Series:
Living for God in a World that Has Forgotten Him
Daniel 9:20-27 KJV
The Book of Daniel
Lesson Ten
WHEN GOD REVEALS HIS REDEMPTIVE CALENDAR
The Prophecy That Points to the Messiah
Daniel 9:20–27 (KJV)
Lesson Ten Summary
Daniel 9 reveals that God not only knows the future—He has already written it. The prophecy of the Seventy Weeks unfolds God’s redemptive calendar, pointing to the coming of Messiah, His atoning death, the future restoration of Israel, and the ultimate establishment of Christ’s righteous Kingdom. Every detail demonstrates that history is under God’s sovereign control and that His promises will never fail. The lesson calls believers to trust God’s timing, rejoice in Christ’s finished work, and live with eager expectation of His return.
Daniel 9:20–27 reveals God’s perfect prophetic calendar and demonstrates that history unfolds according to His sovereign plan. While Daniel prayed, God immediately sent Gabriel to reveal the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks, pointing directly to the coming of the Messiah. Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecy of His first coming exactly as God had declared, confirming the absolute reliability of Scripture. One prophetic week remains, pointing to the future Tribulation, the rise of the Antichrist, and the glorious return of Christ. This chapter reminds believers that God has never failed to keep a promise, and He will complete His redemptive plan exactly on schedule.
One of the most important things to explain when teaching Daniel because the book is not arranged in strict chronological order.
Daniel 5 is usually placed at 539 BC, when Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians. Daniel 8 occurred earlier, around 551/550 BC, during Belshazzar’s third year.
A simple way to explain it:
Think of Daniel as being arranged by subject as well as by time.
| Chapter | Approx. Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 1 | 605 BC | Daniel taken to Babylon |
| Daniel 2 | 603/602 BC | Nebuchadnezzar’s image |
| Daniel 3 | During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign | Fiery furnace |
| Daniel 4 | During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign | Nebuchadnezzar humbled |
| Daniel 7 | 553 BC | Belshazzar’s 1st year |
| Daniel 8 | 551/550 BC | Belshazzar’s 3rd year |
| Daniel 5 | 539 BC | Babylon falls |
| Daniel 6 | After 539 BC | Daniel and the lions |
| Daniel 9 | 539/538 BC | First year of Darius |
Daniel 4 → Daniel 7 → Daniel 8 → Daniel 5 → Daniel 6 → Daniel 9.
Then why didn’t Daniel arrange them that way?
Because Daniel has a remarkable literary structure.
Daniel 1 introduces the whole book.
Then Daniel 2–7 forms a major section dealing especially with Gentile kingdoms and God’s sovereignty over them. Significantly, Daniel 2:4b through 7:28 is written primarily in Aramaic, the international language of that world, rather than Hebrew.
That section has a beautiful pattern:
Daniel 2 — Four world kingdoms
Daniel 3 — God’s servants delivered
Daniel 4 — A Gentile king humbled
Daniel 5 — A Gentile king judged
Daniel 6 — God’s servant delivered
Daniel 7 — Four world kingdoms
Notice it?
2 corresponds with 7.
3 corresponds with 6.
4 corresponds with 5.
That is why Daniel 5 follows Daniel 4 even though Daniel 7 and 8 happened chronologically before Daniel 5.
Gabriel informs him of the seventy weeks
20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 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. 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. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Dan 9:20-27)
The Prayer That Moved Heaven
Daniel 9:20–27 KJV
Focus:
- Gabriel’s arrival.
- The Seventy Weeks.
- The coming of Messiah.
- Christ’s crucifixion.
- The future Tribulation.
- God’s perfect timetable.
Outline
I. GOD ANSWERS PRAYER AT THE RIGHT TIME (9:20–23)
- A. Heaven Heard Daniel
- B. Gabriel Brought God’s Answer
- C. God Honors Those Who Seek Him
II. GOD’S PLAN CENTERS ON JESUS CHRIST (9:24–26)
- A. The Promise of Messiah
- B. The Prophecy of the Cross
- C. The Purpose of Redemption
III. GOD’S PROPHETIC CALENDAR WILL BE COMPLETED (9:27)
- A. The Coming Tribulation
- B. The Rise of the Antichrist
- C. The Certain Return of Christ
This lesson becomes one of the greatest prophecy studies in all the Bible and serves as the foundation for understanding Revelation, Matthew 24, and many end-time passages.
- Lesson 10 becomes one of the finest Bible studies on Bible prophecy and the coming Messiah in Scripture.
Introduction
Have you ever watched a master builder construct a beautiful building?
Before the foundation is poured…
before a single wall is erected…
before one nail is driven…
there is already a blueprint.
The finished building already exists in the architect’s mind.
History is God’s blueprint.
The kingdoms of this world are not moving randomly.
They are moving according to God’s eternal design.
Daniel chapter nine gives us one of Heaven’s blueprints.
Nearly five hundred years before Jesus was born,
God revealed when Messiah would come.
He foretold His rejection.
His death.
The destruction of Jerusalem.
The coming Tribulation.
And the final victory of God’s Kingdom.
No human being could write history before it happened.
Only Almighty God.
That is why Bible prophecy is one of the greatest evidences that this Book is truly the Word of God.
