“Darius the Median”
In chapter nine (Daniel 9:1), we
learn that Daniel received the prophecies in this chapter, during “the first
year of Darius the “son of Ahasuerus.”
“In the first year of Darius the
son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm
of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 9:1).
The reference to “the son of
Ahasuerus” was rather puzzling, until I realized that “Ahasuerus” was
possibly a name (or title) for some ancient ancestor of “Cambyses I,” who was
the father of “Cyrus the Great.” It is interesting to note that the identity of
“Darius the Mede” (also “Darius the Median”), continues to puzzle many modern-day
scholars, because they claim that no historical record exists, which mentions
anything about “Darius the Mede.” As a result, many bible scholars have
declared that because this name is wrong, provides proof that the entire “Book
of Daniel” is not accurate. In other words, they choose to blame the entire “Book
of Daniel” because they have failed to solve the simple puzzle, concerning “Darius
the Mede.” The reason why most bible scholars fail to solve this simple puzzle,
is because they continue to overlook the important clues which Daniel provided.
In the following scripture, we
learn that “Darius, the Median” was 62 years old, when Babylon was conquered.
“And Darius the Median took the kingdom,
being about threescore and two years old” (Daniel
5:31).
This scripture eliminates “Darius
I” completely, because he was born in 550 B.C., which proves that he was about
12 years old, when Babylon was conquered in 538 B.C.
The “Book of Daniel” refers to
Cyrus as the “prince of the kingdom of Persia,” when God proclaims: “But
the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood
me one and 20 days” (Daniel 10;13). When we convert these twenty-one days
into years, and then subtract twenty-one years from 559 B.C. (the year when
Cyrus succeeded his father), we end up with 538 B.C. Notice that this is the
same year when Cyrus conquered Babylon. When we subtract 538 B.C. from 600 B.C.
(when Cyrus was born), we discover that “Cyrus the Great” was 62 years old,
during that time. Notice that this is the same age, as “Darius the Median,” in
Daniel 5:31 above.
Therefore, we now have two clues,
which proves that Cyrus was “Darius the Median.” The first clue was the fact that
“Darius the Mede,” was “the son of Ahasuerus,” referring to an ancient
ancestor of “Cambyses I.” We also learn from the second clue that Cyrus was 62
years old, when Babylon was captured, in 538 B.C. This Median title begins to
make sense when you understand that the Medes were in control, when Cyrus
succeeded his father, in 559 B.C. This is when Cyrus received his Median title as
the “King of the Medes.” Therefore, the persons who captured Babylon, was the
same individual who Daniel recognized as “Darius the Median.” This proves that “Darius”
was some ancient title which Cyrus received, when he first began to rule over
the Median Empire: just like the Romans used their title of “Caesar.”
There is one more important clue,
mentioned in chapter 11, which provides proof that “Darius the Median” was
Cyrus, and no one else:
“And now will I shew thee the
truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth
shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he
shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia”
(Daniel 11:2)
In accordance with this prophecy,
we are told that three more Persian kings would follow the reign of King Cyrus,
and that the fourth king: “shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.”
This prophecy is talking about the kings, who once ruled over the “Achaemenid
Empire,” which began in 550 B.C. and ended in 330 B.C. However, at first
glance, it appears that something is wrong with this prophecy. This is because
the historical record proves that thirteen more kings, ruled over this empire,
after the death of “Cyrus the Great.” Understand; this prophecy is only
predicting that three more kings would be named “Darius,” after the rule of
this “Darius the Median” (“Darius 0”), is over. These three kings were “Darius
I,” “Darius II,” and “Darius III.” We also learn that the fourth king (Darius
III), would fight a war against Grecia: referring to the “Macedonian-Greek
Empire.” This prophecy not only proves that King Cyrus was “Darius the Median”
(“Darius 0”), but it also proves that the fourth and last “Darius” was “Darius
III,” who fought a war against the “Macedonian-Greek Empire,” fulfilling the
prophecy: “and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his
strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia” (Daniel
11:2).
