God's Sovereignty Revealed

JULY 24, 2022 STUDY NOTES DANIEL 9:24 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY REVEALED INTRODUCTION The angel Gabriel was sent to give Daniel the answer to his prayer, 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. 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 God determined a future time-period of “seventy weeks” for Israel The Hebrew word for “weeks” refers to a collection of 7 things Just as the English word “dozen” refers to a collection of 12 things So, it literally reads “seventy sevens,” a time-period of 70 x7, which equals 490 The context of scripture only allows the time-period to represent years Gabriel told Daniel that God had determined a time-period of 490 years upon Israel The “seventy sevens” are divided into three groups or three periods Seven sevens or 49 years; 62 sevens or 434 years; and a final 7-year period The first two periods added together are 483 years and have literally been fulfilled (vs. 25) There is a time gap between the fulfilled 483 years and the final seven years (vs. 26) The final 7-year period is yet to come, and it will literally be fulfilled (vs. 27) An important question is, “why was Daniel praying for his people?” He knew that because of their disobedience unto God, his people were in captivity He also knew how long the Babylonian captivity would last, Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Daniel realized that the seventy years of Babylonian captivity was almost over What was God going to now do with the nation of Israel? Israel continually looked for the coming of Messiah to establish the Kingdom for them Could it now be time for the Kingdom to be established? God revealed that “seventy sevens” of years (490 years) had been determined “upon thy people” Upon the people that Daniel was praying for, God’s covenant people, the nation of Israel God cut off 490 years of time to accomplish His future-plan for Israel The 490-year period identifies the future of Daniel’s people and their city, Jerusalem Keep in mind that they are the people and the city that Daniel was praying for (Important point) 490 years, which will have to be completed before the Kingdom would be established God reveals six distinct purposes of the 490-year period known as “Daniel’s 70 Weeks” So-called because they are revealed to Daniel through the angel Gabriel (vs. 24) The first three are negative, and the last three are positive 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 Page 1 of 5 TO FINISH THE TRANSGRESSION (Daniel 9:24) The context is “the transgression” of Israel, God’s chosen people Referring to the rebellion of Israel against God’s law and God’s commandments Israel’s willful rebellion against divine authority, against God and His Word The very thing that led them into captivity was Israel’s rebellion against the Lord They did not do what God told them to do, and they did what God told them not to do Even after the end of their captivity they did not repent and become obedient to the Lord The meaning of “To finish” is to bring a process to completion or consummation “To finish” means to bring something to an end, to complete or terminate That which is to be brought-to an end is “the transgression,” a specific transgression “The transgression,” refers to the national transgression of Israel, their unbelief Israel’s specific transgression that will be brought-to an end is their rejection of the Messiah The nation of Israel continues to reject Jesus as the Messiah, they are still looking for the Messiah Israel’s acceptance of Jesus as their Messiah is still in the future for the Jews As a result of the 70th week of Daniel and the return of Christ, Israel will accept the truth of, Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Jews will accept that “our” and “we” includes “us all,” especially God’s chosen nation Israel The rebellion of Israel will not end until the end of the 490-year prophetic time-period At which time Israel will repent and turn to Jesus Christ as their Messiah Israel will then be saved and restored to her land as-a result of the cross of Jesus, Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. “My people” first-of all refers to God’s covenant people Israel But also includes all Jews and Gentiles who accept Jesus as Savior under God’s “New Covenant” The first coming of Jesus provided atonement for the sins of the world, for Jew and Gentile God promised to make a New Covenant with Israel someday (Jeremiah 31:31-40) Which came through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. God is calling Jew and Gentile unto eternal life through the “New Covenant,” Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. God is currently calling out a people through the salvation of Jews and Gentiles Individual Jews and Gentiles are being saved and united together in the body of Christ, the church God’s covenant promises to Israel will be fulfilled as a-result of the “New Covenant” The present unbelief of Israel and the individual Jews salvation is a “mystery” now revealed, Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. The time of the Gentiles is the time of Gentile oppression and persecution of Israel Which began with the Babylonian captivity of Israel and continues until the end of the 70 th Week The “fulness of the Gentiles” will be Israel’s persecution by the Antichrist during the 70th week When the fulness of the Gentiles has come in, God will deal with the nation of Israel once again Page 2 of 5 Which is a promise from God, Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: God has promised to deliver His people, which is the meaning of “all Israel shall be saved” The promise is not the salvation of every Jew, but that Israel will accept Jesus as their Messiah When Christ returns Israel will repent and turn to Jesus Christ as the Messiah Which will be the fulfillment of “To finish the transgression” Israel will become the nation that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. TO MAKE AN END OF SINS (Daniel 9:24) “To make an end” means to restrict, to finish, to conclude, to bring to closure In the days of the OT, Israel came before God on the Day of Atonement because of sin The High Priest made an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement Which allowed a restored relationship (reconciliation) between the people and God The nation of Israel sought atonement for their sins “year by year,” Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. But those sacrifices could never “make the comers thereunto perfect” “Make perfect” refers to attaining an end or fulfilling a purpose, which was never complete They could not attain their goal of perfection through the OT sacrificial system, Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. The priests could not stop offering their sacrifices because there was no “perfection” If the worshipers could have been made complete, the sacrifices would have stopped If there had only been one perfect sacrifice, then they would “have ceased” Their aim or goal of entering-into the eternal presence of God was never achieved So, what did those sacrifices do? Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. The Day of Atonement focused on the sins committed since the previous sacrifice Sins were never put away permanently through animal sacrifices They only reminded worshipers of the fact of sin itself and the guilt that it brings They were reminded of the need of a sacrifice to remove the sin and its guilt A reminder that sin is a barrier to a right relationship with God Revealing that there is no fellowship or personal relationship with God without the purging of sin We are plainly told what the animal sacrifices could not do, Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. It was impossible for the blood of animals to “take away sins,” or “to make an end of sins” Without the removal of sin, the worshiper could not enter the presence of God Without the removal of sin, the worshiper cannot serve God with a clear conscience We are told that there came a body prepared for sacrifice, Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: The one who came into the world is Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior for Jews, and Gentiles A body was prepared through the virgin birth of Jesus, Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you (Israel) a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Jesus was the one who came to fulfill all-of the OT sacrificial requirements “To make an end of sins” required the first coming of Jesus, Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. The reason Jesus came to the earth was to “take away the sin of the world,” Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away Page 3 of 5 the sin of the world. Jesus died for the sins of the world, 1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Jesus died for us, 1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Jesus died in our place for our benefit, 1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: So, God’s plans for Israel and the world required the first coming of Jesus to the earth God’s plans for Israel and the world also requires the second coming of Jesus To “make an end of sins,” refers to the final judgment of the sins of Israel during the 70 th week That will be the “sealing up” of the specific sin of Israel’s rebellion, Eze 37:23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save (deliver) them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. God’s purpose for Israel will be fulfilled, God’s purpose for the church will be fulfilled The conclusion of God’s dealings with the sin of all humanity will be when Christ returns--TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY (Daniel 9:24) “Reconciliation” is a most important theological word found in the OT and NT It has to do with the remission of sin, not just the thought of the covering of sin The meaning is, the cancellation of sin, or the cancellation of “iniquity” Daniel knew that the problem with Israel was their “iniquity,” Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. If Israel would have turned to God, they would have turned from their iniquities (repentance) Seeking God would have given them understanding of God’s truth When people do not seek the Lord, sin and iniquity is their only path of life When people do not seek the Lord, they have no understanding of the truth of life They have no understanding of the truth of sin which separates us from God’s life True repentance is turning to God, turning from evil, and desiring to live the truth No one truly turns from sin and iniquity until they truly repent when turning to God Repentance will reveal the truth of God’s righteousness, God’s actions are always right, Dan 9:16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. Israel’s present problem (their captivity) was the sins and iniquities of the “fathers” of Israel God’s people, who were called upon to glorify God, had become a “reproach” Their actions had brought shame and disgrace upon that which was of God Which required “reconciliation for iniquity,” which required the first coming of Jesus, Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. “Reconciliation” would not be possible apart from the cross of Jesus, Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. The cross of Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah, was the atonement for the iniquity of Israel The cross of Jesus was the atonement for the sins of the world, 2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath Page 4 of 5 committed unto us the word of reconciliation. The emphasis in Daniel’s vision is upon Israel and their reconciliation The cross of Jesus will become real to the nation of Israel when Christ returns They will look on Him whom they have pierced, Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. There will be a remnant of the nation of Israel who will be saved at that time The pouring out of the Spirit upon them will result in their “looking upon Him” They will “look to Him” in faith and repentance, Hos 3:5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. It will be in the “latter days,” when Christ returns to fulfill His covenant promises Israel will “seek the LORD their God,” and their king will be the Lord Jesus When Jesus returns a fountain of forgiveness will be opened for Israel, Zec 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Cleansing made possible through the death, burial, and resurrection of their Messiah Calvary opened the cleansing fountain for Israel and the whole world The Christ on Calvary was the Savior who saves from sin The Christ on Calvary is qualified to be King of Kings and to--“BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS” “AND TO SEAL UP THE VISION AND PROPHECY” “AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY” PRAISE GOD! GLORY TO HIS NAME! Stand and sing along with the video Page 5 of 5