God's Sovereignty Revealed (Part 2)

JULY 31, 2022 STUDY NOTES DANIEL 9:24 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY REVEALED (Part 2) INTRODUCTION Daniel was praying for his people Israel and the city of Jerusalem Daniel was given a vision of the future of Israel and the city of Jerusalem The angel Gabriel was sent to interpret the vision to Daniel, Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Gabriel told Daniel that God had determined a time-period of 490 years upon Israel The 490-year period concerned the future of Daniel’s people, Israel, and their city, Jerusalem God reveals six distinct purposes of the 490-year period known as “Daniel’s 70 Weeks” None of which could be fulfilled apart from the first coming of Jesus All of which cannot be ultimately fulfilled until the return of Christ The fulfillment of each one requires the first and second coming of Jesus Christ The ultimate fulfillment of each one requires the events within the “70 th Week of Daniel” The final 7 years of the 490 years determined upon Israel must literally take place Last week we studied the first three purposes having to do with transgression, sins, and iniquity Which reveals God dealing with that which is a negative relationship toward God Today we will study the last three which involve a positive relationship with God The end results of the 70th week will be a positive relationship with God for all believers All believers of all ages will share in the fulfillment of the 70 Weeks of Daniel’s prophecy TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS (Daniel 9:24) “To bring in” has the thought of causing something to take place, God can do that at any time When Christ returns, He will “bring in” an age of righteousness, the millennial kingdom Which will become “everlasting righteousness,” righteousness forever, throughout eternity The meaning of “Righteousness” is standing in a right relationship with God Because of our sinful nature no one stands righteous before God, Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Emphasis) Righteousness is only possible through faith in Christ, Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: “All” who are unrighteous can become righteous in Christ Our right standing before God is by faith in Jesus, by believing in and receiving Jesus And there is no distinction among sinners, Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. All are sinners, all sinners need to be saved, all sinners are saved the same way, Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Are you saved?) Righteousness for sinners could not be accomplished without the coming of the Messiah The imputed righteousness of Christ was made possible by the Messiah on the cross, 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Through the cross Jesus has been given authority over all His enemies and our enemies Page 1 of 5 Christ will return to reign as King of Kings, Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. When He returns, He will establish righteousness upon the earth, Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. The “righteous Branch” refers to the reign of Christ in the millennial Kingdom His redemptive work on the cross is the basis for His Kingly rule of righteousness And fulfilled at His return, Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely, which refers to all 12 tribes And the Messiah shall be called, “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” The nation Israel will continue to be preserved even through the time of the Great Tribulation Which will be the time of Israel’s greatest persecution ever, Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. God has promised Israel that they will dwell in their “own land,” Jer 23:8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. A remnant of Israel will be saved to enter-into “Everlasting Righteousness” All-of the saved, OT and NT saints, will enter-into “Everlasting Righteousness,” 2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (All of the righteous will dwell in eternal righteousness) “We” who are saved, Christ will fulfill His promise to us, which we can now “look for” We look for Christ to return and a renewed cosmos, “new heavens and a new earth” The evil works of Satan and the demonic forces will have been defeated and cleansed There will be nothing left to remind us of the results of sin and evil “Righteousness” will dwell, righteousness will have a new permanent home, Isa 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. “Everlasting Righteousness” will begin with the 1,000-year reign of Christ (Millennium) “Everlasting Righteousness” will merge from the Millennial Kingdom into the Eternal Kingdom, Isa 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. (Perpetually, permanently, endless, righteousness and peace) There shall be eternal security, quietness, and assurance because of God’s light, Isa 60:20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. There will be no more “mourning” because death will be completely destroyed, Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. Death is the last enemy to be destroyed, and God will wipe away all tears, Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. All-of the promises of God will be fulfilled for all of God’s people forever, Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. When He comes there will be no more need of vision and prophecy TO SEAL UP THE VISION AND PROPHECY (Daniel 9:24) “Vision and prophecy” will be brought-to an end, all will be fulfilled, both OT and NT promises We have already been told that sin will be sealed up and righteousness will reign With sin sealed up there will no longer be a need for “vision and prophecy” Page 2 of 5 “Vision and prophecy” came after sin entered-into the world, Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This is the first prophecy of the coming Messiah found in scripture It is the prophecy of the conflict of the ages, Satan versus God, the results of the fall of man The first promise of the coming Messiah is found in “her seed,” the virgin birth of Jesus The Messiah was bruised in His heel, which refers to the cross of