Notice that the “Book of Daniel”
accurately predicted that three more kings would receive the “Darius” title,
after the death of “Cyrus the Great” (“Darius 0”), which was several years
before two of these kings were even born. This provides proof that the “Book of
Daniel” is completely accurate, and true, which should also be handled like an
accurate historical record that was recorded in reverse: before the predicted
events occurred.
Because we now understand that “Darius
the Median,” was Cyrus, and that Cyrus was also a Persian King, provides proof
that the following verse is true:
“So this Daniel prospered in the
reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian”
(Daniel 6:28).
In other words, when Cyrus
conquered Babylon, he arrived on the scene as “Darius the Median.” Sometime
later, after Cyrus defeated the Median Empire, is when Cyrus began to rule over
his kingdom as “Cyrus the Persian.” Therefore, Daniel is simply confirming that
he prospered under both titles, that “Cyrus the Great” received.
This also explains why Daniel made
the following statement:
“Also I in the first year of
Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him”
(Daniel 11:1).
Understand; Daniel would not have
made this statement, if “Darius the Mede,” was his enemy.
The fact that King Nebuchadnezzar
was also a Chaldean King (Ezra 5:12), when he ruled over Babylon, explains why Cyrus
became the “king over the realm of the Chaldeans,” after he defeated the
“Babylonian Empire.”
Therefore, this proves that verse
one, in chapter nine, was true:
“In the FIRST YEAR of Darius the
son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm
of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 9:1).
Notice that this verse confirms
that “Darius the son of Ahasuerus,” was Cyrus, because Cyrus the “king
over the realm of the Chaldeans,” when he captured Babylon
Because Daniel received the prophecies,
in chapter 9, during the first year that Cyrus ruled over Babylon, proves that
he received these prophecies in 538 B.C.
This is also true concerning, chapter
11, because Daniel says:
“Also I in the FIRST YEAR of
Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him”
(Daniel 11:1).
This proves that Daniel received
the prophecies, in chapters 9 and 11, in 538 B.C.
However, when we study verse one,
in chapter 10, we discover that Daniel did not receive the scriptures in chapter
10, until the third year that Cyrus ruled over Babylon:
“In the THIRD YEAR of Cyrus king
of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar;
and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the
thing, and had understanding of the vision” (Daniel
10:1).
Because the first year that Cyrus
ruled over Babylon, was 538 B.C., proves that the third year was 536 B.C.
Therefore, Daniel did not receive the scriptures in chapter 10, until two years
after he received the scriptures in chapters 9 and 11. As a result, this proves
that the verse in chapter 10, which reads: “Now I am come to make thee
understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision
is for many days” (Daniel 10:14), was not talking about any prophecies that
Daniel previously received in chapter 11.
The fact that the “Book of Daniel”
is not lined up in the proper order, is a very startling revelation, in modern
times. This is because many Christian ministers have used verse 14, in chapter
10 (Daniel 10:14), to prove to their congregations that the prophecies in
chatper 11, are prophecies for the future. However, it was just proven that
Daniel received chapter 10, two years after he received the prophecies in
chapter 11, which proves that many ministers are wrong. Even though Daniel did
receive the promise: “Now I am come to make thee understand what shall
befall thy people in the latter days; for yet the vision is for many days” (Daniel
10:14), this scripture is talking about the “latter day” prophecies in chapter
12, and not any prophecies that Daniel previously received in chapter 11. The
fact that Michael (“Michael the Archangel”) is mentioned, in the last verse of
chapter 19, and in the first verse in chapter 12, proves that these two chapters
are directly connected. Therefore, chapter 10 is simply the introduction for
chapter 12, which contains prophecies for the “latter days.”
Therefore, for studying purposes,
the chapters in the “Book of Daniel” should be lined up, in the following
order:
King Nebuchadnezzar chatpers 1, 2,
3, 4
King Belshazzar chapters 8, 7, 5
King Cyrus and “Darius the Median,”
chapters 6, 9, 11
“Michael the Archangel,” chapter
10
“Michael the Archangel” and the “latter
days,” chapter 12 (Brad Overton, The Bible Prophecies Prove Which Church is
True: How One Church Fulfilled the Latter-day Prophecies [B. Overton Ltd.,
2020], 27-32, emphasis in original)
