The Prophecy of Daniel 9. The Prophecy of Daniel 9. A prophecy given by God that told of the exact day that The Lord Jesus Christ would present Himself to Israel as their Messiah.
PLEASE READ FIRST
Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.
Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!
Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]
If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:
John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]
Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-18 says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV
Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:
Study to show yourself approved to God!
Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings
STUDY TITLE:
The Prophecy of Daniel 9. The Prophecy of Daniel 9. A prophecy given by God that told of the exact day that The Lord Jesus Christ would present Himself to Israel as their Messiah.
OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”
Terms & Abbreviations used:
PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth
BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible
The Prophecy of Daniel 9. The Prophecy of Daniel 9. A prophecy given by God that told of the exact day that The Lord Jesus Christ would present Himself to Israel as their Messiah.
DAN 9:24, “ Seventy weeks [or 490 years] have been decreed for your people [the Jews] and your holy city [Jerusalem], [and then the six prophecies mentioned] 1) to finish the transgression, 2) to make an end of sin, 3) to make atonement for iniquity, 4) to bring in everlasting righteousness, 5) to seal up vision and prophecy, and 6) to anoint the most holy {place.}
DAN 9:25, “ So you are to know and discern {that} from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince {there will be} seven weeks and sixty two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress [Tribulation Period].
The issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem was given “in the first day of the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of his reign or by our Calendar March 14, 445 BC. So DAN 9:25 would sound like this, “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree which was March 14, 445 B.C. to restore and rebuild Jerusalem
Now, the next part of the verse says in DAN 9:25, until Messiah the Prince {there will be} seven weeks [or 7 sevens which is 49 years] and sixty two weeks [or 62 x7 which is 434 years, totaling 483 years or 173,880 days]; And 173,880 days after the prophecy was given that TLJC fulfilled exactly.
DAN 9:26, “ Then after the sixty two weeks the Messiah will be cut off [or killed, namely nailed to the cross] and have nothing, and the people of the prince [the anti-Christ] who is to come will destroy the city [that is Jerusalem] and the sanctuary [the holy Temple]. And its end {will come} with a flood [this is during the Tribulation Period]; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
So, this prophecy says in effect, and I can send it to anyone who wants it in written form that: In March 14, 445 B.C, a prophecy was given by God that in 173,880 days from the day it was given that TLJC would present Himself to Israel as their Messiah on the exact day predicted. This vision of the seventy weeks of years foretold to the precise day when Israel would reject and “cut off” their Messiah [that's the first advent] and then the prophecy looks forward to His Second Coming to set up His everlasting kingdom. Notice that there is one thing that is not mentioned and that is the Church-age dispensation because it was a mystery to the OT saints.
So from the time of the decree to rebuild the city Jerusalem until the Messiah comes to Jerusalem will be 69 weeks or (483 years), or 173,880 days. And at the end of the 69 weeks the Messiah would be presented and then according to DAN 9:26 “The Messiah will be cut off and have nothing.” 483 years from this prophecy and exactly 173,880 days later on the tenth day of Nisan, which would be our April 6, A.D. 32 on what we call Palm Sunday in fulfillment of this prophecy, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem and presented Himself as “the Messiah. On that day, the Messiah rode into Jerusalem on a colt and many of His disciples recognized Him as the Messiah.
LUK 19:33-40, And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and they threw their garments on the colt, and put Jesus {on it.} And as He was going, they were spreading their garments in the road. And as He was now approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice [and then the sad indictment on the majority of the Jews] for all the miracles which they had seen, - not because they believed He was their Messiah saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” [PSA 118:22-26] And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” And He answered and said, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
This took place exactly 69 weeks or (483 years), or 173,880 days from the time of the decree to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Then Luke describes the scene as the Lord approached Jerusalem.
LUK 19:41-45, And when He approached, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day [the prophecy given by Daniel in chapter 9 and in verses 24-27], even you the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem or surround you in on every side, [this happened in 70 A.D. when Titus came down from Rome and destroyed the entire city of Jerusalem.] and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
So our Lord emphasized the fact that this day, the tenth day of Nisan, April 6, A.D. 32, was an incredibly important day for Israel. This is was what verse 44 calls the “time of your visitation. The Jews were finally visited by their Messiah. It was their decision day, in which they had to decide whether or not to accept Jesus as their prophesied Messiah-King or not. And of course you know that the reaction of the Nation as a whole and the religious and political leaders did not know their time of visitation and therefore rejected their Messiah. And then five days later this rejection concluded in the crucifixion of Jesus and their promised kingdom has now been postponed for almost two thousand years.
DAN 9:26, “Then after the sixty two weeks [483 years] the Messiah will be cut off
The Hebrew word karath = killed or destroyed] But the point is this prophecy was fulfilled to the exact day. Now, when we consider the incredible accuracy of Daniel's prophecy, how could we possibly doubt that the remaining “week” of seven years, which is called the seventieth “week” of years which is the Tribulation period, will be fulfilled just as precisely as this prophecy? Whether you believe it or not!
How was Israel to have known the time of their visitation? From a literal understanding of Daniel’s prophecy. In fact, this prophecy, along with Christ’s fulfillment of every other first coming Messianic prophecy proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was Israel’s Messiah. In fact, many Jews have come to the Christian faith, over the years, as a result of being challenged by this prediction about the time of the Messiah’s coming. Now, this brings up a subject for all of you to understand and master. And I do not know any passage in the word of God that reveals to you the importance of the word of God as the one I have chosen which is Psa 119.