Historical Background
Daniel is still praying when something extraordinary happens.
Before he finishes his prayer,
God sends the angel Gabriel with an immediate answer.
Gabriel not only assures Daniel that his prayer has been heard, but also reveals God’s prophetic timetable concerning Israel and the coming Messiah. These verses contain the famous prophecy of the Seventy Weeks, one of the most important prophetic passages in all of Scripture because it outlines God’s future program for Israel and points directly to Jesus Christ.
God’s prophetic calendar has never been late, and it will never fail.
Today we will discover five life-changing truths that remind us God has already written history, fulfilled His promises through Christ, and will complete everything He has promised
I. GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYER AT THE RIGHT TIME
Daniel 9:20–23 KJV
One of the most encouraging truths in this chapter
is how quickly God responds.
Daniel is still praying.
Still confessing.
Still seeking the Lord.
When suddenly,
Gabriel arrives.
Notice what Gabriel says.
“At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth…”
(Daniel 9:23 KJV)
Think about that.
Before Daniel had even completed his prayer,
God had already answered it.
Heaven was listening from the very first word.
What an encouragement for every believer.
God hears every sincere prayer.
Sometimes His answers come immediately.
Sometimes they come after months.
Sometimes after years.
But God is never late.
He always answers according to His perfect wisdom and timing.
Daniel 9:20
God Answers Before Daniel Finishes
Daniel says:
“Whiles I was speaking and praying…”
Think about that.
Daniel is still praying.
God is already answering.
Heaven is never indifferent to sincere prayer.
Lesson
God often begins working before we know He has heard.
Daniel 9:21
Gabriel Arrives Again
The angel Gabriel appears.
Daniel recognizes him from Chapter 8.
Gabriel arrives swiftly.
His arrival reminds us that Heaven responds according to God’s perfect timing, not ours.
Lesson
God’s answers are always perfectly timed.
Daniel 9:22
Gabriel Gives Understanding
Gabriel says:
“I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.”
Notice.
God wanted Daniel to understand.
God is not trying to hide truth from His people.
He desires faithful students of Scripture to understand what He has revealed.
Lesson
God gives understanding to those who seek Him humbly.
Daniel 9:23
Daniel Is Greatly Beloved
One of the most beautiful descriptions in Scripture.
Gabriel tells Daniel:
“For thou art greatly beloved.”
Imagine hearing those words from Heaven.
Notice.
Daniel never called himself great.
God called him beloved.
His faithful life had pleased the Lord.
Lesson
Faithfulness is precious in God’s sight.
Daniel 9:24
The Seventy Weeks Begin
This is one of the greatest prophetic verses in Scripture.
Gabriel declares:
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city…”
Notice carefully.
The prophecy concerns:
- Israel.
- Jerusalem.
It does not primarily concern the Gentile nations.
God then gives six great purposes.
Purpose One
To finish the transgression
Israel’s rebellion will one day end.
Purpose Two
To make an end of sins
Sin will ultimately be defeated.
Purpose Three
To make reconciliation for iniquity
This points directly to Calvary.
Jesus Christ alone reconciles sinners to God.
Purpose Four
To bring in everlasting righteousness
This reaches its complete fulfillment in Christ’s coming Kingdom.
Purpose Five
To seal up the vision and prophecy
Every prophecy God has spoken will be fulfilled.
Nothing will fail.
Purpose Six
To anoint the Most Holy
God’s Kingdom will be fully established according to His perfect plan.
Lesson
Every purpose of prophecy ultimately points to Jesus Christ.
A. Heaven Hears the Cry of a Humble Heart
Daniel was not praying to impress others.
He was alone with God.
Broken.
Humble.
Seeking God’s face.
God delights in hearing prayers that come from sincere hearts.
The Lord is never impressed with eloquent speeches.
He is moved by humble faith.
James reminds us,
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
(James 5:16 KJV)
Prayer is not about perfect words.
It is about wholehearted dependence upon God.
A. Heaven Hears the Cry of a Humble Heart
B. God Often Answers Before We Realize It
Gabriel told Daniel
that the answer had already been sent.
Daniel could not see it.
But Heaven was already moving.
How many times has God begun working
before we ever recognized it?
There have been prayers
that God answered
while we were still waiting.
Doors He was already opening.
People He was already preparing.
Circumstances He was already arranging.
Faith trusts God
even before the answer becomes visible.
A. Heaven Hears the Cry of a Humble Heart
B. God Often Answers Before We Realize It
C. God’s Greatest Answers Reveal His Greatest Purposes
Daniel prayed about seventy years.
God answered with seventy weeks.
Daniel prayed about Israel’s return.
God revealed His entire redemptive plan.
Daniel asked one question.
God answered with something infinitely greater.
Isn’t that just like our Heavenly Father?
Sometimes we ask for one blessing.
God gives us something far greater than we imagined.
Ephesians reminds us,
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…”
(Ephesians 3:20 KJV)
God’s answers are always wiser than our requests.
A Spiritual Insight
Prayer does not change God’s eternal plan.
Prayer allows us to participate in God’s eternal plan.
Daniel prayed,
and God invited him to see what Heaven had already prepared.
Pastor’s Commentary
Church family,
there have been times
when I have wondered
if God was listening.
