Captivity Coming To An End

Captivity Coming to an End

Daniel Chapter 9

INTRODUCTION: Daniel, as a student of the Word of God, comes to the conclusion that the captivity of the nation of Israel is coming to an end.

Jeremiah 25:11-12 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

12"But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt," declares the LORD, "and will make it desolate forever.

Jeremiah 29:10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.

Armed with this knowledge Daniel begins to pray, yet at the same time he is concerned for the future of His people. What we find here is that fact that God answers prayer, and in His answer, gives Daniel additional information for our benefit as we move towards the end times.

I THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DANIEL’S PRAYER

A 4-- 8 Daniel acknowledges the turning away of the people, and identifies with his people

B 9-- 11a Daniel acknowledges God’s righteousness

C 11b – 14 Daniel understands the results of Israel’s disobedience

D 15 – 16 Daniel acknowledges God’s wrath in dealing with disobedience and petitions God to now turn His wrath away

E 17-19 Daniel asks God to remove his wrath based on:

1 His mercy

2 His Forgiveness

3 His reputation

II DANIEL RECEIVES AN ANSWER TO HIS PRAYER

A Daniel was looking for insight

1 Daniel receives THIS answer because he is esteemed by God

B We need to be encouraged that God’s answer begins at the beginning of our prayers

1 God is chomping at the bit to answer

2 He is just waiting for us to pray!

III THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE

A A period of seventy sevens

1 6 items that will be accomplished during this period

a Three deal with the resolution of Israel’s sin problem

1) Finish transgression

a) Finish means to put and end to something

2) Put an end to sin

a) Seal up sin – an end with a view towards punishment. Christ died for sin

3) Atone for wickedness

a) Cover – final atonement when Israle repents at the second coming of Christ

b Three deal with the coming everlasting kingdom

1) Bring everlasting righteousness

a) God will bring in righteousness at the end time

2) Sealing up the vision and Prophecy

a) Culmination of prophecy – until prophecies are fulfilled they are unsealed

3) Anoint the most holy

a) Dedication of temple

b) Dedication of Christ – his rule/throne

B The Division of Sevens

1 49 years (seven sevens) after the command to rebuild Jerusalem – the work will be completed. Started 444 or 445 B.C.

2 434 years (62 sevens)

a The Anointed One will be cut off

1) Cut off is used of “executing the death penalty”

b Appears that He will have accomplished nothing (from the perspective of the Jewish onlooker)

c Judgments would come

1) Jerusalem would be destroyed

a) Luke 21:24

b) Matt 23:38

c) Matt 24:2

2) Destroyed by the people of the ruler – not the ruler

3) The ruler to come is of the last kingdom, but not there yet

3 7 years (one seven)

a Will usher in the Messiah’s kingdom

b Time of great suffering

c Ruled over by an evil prince

1) Seemingly well intentioned

a) Comes to the aid of Israel who seemingly cannot defend herself

2) Make a treaty

3) Break it half way into the final seven years

a) Will move from “roman” nations to Israel

Daniel 11:45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

4) End sacrifices and offerings in the temple

a) Sacrifices will have been restored

b) Ruler will seek power over the religious realm as well

2 Thes. 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Rev. 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

(1) By terminating all religious organization

5) Set up idol

Matthew 24:15 "So when you see standing in the holy place ’the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand--

Rev. 13:14-15 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.