Daniel’s Seventy Weeks

Daniel 9
Allen Webster

Chapters in chronological order: 1-4, 7, 8, 5, 6, 11, 10, 12, and _9_.

This chapter is one of the most discussed in the Bible, and one about which there is much
controversy. Chapter 9 records the last revelation to Daniel. Historically, this is the final chapter.
Daniel confessed his sins and the nation’s sins and made an appeal to God to turn away His
wrath from Jerusalem and allow the temple to be rebuilt (9:16-17). The Lord responded with a message
delivered by Gabriel (9:24-27): the temple was to be rebuilt; however, a more significant blessing was to
come which is Christ, who is greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6).

Lesson #1: Even _________ preachers need to study the Bible (9:2; Psalm 92:14; 2 Timothy 4:13).
Chapter 9, more than any other, shows Daniel’s __________ life. Imagine that a copy of
____________________________ had been smuggled from distant Jerusalem to Babylon and given to
Daniel. Tears filled his eyes as he reverently opened the scroll. Praying, fasting, in sackcloth and ashes,
he sat over Jeremiah’s book. Daniel was about ____ years old but was still reading his Bible. Daniel was a
great prophet, had been given many visions, and had written Scripture, but he still read the Bible. We
must look as forward to hearing what God has to say in His Word as we do speaking to God in prayer.
The passage that caught his attention was Jeremiah 25:9-12: “These nations shall serve the king
of Babylon seventy years.” Why seventy years? Moses’ Law commanded that the ground rest every
seventh year, as the people rested every seventh day (Leviticus 25:1-7). Yet, in the history prior to
captivity there is no record of the Jews honoring this law. 1 Seventy years of captivity allowed the land to
make up the ____________________ sabbaths (2 Chronicles 36:19-21).
They were in captivity one year for each missed sabbatical year, so seventy years therefore
represented a violation of _______ years. Daniel’s prophecy marks a mid-way point in Israel’s history
since the divided kingdom. The captivity looked backward 490 years. Daniel’s prophecy looked forward
______ years (9:24).
Daniel calculated that ____ years of the seventy-year desolation had passed (cf. 29:10;
Zechariah 1:12; 7:5). The seventy years were counted from the first captivity (606 B.C.), in Jehoiakim’s
third year, when Daniel was captured (Daniel 1:1). They did not begin when the temple was destroyed,
but when the vessels were taken away—not when the nation was removed, but when Daniel and others
were moved. God had promised to end the captivity, and to let the Jews rebuild their temple (Jeremiah
29:10-14; 30:10-24; Isaiah 44:28). Daniel was now living in the first year of Darius (538 B.C.), yet freedom
had not been mentioned.

Lesson #2: A person who is too busy for prayer and Bible study should rearrange
____________________ (9:2-3, 20-21; 1 Kings 20:40; Matthew 6:33; Acts 6:4; Philippians 3:13; Colossian
3:1-2). Daniel was a president in the Medo-Persian government. He was over two other presidents, next
to King Darius, one of the greatest monarchs on earth. Daniel secluded himself from the bustle of
business and the turmoil of society and found time to study and pray. These were a resource and refuge.
While it is necessary for all people to have down time, it is especially necessary for those employed in
public life.2 Earlier, Daniel was employed in the king’s business (8:27). Now he is employed in the
business of a greater King.

1
Wayne Jackson, Daniel’s Prophecy of the “Seventy Weeks” p. 1.
2
Young, The Prophecy of Daniel, p. 198.
 It was the evening hour (9:20-21). No evening sacrifice was being offered in Jerusalem, but
Daniel offered his prayers at the time of the evening offering. The altar was in ruins, and no oblation was
on it, but devout Jews in captivity thought of the time when a sacrifice should have been offered (Psalm
141:1-2). As he prayed three times a day, no doubt he often prayed for the holy city—perhaps every
prayer mentioned its desolations (Psalm 122:6-9).

Lesson #3: Christians should set their faces to the Lord (8:3). Righteousness includes _________________
and motivation (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). God intends for righteousness to go deeper than the surface
(Matthew 15:8; Mark 7:6). A Christian not only turns away from the world (repents) he also sets his face
_________________ what is right, just, pure, kind, and godly (Philippians 4:8). Christ’s religion is not just
about _______, but about _______—not merely keeping from a certain list of forbidden things, but to
actively serve God and others (Matthew 22:36-40; 23:1-23).

