ted "determined," literally
signifies "cut off." Seventy weeks, representing 490 years, are declared
by the angel to be cut off, as specially pertaining to the Jews. But from
what were they cut off? As the 2300 days was the only period of time
mentioned in chapter eight, it must be the period from which the seventy
weeks were cut off; the seventy weeks must therefore be a part of the 2300
days, and the two periods must begin together. The seventy weeks were
declared by the angel to date from the going forth of the commandment to
restore and build Jerusalem. If the date of this commandment could be
found, then the starting-point for the great period of the 2300 days would
be ascertained.

In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found.(540) In its completest
form it was issued by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, B.C. 457. But in Ezra
6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built
"according to the commandment [margin, decree] of Cyrus, and Darius, and
Artaxerxes king of Persia." These three kings, in originating,
re-affirming, and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection
required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years. Taking
B.C. 457, the time when the decree was completed, as the date of the
commandment, every specification of the prophecy concerning the seventy
weeks was seen to have been fulfilled.

"From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem
unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two
weeks,"--namely, sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years. The decree of Artaxerxes
went into effect in the autumn of B.C. 457. From this date, 483 years
extend to the autumn of A.D. 27.(541) At that time this prophecy was
fulfilled. The word "Messiah" signifies "the Anointed One." In the autumn
of A.D. 27, Christ was baptized by John, and received the anointing of the
Spirit. The apostle Peter testifies that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Ghost and with power."(542) And the Saviour Himself
declared, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me
to preach the gospel to the poor."(543) After His baptism He went into
Galilee, "preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, _The
time_ is fulfilled."(544)

"And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week." The "week"
here brought to view is the last one of the seventy; it is the last seven
years of the period allotted especially to the Jews.