Perhaps you’ve wondered the same.
You’ve prayed for a lost loved one.
A prodigal child.
A broken marriage.
A medical report.
A financial burden.
And nothing seemed to happen.
Daniel reminds us
that Heaven is never silent because Heaven is unconcerned.
Sometimes Heaven is simply working
where we cannot yet see.
Never measure God’s faithfulness
by how quickly He answers.
Measure His faithfulness
by His unchanging character.
The God who heard Daniel
still hears every believer
who comes to Him through Jesus Christ.
Faith Builder
Ask yourself:
- Do I believe God hears every sincere prayer?
- Am I willing to trust His timing instead of demanding my own?
- Have I given up praying too soon about something important?
- What burden do I need to place back into God’s hands today?
Christ Connection
Daniel received God’s answer
through the ministry of Gabriel.
Today,
every believer comes directly to the Father
through Jesus Christ.
Jesus is our great High Priest.
Our Mediator.
Our Advocate.
Because of His finished work on the cross,
we have bold access
to the throne of grace.
Daniel experienced the privilege of answered prayer.
Through Christ,
we experience the privilege of continual access to the very presence of God.
After assuring Daniel that his prayer has been heard, Gabriel begins revealing one of the greatest prophetic messages in all of Scripture. God now unfolds His divine calendar, showing that every event surrounding the coming of the Messiah has already been planned. In our next section, we will discover that Jesus Christ stands at the very center of God’s prophetic timetable.
.
Today we will discover five life-changing truths that remind us God has already written history, fulfilled His promises through Christ, and will complete everything He has promised
I. GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYER AT THE RIGHT TIME
Daniel 9:20–23 KJV
II. GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN HAS A DIVINE PURPOSE
Daniel 9:24 KJV
After revealing the length of His prophetic calendar, God immediately explains the purpose of His prophetic calendar.
Why Is the Prophecy Called “The Seventy Weeks”?
The Hebrew word literally means:
“Seventy sevens.”
Most conservative Bible scholars understand these to be:
Seventy periods of seven years.
That equals:
490 years.
These years concern:
Israel.
Jerusalem.
God’s covenant plan.
The coming Messiah.
The Tribulation.
Christ’s Kingdom.
This prophecy becomes the backbone of biblical prophecy because so many later prophecies build upon it.
Lesson
God measures history according to His own calendar.
The seventy weeks are not merely about dates.
They are about redemption.
God is not simply telling Daniel what will happen.
He is revealing why He is doing it.
Verse 24 contains six amazing statements that summarize God’s entire redemptive program for Israel and ultimately for the whole world.
Every one of these purposes finds its fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ and His coming Kingdom.
- God has a prophetic timetable.
- The seventy weeks concern Daniel’s people and Jerusalem.
- The prophecy points directly to Messiah the Prince.
- The sixty-nine weeks lead to Messiah being “cut off.”
- The seventieth week is essential to understanding end-time prophecy.
- Daniel 9 connects directly with Jesus’ teaching and the Book of Revelation.
Verse-by-Verse
Then begin:
Daniel 9:20–23 — Gabriel Brings Understanding
Daniel 9:24 — The Purpose of the Seventy Weeks
Daniel 9:25 — The Coming of Messiah the Prince
Daniel 9:26 — Messiah Is Cut Off
Daniel 9:27 — The Seventieth Week and the Covenant
What Are the Six Great Purposes of Daniel 9:24?
Gabriel gives six purposes that God’s prophetic program will accomplish.
1. To finish the transgression
Israel’s rebellion will finally come to an end.
2. To make an end of sins
God will ultimately deal completely with sin.
3. To make reconciliation for iniquity
This points directly to Calvary.
Only Christ can reconcile sinners to God.
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness
Christ’s Kingdom will establish perfect righteousness.
5. To seal up the vision and prophecy
Everything God has promised will be fulfilled.
Nothing will remain incomplete.
6. To anoint the Most Holy
This likely points to the future Millennial Temple and the complete establishment of God’s Kingdom.
Lesson
Every purpose centers upon Christ’s ultimate victory.
Verse 24 gives us the PURPOSE.
Verse 25 gives us the COUNTDOWN.
Verse 26 gives us the CRUCIFIXION and coming destruction.
Verse 27 gives us the FINAL WEEK.
A. God Will Finish Israel’s Rebellion
“…to finish the transgression…”
(Daniel 9:24 KJV)
The word finish means to bring to completion or bring to an end.
Israel had rebelled against God for centuries.
They rejected His prophets.
They worshipped idols.
Ultimately,
they rejected their own Messiah.
Yet God was not finished with His covenant people.
One day,
their rebellion will finally end.
When Jesus Christ returns,
the nation of Israel will recognize Him as the Messiah they pierced.
Zechariah prophesied,
“And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced…”
(Zechariah 12:10 KJV)
God’s grace will accomplish
what centuries of judgment could not.
Why Is Daniel 9 Called the Backbone of Prophecy?
Without Daniel 9 it would be difficult to understand:
- Matthew 24
- Mark 13
- Luke 21
- 2 Thessalonians 2
- Revelation
- Israel’s future
- The Tribulation
- The coming Antichrist
Daniel becomes the prophetic foundation upon which later prophecy is built.