Lesson #4: Righteousness is not only a _____________________ but also a ___________________ (9:3).
Salvation is positional—we must be ___ Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 1:3). Salvation is something
that happened in the past to a Christian. ______________ righteousness is directional. Daniel turned his
______________________________. It is also possible to turn one’s face away from the Lord. The
prodigal faced the far country (Luke 15:13). Imagine a Christian youth leaving home for college or work.
He does not want to sin but begins hanging out with those who sin. He goes to places where he is
around sin—he hangs out at a bar; goes where his friends gamble; accepts an invitation to a raucous
party. He listens as his friends brag of the pleasures they had the night before. He envies them a little.
He tells himself, “I’m not going to participate. I won’t sin.” He already ______. His whole attitude is sin (1
Thessalonians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22). His face is set toward sin the whole time.
A common idea is that right and wrong are separate territories, and there is a _______________
dividing them. This is sometimes the case, but not always. Some things are hard to draw a distinct line of
right and wrong between. Can one draw a line between east and west? Try to draw the line between
 Industry and __________________________ (Proverbs 6:6-8; John 9:4; 1 Corinthians 15:58).
 Unselfishness and selfishness (Philippians 2:5). Who can mark exactly how far one ought to
consider himself, and at what point selfishness begins? How far ought I to do what ____ like, or
how far should I do what _______________________ likes?
 Eating and ______________________________ (Proverbs 13:25; 25:1-3, 16; Galatians 5:22-24).
Is there any clear line between enough and too much?
 Legitimate pleasure/pastime and wasting ___________ (Ephesians 5:16). How much time can be
dedicated to hunting, fishing, or sports before it becomes a neglect of family and duty? How
many kisses between a boyfriend and girlfriend are permissible and how many are lascivious?
 Possessions and _________________________ (Luke 12:15; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Covetousness
is a sin (Colossians 3:5). How many square feet can one have in his house? What is the most one
should spend for a vehicle? Can one collect guns or antique cars? How much of “our” money
should we keep and how much should we give away to God and others?
 ________________ and lying. Is truth as precise as a mathematical figure? If one were
sheltering a fugitive in the days of slavery, would truth require him to answer the question, “Do
you know where he is?” Could he remain silent? When selling a car or house, does honesty
require one to tell every flaw, or is it enough to truthfully answer questions? Must truth be told
to criminals when it will help their crime?

This is not to imply _______________________________ (cf. Romans 3:4) but the use of wisdom and
_________________________ (Hebrews 5:14; cf. 2 Samuel 14:17; 1 Kings 3:9, 11; Isaiah 7:15; Romans
14:1; 1 Corinthians 2:14-15; Philippians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). One who thinks of sin as a distinct
line may be tempted to go as ______________________________________ without crossing it.

Lesson #5: A seven point sermon on prayer from Daniel (9:3). The success of prayer depends upon the
moral position the offerer occupies before God. 3
Prayers should be with ______________________ (9:3; James 5:16). There was a physical
component to Daniel’s prayer life. He fasted, put on sackcloth, and lay in ashes. Many think of prayer as
a passive, silent, calm endeavor. It can be, but it can be more—and at times should be. “Set my face”
indicates ____________. “Seek” shows _________________ (Matthew 7:7-11). It denotes fixed thought,
firm faith, and fervor. Repetitious prayers, like the heathens’, are useless (Matthew 6:5-7).
There is power in penitential and in __________________________ prayer (9:3). Daniel’s prayer
is one of the greatest examples of intercession in the Bible. He knew Moses’ warnings (9:13; Leviticus
26:1-46), and he knew that the Jews deserved punishment. Daniel did not ask that the people be
delivered to enjoy physical ease and comfort or have their wounded pride avenged. He did not pray
simply that they be delivered from affliction, but that spiritual ___________________ might occur. It
profits little to be released from sin’s punishment if sin’s cause remains. Daniel did not wonder if the
time had come to go home, but if they have ____________________ enough to be allowed to go home.
Prayer is an art gained by both _____________________ and ___________________ (9:3; Luke
18:1; Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 John 5:14). Daniel’s parents and priests
taught him how to pray as a child. As the years went by, he become better at it. The disciples said, “Lord
____________ us to pray” (Luke 18:1), so there is a sense in which prayer can be taught. Things like
addressing prayer to God, as our Father; in the name and through the mediation of Christ; under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit need to be emphasized. Instruction helps remove misconceptions of prayer:
 Prayer is to inform God. Some pray as if they wish to tell God what He does not know.
 Prayer’s eloquence and increased frequency necessarily move God to action.
 Prayer must be long or loud to be effective—and is better if articulated in a sanctimonious voice.
 Prayer can be used to save a sinner (for atonement or expiation).
 Prayer can be used as an excuse or apology for neglect of duties. God does not bless any man
that man does not pray, believing, trusting, and repenting.
 Prayer is best suited for a physical crisis.

