INTRODUCTION

A. Daniel 9 should be read completely to get the setting for this lesson.

B. Text:  Daniel 9:24-27 is the actual text we are to study.

C. Purpose:  To learn from the Bible and history.

D. Need:

 1. More faith in the Bible.

 2. To let the Bible interpret itself.

E. Transition:  What does this passage mean?

DISCUSSION

I. THINGS TO BE FULFILLED DURING THE SEVENTY WEEKS (Daniel 9:24).

 A. Finish the transgression.

  1. “Restrain the transgression” (Young, p. 198).  To be regarded as no longer existing.  Christ’s atonement, and the application of it through the preaching of the gospel.

  2. Sin under the control of grace.  The work of Jesus fulfilled Genesis 3:15.

 B. Make an end of sins.

  1. To complete it, or seal it up, so it can be securely kept.

  2. This, too, points to the power of Christ and His blood.  He is our 
   atonement.

  3. See Hebrews 9:15-10:18.

 C. Make reconciliation for iniquity.

  1. To cover iniquity by pardon or forgiveness (see the first example in Acts 2:38-41).
  2. Thus sin loses its power to condemn (Epehsians 2:1-10).

  3. See also Romans 5:11; 8:1; II Corinthians 5:17-19; Hebrews 9:26.

  4. This is the only possible way to remove guilt.

 D. Bring in everlasting righteousness.

  1. This points to the positive aspect of Jesus’ work (Romans 3:21- 26).

  2. Not only is there an escape from sin, there is a plan for our 
   holiness (I Peter 1:14-21).

 E. Seal up the vision and prophecy.

  1. Fulfill the prophecies of the Messiah’s coming (Matthew 11:13; Luke 24:44).

  2. No more need for prophets.  We now have the complete 
   revelation of God’s will.  Although the second coming is future, no    amount of “prophesying” can predict it.

 F. Anoint the most Holy.

  1. Christ would be crowned (Psalm 2; Acts 2:29-36).

  2. This harmonizes with Daniel 7:13,14 and Acts 1:9-11.

II. HISTORY (Daniel 9:25,26a).

 A. The captivity.

  1. 606-597-586—Three attacks on Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of    Babylon.

  2. Seventy years duration (Jeremiah 25:12).

  3. 539-536—Cyrus and the Persians.  End of the captivity (Daniel    9:1-3).

  4. 516—Temple completed (see Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra).

 B. The returns to Israel.

  1. Darius gives permission to Zerubbabel (536 B.C.).
2. Artaxexes gives permission to Ezra (458 B.C.).

  3. Artaxerxes gives permission to Nehemiah (445 B.C.).

 C. The Christ.

  1. His birth (c. B.C. 4).

  2. His death (c. A.D. 30).

  3. The years, according to our current chronology, do not match up    exactly, but the permission granted to Nehemiah in 445 B.C. is surely the beginning of this, and the death of Jesus is the fulfillment (approximately 475 years).

III. THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM (Daniel 9:26b,27).

 A. Preceded by the Messiah and His death; a death predicted by prophets!

 B. Destroyed by the people of a prince.  Israel rejected Jesus, signaling the   doom of the city 40 years later.

 C. Predicted by Daniel and Jesus (Zechariah 14;  Malachi 4).

CONCLUSION

 A. God answers prayer.  This chapter contains one of the Bible’s many   moving prayers.

 B. God’s providence is powerful.  His purposes cannot be overthrown.

 C. His word must have its way.  Let us decide to submit to it and receive His   blessings.

 D. Jesus is the Messiah:  the only Messiah.

        Skip Andrews