The Prophecy of the Seventy Sevens - Daniel - Part 9

No great man of God was once and how he could be so sure that God exists and he hesitated for a moment and then simply looked at his questioner and answered the Jews, the Jews. That was how he could be so sure that God existed, the existence and continuation of the Jewish people down through the centuries is unequaled. There is nothing in all of history like it, you realize that no other people in history has ever lost their homeland and had to live spread out throughout other nations for 2000 years. No nation that has ever had to do that has ever survived as a nation.

No nation. It's ever had to do that has ever regained their homeland back like the Jews, and no other language in the history of the world has ever died out as a living spoken language and ever been revived as a living spoken language with the exception of one and that is Hebrew. The Hebrew that is spoken today in the nation of Israel is for all practical purposes, the very same Hebrew that Jesus would've spoken and Isaiah would've spoken. These are amazing. How do you explain to people like this, a people challenging break every rule of survival in the history of the world of people who are a historical anomaly, a people with by every stretch of the imagination should not even be in existence today, and yet they are the answer to the continued existence of the Jewish people. The explanation for that I believe is found in the Bible and put very simply, if this God is not finished. The Jewish people. You and father still here, God is not through with them. God himself has supernaturally preserved them in light of all the things that they've been through things that would've destroyed any other nation, and frankly, things that should have destroyed the Jews except that Almighty God himself overruled. All of these events to assure the survival of Israel to this very day, we can point to their survival is one of the greatest proof that the God of the Bible really does exist and that is really as powerful as he says he is in the word of God and the clearest and grandest passage I think in the Bible that addresses this issue of the continuation of the Jewish people all the way down through the centuries to the end of the age is found here in Daniel chapter 9 it's called the prophecy of the 77 and if one of the most incredible prophecies in all of the word of God not only because of what it tells us about Israel, but also because of what it tells us about the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. We want to look at it this evening and we want to begin in verse one, number prophecy does not actually begin in verse one.

It begins in verse 20, but in verse one we have the prelude to this prophecy, and the prelude to it is a prayer by the great man of God, Daniel, let's look at verse one in the first year of Darius, the son of Xerxes amoebae decision who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom in the first year of his reign that this would be 538 BC. Daniel is now a very old man. He's probably well into his 80s. Maybe near 90 ever going to find here that he was reading the word of God. One day when something happened it says in his first year I Daniel understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years. Daniel is sitting around reading the prophecy of Jeremiah and as he reads it. He comes across a startling discovery. It's found in Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 10 and if you like to flip back to Jeremiah 29 it's only two books back, I'd like to show it to you. Jeremiah 29 verse 10 and is Daniel is reading here is what he read for thus saith the Lord, after 70 years are accomplished in Babylon, I will come to you and I will fulfill my gracious promise to you to bring you back to this place, that is, Jerusalem down to verse 14 and I will gather you from all nations and places where I have banished you and I will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.

Here is a promise given to Jeremiah, who prophesied that the Babylonians would He also prophesied that one day God would restore the Jewish people back to the city of Jerusalem and he said it would be 70 years after Jerusalem was deported. Now when we study historical records. We found out that there were three deportations from Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, carried out the first one was in 606 BC Daniel and his three friends were carried away in the first one in 597 BC. Nebuchadnezzar came back conquered the city a second time and deported a whole bunch more people. Finally, in 586 BC 20 years after the first one there was a further deportation. When Nebuchadnezzar came back destroyed the city destroyed the temple, burned to the ground wiped out everybody and everything in town and took everybody away to Babylon and so in 538 BC. You can be it. You can see it has almost been 70 years it is been 68 years.

The first deportation, and so realizing that 70 years is just about all Daniel believing the promise of God that when 70 years was up. God was going to restore them to their land.

Daniel is in bold and he is encouraged to begin praying for God to do that very thing. Verse three so I turned to the Lord and I pleaded with him in prayer and petition in fasting and in sackcloth and in ashes and what follows here is one of what I think is the greatest prayers and all of uncle tremendous prayer to pick a prayer to model your prayer life after you can pick a much better one than this look with the sprayer. Let's read follow along all Lord, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant love with all who love him and obey his commandments. We have sin and done wrong.

