Exact Day the Messiah would appear in Jerusalem

One of the most remarkable Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament is found in Daniel 9:24-27, often called the "70 weeks" prophecy. Delivered by the angel Gabriel around 538 BC, it provides a precise timeline for the arrival of the Messiah.

The key verse for the timing of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem on a donkey (the Triumphal Entry, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9) is Daniel 9:25 (NASB):

"So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks [total 69 weeks]; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress."

Understanding the "Weeks"

• The Hebrew word for "weeks" (shabuim) means "sevens." In this prophetic context, it refers to weeks of years—each "week" is 7 years, so 69 weeks = 483 years.

• Many interpreters use a "prophetic year" of 360 days (based on biblical patterns, e.g., Genesis flood account and Revelation's time periods), making 483 years = 173,880 days (483 × 360).

The Starting Point: The Decree

The prophecy begins with a royal decree to "restore and rebuild Jerusalem" (not just the temple). The decree that best fits is from King Artaxerxes I to Nehemiah in his 20th year (Nehemiah 2:1-8), dated to March 5, 445 BC (or Nisan 1, 445 BC, in the Jewish calendar). This decree authorized rebuilding the city's walls, gates, and infrastructure, fulfilling the prophecy's description.

The Calculation (Classic Interpretation by Sir Robert Anderson)

Sir Robert Anderson, in his 1894 book The Coming Prince, calculated as follows:

1. Start date: March 14, 445 BC (Nisan 1, adjusted to Julian calendar).

2. 69 weeks = 483 prophetic years × 360 days = 173,880 days.

3. Adding 173,880 days from 445 BC (accounting for the transition from BC to AD—no year 0, and 365-day solar years) lands precisely on April 6, AD 32 (or Nisan 10 in the Jewish calendar).

This date corresponds to Palm Sunday—the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, publicly presenting Himself as Messiah the Prince (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19). Crowds shouted "Hosanna!" and waved palm branches, but just days later, He was "cut off" (crucified), as Daniel 9:26 predicts.

Step-by-Step Math for Transparency

To arrive at the solution:

• Prophetic years: 69 × 7 = 483 years.

• Days: 483 × 360 = 173,880 days.

• Convert to solar years: 173,880 ÷ 365.2425 (average solar year, accounting for leap years) ≈ 476 solar years + about 25 days.

• From 445 BC: Subtract 445 years → 1 BC to AD 1 (no year 0) → AD 32 (or AD 33 in some adjustments).

• Fine-tuning with astronomical calendars places the endpoint on the Triumphal Entry.

Variations exist (e.g., some use 444 BC or AD 33, landing on March 30 or April 10), but the consensus among this interpretation's proponents is that it pinpoints the exact day of Jesus' kingly presentation.

Why This Matters

Jesus Himself alluded to this timing in Luke 19:41-44, weeping over Jerusalem because they "did not recognize the time of your visitation." On that very day, as He entered on the donkey, the prophesied moment arrived—yet the nation largely rejected Him, leading to the "cutting off" (crucifixion) and a pause before the final (70th) week.

This prophecy, written centuries before Jesus (Daniel predates Him by over 500 years), demonstrates extraordinary precision, supporting the divine inspiration of Scripture and Jesus' identity as the promised Messiah.