Preaching the Word
The "First Principle" podcasts which are numbered # are a great tool for believers to go over the essentials of the Christian Faith.
The "Mysteries of God's Word" podcasts are an indepth study of Scripture.
The other podcasts are sermons that have been given, some verse by verse and others topical.
It is my passion to be true to God and His Word. To preach in such a way that people can easily see the LORD as our Creator and as our Redeemer. To understand that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever even as we live in a world that is continually changing. Salvation is and has always been through faith alone in the Messiah alone. His name is Jesus the Christ; there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Preaching the Word
Daniel 9 - The Divine Timeline: Daniel's 70 Weeks - The Mysteries of God's Word
Prophecy unfolds with stunning precision in this exploration of Daniel 9, where we discover a divine timeline that maps humanity's journey from ancient Babylon to the Messiah's return.
The journey begins with Daniel deeply grieving over Jerusalem's destruction, wrapped in sackcloth and ashes as he confesses the sins of his people. His heartfelt prayer is dramatically interrupted when the angel Gabriel arrives with a revelation far exceeding Daniel's immediate concerns. Gabriel delivers the famous "70 weeks" prophecy—a 490-year timeline decreed specifically for the Jewish people and Jerusalem.
What makes this prophecy remarkable is its mathematical precision. Starting from Artaxerxes' decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 454 BC, the first 69 weeks (483 years) lead exactly to Jesus beginning His public ministry in 29 AD. Gabriel foretells that after this period, the Messiah would be "cut off"—fulfilled in Christ's crucifixion. The prophecy continues with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, creating a pattern that foreshadows the final Antichrist who will arise from a revived Roman Empire.
The most fascinating aspect is the final "70th week"—a seven-year period separated from the previous 69 by a gap spanning nearly two millennia. This final week begins when the Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel, only to break it halfway through, stopping the sacrificial system and setting up an "abomination of desolation" in the Temple. The prophecy culminates with Christ's triumphant return, defeating the Antichrist and establishing His eternal kingdom.
Whether you're a seasoned Bible student or new to prophecy, this passage reveals how God's sovereign plan unfolds with supernatural precision. The historically fulfilled portions give us confidence that the remaining prophecies will likewise come to pass. Listen now to discover how ancient words written over 2,500 years ago continue to illuminate our understanding of both history and the future.
Email: nathan@nathandietsche.com
Grace and peace to you from God, our Father and our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ. Today we are in Daniel, chapter 9, starting at verse 1. In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, by descent Amid, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans In the first year of his reign, I, daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely seventy years. These first two verses of Daniel, chapter 9, tell us that this is the first year of Darius, son of Ahasuerus' reign. This is in fact Darius the Mede, also known as Syaxares. He again was appointed as king over the Medo-Persian empire by Cyrus for those first two years after the fall of the Babylonian empire. And then Daniel tells us that he understood, according to the writings and the prophecies of Jeremiah the prophet, that the time for Jerusalem's ruin, jerusalem's desolation and Israel's exile into Babylonian captivity was over. More specifically, jeremiah had given a prophecy of 70 years, and that prophecy is found in Jeremiah 25, 11 through 13. In Jeremiah 25, 11-13. Jeremiah prophesied in great detail the judgment of all of the nations in the Middle East under the Babylonian captivity, as well as Babylon's eventual fall, in Jeremiah 46-51. And Daniel recognizes right now that this prophecy is coming to conclusion, picking up in verse 3,.
Speaker 1:In verse 3, we see Daniel prepare to seek God in prayer. His example here of preparation to pray shows his humility, his deep grief and his repentance that Daniel wanted to express to the Lord God. Fasting, as well as sackcloth and ashes, were a customary way in the Old Testament of expressing sincere remorse, humility and repentance. Then, in verses 4 through 19, daniel prays for his people, israel. Because there's so much more in chapter 9 we want to focus on today. I'm not going to read this whole prayer, but I will summarize it.