There is also a sense that not even the Lord could ______ teach someone to pray. Prayer cannot be
taught in a class to any chance person. Each must teach ______________ to pray by practice. Can you
teach someone to swim or ride a bike? Not really. They must practice it. Every man must find the best
ways to pray for himself. There is no royal road; there is no short cut.
Prayer is best learned in the crucible of ___________________________ (9:3; Jeremiah 48:11).
In the yoke in his youth Daniel and his friends first learned to really pray. They learned prayer being
arrested in their father’s houses by Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers; having Babylonian chains put on their
hands and feet; seeing the temple and towers of Zion for the last time; being asked to sing Zion’s songs
to amuse their masters. Babylon taught them to pray together in their chambers.
Circumstances sometimes require special and extraordinary __________________ of prayer (9:3;
Matthew 24:20). Daniel prayed regarding ending captivity. There are times in life when one hardly does
anything but pray day and night.
Prayer should praise both God’s ______________ and God’s _______________, His majesty and
His mercy (9:3). God should be both the ________________ and the ______________ of our prayers.

3
J. H. Morgan
 Prayer moves the ________ that moves the world. The church needs ________ more than
anything else. His favor is not merely something to His people, it is everything. Wherever God’s face
shines upon His church, good things happen. Did Daniel’s prayer work? Israel was delivered from
captivity (Ezra 1:1). Of none was it ever truer than of Daniel: the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much” (James 5:16). The God of the universe attends the prayer of good men. Christians
should both work and pray. Which accomplishes more? Prayer, because it activates omnipotence. God
can give exceeding, abundantly above all we can possibly ________ or even ____________ (Ephesians
3:20). God acts for the sake of His own name (Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 22, 44; cf. 2 Peter 1:3-4).

Lesson #6: There is not a just man upon earth that does good and sins not, nor that sins and needs not
repent (9:5-19). Daniel was a good man yet had sins to confess. Daniel knew the majority of his people
had still not turned to God, so he confessed his sin and theirs. (He says “____” and “us” not
“_________” and “them.”) If one says he has no sin, he is a liar (1 John 1: 8-10).

Lesson #7: Those heartily concerned for God’s _____________, the church’s ______________, and men’s
____________, will mourn for the sins of others (9:4-6). The desolations of the sanctuary grieve true
saints (9:16-17). Daniel felt more as a saint for the ruin of the temple than as a patriot for the
desolations of Judea. Whatever his own condition, he remembered Jerusalem. His interest is that God’s
holiness and faithfulness be vindicated. He wanted God to withdraw desolation from the Holy City, Holy
Land, and Holy People, for God’s glory to be vindicated before the heathen who delighted in mocking
Jehovah for His people’s condition. Daniel’s prayer is unselfish. He does not say, “Lord, Cause thy face to
shine upon me.” Our concern must be more for God’s cause than our comfort. Thinking leads to caring
(Lamentations 1:12). The better a man’s character, the more capable he is of sympathy.

Lesson #8: If one is unwilling to forsake sin, it does no _________ to ask God to forgive it (9:3-6; Hebrews
10:26). Daniel uses four synonyms show sin’s seriousness (9:4-6). Sin’s essence: Alienation. Hatred.
Contempt. Defiance. Rebellion. Treason. Robbery. Sin defrauds God of His due.
 Sin. What is sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).
 Iniquity (carries the idea of law-breaking),
 Wickedness
 Rebellion (stubborn deliberation). Some sin is committed ignorantly; some sin is because of
weakness; other sin is rebellion. Highhanded sin is worse. “The carnal mind is enmity against
God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

On the other hand, there is no sin that is so heinous that it cannot be forgiven (Acts 2:22, 38, 41; 1
Corinthians 6:9-11). The only sin that will not be forgiven is the one we will not _______________. This
does not mean there will not be consequences. God is merciful—as merciful as if He were not ________
(Ephesians 2:4; Psalm 36:5; 136:1). He is just—as just as if He were not _____________________. He
blends wise severity of justice with gracious clemency of longsuffering (Romans 11:22).. Mercy is the
essential character of His nature. Mercy in the Father’s own, for He is the Father of mercy (2 John 1:3).