Lesson
The Old Testament and New Testament fit together perfectly.
Spiritual Insight
God’s discipline is never merely punishment.
His discipline always has restoration as its goal.
Pastor’s Commentary
How thankful I am
that God never gives up on His people.
There have been seasons
when each of us has wandered.
Yet the Good Shepherd
continues calling us home.
If God has not abandoned Israel,
He certainly has not abandoned His children today.
A. God Will Finish Israel’s Rebellion
B. God Will Deal Completely With Sin
Daniel continues,
“…and to make an end of sins…”
Sin is mankind’s greatest problem.
Governments cannot remove it.
Education cannot erase it.
Religion cannot overcome it.
Only Jesus Christ
could deal with sin once and for all.
When Christ cried,
“It is finished.”
the payment for sin
was forever completed.
His sacrifice fulfilled
every Old Testament sacrifice
that pointed toward Calvary.
There is no greater offering to be made.
The Lamb of God
finished the work.
Spiritual Insight
The Cross was not God’s emergency plan.
It was God’s eternal plan.
Pastor’s Commentary
Many people today
live beneath a heavy load of guilt.
They keep trying
to earn forgiveness.
The wonderful news of the Gospel
is that Jesus has already paid
the debt we could never pay.
Forgiveness is not earned.
It is received by faith.
A. God Will Finish Israel’s Rebellion
B. God Will Deal Completely With Sin
C. God Will Reconcile Sinners to Himself
Daniel writes,
“…and to make reconciliation for iniquity…”
This is one of the sweetest words
in all of Scripture.
Reconciliation
means bringing enemies together.
Sin separated us from God.
Christ removed the barrier.
Paul declared,
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself…”
(2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV)
Because of the Cross,
those who trust Christ
are no longer enemies.
We become
sons and daughters
of the living God.
Israel will one day experience this nationally,
and every believer experiences it personally
through faith in Jesus Christ.
A. God Will Finish Israel’s Rebellion
B. God Will Deal Completely With Sin
C. God Will Reconcile Sinners to Himself
D. God Will Establish Everlasting Righteousness
“…to bring in everlasting righteousness…”
The world longs for justice,
peace,
and righteousness.
Yet every human kingdom
has eventually failed.
Why?
Because sinful people
cannot produce perfect righteousness.
Only King Jesus can.
When Christ establishes His Kingdom,
righteousness
will characterize the earth.
The King Himself
is our righteousness.
Jeremiah called Him,
“THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
(Jeremiah 23:6 KJV)
Spiritual Insight
Christ not only forgives our sins—
He clothes us
in His righteousness.
Pastor’s Commentary
One day
the headlines will no longer tell stories of violence,
corruption,
or injustice.
Jesus Christ
will reign in perfect righteousness.
That is the hope
every believer possesses.
A. God Will Finish Israel’s Rebellion
B. God Will Deal Completely With Sin
C. God Will Reconcile Sinners to Himself
D. God Will Establish Everlasting Righteousness
E. God Will Confirm Every Prophecy
Daniel continues,
“…to seal up the vision and prophecy…”
To seal something
is to bring it to its complete fulfillment.
Every promise God has made
will come to pass.
Not one prophecy
will fail.
Throughout history,
skeptics have questioned God’s Word.
History has repeatedly proven
that God’s Word
never fails.
What God promises,
God performs.
Spiritual Insight
Fulfilled prophecy
is one of the greatest evidences
that the Bible
is truly the Word of God.
Pastor’s Commentary
When life seems uncertain,
remember this:
God has never broken
a single promise.
You can safely build
your life,
your family,
and your eternity
upon His Word.
A. God Will Finish Israel’s Rebellion
B. God Will Deal Completely With Sin
C. God Will Reconcile Sinners to Himself
D. God Will Establish Everlasting Righteousness
E. God Will Confirm Every Prophecy
F. God Will Anoint the Most Holy
Finally,
Daniel says,
“…and to anoint the most Holy.”
This points us
to the glorious reign
of Jesus Christ.
Whether understood as the consecration of the coming Millennial Temple or as pointing ultimately to the Messiah Himself, the climax is the same: God’s Kingdom will be established under His Holy King. The King rejected at His first coming will return in power and glory to reign forever.
Every prophecy
moves toward this moment.
Every promise
looks ahead to this King.
Every believer
waits with joyful expectation
for His return.
A Spiritual Insight
Daniel 9:24 is one of the greatest summaries of God’s plan of redemption in the entire Bible.
It begins with human rebellion,
but it ends
with Christ reigning
in everlasting righteousness.
Only God
could write a story
like that.
Pastor’s Commentary
Church family,
when we look around our world,
it is easy to become discouraged.
Wars continue.
Families struggle.
Sin increases.
Yet Daniel reminds us
that history is not spinning out of control.
It is moving exactly
where God has planned.
The Cross was no accident.
The Resurrection was no surprise.
The Second Coming will not be delayed one moment beyond God’s perfect timetable.
Our hope
is not in governments,
economies,
or world leaders.
Our hope
is in Jesus Christ,
who has already secured the victory
and will soon establish His everlasting Kingdom.
Faith Builder
Ask yourself:
- Am I trusting Christ alone for my righteousness?
