Daniel 9:24-27  The Seventy Weeks

^24 i“Seventy weeks³ are decreed about your people and ^jyour holy city, to finish ^kthe transgression, to put an end to sin, ^land to atone for iniquity, ^mto bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and ⁿto anoint a most holy place.^{4 25 o}Know therefore and understand that ^pfrom the going out of the word to restore and ^qbuild Jerusalem to the coming of an ^ranointed one, a ^sprince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again⁵ with squares and moat, ^tbut in a troubled time. ²⁶ And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall ^ube cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come ^vshall destroy the city and the sanctuary. ^wIts⁶ end shall come with a flood, ^xand to the end there shall be war. ^yDesolations are decreed. ²⁷ And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week,⁷ and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. ^zAnd on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until ^athe decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

Galatians 4:1-9   Jesus came in the fullness of time   

“What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of the world. ⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.^{[b] 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[c] Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

COMMENTS: Have you ever wondered why God chose the peak of Roman rule to come?  Old Testament prophecies foretell his coming, all 351+ of them.  A deeper dive into Daniel reveal scriptures pointing to such a time as this.  Daniel foretold of Babylonian Rule, Medo-Persian Rule, Greek Rule and Roman rule.  God even reveals to him the breakup of Roman Empire and it’s resurrection. 

So God planned and chose such a time deliberately and with great purpose and design.  He did not choose to come during or after Nebuchadnezzar’s rule or repentance after “living like an animal for 7 years”, nor while Daniel or other prophets lived.  He didn’t come during Esther’s time or during terrible times of the Greece persecution of Israel during the Maccabees, or countless times in between when Israel was in desperate need for a righteous King or Savior.  Truth is God always gave Israel a prophet and a righteous leader when she sought one with a repentant heart. 

I do need to make an important point.  Only God knows why He chose such a time to come.  A time when pagan worship was rampant and the world was in such turmoil and Roman Empire was at it’s peak ruling with an iron fist.  Timing would make sense to us if Christ was coming as a mighty King to destroy and set up the kingdom He is promising.  But to pick this time to come as a servant and to live a humble life and die at a prime young age after only preaching for 3 years seems a puzzling way to save the world or to establish His kingdom.  You and I would have picked a much different and easier time and way.

So, it is folly to think we can figure out or understand what God was thinking when He chose such a time, but then again only God could have planned such a time and such a way to redeem His beloved creation – you and me.

We have another clue that God put a great deal of thought and planning into His coming from Galatians 4:3-6 “ 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”   So what does scripture mean when it says “in the fullness of time”?                                                                                                                    GOD WAITED TIL THE TIME WAS PERFECT AND MET ALL HIS OWN REQUIREMENTS!  WHAT REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT MADE SUCH A TIME PERFECT?

Even though we can’t hope to understand why God chose such a time and not before or after that time, we can take notes of some things that were different and what impact those differences  had on the outcome.  Just doing that gives us some wonderful insights into history and add to wonderful stories recorded in our New Testament.  I invite you to discover them with me and maybe do some research of your own to see what else God wants to show you too.

First, let’s take note of requirements placed on Christ as our Savior and King:  The Messiah, Jesus Christ, must have a human blood link back to King David.  He must also be perfect in body and in spirit and conduct to be worthy of becoming our sin sacrifice.  A sacrifice without blemish and without sin.  Since He is the only human to live and be fully tempted but without ever sinning, He is the only person who ever lived to be worthy of being our sacrifice for sin.  He is also the only human to meet all the prophecies (351+) identified in the Old Testament scriptures.  Part 2 of this Christmas message listed those prophecies.

Second, let’s look at what was different:

1. Prophecies of the coming Messiah were now 500-700 years old and some much older, so Jews were anxiously looking forward to fulfillment, especially given the hardships and persecution being endured while under Roman rule.  Roman rule over Jews desperate for a redeemer to save them from Roman rule and were open to welcome Him, but still on their terms.
2. Rome had united most of the world under one government bringing peace, learning a common language, and practicing a system of commerce and money, shared the first effective and extended modern road structure, and ship travel protected with the greatest military might in history. To be a Roman Citizen also brought great influence and privilege throughout the Roman Empire. Such brought greater freedom to travel unprecedented in past history. Such opened doors to spread the Gospel much faster than previously possible, especially when Roman Citizens, like Paul, used that privilege to facilitate sharing the Gospel.