Lesson #9: Daniel’s summary of Israel’s condition makes a good sermon for any generation (9:4-10).
 God has _______________ to us (9:10; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3; 12:25).
 “By his servants the _______________” (9:10; cf. 2 Peter 1:20-21). Scripture has principles,
prohibitions, requirements. Study by direct precept, larger explanation, and various examples.
 “Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord” (9:10). Sin seeks to dethrone the Sovereign God.
He can be disobeyed in thoughts, conversations, and behavior.
  Sinning man deserves judgment (9:8). A sinner cannot plead that he is guiltless. Guilt is that
property of sin which links it to God’s ___________________. It constitutes criminality and
forbids immunity. Sin merits punishment.
 “Confusion of face belongs to us.” Sin is shameful (Genesis 3:8-10). Sin is abetting the enemy.
“He who committeth sin is of the devil” (1 John 3:8). He resembles him who serves him.
 “Nevertheless to the Lord our God belong mercies” (9:9). He is longsuffering with the guilty and
good to the obedient (Exodus 34:6; Nahum 1:3; Romans 2:4).

Lesson #10: It is important to understand the work of the Old Testament _____________________ (9:3).
The prophetic order was a class distinct from the priestly class. Prophets were known by their dress,
sometimes wearing garments of coarse cloth—haircloth or sackcloth—as signs of mourning over
people’s transgressions. Their deportment was often reserved and solemn. Their diet was unusual.
There were schools of the prophets (1 Samuel 19:18-24; 2 Kings 2:3, 5, 7, 12, 15). Samuel seems
to have founded the first school of religion, learning, and philosophy. What was the work of prophets?
 Prophets predicted the future. Written predictions were only about a ___ part of their ministry.
 They primarily preached to their contemporaries about how to live.
 They were their nation’s historians.
 They counteracted the priesthood. Priests emphasized ___________________ and ritual.
Prophets emphasized spirituality and ____________________. Prophets often arraigned priests
on charges of wickedness. God desires obedience rather than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
 They enforced the authority of divine law.
 They corrected the tendency of the people to trust in idols.
 They excited hope of divine mercy.

What were common subjects in prophets’ teaching?

 The social condition of the Jews. Scholars say that history is the key to prophecy, but among the
Jews ___________________ was the key to __________________. The omniscient God saw the
beginning and ending of all events and sometimes revealed the future to His prophets.
 Judicial visitations that would come upon the heathen.
 The Christian dispensation, as it would be set up by Messiah.

Lesson #11: God gives not only forgiveness but ______________________________ (9:10; Psalm 62:12).
He is a God of pardons (Nehemiah 9:17, margin). He multiplies pardon (Isaiah 55:7). Forgiveness is an
expression of His grace (Exodus 34:7; Isaiah 55:7; Acts 13:38-39). Christ is the treasure house in which
forgiveness is stored. Angels marvel at forgiveness, but they have no experience of its joy (2 Peter 2:4).

Lesson #12: In national calamity, Christians’ ___________________ are its greatest resource (9:10; 2
Chronicles 7:14). Daniel seems concerned that the captivity would be prolonged. He switches from
“their” (ancestors) to “our” (contemporaries). The implication is that captivity had not rid Israel of sin.
Christians are commanded to pray for government and political leaders (2 Timothy 2:1-2). Our national
heritage is unparalleled in the history of nations. God has truly “shed His grace on thee.” Our institutions
are unsurpassed—a free ballot, a free Bible—but our nation needs our prayers.

Lesson #13: Christians should confess ______________________ sins and request help in overcoming
them (9:11). Confession (homologeo) in Greek means “to say the same as.” Daniel said the same as God
about Israel’s rebellion (Deuteronomy 28:53-57; 2 Kings 6:24-31; Jeremiah 19:9). Sin is a reproach to any
people (Proverbs 14:34), but especially to God’s people. They have more eyes upon them and have
more honor to lose than other people. ________ is the only thing we can truly call our own. All else is
from God. What sins should American Christians confess?
 The decadence of personal integrity and public morality (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
 Legalizing same-sex “marriages” and accepting “transgenders” (Romans 1:18-25)
 The rapid influx of a foreign and alien religions (John 14:6; Acts 4:13).
 The corrupting influence of great cities and universities (Colossians 2:8).
 The increasing prevalence of vice, crime, and violence throughout the land (Genesis 6:1-5).
 The grasping, greedy policy of businesses and tech monopolies (Colossians 3:5).
 The growing secularization and alienation of the church and Christianity (Psalm 2:1-6).
 The audacity and strength of the alcohol, gambling, and pornography industries. Allied with
corrupt politics, they legalize the traffic in making addicts (Proverbs 20:1; Romans 6:12-14).
 Putting and keeping in office disreputable and wicked people (Proverbs 29:2).

Lesson #14: It is permissible to quote Scripture in prayer (9:13). In fact, since Scripture guides prayer, it
should be commonplace. (One does not have to give the reference when speaking to God.)

