Monthly Archive for April, 2002

Daniel 10:4-7

Published on April 30, 2002 in Daniel. 0 Comments
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Daniel 10: 4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.”

 


4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,

As Daniel was beside the Tigris River, he received a vision of a man clothed in linen.  Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread fell on the 24th day of the first month (Nisan, April 24).  Perhaps he was at the river for a Jewish feast. 

5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!

Only Daniel saw this vision of a man clothed in linen and girded with gold.  This man was probably an angel.  The priests of Israel wore expensive linen dresses setting them aside as special representatives of God.  This may be the intent for this angel. 

“Uphaz” may be Ophir, which may have been in Arabia off the northeast African coast. 

6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

This angel was decked in the splendor of expensive jewels.  Some believe this angel to be a theophany of the Son of God but there is not enough evidence for this. 

7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

The other Jews with Daniel did not see the vision but they sensed something mighty took place.

The difference between a “vision” and a “dream” is that dreams occur during sleep whereas a vision can happen while a person is awake.  Ezekiel and Daniel are the most noteworthy in this regard in the Old Testament. 


PRINCIPLE:  Significant understanding of God always produces humility. 


APPLICATION:  Great men of the Bible humbled themselves when they saw implications of truth.  Note Job and Isaiah in this regard: 

Job 42: 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

But now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes.”

Is 6: 3 “And one cried to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

The whole earth is full of His glory!”

4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 So I said:

‘Woe is me, for I am undone!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King,

The Lord of hosts.’”

Have you meditated on the greatness and glory of God?  Do you have a good grasp of His person and work?

Daniel 10:1-3

Published on April 29, 2002 in Daniel. 0 Comments
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Daniel 10: 1 “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”


The last of the four visions to Daniel personally runs from chapters 10 to 12.  Daniel prepares to receive the vision in chapter ten.  He gives the immediate future from Darius through Antiochus in 11:2-35 and the distant future of the 70th seven in 11:36-12:4.  The remainder of chapter 12 gives the conclusion to the book of Daniel. 

This final vision is a unit that extends from chapter 10 to chapter 12.  Chapter 10 introduces the vision with an interlude of context before the vision; chapter 11 gives the prophecy itself and chapter 12 adds an epilogue to the vision. 

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.

Daniel received a vision in the third year of Cyrus’ reign over the Medo-Persian Empire (536 B.C.).  God’s communication to Daniel was a revelation that incorporated a vision.  This is two years after the revelation of Daniel 9.  Cyrus issued a decree for the Jews to return to the holy land two years earlier in 538 B.C.  Some returned that same year with Zerubbabel.  They reintroduced the sacrifices in 537 B.C. (Ezra 3:6) and began to rebuild the temple in 536 B.C. (Ezra 3:8). 

Daniel did not return to the holy land with his people.  The Bible does not state the reason.  He served Babylon until the first year of Cyrus (538 B.C., 1:21).  Daniel was probably in his mid eighties at this time and in retirement. 

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.

Daniel prayed, fasted and mourned (9:3) for three weeks.  His serious distress was over the safety of the Jews who returned to the holy land (Ezra 4:1-5,24). 

3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Daniel did not partake in the privileges of Babylon while he was in mourning.  He did not eat normal or fancy foods.  He was on a fast.  Nor did Daniel use skin oil to protect himself from the sun during the three-week period. 


PRINCIPLE:  Concentration in prayer provides a suitable environment for effective prayer. 


APPLICATION:  Sacrificial acts in themselves do not solicit God’s favor.  They do form a suitable environment for heart orientation to God. 

God loved Daniel because of his importunity in prayer.  His prayers were not flippant but serious.  God looked at that serious prayer life and loved him.  Dedication to prayer does not gain approbation with God but a burden of prayer does.

 

Prayer requires significant concentration and dedication.  As Daniel gave his all in prayer, we should “purpose in our heart” that we should not defile ourselves with anything outside the will of God (1:8).  We seek the will of God, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. 

Daniel 9:27

Published on April 28, 2002 in Daniel. 2 Comments
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“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”
 
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.
 
