Daniel 9 Lesson 11

 Adult/Teen Bible Study                                        Lesson 11, Dec.21, 2014

 Daniel chapter 9 is a great chapter for two reasons noted in the last lesson:   1) the example of prayer set by Daniel; 2) the prophecy of the seventy weeks determined upon the Jewish people.  Isaiah 65:24 says “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”  Daniel was still praying when the answer to his prayer came in the form of an angelic messenger, the man Gabriel, the same messenger that would years later announce the birth of Jesus Christ.   He came to give knowledge and understanding. 

In this lesson we will seek to understand the basic prophetic outline of the 70 weeks prophecy. 

Read Daniel 9:20 – 27.

I.            The Nature of Gabriel’s Mission – Dan. 9:20 – 23

1.      How does Daniel describe what he was doing when Gabriel came to him? (v. 20 – 21)     

2.       What did Gabriel say he had come to do? ( v. 22)  

3.      Why did Daniel receive such a prompt answer to his prayer? (v.23)

II.            The Nature of Gabriel’s Message  – Dan. 9:24 – 27  

4.      Who specifically was the object of the prophecy? (v. 24) 

5.      What is the time covered by the prophecy? (v. 24) If the word “weeks” is just a representative word for seven, as dozen is for twelve, then how many years are determined if “weeks” is talking about 7 years? 

6.      What significant person will be present before the 490 units of time is complete? (v. 25) 

7.      Six significant things regarding Israel will be accomplished during this period of time.  What are they? (v. 24)

A.      “To finish  ____________    __________________________”

B.      “To make  ____   __________   _______________”

C.      “To make  ________________________  ____  __________”

D.     “To bring  ____   _________________  _________________”

E.      “To seal  __  ___ _______________  ___  _______________”

F.       “To  ____________________  ___  _____  _________  place”

8.      The prophecy of weeks is divided up into three periods.  What is the length of the three divisions?   (v. 25, 26)  See the chart included in this lesson. 

9.      What will be built again during the 7 weeks (49 years) and 62 weeks (439 years)? (v. 25) 

10.  When will this period of time begin?  (v. 25)  (See Nehemiah 1:1-3; 2:1, 4 – 8). 

11.  What will happen after threescore and two weeks? (v. 26) See also Matthew 16:21 and Mark 11:9, 10.  

12.  Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed after 483 years.  This would take place in A.D. 70 when Titus the Roman was ruling.  Who are the people of the prince that shall come?   This is the “little horn of Daniel 7” from what world power did he come? (v. 26)   See Daniel 7:23 – 25. 

13.  The last week of years, the 70^th week, did not follow immediately after the first 69 sevens of years.  Two things happen: the death of Messiah and the destruction of Jerusalem/Temple.  This week begins when the “prince that shall come” does what? (v. 27) 

14.  What will happen in the midst of the week? (v. 27)  See  Matthew 24:15 – 21, 29 – 31. 

Conclusion:    The last seven years of the prophetic seventy weeks of years has not yet been fulfilled on Israel.  God is not finished with Israel as Paul pointed out in Romans 9 – 11.  There is a gap that Daniel did not see.  This gap of time is the mystery of the Church Age or the Age of Grace.  God is presently taking out “a people for his name”(Acts 15:14).  He sent Jesus Christ to “put an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for our iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.”  Today is the day of salvation.  You can trust the risen Christ and He will take away your sins and give to you everlasting life.  There is a day of judgment coming but you can be saved from wrath through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”   Ephesians 2:8

Daniel 9 Lesson 10

Adult/Teen Bible Study                                        Lesson 10, Dec.14, 2014

The ninth chapter of Daniel is one of the most important chapters in the Bible.   “The greatest chapter in the book and one of the greatest chapters of the entire Bible,” is how Dr. Philip Newell describes this chapter.  Dr. J. Vernon McGhee wrote, “If one were to choose the ten greatest chapters of the Bible on the subject of prayer, this chapter would be included on any list.  If the ten most important chapters on prophecy were chosen, this chapter would again be included on any list.”  The first section of this chapter covers Daniel’s prayer.  The last six verses reveal the prophecy of the seventy weeks, which one theologian called the backbone of prophecy.    

This lesson will deal with the importance of Daniel’s setting his face to seek the Lord.  Is it common to seek the Lord?  How does one seek the Lord?  What reason is there for seeking the Lord?

Read Daniel 9:1-19.

I.            A Pattern for Every Day Life – Dan. 9:1 – 2

1.       Read Romans 3:10 – 11.  Is it a common thing for a person to seek the Lord?

2.      Read Acts 17:24 -31.  What reason is given for man to seek the Lord? 

3.      Read Deuteronomy 4:24 – 30.  What reason is given here for a seeking the Lord? 

4.      What did Daniel come to understand in the first year of Darius? (Dan. 9:1-2)  How did he come to understand this? 

5.      Read Jeremiah 25:11 – 12 and 29:10 – 14. What reason might Daniel have for seeking the Lord? 

6.      Daniel did not have the instruction of 2 Timothy 2:15 from Paul.  He could have had knowledge of Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2.  What pattern might he have established because of these two verses?

