Sermon Daniel Chapter 9

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[2] The title of the sermon today is “DANIEL CHAPTER 9.”

Daniel Stands By The River In Shushan

• In Daniel Chapter 8, we learned about the vision Daniel had.
• He had that vision in the 3^rd year of the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon.
• King Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon before they were conquered by the Medes and Persians.
• In Daniel’s vision, he’s standing by a river near Shushan the palace.
• He sees a ram with two horns, which represent King Darius the Mede and King Cyrus the Persian.
• He then sees a he goat with one strong horn come up and smash the ram.
• The one strong horn is Alexander the Great. He’s the first king of Grecia.

So, we’ve seen Babylon conquered by the Medes and Persians and then the Persians conquered by the Grecians.

• Alexander the Great dies at 33 years old. The kingdom of Grecia is split into 4.
• Towards the end of the Grecian kingdom, we see a king come out of the Northern kingdom in Syria.
• This Grecian king is the little horn described in Daniel Chapter 8.
• This little horn is an antichrist and his name is Antiochus Epiphanes.

He took away the daily sacrifice from Jerusalem. He leaves the temple desolate.

• He comes and clears out the temple. He sacrifices a swine to the false God Zeus on the altar.
• He has coins made that say he is God manifest in the flesh.
• He is a picture of the future antichrist that we see in the Book of Revelation.
• We learned about the Abomination of Desolation.

Daniel writes all of this down for us in Daniel Chapter 8, but he doesn’t understand it all.

• Gabriel adds further explanation within Daniel Chapter 8, but Daniel still doesn’t understand everything.
• God says to seal up this vision for now. It’s not going to happen for MANY DAYS.
• Daniel is troubled there at the end of Chapter 8. He faints. He gets sick for several days.
• And then he goes back to work for the king of Babylon.
• With that quick summary, let’s start there in Daniel Chapter 9 verse 1.

[3] Daniel 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;

• In Daniel Chapter 8, we were in the third year of King Belshazzar of Babylon.
• Babylon is conquered by this Darius of the Medes that we see here in verse 1.
• The Babylonians are called the Chaldeans. He was made king over the entire realm of Babylon.
• Darius is the son of Ahasuerus. This is not the same Ahasuerus from the book of Esther.
• Darius himself lived before King Ahasuerus of Persia that we see in Esther.

[4] Esther 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

• We know that because Darius was the first king of the Medes and Persians.
• Ahasuerus in Esther is after King Darius the Mede so the Ahasuerus in Daniel 9 verse 1 is a different one.

[5] Daniel 9:2 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.

• In the first year of King Darius the Mede, Daniel now understands by books the number of years.
• What books? The books of the Bible. Yes, Daniel studied the Scriptures.
• Well, what number of years? The number of years in the Book of Jeremiah the prophet.
• There will be 70 years in the desolation of Jerusalem. Desolation means deprived, wasted, or ruined.
• In other words, Jerusalem is going to be ruined. It’s going to be desolate for 70 years.
• To find out more, though, let’s read Jeremiah and see what he says.

[6] Jeremiah 25:9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

• Nebuchadrezzar is the same as King Nebuchadnezzar. He is God’s servant.

There Will Be No More Joy In The Land

[7] Jeremiah 25:10-11 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. 11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

• There will be no more joy in that land. It’s going to be a desolation and astonishment.
• All of the nations around, including Jerusalem, will serve the King of Babylon for 70 years.

[8] Jeremiah 25:12-13 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. 13 And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

• At the end of the 70 years, God is going to punish the king of Babylon and the nation of Babylon.
• He’s going to make their land a desolation too. Why? No one wants obey God or listen to God.
• We see that Daniel takes the book of Jeremiah and learns from it.
• He’s like, “Hey, this is talking about now!!! I’m living at this time, and this is happening.”
• Daniel is beginning to understand as we see in Daniel Chapter 9.

