Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 4 * BOOK 81
DANIELS’S PRAYER AND PROPHECY – 4
Daniel 9:3-24
Okay, program number four this afternoon and for those of you joining us on television, it’s just another program today, tomorrow, or whatever. I trust most of you out there know we’re just an informal Bible study. I like to emphasize the study because that’s why we can go back and forth—compare Scripture with Scripture. And we’re going to do this right away now, right at the beginning of this program. We’re going to prove something by just comparing Scripture with Scripture.
And again, I want to thank all the folks here in the studio for coming in. Some have come all the way from southern Oklahoma and some came from Oklahoma City and others from other distance places. We’ve got one couple from Minneapolis, I know. So, we just appreciate people coming in and doing this with us.
All right, we’re going to go right back to where we left off. Daniel is still in his prayer, but he’s coming to the end of it now. We’re going to move on into another basic part of the Book of Daniel—that is prophecy. Daniel is a prophet, and I’m going to show you that even the Lord Jesus Himself referred to him as such. So, let’s come into Daniel chapter 9 and continue on where we left off. We’ll just sort of skim through these verses, because verse 24 is where we really want to start in this program.
Daniel 9:20-21
“And whiles I was speaking, and praying, (He’s getting to the end of his prayer now.) and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; (Which, of course, is Jerusalem.) 21. Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man (We refer to him as the angel.) Gabriel whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.”
Now that makes me have to stop and remind people. Throughout Israel’s history the supernatural was not all that uncommon. The appearance of angels, the appearance of these visions, and the miraculous as referred to in our last program—the opening of the Red Sea and all these things, the defeats of Samson. So, you see, throughout the Old Testament economy the supernatural was not, like I said, uncommon.
You come all the way up for the time of Christ to appear and who appeared to Mary? Well, an angel. Well, she wasn’t all that shook up. My goodness, if an angel appeared to one of us, they’d probably have to lock us up the next day because we wouldn’t be able to handle it mentally. But they did. They were used to these things.
All right, so Gabriel appears to Daniel, and he tells Daniel—you’re going to have a specific special revelation of the future. He said:
Daniel 9:22b-23a
“…O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23. At the beginning of thy supplications (That is this prayer that we’ve been looking at for three half hours.) the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved:…” Now I’ve got to stop.
Whenever I teach Daniel, normally we also make a lot—and I’m going to be doing it in this half hour—what other book of the Bible do we always tie with Daniel? Revelation. All right, who wrote the Book of Revelation? John. And what was John called? The Beloved. Isn’t that amazing! Daniel writes this prophecy and he’s called the Beloved. John writes Revelation and he, too, is called the Beloved. Now, maybe that doesn’t mean much to you, but I think it does. It’s kind of an intricate connection here.
Daniel 9:23b
“…for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” In other words, don’t take it lightly.
Now here comes this prophetic vision which becomes, in my book at least, the very foundation of all Biblical prophecy concerning the end-time. Not so much concerning Christ’s first coming, although that’s in here. But it is basically the foundation of all of our end-time study of prophecy. All right, here it is.
Daniel 9:24a
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people…” Now I have to stop, because I have gotten tons of questions over the years: why do you associate weeks with years? Well, let’s just see what the Book says about it. We know that a week is a period of seven years when it’s spoken of as Daniel uses it here.
All right, skip across, at least in my Bible, to verse 27, so that we have a jumping off place. Because I’m going to prove first that this word weeks is a period of seven years. Verse 27 of Daniel 9 and I’m just using the verse now to define the word weeks.
Daniel 9:27
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (Well, how long is that one week? Well, it’s seven years. How do I know? Turn all the way up—well, let’s finish the verse first.) and in the midst of the week (Now watch that.) in the midst of the week he (Speaking, of course, of the anti-Christ.) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations (such wickedness that you and I cannot even begin to comprehend) he (the anti-Christ) shall make it (That is the restored Temple.) desolate, even until the consummation, (or the end of those seven years) and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
All right, now let’s just qualify that a week is seven years. That’s my point. Jump up with me now to Matthew 24 verse 15. This is in the Lord’s earthly ministry, toward the end of it, of course. This whole chapter is prophesying these final seven years that Daniel spoke of in verse 27.
