Thriving Spiritually While Looking For Christ
Thriving Spiritually in a World of Opposition • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The day I laid eyes on Angie Veltman, I was overwhelmed with something profound:
Hope.
I knew—deep in my soul—that I had just seen the woman I wanted to marry.
There was only one small problem…
She didn’t feel the same way.
While I was falling head over heels, she was putting me squarely in the friend zone.
But I was undeterred. I believed that with time, persistence, and just the right amount of charm (and maybe pity), I could win her over.
And praise God—I did.
I wore her down. True love prevailed.
Hope fulfilled.
In a much deeper, more desperate way, Daniel was longing for hope too.
Hope that God hadn’t forgotten His people.
Hope that the exile would end.
Hope that the land would be restored, the temple rebuilt, and Israel ruled by a righteous King.
He wasn’t just longing for deliverance—he was longing for a Kingdom.
And for a King.
What Daniel didn’t fully grasp at the time was that all of those hopes—every single one—would be fulfilled.
Not just politically.
Not just nationally.
But gloriously, eternally, and personally in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom would come.
It wouldn’t arrive on Daniel’s timeline.
But it would be far better than he ever dreamed.
Main Idea: All of God’s _Promises_ Find Their Yes in _Jesus_!
Here’s the truth: Jesus is the reason any of God’s promises come true.
Without Jesus, there’s no hope.
No restoration.
No Kingdom.
But because of Jesus—because He is the King—every promise God has made will be fulfilled.
But what does Jesus have to do with Daniel?
Why would a prophet living 500 years before Christ point us to Him?
Because Daniel saw Him, spoke of Him, and prophesied about Him—especially in the stunning vision we’re about to explore.
And it all starts with a message from heaven—sent to a humble man on his knees.
Let’s see how God’s promise of hope begins to unfold.
1. God Gives a Promise of _Hope_ (vs. 20-23)
In verses 1–19, Daniel studies the writings of the prophet Jeremiah and discovers the 70 years of exile are almost over. But instead of celebrating, he hits his knees—confessing his sins and the sins of his people.
Why?
Because Jeremiah didn’t just promise restoration—he called for repentance:
10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Daniel read that. He believed it. And he obeyed it. He confessed, pleaded for mercy, and asked God to fulfill His Word.
And while he was still praying, God answered:
20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.
Gabriel—a messenger from heaven—shows up mid-prayer! What was his mission?
22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding.
God didn’t send vague encouragement or general comfort. He sent an angel with specific truth.
23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.
Picture in your mind Daniel in prayer…
As Daniel pleaded for mercy from God, the text says this interesting phrase - “a word went out…”
God HEARD the prayer of Daniel.
God actually listened to Daniels plea for mercy.
God wanted to hear from Daniel!
And when He heard from Daniel, He answered Daniel and sent a WORD out on behalf of God - dispatched by the messenger Angel, Gabriel.
And isn’t it beautiful to see that along with the message was another message.
Do you see the other message? God wants Daniel to know that he is greatly loved.
It’s as if God, through Gabriel is saying,
“Daniel, I see you and I love you. You are not alone in this. But what I am about to show you is going to be very difficult for you to see and understand. But you, loved one, must listen to the Word of God and understand the vision!”
The ultimate benefit of this vision is HOPE! That’s what prophecy is about.
God is giving the faithful, the remnant of true believers, hope so they can press on in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Prophecy should never be about despair, but the vision of a brighter day for those that are loved by God.
Daniel was loved by God and for him there was a promise much hope.
This is what God’s Word always does—it brings hope. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals God’s plan to rescue, redeem, and reign. Not just to forgive sin—but to establish His kingdom, display His glory, and restore creation.
Hope isn’t wishful thinking. It’s anchored in the character of God and the promises He has made. That’s why prophecy exists—not to stir fear, but to fuel faith.
You may remember the lyrics from John Lennon’s Imagine?
One of the phrases in the song says,
“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one.”
― John Lennon
It sounds poetic—but ask this: What is that hope based on?
The goodwill of humanity?
The dream of global unity?
The wish that everyone will just get along?
That kind of hope is no hope at all—it has no foundation.
But Christian, your hope is different. It’s real, solid, unshakable—because it’s rooted in the promise-keeping God of the universe. He has made promises to Israel. He has made promises to His Church. And He will keep them all—because He cannot lie.
So what does this mean for you?
If God heard Daniel, He’ll hear you. If He answered in mercy, He still does. You may never get a visit from Gabriel—but you have something even better: God’s living Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
So pray like Daniel.