We have been with you then have rebel we have turned away from your commandments and your laws.

We have not listened to your servants the prophets who spoke in your name to our King to our princes into our fathers into all the people of the landlord. You are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame. The men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem and all Israel both near and far and all the countries that you scatter the floor because of our on faithfulness to you oh Lord, we and our kings in our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving. Even though we rebelled against him, but we have not obeyed the Lord our God, nor have we kept his laws that he gave us to his servants the prophets, all Israel transgressed your lawn turned away, refusing to obey. Therefore this is why the curses and the judgment that you swore that are written in the laws of the law of Moses have been poured out on us because we have sinned against you will fulfill the words you spoke against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster under the whole heaven.

Nothing is ever been done like what was done to Jerusalem, but it was just as though it was written was just as was written in the law of Moses. All this disaster came upon us yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth so you. The Lord did not hesitate to bring this disaster upon us, for you are righteous in everything you do and we have not of age.

Now, Lord, you brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and you made for yourself a name that endures to this day we have sin we done wrong and all Lord, in keeping with all of your righteous acts. We beg you turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem. Your city, your holy hill. Our sins and our iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to those around us. But now God here the prayers and petitions of your servant for your sake, oh Lord look on favor to your deaths are up on your desolate sanctuary give ear, O God, and hear us. Open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your name.

We do not make these request of you because we are righteous because of your great mercy. Lord, listen or Lord forgive us all Lord here and act for your sake. Oh my God, do not delay your city and your people fear your name, prayer as a prayer friends and I like to point out to you some of the importance seems of prayer that are contained in Daniel's prayer here in Daniel chapter 9, first of all, would you notice that Daniel's prayer flowed out, of a familiarity with the word of God, did you pick that up. He talked about the law of Moses. He talked about the threats and the promises of destruction.

God given. He talked about the fact that the God of promise that they would turning call on his name. God would spare them, but they didn't. He talked about Jeremiah's prophecy was reading Jeremiah's prophecy.

He talked about all the commandments of God, they had broken.

He talked about the mercy of God. He talked about the city of Jerusalem and how it bore the name of God is a man. One is to provide this was a man who had a prayer that flowed out of a familiarity with all of the word of God and all the great themes of the word of God. Daniel's whole prayer was inspired by his reading not only of Jeremiah's prophecy, but is familiarity with the teachings of the Bible on every subject. This is a Bible based prayer. The first thing I want you to notice and pray with power. We suggest to you that you immerse yourself in the word of God and pray out of a familiarity with the themes in the truths of the word of God about God and about what God says. That's the basis on which denigrate prayer sections which you notice the Daniel's prayer begins the adoration of God. Verse four Daniel starts off and says, Lord, you are the awesome God, the great God, you are the one who keeps a covenant with everybody who loves you and everybody who obeys you. Daniel begins by stating who God is, by adoring God before launching into any request before launching into any confession before doing anything at all. He first establishes the control group. He first establishes the Plum line for prayer and the plumb line is the character and the person of God before I do anything or say anything that's on record and established just to you are okay will start from there. Let me praise you and thank you Lord for who you are. After his prayer began different.

How many times is that we go to prayer and we go right past the Smith I knew we get on our knees and then we launch right in my God, I need this today. I got this problem with Lord you know this and I need this in my kids this my parents this in the finances of my house, my car and my job got is that really how we want to go in the presence of God is that really what the greatest team of prayer is that we want to start with how things whatever happened to getting on our knees and saying that God from icing. Let me remind myself one here to remind myself who you are, God, who I'm about to communicate with you need a reminder God. I do you. The awesome God great to the faithful God would start prayer then you're in a mental attitude to go someplace else with prayer.

That's what Daniel did.

Third, Daniel's prayer went next to confession of sin. He didn't go right asking God for anything. He went to confessing his sin and we saw it over and over and over and over again to keep paying.

This is our fault.

We are in trouble because we blow it is not your fault.

God you are righteous, God, you did what you promised. If our fault that we're in the mess were in because we have sin we broken your laws.

