THE BEGINNING OF THE 490 YEAR PROPHECY

AUGUST 7, 2022 STUDY NOTES DANIEL 9:25 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES THE BEGINNING OF THE 490 YEAR PROPHECY INTRODUCTION (REVIEW OF ISRAEL’S PAST) Israel had disobeyed God, they had transgressed God’s law, they had sinned against God God instructed Israel concerning the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee (Lev. 25:1-13) Israel had not kept the sabbath years, 70 sabbath years had not been kept Which was a time-period of 70 x 7, seventy sevens of years equals 490 years Israel’s debt to God was 70 sabbath years, God said, you owe me 70 years, I will collect Israel’s Babylonian captivity was for 70 years because of their neglect of the sabbatical years Israel had violated 70 sabbaths, which covered a period of 490 years (2 Chronicles 36:21) Their time of captivity looked backward to a time of 490 years of Israel’s transgression God reveals to Daniel a prophecy concerning Israel for a future time of 490 years The prophecy of 70 sevens looked forward for a determined time of 490 years (Daniel 9:24) Another 490-year time-period before the 6 purposes of God would be fulfilled (vs 24) The first coming of Jesus and the cross of Calvary made possible their fulfillment The complete fulfillment of each one will not be applied until Christ returns to the earth Daniel was given a vision of the future 490-years, Gabriel was sent to explain the vision Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. Why does Gabriel tell Daniel that he must “know and understand?” The word “know” has the meaning of “to perceive, to discern, or to experience” Gabriel told Daniel to perceive and understand what you have seen in the vision It appears that Daniel had already seen the vision and Gabriel was sent to interpret it to Daniel Gabriel told Daniel to “understand,” Daniel must have “spiritual insight” to understand God had gifted Daniel with spiritual understanding when he was a young man, Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Here the word “skill” is the same word as “understand” in Daniel 9:25 Daniel was gifted with understanding, yet God sent Gabriel that Daniel might “understand,” Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. (Beyond what Daniel already possessed) Again, the word “skill” is the same word as understand in Daniel 9:25 God sent Gabriel to Daniel to give him “skill,” meaning to give Daniel spiritual “insight” To give Daniel “understanding” beyond that he possessed, to give him prophetic insight God wanted Daniel to understand the truths of God revealed in the “Seventy Weeks” Which reveals to us the significance and importance of Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks God wants us to understand what He has written concerning the future, especially the last days Understanding the 70 Weeks of Daniel is the key to understanding other related prophecies For example, you cannot fully understand the NT “Revelation” apart from Daniel’s 70 weeks We can say that the Revelation is a commentary on Daniel 9:24-27 Daniel is to understand the time of the beginning of the 70 Weeks Page 1 of 4 Which is critical because it is a historical moment of utmost importance, outlining the future The 490-year time-period begins with the commandment “to restore and to build Jerusalem” There are several decrees related to the return of the Jews and the rebuilding of their homeland But there is only one decree that agrees with the text of Daniel 9:25 It was issued in the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes, which would be in 445 BC Nehemiah stood before King Artaxerxes, Neh 2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Nehemiah stood sadly before the king and the king recognized his sadness, Neh 2:2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, Nehemiah’s sorrow was for the city of his people, Jerusalem, Neh 2:3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, (Jerusalem) the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Neh 2:4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. Prayer strengthened Nehemiah to make his request and opened the door for God to answer His request could have very well angered the king and brought death to Nehemiah Nehemiah knew what he must do, he “prayed to the God of heaven” (Learn to do that?) God answered his prayer, and we find a most remarkable request granted, Neh 2:5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. Nehemiah asked the king to send him to the “city” of Jerusalem that he might “build it” Artaxerxes allowed Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem, Neh 2:6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the city and the walls, Neh 2:8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. Conservative Bible scholars agree that this is the decree referred to in Daniel 9:25 The decree was specifically to restore and rebuild Jerusalem And it would be built in “troublous times,” times of distress, times of distressful circumstances Severe “times of distress” took place during Nehemiah’s day There are many references found in the book of Nehemiah describing how difficult it was Nehemiah met with great opposition, even from Jews living outside the city (Neh. 4:11-23) Nehemiah armed his people with swords, spears, and bows Half of them would work and the other half stood guard with their armor There were those who worked with one hand and held a spear in the other hand Everyone had a sword by their side and there were guards ready to sound an alarm They stood ready to blow the trumpet in case of an attack They slept with their clothes on in