Lesson #15: Religion requires knowledge of two things: knowing God and knowing ourselves (9:14).
When we know God, we can understand ourselves. The law is a mirror that reflects Jehovah’s
excellence; it is the transcript of His glory. Can a holy God be indifferent to sin, as though He saw no evil?
Righteousness becomes ______________________ if it withholds righteous condemnation. Sin earns
wages that must be paid (Romans 6:23; Romans 2:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). A remedy is provided. A
refuge is erected. “Christ has suffered the just for the unjust” (1 Peter 3:18).

Lesson #16: The ________________ of God at Jerusalem was typical of the _________________ of
Christ in Jerusalem (9:17).
 There was but one temple, and there is but one church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 4:4).
 The temple excelled all the architecture the world had seen; the church excels all the churches
of men (Ephesians 3:10-11).
 The temple was of great cost. No arithmetic can calculate the cost of the church (Acts 20:28).
 The temple was the shrine of God’s indwelling, the one place He dwelt in visible manifestation.
The Jews say a peculiar light shined between the cherubim wings on the ark of the covenant.
The tabernacle shone a beacon by night (Exodus 13:21-22). There is one place in all the world
where God dwells—His church (1 Corinthians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 3:21).
 The temple was where men went to seek God. God can be found anywhere as Creator; as
Redeemer one must go to His church (John 6:68; Acts 4:13).
 The temple was the place of God’s worship, as is the church (Acts 2:42; 20:7).
 The temple was the throne of Jehovah’s power. Out of Zion He sent forth His rod; from there He
spoke by His ancient prophets. Christ’s power goes forth from His church (Acts 4:33).

Lesson #17: God knows what we need ________________ we ask, _______________ quickly to prayer,
but His answer may be _______________________ (9:20-21; Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1; Psalm 38:9; 69:17-19;
145:18; Isaiah 58:9; 65:24; Matthew 6:8, 32; Luke 12:30; John 16:23-27; Acts 4:31; 10:30-31; Philippians
4:6). Angels are winged messengers who do God’s pleasure (Psalm 103:21). They do not delay to
execute their orders—they return like a flash of lightning (Ezekiel 1:14). The answer went forth the
moment Daniel began to pray (9:23), but its fulfillment was suspended till the angel arrived. The blessing
was ready (James 4:2-3). God wants us to ask not because He needs to be informed but because it is
important to us to acknowledge our ____________________ on Him and remove our self-confidence.
Lesson #18: __________________ has the ability to change the world because it ___________________
the God who rules the world (9:20-21). At the beginning of Daniel’s supplication the commandment
went forth. What commandment? It is possible that Cyrus’s commandment to restore Jerusalem was
given during Daniel’s prayer. Gabriel could be saying: “The thing was just taken care of; the
proclamation of Jewish liberty was signed this morning, just when you asked for it.” From the hour
Gabriel spoke to Daniel, at the time of the evening _______________ (1 Kings 18:36; Ezra 9:5; Matthew
27:46; Acts 3:1; 10:3, 9), to the hour when Christ died, was exactly _____ years.

Lesson #19: It is good to be reminded that we are “_________________ ____________” (9:20-21; Luke
1:28; John 13:23; James 2:23; cf. Genesis 18:17). “Greatly beloved” literally means, “a man of desires.”

Lesson #20: If Christ has not made an end of our ______, then our sin will soon the end of ______ (9:24).4
Sin, when it is finished, brings death (James 1:14-15; cf. Psalm 9:17; Revelation 22:11). Sin, when Jesus is
finished with it, is ______________________.