We've turned away from dental doesn't whitewash their sin. Daniel calls it sin and any appeals to God to forgive them.

On the basis of his mercy. But why does Daniel go here before he begins to ask for anything it's because Daniel understand the relationship of God to us and how sin interferes with that and he understands that he's not ready to ask God for anything until he was first dealt with in the race between him and God that affects his power in prayer and he knows it's only after sin is been confessed and forgiven and settled in prayer before we praise God first and then he clears up the sin issue. Second, before he ever asked for anything.

I think we get a lot more done in prayer, if we were a little bit more honest with God about our situation spiritually. Many times is it that we get on our knees and we say all well God, I know I have been perfect but thank God you're forgiven and we go. You know that is what Daniel did say well Lord you know is no one perfect and so what what can we do about now. He said God we see in we broken your laws. We transgressed your commandments.

We left you in our heart even after you afflicted us, we still didn't turn sin or we need to be forgiven in Clinton and I'm interested the Daniel keep using we not pay. We I don't think there was probably a more righteous man on the face of the earth that the days in which he was writing the Daniel. Daniel says we meeting including himself out of here how righteous you may think you are. I can promise you. Not as righteous as Daniel and he can include his himself confessed his sin, dear friends, is not a single one of us want to skip that in prayer and if you don't think you did anything wrong. I have a suggestion, ask God to show you what he thinks of your day, not what you think of your day but would he thing out of your day what he thinks of your spiritual condition and then be quiet for a minute and let them show you, you find something to talk to God about your find something to confess belief because all of us do things every day. We need to clear up between God and us before ready to talk to God about any fourth and finally only after all of this. Does Daniel ask and then when he asks down in verse 15. I want you to notice the basis on which he asks Jerusalem to be restored. He does not come in and say, well, God, you know you made a promise now name and claimant stick to know that was. He doesn't come in and say when I Lord you know we need a blessing on you been, kinda nasty to us and it's time to bless your people and for our comfort in our blessing in our out, you know, IRR luxury Lord it's time for you to do something owner what he says. He says the Lord, hear the petition of your servant for your sake, oh Lord. Look at with favor on your sanctuary give zero God and listen.

Open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your name Lord, we don't make request because we are righteous, but because of your mercy, listen, Lord, here is Lord, don't delay, because your city and your people are called by your name, the appeal that Daniel makes to God is on the basis of God's mercy, saying, Lord, were not worthy of anything were not asking this because were worthy where only asking you because your merciful and second is appeal is Lord do this because your reputation your glory, your honor is on the line. Jerusalem is a city that bears your name in the whole world knows it and having it in desolation. Lord brings reproach on your day yesterday for the glory of God, not for his own comfort for the glory of God.

That's the right reason. Prayer. Prayer at the right reason. Ask God for some that's the kind of prayer God listens I'd like to suggest to you when we ask God for things we ought to ask God for things on the same basis. Daniel will learn to say to God.

God, I may be your child. I may have trusted Christ by faith. You may love me, but God I'm not here to ask you for anything on the basis of the fact that I'm righteous run such a good person.

I'm not Lord. The only reason I'm in ask if anything is based on your mercy that you love me to traverse that's that's my hope in God, here's what I'm asking Lord to serve your glory. I'm not so much interested to serve my comfort Lord to serve your glory does it enhance your name does it advance your if so, God do it.

Doesn't the Lord do something else to solve the problem advances your name brings me comfort with her brings me affluence were not. This is prayer.

Ladies and gentlemen that's worth imitating in our lives for your Daniel is a we've got to the prophecy you this good stuff we not even at the prophecy that were getting their work. It but I just couldn't see us flying over prayer like that without having us take a look the way this man prayed. Daniel nine man you want a template for prayer not Daniel praise and he does ask God for something he does ask God for the survival of the Jewish people. He does ask God for the continuation of the Jewish people. He does ask God for mercy to be shown to Jerusalem. That is what is asking and God answers is that God answers him in two ways. First of all, God answers him by keeping his promise that he made to Jeremiah and letting the Jewish people go back to Jerusalem that happened. You can read about it in the book of Nehemiah but it didn't happen read about in the book of Ezra, but second of all, God also answers Daniel prayer by giving him a prophetic look at Israel's future. A future in which God promises that Israel will continue to survive. And that's with the prophecy of the 77s is all about is an answer to Daniel's prayer.

