The Book Of Daniel.

The Book of Daniel.

Daniel 9:21-23 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. [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.

Daniel and God's people were taken and held captive in Babylon. Daniel understood from Jeremiah's prophesy that this Captivity was as a consequence of sin that prevailed amongst God's people.

Therefore Daniel sought by prayer and earnest supplication to ask God for understanding as to God's Prophetic Word. In so doing Daniel confessed his and the sin of God's people. Then God answered prayer by sending the angel Gabriel to give Daniel understanding as to Jeremiah's prophesy.

Daniel 9:24 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.

Firstly, 70 weeks or 70 years were 'determined upon thy people' meaning that the Babylonian Captivity would continue 70 years. This prophesy would unfold exactly as God determined the fulfillment.

Daniel 9:25 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.

The prophetic fulfilment here reveals the Rebuilding of Jerusalem with it's wall and Temple (Books of Ezra and Nehemiah) Then the prophesy rolls on for another 32 weeks or 32 × 7 years, up to the Revelation of Messiah (The Lord Jesus Christ)

Daniel 9:26 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.

The fulfilment of the first 69 weeks (69 × 7 years) of the prophesy culminates in the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) From that time the prophetic clock stops, there is silence up to, during, and past our present time (the time of the gentiles) until the final week (7 year period) when the man of sin, Antichrist is revealed.

Daniel 9:27 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.

Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel for 7 years. After 3 and a half years he will break the covenant, stop the Temple Sacrifices and set up his idol in the Holy place. We are in the period just before the prophetic starts to count down the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation.

Blessings in Christ. Rev Mervyn Cotton.