Jesus, Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. But the day is coming when Jesus will bruise the “head” of Satan Which was accomplished when Jesus went to the cross, Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. “All things” will be made right “by Him” Which will literally be brought to completion when Christ returns to defeat Satan, Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Until that day all believers will continue to be afflicted by the powers of Satan and evil But our victory over Satan today is in the crucified and living Christ (Ephesians 6:10-18) Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Our victory in the future will be the return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords All “vision and prophecy” stands upon the promise and prophecy of Genesis 3:15 Jesus would be born of a virgin, a body prepared to be the perfect sacrifice for sin Jesus died on the cross, was buried in the tomb, and resurrected to life Christ is now at the right hand of God awaiting His return to bruise the head of Satan (Rev 5) Then, God will no longer need to communicate His message to man through a vision Nothing else will need to be revealed to Israel or the church through prophecy There will no longer be the need of prophecy, literally, the need of a prophet God will need no spokesman, no one to speak-forth for God, all will have been said The prophet was the chosen one of God and inspired by God’s Spirit, 2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. They were not sinless men, they were not super-saints, they were “holy men” “Holy” means they were set-apart by God for-the purpose of God The vision and prophecy of Daniel reveals that the purpose and plan of God will be fulfilled Everything promised, everything prophesied will be summed up and finalized by Christ God will complete the promises of His unconditional covenants: The Abrahamic covenant, Gen 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. (An everlasting covenant) The Davidic Covenant, 2Ch 21:7 Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever. (A light forever) The “light” that would come through the lineage of David was Christ With Christ would come salvation and the Kingdom of Righteousness And the New Covenant, Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: The “New Covenant” is with the whole united Israelite nation (Israel and Judah) Israel will be restored in the last days, at the second coming of Christ Page 3 of 5 The realization of the New Covenant will not be like the Mosaic Covenant, which was a conditional covenant, Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: The New Covenant is based upon the completed work of Christ upon the cross All who are saved will be God’s people forever Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Israel will have been forgiven, cleansed, and will enter-into all that God has promised All believers will be present with Christ in all-of His glory, Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. There will no longer be a need for vision or prophecy, all prophecy will be fulfilled Theologians debate the final purpose of God within the prophecy of the “Seventy Weeks” TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY (Daniel 9:24) “To anoint” is to set something or someone apart for divine service, for God’s use Identifying someone or something as set apart for a special purpose of God Among Bible scholars there are two different views concerning this last purpose One view is that it refers to the anointing of the “most Holy Place,” the Holy of Holies Referring to the millennial Temple, which is to be rebuilt in the time of the Millennium In the original it literally reads, “holy of holy,” or “a holiness of holiness” Daniel had prayed for the sanctuary that is desolate (9:17) a specific request “To anoint the most holy” is therefore a specific answer to Daniel’s request When Christ returns, He will take His rightful place on His throne in the Holy Place Another view is that “to anoint the Most Holy” refers to the “Most Holy Person” It appears to me that this view results in the fact that the first view will be accomplished Identifying the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God (Revelation 5) He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. The completed redemptive work of the “Holy One” will result in “a holiness of holinesses” All things holy, Zec 14:20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Zec 14:21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. Holiness was the original purpose of God for His chosen nation, Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. When Christ returns His people will be cleansed, the land and all things will be cleansed All will be “holiness unto the Lord,” all prophecy will be fulfilled When the “Holy One” returns to the earth Mount Zion will be restored Israel will be restored back to God’s “Holy Mountain” The “Temple” will be restored again on the summit of God’s “Holy Mountain” The rule upon earth will be restored to its “Rightful King” The rightful King of Kings is the Lord of Lords, who is the “Most Holy,” Luk 1:35 And the Page 4 of 5 angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing (offspring of holiness) which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. The “Son of God” has been promised the “Throne,” Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: The last purpose of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks will be fulfilled, “to anoint the Most Holy” All-of which Daniel had seen in a vision, Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. It is the most “Holy One” who will make all things holy, Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. God Almighty will anoint the “Most Holy” and all saints will serve and obey Him, Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. All saints will be glorified with Christ, Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Before glory will come trials, troubles, pressure, oppression, and persecution But it will be worth it all, Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The glory of the Lord will be revealed in us Stand and sing with the video Page 5 of 5