Daniel was saying, Lord, I want the Jewish people and the nation of Israel to survive and can God says let me show you the future. Daniel let me show you that I'm to answer that prayer. These people are going to continue.

Let me show you. And then comes the prophecy 77 verse 20 while I was speaking and praying confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request of the Lord my God for his holy hill Jerusalem. While I was still in prayer.

Gabriel man that I've seen in the earlier vision came to me and Swift liked about the time of the evening sacrifice instructed me and said to me, Daniel, I have come to give you insight and understanding as soon as you began to pray and answer was given that I've come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed, therefore, listen to my message the unfolding of this vision.

77 are decreed for your people and your holy city stop. Stop right there.

Would you notice, please. The subject of this prophecy.

77's are given for your people and your holy city.

This prophecy is important for us to understand is specifically aimed at explaining God's program for Daniel's people and Daniel's holy city.

Daniel was not a Gentile.

He was a Jew and so God specifically says, whereas in some of the other properties in the book of Daniel, God is been talking about the Gentile kingdoms of the world is talk about the Babylonian kingdom and the kingdom of Medo Persia and the kingdom of Greece. This is a prophecy that has nothing to do with the Gentile kingdoms of the world but is strictly and specifically limited to one people, one city, the people of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. That's very important. If we miss that we will get this prophecy wrong. That's what Gabrielson Wahlberg said in his commentary, and I quote to make this prophecy apply to the church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles is to read into the path of something foreign to all thinking of Daniel the church as such has no relation to the city or to the promises given specifically to Israel relating to the restoration and repossession of the land." This is a prophecy about Israel giving the historical chronological framework of the history of Israel and has nothing to do with the church Gentiles, Greece, Rome, nobody just as now what is he say all right for while I was speaking. Gabriel came and said to me. 77's are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place without taking the time to go through every one of those would you notice from those that this prophecy has to ask Linda for the return of Christ. Only if the return of Christ.

If you look at these verses will there be an end of sin only if the return of Christ will transgression be finished only at the return of Christ, will there be everlasting righteousness that is brought in. So, wherever this prophecy starts. It's obvious that it extends all the way to the time when Christ returns and righteousness reigns on the earth were to see that in just a minute. Know and understand. Verse 25 fifth that from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the anointed one, the Prince comes, there will be 77 and 62 seven that is 69 of the 70 will be in that. And the city will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble and after the 62 sevens which came after the seventh laughter, 69, seven altogether, the anointed one, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing and then the people of the ruler who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood war will continue till the end and desolation's have been decreed. Verse 27 and he who is he he is the prince who is to come. He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven, but in the middle of that seven he will put an end to sacrifice and offering, he will set up that abomination of desolation in the wing of the temple until the end that is the read is poured out on him launched what in the world is going on. Okay, let's pick it apart right it's time to dissect the fraud and they will put them back together that's dissected. There are two main players in this prophecy, they are verse 25 Messiah the Prince, now that's pretty easy to think that is Jesus Christ. Of course now. Second of all there is in verse 26, the Prince or the ruler who is to come. Now who is this will whoever is he he is. He appears after the Matthias cut off after the death of the Messiah and whoever he is.

He plays a central role in the last week which appears in verse 27 he appears as a key player in the events of the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy.

He is a prime mover of the events of the 70th week.

Now let's compare some Scripture with Scripture verse 27 says that he the prince who is to come will set up the abomination of desolation in a wing of the temple will be go to Matthew 24 and read.

We find that the apostles came to Jesus and said, Lord, what is the find of the end of the age and of your coming and Jesus said verse 15 when you see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, then you guys better run for the hills not clearly Jesus places the abomination of desolation in the last days.

