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Daniel 9

READ FOR THIS WEEK’S STUDY: Daniel 9:1-23.

MEMORY VERSE: “We have sinned and done what is wrong. We have beenevil. We have refused to obey you. We have turned away from your com-mands and law” (Daniel 9:5, NIrV).

BEFORE WE CONTINUE, MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE CHARTSWE HAVE LOOKED AT THE PAST FEW WEEKS. They give a strong founda-tion (basis) for what we will study next. The important point is that the judgmentscene in Daniel 7 and the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8 are the sameevent.1 This event takes place sometime after the 1,260-year period of papal per-secution2 of the saints.

Think about the time frame for the cleansing of the sanctuary, the late eight-eenth or early nineteenth century. What is the only possible sanctuary that isbeing cleansed: the sanctuary on earth or the sanctuary in heaven (readMatthew 24:2; Luke 21:6; Hebrews 8:1, 2)? The answer is clear. It is the sanctu-ary in heaven.

Finally, think about the world empires in Daniel that God has used to teach usabout the cleansing of the sanctuary. The history of these empires is easy tounderstand, so God is not asking us to base our faith on difficult information.Instead, He is framing the great sanctuary truth around world history. This his-tory is a foundation. Clearly, God wants us to believe the sanctuary truth. That iswhy He makes it easy for us to believe.

This week, we will study Daniel 9. Daniel 9 is the final connection in this amaz-ing series of prophecy and history.

Easy Reading Edition July 29–August 4

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1event—thing that happens.2papal persecution—the papacy (having to do with the pope) forcing Christians against their will to obey its

religious laws.

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Lesson 1 Lesson TitleLesson 6 Daniel 9

UNFINISHED BUSINESS(Daniel 9:1)

How is Daniel 9 different fromDaniel 2, Daniel 7, and Daniel 8(Daniel 9:1)?

The answer also explains what wenoticed in Daniel 8. Chapters 2 and 7show Babylon. Chapters 8 and 9 donot. Instead, Daniel begins withMedia-Persia. It seems that already,in Daniel 8, God was pointing towardthe next kingdom that would arise.This kingdom was Media-Persia.

It is also important to notice some-thing about Daniel 2 and Daniel 7.Daniel 2 was a dream/vision and anexplanation of the dream/vision.Everything was explained.

In Daniel 7, we see the same thing:a dream/vision and an explanation ofeverything Daniel saw.

But, in Daniel 8, a difference arises:There was a dream/vision and anexplanation. But not everything wasexplained.

Review Daniel 8. What was theone thing not explained to Danielin this chapter?

Daniel 8 ends with Daniel saying hedid not understand the “vision.” Whatvision? Clearly, it was the part of the

vision about the 2,300 evenings andmornings of Daniel 8:14. Everythingelse was explained. In some cases,some of the powers shown in Daniel 8were even named (Daniel 8:20, 21). Inthe past visions, Daniel never com-plained that he did not understandsomething. Only in Daniel 8 does hesay there was something that he didnot understand. That is the “vision” ofthe 2,300 days, the only part of Daniel8 not already explained.

So, we leave Daniel 8 and enterDaniel 9, with only one thing notclear. This is the vision of the 2,300days in Daniel 8:14.

Daniel did not understand every-thing in the prophetic dream. Whatdoes this teach us that could helpus better understand Ellen G.White’s gift of prophecy?

THE EXILE3 OF THE JEWS(Daniel 9:2; Jeremiah 29:10-12)

As we see, Daniel is now under therule of the Medes and the Persians.This is a direct fulfillment of the earlierprophecies of Daniel 2, Daniel 7, andDaniel 8.

But there is a great problem forDaniel. His people are still in Babylon.The temple is still in ruins. And hisnation has not been restored.4

SUNDAY—July 30

3exile—a period of time during which people are driven out of their country. For example, the Jews were takenas prisoners and forced to live in Babylon for many years.

4restored—to have made something as it was in the beginning.

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Lesson 6 Daniel 9

Pix #21

What promise and prophecygives Daniel hope (Daniel 9:2)?

Despite all the hopes of nationalgreatness, the Jewish nation wastaken into slavery by a pagan5 power(Babylon). This should have been theend of the Jews and Judah. But Godwas not finished with His people. Theprophets warned about judgment,doom, and destruction. But theprophets also gave the Jews thehope of freedom and restoration.6

What hope do you believe Danielgot from Jeremiah 29:10-12? (ReadJeremiah 25:11, 12.)

God did restore the people to the land as He promised. Read 2 Chronicles 36:18-23.

What does 2 Chronicles 36:18-23tell us about God and His prom-ises?

