The first part of a two part study is attached.  Share as the Lord
may lead.  It will be a day or two before I finish the second part.
I need and appreciate your prayers.  

                     Pastor F. M. Riley

Daniel's 70 Weeks
Scripture by Scripture
& Word by Word As Needed
                                                                          By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                          October 5, 2019
     "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," Daniel 9:24. 
Introduction
     In my last study on this subject, "How Long is the Tribulation?" I made a glaring error in that study.  I hope that my readers caught the error.  I sincerely apologize for making the error, but I am still a human, living in a body of sinful flesh inherited from Adam, Romans 5:12. Every person living, due to our present "sin nature," makes mistakes from time to time.  Some of these mistakes that we all make are little ones, don't amount to much, and  not too bad.  But others  are horrendous, effecting a lot of people.  As "born again" believers, we should NEVER make mistakes when  expounding the Word of God.  But sometimes we do. I did! And I humbly and sincerely ask the forgiveness of my brothers and sisters in Christ, James 5:16. 
     Due to this mistake, I have purposed in my heart, and before my precious Lord Jesus, to set forth a careful and detailed exposition of what is said in the inspired Word about "Daniel's 70 Weeks."   May God grant His grace as we study.....
The Background
     Daniel and his Jewish people had previously been carried away from their homes and land, and taken as captives to Babylon.   Jerusalem had lain in ruins for 70 years, Daniel 9:2.   This situation was heartbreaking to Daniel.  Daniel then mightly cried out to God, confessing his sins and the sins of His people, and begging God to intervene by His mercies on behalf of Jerusalem and the Jewish people..  Carefully study Daniel 9:1-19. 
     Almighty God was listening!  His ears are always open to the humble and sincere prayers of the righteous, Psalm 34:15. 
     So even while Daniel was still praying, Daniel 9:20-21, he received a visit from.....
God's Angel; Gabriel
    9:22.......Gabriel informed Daniel that he had been sent to give to Daniel "skill and understanding."  The Hebrew word translated as "skill" literally means "wisdom; ability to understand."  See your Hebrew Lexicon or Strong's No. 7919.  Keep in mind that understanding God's Word is not inherent in the flesh of any man.  One can read the Bible over and over again, and never have any understanding of the spiritual truths set forth in it, unless they are looking to the Lord to give them the ability to understand.  Read John 16:13 amd 1 Corinthians 2:12-14. 
      The Hebrew word translated as "understanding," literally means, "to grasp mentally; to distinguish; to discern."  See your Hebrew Lexicon or Strong's No. 995. 
     9:23......Then Gabriel assured Daniel that right from the beginning of his "supplication" [appeal in prayer] to God, he had been heard, and that Daniel was "greatly beloved." Dear readers, the knowledge that you are loved by someone is always a blessing, but to know that you are loved by God is love that literally thrills the soul.  Inexpressible love! 
     Gabriel then gave Daniel a command to, "understand the matter, and consider the vision."  And then Gabriel began to explain the entire vision to Daniel.......
THE SEVENTY WEEKS
Daniel 9:24 
     This Scripture is used as the text Scripture at the beginning of this  study.  Read it carefully!
     In this Scripture, Gabriel told Daniel that a period of "Seventy weeks" had been "determined" upon the Jewish people, and upon the city of Jerusalem. 
     The "weeks" spoken of here are "weeks of years;" seven years to a week.  This should be easily understood by our readers, simply by a careful reading  of the next Scripture; 9:25.
So 70 weeks of years  would be 490 years; 7 x 70 = 490.  
     The Hebrew word translated as "determined" in this Scripture literally means, "to cut off; to bring to an end; to complete; to finish." See your Hebrew Lexicon, or Strong's No. 2852.   In other words, this period of 70 weeks of years; 490 years, is the time God had "determined" in which to bring Israel and the Jewish people to a complete right relationship with Himself.   
    . So God had determined to bring everything concerning the Jewish people, and the city of Jerusalem, to  His own satisfactory conclusion in a period of 490 years.   We will examine this further as we continue the study. 
      But before leaving this Scripture, let's notice what was to be cut off or brought to an end within this 490 year period.  
     [1]   "to finish the transgression
     [2]    "to make an end of sins"
     [3]    "to make reconciliation for iniquity"
     [4]   "to bring in everlasting righteousness"
     [5]   "to seal up the vision and prophecy"
     [6]   "to anoint the Most Holy" 
     And now let's carefully examine this list.......
