17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:17-18
...and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
14 generations = 560 years. 14 X 40 = 560
The time of Captivity is 70 years.
2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:2
560 - 70 = 490 years.
490 years from when Cyrus announced the captivity was over and released the Children of Israel to go back to Jerusalem until the birth of Christ is 490 years.
Cyrus had been anointed by God for the purpose of doing all of the lord's pleasure.
Isaiah is prophesying directly to Cyrus from God!
28 Who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built," And to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid." ' 1 "Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: 2 'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. 4 For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; 7 I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.' 8 "Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it. Isaiah 44:28 - 45:8
So we see Cyrus had been appointed by God to release the Children of Israel from captivity once the 70 years were concluded.
as it is written -
I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward," Says the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 45:13
Cyrus was called by God and anointed for the purpose of releasing the Children of Israel from captivity.
That his command would begin the prophecy of the Messiah the Prince.
He was at that time the king of the world.
He had supreme authority and only answered to God.
From his command to release the children of Israel to the birth of Jesus Christ was 490 years. 70 weeks.
We will see through God's word, how this process stopped and started again so that exactly 483 years, 69 weeks to the day, Jesus fulfilled the word of the Lord through Daniel.
So that on that very day Jesus would say, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
More to come.
JLB