7.      What did Daniel do when he was in trouble in Daniel 2:18 & 6:10?  Do you think this was a daily pattern in his life? 

II.            A Preparation for Eternal Light – Dan. 9:3

8.       Daniel had learned by Bible study that the captivity of Israel was near an end.  He is preparing to seek the Lord on the behalf of Israel.  What does he do in preparation? 

9.      What condition is necessary for God to respond according to         2 Chronicles 7:14?  What similar preparations compare with Daniel’s approach? 

III.            A Pattern for Every Learner – Dan 9:4 – 19

10.   What does Daniel think of God as he approaches Him in prayer? (v. 4)

11.   What is included in Daniel’s confession? (v. 4 - 6)

12.  How does Daniel contrast God’s character with his own nature and those he prays for?  (v. 7 – 9)

13.  In addition to confessing the sin of rebellion what did Daniel add to the list of failures?  (v. 10 -11)

14.  Because of her rebellion and disobedience, what did Israel experience? (v. 11 – 14)

15.  What did they not do, that could have made a difference for Israel?  (v. 13)

16.  What was the substance of Daniel’s petition?  (v. 15 – 19

17.   What motivation does Daniel present to God for His favor? (v.17, 18, 19)

Conclusion:   Daniel’s example shows us that Bible study and prayer should be a part of our daily practice.  The praise, penitence and petition Daniel demonstrated is an excellent example for the believer to establish in his own life.  Are you developing a close relationship with the Lord through these means?  Why not set your face to seek the Lord?   

Daniel 8

 Adult/Teen Bible Study                                         Lesson 9, Dec.7, 2014

The disciples asked Jesus “Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt. 24:3).   Jesus’ answer included these words “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. ….  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many  shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:7,8,12). 

The sign of Jesus coming and the end of the world; the indication of scripture is that things are going to get worse and worse before the Lord returns.  In your opinion, is the world getting better or worse?  Are we more moral and godlier as a nation than in the past?  As a whole, does our culture seek to please God or to please self?   When you take in the nightly news, does it encourage or discourage you?  Is it mostly good news or bad news? 

In our study, Daniel is given another vision from God.  This vision speaks about “the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full.”  Daniel was looking to a future time when evil seemed to triumph.  Jesus was also talking about a future time when it appeared that evil was triumphing.   How do we process these perspectives? How should we respond when it appears that things are getting worse and evil seems to be winning?  

In this lesson we will process the content of the vision, seek to understand its meaning and make application to our own lives.

Read Daniel 8.

I.            The Animals – Daniel 8:1 – 12

1.      When and where did Daniel’s vision occur? ( 8:1-2)  

2.       How is the first animal described in Daniel’s vision? What is this taking place in the vision?  (8:3, 4)

3.      What animal appears second in the vision?  How is it described? What action is this animal taking? (8:5 – 7)

4.      What happened to the goat at the height of his power? (8:8)

5.      From one of the four notable ones comes a little horn.  What does this little horn do? (8:9 – 12)

II.            The Answers – Dan. 8:13 - 27

6.       “The pleasant land” mentioned in 8:9 is Israel.  The destructive action taken against God’s people and the sanctuary is described in verse 10 – 12.  How long was “the transgression of desolation” to last? (8:13 – 14) 

7.      What was Gabriel sent to do? (8:15 – 16)

8.      How did Daniel respond to the heavenly messenger?   What was Daniel to understand about the vision? (8:17 – 19)

9.      Who was represented in the fight between the two-horned ram and the goat? (8:20 – 22)

Historical Note: The “little horn” that becomes a great leader, is believed to be Antiochus Epiphanes, the ruler of Syria from 175 to 163 B.C. and was known as one of the cruelest tyrants in history.  He attacked Jerusalem and plundered the temple.  In 168 he sent 20,000 men to level Jerusalem.  He prohibited the Jews from honoring the Sabbath, practicing circumcision, and obeying the Levitical dietary laws, and he climaxed his campaign on Dec. 14, 168 by replacing the Jewish altar with an altar to Zeus – and sacrificing a pig on it!   Jerusalem was eventually delivered by the courageous exploits of Judas Maccabeus and his followers, on December 14, 165, the temple was purified, the altar of burnt offering restored.  It is this event that  the Jewish people celebrate as “The Feast of Lights” or Hanakkuh.  (Historic facts from W. Wiersbe’s commentary on Daniel)

10.    Antiochus was a type of the coming Antichrist.  What will happen when“the transgressors are come to the full”? (8:23) 

11.  The Antichrist’s power will come from Satan.  What evil things are described as taking place in this future time? (8:24 – 25)

III.            The Application

12.   Evil is destructive and deceptive.  How would many be destroyed? (8:25)  See 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 12. 

13.   What will be the ultimate end of this evil?  (8:25)  See 2 Thess. 2:7 – 8. 

14.  How did Daniel respond to the interpretation of the vision?  (8:27)

Conclusion:    When evil seems to triumph it is good to remember that God is still in control.  Jesus said “In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).  Like Daniel we need to seek understanding from God and then continue to live by faith.  See 1 John 5:4 & 5.