Daniel records that the angel Gabriel appeared to him "about the time of the evening sacrifice." How remarkable! Almost 70 years after he was removed from the observance of the sacrifice, he still records time by those events.

What a contrast to our modern weakness in honoring our commitment to church. We go on a two week vacation and forget what time church service starts!

Each time Gabriel is mentioned in Scripture, he is shown as a messenger angel.

Daniel 9:22-23

And he informed me and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.

As soon as you began to pray, the answer came forth which I have come to show you; for you are greatly loved. Therefore, understand the message, and carefully consider the vision.

Gabriel was sent as soon Daniel began to pray. More accurately, an answer was assigned to Daniel through Gabriel at that time. Chapter 10 shows the spiritual forces at work which can hinder the deliverance of answers to prayer. It is possible that Gabriel was somehow tied up in this way and that this delay was the reason he was in "swift flight" when arriving.

Daniel 9:24

Seventy weeks [or 'sevens'] are decreed for your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sins, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the most Holy.

This relates very specifically to the Jewish people. The seventy weeks of years (shabuim) represent a period of 490 years decreed for Israel and Jerusalem. It does not refer to the Gentile world.

There is much misunderstanding about this because of earlier teachings by some before the restoration of Israel in 1948. It was inconceivable to many in the late 1800's and the early 20th century that Israel could once again become a nation. A number of teachers contorted Galatians 6:16 to turn the Christian church into the "new Israel," claiming that the Jews had now forfeited their right to the promises God had made and these were now passed on to the church. Not so. God did not replace His plan for Israel with the church, he merely interrupts his plan for a time then goes back to it. Like a chess clock, he stops the clock while working with the church, then at the appointed time will start the clock again as his attention goes back to His chosen people, the Jews.

Notice all the things that must yet happen before the seventy weeks of years are complete. To put an end to sin? That certainly hasn't happened yet. To annoint the most holy? This is a reference to restoring a broken temple. At the time of this message the temple is in ruins, so this may refer to the rebuilding of the temple, but most scholars suggest it refers to the final millenial temple described in Ezekiel 40-44. That's because the statement follows "to bring in everlasting righteousness" which comes only after the return of Christ.

Daniel 9:25

Know therefore and understand, that from the issuing of the decree to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem to Messiah the king, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. The street shall be rebuilt, and the wall, but in times of trouble.

The seventy weeks of years begins with a decree or announcement that the city of Jerusalem will be restored and rebuilt. Although one decree by Artaxerxes did include an obique reference to the wall, the decree meant here is certainly the one talked about by Nehemiah. It was issued by Artaxerxes Longemanis on March 14, 445BC according to calculations by the British Royal Observatory.

This is a reference to when the Messiah will be revealed as a king. The Hebrew uses the word "nagid" which doesn't have to mean king (it can mean prince, ruler or even leader) but it is used throughout the Old Testament for "king,' beginning with king Saul. Thus this refers to a time when the Messiah will be declared a king. This event would happen at the end of 483 years (69 weeks of years)

There were several times in the life of Jesus that he was about to be made a king by force, but always rejected that or slipped away. Then, on the 10th of Nisan in AD32, he arranged it. He rode over the brow of the Mount of Olives on the foal of a donkey, as had been predicted in Zechariah 9:9, and people threw coats and palm branches on the road as they declared him both Messiah and King. When asked by the pharisees to rebuke the people for blasphemy, Jesus responded that if the people didn't declare him king then the stones would cry out the proclamation.

The triumphal entry took place exactly 483 biblical years after the decree by Artaxerxes. The time period measures 173,880 days which is 69 weeks of years in length. Note that the Bible always refers to years in terms of 12 months of 30 days each.

Daniel 9:26

After the sixty-two weeks, Messiah will be cut off, but not for himself. And the people of the prince that shall come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it will be with a flood. War will continue to the end, and desolations have been decreed.

The events take place "after" the 69 weeks of years but the 70th week has not yet started. This demonstrates that God has stopped the clock for an undetermined length. The church takes place during this time. Christ's death on the cross begins the age of the church. When the church is taken out of the way by the event we call the "rapture" then God will restart the clock, ushering in the final week of years decreed for the Jewish people.

The people of the ruler or prince who is to come is a remarkable double reference. It refers both to Titus who will enter Jerusalem after a seige in AD70, and to the coming one-world leader we often refer to as the antiChrist. Note how accurate this is, as even when the temple was destroyed it was not by an order of Titus but by a random act of one soldier (the people of the coming ruler) who threw a torch into the temple. It burned to the ground and Titus ordered the temple torn down to get at the gold that had melted within. Not one stone was left upon another, just as Jesus had told his disciples in the Olivet sermon.

Daniel 9:27

And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week. In the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering, and on a corner of the altar [or wing of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that has been decreed is poured out upon him.

The final ruler will first be peaceful and will enforce some kind of treaty to give the Jews the right to carry on their sacrificial requirements, then after 3-1/2 years he will turn on them, stop the sacrifice, stop any allowance of religious observance except to him, and will desecrate the temple by placing his image in the Holy of Holies. Naturally, a temple will have to exist in Jerusalem before this seven year time period can begin.

Centuries after this was written, and almost 200 years after Antiochus IV placed an image of Zeus in the Holy of Holies, Jesus made a reference to "the abomination that causes desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel." Since the similar event by Antiochus IV had already happened, this refers to something yet in the future.

next: Spiritual Forces at War

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