The spread of Christianity was made a lot easier by the efficient organization of the Roman Empire, but Christianity’s principles were sometimes misunderstood so membership of this group could be dangerous. Although Jesus had died, his message had not. Word of his teachings spread to Jewish communities across the empire and was even more embraced by pagan gentile but mostly poor population of the Roman Empire. This was helped by energetic apostles, such as Paul, and by the hard governing hand of the Roman Empire.  But even more because of the influence of the tfHoly Spirit filling Christ’s followers and evangelist.  Because of all this and more, the numbers of Christians exploded after Christ’s resurrection in spite of great presecution.

Spreading the word 

Over 30 years, Paul clocked up an amazing 10,000 miles traveling across the Roman Empire. He preached in some of the empire’s most important cities. Although places like Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth and Athens looked magnificent, they were also home to tens of thousands of poor, desperate people, who were the perfect audience for the Christian message of eternal life.  Paul, as a Roman citizen and Jewish scholar, was especially qualified to preach the Gospel.  By encountering Christ and receiving His forgiving grace, Paul was also empowered to preach the Gospel he had personally experienced.

Like Jesus, Paul spoke to people in their homes and synagogues. But he went beyond Jesus, who had primarily preached to Jews and within a limited travel distance. Paul believed his message should also be taken to gentiles – to pagan non-Jews.

Relaxing the rules

This meant taking a more relaxed approach to ancient Jewish laws about food and circumcision. It was a slap in the face for Jewish tradition, but it was also contributed to the rapid spread of Christianity especially with gentiles.

As the Christian movement began to accept non-Jewish members, it moved further away from the strict rules imposed on Jews. In so doing, it gradually became a new religion.  Yet without compromising moral law established in Judaism.  Neither was the Jewish requirement for a sacrifice for sin, which Christ now provided.   But a heart of repentence was in Judaism and in Christianity still a requirement for forgiveness.  What was relaxed was stringent enforcement of human regulations that had evolved over the centuries in Jewish custom.  Even circumcision and food restrictions was relaxed, not in order to just gain more followers but in order to avoid putting needless burdens on Christians already battling temptations preventing them from drawing into a deeper relationship with God and becoming more like our perfect example, Christ.  Paul spoke of this but cautioned Gentile Christians not to abuse their freedom and lay stumbling blocks against fellow Christians still struggling with desire to keep Jewish regulations, which had been a part of their heritage from past generations.  The concept of putting others above ourselves and aiding in their relationship with Christ over enjoying selfish pleasures and privileges became Paul’s message and New Testament instruction.    

 

3. Rome had conquered militarily but Greece had brought a common culture and a common language used in trade and but also provided a common language to share the Gospel.

Stop and think of the significance of being able to speak a common language and connect and understand common needs and yearnings of other people.  Paul did come from a much different background but God had given him the capability to understand those he evangelized both personally as well as understand their language.

I am amazed and so humbled to discover God is giving me the opportunity to write to and minister to people all over the world without learning their language or even traveling outside my own community.  Modern technology is an amazing tool of ministry.  It is also amazing that English has become the language of commerce globally so is also a language taught in countries all over the world. 

It has been the calling and mission of the USA from it’s inception, based on the way God established this country and covenant it’s leadership made with God at it’s beginning.  So then it would make sense that God would facilitate it’s missionaries reaching the world.  If we are indeed living in the last days, as I believe we are, then we can expect two things.  Satan will pull out all his stops trying to prevent or slow God’s plan and commission.  BUT WE CAN ALSO EXPECT GOD IS GOING TO PULL OUT ALL HIS STOPS TOO AND USE ALL AVENUES HE HAS BEEN PREPARING TO REACH HIS LOST CHILDREN GLOBALLY.

I believe satan has had free reign over the internet long enough and is time those called by Christ use it for God’s glory.  AMEN!

4. False idols were rampant in Greece culture and Roman culture but all those gods failed to help or protect or comfort those who followed them.  The Gospel gave new hope and the reason to live and  hope – hope of eternal life for the poor as well as rich.  For all who would only accept Christ’s gift of forgiveness and mercy.  Forgiveness was a concept foreign to Greece and Roman culture but has always been a part of Israel’s history and God’s plan. Greek and Roman gods left their citizens empty and lost just like humanism and communism and secularism and every other world religion does today.

