It has been said that promises can get you a lot of friends, but only performance can keep them. God’s prophecies are part of His promises. How is He at fulfilling these prophecies?

Peter tells us that “the Lord is not slack concerning His promises…” (2 Peter 3:9, NKJV) We’re going to see a vivid example of that this morning as we study Daniel 9.

Daniel 9 is the backbone of Biblical prophecy. We’re going to look at this gem from five different points.

What does this prophecy say to us ...
I. GENERALLY?

Daniel 9:20-24 (NKJV)
²⁰ Now while I was speaking, 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, ²¹yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. ²²And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. ²³At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

        ²⁴"Seventy weeks are determined
        For your people and for your holy city,
        To finish the transgression,
        To make an end of sins,
        To make reconciliation for iniquity,
        To bring in everlasting righteousness,
        To seal up vision and prophecy,
        And to anoint the Most Holy.
(AMP) | (NIV) | (NLT) | (KJV) | (NASB)

God’s answer must have blown him away as He unfolds for Daniel Israel’s future.

Verse 24 tells us that this prophecy only concerns Israel: ”For your people (the Jews) and for your holy city (Jerusalem).”

Notice that 70 weeks are determined. This is a set time period with Divine appointments for set purposes. God is not a disinterested observer in the affairs of this world.

The word translated “weeks” here would be better translated “sevens." The ancient Hebrews thought is in terms of seven.

• They had, like us, a seven day week.
• There was a Sabbath Year for the land every seven years.
• There were seven periods of seven years with the 50th year being a Year of Jubilee.

What does this prophecy say to us ...
II. SPECIFICALLY?

Daniel 9:24 (NKJV)
²⁴"Seventy weeks are determined
        For your people and for your holy city,
        To finish the transgression,
        To make an end of sins,
        To make reconciliation for iniquity,
        To bring in everlasting righteousness,
        To seal up vision and prophecy,
        And to anoint the Most Holy.
(AMP) | (NIV) | (NLT) | (KJV) | (NASB)

1. “to finish the transgression:" This refers specifically to Israel’s present rejection of Christ and generally to man’s rebellion against God. One day both will end.
2. “to make an end of sin:"  At some point in the future sinning will come to an end. Not merely the guilt of sin - but sin itself.
3. “to make reconciliation for iniquity:"  This has already happened - God has provided redemption for Gentile and Jew alike through the death and resurrection of Christ.
4. “to to bring in everlasting righteousness:"  Refers to the Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom on this earth.
5. “to seal up vision and prophecy:"  Means that all prophecy will be fulfilled - none will be left unfulfilled.
6. “to anoint the Most Holy:" The words used here always refer to a place and not a person.

What does this prophecy say to us ...
III. MESSIANICALLY?

Daniel 9:25-26  (NKJV)
        ²⁵"Know therefore and understand,
        That from the going forth of the command
        To restore and build Jerusalem
        Until Messiah the Prince,
        There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
        The street shall be built again, and the wall,
        Even in troublesome times.

        ²⁶"And after the sixty-two weeks
        Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
        And the people of the prince who is to come
        Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
        The end of it shall be with a flood,
        And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
(AMP) | (NIV) | (NLT) | (KJV) | (NASB)

God is telling Daniel that Messiah would not set up His Kingdom on the earth immediately after the Babylonian Captivity. In verses 25-27, God gives the timetable of events and strong clues as to how the Messiah could be recognized. In these verses we see that the 70 Weeks of Israel’s history will have three divisions:
7 weeks -- 62 weeks -- 1 week

The starting point of these 70 Weeks is the “going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem.” We are also told that “the street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublesome times.”

Establishing the starting point for this prophecy is not east but crucial to understanding it correctly.

There are four decrees regarding the return of the Jews to Jerusalem following the Babylonia Captivity - the first three deal with rebuilding and refurbishing the Temple. Only the fourth, found in Nehemiah 2:1-8 (NKJV, 445-343 BC)), deals with rebuilding the city walls. The decree was given by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 445 BC; so we will establish that date as our starting point for this prophecy.

The first seven weeks (49 years) take us to 397 BC. and to the end of the Old Testament.¹ Both Nehemiah and Malachi give witness to the fact that these were “troublesome times."

The next division of 62 weeks (434 years) bring us to Messiah the Prince. I don’t have time this morning² to go into the details but many Bible scholars believe that this takes us to the day that Jesus made His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (37 AD), offering Himself for the first time, publicly and officially, as the Messiah. Luke 19:28-44 (NKJV) tells us that Jesus did what the Old Testament said that Messiah would do. In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus mourned that Jerusalem will be destroyed "because you did not know the day of your visitation."

Daniel 9:26 tells us about two events that will happen between the 69th and 70th weeks.

1.  Messiah will be “cut off."
• The Hebrew word translated “cut off” literally means “to punish by death with piercing."
• This is a clear reference to Christ’s crucifixion. At the end of the same week of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry, He was crucified - “not for Himself” - it was for us.
2. Jerusalem will be destroyed.
• ”the prince who is to come” refers to the Antichrist.
• ”the people of the prince who is to come” are the Romans.
• ”shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Roman Emperor, Titus, in 70 AD.

What does this prophecy say to us ...
IV. FUTURISTICALLY?

Daniel 9:27  (NKJV)
        ²⁷Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
        But in the middle of the week
        He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
        And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
        Even until the consummation, which is determined,
        Is poured out on the desolate."
(AMP) | (NIV) | (NLT) | (KJV) | (NASB)

Why didn’t Daniel see this gap?

We are told in the New Testament (Ephesians 3:1-12; 1 Peter 1:10-12, NKJV) that the prophets did not see the mystery of Jewish and Gentile believers serving God together in The Church. This Church Age - "This Age of Grace" - is currently 2,000 + years long.

Daniel could not see it; but the Book of Revelation tells us that the next thing to happen is the Rapture of the Church. At some point after that, probably not very long, an event happens that will begin God’s Prophetic Clock ticking again for the last seven years of human history, known as the "Tribulation Period."

Verse 27 describes this event: ”Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week …”

The Antichrist will make a covenant with many (unbelievers - as opposed to the remnant) for one week (the last seven years of the 70 Weeks). Israel probably embraces the Antichrist as a political messiah, if not the literal Messiah. This was predicted by Jesus in John 5:43 (NKJV): “I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”

”But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” ... tells us that, at some point, the Temple is going to be rebuilt. Rumors are that the young rabbis in Israel are already being trained to perform sacrifices in the Yeshivas (schools).

In the middle of the Tribulation (3 ½ years) the Antichrist will show his true colors - ”And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate”
Not only will the Antichrist prohibit proper sacrifices, but he will commit another abomination of desolation similar to what Antiochus Epiphanes did before who set up an idol in the Holy Place and sacrifice a pig on the altar.

”Even until the consummation which is determined, is poured out on the desolate (desolator).” The Antichrist will be utterly defeated by Christ when He returns.

What does this prophecy say to us ...
V. PERSONALLY?

If you have personally placed your trust in God through Jesus Christ:

1. I hope the detail and exactness of this prophecy strengthens your faith.
2. That it says loud and clear to you that He is a God Who can be trusted.
3. I hope it gives you confidence and security in this unstable world.

1. I hope that the detail and exactness of this prophecy will cause you to make that decision today.
2. That it will cause you to see that the dumbest thing you could ever do is reject Christ.
3. I hope that you will see, clearer than ever, that He is a God Who can be trusted.