With humility.
With confidence.
With expectation.
Don’t wait until life breaks you. Let God’s promises drive you to prayer daily—because you, like Daniel, are greatly loved.
Review
Daniel cried out for mercy—and what he received was a message of hope.
God heard him, loved him, and gave him insight into a future filled with redemption.
We’re stepping into one of the most incredible prophecies in the Bible—one that stretches from Daniel’s day to the return of Christ.
And it all hinges on this: “All of God’s Promises Find Their Yes in Jesus.”
In verse 24, Gabriel gives Daniel a sweeping vision—a 490-year promise with six breathtaking goals. And every one of them is tied to redemption.
Let’s take a closer look…
2. God’s Promise of Hope is for _Redemption_ (vs. 24)
After Daniel pours out his heart in repentance, God responds—not with silence or vague comfort, but with a breathtaking promise through Gabriel:
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.
This single verse gives us a panoramic view of God’s redemptive plan for Israel.
The “seventy weeks” are seventy sevens of years—a 490-year timeline concerning Daniel’s people (Israel) and his holy city (Jerusalem).
By the end of that period, six monumental goals will be fulfilled—three dealing with sin, and three ushering in righteousness.
God's Promise Confronts Our Sin
“Finish the Transgression” – God promises to put an end to Israel’s long history of rebellion. Not a pause—an end. One day, their sin will be cut off, once and for all.
“Put an End to Sin” – This expands beyond Israel. It looks to the day when sin itself is judged and removed from the earth.
26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
“Atone for Iniquity” – Here’s the heart of the gospel.
The Hebrew means to cover, and only the blood of the Lamb can do that.
Jesus—fully God and fully man—lived the perfect life we couldn’t, died the death we deserved, and rose again to offer eternal life.
11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
This atonement is already applied to the church—Jew and Gentile alike, redeemed by faith.
But one day, it will be applied nationally to Israel:
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
and…
24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. 25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
God will finish what He started. That’s not just grace—that’s covenant faithfulness.
God's Promise Secures Our Future
“Bring in Everlasting Righteousness” – This points to the Millennial Kingdom—when Jesus returns to reign in righteousness over Israel and the world (cf. Isaiah 9:7). No corruption. No rebellion. Just righteousness like the waters cover the sea.
“Seal Up Vision and Prophecy” – No more need for new revelation. Why? Because all prophecy will be fulfilled under Christ’s rule. Every promise kept. Every vision complete.
Every vision ever given by God will find its ultimate fulfillment when Christ rules from Jerusalem.
“Anoint the Most Holy Place” – This refers to the Millennial Temple described in Ezekiel 40–48.
It’s not symbolic. It’s literal.
A cleansed, consecrated temple will be the center of worship in the Kingdom of Messiah on earth.
Yes, there is a future Kingdom of Christ on earth.
Yes—there is a future Kingdom of Christ on earth.
The Bible couldn’t be clearer: Jesus will reign for 1,000 years—literally, physically, visibly—on this planet.
This kingdom fulfills God’s covenants:
The Abrahamic Covenant: Israel will finally possess the full land God promised.
The Davidic Covenant: Jesus, Son of David, will rule from David’s throne in Jerusalem.
The Prophets: From Isaiah to Zechariah, the Old Testament points to a restored Jerusalem, renewed creation, and global worship.
Revelation 20 says six times: “He will reign for a thousand years.”
That hasn’t happened yet—but it will.
This reign is not for the church to claim as Israel.
The church is not Israel.
We were a mystery, revealed after Pentecost (Eph. 3:4–6).
We’ve been graciously grafted in—but not to replace Israel (Rom. 11:17–26).
Jesus will fulfill these prophecies literally—because God keeps His Word.
Invitation: Are You Ready?
The first Adam failed.
But the second Adam—Jesus Christ—will return, reign, and reverse the curse.
His Kingdom is more than doctrine—it’s a declaration:
Jesus is coming—not just to rescue, but to reign.
Are you ready?
If you don’t yet know Christ, this redemption is available—right now.
Not by your effort. Not by your goodness.
But by trusting in the One who bore your sin.
Jesus lived for you, died for you, rose for you—and He’s coming again.
Turn from your sin. Trust Him today.
God’s promise of redemption is coming for Israel—
and it’s available now for you.
Picture two men on death row.
One knows—deep in his soul—that he’s been redeemed by Jesus alone!
The other has no hope, no peace, no Savior.
Would their final days look the same?