     [1]  "Transgression" or rebellion against God by the Jewish people, and also transgression against the Jewish people, and  against the city of Jerusalem, was to be brought to a total end within this 490 year period.  Hallelujah!
     [2]   An "end to sins" would also be accomplished during this 490 year period.  This literally means that there will be no more sin committ ed or permitted in God's Kingdom after the 490 years.  Not some!  NONE! 
     Oh glory to God!  Dear readers, we are living today in the most sinful and wicked and EVIL time I have ever seen in my entire 85 years of life, and it is growing worse day by day.  How I long for all the EVIL to STOP!   And I know that many other  people on this earth, including the Jewish people, do too.  My heart cries out for "peace on earth, and good will towards men," as was sung by the angels at the birth of Christ, Luke 2:14.  And it will happen, for right here in this Scripture God promised it to Israel and the Jewish people. And since they live on this earth, the promise stated also extends to the Gentile peoples on the earth.   Glory to God! 
     Dear readers, the Lord God gave to us New Testament believers a "blessed hope" to look forward to, Titus 2:11-15.  Surely here in this Scripture God gave to Daniel and other   Jewish people like Daniel,  a  "blessed hope" to look forward too.   Lift up your hearts and voices and praise the Lord! 
     [3]   But how could God make "an end of sins" unless He also made a "reconcilation" for sin?  And this is the next thing in this Scripture promised to Daniel and to his people; that there would be a "reconciliation for iniquity." 
     All of our readers who are true believers  surely understand that the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, was, and is, God's "reconciliation" for the sins of mankind.  Oh, how we believers ought to love and praise the Lord, who purchased our redemption with His own precious blood at Calvary.  
     [4]  God also promised Daniel [notice that this promise follows the promise of reconciliation] that "everlasting righteousness would be brought in.  Again, this literally means what it says!  Once sin has been purged out from among mankind, there will NEVER be a sin committed again in all of "the ages to come."  God's Kingdom will be "everlasting righteousness" for ever and ever.  Glory to God!
     [5]   When there is no longer an enemy to face, and sin to deal with, and mankind has entered into "everlasting righteousness," then why would redeemed mankind have to be concerned about the future?  So Daniel was told that "the vision and prophecy" would be sealed up.  No more visions of the future.  No more prophets being raised up to warn the people of things to come.  No warnings will be needed. 
     That this is the correct meaning of this statement to Daniel is proven by a careful study of Zechariah 13:1-3.  The time being spoken of in these Scriptures is during or near the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ.  The Millennial Kingdom of our Lord will also be a Kingdom of absolute "righteousness."  Why should anyone need a warning of the future, when Christ Jesus Himself is ruling and reigning over all of mankind upon the earth?  Therefore, during the Millennial Kingdom, if any person presents themselves as a prophet, or claims they have had a vision of the future, their own Godly parents will put them to death.  In the Millennial Kingdom mankind on the earth, will "learn righteousness," Isaiah 26:9. 
     [6]  The last and final thing promised to Daniel and his people in this Scripture is the anointing of "the most Holy." 
     If our readers will carefully study Exodus 28 and 29, those chapters will tell you what was involved in the ordination and consecration of the priests, and the high priest.  That is what is being referred to here in 9:24.  This Scripture is referring to all of the redeemed  Jewish people, having been gathered back to their land during  the 490 years [Isaiah 27:12-13; Ezekiel 39:28], gathering to "anoint" the Lord Jesus Christ as their High Priest.  Oh, glory to God!  What a gathering that will be! 
     The passage in Ezekiel 39:28 makes it quite clear that every living Jew on the earth, who has survived the Tribulation will be gathered back to the land of Israel.  Not a single Jew will be left in any Gentile country.  And once gathered back to their land, and redeemed by the Lord, they as one people in one accord will "anoint" the Lord as their "Most Holy High Priest."  Hallelujah!  Glory to God!  Dear readers, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," for their peace will also bring peace to all of mankind upon the earth, Psalm 122:6.  
Daniel 9:25
     "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall , even in troublous times." 
     The first thing stated in this inspired Scripture is that Daniel was to "know" and to "understand." 