case of an attack at night The only time they took off their clothes was to wash them Nehemiah assured his people that they were in God’s hands, Neh 4:20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. Again, we see the accuracy of Daniel’s prophecy, Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. The beginning of the 490-year period was the decree to restore and build Jerusalem Page 2 of 4 “The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times” “The street” was a public square, an open place, where people met, an important place “The wall” was a defensive barrier of some sort, a protection from enemy attacks Some believe it to be a trench or a moat that was cut out around the city All was done “in troublous times,” political, military, and religious opposition The work of the Lord has never been easy, don’t expect it to be easy today, Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Satan’s demonic forces) The last days will be difficult days for God’s faithful people (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Notice the break-down of the 490 years, there are “seven weeks,” weeks has the meaning of 7 So, seven times seven years would be a period of 49 years Then there is another period of “threescore and two weeks” (62 times 7 would be 434 Years) Adding the two periods together, 49 years plus 434 years, comes to 483 years Verse 25 states that from the time of the decree to restore and to build Jerusalem Until the time of “the Messiah the Prince,” would be 69 weeks or 483 years At least two Bible scholars from the past have estimated the exact time of the first 483 years Their math works out to the very day, from the beginning day until the last day of the 483 years A British Bible scholar, Sir Robert Anderson, researched the time-period of the 69 weeks He broke it down into days moving forward from the beginning of the 69 weeks or 483 years Counting the exact days until the time identified as “the Messiah the Prince” Dr. Harold Hoehner calculated the same period and came to the same day The works of both men are too detailed for our notes (Check their names on internet) Counting the days and years they both came to a certain point in time Bringing us to Daniel’s words, “unto the Messiah the Prince” Understand that the word “unto” signifies up to a certain point in time Literally, the time of the appearance of “the Messiah,” there is only one true “Messiah” And “the Messiah” is “the Prince,” there is only one true “Prince,” and He is “the Messiah” So, what is the meaning of, “unto the Messiah the Prince?” It is the time of a specific event which identified “the Messiah” as “the Prince” (King of Israel) There is only one event in the gospel accounts describing Daniel’s words Jesus made many trips into Jerusalem, but there was only one such trip as described in, Joh 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Jesus was coming to Jerusalem to present Himself in a way that He had not previously done Jesus came to Jerusalem presenting Himself as the “King of Israel,” the people recognized it, Joh 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. The multitude honored Him, hailing Him with hosannas, which means “save us now” (deliver us) Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a young donkey, Joh 12:14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, (Important point) Proclaiming to Israel that He was their King, Joh 12:15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. At that time the disciples did not realize that Jesus was once again fulfilling prophecy, Joh 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, (important point) and that they had done these things unto him. In the book of Zechariah, Israel was living under the terror and persecution of a great warrior They were facing Alexander the Great and the terror of his evil armies Zechariah announces the coming of Israel’s king and Savior, Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Page 3 of 4 shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. In the time of Israel’s persecution, they are called upon to “rejoice greatly,” to shout with joy Israel is given the reason for such rejoicing, they are told to “behold,” to give attention Israel, you have a King who is going to come, He will “come unto thee” He is coming to you, for your good, for your benefit, He is righteous, and He is just He will bring “salvation,” He will bring forth the evidence that He is the Savior He is “lowly,” the most-humble servant ever known to man, Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Israel was told to remain faithful unto God, their King was going to come, He came to Jerusalem, Mat 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? Israel was to look for a King riding on a lowly colt, they literally witnessed it fulfilled But the prophecy of Zechariah was not completely fulfilled that day, Zec 9:10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion (yet to come) shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. (Prophecy that will be fulfilled) Jesus must come again in-order to fulfill Zechariah 9:10 But He will not come again as a humble servant riding a young colt He will come riding a white horse to do exactly what Zechariah prophesied, Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. No one will ask, “Who is this?” All will know “Who He is,” Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Today we face trials, troubles, and tribulations, we may even face persecution But we must remain faithful today, because one day face to face we shall behold Him Listen to the song Page 4 of 4