[9] Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

• Daniel knows that after 70 years, they will be able to return to Jerusalem.
• I want to look closer so you see exactly why God allowed JUDAH to be conquered by Babylon.
• The Book of 2 Chronicles gives us the answers.

[10] 2 Chronicles 36:11-13 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. 13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

[11] 2 Chronicles 36:14-15 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

[12] 2 Chronicles 36:16-17 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. 17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

[13] 2 Chronicles 36:18-19 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. 19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

[14] 2 Chronicles 36:20-21 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: 21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

• That’s why they were conquered by Babylon. They transgressed very much. They went away from God.
• All of those who escaped the sword were carried away to Babylon. Daniel was one of those people.
• Verse 20 right there says, “they were servants to Babylon until the reign of the kingdom of Persia.”
• This fulfilled the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah.
• Right there at the end of verse 21 you see that the land laid desolate and fulfilled the Sabbath.
• No one was there so the land rested for THREESCORE and TEN. 20 x 3 + 10 = 70 years.
• So everything matches perfectly between 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, and Daniel.
• Daniel sees that this is happening now! Babylon has been conquered by the Medes and Persians.
• It must be time to go back to JUDAH and JERUSALEM. Daniel must be excited.

How Did Daniel Set His Face To The Lord God?

[15] Daniel 9:3-4 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, 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;

• Daniel goes to God to seek him by prayer and supplications. Supplications means an earnest request.
• He humbled himself in earnest prayer. He fasted. Covered himself in sackcloth which is humbling.
• Covering yourself in sackcloth and ashes would look something like this:

[16]

• Daniel is going to God because he’s hoping it’s time to go home to Jerusalem.
• Watch what Daniel says next in verse 5.

[17] Daniel 9:5-6 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.

• Hey, listen, we don’t want to be like this either. We need to do what God says.
• Let’s not depart from his laws and his judgements. Let’s not get away from God.
• Daniel is saying, “We know we have sinned and committed iniquity.”
• God has sent all these people before us and we haven’t listened to any of them.
• He gave us the Bible and people would rather not read it, but they’ll go to church.
• But they won’t touch the Bible. It sits there. People don’t realize what they have with the Bible.

[18] Daniel 9:7 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.

• Daniel knows that only the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY is righteous.
• He says, “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee.”
• God drove out all of the children Israel because of their trespasses against him.
• They were his chosen people. Now, anyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ are his chosen people.
• In other words, he’ll do the same to us if we begin to trespass against him.

Daniel Gains Wisdom By Studying The Books

Daniel has read the books, he’s studied the books, he’s gaining wisdom and understanding.

• He is praying, fasting, humbling himself, and asking God to forgive him and all his people.
• Daniel is standing up for his people. He’s saying, “God, we are confused but you are righteous.”
• We have the entire Bible to study, and that’s what we’re doing just like Daniel.
• We need to follow what Daniel did right there. Read, study, pray, and ask God for help.
• We need to confess our sins to God. Yes, he already knows but you need to let him know.

[19] 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

[20] Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

[21] 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

• And this is what we see Daniel doing right here in Daniel Chapter 9. Let’s keep going in verse 8.

[22] Daniel 9:8-10 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 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 set forth his law. We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.
• That’s us too. That’s not just the children of Israel on the Book of Daniel.

[23] Daniel 9:11 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.

• God gave them all the warnings they need. He’s given us all the warnings we need.
• But again, they ignored his words, and we have ignored his words. Look at our country.
• Is there anyone that fears God? Is there anyone who wants to follow God?
• Even the churches don’t want to hear his words. “Oh no, don’t preach that part in church.”
• “That part might offend someone. Let’s skip over that part. Let’s skip over most of the Bible.”
• That’s called not wanting to hear his words. Let’s see what the warning is in the LAW OF MOSES.

[24] Leviticus 26:14-15 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; 15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:

[25] Leviticus 26:16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

• Ague right there means chill, shaking with cold, the cold shivering before a fever.
• You don’t want to hearken unto God? God says all of these things will happen.
• This was a long time before the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Daniel. The warning is to us too.