One walks toward death with peace, anchored in the promise of eternal life.
The other sits in darkness, marinating in the unknown.
That’s the difference redemption makes.
That’s the hope Jesus brings.
Christian, remember: this life is the most Hell you will ever experience.
But if you’re not in Christ—this life is the most Heaven you’ll ever know.
That can change today.
Jesus is ready.
Hope is here.
Redemption is real.
Review:
We’ve seen that God gave hope (vv. 20–23).
We’ve now seen the promise of redemption (v. 24).
Now let’s see how it all comes together in the person of Jesus Christ.
3. God’s Promise of Hope Comes Through _Jesus_ (vs. 25-27)
Let’s slow down and walk through these verses carefully—because they contain one of the most stunning prophecies in all of Scripture.
25 Know therefore and understand…
Gabriel is urging Daniel—and us—not to miss what’s coming.
What follows is a prophetic countdown from the moment Jerusalem is ordered to be rebuilt to the arrival of Messiah.
25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem…
This is the starting point of the 70-week prophecy. Think of it as a stopwatch being set to zero.
This “word” or “decree” refers not to a vague prophetic statement, but to an actual royal command to restore and rebuild the city of Jerusalem—its walls, infrastructure, and civic life. The most fitting historical fulfillment of this decree is the command given by Artaxerxes I to Nehemiah in 444 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1–8). That’s when Jerusalem’s physical and governmental restoration was actually launched.
“…to the coming of an anointed one, a prince…”
25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince…
This is a reference to Messiah the Prince—Jesus Christ.
Now, someone might ask: How do we know it’s Jesus? Could it be someone else?
Good question. Here’s why we believe this is Jesus:
The Hebrew word “Mashiach” (Messiah) means “Anointed One.”
The term “Prince” refers to a royal ruler or leader—hinting at kingship.
Historically and contextually, this language goes beyond any post-exilic priest or leader like Joshua or Zerubbabel.
Ancient Jewish interpretations before Christ often understood this passage as Messianic.
And the timeline aligns with Jesus’ first coming.
25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks…
This is the trickiest part for many readers.
Let’s define the terms:
“Weeks” here refers to weeks of years—that is, one week = seven years. This is similar to how we might say “a decade” equals 10 years.
So “seven weeks” = 49 years, and “sixty-two weeks” = 434 years.
Altogether: 49 + 434 = 483 years.
Starting from 444 B.C., if you count forward 483 prophetic years (using 360-day biblical years), you land in the early 30s A.D.—right around the time of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In other words, this prophecy gave a countdown to the arrival of Messiah.
25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.
This refers back to the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The “squares” and “moat” refer to city infrastructure—public spaces and defensive features. But note: it wouldn’t be easy.
The rebuilding would happen “in a troubled time”—and Nehemiah confirms this. The walls went up amidst fierce opposition, threats, and hardship (Nehemiah 4–6). The prophecy is perfectly accurate.
Daniel 9:25 gives a precise timeline—from the royal decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of Jesus the Messiah—totaling 483 years, and it confirms that God's promises unfold with historical accuracy, even in the midst of human opposition.
26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing…
The “sixty-two weeks” follows the first seven weeks, making a total of 69 weeks of years, or 483 years from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (v. 25).
The “anointed one” (Hebrew: māšîaḥ) refers to Messiah the Prince—this is Jesus Christ.
“Shall be cut off” means He will be killed—a reference to the crucifixion. This prophecy, given over 500 years in advance, foretells the Messiah’s death.
“And shall have nothing” (or "but not for Himself") likely refers to the rejection and apparent failure of Jesus' first coming from a human standpoint. Though He is King, He was rejected by His people, crucified, and left with no earthly kingdom—yet.
This is fulfilled prophecy—Jesus died after the 69 weeks, exactly as predicted, but before the 70th week begins.
26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…
The “people” here are Romans, and “the prince who is to come” is a future world leader—the Antichrist (introduced fully in v. 27).
This refers to a real historical event: in A.D. 70, Titus, a Roman general (from the people of the future Antichrist), destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.
This was a judgment from God for Israel’s rejection of the Messiah—again, just as Jesus predicted (cf. Luke 19:41–44).
The prophecy precisely describes this destruction, which happened nearly 40 years after Jesus’ death.
26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
“With a flood” is figurative language for a sudden, overwhelming destruction—not water, but war and devastation.
The phrase “to the end there shall be war” indicates that conflict and turmoil will characterize the time between the 69th and 70th weeks.