- Have I experienced God’s reconciliation through the Cross?
- Do I believe God’s promises even when I cannot yet see their fulfillment?
- Am I living each day in anticipation of Christ’s return?
Christ Connection
Every one of the six purposes of Daniel 9:24 finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
- He bore our rebellion.
- He made an end of sin’s penalty through His sacrifice.
- He reconciled sinners to God.
- He provides everlasting righteousness.
- He fulfills every prophecy concerning the Messiah.
- He will reign forever as the Holy King over His everlasting Kingdom.
Daniel saw these truths centuries before Bethlehem, Calvary, and the empty tomb. What Daniel saw by prophecy, we now see fulfilled in Christ—and we still look forward to His glorious return in triumph.
Having revealed why the seventy weeks were decreed, God now explains how His prophetic calendar will unfold. In the next section, Gabriel gives Daniel one of the most astonishing timelines in Scripture, pointing to the coming of Messiah the Prince, His sacrificial death, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the future seventieth week that still awaits fulfillment.
Today we will discover five life-changing truths that remind us God has already written history, fulfilled His promises through Christ, and will complete everything He has promised
I. GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYER AT THE RIGHT TIME
Daniel 9:20–23 KJV
II. GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN HAS A DIVINE PURPOSE
Daniel 9:24 KJV
III. JESUS CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF GOD’S PROPHETIC PLAN
Daniel 9:24–26 KJV
Gabriel now reveals God’s prophetic calendar.
He speaks of “seventy weeks.”
The word “weeks” literally means “sevens.”
Most Bible scholars understand these to be seventy sets of seven years, or 490 years, that God has specifically determined concerning Israel and Jerusalem.
Notice that Gabriel says,
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city…”
(Daniel 9:24 KJV)
This prophecy is directed primarily toward Israel, not the Church.
God is revealing His plan for His covenant people.
The Church Age is not revealed here.
Instead, Daniel is given God’s timetable leading to the coming of the Messiah.
What follows is one of the greatest demonstrations that God controls history.
A. God’s Plan Is Perfectly Timed
God had already determined the entire schedule.
Nothing would happen accidentally.
Nothing would occur too early.
Nothing would occur too late.
God had established the exact timetable long before the events unfolded.
Isn’t that comforting?
Our lives are not controlled by chance.
They are governed by God’s sovereign hand.
The same God who planned the coming of Christ
also orders the steps of His children.
Psalm 37 reminds us,
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…”
(Psalm 37:23 KJV)
God has never lost control of history.
He has never lost control of your life.
A. God’s Plan Is Perfectly Timed
B. Every Prophecy Points to Jesus Christ
Gabriel lists six great purposes that God will accomplish.
Among them are:
- To finish the transgression.
- To make an end of sins.
- To make reconciliation for iniquity.
- To bring in everlasting righteousness.
Who accomplished these?
Jesus Christ.
At Calvary,
our Lord made reconciliation for sinners.
Through His death,
our sins were paid for.
Through His resurrection,
everlasting righteousness became available to all who believe.
Every prophecy ultimately points us
to the cross.
The Old Testament looks forward to Christ.
The New Testament looks back to Christ.
The entire Bible is one great story
of God’s redeeming grace through His Son.
A. God’s Plan Is Perfectly Timed
B. Every Prophecy Points to Jesus Christ
C. Messiah Came Exactly When God Said He Would
Gabriel continues,
“…unto the Messiah the Prince…”
(Daniel 9:25 KJV)
Daniel 9:25
The Coming Messiah
Gabriel divides the prophetic period into specific segments.
Beginning with the decree to restore Jerusalem…
history moves toward:
“Messiah the Prince.”
This prophecy precisely foretells the coming of Christ centuries before His birth. Many conservative scholars have recognized its remarkable accuracy in pointing to the arrival of the Messiah.
Lesson
Jesus did not accidentally appear in history.
He arrived exactly on God’s timetable.
Centuries before Bethlehem,
God announced the coming of His Anointed One.
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem,
He was not arriving by accident.
He was fulfilling God’s prophetic calendar.
Every detail happened exactly as Heaven had declared.
His birth.
His ministry.
His miracles.
His triumphal entry.
His betrayal.
His crucifixion.
Nothing surprised God.
Everything happened
“according to the scriptures.”
That is why our faith rests on solid ground.
Christianity is not based upon myth.
It is founded upon fulfilled prophecy.
A. God’s Plan Is Perfectly Timed
B. Every Prophecy Points to Jesus Christ
C. Messiah Came Exactly When God Said He Would
D. The Cross Was God’s Plan, Not Man’s Defeat
Perhaps the most astonishing statement is found in verse 26.
“…Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself…”
(Daniel 9:26 KJV)
Daniel 9:26
Messiah Shall Be Cut Off
One of the saddest—and greatest—prophetic statements in Scripture.
“Messiah shall be cut off…”
This points directly to the crucifixion.
Christ would die.
Not for Himself.
But for us.
Gabriel also foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the sanctuary, fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed the city and the Temple. The prophecy looks beyond the Messiah’s death to later historical judgment.
Lesson
The cross was always part of God’s eternal plan.
What amazing words.
Hundreds of years before Calvary,
God foretold
that His Messiah would be “cut off.”