This verse describes what will happen in the 70th seven, the Tribulation period of 7 years. God sets this 70th seven off by itself because there is a gap or parenthesis between the 69th seven and the 70th. That time is the period of the church, the time between the first coming of Christ and the Rapture (Ep 3:1-6). 
 
When God finishes His dealings with the church, He brings the church to Himself in the first phase of Christ’s coming, the Rapture. Then He returns to dealing with Israel as a nation. The purpose of the Tribulation is to get the attention of Israel to accept Jesus in His Second Coming. At the end of the 70th seven God will establish Israel again as God’s chosen people on earth. 
 
The antecedent of “he” is the “prince who is to come” in verse 26. It is not Titus because he did not make a contract with Israel. The Antichrist of the Revived Roman Empire will make that covenant with Israel. Therefore, the seventieth week (seven sevens) does not follow upon the 69th week immediately. We see this kind of break in time between the Messiah’s first and Second Coming (Is 61:1-2). 
 
The Antichrist will make a peace covenant with Israel for one week (seven years) guaranteeing Israel’s safety in the land. Israel will sign this contract with the head of the Revived Roman Empire, the Antichrist. These seven years will begin immediately after the Rapture. The “many” refers to Israel (v.24). He breaks this covenant “in the middle of the week” (3 ½ years). Daniel calls this “a time, times and half a time” (7:25; 12:7; cf. Re 12:14). John calls this “1,260 days” and “42 months” in Revelation (11:3; 12:6 and 11:2; 13:5). 
 
The words “sacrifice and offerings” refer to the Levitical system of worship. The “wing of abominations” refers to a wing of the temple particularly corrupted because of idolatry. Jewish sacrifices stop forty-two months before Messiah returns (12:11). 
 
Summary of the vision of the seventy sevens: The city and the streets are rebuilt in the first seven sevens. The Messiah comes and is cut off in the second period of sixty-two sevens. An intercalation (parenthesis) occurs between the sixty-ninth and seventh seven to allow for the church age. The seventh seven is the Tribulation period. The world ruler makes a covenant with Israel at the beginning of the Tribulation but then breaks that covenant in the middle of the Tribulation (42 months) taking away Israel’s sacrificial system thus desecrating the temple.
 
The seventieth seven is a period of seven years (the Tribulation of seven years after the Rapture of the church). Unbelieving Jews will enter into alliance with “the prince that shall come” (v.26, a political ruler who makes a covenant with Israel in the middle of the Tribulation of seven years).  This will be an unholy alliance to the damage of Israel as a nation. The person who confirms the covenant will “bring an end to sacrifice and offering.”  All bloody and non-bloody sacrifices will cease. 
 
This end of sacrifices during the Tribulation is the abomination of desolation of which Jesus spoke (11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15-16,21; Mark 13:14; 1 Macc 1:54). Daniel 12:11 makes this a clear reference to future cessation of daily sacrifices, forty-two months before the Second Coming of Christ. What Antiochus Epiphanies did in a small way will become world-wide in the Tribulation under the world ruler (Re 13:4-7). He will be defeated at the Second Coming (Re 19 – cast into the Lake of Fire). This will be the terminus ad quem of the seventy sevens of Daniel. Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy sevens extends from Nehemiah (445 B.C.) until the Second Coming. 
 
Mt 24: 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23 ‘Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 “See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
 
PRINCIPLE: There is a major difference between Israel and the church in God’s economy. 
 
APPLICATION: No prophet in the Old Testament knew anything of the church. The Old Testament did not foretell the church. The promises to Israel do not apply to the church. The church is a new entity in the New Testament. God revealed the doctrine of the church to the apostle Paul.
 
Ep 3:1 “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”
 
The Bible divides people into three kinds:
 
1.    The Jew
2.    The Gentile
3.    The church
 
1 Co 10:32 “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks (Gentile) or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

 

Daniel 9:26b

Published on April 27, 2002 in 1 Thessalonians and Daniel. 0 Comments
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“And after the sixty-two weeks

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.”
 
26b And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
 
The “prince who is to come” is not the Messiah. The destruction of “the city and the sanctuary” occurred in A.D. 70 when the Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem. The “people” are Romans. 
 
