We left Daniel highly disappointed in Chapter 8. Daniel chapter 9, finds Daniel realizing that the time for the 70-year captivity is almost over, as described in Jeremiah 25:11, 12 and 29:10. However, he also recognizes why his people ended up in captivity. This was because of their disobedience to God or falling away from His precepts. Daniel is concerned that despite the seventy years of punishment, the people have not made full repentance, which is a turning away from the heart condition that put them at odds with God’s favor. Thus, he stands in the gap as an intercessor and prays one of the greatest prayers of the Bible. As other prayers, it is a model for each of us as we intercede on behalf of others. For Daniel, it was the prelude to a grand revelation.
Intercessory Prayer
First, he sets himself in a posture of praying–not necessarily the collective positions of kneeling, hands folded, and eyes closed. Instead, it is an attitude of the heart showed outwardly by fasting and purging himself. Daniel recognizes that he himself is a sinner, interceding on behalf of sinners to a Holy God; therefore, his spiritual attitude is one of full contrition, as a Levitical high priest (Leviticus 16:6, 11). He starts by praying for himself, confessing his own sins. Daniel then launches into the corporate sins. Israel disregarded God’s messages through HIs messengers. They transgressed His laws and, yes, God has a right to be displeased and angry and thus, they deserve to be in the situation that they are in. However, he pleads based on the mercies of God and His loving character.
Answered Prayer
Although not explicitly outlined in his prayer, Daniel recalls the admonition of King Solomon in I Chronicles 6:36-39 and God’s familiar response as penned in verse 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.” So Daniel does just that and before he even finishes his prayer (Isaiah 65:24), God dispatched the angel Gabriel from heaven in response.
A Grand Revelation
Gabriel affirms Daniel’s prayer. He then gives clarification and a grand revelation to the prophetic timeline as seen in chapter 8, verse 14. “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
Key to Bible Prophecy
To fully understand this and other prophecies, we must follow the biblical injunction found in Isaiah 28:10. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; hear a little, and there a little:”. Thus, in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, we learn that a day equals a year in Bible prophecy. With this guideline in mind, 2300 days equals 2300 years. Hence, the calculations follow and give us a grand revelation as well.
2300 Days
Where does the timeline begin? In Daniel 9:25, the answer is given, which is from the degree to rebuild Jerusalem, as found in Ezra 7:11-26. This occurred in 457 BC, which corresponds to the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign (Ezra 7:7). The full 2300 days or 2300 years takes us to AD 1844. 457 years Before Christ + 1843 years After Christ–(no “0” year) = 2300 years or AD 1844. Daniel 9:24 describes the first aspect of the timeline. 70 weeks, which is 70 weeks x 7 days per week equals 490 days or 490 years. These 70 weeks are further outlined for better clarity in verses 25-27 as 7 weeks (v. 25) + 62 weeks (vv. 25, 26) + 1 week (v.27) = 70 weeks.
70 Weeks
Let’s explore the various components of the 70 weeks:
- 7 weeks
- Daniel 9:25 states that it will take 7 weeks to build the city. Thus, 7 weeks x 7 days per week = 49 days or 49 years, which takes us to 408 BC.
- 62 weeks
- Verse 25 says, along with verse 26, that there are three-score or 60 + 2 weeks = 62 weeks x 7 days per week = 434 days or years. This takes us to AD 27.
- We could also start at the beginning of the prophecy 457 BC and add 7 + 62 weeks = 69 weeks x 7 days per week = 483 days or years, which will also take us to 27 AD.
- Luke 3:1 describes the significance of AD 27, for which Daniel 9:25 refers to Messiah the Prince or the Anointed One (Daniel 9:24). Luke describes in exquisite detail all the elements needed to pin down the date.
- It was “the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar”, as well as other officials who were in office. They would play crucial roles in the life of Jesus the Christ.
- Luke 3:21-22 gives remarkable detail of Jesus’ anointing by the Holy Spirit after His baptism.
- Verse 25 says, along with verse 26, that there are three-score or 60 + 2 weeks = 62 weeks x 7 days per week = 434 days or years. This takes us to AD 27.
- 1 week
- Daniel 9:27 adds another prophetic week, 1 week x 7 days per week = 7 days or 7 years, and outlines that in the midst of the week, the sacrifice will cease.
- After 3 ½ years of ministry, Jesus Christ, the antitypical sacrificial Lamb (Genesis 3:15, 4:4; Exodus 12:3-14; Mark 15:37, 38; John 1:29, 36; and Hebrews 9:2-7, 11-14, 24-25, 28) was crucified.
- The balance of the last week (3 ½ years) serves to complete the 70-week prophecy towards the ancient Jewish nation and culminates in the martyrdom of Stephen in AD 34. The gospel message then extends to the Gentiles or the rest of the known world (Acts 7:59-8:1; 1:8).
- Daniel 9:27 adds another prophetic week, 1 week x 7 days per week = 7 days or 7 years, and outlines that in the midst of the week, the sacrifice will cease.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to study Your Word. It is not a mystery. It is all about Your Son Jesus Christ. Give us wisdom as we read and the ability to understand it. Help us receive Him into our lives. We pray this in His name, amen.
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