I Am

STUDY OF DANIEL

CHAPTER IX

27 Verses

   The Chapter of Daniel is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible. Understanding this chapter is the key to understanding God’s plan of redemption and prophecy. Chapter nine ties together the other visions in the Book of Daniel, and unlocks their meaning.

   Here, we find out how the “Son of Man” in Daniel 7 became the “Son of Man”. The Messiah would die for the sins of the world, fulfilling the words of 52:12 to Daniel Chapter nine would reveal the exact month and year of Messiah’s death 538 years before His birth.

   God also informs Daniel about what will happen to Israel in the future, and how Israel’s future will relate to events at the end of time.

   The event known as the “Abomination of Desolation”, is illuminated as the half way mark, in the final week of Daniel’s seventy weeks. Through Gabriel, God informs Daniel how a third temple will be the beginning sign of the completion of the times of the Gentiles, ending with God’s judgment poured out on the desolate.

   Chronologically Chapter 9 follows Chapter 5, and is in the same year of Chapter 6, when Daniel is cast into the den of lions. Whether Daniel had this great vision before or after he was cast into the lion’s den is not clear.

(Reference KJ Bible)

   Darius was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans. Daniel is about 81 to 83 years old at this point in his life.

Note: Daniel had acquired a copy of the writings of Jeremiah, who was a contemporary of Daniel. Daniel was a youth when he was taken captive into the land of Babylon at 14. Jeremiah at the time Daniel was taken captive would have been 36 years of age. After a third and final rebellion against Babylon, the Babylonian armies came and destroyed the ciy of Jerusalem and the temple in 587 B.C. The rebels took Jeremiah captive to the land of Egypt, where he died and was buried in an unmarked grave. Jeremiah’s scrolls were rewritten after they were burned, and either the originals or copies made their way to Daniel. From the scrolls, Daniel read the words of Jeremiah concerning what would happen to the city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah foretold Babylon’s success for a period of 70 years, (seventy years), in 605 B.C. 25:1), resulting in Jerusalem’s desolation. The city of Jerusalem was completely destroyed in 586 B.C., when the armies attacked the city for a third time. The seventy years were complete with the destruction of the Jewish temple. The temple was destroyed in 586 B.C., and construction was started in 536 B.C., but it was not completed until 516 B.C. (70 years). The Jewish temple was destroyed according to God’s word. The destruction of the temple and the scattering of the people was a sign of Isareli disobedience.

   In we see Daniel interceding for his people and himself, in prayer. He came to God with prayer and according to his word; that his will might be accomplished. Daniel confessed the sins of the nation of Israel before God. Through Daniel’s prayer, God would acomplish His plan.

   Verse 3 through 20, consists of Daniel’s prayer.

   In verse 21, while Daniel was still speaking in prayer, Daniel is confronted by the angel Gabriel. Gabriel informed Daniel that he had come forth to give him skill to understand the vision.

Note: This was Daniel’s third vision; the first occurred in Chapter seven, and the second occurred in Chapter eight. There will be one more to follow in Daniel 10, 11, and 12. In the “seventy week” vision, the temple and the temple mount play significant roles. Daniel’s prayer regarding the temple is answered beyond what Daniel was praying about. Daniel was praying for the temple’s restoration.

   Here, Gabriel tells Daniel in verses 24-26, that not only will the temple be restored again, but it will be destroyed again, after an anointed one (Messiah) is cut off or killed.

Note: This is Gabriel’s second appearance to Daniel. Gabriel is here to help Daniel understand this vision; the vision regarding the seventy weeks determined on his people and Jerusalem. This was a command directly from the throne to Gabriel.

   Read verses 24, 25, 26, 27!! (KJV Bible).

   So, in looking at the seventy weeks of Daniel we find:

(1) God has a 490 year plan involving the Jewish people and Jerusalem.

* Jesus declares He will not return until He is acknowledged as the Messiah by Israel

* The week begins with a peace agreement between Israel, the prince, (antichrist) who is to come and many (world/Israel). Israel will be allowed to rebuild the temple and offer sacrifices. The leader, a descendent of Roman armies, makes a 7 year agreement with Israel probably following a war against Islam and Russia.

(2) We are told Jerusalem would be rebuilt with walls and streets.

(3) The Messiah would be killed 483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and streets.

(4) The rebuilt temple would be destroyed by the descendents of a future world leader.

(5) A future world leader who is a descendent of the armies who destroyed Jerusalem would make an agreement to build a third temple.

(6) The temple would be rebuilt and sacrifices stopped after 3.5 years. (half-way through tribulation).

Notes: In verse 26, Gabriel tells Daniel after the 62 weeks (434) years, The Messiah, The is cut off; “NOT FOR HIMSELF”. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, dies for the sins of the entire world

At the end of the week, the Messiah returns.

“They shall look upon me who they pierce (Zachariah 12:10).

Jesus saves His people, brings peace to the earth, and the age of the Messiah begins. (Isaiah 11:1-10) Jerusalem becomes capital of earth. But this is getting a little ahead of ourselves, as we still see Daniel having another vision in Chapters 10, 11, 12. So we now look at Chapter 10.