Daniel 9:24–27What we will study this morning in The Prophecy Behind Palm Sunday…01. 70 Weeks(Daniel 9:24); 02. The Prophecy Begins (Daniel 4:25); 03. The Pause in the Prophecy(Daniel 9:26) and 04. The Last Week(Daniel 9:27).
01. 70 Weeks(Daniel 9:24)
The background to our text is found in the previous twenty-three verses (Daniel 9:1–23), where we see Daniel praying and confessing his sins, as well as the sins of the nation of Israel after he realized that the prophecy given by Jeremiah the prophet (Jeremiah 25:11–12) that they would be taken captive by Babylon for 70 years was nearing an end.Jeremiah prophesied that the nation of Israel would be in exile in Babylon for 70 years(Jeremiah 25:11–12; Jeremiah 29:10).Why did YHWH have Jeremiah predict that the nation of Israel would be in captivity for 70 years (605-536 bc)? It was because God had commanded that every seventh year, the land was to lie fallow (Leviticus 25:3–5).The natural fruit of the land could not be harvested and sold, but open for all to eat of it. God stated that if they trust Him in their obedience of keeping the Sabbath rest for the land, than He will bless their harvest with enough for three years (Leviticus 25:21)!Today most farmers rotate their crops, but the idea is to allow the land to rest. Different crops require different nutrients from the land, so if you continue to grow one crop you can drain the piece of land of vital nutrients, as well as not allowing pests to reach hard to control levels if they know that a certain crop will always be on that piece of land. If the people would fail to follow this command from God, He would then remove them from the land to implement this rest for the land (Leviticus 26:33–35).The writer of 2 Chronicles, who Jewish tradition says is Ezra, wrote that that 70 years in Babylon prophesied by Jeremiah would allow the land lie fallow, or “[enjoyed] her Sabbaths”that the people refused to obey the command from God (2 Chronicles 36:20–21). The prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11–12; Jeremiah 29:10) had foretold God’s plan for the nation of Israel only up to the end of the 70 years of captivity in Babylon.So when Daniel read Jeremiah 25:11–12(cf. Jeremiah 29:10) that Israel was going to be in Babylon for 70 years, and it was in the 66thyear of captivity, he knew that the time was short until they would be freed to return home. Though Daniel didn’t say anything in his prayer that reveals his concern for God’s plan for Israel after the 70 years of captivity in Babylon, it seems that it was his concern, for the angel Gabriel was sent to Daniel (Daniel 9:20-27) to alleviate Daniel’s concern and to reveal God’s plan for Israel and the long prophesied coming Messiah.
Daniel 9:24So while Daniel was seeking YHWH about what would happen after the 70 years of Babylonian captivity, YHWH responded with a 70 weeks prophecy.
Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks”The Jews think in 7’s (heptads) while today, we usually think in units of 10’s (decades). There are 7 days in one week. Every 7thyear was a Sabbath rest year (Leviticus 25:1-7). And every 50thyear (or after 7 “sevens”) brought them to the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-12). During the year of Jubilee, all debts were to be absolved, land that was sold was to be restored to the families who sold it in order to pay off their debts, and servants sold to pay off debt were set free. While clearly commanded in Leviticus 25:8-12, there is no biblical or extra biblical evidence to support that the Year of Jubilee was ever celebrated.Daniel had been thinking of God’s plan for Israel in years (Daniel 9:1cf.2 Chronicles 36:20–21; Jeremiah 25:11–12; Jeremiah 29:10), so it would make sense that he understood the message from Gabriel to mean that these “Seventy weeks”is 70 weeks of years.
“weeks”H7620 שָׁבוּעַshâbûwaʿwhich means seven,[1]a period of seven units of time,[2]period of seven days(from a given time), week.[3]This Hebrew word (H7620) שָׁבוּעַshâbûwaʿis found 20 times in 17 different verses in the Old Testament. Every single time except for once that it is translated into English it is translated as “week” or “weeks” (Genesis 29:27; Genesis 29:28; Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 12:5; Numbers 28:26; Deuteronomy 16:9(2x); Deuteronomy 16:10; Deuteronomy 16:16; 2 Chronicles 8:13; Jeremiah 5:24; Daniel 9:24; Daniel 9:25(2x); Daniel 9:26; Daniel 9:27 (2x); Daniel 10:2; Daniel 10:3). The one time H7620 שָׁבוּעַshâbûwaʿis not translated as “week” or “weeks” it is translated as “seven” in Ezekiel 45:21“In the first month,on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe the Passover, a feast of seven (H7620 שָׁבוּעַshâbûwaʿ)days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.”So the “Seventy weeks” or 70 weeks of yearshere in Daniel 9:24is a total of 490 years. It is important to note that the Jewish calendar has 360 days.If “Seventyweeks”here in Daniel 9:24 was meant to be interpreted as 490 days, then that is 1 year, 4 months and 10 days.If it was supposed to be interpreted as a true 490 weeks, than that is 3,430 days, or 9 years, 6 months and 10 days.1 year, 4 months and 10 days or 3,430 days (9 years, 6 months and 10 days) is not enough time for the events that are prophesied here in Daniel 9:24-27to happen.Finally, if Daniel had meant days, the he would have just said “days” as he did in Daniel 10:13.