Clearly places it in the time right before the return of Christ, and yet it is spoken of here in verse 27 as being connected with the second player, the Prince, who is the combo actually sets it up out of corn printing for another minute. This person is the ruler the Bible calls in that right here. He is the ruler in the last days of the age of this world who defiles the temple sets himself up in the temple, the abomination of desolation.

We don't know exactly what that is. People say what is that I don't know some people have said they think it's a statue that this person sets up in a wing of the temple and demand the people worship other people and suggested that if the phone that he sets up in the temple upon which he sits and demand the worship of the world because second Thessalonians is the antichrist will take his seat in the temple and demand the worship of the world. I don't know whether it's thrown out on the whether it's a statue, but whatever it is it is something that is so defiling to the worship of God so insulting and so abominable in the fight of God, the God calls it an abomination and it set up in the temple. Now who is this person who would do this well the little horn of Daniel chapter 7. The Bible says that he spoke great things against the most high God and made war with the saints on earth, and prevailed against them until the ancient of days came second Thessalonians 2 says the man of perdition opposes and exalts himself against everything that's called God he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God and the Lord shall consume him with the breath of his mouth and just join him at his coming. And finally, in Revelation 13 it says about the beast. The antichrist that he opens his mouth in great blasphemy against God. It was given him power to make war against the saints and overcome them and all that are on the face of the earth will worship him, whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life. Let's play Jeopardy ready ruler of the earth in the last days sets himself up as God makes war with the saints and overcomes them desecrate the temple in Jerusalem the whole world worships him who is, he's got to be the other player here and so understanding that these are the two main players Messiah and antichrist were now ready to figure out what this prophecy is talking about and it also tells us knowing this, that this prophecy has to extend to the end of the age. Why when the antichrist is going to be around right so he's in this prophecy. The prophecies got to go to the end of the age, but that's what we set up above the prophecies going to the end of this thing now one of the prophecy say 70 weeks are ordained literally in Hebrews 7 should triple wide Hebrew means of Group of Seven anything seven days seven months seven weeks seven years. It means pads groups of seven but the only thing that makes any sense of this is that this is groups of seven year and for what we are talking about here is 70×7 years or 490 years. However, that's not exactly right. Because these are lunar years. Remember, the Jews ran on a lunar calendar, not a solar calendar and so they get there.

It is not 490 solar years, but you gotta make an adjustment for the fact these are lunar years there shorter than solar years and so the number of solar years. That is years like we think of years is not 490 but actually 483 solar year. That's what were talking about. Now these 483 years.

Everybody still with me okay are split into two groups, 69 album is in one group and one of them is in another group. Did you notice that it says are going to be seven weeks and then 62 weeks at 69 and then after that something happened and then goes on to say in verse 27 for one more week. Something else is going to happen. So there two parts to this there 69 weeks in one part in one week in the other part 69×7 years and one part and 1×7 years in the other part. So let's examine them like that part one the 9×7 years or 476 and the Bible says if you look in verse 25 from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem stop. We did that happen. I don't know well if you look in Nehemiah chapter 1 into the only record we have of any decree being issued to rebuild Jerusalem was issued by King Artaxerxes East Nehemiah and the year was the 20th year of the reign of King Artaxerxes the month of Nissan and that would place it we can nail it down without any doubt 445 BC.

You can write 445 BC in your Bible right next to verse 25. That's when it's dark now. From that .445 BC until the anointed one, the Messiah comes, there will be 77, and 62 savages that will be splitting the seven to have slaves but nobody else does either point is nine grand total and it says the city will be rebuilt. W trench around and after the 62 seven support the seven of Oregon and then the 6269, the anointed one, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing okay we know the beginning point is the beginning of the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem 445 BC correct.

We know the ending point at the end of step 476 years 9×7. The Messiah will be cut off will be killed and will have nothing. Now you gotta do to a tiny bit of traction 176 years -445 BC gives you somewhere around 31 A.D. for the year in which the Messiah cut off have nothing as the most absolutely accurate prediction of the coming of Christ anywhere in the Bible. It's incredible. We know from the Dead Sea Scrolls of the book of Daniel was well known, well studied and well loved by the Jewish people that they knew the book of Daniel, well right here in Daniel nine.