Matthew 24:15a
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,…” And when did Daniel say it would happen? In the middle of the week. Don’t forget that now. Daniel says in the middle of the week this anti-Christ, or the prince that shall come as he calls him, will come into the Temple and defile it. All right, Jesus is putting his stamp of approval on that. He says:
Matthew 24:15
“When ye therefore shall see that abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (in the middle of that week) (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” All right, that’s all we need of that verse for the time being. We’ll be hitting it again later.
Now, jump all the way up to Revelation where, like we just said, the other Beloved of Scripture is writing, John, and turn with me to chapter 11. Revelation chapter 11 and we’re just going to be looking at time-factors. I’m not going to associate anything with it. I just want you to see the time-factor. Revelation chapter 11 verse 2, all got it? No, I’ve got to wait. You know, I’ve said it before, my listening audience says, Les, I appreciate that you wait so I can find the Scriptures. Okay, here we are.
Revelation 11:2
“But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: (Now here it comes.) and the holy city (Jerusalem, the Gentiles) shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” How long is 42 months? Three-and-a-half years. Okay. Next verse, verse 3:
Revelation 11:3
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, (and these two witnesses) and they shall prophesy (or preach, or speak forth) a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” How long is twelve hundred and sixty days? Three-and-a-half years.
All right, now let’s go over to chapter 12. Now remember what I’m establishing—that this week that Daniel speaks of is seven years, and it is always split in half: three-and-a-half and three-and-a-half. From the opening day until the abomination of the anti-Christ going in and defiling the Temple are three-and-a-half years. From the abomination until the end and Christ’s Second Coming are the second three-and-a-half years. That’s all I’m trying to establish.
All right, chapter 12 and verse 6, now we’re speaking of the remnant of Israel that’s going to flee from Jerusalem to their place of safety. Verse 6:
Revelation 12:6
“And the woman (this remnant) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they (the Godhead) should feed her there (or provide all her needs) a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” How long? Three-and-a-half years. You just can’t escape it.
All right, now come across the page, in my Bible anyway, and let’s see, up there in verse 14.
Revelation 12:14a
“And to the woman (this same escaping remnant of Israel) and to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle,…” Now remember, Exodus spoke of the same thing concerning Israel leaving Egypt as they flew with wings of an eagle. So, it doesn’t mean they’re going to fly. It’s just going to be a supernatural escape route.
Revelation 12:14a
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place,…” That place where God is going to protect that remnant of Israel for those last three-and-a-half years. And I think it’ll be five million Jews, because Zechariah tells us it will be one-third of Israel. And today, Israel’s population is fifteen million. I think we’re close enough that I can use the one-third: five million. Well, that’s not much difference than what The Exodus was.
You know, I get encouraged from time-to-time, and I don’t get the big head over it. Don’t worry. But way, way back when I first started teaching some of these things, I came to the conclusion that the number of Jews coming out of Egypt under Moses had to be between three and five million. Now that’s a big gap, I know. And if you’ll remember when I first taught this on television, I likened it to Dallas and Fort Worth. Remember that? I said Dallas/Fort Worth together is little over three million. Can you image those two cities moving out in mass with all their flocks and herds?
Well, that was Israel in The Exodus. But I’ve even expanded it to mean it could be five to seven. And I’ve now read some others that are using those same numbers—that it could have been as high as seven million Jews that came out of Egypt. Now, I know that’s pressing the envelope, so I’ll keep it back at three to five. But anyway, here we have it: this great exodus from, not Egypt, now, but from Jerusalem—out into a place of safety which is almost identical to The Exodus going out to Mount Sinai. It’s supernatural, again. All right, so this remnant of Israel will escape Jerusalem under the nose of the man anti-Christ, and she’s going to go to her place.
Revelation 12:14b
“…where she is nourished (Now, here’s my time-factor again.) for a time, (one year) and times, (plus two, for a total of three) and half a time (for a total of three-and-one-half years),…” Now, that should be enough to settle it that a week in Daniel is seven years. A half of seven is three-and-a-half.