Psalm 119 - The Greatness and Glory of the Word of God. This long Psalm deserves a long introduction. Many commentators say it is a Psalm of David, composed throughout his entire life. More modern commentators often say that it was written by Ezra or Ezra's father. However, if it were important, God would have preserved the name of the author but He did not. I personally believe that it is the greatest Psalm or even the greatest passage in the entire Old Testament. My personal opinion is that Psa 119 and Phi 2 are the greatest passages in the entire Bible.
Therefore, the issue is not who wrote it but rather the content of what was written. For PSA 138:2 says, I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, And give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth; For Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name. MAT 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away. The sections and verses are like a chain, where one link is connected to the other, or like a string of pearls were each pearl has equal, but independent value.
The Psalm is arranged in an acrostic pattern. So, what is an acrostic Psalm? There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and this Psalm contains 22 units of 8 verses each. That's why if you have a decent Bible you should have a Hebrew letter above every eight verses. For example, in PSA 119 above the first eight verses you have the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew. Then above the next eight verses you have the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet Bet. Then the next letter should be Gimel, the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet with eight verses mentioned. Each of the 22 sections is given to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each line in that section begins with that letter. Since this is a Psalm glorifying God and His Word, it refers to Scripture over and over again. The Psalm is remarkable for how often it refers to God’s written revelation, His word.
Let's begin Psa 119 by turning to Jer 31. JER 31:15-17, I'd like to call this the “You think you have problems” passage.
First of the background and this goes with the book we spent a lot of time on, the book of Daniel. Jeremiah was Daniels counter-part teacher at the time. People would listen to either Daniel or Jeremiah or both! However, at the time, Nebuchadnezzar was king of one of the finest armies of his day. When an army conquered a city they received their pay by how much they took from the city called booty.
He moved his army to Ramah, north of Jerusalem and sent his generals to take the city and they did. When it was all over many of the Jews were taken into slavery or slain. Many children stood by and watched as houses were burned, parents were tortured and massacred. Many of these children had learned doctrine in their homes as the principle of DEU 6:5-9 was followed.
DEU 6:5-9, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
When the city was completely destroyed, Nebuchadnezzar’s army lined up children and teens and marched them from Jerusalem to Ramah. If the children had to be carried or could not walk the child was destroyed right in front of the mother. As I said, Do you think you have problems! All this was because the people had rejected the Lord and His word. All of this is the background for Psa 119 also fulfilled in MAT 2:17-18.
Mat 2:17-18, Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.”
Mothers were crying because Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. So, Jer 31:15 says “Thus says the Lord, “A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”
Even though, they had forsaken Him, He still has not forsaken them. In JER 31:15-17, a voice was heard in Ramah. Not just an ordinary voice but screaming, pain and shock. There was lamentation and bitter weeping. Remember this is background is Psa 119, so make sure you get the picture. In spite of all these disasters notice our next verse.
JER 31:16, Thus says the Lord, “Restrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, declares the Lord, And they shall return from the land of the enemy.”
The point being that God has a plan to take care of one of the worst disasters that ever existed. God's plan does not include emotional breakdown, so He calls for their attention.
JER 31:16, Thus says the Lord, “Restrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded,” declares the Lord,”
Even though they have gone through literal hell they are still alive which means God still has a plan for their lives.
One of them was a boy by the name of Ezra (maybe in his early teens) who had seen all this suffering and Psa 119 is his story i.e., he seen all these disasters and came through and survived by way of the word of God.
Psa 119 is his poem song, his file (acrostic) to us for disasters of life. Psa 119 is his file to show how he could take shock, torture, abuse and be victorious. So we are going to study a Psalm written by a person who survived disasters that are almost unbelievable.
So Jer says in JER 31:17, “And there is hope for your future,” declares the Lord, “And your children shall return to their own territory.”
Jeremiah actually taught Ezra this, who was a young boy in chains marching out of the city. Jeremiah says there is hope for your future. In other words, Ezra no matter what you go through there is hope!
JER 31:17, “And there is hope for your future, declares the Lord, And your children shall return to their own territory.”
What did Jeremiah think when all this was taking place? Well look at Lamentations chapter 3.
LAM 3:19, Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Jeremiah is recording the book of Lamentations as this chain gang of Jewish slaves is walking by. He sees Ezra and others walking by.
LAM 3:20, Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me. Notice what is his deliverance. LAM 3:21, This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. This means the word of God that he recalls to mind! And when he says I have I hope, it means that he is operating under the Faith rest drill under maximum pressure. In fact, I believe that Ezra uses this word over and over again in Psa 119. Every single one of us at some time will only have God's “word” as our only hope.
LAM 3:22, The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.
Here is Jeremiah, the prophet, who had not been taken captive because God had protected him because had PVTD and he is saying to Ezra as he walks by remember, you are still alive and that is grace. Why? Because his compassions never fail even in times of disaster. Ezra is going to be under some intense treatment from his captives but the Lord will always be ready with compassion for him as well as us!
LAM 3:23, They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.
These are promises which Ezra will need each morning. In fact, look at PSA 119:50 what he says: PSA 119:50, This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me.
So Psa 119 is the story sung by Ezra and Israel on how doctrine carries us through anything that life may bring. LAM 3:24, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
The principle is that what is inside your soul reveals whether the Lord is your portion or not. Or you just playing a religious game trying to come up with reasons as to why you are not faithful to any local assembly, whether it is face to face or non face to face, it doesn't make a difference. And so he says in LAM 3:24-25, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, Therefore I have hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.”
The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.
No comments:
Post a Comment