Jesus did not die for His own sins.
He had none.
He died
for ours.
Isaiah declared,
“He was wounded for our transgressions…”
(Isaiah 53:5 KJV)
Peter wrote,
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…”
(1 Peter 2:24 KJV)
The cross was never a tragic accident.
It was the centerpiece
of God’s eternal plan of redemption.
Jesus willingly laid down His life
so that sinners like us
could receive eternal life.
A Spiritual Insight
The greatest proof that God controls tomorrow
is that He accurately revealed yesterday
long before it happened.
Every fulfilled prophecy strengthens our confidence
that every unfulfilled prophecy
will also come to pass.
Pastor’s Commentary
when I study passages like this,
my faith grows stronger.
The world may question the Bible.
Critics may attack Christianity.
But fulfilled prophecy
stands as one of the greatest witnesses
to the truth of God’s Word.
No human author
could accurately predict the future
hundreds of years in advance.
Only the God who stands outside of time
can declare the end from the beginning.
That means
if God kept every promise concerning Christ’s first coming,
we can trust Him completely
about Christ’s second coming.
Jesus is coming again.
Not because the world expects Him.
But because God has already declared it.
That gives believers hope
in uncertain days.
Faith Builder
Ask yourself:
- Does fulfilled prophecy strengthen my confidence in God’s Word?
- Am I trusting God’s timing in my own life?
- Have I placed my faith in the Messiah who was “cut off” for my sins?
- Am I living with the expectation that Christ could return at any time?
Christ Connection
This entire prophecy shines its brightest light upon Jesus Christ.
He is the promised Messiah.
He is the Prince.
He is the One who was “cut off, but not for himself.”
He fulfilled God’s prophetic calendar at His first coming,
and He will fulfill every remaining promise at His second coming.
Daniel saw Him from a distance.
We know Him as our Savior.
The cross was not the end of God’s plan—
it was the doorway through which God’s grace flowed to the entire world.
Although Messiah came exactly as God promised, Gabriel reveals that Israel’s prophetic calendar is not yet complete. One final “week” remains. In the closing verse of this chapter, God lifts the curtain on a future time of worldwide tribulation, the rise of the Antichrist, and the certainty that Christ will ultimately bring His prophetic plan to its glorious completion.
Today we will discover five life-changing truths that remind us God has already written history, fulfilled His promises through Christ, and will complete everything He has promised.
I. GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYER AT THE RIGHT TIME
Daniel 9:20–23 KJV
II. GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN HAS A DIVINE PURPOSE
Daniel 9:24 KJV
III. JESUS CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF GOD’S PROPHETIC PLAN
Daniel 9:24–26 KJV
IV. GOD’S PROPHETIC PLAN WILL BE PERFECTLY FULFILLED
Daniel 9:25–27 KJV
After revealing the purpose of the seventy weeks,
Gabriel now reveals the timeline.
This prophecy is so precise
that it has strengthened the faith of believers
for over two thousand years.
It proves that history
is not controlled by chance.
History follows
the calendar of Almighty God.
The Lord already knew
when Messiah would come,
when He would die,
when Jerusalem would fall,
and what still remains
before Christ establishes His Kingdom.
A. God’s Calendar Points to Messiah
“Know therefore and understand…”
(Daniel 9:25 KJV)
God wanted Daniel
to understand this prophecy.
The seventy weeks begin
with the decree
to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.
From that decree
until Messiah the Prince
would be
seven weeks and sixty-two weeks
—a total of sixty-nine prophetic weeks.
Throughout history,
students of Scripture have marveled
at the precision of this prophecy.
Long before Bethlehem,
God announced
that His Son was coming.
The rebuilding of Jerusalem
was not merely about walls.
It was preparing the stage
for the coming of the Savior.
God was arranging history
for the arrival
of His Redeemer.
Spiritual Insight
Nothing in God’s plan
is accidental.
Every event
moves history
one step closer
to the fulfillment
of His eternal purpose.
Pastor’s Commentary
How encouraging it is to know
that the same God
who controlled history then
still controls history now.
The headlines may change,
but the throne of Heaven never does.
When life feels uncertain,
remember—
God has never been surprised
by a single event.
A. God’s Calendar Points to Messiah
B. God’s Messiah Would Be Rejected
Daniel then records
one of the saddest prophecies
in the Old Testament.
“…shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself…”
(Daniel 9:26 KJV)
The phrase
“cut off”
speaks of death.
The promised Messiah
would be rejected
and crucified.
Yet notice these beautiful words—
“but not for himself.”
Jesus did not die
for His own sins.
He had none.
He died
for ours.
Isaiah would later declare,
“He was wounded for our transgressions…”
(Isaiah 53:5 KJV)
Calvary
was no tragic accident.
It was God’s eternal plan
to redeem sinful mankind.
The Cross
was the center
of God’s prophetic calendar.
Christ Seen in Daniel 9
Jesus is:
- Messiah the Prince (v. 25).
- The One cut off for sinners (v. 26).
- The Reconciler of iniquity (v. 24).
- The Bringer of everlasting righteousness (v. 24).
- The King whose Kingdom shall never end.
Every verse of this prophecy moves history toward Jesus Christ.