Titus carried out the initial destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Gabriel said, however, that war would continue until “the end.” Israel will suffer until the completion of the 70th seven, that is, the Tribulation. 
 
This verse in Daniel depicts the judgment that will come on the generation that rejects the Messiah and anticipates the “prince” or the Antichrist to come who will “destroy the city and the sanctuary,” that is, Jerusalem and the Temple.  
 
PRINCIPLE: The Romans under Titus will be dually fulfilled in the coming Revived Roman Empire and her dictator, the Antichrist. 
 
APPLICATION: The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 anticipates the Revived Roman Empire and the “prince” is the dictator of the Revived Roman Empire. Titus anticipates the Antichrist. Titus did not make a covenant with the Jews (v.27). Titus did what the Antichrist will do. Jerusalem did not end “with a flood” in Titus’ time. Jesus speaks of this in Matthew:
 
Mt 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
 
The Antichrist is the little horn of Daniel 7:8. This is the destruction of Jerusalem, which Jesus referred in His ministry. When Israel’s leaders attributed to Jesus’ ministry the work of the devil (Mt 12:24), Jesus warned that this is the unpardonable sin. He also warned that because of that sin, the Gentiles would destroy Jerusalem.
 
Mt 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
 
Mt 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 “See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
 
Lu 21:24 “And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

Daniel 9:26a

Published on April 26, 2002 in Daniel. 2 Comments
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“And after the sixty-two weeks

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.”
 
26     “And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
 
“After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off” (434 years). This period extends to the presentation of the Messiah to Israel and concludes on the day of the Triumphal Entry. This is just before the Messiah was “cut off” in the crucifixion. 
 
Zech 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.”
 
The Messiah shall be cut off but “not for Himself.” Jesus was “cut off” by the crucifixion. Jesus came to pay for all personal sins on the cross. 
 
The Messiah did not receive anything due Him at His first coming. He did not reign as King because “He came unto His own (own things — neuter) but His own (own people ((Jews))– masculine) did not receive Him” (Jn 1:11). 
 
The first two sections of this prophecy run without interruption in time (7 sevens and 62 sevens). They total 483 years extending from 445 B.C. until the time of Christ. 
 
The “Messiah” was not “cut off” in the 70th seven. He was cut off “after” the 7 and 62 sevens had finished, not “after” the 70th week. The implication is that there was an interlude or intercalation between the 69th and 70th sevens. The idea of “cut off” in the Hebrew is that of executing a death penalty on a criminal implying the crucifixion. The crucifixion of Christ after the Triumphal Entry concluded the 69th seven dealing with Israel. Jesus then launched a new institution – the church (Mt 16:18). During God’s dealing with the church, He set aside Israel as His institution of dealing in the world between the 69th and 70th sevens (heptads). 
 
The Jewish calendar calculates a month as 30 days and a year as 360 days. The lunar month is 30 days for every month including February (calculated by the time between two full moons). It is the time that elapses between successive new moons averaging 29 days, 12 hours and 44 minutes. The Jewish lunar year has 354 days (a solar year contains 365 days, 5 hours and 48 minutes, 45.5 seconds – the rotation of the earth around the sun). The Jewish calendar adjusts to the solar year by periodic introduction of leap years that contain an intercalary month ensuring that the major religious festivals fall in proper season. Today, we use the Gregorian calendar. 
 
PRINCIPLE: Prophecy with integrity gives people, places, times and dates. 
 
APPLICATION: The Bible is clearly prophetic in very specific ways. In contrast to false prophecy, biblical prophecy gives specifics of people, places, times and dates.   This particular prophecy of the 70 sevens pinpoints the exact time when the Messiah came and died.

Daniel 9:25

Published on April 25, 2002 in Daniel. 0 Comments
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 “‘Know therefore and understand,

That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
 
 
25     “Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,”
 
The seventy sevens will begin with the “command” (decree) to “restore and build Jerusalem.” The Scripture records four decrees to rebuild Jerusalem by the Persians:
 
1.    Cyrus’ decree (to rebuild the temple) in 538 B.C. (2 Chr 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; 5:13; 6:1-5). 
2.    Decree of Darius I (confirming Cyrus’ decree) in 520 B.C. (Ezra 6:6-12).
3.    Artaxerxes Longimanus’ decree in 458 B.C. (Ezra 7:11-26).
4.    Artaxerxes Longimanus’ decree (authorizing Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem) in 445 B.C. (Ne 2:1-8). 
 