Daniel 9:24 “For [your] [people] and for [your] [holy] [city]”This is speaking about the Jews and the city of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:16).
Daniel 9:24 “To finish the [transgression]”After 490 years is complete, God will “finish the [transgression]”of Israel. The Hebrew verb for “finish”is H3615 כָּלָהkâlâh, kaw-law´[4]and it means to bring an event to a completion.[5]The nation of Israel’s sin of disobedience will be brought to a completion or an end at the Second Coming of Jesus (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-21), which at that time the nation of Israel “will lookon Me whom they pierced”(Zechariah 12:10)and realize that Jesus whom they crucified is her Messiah and they will repent. She will then be completely restored to her land and be blessed, all in answer to the prayer of Daniel (Daniel 9:1–19).In the Old Testament, Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement(Exodus 30:10,Leviticus 16:1-17:16; Leviticus 23:16-32)was the most holy day of Israel’s festivals. The Hebrew name for this day is Yom Hakkippurim, but mostly it is shortened to “Yom Kippur”. Yom=Day Kippur=RepentanceOn this day God calls for the children of Israel to repent of their national and individual sins and sacrifice animals to receive atonement, or forgiveness, of their sins. It is the highest holiday in Judaism even to this day. Though the sacrifice that was offered for the nation of Israel once it a year, it could only cover their sin; it could never completely remove their sin (Hebrews 10:1-4; Hebrews 10:11). That’s why it was essential that a sacrifice offered by God that would forever remove all the sins of every person. This sacrifice was offered by Jesus who by His death paid for all of the sins (Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22;John 1:29;Romans 3:21–26;Hebrews 9:13-14;Hebrews 10:14;Hebrews 10:17;1 John 2:2;1 John 3:5) of those who believe in Him as their Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9-13). Jesus was the propitiation or expiation of our sinson the cross, which makes it possible for future Israel’s transgression to be finished (cf. Matthew 1:21). Being satisfied by the death of Jesus, God will “bring in everlasting [righteousness]”.
02. The Prophecy Begins (Daniel 4:25)
Daniel 9:25Gabriel (Daniel 9:21) now tells Daniel when this time will start.Now there were a few decrees recorded that had to do with the restoration of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity.
01.Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-3)
02.Darius (Ezra 6:1-5;Ezra 6:8;Ezra 6:12)
03.Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11-26)
But in all of these, permission was only granted to rebuild the Temple and nothing was said about rebuilding the city. So the condition of Daniel 9:25was not met.
04. But there is a decree, made by Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:1-8), which was in the 20thyear of the reign of Artaxerxes, for the first time, permission, was given to rebuild the city! This then became the starting point of this prophecy! This date that this decree went out according to secular history was in the Jewish month of Nisan, the date was the 1stof Nisan 445 BC, which would have been 14 March 445 BC.
69 (weeks) x 7 (days in a week) =483 years
483 years x 360 (days in Jewish calendar)= 173,880 days
It is noted as well from history that Jesus went into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the 10thof Nisan, which in the Julian calendar was Sunday, 06Apr32 ad! The amount of days between when the decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem and the public revelation that “Messiah the Prince”was revealed was exactly 173,880 days!So the 69 weeks ended when Jesus officially presented Himself as the Messiah to the nation of Israel (Luke 19:28-40cf. Luke 9:20)!(cf. Matthew 21:1–9; Mark 11:1–10; John 12:12–19) Ancient Jewish tradition states that if the Jewish people were ready for the Mashiach, the Messiah would come on a horse, but if they weren’t ready, the Messiah would come on a donkey (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98A[6]). (cf. Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-10; Mark 11:1-14; John 12:12-19).In November 1917, the British Empire commenced its Battle of Jerusalem against the Ottoman Empire. On 11 December 1917, General Allenby captured Jerusalem. General Edmond Allenby rode on a horse up until Jaffa Gate on the edge of the City of Jerusalem, where he dismounts, and then enters the City on foot in reverence of it being “the Holy City.”
As a God-fearing Christian, Allenby felt it unworthy to ride into the city of God on his white horse as a conqueror. He understood that honour was reserved for the Messiah who would some day enter Jerusalem on His white horse as written in Revelation 19:11-21. Why did the Pharisees try to get Jesus to tell the people to be quiet (Luke 19:39)? Because every Jew knew that when the Messiah came, they were to sing Psalm 118!Psalm 115-118was sung after the Pesach/Passover Meal.Continuing on in Luke 19:41–44. This is exactly how Rome finally conquered Jerusalem in 70 ad, after a siege that began in April and finally ended in August 70 ad. Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?Because if they had paid attention to the words of Daniel, they would have known the very day that Jesus was to enter into Jerusalem.