Speaker 1:Throughout the prayer, daniel confesses his sin and the sin of Israel. He uses phrases like we have sinned, we have done wrong, we've acted wickedly, we've rebelled, we have turned aside, we have not listened to your voice, we have done treachery against you, we have not obeyed, we have transgressed your law and we have not obeyed your voice. Right alongside this, while Daniel is confessing the sins of Israel, he's also proclaiming the faithfulness of God. Daniel declares that God is the one who keeps covenant and he is the one who has steadfast love. Daniel says To you O Lord, belongs righteousness. To the Lord, our God, belongs mercy and forgiveness. And Daniel also acknowledges that God is right and righteous to punish Israel because they have transgressed his law, and God is right to bring shame upon Israel and calamity upon them because they have not sought God. Finally, in Daniel's prayer, he pleads with the Lord to forgive his people, israel, the people who are called by God's name.
Speaker 1:Now, picking up in verse 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, 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. Came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 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. In verses 20 through 22, we learn that as Daniel is in the middle of his prayer, as he's still confessing and still pleading with God over the sins of Israel and that they might return to Jerusalem, the angel Gabriel comes to him and we're told that Gabriel arrives at the time of the evening sacrifice. The angel Gabriel tells Daniel that at the very beginning of his pleas to God, the Lord had sent out a. Daniel is greatly loved by God.
Speaker 1:Picking up in verse 24,. Picking up in verse 24, 70 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 profit, to anoint a most holy place. Now, verse 24 is packed with important and complex ideas. This begins God's answer to Daniel's prayer and his plea for his people. Therefore, it's important for us to take some time and unpack this verse. It begins by telling us about 70 weeks.
Speaker 1:The phrase 70 weeks could just as well be translated 77s. The Hebrew word for what is translated. Week here literally means seven consecutive periods, seven consecutive periods of time, and the context always determines the value, because this can either mean days, or it can mean years, and the context that we find this in is the context of years. This in is the context of years. Since Daniel, in his prayer, was thinking in terms of years, namely the 70 years Israel has been in exile into Babylon, it would be very natural for him to understand these 77s also as years. Another important consideration as we think about this, in modern Western thought we think in units of tens, ten, twenty, thirty or ten, one hundred one thousand, but in Hebrew thought they thought in units of seven, which are known as heptads. For them there were seven consecutive days in a week. There were seven years. Until the Sabbath rest, there were seven, sevens or 49 years. Until the year of Jubilee, seventy sevens, as spoken of here, equates to 490 years.
Speaker 1:While some have wrongly interpreted these 70 weeks as symbolic, there is overwhelming evidence, both historical and scriptural, to recognize these weeks as 70 literal periods of seven consecutive years. One of the most notable ways in which we know that these are years rather than weeks is in verse 27 of this very chapter, where we are told about half a week, and we know from that passage that that half a week is three and a half years. And there are many parallel passages that confirm that. Now Daniel is told that these 77s are decreed about his people and his holy city. In contrast to other prophetic scriptures that designate the saints which would be believers in the Messiah, here Gabriel tells Daniel that this prophecy is for his people and his holy city. Just as Daniel has been praying about his people, israel, so God has answered regarding his people, israel. Daniel's tribe was the tribe of Judah and his people are the Jewish people. There's no doubt that the holy city spoken of here in this prophecy is Jerusalem.
Speaker 1:When we begin to understand there's a distinction in scripture between Israel as believers and Israel as a nation, we begin to see the full picture. While God's eternal plan has always been about the elect who believe in the Messiah, we must also recognize that God has elected a physical nation to stand as a physical example of his faithfulness on earth Israel. The nation is a typology. Earth. Israel. The nation is a typology. It declares to the world God's relationship with true Israel, those who believe in the Messiah.
Speaker 1:Recognizing these 77s as a timeline specific to the physical nation of Israel opens up a treasure of prophetic understanding on how Israel as a nation plays a key role, both in Jesus Christ's first coming and in his second coming. Then Daniel is given a list of six specific accomplishments that the Messiah will bring about To finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. And to anoint a most holy place. These accomplishments can sometimes be seen as sets of three, the first three happening at Jesus' first coming and the second three at Jesus' second coming. However, I believe these accomplishments are not split so perfectly, but rather, as a group of six, they declare the faithfulness of what the Messiah will accomplish in these 70 weeks. First of all, to finish transgression. Some see this as putting an end to the continued apostasy of Israel against God, because Israel as a nation has rejected God. They've rejected the message of the coming Messiah and as such, they will lose their position as the protector of God's message and of God's kingdom and of God's kingdom. However, the Hebrew phrase to finish transgression implies this is a conclusion of Israel's rebellion against God. It's not just the conclusion of the Mosaic covenant. Therefore, it would follow that this is only going to be accomplished when Christ returns the second time and he sets up his final kingdom.