Lesson #21: Daniel gave the greatest ________________________ of the Messiah’s work in all the Old
Testament (9:24). Salvation, by Christ's atonement for sin, was brought to humanity in the _____ week.
What would Jesus accomplish?
First, the Messiah would deal with sin. His first work was to overthrow evil (Matthew 1:21;
20:28; 26:28; John 10:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:7; 5:25;
Colossians 1:20; 1 Peter 2:24; Revelation 1:5). He would
 finish (_________ up) the transgression. Finish means to “shut up; take prisoner, confine in a cell
with the door is fastened; unable to exercise the power it once possessed; restrained.” Christ
came to take away sin (1 John 3:5). As He died, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus
destroyed the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Satan had received a death-wound (cf. Genesis
3:15). Sin is a captive prisoner. Christ led captivity captive (Ephesians 4:8). Christ will cast the
devil into the bottomless pit forever (Revelation 20:3).
 make an end (___________ up) of sins. Christ did not end sin in the sense that no one would
commit sin anymore. Rather, He introduced a system that provided forgiveness when man
sinned. This system allowed any sinner to access His cleansing blood. 5 Men can be righteous by
the Messiah’s death through obedience to God’s commands (Romans 3:21-26). 6 Jesus not only
does away with the guilt of past sins, but He breaks sin’s power over sinners. “Sin shall not have
dominion over you” if Christ is in you (Romans 6:14). Where sin and death had reigned,
righteousness and life through grace reign (Romans 5:21).
 make reconciliation (___________ up) for iniquity. When man hardened his heart toward God’s
goodness and estranged himself from His Maker, God took the initiative and provided His Son as
an atonement (John 3:16). This love draws man back to God (Colossians 1:20-21). Through
Christ, man could be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Revelation 1:5; 1 Peter 1:18-19;
Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4). Reconcile means to bring back together. Jesus brings God and man
together, as an arbitrator, referee, and peacemaker. In Hebrew, reconciliation means to cover
over. In forgiveness, God erases sin (Romans 5:20; Hebrews 8:12; cf. 10:1-4; 9:22; 10:12). Jesus
is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2). _________ must be reconciled
to _______, instead of the other way around, for man left God.

4
C. H. Spurgeon
5
Turner, Daniel: A Prophet of God, pp. 319-320.
6
Paseur, “The Seventy Weeks of Daniel,” in The Biblical Doctrine of Last Things, p. 160.
Second, the Messiah would bring everlasting righteousness to the world. This refers to the gospel system
of righteousness (Romans 1:16-17). There are two aspects of this righteousness:
 _____________________ righteousness: the righteousness which God declares we have which
we do not merit. Our sins were paid in full at the cross. Our faith is imputed to us for
righteousness (Romans 4:3, 5). His sacrifice—not our works—is the merit of our righteousness:
“so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
 _____________________ righteousness which we are required to do by faith and love (Romans
1:17; 1 Timothy 6:18).

Why is it called everlasting righteousness?

 It comes from the everlasting Father. He intended to extend it to man from eternity. Christ was
the Lamb slain from world’s foundation (Revelation 13:8). It was from everlasting in counsel.
 Its efficacy will continue till time shall be no more. As long as the world lasts, it will. If man
remains faithful, it last throughout life. Christ is able to save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25).
 Its benefit will endure eternally. It is of everlasting virtue and consequence (Hebrews 10:12).

Third, the Messiah would seal up vision and prophecy. Jesus put an end to that __________________ of
God’s showing His mind and will. They shall no more be seen or spoken. He took another course by
completing the canon in the New Testament, which is the surer word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19;
Hebrews 1:1). The gospel is forever settled, to remain eternally the same (Jude 1:3; 2 Corinthians 13:8-
10; Hebrews 12:28). What a glorious event for man was the first coming of Jesus!

Lesson #22: The __________ are forever without __________________ for looking for a Messiah other
than Jesus (9:24-27). The Jews in Jesus’ day hoped for a Messiah to deliver them from the Roman yoke
and give them worldly power and wealth. Their prophets told them that the Messiah would come for
spiritual purposes. Jews to this day still look for another (cf. Matthew 11:3). Jesus accomplished all the
prophecies in this chapter. In fact, He fulfilled all things that were written in the law, the prophets, and
the psalms, concerning the Messiah. The prophecy of seventy weeks is conclusive. One can start the
seventy weeks from whichever decree he pleases it still expired over 2000 years ago. On the other hand,
the prophecy confirms belief in Jesus as the Messiah. He came at the right time (Galatians 4:4-5).

Lesson #23: Jesus is the perfect example of _____________________ (9:26). Jesus was “not for himself.”
He did not come to gain, but to give (John 18:36). He had nothing (ASV) (2 Corinthians 8:9). He
 emptied Himself to become a man (John 1:14).
 had no possessions (John 19:23-24). How much did He have in a bank? Where was His house?
 had no position of worldly honor (John 18:36).
 was forsaken by His friends (Matthew 24:56).
 was crucified by His people—the Jews (Matthew 23:34-39; 27:23).
 gave up Himself to save man from sin. Guilty of no crimes, He died for others (Luke 24:46; John
11:51). He died in our stead and for our good, not for any advantage of His own (the glory He
received was no more than the glory He had before, John 17:4-5).

