Lesson 23 – Light Imparted to a Humble Petitioner

“Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel,… informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” Daniel 9:21, 22.

SEVENTY WEEKS ARE SET APART

SUNDAY

1. How much time was granted to the Jews before great events would take place? According to what key is prophetic time calculated?

Daniel 9:24, first part Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression,…

Numbers 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

Ezekiel 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.

“Seventy Weeks. These are the first words the angel uttered to Daniel in imparting to him that instruction which he came to give. Why did he thus abruptly introduce a period of time? We must again refer to the vision of Daniel 8. We have seen that Daniel, at the close of that chapter, says that he did not understand the vision.” –Uriah Smith, The Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation, p. 201.

“Following his rule of making Scripture its own interpreter, Miller learned that a day in symbolic prophecy represents a year (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6);…” –The Great Controversy, p. 324.

MONDAY

2. What was to happen at the end of this time period?

Daniel 9:24, last part …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 pro- phecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

The German Menge Translation says: “Seventy weeks [equaling year- weeks; i.e., weeks of seven years instead of days] are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression and to make an end of their sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness [salvation] and to seal up the vision and the [statement of the] prophet and to anoint [consecrate] the most holy.” “Seventy weeks, then, or 490 days of the 2300, were allotted to Jerusa- lem and the Jews. The events which were to be consummated within that period are briefly stated. The transgression was to be finished, that is, the Jewish people were to fill up the cup of their iniquity, which they did in the rejection and crucifixion of Christ. An end of sins, or of sin offerings [The Hebrew word, chattath, translated ‘sins’ in Daniel 9: 24, denotes ei- ther sin or sin offering], was to be made. This took place when the great offering was made on Calvary. Reconciliation for iniquity was to be pro- vided. This was accomplished by the sacrificial death of the Son of God. Everlasting righteousness was to be brought in, the righteousness which our Lord manifested in His sinless life. The vision and the prophecy were to be sealed, or made sure.” –Uriah Smith, The Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation, p. 203.

THE BEGINNING DATE

TUESDAY

3. What event marked the beginning point of this prophecy? Where do we find this command? When was it given?

Daniel 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,…

Ezra 6:14; 7:11-28, 7 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they pros- pered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the com- mandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 7:11-28, 7 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artax- erxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel.12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own free- will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Je- rusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the peo- ple, and of the priests, offering will- ingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bull- ocks, rams, lambs, with their meat of- ferings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heav- en, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, por- ters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.25 And thou, Ezra, after the wis- dom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are be- yond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to impris- onment.27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:28 And hath extend- ed mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. 7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

“The word here translated ‘determined’ (Daniel 9:24) literally signifies ‘cut off. Seventy weeks, representing 490 years, are declared by the an- gel to be cut off, as specially pertaining to the Jews. But from what were they cut oft? As the 2300 days was the only period of time mentioned in chapter 8, it must be the period from which the seventy weeks were cut off; the seventy weeks must therefore be a part of the 2300 days, and the two periods must begin together. The seventy weeks were declared by the angel to date from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. If the date of this commandment could be found, then the starting point for the great period of the 2300 days would be ascertained….

“These three kings, in originating, reaffirming, and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years. Taking 457 B.C., the time when the decree was completed, as the date of the commandment, every specification of the prophecy concerning the seventy weeks was seen to have been fulfilled.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 326, 327.

EVENTS PREDICTED FOR THE SEVENTY WEEKS

WEDNESDAY

4. Who was to come on the scene after 69 weeks (483 years), and in what year? What was to happen during the 70th week?

Daniel 9:25, 27, first part Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the com- mandment 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. 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, …

“From this date, 483 years extend to the autumn of A.D. 27. At that time this prophecy was fulfilled. The word ‘Messiah’ signifies ‘the Anointed One.’ In the autumn of A.D. 27 Christ was baptized by John and received the anointing of the Spirit…. The ‘week’ here brought to view is the last one of the seventy; it is the last seven years of the period allotted especial- ly to the Jews. During this time, extending from A.D. 27 to A.D. 34, Christ, at first in person and afterward by His disciples, extended the gospel invi- tation especially to the Jews.” –The Great Controversy, p.327.