Speaker 1:The second accomplishment to make an end of sin. Hebrews 9.26 does tell us that Jesus Christ, in his first coming, put away sin. He judged it once and for all at the cross. However, just as with this first accomplishment, this phrase implies something greater. What this phrase is implying is that sin is sealed up. In other words, it's pointing to the end of this cursed system on earth. It's pointing to a restored earth where righteousness dominates. The third accomplishment to atone for iniquity. The third accomplishment certainly points to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in his first coming. It declares how he will make a final atonement for sin.
Speaker 1:The fourth accomplishment to bring in everlasting righteousness. This phrase could more literally be translated to bring in the righteousness of ages. This is a prophecy of a new age, a new age in which a restoration of the earth in a society characterized by righteousness will endure. This is certainly describing the millennial kingdom. The fifth accomplishment to seal both vision and prophet. We know that the Scripture teaches that in the last days, god says I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams. Therefore, the sealing of both vision and prophet is a description of Jesus' second coming, when we see the Lord face to face and there is no longer any need for vision or prophet. The sixth accomplishment to anoint a most holy place is likely describing how the entire topography of the earth will be changed in the final days of this earth. The mountains will melt, the islands will flee at the coming of our Lord, jesus Christ. The cities of the earth will crumble as everything is prepared for a new age, is prepared for a new age. This anointing may also point towards the Millennial Temple that's described in Ezekiel, chapter 40 through 44.
Speaker 1:These six accomplishments, described in verse 24, anticipate how Israel as a nation will play a part during this 70-week prophecy, as the Messiah establishes an eternal kingdom and an earthly reign. This is a summary of God's plan, both to bless the nation of Israel, as he has promised in his covenants, and to bring in an everlasting kingdom to true Israel, those who believe in the Messiah, picking up in verse 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 a moat, but in a troubled time. In verse 25, gabriel reaffirms how this message from God is not given to confuse, but it's given to bring clarity. This message is to help Daniel understand and to know what is to come.
Speaker 1:In the following passages, gabriel describes the restoration of God's kingdom by the Messiah in three stages. Then Gabriel clarifies that the start of this 70 weeks will begin at the decree of the word to restore and build Jerusalem. Now, this decree to rebuild Jerusalem went out from Artaxerxes in 454 BC. That can be found in Nehemiah 2, 1-6. So the first stage, the first seven weeks or 434 years, which occurs right after the building of Jerusalem, it signals a time of the coming anointed one. Stages one and stages two are a total of 69 weeks or 483 years.
Speaker 1:The coming anointed one is the prophecy of the Messiah. It prophesies the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and his anointing by the Holy Spirit at his baptism in 29 AD. In 29 AD, that was precisely 483 years from the word that went out to restore and build Jerusalem, picking up in verse 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.
Speaker 1:Now verse 26 really is packed with a lot of information. Not only information, but a lot of time. It begins by saying after the 62 weeks. This describes the second part of the second stage in this prophecy. It describes events that will follow the 62 weeks or the 434 years. Again, this now is a total of 69 weeks or 483 years. This signals an intermission period.
Speaker 1:Verse 26 lists events that will occur after the 69th week, but before the final 70th week. The first event listed after the 69th week is an anointed one will be cut off. Now, this certainly is a prophecy of Jesus Christ's death. This was fulfilled in 33 AD, when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, thus fulfilling the perfect, predestined plan of God atoning for the sin of mankind. The Hebrew word for anointed here is mashah, which means Messiah. The Greek equivalent is Christos or, in English, christ.