The first two decrees authorize the rebuilding of the temple whereas the last two authorize the Jews to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. None of the prophecies in 2nd Chronicles or Ezra mentions the rebuilding of the city per se but only the rebuilding of the temple. The fourth decree by 445 B.C. is the decree of our verse. The beginning of the 490 years begins in 445 B.C. The Jews gained permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with this decree about ninety years after the first captives returned to rebuild the temple. 
 
“There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times. ”
 
Gabriel introduces Daniel to two immediately consecutive time periods. First, seven sevens (49 years) and then sixty-two sevens (434 years) – “There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.” The “street” and “wall” will be built in “troublesome times.” This occurred in the days of Nehemiah when the streets were covered with debris and the wall broken down. This time was a “troublesome” period. 
 
The “seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” is 483 years. There will be 483 years until the “Messiah the Prince” is “cut off.” Jesus died on the cross 483 years later. 483 years brings us to the death of Christ. 
 
This prophecy of seventy sevens does not end with the First Advent of Christ, but with the Second Advent and the establishing of the Millennial kingdom. Thus, Daniel divides the 490 years into three sections:
 
1)    7 sevens (49 years) = this was the rebuilding of Jerusalem allowed by Artaxerxes (445-395 B.C.)
2)    62 sevens (434 years) = this is the period from the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem to the first coming of Christ
3)    1 seven (7 years) = this is the seven years of tribulation
 
PRINCIPLE: God predetermined the payment for sin through Jesus’ death on the cross before any human contingency. 
 
APPLICATION: The Father delivered Jesus to death according to His foreknowledge and counsel. 
 
Ac 2:23 “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death…”
 
Jesus’ death was voluntary. That made His death unique. He voluntarily laid down His life as a sacrifice for the sheep. Death did not overtake Him; He died willingly. 
 
Jn 10:15 “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
 
God cut the Messiah off to die for the sins of the world. 
 
Jn 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”

Daniel 9:24

Published on April 24, 2002 in Daniel. 0 Comments
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Daniel 9: 24 “‘Seventy weeks are determined

For your people and for your holy city,

To finish the transgression,

To make an end of sins,

To make reconciliation for iniquity,

To bring in everlasting righteousness,

To seal up vision and prophecy,

And to anoint the Most Holy.’”

 

 

 24     “Seventy weeks are determined

For your people and for your holy city,

To finish the transgression,

To make an end of sins,

To make reconciliation for iniquity,

To bring in everlasting righteousness,

To seal up vision and prophecy,

And to anoint the Most Holy.”

Daniel earlier read in Jeremiah about the seventy-year exile of Israel (9:2).  Gabriel now reveals to Daniel Israel’s future by the vision of the seventy sevens (9:24-27).  “Seventy weeks” is literally seventy units of seven (seventy heptads, units of measure). 

·        Verse 24 gives a comprehensive picture of the entire prophecy.

·        Verse 25 presents the first 69 sevens (483 years).

·        Verse 26 gives the events between the 69th and 70th sevens.

·        Verse 27 concludes with a description of the 70th seven (7 years). 

The word “weeks” is misleading, for the Hebrew for “weeks” means literally sevens (heptads).  These sevens represent years in this passage because Israel was aware of weeks as years (Le 25:3, 4).  They celebrated a Sabbath rest year after each six years of farming (Le 25:1-7).  Seven “sevens” of years (that is, 49 years) led to the Year of Jubilee (Le 25:8-12).  Those in the west think in terms of ten in measurement, whereas Jews thought in terms of seven. 