[26] Leviticus 26:17-18 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. 18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

• God gives a punishment. If that still doesn’t work, he says I’ll punish you seven more times.
• And then the preachers today say, “Oh God would never punish you. God forbid.” That’s what they say.
• They also say, “Oh, well that’s the Old Testament.” Oh no, God will punish you because he says so.

[27] Leviticus 26:19-20 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

[28] Leviticus 26:21-22 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. 22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.

[29] Leviticus 26:23-25 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; 24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

[30] Leviticus 26:26-27 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. 27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;

[31] Leviticus 26:28-29 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

• Does God sound like he’s playing? He gets angry when he gives eternal life, and we ignore him.

[32] Leviticus 26:30-31 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. 31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.

[33] Leviticus 26:32-33 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

[34] Leviticus 26:34-35 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

• And that’s exactly what happened to Israel. Daniel studied Leviticus. Daniel studied Jeremiah.
• He sees that it’s all happened right in front of him.
• But watch what God says next as I skip down a few verses in Leviticus Chapter 26.

God Warns Us Over And Over Again

[35] Leviticus 26:40-41 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:

[36] Leviticus 26:42-43 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.

[37] Leviticus 26:44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.

[38] Leviticus 26:45-46 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD. 46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

• Again, that’s what’s happening all throughout the Bible. God warns us over and over again.
• Daniel is confessing all of their sin to God, going to God, and pleading for his forgiveness.

[39] Daniel 9:12 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.

• So, all the evil in the world at that time and Jerusalem got more of God’s wrath than anyone.
• In other words, when you understand God and then you go up against him, he won’t be happy.
• He warned those people over and over and over again.
• God will punish his own people. He shows us that within the Bible. He tells us how he does things.

[40] Daniel 9:13 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.

• “It is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us.” What is this evil?
• Read Deuteronomy Chapter 28. Let me read you a list of the evil that came upon them.
• Your work will be cursed. The food will be cursed. Your children will be cursed.
• All your increase will be cursed. When you come in and go out, you will be cursed.
• He will curse you until you’re destroyed. Pestilence or sickness. Fever. Inflammation.
• Extreme burning. Violence. Explosions. Mold and mildew. Rotting.

It will be difficult to grow food in the earth. He’ll take the rain away. You’ll lose to your enemies.

• You’ll run and hide and be scared of your enemies. Your body will be meat for the birds.
• You’ll get the botch which is ulcers and swelling. Emorods or hemorrhoids.
• Scabs and itching. You won’t be healed from any of those things. MADNESS and blindness.
• You’ll go crazy. You’ll be astonished within your heart at what has happened.
• You’ll be oppressed and spoiled. No man shall save thee.
• You’ll get married and someone else will take your spouse. You’ll build a house and you won’t live there.
• You’ll plant a garden and get nothing from it. Your livestock will be slain. You won’t eat of your own food.

Your food will be given to your enemies. No one will rescue you.

• Your sons and daughters will be given to someone else.
• You will look for your children all day and night and will not find them.
• You will have no strength in your hands. Someone else will take all the fruit of your labor.
• You will be oppressed and CRUSHED always the Bible says. You’ll be angry at your own eyes for seeing.
• The Lord will smite you in your knees and in your legs.

He’ll give you a soreness that cannot be healed from your feet to the top of your head.

• God will give you over into the hands of another nation who your family has never known.
• You’ll serve other gods instead of the one true God. You’ll serve wood and stone gods.
• You’ll become an astonishment, a proverb, a byword among the nations God sends you to.
• They’ll say, “Wow, look at that man or woman. What did they do wrong? I feel sorry for them.”
• You’ll work harder than anyone else and get paid less than anyone.
• The insects will eat up all your crops and food. The worms will eat your food.

This Is Scary Stuff That We Need To Hear

You’ll have sons and daughters but you will never enjoy them. They will go into captivity.