     The Hebrew word translated as "know" in this Scripture literally means, "to ascertain  or acquire by seeing."  See Strong's No. 3045. In essence, Daniel  was being shown these truths in a vision, given by Gabriel, and in seeing them for himself, was to "understand." 
     The Hebrew word translated as "understand" in this Scripture literally means, "to have knowledge of; to be made intelligent." regarding a matter.  See Strong's No. 7919. 
     So Daniel was personally given spiritual insight into what was being shown to him by Gabriel.  And just what was being shown to Daniel? 
     First, Daniel was shown that a "commandment" would be issued "to restore and to build Jerusalem."   Note this! 
     Both Biblical and Jewish history records that there were two such commandments given, both of which allowed a remnant of the Jewish people to return to their ancient homeland. This has caused all kinds of controversy among "scholars" and "historians" right to this present day.  
     The first commandment was issued by King Cyrus as recorded in Ezra 1.  But our readers should notice that in making this commandment, King Cyrus was totally concerned with the rebuilding of "the house of God" in Jerusalem.  Not a word is said in Ezra 1 about restoring and rebuilding the city of Jerusalem.  Also, the entire Book of Ezra is concerned with the Temple, and with the worship of the Jewish people.   From studying various reference books, it appears that the commandment of Cyrus was issued in 458 B.C. 
     The second commandment was issued by King Artaxerxes  as recorded in Nehemiah, chapters 1 & 2.  In reading Nehemiah, it is glaringly evident that Nehemiah's concern was the rebuilding of Jerusalem.  It is obvious that after the arrival of Nehemiah, and the group led by him, Nehemiah  and Ezra worked together to bring to pass what each of them wanted to achieve for the glory of the God of Israel, and for their people.  Again, from studying various reference books, it appears that the commandment of  Artaxerxes was issued  in 445 B.C.    This would have been thirteen years after the commandment of Cyrus in 458. 
     Now which of these two commandments was the commandment being referred to by Gabriel in Daniel 9:25?  This should not be too hard for our readers  to decide upon,  in view of what follows.  Read on..... 
The Prophecy of Haggai
     The Book of Haggai should also be considered in this study of Daniel's 70 weeks.  At some point after the remnant had returned, work on the rebuilding of the Temple was more or less set aside, as the remnant devoted themselves to rebuilding their own homes, 1:4.  This was highly offensive to God, and He withdrew His blessings from the remnant.  God then raised up the prophet Haggai, to show the Jews how and why He had withdrawn His blessings.      
     Then under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, on the "four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius," work on the Temple was resumed, Haggai 1:14-15.  Three months later, on "the four and twentieth day of the ninth month," the foundation of the Temple had been laid, Haggai 2:18.  And from that day forward God began to bless the remnant again, Haggai 2:19. 
     Now let's return to Daniel 9:25.......
The Divisions of the Seventy Weeks   
      Remember that Daniel, in his prayer, had pleaded for the mercies of God, on behalf of his people and the city of Jerusalem, 9:16-19.  God had heard Daniel's prayer, and now by His angel, Gabriel, was showing Daniel, that his prayer had been heard, and was to be answered. 
     But, it was not to be answered right at that time!.  Rather there was a period of time involved between Gabriel's speaking to Daniel, and the beginning of the seventy weeks. 
     Gabriel, in speaking to Daniel, divided the Seventy Weeks into three distinct time periods; "seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks."  Hey!  This only adds up to 69 weeks.  Praise the Lord!  I'm glad our readers noticed.  The final 70th week is the third time period. 
      The first time period was to be "seven weeks."  Again, this is weeks of years.  Seven weeks of years equal 49 years. 
     The second time period was to be "threescore and two weeks."  These 62 weeks of years calculate out to be 434 years.  62 times 7 equals 434.
     Now add these two time periods together and the total is 69 weeks or 483 years.  69 times 7 = 483. 
     Gabriel then told Daniel that at the end of both of these two seperate divisions of time; the "seven weeks," and the "threescore and two weeks," a period of 69 weeks or 483 years,  the "Messiah the Prince," would come.  And He did!
     The only way for our readers to know that this statement of Gabriel is exact literal truth, is to change the 483 years into days.  But wait a minute!.....
     There is a solar year composed of 365  days to the year. 
     There is a lunar year composed of 354 days to the year. 