This vision is one of the most important prophesies of the Bible.  Seventy seven-years add up to 490 years.  Jerusalem suffered under Gentile rulers for seventy years (v.2) during the years of Daniel.  Jews (“your people”) and Jerusalem (“your holy city”) were to suffer under Gentiles for 490 years from the point of this prophecy.  There is an intercalation in these 490 years; God interrupts these years.  This prophecy has to do with Israel, not the church. 

The word “determined” means to cut off.  God will certainly cut off the seventy heptads at a predetermined time.  God fixed this time so that it cannot be changed.  The seventy sevens will end for Israel and Gentiles simultaneously at the Second Coming of Christ. 

The seventy heptads (490 years) concern “your people” (Israel) and “your holy city” (Jerusalem), so this prophecy relates primarily to Jews.  The prophecies of Daniel two, seven and eight relate to the Gentiles but this prophecy of Daniel nine relates principally to the Jews.  This prophecy does not concern itself with world history or church history, but with the history of the Jews and Jerusalem – “for your people and for your holy city.”  

Since Israel and Judah failed to follow the principle of letting farmland lie fallow once every seven years for 490 years, God forced them to make up for seventy sabbaths (Le 25:1-7; 26:34-35) by sending them into captivity. It would take 490 years to make up for seventy sabbatical years.   That is why God established that the captivity to Neo-Babylonia last seventy years.

God gives six purposes for these 490 years.  The first three have to do with the sin of Israel and the last three with the kingdom:

1.      “To finish the transgression” – this will bring to end the rebellion and apostasy that sent Israel into captivity.

2.      “To make an end of sins” – Israel as a nation will go back into fellowship with God after the divine discipline of captivity.

3.      “To make reconciliation for iniquity” – restoration will bring expiation or covering of past sins through the Messiah.

4.      “To bring in everlasting righteousness” – God will cause the restoration of Israel in the Millennium and will launch new norms where righteousness reigns. 

5.      “To seal up vision and prophecy” – God will seal this prophecy until the restoration at the Second Coming will fulfill God’s covenant for Israel. 

6.      “To anoint the Most Holy” – God will restore the Messiah in the restored temple. 

God will accomplish these six things in anticipation of the Millennial kingdom.  These things summarize God’s program to be true to His unconditional covenants such as the Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and the New Covenant.

God already fulfilled some of these purposes.  God will complete His program for these six purposes when the 490 years run their course.  This program involves: 1) delivering Jews from the Babylonian captivity, 2) delivering them from sin at the Messiah’s advent, and 3) complete deliverance from oppression at the Second Coming of Christ.   

PRINCIPLE:  God has a fixed prophetic plan for His people and this world. 

APPLICATION:  The prophecy of the seventy heptads indicates that Israel’s kingdom did not come immediately in Daniel’s day.  The seventy heptads of the Times of the Gentiles must run their course.  When this happens, God will establish Israel as His nation once again in the Millennial Kingdom.  God is always true to His Word. 

Daniel 9:21-23

Published on April 23, 2002 in Daniel. 0 Comments
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Daniel 9: 21 “…yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, ‘O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision…’”

 

 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.

The angel Gabriel again came to Daniel (8:16) in order to give the answer to Daniel’s prayer.  Gabriel came in human appearance about the time of the “evening offering” (3:00 P.M.)  There had been no “evening offering” since the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 B.C.  Daniel’s customary time of prayer brought memories to him of the smoke rising from the temple in the evening sacrifice.  The sacrifice typified the One who would die for the sins of the world.  Gabriel found Daniel in his God-centered approach to life. 

He 9:13 “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.”

Gabriel’s immediate concern was to give Daniel an understanding of this prophecy.  The prophecy involved more than Israel’s return to the land in Daniel’s day; it referred also to the return of Israel at the Second Coming of Christ. 

23 “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:”

God revealed to Daniel the stewardship of the revelation of the seventy units because God loved him “greatly.”  The purpose of Gabriel’s coming to Daniel was to help him “understand the vision” of the seventy heptads (vv. 24-27).

Daniel was the object of God’s love because he was a man of the Word and prayer.  He based his prayer on the Word.  He understood the principle of fellowship with God and how to get into fellowship by confession.  

PRINCIPLE:  Believers need a stated time of prayer to develop consistency in their walk with God. 

