Last time we discussed in detail Daniel's prayer. He gave us a prime example of the format of a prayer. He first showed his adoration for the Lord. Then he confessed not only his sins but the sins of Israel. Then he thanked God for being so forgiving and righteous and merciful. Then he asked God to show him how long the people would be in exile.
Just as Daniel finishes his prayer, God immediately answers Daniel's prayer. God loved Daniel, and he loved his people. So, God was bound to hear this prayer that was so passionately and honestly offered up by Daniel. Daniel pleaded with God to forgive his people's sins and return them to the promised land so they could rebuild Jerusalem and the nation. In answer to Daniel's fervent prayer for forgiveness and restoration, the Lord gave him an astonishing prophecy. His new prophecy revealed that God would not only forgive and restore Israel but also that a day was coming when he would offer the whole world forgiveness of sins.
Daniel 9:20-23. God reveals His plan for Israel and for all human beings through the angel Gabriel. Gabriel abruptly interrupted Daniel's prayer, at the very point where Daniel was asking for forgiveness in verse 20. The Lord had heard Daniel's prayer and knew his heart was genuine. This occurred at the time of the evening worship and sacrifice as noted in verse 21. The timing was significant, because the sacrificial lamb pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ, and Christ was to be the focus of this present vision and prophecy. Note that this is the Old Testament but it is pointing to Christ in the New Testament. Daniel's request for God to forgive the sins of the people was to be accomplished by the coming Savior's death upon the cross.
Gabriel informed Daniel of several facts.
-first, Gabriel had been sent to give Daniel very special insight into God's plans for the future of the Jews as well as for the human race as a whole.
-second, he declared that Daniel's prayer had been heard and his request was granted. In fact, the very moment Daniel had begun to pray, the Lord had heard. He immediately answered his servant’s prayer. Do you know why? Daniel was very special to God. In God's eyes, Daniel was a precious believer because he had lived a consistent life before the Lord. He had diligently studied God's word and prayed fervently. His life was a positive, steadfast testimony for the Lord.
-third, Daniel was to listen closely to the message being brought him so he could understand the vision.
Daniel needed special insight and understanding with regard to his people, Israel. So, he asked God through prayer and Bible study, and the Lord met Daniel's need. A lesson for us in this is that when any of us lack insight or wisdom, we have to seek the Lord through prayer and through studying God's holy word. If we are genuine and faithful, the Lord will hear our prayers and meet our needs. He will give us whatever understanding or wisdom we need to deal with our specific area of concern.
So God lays out his six-fold plan for both Israel and the human race. God's plan and timetable would be fulfilled during seventy sevens or 490 years. Some translations refer to this as 70 weeks but the Hebrew simply says seventy sevens. Let's go just a little bit deeper for those who might be wondering. How do we know that the 70 weeks or 70 sevens is referring to years as opposed to actual weeks or days?
If you look at verse 24, you'll see the answer. This verse concerns the coming of Jesus Christ to offer salvation to the human race, which is spelled out in the six weeks that are listed. Looking back in history to the time of Daniel and the time of Christ, we know that it was centuries between the two periods, not days or weeks. Days and weeks were clearly not enough time for the events of Daniel chapter 9 to take place. So, we know that the weeks of seventy sevens definitely refer to years.
So God informed Daniel that he had a wonderful plan for Israel. But if you look closely at verse 24 you will see how God's plan for Israel includes salvation for the human race as well. While some of the predictions in this prophecy have already been partially fulfilled, all six will be completely fulfilled at the end of 490 years. God Himself will be the one who fulfills his six-fold plan when Christ returns to set up God's Kingdom on earth.
Let's take a glancing look at God’s six-fold plan without getting too deep. I can literally spend a minimum of an hour in study of just verse 24 but we won’t go that deep tonight. Keep in mind that this is speaking of future events, even for us. The first part of God's plan is to stop the rebellion or transgression of the Jews. The day is coming when the Jews will no longer sin or rebel against God. That day will be when Jesus Christ returns to set up God's Kingdom on earth. (future prophecy)
The second part of God's plan is to put an end to sin. A day is coming when sin will no longer exist on the earth. No longer will people miss the mark or come short of what they should be or do. When Jesus returns to establish God's Kingdom on earth, then and only then will society be controlled and sin be wiped out forever.