We have an exact chronological prediction of when the Messiah would come. It does not take a PhD it does not take a seminary degree to figure it out. You don't even need a calculator you can do it on an abacus member in Luke chapter 1 and two were Simeon was in the temple, and he said that he knew for certain the Messiah was imminent and you member and not in the temple, and she said she knew for certain the Messiah was imminent. How could they know that you say will God appear to them, and God supernaturally told him yeah that's possible but it's also possible they read. Daniel is acted. All you have to do can be pretty close to win the Messiah's got to show up.

That's why Jesus rebuked and castigated the religious leaders of his day as mercilessly as they did because they knew the book of Daniel, and they knew this prophecy, Jesus said to them, John five, you search the Scriptures because in the Scriptures you think that you have eternal life, and the Scriptures are they the testify of me. But he went on to say, but you will come to me you might have life, see the issue was not that these people didn't know enough they had an exact chronological prediction of when the Messiah was coming. It's not that they didn't know enough, don't you ever think these people didn't know enough they knew plenty. The issue with that was not ignorance.

The issue was rebellion. It was defiant. It was self-will it was obstinacy. Jesus said in Luke 16. If they won't believe Moses and the prophets, that is, the Scriptures, neither will they be persuaded, even though somebody rises from the dead and somebody did student stubbornness, lack of information we were in Israel in 1983. My wife and I will private tour guide.

We were with some friends and they got five tour guide. We were riding back from Masada we gone down the thought and we climbed up there and I was relieved everything we arrived back in I was in the front seat with this is really tour guide.

We got to talking and one thing led to another and I was praying for an opportunity to share Christ with this guy and it opened up and and so we started talking little bit about Jesus a little bit about the Messiah and he man he wanted nothing to do with that. He was sure Jesus was the Messiah. He was positive that it couldn't of been Jesus to go, what makes you so positive all I just know and I sequentially some of the Bible sure surgery is so open to this prophecy, and asserting this prophecy I read with my walking through it just like I walk you through it and I said to them now who can you think of in 31 A.D. that was cut off and killed.

It might be any other candidate for the Messiah, Jesus Christ is alive sure you're interpreting a prophecy wrong and I said well how else do you interpret it on the multiply 69 x 7 and subtract 445 BC.

I mean how long can you go the simple is that, although I'm sure there must be another interpretation of this when I get back, and asked my rabbi possible Alaskan is about what happens if your rabbi does not give you a satisfactory and you're still confronted with the fact that this prophecy says the Messiah is going to be killed around 31 A.D. why Jesus was Woody going to do it often is that even if my rabbi does not have a good answer, even if I can't come up with a good answer. I will never believe in Jesus. Ignorance is not ignorance.

I told that man enough to tip 10 people say, ignorance was not the problem.

Problem stubbornness, obstinacy will and so dear friends when you read Jesus and how he sometimes level the barrel. These religious leaders blasted. Remember, they knew this prophecy.

They knew all about Willis: because there's one week left. We we have got the last weekend have 70th week here. Part two is the last week in the last week. We pick up in verse 27 it says and he the antichrist will confirm a covenant with many for one week. There's your 70th week on the Aaron but now the antichrist is on earth suddenly we have gone way down the corridors of time and now were all the way at the end of of the 80s with the antichrist on earth is a Woodlawn Avenuein the middle.

I mean suddenly we got Jesus being cut off in a 31 A.D. we pick up in the next person and even happened yet. So what happened seem to make any sense.

Sure does remember who this prophecy deals with this prophecy deal with Daniels people and Daniels holy city correct and in 31 A.D. when Jesus Christ was cut off, and Israel rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

