At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore, consider the matter, and understand the vision: “Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy. Daniel 9: 23-24 NKJV
There are times when we are fervently in prayer that we long to know the answer. We want to know that our feeble cries have been heard. We want to know that God not only hears; but, acts on our behalf. How comforting to read these words, “at the beginning of your supplications the command went out.” There was no delay in God commanding his angel Gabriel to go and reveal to Daniel that his prayers had been heard. There is no delay in God hearing our cries either. What was the first words from his lips, “I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved”. Greatly beloved. Are those not the sweetest words to our ears when we are facing trials? To know that I am greatly beloved by God. I am His Beloved Child! Secondly, the angel said, “consider the matter and understand the vision.” Perhaps the second greatest words when in the middle of the storms of life. God comes to comfort, to guide, and to help us understand the trial. Note, Gabriel did not immediate remove Daniel from captivity nor the people; but, he did come to help Daniel see the bigger picture. The gospel story that would come. He also helped Daniel to see the final victorious end of the story.
When we are able to understand the bigger picture, we are able to endure the moments of trials. When we fully understand that the suffering of this moment brings a greater weight of glory, then we can rejoice even in the midst of our suffering. When we recognize that eternity in the presence of God awaits us, then we can endure the sufferings of this present world with a steadfast faith and an undergirding of joy in the knowledge of God. We can rest in the Grace of God, knowing that no matter how bad things may look at any given moment; God is working all things together for good to all who know Him. This momentary affliction is not our final destiny.
With that in mind, let us look at the words that Gabriel spoke to Daniel. Again, this was not going to be fully realized in Daniels lifetime; but, it was going to come to pass. It is the view of the bigger picture; both for Daniel and for us.
There would be 70 weeks—this actually as is more accurately broken down by understanding the Hebrew word that became translated as weeks here actually meant multiples of seven and would more accurately be interpreted, 70 x7 years. This you can research further; but, for this post it would be too much to go fully into all the calculations that many brilliant scholars have already done. There is a divide between the first 69 multiples of 7 years and the final 70th week. Daniel 9 does point out that
Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street[c] shall be built again, and the wall,[d]
Even in troublesome times.“And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, Daniel 9:25-26 NKJV
Greater scholars than I have shown that from the time that the decree of Artaxerxes in March of 444 BC until Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem as the Messiah in April 33 AD was exactly 173,880 days which equals the 483 years calculating them as 360 days per year as was done in the Jewish Calendar. Then Christ died on the cross—here referred to as the Messiah shall be cut off. That concurs with Isaiah’s description of Christ’s crucifixion in Isaiah 53:8 where he wrote:
for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken
The first 69 weeks fulfilled the first 3 of the promises given to Daniel:
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity
When the Messiah came and took our place on the cross, he made the final payment for our transgression. For all who accept his gift of salvation we have victory over the wretched penalty of our sin. Our iniquity has been covered by the blood of the Messiah. Just as certain as Daniel’s vision of the Messiah came true down to the exact day; we can be certain that God will usher in the final 7 years at some time in the future to complete the prophecy. This is our assurance, proven over and over again by scripture.
He will bring in everlasting righteousness. He will establish His kingdom and all we who know Him as our Savior and King will be forever in His presence. Yet, a little while and we will be with Him in Glory. Until that day, Daniel’s vision also said there will be trials on this earth. There will be fighting and suffering; but, just as certain as the Messiah came to die as our propitiation for sin, He will come again to Reign Eternal.
Knowing that truth, then what need I worry about the trivialities of today!! Knowing that God will return to restore His Kingdom, shouldn’t my greatest mission be about telling others of His Grace, His truth.
Is there anything more important than spreading the gospel to a world in need of salvation?
I want to lay aside all my selfish desires to become God’s willing servant and spread His words of grace.
[bctt tweet=”Knowing the truth of our destiny; the trials along the journey become stepping stones to Glory.” username=”effiedarlene”]
Will you join me?
Photo used by permission https://unsplash.com/@vilson
New King James Version(NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.