“Desolations are decreed” means that God has sovereignly planned for this period of suffering and judgment to continue until His redemptive purposes are complete.
This signals that there is a gap—a prophetic pause—between the 69th and 70th weeks. During this time, the church is being built, and Israel remains in partial hardening (cf. Romans 11:25), awaiting her future restoration.
Daniel 9:26 foretells that after the Messiah comes and is killed, Jerusalem and the temple will be destroyed by Roman forces, and the world will remain in conflict and spiritual desolation until the final seven years of God’s prophetic plan unfold.
But Daniel’s vision doesn’t end there.
After Messiah’s death, the city and sanctuary are destroyed by “the people of the prince who is to come”—the Romans in AD 70.
Yet this prince is not Christ—it’s a future ruler, the Antichrist, who will rise in the 70th week (v. 27).
This is one of the most important—and most debated—verses in Bible prophecy. But when interpreted carefully and consistently, especially through a dispensational framework, its meaning becomes clear.
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week…
The “he” here refers back to “the prince who is to come” in verse 26—not the Messiah, but a future political leader—known elsewhere as the Antichrist (cf. 2 Thess. 2:3–4; Rev. 13).
“One week” again means seven years, so this is a seven-year covenant.
He makes a binding, seemingly peaceful treaty with many in Israel—likely promising security, peace, and possibly the freedom to rebuild or resume worship in a temple.
This seven-year period is what we know as the Tribulation.
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering…
At the 3½ year mark, the Antichrist breaks the covenant.
He halts the Jewish sacrificial system, which implies that a future temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices will be taking place again.
This lines up with Revelation 11 and Matthew 24:15, where Jesus references this exact moment: “the abomination of desolation.”
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate…
The “wing of abominations” is a poetic way of describing a detestable act of sacrilege—the Antichrist will desecrate the Jewish temple, likely by declaring himself to be god (2 Thess. 2:4).
This abomination causes desolation—it leads to deep spiritual defilement, persecution, and chaos, particularly for Israel.
This is the second half of the Tribulation, often called the Great Tribulation (cf. Matt. 24:21), a time of unprecedented distress for Israel and the world.
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
The Antichrist’s rule will not last forever.
God has already decreed his destruction. Revelation 19:20 shows Christ returning, defeating the Antichrist, and casting him into the lake of fire.
The “desolator” will meet his final, irreversible judgment—because no evil power, no matter how terrifying, can stand against the purposes of God.
Jesus Himself referenced this event in Matthew 24:15, showing it is still future.
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
Daniel 9:25–27 is one of the clearest messianic prophecies in all Scripture:
It predicts the timing of Jesus’ first coming.
It foretells His death, Israel’s judgment, and the rise of a false prince—the Antichrist.
And it promises the final triumph of Christ.
Jesus was the Messiah who was cut off for our sins.
But He’s coming again—to reign, to restore, and to fulfill every promise.
The Church doesn’t replace Israel—we’ve been grafted in.
But make no mistake: redemption has come through Jesus, and the best is yet to come.
Optimism is a wish without warrant; Christian hope is a certainty, guaranteed by God himself. Optimism reflects ignorance as to whether good things will ever actually come. Christian hope expresses knowledge that every day of his life, and every moment beyond it, the believer can say with truth, on the basis of God's own commitment, that the best is yet to come. J.I. Packer
You don’t need a chart to know what matters—you need a Savior.
Jesus is the One Daniel saw.
He’s the One who came—and the One who’s coming again.
The same Jesus who was cut off for your sin offers you mercy today.
Turn to Him. Trust Him. Be ready.
Review:
We’ve seen:
God gave a promise of hope (vv. 20–23).
God promised redemption (v. 24).
And here, we see that God’s promise of hope comes through Jesus—His coming, His cross, His return.
Conclusion
So… what now?
Don’t obsess over timelines—stand on truth.
Don’t bow to fear—walk by faith.
Jesus came. Jesus died. Jesus rose.
And Jesus is coming again.
Christian—live like it.
Pray like Daniel. Stand firm. Speak boldly.
This isn’t the end—it’s the countdown to glory.
And if you don’t know Christ—wake up.
The King who was “cut off” is coming back—
to reign in power, in a real Kingdom, on real ground.
But today—He offers mercy.
Turn. Trust. Be redeemed.
Before the King returns.
“The first time He came, He came to a tree—not a throne.
The next time He comes, it will be to a throne—and not a tree.”
— Unknown
The King is Coming! Are you ready?