     There is a  Julian calender  composed of 365 days to the year, with another day added every four years.
     There is a  Gregorian calendar with a correction made every 400 years. 
     So which of these calendars is to be used in order to correctly calculate the length and ending date of the 69 weeks of years?   Wow!  Does the Word of God say something about STUDYING the Word in 2 Timothy 2:15? 
     No, our gracious Lord God does not leave His people hung up in confusion on any question in His Word!  1 Corinthians 14:33.  All we have to do is go to the Book of Revelationi to see that the Lord God used 1,260 days for the first half of the Tribulation, and 42 months [1,260 days] for the last half of the Tribulation.  These two time periods of 1,260 days to each period, clearly stated in John's vision, add up to 2,520 days.  That makes up seven years or one "week" of years, with each year containing 360 days to the year. 
     Our God is "perfect."  So in Bible prophecy, He placed in His Word the number of days in a prophetic year as being 360 days;, the number of degrees in a "perfect" circle.  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  Glory to God! 
     Now let's count the number of days in Gabriel's prophecy of 69 weeks.  Gabriel told Daniel that it would be 69 weeks  from the time the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem was given to the coming of the Messiah, 9:25.  Changed into years, that would be 483 years, with 360 days to each year.
     The only commandment  specifically stated to restore and rebuild Jerusalem was the commandment given to Nehemiah by King Artaxerxes in 445 B.C.  Notice that here in 9:25, the rebuilding of Jerusalem is specifically stated by Gabriel, "the street shall be built again, and the wall even in troublous times."  So the statement of Gabriel in this Scripture, is in perfect harmony with the permissive commandment issued by Artaxerxes in Nehemiah 2:6-8.   Historians tell us that the exact day was March 14, 445 B.C.  So this is the day on which to begin the count of the 483 years using 360 days to each year.
     The Coming of the Messiah
     The count of 483 years at 360 days to a year totals exactly  173,879 days.   If the reader uses a calculator to check out my calculations, your calculator will likely round the days off to 173,880.  Mine does!  This is one day's difference.  Or is it?  Remember that the Jews begin each new day of their week, at 6 p.m. or sundown on the previous day..  And what does this tell us prophetically? 
     It tells us that from the day the commandment was given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem on March 14, 445 B.C. until the day the Lord Jesus Christ rode the donkey into Jerusalem in His Triumphal Entry, with His disciples rejoicing and shouting praises, and waving palm branches, and proclaiming Him as the promised Messiah of Israel was exactly 483 years to the day!    And the Lord's Triumphal Entry occurred on what is today called Palm Sunday, April 2, 30 A.D. Read the accounts again for yourself in Matthew 21 and Luke 19.   Oh glory to God!  Hallelujah!
     I am well aware that many who teach on Daniel's 70 Weeks, make the 483 year period extend from the time the commandment was given until the time Christ was crucified, but this teaching is not correct.  Gabriel explicitly stated here in 9:25, "unto the Messiah the Prince," and Christ was presented to Israel as their Messiah at His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. 
      Also notice in the next Scripture, Daniel 9:26 Gabriel explicitly stated,  "And AFTER threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off....."  So it was AFTER He had been presented to Israel as their Messiah in His Triumphal Entry, that He was crucified.  That was AFTER the 69 weeks of years had ended!
     When Christ Jesus rode into Jerusalem in His Triumphal Entry did  the people in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem then receive Christ as their Messiah?  Read the answer for yourself in Matthew 21:23-26 and 22:45-46.
     However, AFTER Christ had been rejected as Israel's Messiah, but BEFORE His crucifixion, the nation and people of Israel HAD BEEN REJECTED BY CHRIST.  Read it for yoursellf in Matthew 23:33-39.
Conclusioon
     Dear readers, if Christ could reject His own people because of their sin, wickedness, and unbelief, He can reject anyone who refused to repent of their sin and believe on Him.  Read John 3:18 and 3:36. 
     Any reader who is not saved or who does not have the assurance of salvation in Christ needs to read 2 Peter 1:10-11, believe what it says, and by humble prayer, make your calling and election sure RIGHT NOW.  Don't delay in getting the matter of your eternal destiny settled for time and eternity.  Putting it off until tomorrow, may just be one day too late! 
     And may our gracious add His blessings to this study, and this invitation to those readers who may be lost. 
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TO BE CONTINUED
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