Okay, now we’re ready to go back to Daniel, hopefully. I should never again have another question: why do you call a week seven years? All right, back to Daniel chapter 9 verse 24.
Daniel 9:24a
“Seventy weeks…” Of years. Now, if you know your math, that’s 7 x 70. And that’s how many? Four hundred and ninety years. Is that unusual in God dealing with Israel? No, over and over He uses that same number. Sometimes it’s 430, but 490 over and over throughout Israel’s history was a period of God’s dealing with the Nation of Israel. Here’s another one: four hundred and ninety years or–
Daniel 9:24
“Seventy weeks are determined upon (My people? No. What’s the word?) thy people…” Well, why did God say thy people, when other times He says my people? Well, it depends on Israel’s spiritual relationship. When Israel is in right relationship with God, it’s what? My people. But when they’re out there in unbelief and rebellion—whether it was Moses or whether it was David or whether it was Daniel, it’s what? Thy people. Now—no, I’m not going to look. I’m not sure what the verse is. But when we come to the Second Coming and Israel suddenly realizes who He is, then what does the Scripture say? God will say they are My people. And Israel will say He is our God. But in the interim, no, it’s thy people. See that? Little intricacies of Scripture. All right, verse 24 again:
Daniel 9:24a
“Seventy weeks (490 years) are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, (That is Jerusalem.) to finish (In other words, to finalize the transaction between God and evil.) to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, (Which, of course, was the work of the Cross.) and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness,…” Which is a reference to the what, again? The Kingdom!
Oh, don’t lose the process. Go back to Psalms chapter 2. I have to use it over and over, because this is the simplest outline of prophecy in Scripture. And here this is fulfilling it to the exact words. Psalms chapter 2, some day you’re all going to know these verses by memory.
Psalms chapter 2 and let’s start at verse 1. I just love these verses, because they are so explicit and simple. Now this is David writing in 1,000 B.C. with regard to Christ’s first coming.
Psalms 2:1-2a
“Why do the heathen (In this case, it’s the Romans.) why do the heathen rage, and the people (Israel) image a vain thing? 2. The kings of the earth (the Romans) set themselves, and the rulers (the religious leaders of Israel) take counsel together, against the LORD,…” Now goodness sakes, when did they do that? The night of His arrest, the night of His arrest they’re in the Garden.
What was the conspiracy? Why, we’ll point out who He is; you arrest Him; and we’ll do the rest. And you know what happened. They gave him a mock trial. Judas betrayed Him; the Romans took over and through it all the Crucifixion. But way back here in 1,000 B.C.–
Psalms 2:2b-3
“…they take counsel together, against the LORD, (That is God the Son.) and against his anointed, (the Messiah) saying, 3. Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” We’ll not let God rule over us. All right, now here’s God’s response from Heaven.
Psalms 2:4-5a
“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: (Not a laugh of comedy, but a laugh of ridicule and scorn.) the Lord shall have them (That is the whole human race—Gentile as well as Jew.) he shall have them in derision. 5. Then…” There’s the time-word now. We’re moving on in time. After they have rejected God’s anointed, then God will move in with His next point in human history. And what is it?
Psalms 2:5
“Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” The Tribulation—the wrath and vexation. Let me stop a minute. How many people in the world’s leadership—whether it’s America, South America; whether it’s the Orient or the Middle East or Europe—how many of the world’s leaders have any concept of this coming seven years? None!
I would dare say there isn’t a leader in the world that knows that these horrible seven years of God’s wrath is right out in front of us. The world’s getting ready for it. Everything that’s taking place around the world today is just screaming at us that the end is winding up. But they don’t know.
And they think we’re crazy. Isn’t it something? Those of us who have the knowledge, we have the wisdom, and they think we’ve lost it. They think we should be locked up. I trust you read what’s coming out of our government. We’re extreme right fanatics, you know. They’ll want to lock us up before long. Well, so be it. At least we know that we know what we’re talking about.
All right, so now read on. After they’ve rejected Him, then He’s going to come at the human race in His wrath, not His grace and mercy in this case, but His wrath and vexation. Then what’s the next event?