They said Matthew 27. His blood be on us and our children and God said fine. Actually the way it will be on the hold you responsible for rejecting your Messiah and right at that point God judge the Jewish people for their rejection of the Messiah and one of those judgments is that God just lays them from being at the center of this program for the world favored nation status was lost at that point and the church began and the church ever since that point has been God's instrument and God's focal point in the world point is after the 69th week of Daniel's prophecy that deals exclusively with God's program for Israel, Israel went all because they rejected their Messiah and for the last 1950 years God's plan for Israel has been on hold. That's why there's a big gap in here because this prophecy deals with God's plan for Israel and Israel's been on the back burner church is been on the phone for. Remember God's plan for Israel over stronghold. One of these days God is going to turn back to Israel as his favorite nation. He's going to turn back to Israel as the central focus for his plan for the earth. And when God is through using the church for what he's ordained the church for. He's coming back and taking the church out of this world that is not turned back to the nation of Israel and complete the plan that he had for them from the beginning and suddenly Daniel's 70th and final week will begin because God will turn back and begin dealing with Israel again. That's why the parenthesis there that's why there's a huge gap.

There when God does that look what's gonna happen. He the antichrist will make a covenant with many for one seven. Ever wonder why the tribulation period of seven years long and not eight years 10 years 12 years years two years by seven the last week. The last seven year. Of Daniel's prophecy. That's why seven years and in the middle of that seven he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And he will set up the abomination of desolation in the wing of the temple, and he will be going great gone on till the end of that is decreed for him will come. We all know what that in this. The Bible says Jesus will personally destroy him by the breath of his mouth and it is coming. One of the things that this tells us is not only that God is not through with Israel, it does tell us that and, therefore, dear friends, there should be no surprise for us to see Israel back in the land. There should be no surprise for us to understand that that Israel not leaving that landed you think Israel given up Jerusalem and leaving that land my vice is don't battle. Not much anyway.

And whatever you better be prepared is the better the money that you can afford to lose because they're not leaving that land is my opinion, they're not giving up Jerusalem. Nobody in all the world are going to get that people out of that lamb.

Because God is setting things up for his return and his return means he's got to go back and deal with Israel. He's got a week left at seven years.

He had finished yet.

He's got to go back and deal with those people and their back in the land and back in control of Jerusalem because he got seven years worth of work in, so it shouldn't surprise us to see them there shouldn't surprise us to understand the gonna be there for an awful long time to come. Menachem Begin was right.

It is their land.

It is their land to keep one of the thing I want you to notice here for we close that is, not only is God, not through with the Jewish people. Yet that is so obvious. God has a plan for them that extends to the end of the age and that's the only reason they're still here. While the Hittites, the Moabites, the Phoenicians and the pharaohs of the Assyrians and Babylonians of the Persians and the Philistines and the Canaanites were all gone, but you still here, God had finished but would you notice what it says here about where the antichrist is going to set up. It says he's going to set up in a wing of the temple you say what temple there is no temple there has not been a Templeton 70 A.D. 1900 years. I know you say, what are you talking friends. This would be another temple firm for third when Jeff Solomon built the first one got torn down by Nebuchadnezzar and then under Zerubbabel.

They started building the second one. Even Herod the great work on it in the time of Jesus.

Romans or that one down. But there's another one coming for one.

In fact, its dimensions are given in the book of Ezekiel, and those dimensions don't agree with the dimensions of either one of the other two temple why because it's a different one. Another one, and who knows, but that may be part of this covenant might not include permission to rebuild the temple on the Temple Mount, which seems preposterous at this point. You remember the riots in Jerusalem last year were all those Arabs were killed.

You know what started that riots what started that right is that the Arabs heard that there were a group of Jews marching into Jerusalem to go up on the Temple Mount and lay the foundation stone for the new temple that's with Mark. The riots that killed resulted in the killing of all of those are today.

You look at it. You say that preposterous. The Arabs would never allow that there would be up an international who are for that half will it might look that way now you know what if I told you what was going to happen in Eastern Europe was going to happen two years ago. Y'all call me crazy but it's happening God's in control not in the temple is going to be rebuilt because it also says in verse 27 in the middle of the week. The antichrist cuts off the sacrifices and the offerings will nobody is making any sacrifices and offerings because is no temple to make a man on this. You sure you're right on this. Yes I am and you've heard me talk to you little bit about this before but I got an article here and the title of the article is moved to build third Jewish temple in Jerusalem stirs resistance and this is not from the National Enquirer of the globe.