THURSDAY

5. How was this carried out in the labors of Christ as well? What was to happen in the middle of the 70th week, or 31/2 years after Jesus’ anointing?

Matthew 10:5, 6; 15:22-24 A These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 15:22-24 And, behold, a

woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Daniel 9:26, first part, 27, middle part 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… 27… and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, …

“’In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.’ In A.D. 31, three and a half years after His baptism, our Lord was crucified. With the great sacrifice offered upon Calvary, ended that system of offerings which for four thousand years had pointed forward to the Lamb of God. Type had met antitype, and all the sacrifices and oblations of the ceremonial system were there to cease.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 327, 328.

FRIDAY

6. What event marked the end of the 70 weeks (490 years)? What year was that?

Acts 8:3-8; 10:1-5, 26-28, 34, 35;

22:21 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Phil- ip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.8 And there was great joy in that city. 10:1-5, 26-28, 34, 35 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of an- other nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no re- specter of persons:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accept- ed with him. 22:21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

“The seventy weeks, or 490 years, especially allotted to the Jews, ended, as we have seen, in A.D. 34. At that time, through the action of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the nation sealed its rejection of the gospel by the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution of the followers of Christ. Then the message of salvation, no longer restricted to the chosen people, was given to the world. The disciples, forced by persecution to flee from Jerusalem, ‘went everywhere preaching the word.’” –The Great Controversy, p. 328.

THE REMAINING PORTION OF TIME

SABBATH

7. How much time remains when the 70 weeks (490 years) are subtracted from the 2,300 years? To what year does this bring us? Will the old city of Jerusalem and the Jews, as a nation, again play a role in the plan of salvation?

Daniel 9:26, last part … and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

“The seventy weeks–490 days–having been cut off from the 2300, there were 1810 days remaining. After the end of 490 days, the 1810 days were still to be fulfilled. From A.D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. Consequently the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 terminate in 1844.” –The Great Controversy, p. 328. ”Then I was pointed to some who are in the great error believing that it is their duty to go to Old Jerusalem, and think they have a work to do there before the Lord comes… I also saw that Old Jerusalem never would be built up; and that Satan was doing his utmost to lead the minds of the children of the Lord into these things now, in the gathering time, to keep them from throwing their whole interest into the present work of the Lord, and to cause them to neglect the necessary preparation for the day of the Lord.”–Early Writings, pp. 75, 76.

FOR PERSONAL STUDY

“Through His chosen agencies God will graciously make known His purposes. Then the grand work of redemption will go forward. Men will learn of the reconciliation for iniquity and of the everlasting righteousness which the Messiah has brought in through His sacrifice. The cross of Calvary is the great center. This truth acted upon will make Christ’s sacrifice effectual. This is that which Gabriel revealed to Daniel in answer to fervent prayer. It was of this that Moses and Elijah and Christ talked at His transfiguration. By the humiliation of the cross He was to bring everlasting deliverance to all who would walk after Him, giving positive evidence that they are separated from the world.” –(Letter 201, 1899) Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, pp. 1172, 1173. ”Every action, every word, and every moment of our lives should bear the impress of our holy faith. The end of all things is at hand, and we have no time to be idle or to live in pleasure, at cross-pur- poses with God….

“To every person is committed some peculiar gift or talent which is to be used to advance the Redeemer’s kingdom. All God’s responsible agents, from the lowliest and most obscure to those in high positions in the church, are entrusted with the Lord’s goods. It is not the minister alone who can work for the salvation of souls. Those who have the smallest gifts are not excused from using the very best gifts they have, and in so doing their talents will be increased. It is not safe to trifle with moral responsibilities nor to despise the day of small things. God’s providence proportions His trusts according to the varied capabilities of the people.” – Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 618.