• That sure sounds like today. Families can’t even sit down together, eat a meal, and talk to each other.
• Strangers will be brought high, and you’ll be brought very low.
• Strangers will lend money to you and not you to them. Strangers will be the head. You’ll be the tail.
• Hunger, thirst, nakedness, and want of all things. People will conquer you from another land.
• Your family will be evil to one another. Children will hate their parents. Parents will hate their children.
• Parents will eat their children. Now that’s sick. You will be left few in number.

[41] Deuteronomy 28:63 And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

• So you can say evil things about God if you want, but you better get ready for that evil coming upon you.
• God is coming for you. That’s what the Bible is teaching us today. You want to reject God? Get ready.
• And God will rejoice as he destroys you and brings you to nothing. That’s what the Bible says.
• Nothing will be easy for you. Your feet shall not rest. Your heart will tremble. Your eyes will fail.
• You will be sorrowful at all times. Your life will be in doubt before you at all times.
• You won’t just be fearful at night but you’ll fear the day too. You will have no assurance of life.
• You’ll hate the morning. You’ll hate the night. You don’t want any of this. So let’s get back to God.
• This is what Daniel is talking about. And it’s already happened to his people. And it can happen to us.

[42] Daniel 9:14 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.

• If you don’t want to obey God’s voice, all of that evil that you might not think is fair, IS FAIR.
• It’s perfectly fair. God gave you life, and you want to go up against the ALMIGHTY GOD?
• God is righteous in all his works. Whatever he does to you, you should rejoice.
• You should turn back to him as fast as you can. Obey his voice. Read the Bible so you know what to do.

[43] Daniel 9:15 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.

• God brought his people out of Egypt. That’s a picture of salvation.
• If you’ve believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, you’re saved. And yet we’ve sinned and done wicked things.

[44] Daniel 9:16 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.

• In your prayers, you better be praying for this country.
• We’re in trouble and got hasn’t made us desolate yet. We still have a chance to turn back.
• But we sure aren’t headed that way.
• We’re holding onto a little string while we hang off the side of a mountain.
• There’s the few in this country who are working hard for God and trying to climb up that string.
• Ask God to please turn his fury away from us just as Daniel asks right there.

[45] Daniel 9:17 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.

• Ask God exactly what Daniel asks right here. Please hear our prayers. Please hear our supplications.
• Please cause your face to shine upon us here for your sake, O God. Why is it for his sake?
• Let’s keep reading and we’ll find out in a couple of verses.

[46] Daniel 9:18-19 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.

• We ask God to hear us not because of what we’ve done but because he is merciful.
• We ask him to be merciful upon us for his sake because we are called by his name.
• We represent God Almighty as saved people, and we don’t want to become desolate for his sake.
• We don’t have righteousness of our own. I sure don’t. Our only righteousness is through God.

[47] Daniel 9:20 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;

• While Daniel is praying before God, something happens next from God.
• If you want something to happen in your life, maybe you should get in your closet and pray more.

[48] Daniel 9:21 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.

• The angel Gabriel shows up. The same one Daniel saw in his vision. He flies over to Daniel swiftly.
• He does this at about the time of the evening oblation or sacrifice.
• This tells me that they’re still offering the sacrifices. And this is the first year of Darius the Mede.
• Remember, Antiochus Epiphanes takes away the daily sacrifice and this is later with the Grecians.

This Wouldn’t Have Happened If Daniel Wasn’t Following God

[49] Daniel 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

• Would this have happened if Daniel was reading the Bible, studying the Bible, praying, fasting, asking God for help? Asking God forgiveness?
• Daniel is asking God for wisdom, understanding, forgiveness. And then this happens.
• Gabriel shows up to minister to Daniel and to help him. Sent from God Almighty.

[50] Daniel 9:23 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.

• As soon as Daniel started to pray, he was heard in heaven. Do you hear that today?
• If you work hard for God, if you truly want what God wants, you’re heard in heaven.
• When you go to your closet and pray, God hears you in heaven. IN HEAVEN you are heard!!!
• As soon as Daniel started to pray, God heard him and the COMMANDMENT from God came forth.
• “GABRIEL, GO TO MY BELOVED DANIEL AND HELP HIM.”

