Thursday, December 29 2011
Daniel 9
Verse of the Day: V3 “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:”
1. The Resolution (V1-19)
V3 “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:”
Daniel’s resolution was to seek God through prayer and fasting when he read in the book of Jeremiah of God’s judgment upon the people of Israel. Indeed, when we are faced with crises, the first priority is to pray, fast and seek God for His wisdom in dealing with them.
2. The Repentance (V20-23)
V20 “And whiles I was speaking, and praying, 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;”
The Bible did not record the sins of Daniel yet the fact that he confessed and repented his sin affirmed that all had sinned and came short of the glory and holiness of God.
3. The Reconciliation (V24-27)
V24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
The 70 weeks are divided into 69 weeks and the 70th week. The 69 weeks, which included the Messiah being cut off or the death of Christ at the 62nd week, had already passed. Today we are waiting for the 70th week, which is known as the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation, which will last for 7 years, will take place after the Rapture. The Rapture which can take place anytime from now is the time where we, Christians, who believe in Christ shall be called up to be with God forever. During the Great Tribulation, the people of the prince or the antichrist shall reign for 3 ½ years where he will promise peace to the people, then the next 3 ½ years he will torment the people who believes in Christ. After the Great Tribulation, all the people of Israel shall finally return to their land and thus fulfilling God’s great promise. This period of return or reconciliation is known as the Millennium where the Messiah, Jesus Christ, shall reign for a thousand years.
V26 “And after threescore and two (62) weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to repent my sins and believe in Your promises.
