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 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.
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
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;
We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
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.
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.
O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Daniel 9 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Daniel, offering profound insights into God's plan for Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and events yet to unfold. This chapter is part of the prophetic section of Daniel, where we see the prophet grappling with the implications of Israel's exile and seeking God's mercy. Let's delve into the depths of this chapter to understand its meaning and significance.
Context: A Prophet's Plea
The chapter opens during the first year of Darius the Mede's reign, after the fall of Babylon (Daniel 5:30-31; 9:1). Daniel, likely in his late 80s and having been in captivity for about sixty-seven years, was deeply moved as he studied the prophecies of Jeremiah. He recognized that the seventy years of desolation prophesied for Jerusalem were nearing completion (Jeremiah 29:10-11; Daniel 9:2). This realization sparked a fervent prayer in Daniel's heart, a prayer marked by humility, confession, and a desperate plea for God's mercy.
Daniel's Prayer: A Model of Repentance and Intercession
Daniel's prayer (Daniel 9:3-19) is a powerful example of how to approach God in repentance and intercession. He humbled himself, likely using traditional signs of mourning like wearing rough clothing and ashes, and turned to God in prayer and supplication (Daniel 9:3). Although Daniel himself was a righteous man (Daniel 6:4), he identified with the sins of his people, using "we" and "our" throughout his prayer. He confessed Israel's rebellion against God, acknowledging that their exile was a just consequence of their disobedience (Daniel 9:4-10).
Daniel didn't presume on God's promise to restore Israel. Instead, he pleaded for God's mercy, recognizing that Israel didn't deserve to be restored, but that God's glory was at stake (Daniel 9:11-19). He understood that God had warned Israel of the consequences of disobedience when they first entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 28:15-68), and that they had repeatedly turned away from Him, following evil rulers and engaging in widespread sin (1 Kings 15-16; 2 Kings 8-16).
Gabriel's Revelation: A Prophecy of Seventy Weeks
While Daniel was praying, the angel Gabriel, who had previously appeared to him (Daniel 8:15-17), arrived with a message from God (Daniel 9:20-23). Gabriel addressed Daniel as "greatly loved" and revealed a prophecy of "seventy weeks" that were decreed for Daniel's people and city (Daniel 9:23-24).
These "seventy weeks" are understood to represent seventy sets of seven years, totaling 490 years. During this period, God would accomplish several key objectives: to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy (Daniel 9:24).
The prophecy outlines a timeline that begins with the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25). Most scholars believe this refers to the decree issued by Artaxerxes I in 444 BC, which allowed Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8). From that point, the prophecy speaks of:
- Seven weeks (49 years): A period during which Jerusalem would be rebuilt, even in times of trouble (Daniel 9:25; Nehemiah 4:1-23; 6:1-14).
- Sixty-two weeks (434 years): After this period, the "Anointed One" (Messiah or Christ) would appear (Daniel 9:25).
Calculating from 444 BC, using a prophetic year of 360 days (based on comparisons with Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6; 13:5), leads to approximately AD 33, the year of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
The Messiah's Arrival and the Interruption of the Prophetic Clock
The prophecy continues by stating that after the sixty-two weeks, the Anointed One would be "cut off" and have nothing (Daniel 9:26). This clearly refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The prophecy then speaks of a "prince who is to come" who will destroy the city and the sanctuary (Daniel 9:26). This is often interpreted as referring to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Importantly, many believe that there is a gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks of Daniel's prophecy. This gap represents the current Church Age, a period not explicitly foreseen by Daniel. During this time, God is working to gather believers from all nations into His Church.
The Seventieth Week: Tribulation and the Antichrist
The seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy is believed to correspond to the seven-year tribulation period described in Revelation. During this time, a powerful ruler, often referred to as the Antichrist, will rise to power (Daniel 9:27). He will initially make a covenant with Israel, seemingly bringing peace. However, in the middle of the week (after three and a half years), he will break the covenant, stop the sacrifices in the rebuilt temple, and set up the "abomination of desolation" (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15). This refers to an act of desecration within the temple, likely involving the Antichrist declaring himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ will return at the end of the tribulation to defeat the Antichrist and establish His millennial kingdom.
Significance and Application
Daniel 9 is a rich and complex chapter that offers valuable insights into God's plan for Israel and the world. It highlights the importance of:
- Studying Scripture: Daniel's understanding of Jeremiah's prophecies led him to pray and seek God's will.
- Humility and Repentance: Daniel's prayer is a model of how to confess sin and seek God's mercy.
- Intercession: We are called to intercede for others, just as Daniel interceded for his people.
- God's Faithfulness: Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remained faithful to His promises.
- Prophetic Awareness: Understanding Bible prophecy helps us to discern the times and be prepared for what is to come.
This chapter reminds us that God is in control of history and that His plans will ultimately be fulfilled. As we study Daniel 9, let us be encouraged to seek God's will, to live righteously, and to be faithful witnesses of His love and truth in a world that desperately needs Him. Daniel 9 offers a compelling glimpse into the intricate tapestry of God's plan, woven with threads of judgment, mercy, and ultimately, redemption through Jesus Christ.