APPLICATION:  We all need a stated time of prayer and Bible study.  We need discipline to walk with God.  A regular habit of prayer will strengthen our spiritual life. 

Business should not blunt our prayer life.  Daniel held a high position in Babylon, yet he found time for prayer and Bible reading. 

As Daniel’s prayer focused on the character of God, so should our prayers do the same.  God’s righteousness is His absolute integrity.  He always conforms to His own attributes and character.  He is faithful to His covenants (contracts) with His people.  We should never ask God in prayer to renounce His righteousness, for the goal of intercessory prayer is God’s glory.  All prayer should redound to God’s glory and His name.

Daniel9:20

Published on April 22, 2002 in Daniel. 0 Comments
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Daniel 9: 20 “Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God…”

 20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God,

God replied to Daniel’s prayer in verses 20-23, while he was still in the act of prayer.  God’s answer came in the form of the vision of the seventy sevens – a 490-year program for Israel.  After sixty-nine heptads (units of seven) equalling 483 years, the death of Messiah would occur.  After an indefinite period following the death of the Messiah, the final seven years would culminate in the Second Coming of Christ.  There is, then, an interval between the sixty-ninth and seventieth heptads.   The Antichrist will head the Revived Roman Empire during the seventieth heptad of seven years. 

Prayer for the “holy mountain” is prayer for the restoration of Israel back to the land from captivity.  Notice that Daniel not only confessed the sin of the nation, but he confessed his personal sins.

PRINCIPLE:  Frank confession places us into fellowship with the Lord. 

APPLICATION:  It is very difficult to admit that we are wrong.  It is hard to say to another, “I am to blame.”  This is true with our fellowship with God as well.  David was a man after God’s own heart because he confessed his adultery.  He wrote two Psalms of confession after his sin (Pss 32, 51).  God restored him to fellowship after his confession.  David learned to say, “I violated you, God.  It was my fault.” 

If we breach our fellowship with God, we will lose our joy.  The only way back to joy is to make frank diagnosis and confession of our sin. 

Daniel 9:17-19

Published on April 21, 2002 in Daniel. 0 Comments
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Daniel 9: 17 “‘Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.’”

 17 “Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.”

This verse has yet another name for God – Elohim, the strong One.  God is able to bring restoration to Israel. 

If God were to allow Israel to return and rebuild the temple and city of Jerusalem, it would be for His “sake.”  That is why Daniel asks Him to “cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary.”  Daniel wanted God’s favor and good will to shine on him and his people.  God answers prayer not because of who or what we are, but because of who and what God is. 

Nu 6:25 “The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you…”

Ps 80:3 “Restore us, O God;

Cause Your face to shine,

And we shall be saved!”

The sanctuary fell into disuse because of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.  Daniel requests that God would restore the “sanctuary.”  The sanctuary is where God met man, the place of sacrifices.  Daniel wanted to return to the system of worship. 

18 “O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.”

God answers prayer based on His “great mercies” and not because Israel deserves it.    This prayer pleased the heart of God.  Daniel’s bold confidence rests in God’s grace.  God does not bless us “because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.”  Mercy is grace in action.  The door of mercy is wide open to those who accept the principle of grace. 

19 “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Coming to the climax of his prayer, Daniel humbly asks God to “hear,” “forgive,” “listen and act” and “not delay.”  He does not demand that God do so.  Daniel appeals to the motivation of God’s reputation for answering prayer.  This deliverance will carry God’s name and so glorify God. 

PRINCIPLE:  God always blesses us because of grace rather than works. 

APPLICATION:  God does not bless us because of who or what we are.  He blesses us because of who and what Jesus is and does.  We do not earn or deserve anything from God; Jesus does all the earning and deserving. 

Although we are unworthy in God’s eyes, we find comfort in knowing that God keeps His covenant and promises.  We allow our failure and sins to get us down at times.  In these situations, we must remember that God’s mercy is everlasting.  He will forgive if we confess.  There are no strings tied to confession of sin. 

1 Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The more we grasp the true holiness of God, the more we will humble ourselves before Him.  We will be more eager to cast ourselves upon God’s mercy and accept His forgiveness.