Daniel 9:27
The Final Week
The prophecy now moves to the final seven-year period.
A coming ruler will:
- Confirm a covenant.
- Break it midway through.
- Stop the sacrifices.
- Commit the abomination of desolation.
This ruler is understood by many conservative interpreters to be the future Antichrist, whose actions correspond with later passages in Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation. This final week points to the future Tribulation before Christ’s return.
Lesson
Evil may appear to triumph for a season…
but Christ has already written the final chapter.
Great Truths from Daniel 9:17–27
- God hears prayer immediately.
- God’s mercy is greater than human righteousness.
- Heaven delights in humble believers.
- Jesus Christ is the center of prophecy.
- The Cross was planned before it happened.
- God’s prophetic calendar never fails.
- Christ’s Kingdom will ultimately replace every earthly kingdom.
Spiritual Insight
The greatest act of evil—
the crucifixion of Christ—
became the greatest act of love
the world has ever known.
Pastor’s Commentary
Church family,
never lose your wonder
at the Cross.
Jesus was not forced to die.
He willingly laid down His life
for you
and for me.
Every time we read
“Messiah shall be cut off,”
our hearts should bow
in gratitude.
A. God’s Calendar Points to Messiah
B. God’s Messiah Would Be Rejected
C. God’s Plan Includes Both Judgment and Hope
Daniel continues,
“…the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…”
(Daniel 9:26 KJV)
Just as Gabriel foretold,
Jerusalem and the Temple
were destroyed.
History records
that the Romans,
under Titus,
destroyed the city
in A.D. 70,
just as Jesus Himself
later predicted.
Yet the prophecy
does not stop there.
Verse 27 moves beyond
the destruction of Jerusalem
to a future ruler—
often identified as the Antichrist—
who will make a covenant,
break it midway,
and bring great tribulation
before Christ returns in victory.
There is a prophetic gap
between the sixty-ninth
and seventieth weeks,
during which God is calling out
His Church from every nation.
One day,
God’s prophetic clock
will resume,
and every remaining promise
will be fulfilled exactly
as He has declared.
Spiritual Insight
Prophecy reminds us
that God is never late,
never early,
and never mistaken.
Every promise
will come to pass
at the appointed time.
Pastor’s Commentary
We are living
in remarkable days.
The stage
is being set
for the fulfillment
of God’s prophetic Word.
That should not produce fear
in the heart of a believer.
It should produce faith,
urgency,
and holiness.
Jesus could come
at any moment.
Let us live
ready to meet Him,
sharing the Gospel
while there is still time.
Faith Builder
Ask yourself:
- Am I trusting God’s timing in my own life?
- Have I personally received the Messiah who was “cut off” for my sins?
- Does the certainty of prophecy give me greater confidence in God’s Word?
- Am I living with the expectation of Christ’s return?
Christ Connection
Daniel saw the Messiah centuries before He was born.
He saw His coming.
He saw His rejection.
He saw His sacrificial death.
He saw the judgment that would follow.
He saw the future Tribulation.
And beyond it all,
he saw the certainty
of God’s coming Kingdom.
Jesus Christ
is the center
of Daniel’s prophecy,
the center
of human history,
and the center
of God’s eternal plan.
Lesson 10 Summary
Daniel 9 reveals that God not only knows the future—He has already written it. The prophecy of the Seventy Weeks unfolds God’s redemptive calendar, pointing to the coming of Messiah, His atoning death, the future restoration of Israel, and the ultimate establishment of Christ’s righteous Kingdom. Every detail demonstrates that history is under God’s sovereign control and that His promises will never fail. The lesson calls believers to trust God’s timing, rejoice in Christ’s finished work, and live with eager expectation of His return.
Memory Verse
Daniel 9:24 (KJV)
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city… to bring in everlasting righteousness…”
God’s prophetic calendar is centered on Jesus Christ, whose first coming fulfilled God’s promise of redemption and whose second coming will complete God’s promise of everlasting righteousness.
Daniel 9, Seventy Weeks, Messiah the Prince, Bible Prophecy, Daniel’s Seventy Weeks, End Times, Tribulation, Second Coming, Jesus Christ, Wednesday in the Word.
Suggested Invitation Title
“Is Your Life Ready for God’s Timetable?”
Series Connection
Daniel’s vision now moves from God’s prophetic calendar to God’s invisible conflict. In Chapter 10 we discover that behind the events of history lies a spiritual battle, yet the God who directs the future also strengthens His people for every conflict they face.
Today we will discover five life-changing truths that remind us God has already written history, fulfilled His promises through Christ, and will complete everything He has promised
I. GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYER AT THE RIGHT TIME
Daniel 9:20–23 KJV
II. GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN HAS A DIVINE PURPOSE
Daniel 9:24 KJV
III. JESUS CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF GOD’S PROPHETIC PLAN
Daniel 9:24–26 KJV
IV. GOD’S PROPHETIC PLAN WILL BE PERFECTLY FULFILLED
Daniel 9:25–27 KJV
V. GOD WILL COMPLETE HIS PROPHETIC PLAN
Daniel 9:27 KJV
After speaking of the Messiah’s first coming,
Gabriel suddenly moves into the future.
One prophetic week remains.
Seven years that have not yet been fulfilled.
This period is commonly called
The Tribulation.