This is from the Washington Post. That's almost as bad wealth. I don't know whether it is written, but anyway, if a little more reputable than the acquirer and what this article says is that right now in Israel there is an actual attempt being made to rebuild the temple, they have actually brought a cornerstone to Jerusalem if their injuries there are actually two schools near the Western Wall that are training rabbis in all of the complex ritual of the temple worship, so that they'll be ready to carried out when the temples rebuilt no Orthodox Jew was allowed on the Temple Mount, because somewhere up there was a holy of holies and the rabbis say no Jew should go up there because he might ask you step on it and until we can locate where it is. No Jews going up there, but in recent days. They believe and I believe from reading this man's work that he's right that they have located where the holy of holies one and the interesting thing is it's not were either one of them off, way down on the northern end of the Temple Mount. The point is, you could build a temple up there and keep the original side of the holy of holies and not have to touch either one of those small lever might really there people planning to do this back quoting from an official of the Temple Institute, which is one of these ad hoc groups he says and I quote, we believe that all of our hopes and attempt will cost some activity in the heavens and with God's help. The day will soon come when we will bill heard is happening is, and I believe within the next few years, written actually begun.

I don't know exactly how it will happen. It seems preposterous at this the word of God says it has to have the has to be someplace to set up the abomination of desolation.

There has to be someplace to cut off offering and sacrifice the temples. Gotta go up again so you remember when it starts you read about in the paper that you heard it here, right here. I told you I did tell you got to God to fulfill his word.

You watch what's going to happen. There's another temple going up over their friends and let me tell you, in closing with Jesus. Luke 21 he said.

Even so, when you see these things happening, what things will Israel back in the land, the temple being rebuilt and everything setting up for the antichrist to come. You know the kingdom of God.

I think that's exciting.

I mean, I don't know that anybody else I know Christians down through the ages of always thought the coming of the kingdom of God was near. But Jesus said fine we ought to be looking for before we can really be sure of that and I see them today.

Today is really no way of the temple about to be rebuilt. Israel in control of Jerusalem, which they have not control for 2000 years, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and anxieties of life and that they will close in on you unexpectedly trap where will come upon all those who live on the face of the earth be always on the alert. Pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen and be be able to stand. Jesus gives us a warning. He says friends. Yes it's exciting yes it's exciting to think the Lord's coming soon but with the Lord, make sure you're ready make sure you're prepared to stand before make sure that spiritually you're not asleep but not in dissipation, not in drunkenness to sober Peterson learns looking serving the Lord enough my challenge to you as we close this evening is the Lord's coming soon man. I think if we knew how soon it was a long put a date on it can't put a year on a decade on okay but I tell you, Jesus said, you see all these things happening, get ready, buckle your seatbelt. The coming of Christ, right around the corner. I believe it is they can't find us faithful to God find us doing the things we ought to be doing not laying up treasures on earth, laying up treasures in heaven for God find us faithful in serving the purpose Christ so that we are ready to meeting so he can say it was well done good and faithful servant your father thank you for your words this evening and thank you for teaching us much baby almost more than we could take in at one sitting.

But nonetheless, for thank you for giving us rich teaching from your work tonight. Thank you for giving us a great model for prayer. Thank you for reminding us heavenly father that there is a way to pray. That is effective. There are ways to pray that our know Lord make us men and women who copy the effective prayers of the great man of God, Daniel adoration session. Prayers that are biblically based flow out of a familiarity with your word Lord prayers that depend upon your mercy for everything we asked and Lord prayers that ask whatever they ask your glory of our own comfort, teach us to build these principles into our prayers and heavenly father. We also thank you for this great prophet. We thank you Lord that this thing is unfolding right in front of our eyes things that even 30 or 40 years ago would've possible people would've stood in amazement and said they could never happen. Our eyes have been those Israel back in the land Jerusalem back under there can roll people making plans to rebuild the temple unbelievable God our eyes more Jesus, thank you that you told us when you see these things happening, look up God is around the corner for Jesus find us faithful. I pray find us committed to doing the things you told us to do Lord you come back will be ready to finish or make a soldiers of the cross Lord make us more concerned about laying up treasure in heaven and on earth. We pray these things in Jesus name, amen