Gabriel says to Daniel, “That’s why I’m here. God commanded me to come help you.”

• Gabriel says, “Daniel I’m here because you are GREATLY LOVED BY GOD ALMIGHTY.”
• When you work for God and do what he asks, he loves you more and more.
• Don’t you want to hear that too directly from God? “I love you greatly.”
• You should want to hear that. You should want to be like Daniel.
• God is going to give Daniel understanding because Daniel wants it and God greatly loves Daniel.
• Now, let’s get this understanding too. Don’t you want to understand? Let’s ask God for understanding.

[51] 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.

• SEVENTY WEEKS are determined upon thy people and thy holy city.
• There will be 70 weeks to finish the transgression. This is iniquity and sin against God.
• During the 70 weeks and end of sins will happen. Who is the end to sin? JESUS CHRIST.
• At the end of the 70 weeks, the transgression will be finished. Jesus will then rule and reign.
• Daniel’s 70^th week, not all 70 weeks but only the final week of the 70, is what we’ve studied in Revelation.
• But right here, we learn that there are a total of 70 weeks to finish the transgression.
• At the end of the 70 weeks, it’s finished. That’s what SEAL UP the vision means. It’s done.
• The MOST HOLY will be anointed ruler on this earth as it says right there at the end of verse 24.

[52] 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.

• When the commandment is given to restore and build Jerusalem, the 70 week timer begins.
• We know that Daniel’s 70^th week in Revelation is 7 years. We see half of Daniel’s 70^th week is 42 months.
• 42 months is 3-1/2 years. If half of Daniel’s 70^th week is 3-1/2 years then the 70^th week is 7 years.
• If the 70^th week is 7 years, the entire 70 weeks will be 70×7 or 490 years.
• So, to understand Daniel, we use the light of Revelation. That’s why we finished Revelation first.
• The Book of Daniel is much more difficult to understand. With Revelation, though, it’s easier.

If we look close at verse 25, we’ll see that restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem will take 7 weeks or 49 years.

• Remember, week is a period of 7 days. So one week in prophecy meaning 7 years is not a stretch.
• Even in the Webster’s 1828 dictionary, we see a prophetic “WEEK” is a period of 7 years.
• Once the command to rebuild Jerusalem is given, the 7 week timer to rebuild begins.
• So, we look for this command within the Bible. We go to the very first verse in the Book of Ezra.
• Chronologically, the Book of Ezra happens AFTER Daniel Chapter 9.
• Remember, when we get to the prophets, we go back in time and move forward again from there.

[53] Ezra 1:1-2 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

• Within the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we see Jerusalem being rebuilt.
• This was going to happen AFTER the 70 years when the Medes and Persians conquer Babylon.
• I don’t know the exact timeline of rebuilding but God said it will take 7 weeks or 49 years.
• There were times when the rebuilding was halted. But Daniel says 7 weeks or 49 years.

[54] John 2:18-20 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

• Right there we see that the actual building of the temple took 46 years according the Jews in John 2.
• But remember, the 7 weeks or 49 years started on the command to rebuild Jerusalem.
• In Daniel 9:25 we see a period of 7 weeks and then another period of 69 weeks.
• By the end of the 69 weeks, the MESSIAH will be here the Bible says.
• And this is talking about HIS FIRST COMING. During the next 62 weeks or 434 years, the CHRIST is here.

There Are Gaps Of Time In The 70 Weeks

We have 7 weeks or 49 years, then we have a gap of time, then we have another 62 weeks or 434 years.

• Then we have another gap of time, and then the final 70^th week will be here.
• In total, the 70 weeks are not completed in exact order of time.
• We know because Daniel’s 70^th week hasn’t come. We know there’s a gap of time between 3 periods.

