CHAPTER 9

1 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; 2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

When Darius came to rule Babylon, it was 539BC. This was about 47 years after Jerusalem had been totally destroyed.

Daniel had been taken captive when Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt (605 B.C. -- see 2Kings 24:1) and entered Jerusalem, taking captives with him to Babylon. Later, Nebuchadnezzar and his forces came to Jerusalem two more times.

In 597 B.C. he deported King Jehoiachin, and replaced him with King Zedekiah (2Kings 24:17). But in 586 B.C., Zedekiah began to form an alliance with Egypt (again) and Nebucadnezzar came to destroy the city and take thousands of more captives (2Kings 25:1-7).

Daniel had been reading in Jeremiah's prophecies and understood that the seventy years of exile was drawing closer. (See Jeremiah 25:11-12, and Jeremiah 29:10)

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

Daniel began to pray in genuine repentance. Notice the terms "fasting," "sackcloth," and "ashes." He was humbling himself before God and sincerely confessing sins for himself and the nation of Israel.
In verse 5, Daniel confesses the sin of "departing." God had given the nation laws by which He expected them to live. Those laws included daily prayer, Bible study, sacrificial offerings, attendance in worship, etc.

The nation of Israel had DEPARTED from God's Word by "iniquity." Iniquity is planned sin!

Here's a very interesting quote from Dr. Perry Lassiter, my former pastor, about this subject: "Daniel's prayer points to an extremely important truth that set Israel apart from all other nations, at least up to that time. Normally, if Babylon defeated Israel, the Israelites would be expected to assume that the Babylonian God was stronger than Israel's God and had overcome him in battle. Beginning with the eighth century prophets, the stage was set to say Yahweh is the Lord of the whole world, and if His people are conquered, it is because He is displeased with them and allows it."

Christian, God demands us to pray, study our Bibles, attend worship, and serve through the church. When we "depart" from those directives, it is PLANNED sin! And God LOVES His children, so He will issue disciplinary action to "draw" them back to Him.

7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

The term "confusion of face" means startling shame, as when a shoplifter is caught red-handed.

Daniel says God is RIGHTEOUS in His treatment of the nation, but the nation as a whole is startlingly guilty. They have SINNED against God.

When we approach God in prayer, this should be our attitude. God is ALWAYS righteous in His dealings with us, and we are ALWAYS sinners in our relationship with Him.

9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; 10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

God's attitude toward His people is one of "mercies and forgiveness." God communicates the same to us in the New Testament in 1John 1:9.

Our attitude toward God should be one of willing confession and determined obedience. Though we fail in our action, if we are faithful in the attitude, God will forgive. This doesn't give a Christian a "license to sin." Instead, it encourages the Christian to be honest and humble before God.

You see, Israel's attitude toward God was one of rebellion in which they did NOT pray for forgiveness. See the following verses.

11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

In order to "understand" God's "truth" (verse 13), one must be willing to admit, confess and try to forsake sin.

Israel had "departed" from God. They refused to admit, confess and try to forsake sin. Therefore, the words of Moses had come true (See Deuteronomy 28:15-61).

As one preacher has said, "Attitude determines altitude with God." If we are humble and honest with God, admitting sin and seeking to forsake that sin, God will "lift us up" through forgiveness. However, if we are not, then God will chastise and discipline us until we TURN.

15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

Daniel's plea is stated in honesty and an attitude of willingness to obey God.

His plea is simply that God will forgive and send mercy.

We are all sinners all the time. We are CONSTANTLY in need of God's MERCY! Our only real plea to God must be made in honesty about our sin, and with an attitude of obedience.

20 And whiles I was speaking, and 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; 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

Daniel's plea was in the right attitude. Therefore, the angel Gabriel was sent to "touch" him and restore him in a right relationship with God.

THEN, Daniel began to "understand" God's "truth" (see verse 13). In fact, Gabriel said he was sent to "inform" Daniel with "skill and understanding."

If we would understand God's truths and their application to our lives, we must approach God with the attitude of humility and determined obedience.

