Study # 1
February 5, 2023
Broadlands, Louisiana
(Download Audio)

Thesis:  Not seventy years, but seventy times seven years.

Introduction:  In our study last week, we considered Daniel's prayer. In that study we saw that Daniel's response to Jeremiah's prophecy of seventy years was one of "confession" and appeal to God's mercy for His sake.

Our study this evening will be a beginning of God's revelation of how long it will be for Israel before the promised kingdom comes.

• I. The Structure of the Text.
  • A. 9:1-3.
    • 1. 9:1 The historical setting in the first year of Darius (538 B.C.)
    • 2. 9:2 The cause of Daniel's prayer: Jeremiah's revelation of 70 years (Jeremiah 25:8-11).
    • 3. 9:3 Daniel's response of prayer, supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes (1 Kings 8:33-34).
  • B. 9:4-19.
    • 1. 9:4 Daniel's characterization of Yahweh.
    • 2. 9:5-6 Daniel's confession of extraordinary rebellion.
    • 3. 9:7-8 Daniel's contrast of the Lord with His people (He is righteous; they are "shamed of face").
    • 4. 9:9-12 Daniel's continuing contrast of "the Lord our God" in mercy and forgiveness to "all Israel" in disobedience, transgression, and departing so that God's word through Moses was fulfilled in a maximized way against Jerusalem.
    • 5. 9:13-15 Daniel's declaration that "we had been warned" but we ignored "the Lord our God".
    • 6. 9:16-19 Daniel's request for forgiveness and relief.
  • C. 9:20-27.
    • 1. 9:20-21 The arrival of Gabriel.
    • 2. 9:22-23 Gabriel's revelation of his commission to unveil "the vision".
    • 3. 9:24-27 The revelation of the decree of seventy "sevens".
      • a. The goal(s).
        • 1) To finish transgression.
        • 2) To make an end of sins.
        • 3) To make reconciliation for iniquity.
        • 4) To bring in everlasting righteousness.
        • 5) To seal up vision and prophecy.
        • 6) To annoint The Most Holy.
      • b. The time frames.
        • 1) Seven "sevens".
        • 2) Sixty two "sevens".
        • 3) One "seven".
      • c. The events.
        • 1) The restoration and building of Jerusalem.
        • 2) The coming of Messiah the Prince and His being "cut off".
        • 3) The coming of the "prince" whose people destroy both city and sanctuary.
          • a) He confirms a covenant with "many" for one "seven".
          • b) At the midpoint of this "seven" he causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease.
          • c) He "makes desolate" by an overspreading of abominations.
          • d) This "seven" ends with the Desolator being subjected to all that is to be poured out upon him.

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This is article #020.
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