Such a time opened countless hearts and souls to hear and receive the Gospel of hope and life and truth – the Gospel of a living God who gave His life so everyone could be saved and inherit eternal life with Him in heaven if they only receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life with Him.  That Gospel of hope and life transformed millions from then on especially when that transformation included a daily walk and relationship with the Holy Spirit.  If we could comprehend God, then He wouldn’t be God but a creation of our own imagination.  Guess what.  Every other religion is just that, inspired by the king of lies – satan himself. 

Christians became an easy target for satan but God’s protection prevailed 

Despite its growing popularity, Christians were sometimes misunderstood, which brought enormous risks. Widely criticized after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, the Emperor Nero tried to divert attention away from his own failings by providing an easy scapegoat: the Christians.  Christians captured in Rome at that time experienced a terrible death – burned as torches to light the streets of Rome.  Nero falsely and deliberately accused Christians of burning Rome and made them flaming torching to light the streets of Rome.

Although the followers of Jesus were working hard to spread the message, there were still very few Christians in Rome. They were regarded with suspicion. Some important Christian rituals were challenged as cannibalism, others as incest. The enemy using any way to destroy Christ’s followers.    Christians had became an easy target and fatal target.

Nero wasted no time. He arrested and tortured all the Christians in Rome, before executing them with lavish publicity. Some were crucified, some were thrown to wild animals and others were burned alive as living torches in the streets of Rome. 

They became the martyrs that empowered others to follow Christ, but also for God’s judgment to reign down on Nero.

Christians martyred in Rome triggered Christians to also scatter and spread the Gospel even further.

Nero’s persecution of the new Christian sect was brief and, in the first century, was not repeated in other parts of the empire. When asked by Pliny the Younger how to deal with Christians in the Asian provinces, Trajan replied that they should not be actively pursued. However, they could be punished if they were publicly criticized and refused to abandon their beliefs.

Over time, the Christian church and faith grew more organized. Then in 313 AD, the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which accepted Christianity and 10 years later, it had become the official religion of the Roman Empire. Satan could not defeat a baby in a manger with Herod nor with Nero nor with all the mighty armies of Rome. 

Satan thought he could win over such a weak and flawed plan but discovered God’s plan is not weak nor flawed but perfect. 

But how could he know.  He gave lost his relationship with His creator when he allowed pride to enter his heart.  He gave up serving in heaven so he could rule in hell.  But even there he will discover God is still in control and in authority.

The Personal Witness Of The Saints

Acts 10:39-41, “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed Him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.”

Over 500 people saw Jesus after His death and most of these died because of their belief. Let me say, a man may live for a lie, but would he die for one?

The Prophetic Witness Of The Scriptures

Acts 10:43 says, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins.”  “all the prophets,” meana all the prophets from Genesis to Malachi (the New Testament hadn’t been written yet).

In Genesis 3, we read about the One who will bruise the head of the serpent.                  In Genesis 12, He is going to come from the seed of Abraham.                                      In Genesis 22, we read about the sacrifice of Isaac on the very mountain where Jesus was later crucified! The entire book of Leviticus is filled with pictures of blood-atoning sacrifices for sin. You’ll read about the prophetic crucifixion of Jesus in Psalm 22. In Micah 5:2, it is told clearly that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem.

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is: there is but one plan of salvation in all the Bible and that is through the blood-atoning sacrifice of the God-Man, Jesus Christ.  God became a human who sacrificed His life as a precious price to redeem His rebellious sinful human creation.  That includes you and me and our loved ones and all young and old, rich or poor, powerful or weak, successful or not, who simply repent and ask for that forgiveness He paid dearly to offer us.

The Powerful Witness Of The Spirit

1 John 5:9-11 says, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God has made him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”

The sustaining power Christians demonstrated during those early times was not just believing truth and having a distant hope of heaven, as important as that way. What empowered them, and us, to live the Christian life effectively was the daily relationship they had intimately with God because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  That made all the difference and imparted joy in their souls where despair and bitterness and defeat would have ruled.  Satan thought he could win this way, but was defeated just as he was in battle over Job’s soul many centuries before.   But this time he was defeated millions of times because of millions of Christians allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell and live in their souls both then and now.