Jesus referred to it as
“great tribulation…”
(Matthew 24:21 KJV)
Jeremiah called it
“the time of Jacob’s trouble.”
(Jeremiah 30:7 KJV)
Daniel is looking far beyond his own day
to a future period when the world will experience unprecedented deception, suffering, and judgment.
Yet even during those terrible days,
God remains firmly upon His throne.
Nothing happens outside His sovereign plan.
A. Evil Has an Appointment with God
Daniel tells us,
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week…”
(Daniel 9:27 KJV)
This coming world ruler,
commonly identified as the Antichrist,
will appear to be a man of peace.
He will offer security.
Stability.
Solutions.
The world will embrace him.
But his peace will be temporary.
Halfway through those seven years,
his true character will be revealed.
Satan has always disguised himself
as an angel of light.
He still offers counterfeit peace today.
Only Jesus Christ
offers lasting peace.
The believer must always remember
that appearances can be deceptive.
Everything must be tested
by the Word of God.
A. Evil Has an Appointment with God
B. God Has Already Set the Limits of Evil
The Antichrist may appear powerful,
but notice something important.
His time is limited.
His authority is limited.
His success is limited.
Even the darkest days of human history
will unfold only within the boundaries
God has already established.
Satan is not God’s equal.
He is God’s defeated enemy.
Every act of rebellion,
every judgment,
every event of the Tribulation
moves history one step closer
to Christ’s glorious return.
That gives believers confidence.
The world is not spinning out of control.
It is moving exactly toward God’s appointed conclusion.
A. Evil Has an Appointment with God
B. God Has Already Set the Limits of Evil
C. Jesus Christ Will Have the Final Victory
Daniel concludes by reminding us
that God’s determined judgment
will ultimately fall upon evil.
The Antichrist will not reign forever.
Sin will not reign forever.
Satan will not reign forever.
Jesus Christ
will return
as King of kings
and Lord of lords.
The One who came first as the suffering Lamb
will return
as the conquering King.
Every knee shall bow.
Every tongue shall confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The Kingdom Daniel saw
in earlier visions
will finally be established forever.
What began with prophecy
will end in victory.
A Spiritual Insight
Bible prophecy was never given merely to satisfy our curiosity.
It was given
to strengthen our confidence,
increase our holiness,
and deepen our hope.
The believer who understands that Christ is coming again
should desire to live faithfully today.
Pastor’s Commentary
Church family,
people are fascinated with prophecy.
They want to know
who the Antichrist is,
when the Rapture will occur,
and how every event will unfold.
Those are important questions.
But Daniel’s greatest message is much simpler.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
If you spend all your time looking for the Antichrist,
you may forget to look for Christ.
The purpose of prophecy
is not to produce fear.
It is to produce faith.
When we read the newspaper,
we may become discouraged.
When we read God’s Word,
our hope is renewed.
No election,
no war,
no economic collapse,
no world leader
can stop what God has already declared.
Jesus Christ is coming again.
That is not wishful thinking.
That is biblical certainty.
So live faithfully.
Serve joyfully.
Witness boldly.
Pray earnestly.
Our King is coming.
Faith Builder
Ask yourself:
- Am I more excited about knowing prophecy or knowing Christ?
- Does the promise of Christ’s return affect the way I live each day?
- Am I sharing the Gospel while there is still time?
- If Jesus returned today, would I be found faithfully serving Him?
Christ Connection
Daniel ends by looking toward the final victory.
John finishes the Book of Revelation
the very same way.
Jesus Christ
is the center of prophecy.
He came the first time
to save sinners.
He will come the second time
to reign as King.
The cross fulfilled God’s promise of redemption.
The crown will fulfill God’s promise of restoration.
The first coming guarantees the second coming.
Because Jesus fulfilled every prophecy concerning His suffering,
we can trust every promise concerning His glory.
Daniel Chapter 9 begins with an aged prophet studying God’s Word and praying with humility for his people. In response, God sends Gabriel to reveal the prophetic timetable for Israel, the coming of the Messiah, His sacrificial death, the future Tribulation, and the ultimate establishment of God’s righteous Kingdom. The chapter beautifully unites prayer and prophecy, showing that the God who hears repentant hearts is also the God who governs all of history.
Lesson Ten Summary
Daniel 9:20–27 reveals God’s perfect prophetic calendar and demonstrates that history unfolds according to His sovereign plan. While Daniel prayed, God immediately sent Gabriel to reveal the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks, pointing directly to the coming of the Messiah. Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecy of His first coming exactly as God had declared, confirming the absolute reliability of Scripture. One prophetic week remains, pointing to the future Tribulation, the rise of the Antichrist, and the glorious return of Christ. This chapter reminds believers that God has never failed to keep a promise, and He will complete His redemptive plan exactly on schedule.
The God who fulfilled every prophecy of Christ’s first coming will faithfully fulfill every promise of His second coming.
“Are You Ready for the King?”
Series Connection
As Daniel continues to seek the Lord with unwavering faith, the next chapter takes us behind the curtain of history into the unseen spiritual battle that surrounds God’s people. We will discover that while earthly events unfold before our eyes, an invisible war is taking place in the heavenlies, and God is already fighting for those who trust Him.