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• So, look, I didn’t make up the gaps between each of these periods. GOD PUT THEM THERE.
• This means no one could have predicted when any of these things were going to happen.
• If there weren’t any gaps in time, the rapture would have already happened.
• The tribulation would have already happened. I didn’t make up the gaps. Let’s read the Bible again.

[56] Daniel 9:25-26 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.

• We see the 7 weeks to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This already happened.
• There was a gap of time after the 7^th week was finished.
• Then we see THREESCORE and TWO which is 62 weeks. The street and wall will be rebuilt.
• And this happened in troubling times. Read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and you’ll see.
• Zechariah and Haggai also give us details about the trouble they had rebuilding.
• They had lots of trouble. Verse 26 tells us more about the 62 week period of time.
• If it were just 69 straight weeks, the Bible wouldn’t have split them into two periods of time.

After the 62 weeks, the MESSIAH shall be cut off, but not for himself.

• Jesus Christ comes to earth and is killed on the cross. He willingly gives himself as the sacrifice for our sins.
• He didn’t do it for himself. Daniel 9:26 says so. The rest of the Bible says so. He did it for you and I.

[57] Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

• Jesus came to Earth when the Romans were ruling and reigning.
• In AD 70, the Romans completely destroyed the city and the sanctuary. Daniel 9:26 says:
• “And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
• The people when Jesus came who ruled were the Romans and the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70.
• The prince of the Romans or Emperor was named Vespasian when they destroyed Jerusalem once again.

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• That’s what Vespasian looked like. He was the leader when the temple was destroyed in AD 70.
• There wasn’t an actual flood but there was a FLOOD of soldiers and destruction like a flood.
• Jesus even prophesies about this happening when he’s here on Earth.

[59] Matthew 24:1-2 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

• It was fast and quick like a flood of water. It’s there, it causes great destruction, it’s gone.
• Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 talks about this same destruction from Daniel Chapter 9.
• I want you to notice something in verse 26 of Daniel Chapter 9 after the last comma.
• It says, “unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” There is a war.
• When did the war between the Jews and Romans begin? 66 AD. It’s called the Jewish-Roman War.
• It’s the very first one. Guess when it ends? 7 years later in 73 AD.
• In the midst of the war, the temple is destroyed. The daily sacrifice is taken away at that time.

The Bible And The Book Of Daniel Will Amaze You

Isn’t that pretty amazing with what we know about Daniel’s 70^th week?

• Remember, the antichrist comes into the temple at the Abomination of Desolation and stops the sacrifice.
• The Roman-Jewish war lasting 7 years and the temple being destroyed in the middle of the war is not a coincidence. It makes perfect sense with the rest of the Bible. It actually happened.
• I hope you’re beginning to see how amazing the Bible truly is.
• Remember, the Book of Daniel was written long before any of that happened.
• The Book of Revelation was written long before any of that has happened. But, it’s going to happen.

We’ve already seen a picture of Daniel’s 70^th week in 66 AD to 73 AD.

• There was a gap between the 69^th and 70^th week. When Jesus died, the 69^th week was over.
• The next verse and final verse in Daniel Chapter 9 gives us more detail about the 70^th week.

[60] 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.

• If we didn’t have the Book of Revelation, we might think all of this is done because it actually happened.
• These things have already happened. But, we know there’s going to be a future fulfillment of these things.
• Jesus Christ didn’t come in the clouds in AD 70. The Book of Revelation includes FUTURE EVENTS.
• “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” This is talking about the prince in verse 26.
• This was Vespasian the Roman Emperor, but this is talking about the antichrist in the future.

When the antichrist confirms this covenant, Daniel’s 70^th week, the future fulfillment of it BEGINS!!!

• The first part of that is the tribulation. In the midst of the week or middle of the 7-year period, the abomination of desolation takes place.
• The daily sacrifice and oblation or offering will cease. The antichrist will make it desolate once again.
• And he does that until the consummation or until the end of the 70^th week.
• God’s wrath is poured out after the second coming of Jesus Christ in the clouds at the rapture.
• “And that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Let’s pray.