The third part of God's plan is to atone for all wickedness, making reconciliation between God and man possible. Every promise and blessing of God, both now and in God's coming Kingdom on earth, is made possible only through the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
The fourth part of God's plan is to establish righteousness on earth, an everlasting righteousness. At the end of 490 years, the timetable God has set, righteousness will flood the Earth and it will continue throughout all eternity. A day was coming when God's people would live in a world of righteousness, a day when they would no longer be oppressed or enslaved.
The fifth part of God's plan is to fulfill all his prophecies. Human history will reach its climax when all of God's prophecies and visions have been fulfilled. It will then be time for Christ to set up his eternal Kingdom on earth and to establish a perfect society.
The sixth part of God's plan is to anoint the most holy, which can refer only to a holy person or to a holy place. It may refer to the anointing of Jesus Christ by the spirit of God to be the Savior of the world and to rule throughout eternity as the king of kings and Lord of lords. Or, it could refer to the Holy Temple of God, in particular to the Future Temple that will be built for the millennial reign of Christ on earth. (future prophecty)
Daniel 9:25. This could get very deep but I will try to keep it light. God divided the plan for Israel and the world into three periods of human history. The 490 years mentioned in verse 24 are divided into three periods.
Number one is the period in God's plan that is seven sevens, which equals 49 years. The starting point of this particular period was the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, and the end of the period is the completion of the capital city. The complete rebuilding of Jerusalem was to take 49 years. God was revealing to Daniel that the Jews would be set free from Babylonian captivity and would return home to rebuild their nation and their capital Jerusalem. And that it would take 49 years to do that.
The second period of God's plan was seven sevens plus sixty-two sevens, which equaled 483 years. The starting point for this second period was also the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, but the end of the period stretched all the way up to the coming of the Anointed One Himself, Jesus Christ. In the year 539 BCE, after uniting the Persian and Median kingdoms under his rule, king Cyrus subdued the Babylonian Empire. In 538 BCE King Cyrus made a public declaration granting the Jews the right to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
Gabriel said that two momentous events would take place at that time.
Daniel 9:26.
1. The period would bring about the cutting off or the death of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 26 even notes the fact that Christ would not die for Himself, which suggests that He would be dying for others.
2. The period would be followed by two significant events. First, the Romans would destroy Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD, and second, centuries of war and desolation would take place on earth. This would continue right up until the end of human history. The destruction of Jerusalem in the temple by Rome would not end the sufferings of the nation Israel, the Jews would continue to suffer at the hands of the Gentiles until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The flood mentioned in Daniel 9:26 may well be the same flood that is depicted in Revelation 12:15, where "the flood from the mouth of the serpent"
So far, all of this has already taken place. Now, to the future prophecy.
Daniel 9:27. The third period in God's plan is 1 seven, which equals 7 years. These 7 years are the seven years of the Great Tribulation that is spoken of in the book of Revelation. These seven years have not occurred yet.
The “he” mentioned in verse 27 is referring to the Antichrist.
And here is where it gets very real for us. There is a long period of time between the 69th and 70th weeks. This time is one that will witness centuries of war and desolation, as is stated at the end of verse 26. Even Jesus warned the world that there would be violence, natural disasters, and false Messiahs.
But running parallel with the false Messiahs and the lawless of this world will be the church, the body of Christ, those who truly believe in the Lord and take a stand for righteousness. That's us. Although the plan that God revealed to Daniel did not include the period of the Gentiles and of the church, it was revealed in the time of Christ and of the apostles. The death of Jesus was to bring about a new creation, a spiritual body of people that would include both Jews and Gentiles. Again, that is us.
All of this indicates to me that we are living right now in the period between the 69th and 70th week that was prophesied by Daniel. We have seen many wars and are in fact involved in a war right now. All of this will continue until the rapture and the coming of Jesus Christ.
Let me close this out by saying that God promises that He will always be with us. The last days of human history will bring a period of severe trials, tribulation, and horrible suffering for true believers. But as in every generation, when God's people are persecuted or going through terrible times, the Lord is with His people. God's presence will guide us through all hardships, no matter what may confront us.
