I have used astronomy and archaeology to show Daniel's linear prophecy began on March 16, 445 BC. We count 173,880 days from March 16, 445 BC, to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on April 6, AD 32.

Why are the 173,880 days important?

The 173,880 days come from Daniel's "time-oriented" prophecy. According to Daniel's prophecy, the Messiah would enter Jerusalem at a specified time after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem was issued as shown by a literal interpretation of the following verses.

From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One [Messiah], the ruler, comes, there will be seven `sevens,' and sixty-two `sevens.' .... After the sixty-two `sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off [crucified] and will have nothing (Dan. 9:25-26).

A literal interpretation of biblical literature yields the 173,880 days. Consider these ideas:

Daniel's prophecy is based on seventy (70) periods of seven year cycles. Literally, the Old Testament called for the land in Israel to lie idle every seventh year. "Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. . . . the land shall have a sabbatical year" (Lev. 25:3-5).

Keeping the seven year cycles in mind, Daniel's prophecy reveals that seven "cycles of seven years" would be counted to start the prophecy, which equals 49 years. So the first segment of Daniel's "time-oriented" prophecy culminated in a year of Jubilee, the 50th year.

The second time span in Daniel's prophecy calls for a period of sixty-two (62) "cycles of seven years," which equals 434 years. Adding the initial 49 years to the 434 years equals 483 years.

According to Daniel's prophecy, the Messiah was to appear at Jerusalem 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem.

Let's multiply the 483 years by the number of days in a year. Our solar calendar has 365¼ days each year. The Hebrew lunar calendar contains 354 days in a normal year or 383 days in a leap year. Which length is correct? Let's assume that the length of a year revealed in the Bible is correct. What will we find?

The Bible uses 360 days for a biblical year. We find the 360 days in the books of Genesis [noah], the Torah [Moses], Daniel, and Revelation. Consider the 360 day year found in the book of Revelation.

They [Gentiles] will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth (Rev. 11:2-3).

By this verse, 1,260 days equal 42 months. We divide the 1,260 days by 42 months to arrive at 30 days in a month.

Since there are 12 months in a year, we multiply 30 x 12 to equal 360 days in a year.

Now we can get the exact length of Daniel's time line. We must multiply 483 years by 360 days in a year to get 173,880 days.

When we add 173,880 days to March 16, 445 BC, we arrive at Sunday, April 6, AD 32. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on April 6, AD 32 with crowds proclaiming him as the Messiah. The date of April 6, AD 32, isolates the 14,000 days hidden in Daniel's "time-oriented" prophecy.
 

Scholars interpret Daniel's "time-oriented" vision many different ways. These interpretations differ in the way they view the beginning and ending of Daniel's time line. Let's review the different interpretations by looking at the various dates possible for issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem.

Decree to Rebuild Jerusalem

Scholars conclude that only three Persian kings could have issued the order to rebuild Jerusalem. Some believe Cyrus issued the decree between 539 and 536 BC. Others think Darius issued the decree in 520-519 BC, which confirmed Cyrus' original decree to rebuild the temple. Others hold that Artaxerxes issued the decree to Ezra in 458 BC. Finally, many espouse Artaxerxes' decree to Nehemiah on March 16, 445 BC.

Following is a chart showing each Persian king, the date of each decree, and the specific purpose of each decree according to Scripture.

According to the biblical references noted in the chart above, Artaxerxes' decree to Nehemiah is the only decree that specifically relates to rebuilding Jerusalem. All the other decrees were related to the temple.

Nevertheless, I can evaluate each date given in the chart above as to whether it is the actual decree to rebuild Jerusalem. According to Daniel's time line, 483 years must pass from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah in AD 28. Jesus began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberias Caesar according to Luke 3:1, which fell between August 19, AD 28 and August 18, AD 29.

So if you believe that Cyrus issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 539 BC, then Daniel's time line must attain the 15th year of Tiberias Caesar in AD 28. This linear idea can be explained by the following graph.

On the left side of the graph above, insert any date believed to be the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Next, add 483 years to find out if the time line attains AD 28, the year Jesus started his ministry. Consider how each decree from the previous chart satisfies these criteria.

On the first row of the chart above, Cyrus' decree in 539-536 BC attains 53 BC. Tiberias Caesar's 15th year occurred 80 years later. If 173,880 days are added to Cyrus' decree, the time line reaches 60 BC. So Cyrus' decree does not appear to be a good choice for the decree to rebuild Jerusalem.

On the second row of the chart above, the decree given by Darius to rebuild the temple in 520-519 BC only attains to 36 BC. Daniel's time line does not fit Darius' era.

Artaxerxes' decree to Ezra attains AD 26, two years short of Tiberias' 15th year. If 173,880 days are added to the March 8, 458 BC date, the time line arrives at March 31, AD 19. So Ezra's journey to Jerusalem in 458 BC does not appear to be a good choice for the decree to rebuild Jerusalem.

Obviously, only Artaxerxes' decree to Nehemiah yields the correct fit. Yet, some do not like this choice since it requires a 360 day year.

The End of Daniel's Prophecy

In the above charts, I have taken a literal view of Daniel's "time-oriented" prophecy in which the final seven years (the 70th week -Dan. 9:27) is yet to be fulfilled. However, some scholars believe that the entire prophecy was completely fulfilled at Jerusalem's destruction in AD 70. Those believing Daniel's prophecy is complete need a pair of scissors to cut and paste Daniel's words to fit their interpretation. In the following verses, I have moved the 27th verse and colored the words blue to match this scholarly viewpoint.

After the sixty two `sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. He will confirm a covenant with many for one `seven,' but in the middle of that `seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And one who causes desolation will place abominations on a wing of the temple until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. 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. (Dan. 9:26-27) [ NOTE: Verse 27 cut and pasted to the position some scholars desire so that it matches their interpretation. This is a nonliteral interpretation held by many Bible students].