Daniel Unlocked #58. The Prophecy Continued.
As a response to the prayer, Gabriel—the same angel that met Daniel in chapter 8—came to reveal God’s long-range plans for the people. As Gabriel unfolded Daniel 9:24–27 we learn some significant aspects of this most important Messianic prophecy.
First, Gabriel reached Daniel “about the time of the evening offering” (Dan 9:21). The timing suggests that the angel had a message related to the sanctuary and its services. Indeed, among the things the angel came to announce and explain are: the reconstruction of the city, the atoning work of the Messiah, and the inauguration of the heavenly sanctuary for Christ to commence His intercessory ministry there. This introduction of the heavenly sanctuary becomes crucial to understanding and interpreting the book of Revelation, which is the New Testaments apocalyptic equivalent to Daniel’s apocalyptic visions.
Second, this prophecy is given within a chronological framework of 70 weeks (70 x 7 = 490), which is tantamount to 10 jubilees (10 x 49).
The emphasis on the number seven indicates the perfect salvation to be accomplished through the Messiah.
Moreover, this prophetic timetable indicates that God knows the future and acts within space-time to carry out His saving plan.
Third, Gabriel comes to make Daniel “understand the vision” (Dan. 9:23). The verb “understand” points back to Daniel 8, which concluded with Daniel’s not understanding the vision (Dan. 8:27). The word “vision” (mar’eh) is the same Hebrew word employed to designate the appearance of the two beings and the cleansing of the sanctuary after 2,300 evenings and mornings (Dan. 8:13, 14).
Fourth, the prophecy of Daniel 9 provides a crucial piece of information to understand the beginning of the 2,300 evenings and mornings and, therefore, ascertain its end. According to Gabriel, 70 weeks are “determined”; this Hebrew verb means “cut,” which implies that the 70 weeks are cut, or severed, from a larger period. So, both prophecies have the same starting point, which is “the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem” (Dan. 9:25). This command refers to the decree of Artaxerxes in 457 B.C. authorizing the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 7).
Fifth, the 70 weeks (490 years) started in 457 B.C. and ended in A.D. 34. The events that would take place during the last week took place as predicted. At the beginning of the week, Jesus the Messiah made His public appearance, being baptized by John the Baptist (A.D. 27). In the middle of the week Jesus was crucified (A.D. 31). And at the end of the week (and of the 490 years), the martyrdom of Stephen propelled the gospel message to be taken to the Gentiles.
Sixth, another crucial event that would occur during the seventh week was the anointing of the “Most Holy”, which refers to the inauguration of the heavenly sanctuary when Christ ascended to heaven in A.D. 31 and commenced His intercessory ministry there. This is described in sublime detail in Revelation 4 and 5. This sanctuary must be the heavenly one because the Jerusalem temple had ceased to have saving relevance in A.D. 31 when Jesus’ death made the sacrificial system no longer effective. It was destroyed in A.D 70.
Seventh, because 457 B.C. is also the starting point of the 2,300 evenings and mornings, the ‘cleansing’ of the heavenly sanctuary announced in Daniel 8:13, 14 must have begun in 1844. The cleansing of the sanctuary reminds us of the Jewish Day of Atonement. It was a symbol of the judgment. Understanding this indicates to us that this world entered into the final, judgment phase of its history. 1844 is the last date that can be established from any Bible prophecy. In that year, Christ entered the Most Holy Place in order to carry out the investigative judgment that would precede His second advent.
Eighth, amid the complexity of the prophetic figures and other details, let us not lose sight of Jesus. The events described by the prophecy culminate in the atoning work of the Messiah and indeed would benefit not only Israel but also the whole world. So, Daniel received much more than he asked for.
How often God does the same for us! He can answer our prayers in ways that exceed our expectations.
Thank you Jesus for always listening to my prayers 🙏