Lesson #24: God is a _________________________; Christ is ______________________ (9:24-27). God

has set times (Acts 2:23). The angel told Daniel when the Son of God was to come down. God appointed
a set time for the coming of His Son into the world (Galatians 4:4-5); He left nothing to chance. Infinite
wisdom dictated the hour at which the Messiah would be born, and the moment He would die.
Lesson #25: The vision of ___________________ _______________ is one of the most amazing in the
Old Testament (9:24-27). Prophets that preceded Daniel had often spoken of a Messiah to come, but
never was the time _______________________________ until now. This time element allowed the Jews
to know when to expect Him. The Jews were looking for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25, 38; 19:11;
John 4:25). This may have brought a larger number to Jerusalem the year the church began (Acts 2:5).
The number seven had been important was emphasized in the law. There was a
 sabbath of __________ (Exodus 23:12), setting apart the seventh day to honor God.
 sabbath of ___________ (Leviticus 25:1-7; 26:33-34; 2 Chronicles 36:21).
 sabbath of ___________ every fiftieth year for the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-17).

Daniel is introduced a sabbath of _______________ (9:24)—seventy weeks 7 of years (7 years x 70

weeks), making a total of _________ years of prophetic time. (Prophetic years are 360 days long.) Four
hundred ninety years was decreed for the accomplishment of all that was necessary for the
___________________ of the ________________ of Judah and Jerusalem. Within this period will also
be finished all the plan of God’s redemption made known through the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3).
The prophecy is divided into three sections:
 7 weeks of years (____ years)
 62 weeks (_____ years). Together this is 483 years.
 1 week, divided in half (____ years each)

SIMPLE TIMETABLE
Beginning with 457 B.C. (the going forth of the command), add:
Seven weeks 49 years For the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Sixty-two weeks 434 years Until the Messiah’s ministry.
One-half week 3.5 years Christ's ministry until the crucifixion.
One-half week 3.5 years The Gospel preached to the Jews only.
Total 490 years

EXPANDED EXPLANATION
When do the 490 years start? The beginning point for calculating the seventy weeks is “from the going
forth of the ________________________ ___ ______________ and build Jerusalem” (9:25). Four events
could be the commandment:
 The decree of Cyrus, 536 B.C. (Ezra 1:2-4). This decree was for the building of the temple but did
not include authorization to restore the Jewish commonwealth. Zerubbabel led a group out of
captivity. Add 486½ years (490-3½) this would end at 50 B.C.—eighty years prior to Jesus’ death.
 The decree of Darius, 518 B.C. This repeated the first decree and did not authorize the Jewish
commonwealth. Those who had returned had not completed the temple. They restarted
building in 520 after stopping due to opposition. This would end at 32 B.C.—sixty years early.
 The decree8 of Artaxerxes Longimanus, 457 B.C.9 (the twentieth year of his reign which began in
477 B.C. (Ezra 7). This decree was for restoring the nation. It granted Ezra permission to take a
group to Jerusalem, gave him unlimited resources, and empowered him to ordain laws. He could
set magistrates with authority to execute punishments—confiscation, banishment, even the

7
Heptads, literally, sevens.
8
Ezra regarded the three decrees (Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes) as one decree (cf. Ezra 6:14).
9
That the seventh year are Artaxerxes was 457 B.C. is confirmed by concurrent agreement of more than twenty sources.
 death penalty. This was to restore the commonwealth. 10 Does this date work mathematically? If
one starts at _____ B.C., and goes forward for 486½ years, the resulting date is A.D. ____—the
year of Christ’s crucifixion. This is the common view.11
 The decree of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah, 444 B.C. (Nehemiah 1:1-3; 2:1-6). Nehemiah’s purpose
was to assist Ezra’s work. He accomplished his mission 52 days after arriving (Nehemiah 6:15).
This would end at A.D. 42—a dozen years after the crucifixion.