23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

The Hebrew word for "weeks" here is shabuwa'. That word is indicative of "sevens." With God, seven is a number which reflect completeness.

Six things are mentioned that must be accomplished during this 70 "weeks:"

1. "to FINISH the transgression,"
   
2. "to make an END of sins,"
   
3. "to make reconciliation for iniquity,"
   
4. "to bring in everlasting righteousness,"
   
5. "to seal up the vision and prophecy,"
   
6. "and to anoint the Most Holy."
   

This is the first statement, that it will require "seventy sevens" in order for all these things to be completed.

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Now there are many voluminous commentaries on the "seventy weeks" of Daniel. I could go into detail here that would take several pages of explanation. But this is a "BRIEF" Bible study, and I am a SIMPLE pastor. I like things put in SIMPLICITY for general understanding.

If you are a very serious Bible student, you might study what Barnes, Wycliff and Matthew Henry have to say about the matter,and perhaps consult several other commentaries. Then, through utilization of Nehemiah, Ezra, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah and Revelation you might try to determine a solution to the dilemma of the "seventy weeks." But first, a word of caution: None before you have come to a completely satisfactory conclusion about the matter!

But let us look at the matter SPIRITUALLY!

At the "beginning" of Daniel's prayers, "the commandment" was sent. Was that the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem? No. No such edict was issued until 444 B.C. under Artaxerxes.

Then the "commandment" of which Gabriel speaks is the command to give Daniel understanding (see verse 23).

The understanding Daniel is receiving is much MORE than what he had ASKED!

First, there are 70 weeks that BEGIN with the "commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem." That commandment was issued to Nehemiah in 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:5-8).

Most theologians agree that each "week" represents 7 years. Now the Jewish calendar of that day had only 360 days. So there will have to be some adjustments made in order to see where the prophecy leads us.

From 445 B.C. there are "seven weeks" to complete the work of building the walls and the city proper (see verse 25). That's 49 years. Multiply by 360 (days in the Jewish calendar) and the result is 17,640 days. Then divide 17,640 by 365 and we get 48.4 years. Subtract 48.4 years from 445 B.C. and we get 396.8 B.C.

Then there are 62 weeks until "Messiah will be cut off" (See verse 25 again). That's 434 years. Again, we must make adjustments. Multiply 434 years by 360 and the result is 156,240 days. Divide that by 365 and the number of years is 428.05. From 396.8 B.C. we subtract 428.05 years and that takes us to 31.25 A.D.

Now, the prophecy states "...after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off..." However, we know that Jesus was crucified in 30 A.D., exactly one year BEFORE our computations state. Then, we must remember, there is no indicator for the year 0 A.D. If we subtract that year, then we come to 30.25 A.D, and the time is precisely upon the March 30, 30 A.D. when Jesus was crucified!!

Keep in mind that Jesus was not "cut off" "for Himself." He was "cut off" for OUR sakes. He died for OUR sins. It was a willing payment by our God for our atonement and reconciliation.

Now, we have one "week" left. Verse 26 tells us that "the prince that shall come" will destroy Jerusalem and the temple. The first fulfillmnent of that prophecy was in 70 A.D. when Titus and his "flood" of troops invaded Jerusalem and rased it to the ground! The temple was desecrated before it was destroyed.

But Titus made no "covenant" with the people. That "covenant" will not take place until sometime in the future. Therefore, Titus' destruction of the temple and the city did not begin the 70th week of Daniel.

There is a GAP between Daniel's 69th and 70th week. We are presently in that GAP today. That gap is the "Church Age."

Sometime in the future, and no one knows when, the Antichrist will come and make a "covenant." At the beginning of that covenant the 70th "week" will start. The first 3 and 1/2 years of his reign will be a time of peace. After 3 and 1/2 years, the Antichrist will desecrate the temple by standing in the Holy Place and proclaiming that he is God (See Matthew 24:15).
Jesus also said, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22)

But then will come the "consummation," when Christ shall return and set up the millennial kingdom.

YEP! I've read the END of the Book! And Jesus WINS!!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.