5. Religions of that time promised salvation to worshipers by bloody sacrifice. Human sacrifice.  Greeks did believe in immortality but not with a body and not without proving themselves worthy.

The many prophecies given in the Old Testament all pointed to Jesus as the Messiah.  Add to this the sacrificial system God instituted in Jewish law and empty ways other religions tried to copy it.  Also given how God stopped at accepting Isaac at Abraham’s hand as a sacrifice points to God being much different than pagan gods.  Then for Christ to be that sacrifice reveals God in a way no human created (and satan inspired) god could ever.  Yet God’s requirement for obedience and standard of requiring sacrifice for sin did not reveal a soft or weak God but certainly a loving and compassionate God longing for relationship with His creation, even the least of them.  Not just the rich, successful, strong, and beautiful, but especially the poor, unsuccessful, weak, and ugly. 

6. The Roman army solicited soldiers from every conquest and offered great priveleges, including Roman citizenship and wealth if survived 25 years of service. It also introduced these men to Roman culture and ideas that would eventually include the gospel from Roman soldiers impacted by Christ and those who followed Him. The result would be evangelization to the far corners of Roman rule. The earliest introduction to Great Britain was from Christian Roman soldiers stationed there.

Isaiah 55:8 tells us “8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. “

Who would have imagined God would use Rome’s very army to spread the Gospel.  We don’t know the impact the Centurion and countless other Roman soldiers had after their encounter with Christ.  Outsmarted satan again, don’t you love it!!

So be encouraged and prepared with this another glorious Christmas and celebrate the birth of Christ who came and lived and died and rose again so you and I and all who will can be enjoy fellowship with Him and inherit what God intended for us before Adam and Eve listened to satan’s lies and ruined everything but not permanently. 

7. Cruxifiction became the execution of choice during Roman Rule for it’s worst criminals.

 The first historical record of cruxifiction was 519 BC by Darius I, king of Persia, who cruxified 3000 political opponents in Babylon.  The practice likely was initially a variation of the Assyrian practice of impalement and later was adopted by the Greeks primarily during reign of Alexander the Great.  The Romans then adopted practice to punish slave and non-Roman Citizen criminals guilty of treason. 

The Cross was transformed from a symbol stirring fear and even terror, to a symbol of life and hope and forgiveness.  A symbol of God’s love instead of a symbol of man’s evil abuse of power.        

What would it have been like if Christ had come earlier in history or later in history.  We can only imagine but none of our imaginations would be accurate.  Only God knows.  But consider the impact and tremendous blessing we enjoy because God chose the time He did and willingly sacrificed as He did for us.  We can never know what that sacrifice cost Him.  We also can’t comprehend how precious His gift to us is nor the danger and peril we are in by not accepting His gift.  Yet what He requires of us we can not keep.  Jim Elliott died at a young age in ministry to the Auca Indians.  His famous words of wisdom and faith are:

 

 Scripture is clear that Christ’s coming was at the exact  right time:

1. it was at the “fulfilled time”: Mk.1:15
2. it was at the “proper time”: Rom.5:6
3. it was at “the fullness of time” Gal.4:4
4. it was when “the times reached their fulfillment”:

    Eph.1:10 

5. it formed the very “conjunction of the ages”:

     Heb.9:26      

                                                  

Significance of Daniel’s prophecies of Christ’s coming in Daniel 9:

1. Prophecies were given 550 yrs before Christ.
2. Prophecies foretold Christ’s coming His death and His resurrection accurately including the year when would be fulfillled
3. Daniel was documented as being translated into Greek in 270BC as proof it was written centuries before being fulfilled.

The Book of Daniel is actually one of the most authenticated books of the Old Testament, historically and archaeologically. It is critical to realize that the Book of Daniel existed in documented form almost three centuries before Christ was born, especially since it’s predictions are so accurate they convince reader they were written after events they described. Consider significance of someone today making predictions that would be accurately fulfilled in the year 2600 and even predicted the year they would be fulfilled accurately. Daniel predicted the overthrow of Babylon by the Medo-Persian Empire and then by the Greek Empire and finally the Roman Empire.  He even described how each was different from the other.  Of course, he didn’t dream all this up, but God revealed all to him. 

