What do the Hebrew Scriptures Say About
When the Messiah Will Come?

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, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.   And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall 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. Daniel Chapter 9 verses 25-26

In the ninth chapter of the book of the Hebrew prophet Daniel, we are told that there is a very specific time at which the Messiah would be "cut off" (karat in Hebrew), that is, killed.   The specific time that the Messiah is to be killed is related to the commandment given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.   

Daniel prophesied from Babylon, where he was captive during the 70 year long Babylonian exile.  Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.   The commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem was given by the Persian King Artaxerses after the Persians conquered Babylon.  The details are recorded in the book of the Hebrew prophet Nehemiah in Chapter 2, versus 1-8.  

Daniel tells us that, after the Messiah is killed, the city and sanctuary (temple) are to be destroyed.  Therefore, the temple had to be rebuilt at the time Messiah was present and destroyed after the Messiah was killed.   The city, Jerusalem, would also be destroyed.
continued on page 2
Home