Who is the prince that would destroy Jerusalem and its sanctuary?
(Daniel 9:1-27; Matt. 22:7; 24:15; Acts 10:38) Blog Feb. 23 – Mar. 01, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Daniel outlines the restoration of God’s kingdom, king, sanctuary, and people in four prophetic outlines that follow a “1, 2, 3, 4, 10, bang” sequence. Babylon is number 1; Medo-Persia is number 2; Greece is number 3; and that God’s kingdom comes as the result of the “Big Bang.” In chapters 7 and 8 new element was introduced between the “10” and the “Big Bang.” That was a blasphemous “Little Horn” that persecuted God’s people and attempted to change God’s Law and prophetic and holy time. Daniel didn’t understand how 2300 years referred to in chapter 8 could elapse before God’s sanctuary would be restored.
Prelude to understanding (Daniel 9:1-20)
1. From the previous revelations what did Daniel already know about the restoration of God’s kingdom, king, sanctuary, and people? That restoration would only come through crisis & divine intervention & that four world empires, ten kings, & a blasphemous, persecuting little horn would come before restoration.
2. What did Daniel not understand about the vision he received beside the Ulai River? He did not understand the “mareh” – the part about the 2300 days mentioned in Daniel 8:14.
3. Since more than 2300 literal days had elapsed since the vision by the Ulai what must Daniel have feared? That God had made a mistake or that the sanctuary to be restored was not in Jerusalem.
4. Where did Daniel go to find understanding concerning the restoration of God’s sanctuary? He went to God & God’s Word.
5. What benefit is fasting, sackcloth and ashes when praying? Fasting clears one’s mind, sackcloth is a symbol of sorrow for sin, & ashes are a demonstration of humility, all of which touch God’s heart.
6. For what was Daniel praying in the first year of Darius, the king? For the forgiveness of sins & the restoration of God’s sanctuary based on the promises of Jeremiah 25 & 29. Like Jesus he intercedes for his people.
7. What law was enacted while Daniel was reminding God of his covenant promises and petitioning the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of God’s sanctuary? The law that for thirty days no petition could be made to anyone but King Darius – this was his prayer during the night he spent in the lion’s den.
Gabriel to the rescue (Daniel 9:20-25; Ezra 1:1-4; 6:14; Matt. 3:17; Acts 10:38)
8. Who interrupted Daniel’s prayer and for what reason? Gabriel interrupted Daniel’s prayer to bring him understanding about the portion of the Ulai vision (the “mareh”) that he had not understood.
9. Does Gabriel clearly state that he has come to help Daniel understand the Ulai vision of chapter 8? Yes, he most certainly does in verses 22 & 23.
10. How do the seventy weeks of verse 24 relate to the 2300-day portion of the Ulai vision that Daniel had not understood? They give the first portion of time to be included in the 2300 days for both start during Medo-Persia’s rule.
11. How do we know that the 490 days and the 2300 days must be understood as prophetic years? Because the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall was to be completed in 49 days & Nehemiah who accomplished this didn’t leave for Jerusalem until 7 years after the last decree to rebuild Jerusalem.
12. According to Ezra how many Medo-Persian Kings issued decrees to rebuild Jerusalem and its sanctuary? Three (Cyrus in 536 BC; Darius the Persian in 520 BC; & Artaxerxes in 457 BC). See our blogs covering Ezra & Nehemiah at <LIFERESEARCHINTERNATIONAL.ORG>!
13. What six things were God’s people to accomplish during the 490 years? They were to bring an end to rebellion, sin, & perversity of nature; they were to bring in everlasting righteousness, seal the vision & prophecy, & anoint heaven’s Most Holy Place.
14. Did God’s people accomplish in the allotted time the six things Gabriel outlined in Daniel 9:24? Yes, God’s people brought an end to all three forms of sin, brought in everlasting righteousness, sealed the vision & prophecy, & anointed heaven’s Most Holy Place in the Person of their Substitute & Representative, Jesus Christ. For Bible proof of Christ’s accomplishment of these things see our Daniel outlines at <LIFERESEARCHINTERNATIONAL.ORG>!
The Seventy weeks (Daniel 9:26-27; Gen. 29:27; Matt. 22:7; 24:15; Col. 2:14; Heb. 6:19-20)
15. What event was to take place at the end of 483 years? Messiah was to be anointed & this took place at his baptism in 27 AD.
16. When and by whom was heaven’s Most Holy Place anointed? Jesus anointed it upon his ascension just before the Day of Pentecost.
17. Who is the prince that would destroy Jerusalem and its sanctuary? Jesus is this Prince who by using the armies of Rome destroyed Jerusalem & its sanctuary in AD 70, ending its prophetic significance.
18. What Old Testament story shows that 7 days were to take place in order to confirm a covenant? That of Jacob, Laban, & Lea.
19. What came to an end at Christ’s death in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week. The ceremonial law of Moses.
20. When was the “little horn” of chapter 8 to appear in relation to the cross? After the cross according to verse 27 (& according to Jesus, Paul, & John).
21. What is the key for understanding all Bible prophecy? The cross (Christ & him crucified) for from it we calculate backwards 486 ½ years to discover which Medo-Persian decree begins the time prophecies and forward 1813 ½ years to the end of the 2300 year prophecy.