Daniel 9:25-27

Daniel 9:25-27 (ESV): “25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.””

The redemptive plan of God is laid out for us clearly and specifically in His Word. We don’t have to wonder what’s in store—praise God for prophecy!

After praying for his own sin and the sin of his nation, Daniel was given the Seventy-Week Prophecy. In this context, a “week” represents a period of seven years. The first seven plus sixty-two weeks began with the decree of Artaxerxes in 445 BC and were fulfilled at the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ. Then Messiah was “cut off,” meaning He was killed—an event that has already taken place. That leaves one final seven-year period remaining: the Tribulation. During this time, the Lord foretold that the Abomination of Desolation (the Antichrist) will arise but will ultimately be destroyed at the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:19–21). Daniel received this revelation concerning his own people, Israel, because Israel is God’s prophetic timepiece. God will restore His people in the end.

Aren’t you glad we don’t have to wonder what’s going to happen? God has given us His Word concerning the things to come. The Tribulation Period represents God’s final plea for humanity to repent and turn to Christ. It is also the appointed time for God to deal once more with the nation of Israel. You can read your Bible with the newspaper in hand—watch what’s happening in Israel, for they are the indicators of where we are on God’s prophetic timeline. Finally, be encouraged: the Church will be taken out of the world before the Tribulation begins. Let’s take as many people with us as possible! Amen?

Father, thank You for revealing Your truth to us. Have Your way, and be glorified in and through Your people, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.