Psalms 2:6
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” And what’s that? The Kingdom. The Millennium! All prophesied by David in 1,000 B.C. That’s why I love this portion. It’s so simple. My goodness, anybody should be able to understand that after the rejection would come the vexation and then would come the what? The King and the Kingdom.
How did Peter put it? You remember back a few tapings we were dealing with Peter, and I used it at the beginning of every taping session. First, the suffering, and then the glory that would follow. Well, here it is with regard to the human race. They’re going to suffer like you and I can never imagine. But what’s it going to lead to? The return of Christ and the glory which would follow.
And, of course, that is the real reason that Peter taught, too. It was that Christ would suffer by His rejection, but what would be the end result? His coming in glory and power. First, the suffering, and then the glory which would follow. All right, now verse 6 again, after the wrath and vexation–
Psalms 2:6
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” The millennial reign of Christ.
All right, let’s go back to Daniel chapter 9, and we’ll read on a little bit. I don’t know if I’m going to have time to go to the board like I wanted to, but we’ll play it by ear. Daniel chapter 9 and reading on in verse 24.
Daniel 9:24b
“…to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, (the work of the Cross where He took on Himself the sin of the world) and to make reconciliation for iniquity,…”
All right, now that brings a point. A lot of people just can’t comprehend it, and I suppose they think I’m out in left field. But I want you to think. When Christ suffered and died, the first inkling of what He was going to accomplish we get from John the Baptist. And how did John the Baptist really open Christ’s earthly ministry? What was his statement? “Behold, the Lamb of God which (What?) taketh away the sin of the world.” How much? All of it!
I’ve been teaching this for thirty years. That work of the Cross was so complete that God the Father was satisfied and was willing to forgive every sin that had ever been committed. It’s done. But, it goes for nothing until it’s appropriated how? By Faith. That’s why it’s so ridiculous that people reject this message of hope and the promise of Eternal Life by believing that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Why do they hate it so, when it’s so simple? He has paid the sin debt for every human being who ever lived. From Adam until the last person in human history, it’s all been done for—paid for, forgiven.
All right, but now I’ve got to give you another word. I’ve only got three minutes. Oh, my goodness. Turn all the way up to II Corinthians chapter 5. This is what Daniel has already prophetically—(No, not Daniel—yeah, Daniel. Couldn’t remember whether it was David or Daniel.)—Daniel is prophesying this would come. II Corinthians chapter 5 verse 18. Oh, listen, this is mind-boggling. But the Book says it. And if the Book says it, God expects us to believe it. That’s where we become responsible.
II Corinthians 5:18
“And all things are of God, who hath (Past tense, it’s a done deal.) reconciled us to himself (Now, of course, Paul is writing to believers, naturally. So for us, of course, we know that we have been reconciled. But that’s not the point I’m trying to make.) He hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, (And, of course, reference is to that finished work of the Cross.) and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” That we can tell the world, hey, you’ve been reconciled. God has already done everything to bring you to Himself. Now here it comes, verse 19.
II Corinthians 5:19
“To wit (that is to say), that God was in Christ, reconciling (The Body? No. The who?) the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath (Past tense, it’s a done deal.) hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (Of who? The whole world.)”
Every human being who ever lived God considered him as forgiven and reconciled. Now, I’ve got to use the forgiven word. I didn’t do that yet. Turn from II Corinthians and go on over to Colossians. I’ve already made mention of John the Baptist, “The Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.” Not just the believer, but the world! The unsaved world goes to their doom not because they had no opportunity. It’s because they wouldn’t believe it. They wouldn’t take it by faith. And that’s what makes it so pitiful—that the vast majority of the human race walks all this underfoot, disregarding it rather than taking it by faith. Oh, it’s awful. But, you see, they can’t handle it. Okay, I’ve got to do it quickly. Verse 13 of Colossians 2:
Colossians 2:13
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened (made us alive) together with him, having (What?) forgiven you (How much?) all trespasses (our sins);” Past. Present. And future. But it doesn’t mean a thing until you appropriate it by faith. And, oh, it’s so hard for the world to see it.