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 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.
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
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;
We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
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.
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.
O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Daniel 9 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Daniel, offering profound insights into God's plan for Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and events yet to unfold. This chapter is part of the prophetic section of Daniel, where we see the prophet grappling with the implications of Israel's exile and seeking God's mercy. Let's delve into the depths of this chapter to understand its meaning and significance.
Context: A Prophet's Plea
The chapter opens during the first year of Darius the Mede's reign, after the fall of Babylon (Daniel 5:30-31; 9:1). Daniel, likely in his late 80s and having been in captivity for about sixty-seven years, was deeply moved as he studied the prophecies of Jeremiah. He recognized that the seventy years of desolation prophesied for Jerusalem were nearing completion (Jeremiah 29:10-11; Daniel 9:2). This realization sparked a fervent prayer in Daniel's heart, a prayer marked by humility, confession, and a desperate plea for God's mercy.
Daniel's Prayer: A Model of Repentance and Intercession
Daniel's prayer (Daniel 9:3-19) is a powerful example of how to approach God in repentance and intercession. He humbled himself, likely using traditional signs of mourning like wearing rough clothing and ashes, and turned to God in prayer and supplication (Daniel 9:3). Although Daniel himself was a righteous man (Daniel 6:4), he identified with the sins of his people, using "we" and "our" throughout his prayer. He confessed Israel's rebellion against God, acknowledging that their exile was a just consequence of their disobedience (Daniel 9:4-10).
Daniel didn't presume on God's promise to restore Israel. Instead, he pleaded for God's mercy, recognizing that Israel didn't deserve to be restored, but that God's glory was at stake (Daniel 9:11-19). He understood that God had warned Israel of the consequences of disobedience when they first entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 28:15-68), and that they had repeatedly turned away from Him, following evil rulers and engaging in widespread sin (1 Kings 15-16; 2 Kings 8-16).
Gabriel's Revelation: A Prophecy of Seventy Weeks
While Daniel was praying, the angel Gabriel, who had previously appeared to him (Daniel 8:15-17), arrived with a message from God (Daniel 9:20-23). Gabriel addressed Daniel as "greatly loved" and revealed a prophecy of "seventy weeks" that were decreed for Daniel's people and city (Daniel 9:23-24).
These "seventy weeks" are understood to represent seventy sets of seven years, totaling 490 years. During this period, God would accomplish several key objectives: to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy (Daniel 9:24).
The prophecy outlines a timeline that begins with the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25). Most scholars believe this refers to the decree issued by Artaxerxes I in 444 BC, which allowed Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8). From that point, the prophecy speaks of:
- Seven weeks (49 years): A period during which Jerusalem would be rebuilt, even in times of trouble (Daniel 9:25; Nehemiah 4:1-23; 6:1-14).
- Sixty-two weeks (434 years): After this period, the "Anointed One" (Messiah or Christ) would appear (Daniel 9:25).
Calculating from 444 BC, using a prophetic year of 360 days (based on comparisons with Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6; 13:5), leads to approximately AD 33, the year of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
The Messiah's Arrival and the Interruption of the Prophetic Clock
The prophecy continues by stating that after the sixty-two weeks, the Anointed One would be "cut off" and have nothing (Daniel 9:26). This clearly refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The prophecy then speaks of a "prince who is to come" who will destroy the city and the sanctuary (Daniel 9:26). This is often interpreted as referring to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Importantly, many believe that there is a gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks of Daniel's prophecy. This gap represents the current Church Age, a period not explicitly foreseen by Daniel. During this time, God is working to gather believers from all nations into His Church.
The Seventieth Week: Tribulation and the Antichrist
The seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy is believed to correspond to the seven-year tribulation period described in Revelation. During this time, a powerful ruler, often referred to as the Antichrist, will rise to power (Daniel 9:27). He will initially make a covenant with Israel, seemingly bringing peace. However, in the middle of the week (after three and a half years), he will break the covenant, stop the sacrifices in the rebuilt temple, and set up the "abomination of desolation" (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15). This refers to an act of desecration within the temple, likely involving the Antichrist declaring himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ will return at the end of the tribulation to defeat the Antichrist and establish His millennial kingdom.
Significance and Application
Daniel 9 is a rich and complex chapter that offers valuable insights into God's plan for Israel and the world. It highlights the importance of:
- Studying Scripture: Daniel's understanding of Jeremiah's prophecies led him to pray and seek God's will.
- Humility and Repentance: Daniel's prayer is a model of how to confess sin and seek God's mercy.
- Intercession: We are called to intercede for others, just as Daniel interceded for his people.
- God's Faithfulness: Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remained faithful to His promises.
- Prophetic Awareness: Understanding Bible prophecy helps us to discern the times and be prepared for what is to come.
This chapter reminds us that God is in control of history and that His plans will ultimately be fulfilled. As we study Daniel 9, let us be encouraged to seek God's will, to live righteously, and to be faithful witnesses of His love and truth in a world that desperately needs Him. Daniel 9 offers a compelling glimpse into the intricate tapestry of God's plan, woven with threads of judgment, mercy, and ultimately, redemption through Jesus Christ.