How many years would occur between the return of the Jews and the Messiah’s coming? 483 years (69
weeks x 7) (adding the first 7 weeks with 62 weeks).
 In the first 7 weeks (49 years) the _____________ and __________ would be rebuilt in troublous
times. Nehemiah shows how difficult it was. The street and walls would be as spacious and
splendid as before. Jesus would one day walk down that street and see those walls. Starting with
457 B.C., restoring the Jewish commonwealth happened by 408 B.C., which matches history.
 The next period is 62 weeks (434 years), which came after the first 7 weeks, so totaling 69 weeks
(483 years). Starting with 457 B.C. this comes to 26 A.D. when Jesus was baptized at age 30. 12 He
was anointed at His baptism, for the Spirit descended upon Him (Matthew 3:17). The second
period (434 years) has ended (the prophecy says after the sixty-ninth week, 9:26); the
seventieth week started when Jesus ________________________________.
 The seventieth week is divided (“in the ____________ of the week”) into two periods of 3½
years each. In the first half of the week, Jesus and His apostles proclaimed the gospel. How do
we know how long Christ’s public ministry was? It began when He was about ____ (Luke 3:23;
John 1:29-ff). Since during His ministry there were ___ Passovers, it covered between ___ and
___ years (2:12, 23; 5:1; 6:4; 12:1), thus fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy.
 In the middle of the week—after 486.5 years (483 years + 3.5 years)—Christ was crucified. “Shall
Messiah be cut off” (Daniel 9:26) means He would suffer a violent death (Isaiah 53:7-8; Luke
24:46; John 11:51; 19:23-24; Acts 26:22-23). The crucifixion and then establishment of the
church occurred in A.D. 30 (A.D. ____ on our uncorrected calendars). At that time, He caused
“the sacrifice and the oblation to _____________” (Daniel 9:27). By offering Himself a sacrifice
once for all (Hebrews 9:26), He put an end to all Levitical sacrifices, superseded them and set
them aside—when the substance comes the shadow are removed. By fulfilling Moses’ Law, He
took it out of the way (Matthew 5:17-18), nailing it—with its system of animal sacrifices—to His
cross (Colossians 2:14). He sacrificed Himself (Hebrews 10:9-10) so there was no more reason to
offer lambs, rams, bullocks, heifers, or goats. He made peace by the blood of the cross
(Colossians 1:20) so no more peace-offerings were needed. This shows the 70th week is not
waiting for Christ’s second coming. “He shall confirm the covenant with many” (9:27) refers to
Jesus fulfilling the terms of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3; cf. Romans 15:8; 1 Timothy
2:5). Jesus introduced a new covenant between God and man, a covenant of _______________,
since it had become impossible for man to be saved by a covenant of ________________.
 In the second half of the seventieth week, the apostles preached the gospel only to the Jews for
3½ years.13 It refers to the period is the time of the founding of the church and the preaching of
the gospel exclusively to the _________, a period ending about the time of _________________
martyrdom (Acts 7; Hebrews 9:13; 9:15). “With many” refers to the success of the preaching of
the gospel among the Jews. As a whole the Jews rejected the gospel, and certainly the leaders
10
A copy of this decree is found in Ezra 7. It is written in Aramaic, which was spoken in Babylon at the time. The rest of the Book of Ezra is
written in Hebrew. It is significant that it was preserved in the original form, and when we see how much depends upon it, seems providential.
11
Scott 1975, 5.364.
12
There is an well-known error of four years in our calendar.
13
Turner, Daniel: A Prophet of God, pp. 321-322.
 did (John 12:37, 42; Acts 17:5), but many common people accepted it (cf. Acts 2:41, 47). The
Jews had the opportunity to receive the gospel ___________ (Romans 1:14-16; Matthew 10:5-6;
Acts 1:8). When they rejected it, the apostles turned to the _________________. The Jews were
given the good news exclusively until Acts ______. Then the seventieth week was up, and the
gospel would be taken to the Samaritans (Jew and Gentile mixed race), and eventually to the
full-blooded Gentiles (Acts 10). There is no doubt that Jesus was predicting the destruction of
Jerusalem by Titus in 70 A.D. when He quoted Daniel’s “abomination of desolation” (Daniel
9:26-27; Matthew 24:15-28). Josephus interpreted the event as a fulfillment of Daniel. 14
However, Daniel 9:26 speaks of events which will come “after the threescore and two weeks.”
The beginning of the end was the stoning of Stephen. This destruction of the city and the
sanctuary was a _______________________ of the Jews “cutting off” their Messiah. They may
be regarded as involved in the prophecy, but their accomplishment extend beyond the strict
limits of the 70th week.15

Sources:
Rex A. Turner, Sr., “The Book of Daniel Surveyed and Studied,” Premillennialism, True or False?,
(Tuscaloosa, AL.: Winkler Publications, Inc., 1978), ed. Wendell Winkler, p. 299.
Young, Edward J. 1954. Daniel. The New Bible Commentary. F. Davidson, ed. Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans.
Jackson, Wayne. www.christiancourier.com; Daniel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks

14
Antiquities of the Jews
15
Some think that “people of the prince that shall come and destroy the city and the sanctuary, desolations, and the wing of abominations shall
come one that maketh desolate” (9:26-27) requires the termination of the 70th week to be the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This is hard
to fit into three and a half years after the crucifixion. These explanations are given: God gave them time to repent. The period of three and a
half years was graciously extended 35 years; or, the end is not definitely fixed. Edward J. Young’s interpretation of the 70th seven is that the
termination of the last week is indefinite.