The Angel Gabriel interrupted Daniel’s prayer recorded in Daniel 9 and gave him a four-verse prophecy that is unquestionably the most remarkable passage in the entire Bible: Daniel 9:24-27.  These four verses include the following segments:                                                     9:24 The Scope of the Entire Prophecy;
9:25 The 69 Weeks;
9:26 An Interval between the 69th and 70th Week;
9:27 The 70th Week, which has yet to be fulfilled.

Summary of Daniel 9 prophecies: Nebuchadnezzar took Israel into bondage 605BC and 70 years of bondage predicted by Jeremiah ended 536BC.  Years noted below to be from the 536 BC date, but keep in mind this was written in the first year of Darius (est 539BC) so was just before 70 years were completed.  Daniel was likely in his early 80’s.

Division I (Da 9:25)	7 SEVENS (49 years)	Rebuilding of Jerusalem
Division II (Da 9:25)	62 SEVENS	First Advent of the Messiah
(Da 9:26)	GAP Between 69- 70th Seven	Messiah Cut Off City & Temple  Destroyed
Division III (Da 9:27)	1 SEVEN (7 years)	“The Tribulation” 70th week of Daniel

 

Three Facts About God to Remember (Romans 11:33)

1. He Knows Everything There Is to Know.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (33a)

2. He Makes Plans We Can’t Understand.

“How unsearchable his judgments!” (33b)

3. He Alone Knows Why Everything Happens.

“And his paths beyond tracing out!” (33c)

Three Things We Can’t Do to Remember(Romans 11:34-36)

1. No One Can Explain God

“Who has known the mind of the Lord?” (34a)

2. No One Can Counsel God.

“Or who has been his counselor?” (34b)

3. No One Can Accuse God of Unfairness.

“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” (35)

1) He restores rebels by granting them his righteousness.

2) He redeems transgressors and takes away their rebel hearts.

3) He promotes his own glory by saving those who ought to go to hell.

 

   KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS CHRIST HAS DONE

1. HIS SACRIFICE PROVIDED REDEMPTION AVAILABLE TO ALL
2. Christ’s mission wasn’t to save the wealthy, or the righteous. He came to set the sinner free – Luke 19:10. He came for those no one else wanted – Mark 2:17.
3. Christ came as Savior – Jesus provided 3 essential gifts to the sinner:
4. We are Accepted in Him – Eph. 1:6 (Acceptance)
5. We are Delivered in Him – Delivered from sin’s penalty, power and presence. Rev. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19 (Deliverance)
6. We are Preserved in Him – Those whom Jesus saves are forever saved – John 6:37; 1 Pet. 1:5 (Preservation)
7. Christ came not as Judge, but as Savior – John 3:17
8. HIS SACRIFICE GAVE US ACCESS TO THE FATHER
9. This child came to do more than provide simple salvation. He came to allow us access into the very presence of Almighty God.
10. Through Jesus, we can:
11. Approach the Father – Heb. 4:16

• Jesus is the only means of access – 1 Tim. 2:5

2. Appeal to the Father – John 16:23
3. The Name “Christ” refers to Jesus as the “Anointed High Priest.” In this ministry, He addresses the father on our behalf. He does this in two ways:
4. He talks to the Father on our behalf – Heb. 7:25
5. He pleads our case before the throne of God – 1 John 2:1

III. HIS SACRIFICE ENABLED US TO MAKE HIM LORD OF OUR LIVES

1. When the angel called Jesus Lord, He was referring to One who was to be in absolute control.
2. This title of our Lord is a reminder to every Christian that Jesus Christ is to be the absolute authority in our lives. We are to allow Him the Headship in every area of our beings. (Ill. Rom. 12:1-2)
3. God’s demand for total obedience is not too much to ask. He knows that true love is always shown by obedience to Him.

Christmas is such a Sacred and Holy time ( A Holy Day)!  Remember Holiday really means HOLY DAY.  As such, we need to remember that the reason we are even here is because of a little infant born into this world 2,000 years ago. That infant was no ordinary baby.         

As Savior, He is worthy of our worship.                                                                                        

As Christ, He is worthy of our dependence.                                                                                     

As Lord, He is worthy of our obedience.                                                                                                      

As Jesus, He is worthy of all we can give to Him.                                                                                    

What are you giving Jesus for His birthday this Christmas?                                                                   

Have you given Jesus your all this Christmas?

Make this the Christmas Christ truly gets the Birthday Present He has earned and has been dreaming of most…