Daniel wanted his people to return to the promised land
God was teaching Daniel that things weren't just about restoring His people
Daniel was told to be patient and persevere
Are we impatient - personal example, Church example
Overview:
v25-27
Universally acknowledged that these are some of the most difficult passages in Scripture
Study yourself
Compare with Rev 11-13
Comments:
Some scholars say that one week equals one year - 70 sevens
7 weeks, 62 weeks, 1 final week
When does the command to rebuild Jerusalem begin:
590 – the word from Jeremiah?
538 – the decree of Cyrus?
457 - the 1st decree of Artaxerxes?
444 – the 2nd decree of Artaxerxes?
Messiah - Jesus Christ v26
Overview:
Common positions
Common threads
Clear Messages
Common positions
John Lennox
Dates the start from 444 – the 2nd decree of Artaxerxes
Two periods:
Reconstruction in the time of Nehemiah (7 weeks)
Intertestimental period (62 weeks)
A total of 483 lunar years (30 days per month/360 days per year) = 476 solar years which takes you from 444 to 33AD (i.e. the year of Christ's death)
The final week is the end times
Paul Mallard
Dates the start from 457 – the 1st decree of Artaxerxes
First period - Time of rebuilding (7 weeks)
Second period - runs from 408BC to AD26 (If Jesus was born in 4BC then at AD26 he is 30 yrs old. This is the time he was baptised and anointed.)
The final period - is split in two halves (v27)
The first 3½ years take us from AD 26 to AD 29.5 when Jesus was crucified at age 33 and put an end to sacrifice
The second 3½ years refer to the time when the Antichrist will be revealed
Dale Ralph Davies
A symbolic view
The first period - a relatively restricted time from prophecy of Jeremiah to decree of Cyrus (594 – 538)
The second period - a relatively extended time which includes the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the intertestamental period, the cross, the destruction of Jerusalem, and tumultuous times until the ‘end of the war’
The final period - a climatic time when the enemy of God imposes false worship and is finally destroyed
Compare Revelation
Are the figures literal or symbolic
Undertake further study
Common Threads
See SHEET - download above
The Messages
God is the God of history
Consider the wise Magi, Simeon & Anna
God wrote instructions for Daniel to understand the times and the seasons
We have details of what will happen in the end times
We should take note of these things but be careful to be exact
At the heart of history in the Cross of Christ where He was cut off for His people
There will be persecution and difficulty in the end times
God is a God of judgment and love
cf Dan 9 or 11
Daniel was shown things he didn't understand
God is Lord of all
This passage was given for the encouragement of His people
This passage is to teach us patient, to tell us to trust God, to remind us that suffering is part of the Christian life
God's purpose is to bless His people, bring an end to sin and bring in everlasting righteousness