03. The Pause in the Prophecy(Daniel 9:26)
Daniel 9:26 “And after the sixty-two weeks”or 434 years
Daniel 9:26 “[Messiah] shall be [cut] off”.“shall be [cut] off”here in the Hebrew is (H3772 כָּרַתkârath, kaw-rath´[7]and it means toexterminate or destroy,[8]to suffer the death penalty.
Daniel 9:26 “but [not] for Himself” At His crucifixion He would “have nothing” in the sense that Israel had rejected Him and the kingdom could not be instituted at that time. Therefore He did not then receive the royal glory as the King on David’s throne over Israel. John referred to this when he wrote, “He cameto His own [i.e., the throne to which He had been appointed by the Father], and His own [i.e., His own people]did >>not<< receiveHim.”(John 1:11). Daniel’s prophecy, then, anticipated Christ’s offer of Himself to the nation Israel as her Messiah, the nation’s rejection of Him as Messiah, and His crucifixion[9]as prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 53:1-12).The moment that the “[Messiah] shall be [cut] off”causes there to bea break between the 69thweek, and the 70thweek. We are still living in that break of the prophecy right now!
Daniel 9:26atalks about how Jesus was going to die for others, and in Daniel 9:26bbegins what happens after the cutting off the Messiah.
Daniel 9:26b “And the [people] of the [prince] who is to [come] Shall [destroy] the [city] and the [sanctuary]. The [end] of it shall bewith a [flood], And till the [end] of the [war] desolationsare [determined].”The prophecy continues with a description of the coming judgment on the city of Jerusalem and the generation that rejected Jesus as their Messiah.The Messiah died (cut off) a few days after the end of the 69thweek, but we know from history that it wasn’t until 70adthat the city and the Temple were destroyed by Titus Vespasian. That means that there was a gap of about 40 years after the end of the 69thweek and the destruction of the city and the Temple. If God allows there to be a gap of 40 years, it is not difficult to believe that the gap will extend over until now!It was the troops of Titus Vespasian, who set fire to the Temple, and the fire burned so hot that it caused all the gold inside the Temple to melt into the cracks of the stones. So then the Roman soldiers threw all the stones down to gather all the gold, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus that “they will >>not<< leavein [you] one stone upon another, because you did >>not<< [know] the time of [your] visitation.” (Luke 19:43-44cf.Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:2)It is significant that the peopleof the ruler, not the ruler himself, will destroy Jerusalem.[10]
04. The Last Week(Daniel 9:27)
The 70thweek is introduced to us in Daniel 9:27, and we know from the Bible that these events that are described occur in the Great Tribulation.
Daniel 9:27says that the 70thweek will begin with the confirmation of a covenant between the Antichrist (though he is not revealed as the Antichrist yet) and Israel for 7 years (and the Temple will be rebuilt).
Daniel 9:27 “ [confirm]”does not mean sign as many people commonly think. The Hebrew word here is H1396 גָּבַרgâbar, gaw-bar´and it means toconfirm, strengthen, make stronger.[11]In 1979, the first peace treaty that Israel has ever signed with an enemy state was made between them and Egypt, known as the Camp David Accords. In 1993, spearheaded by President Bill Clinton, Israel and the Palestinians signed the Oslo Accords. In October 1994, the late Yitzhak Rabin who was the Prime Minister of Israel and the late King Hussein of Jordan signed a treaty between the two nations. These are three peace treaties that Israel has signed with their enemies, but what is common about them all is that they have never been normalized. None of the enemy states of Israel will acknowledge that they are a legitimate state.But when the Antichrist comes on the scene, he will confirm them, strengthen them, make them stronger and he will do that between the nation of Israel and all their neighbors.Daniel tells us that the Antichrist will “[confirm] a [covenant] with many for one [week]”or for 7 years.
“But in the [middle] of the [week]”or after 3½ years, “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].”He will break the covenant.In Revelation 12:1-17 we see that Israel (the woman) flees and the beast goes into the Temple. This is when the antichrist enters the Temple, offers a sacrifice and demands to be worshipped. Daniel spoke of this in Daniel 12:11and Jesus in Matthew 24:15and Mark 13:14.
So, today, this Palm Sunday, we are actually celebrating the 1stComing of Jesus, as He was publicly revealed as the Messiah when He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
[1]Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible(Vol. 2, p. 111). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[2]Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament)(electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[3]Whitaker, R., Brown, F., Driver, S. R. (Samuel R., & Briggs, C. A. (Charles A. (1906). The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament: from A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament by Francis Brown, S.R. Driver and Charles Briggs, based on the lexicon of Wilhelm Gesenius. Boston; New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company.
[4]Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible(Vol. 2, p. 55). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[5]Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament)(electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[7]Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible(Vol. 2, p. 57). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[8]Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words(Vol. 1, p. 145). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.
[11]Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible(Vol. 2, p. 25). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
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