Speaker 1:The second event that will happen after the 62 weeks is that the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Now, the prince who is to come here in verse 26, is distinct from the anointed Messiah prince. This future prince or future ruler who will come after the Messiah, is known in Daniel also as the little horn or the Antichrist. We're told that his people will come and destroy the city and the sanctuary. We have seen in Daniel that there are more than one typologies of the Antichrist to come. In Daniel, chapter 8, we learned about Antiochus Epiphanes, who destroyed God's people and he set up an abomination in the temple of God in 170 BC. Here now in Daniel, chapter 9, verse 26, we learn of another typology. We learn that the people of the prince will destroy the city and the sanctuary.
Speaker 1:The destruction of the city and the sanctuary will be the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 70 AD. The people of the prince are the Roman Empire, who were led by General Titus, and this Roman Empire's attack on Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD would be a turning point in Jewish history. It would end the sacrificial system. In Luke, chapter 19, verses 41 through 44, jesus tells us that God was going to bring a judgment upon the Jews because they rejected their time of salvation when he was here. As we have been learning throughout all of the book of Daniel the final Antichrist will arise out of a revived Roman Empire in the last days. This attack on Jerusalem in 70 AD by General Titus is an attack by the people of the Antichrist, the Roman Empire. This prophecy is yet another double prophecy in the book of Daniel. It again gives us a typology of how, one day, the final Antichrist will again shut down the sacrificial system of the Jews. However, unlike General Titus, the final Antichrist in the end days will not destroy the temple. The final Antichrist in the end days will not destroy the temple, but instead he will set himself up in the temple proclaiming himself to be God.
Speaker 1:There are two more events that are described in verse 26. These final two events are that there will be war and there will be desolations, are that there will be war and there will be desolations. Desolations, in this context, describe a state of ruin or a state of abandonment that comes as a result of sin. Therefore, these two events describe how both war and ruin will define the state of the world up until the very last days of earth, picking up in verse 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. In our final verse we're told about how this Antichrist will make a strong covenant with many for one week. This one week is the third and final stage of Daniel's 70 weeks. This is commonly known as Daniel's 70th week and it signals a very distinct stage in the 70 weeks.
Speaker 1:Verse 27 begins a future and end times section of this double prophecy. This final week signals the last seven years of earth when God will once again open Israel's eyes and bring salvation during a time that is known as Jacob's Trouble. The end of this seven years will be the end of the cursed age. It will be the beginning of the Messiah's kingdom. Many people often refer to this seven years as the tribulation period. However, I believe that label has led to some confusion in the church. Many people, particularly in Western culture, have come to believe that God protects Christians from tribulation. However, that is far from the case. Jesus told his disciples that in this world you would have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world. Believers should not expect to be exempt from the tribulations of war, natural disasters, pestilence or famine. These are all birth pains. They are all a result of sin. Daniel's 70th week, spoken of here in Daniel 9.27, is the only place in Scripture that describes this distinct seven-year period at the end of the age.
Speaker 1:Everywhere else in Scripture the end of the age, often known as the Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord or the Time of the Antichrist, is spoken of in a context of three and a half years. And this is seen in this verse in Daniel, because Daniel tells us that for half a week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. This half a week is three and a half years and it's mentioned everywhere else in scripture, for example Daniel 7, 25, revelation 12.6, revelation 13.5. We're told that this three and a half years begins when he, or the Antichrist puts an end to sacrifice and offering, and this implies that the Jewish temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices and offerings will have been reinstituted until stopped here by the Antichrist. And verse 27 continues On the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate. This description of one coming with abominations who makes desolate points back to Daniel's vision in chapter 8, verse 13, where the little horn puts an end to sacrifice and has a transgression that makes desolate the sanctuary.
Speaker 1:There are also other scriptures that teach us that the future Antichrist will set himself up in the temple of God. He will proclaim himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2, 3 and 4 read Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Additionally, in Revelation we're told that a false prophet will have the people set up an image of the Antichrist to be worshipped. In Revelation it reads, by the signs, that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast. It deceives those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived, and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast might speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
Speaker 1:From this verse in Revelation, it seems very likely that this image set up by the false prophet and the people may be how the Antichrist will take his seat in the temple of God, making an abomination in the holy of holies. And all this will take place until the decreed end is poured out on that desolator, until the wrath of God is poured out upon the Antichrist, until Christ again comes at the battle of Armageddon, sets his feet on the Mount of Olives, and when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Thank you for joining me for Daniel, chapter 9. God bless you this week.