The fulfillment of those promiseswas still a few years in the future whenthe events of Daniel 9 happened. The

70 years began in 605 B.C., whenBabylon conquered Jerusalem andforced Daniel and the other Jews intoexile. Now the 70-year period wasalmost over. But nothing was happen-ing. God’s people were still in exile.Jerusalem was still in ruins. And thetemple had not been rebuilt. Danielsaw the rise of Media-Persia. Butmore needed to happen. Great eventsneeded to take place that from ahuman viewpoint would seem impos-sible. This helps us better understandDaniel’s prayer in chapter 9.

Daniel received hope from God’spromise. Which of God’s promisesare the most meaningful to you?How does prayer keep you goingas you wait for these promises tobe fulfilled?

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The ruined temple

5pagan—not believing in God.6restoration—making something as it was in the beginning.

Let prayer help you as you wait for God’spromises to be fulfilled.

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Lesson 1 Lesson TitleLesson 6 Daniel 9

“WE HAVE SINNED” (Daniel 9:3-19)

Read Daniel’s prayer in Daniel9:3-19. Below, write down theimportant part of what Daniel waspraying for.__________________________________________________________

Many points stand out in Daniel’sprayer.

1. Daniel admits the sins of his people.He did not try to make their actionsseem right. What can we learn fromDaniel admitting the sins of his people?

2. Daniel makes it clear that the peo-ple’s sin involved turning away fromGod’s Word (the Bible). What lessonis here for us, as well?

3. Even with all the punishment, sor-row, and judgment, Daniel prays toGod for mercy,7 grace, and restora-tion. What hope does this offer uswhen we make mistakes?

One thing is not in Daniel’s prayer.He is not asking God, Why did all thishappen to us? Daniel knows why allthis happened. The people disobeyedGod. Daniel asked no questions in hisprayer. He is not asking for light, wis-dom, or understanding. Daniel’sprayer shows that he understandswhat happened. Israel sinned. Israelwas punished. Now he prays for

God’s promised restoration.Daniel is not praying for understand-

ing. The last time he needed under-standing was for the 2,300-day proph-ecy of Daniel 8:14 (read Daniel 8:27).

What is important in Daniel’sprayer that has special meaningfor you in your walk with God?

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“SKILL AND UNDERSTANDING”(Daniel 9:20-22)

After Daniel prayed, the angelGabriel appeared to him. This wasnot Gabriel’s first appearance inDaniel.

When was the last time Gabrielwas seen in the book of Daniel(Daniel 8:16)?

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7mercy—kindness we do not deserve.

“Lord, please listen! Lord, please forgiveus!” (Daniel 9:19, NIrV)

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Lesson 6 Daniel 9

In Daniel 8, God commandedGabriel to help Daniel understand thevision. Gabriel did that, except for thepart about the 2,300 days.

Now, Gabriel appears again toDaniel. Daniel speaks of Gabriel asthe one he (Daniel) had seen “in thevision at the beginning” (Daniel 9:21).Daniel does not say which vision thatwas. But the only other time Gabrielappears in Daniel is in Daniel 8. So itis clear that this is the vision Daniel istalking about.

What does Gabriel say he cameto do (Daniel 9:20-23)?

Nowhere in Daniel’s prayer did heask for “understanding.” The last timeDaniel needed understanding wasabout the 2,300 days. Now, the sameangel says he has come to give Daniel“understanding.” Understanding aboutwhat? The 2,300 days. This is thelast time Daniel needed any under-standing.

The Hebrew verb bin, translated“understood” (Daniel 8:27), is thesame word that appears in Daniel9:22. This is when Gabriel says hecame to give Daniel skill and “under-standing” (bin). So, Gabriel comes toDaniel and gives him the “under-standing” (bin) he did not have at theend of Daniel 8!

Also, notice what kind of prophecyDaniel 8:14 is. It is a time prophecy!Right after Gabriel comes to Daniel togive him understanding, what kind ofprophecy does Gabriel give Daniel(Daniel 9:24)? A time prophecy!

Clearly, the vision of Daniel 9 is con-nected to the 2,300 days in Daniel.Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 have a visionand complete explanation. Daniel 8has a vision and part of an explana-tion. In Daniel 9, there is no vision.There is only an explanation of whatwas not explained in Daniel 8.

“UNDERSTAND THE VISION”(Daniel 9:21-23)

Suppose that the information fromthe past few days was not enough toconnect Daniel 9:24-27 with Daniel8:14. Then God has given us evenmore proof to make that connection.

In Daniel 8:1, 2, Daniel speaksthree times of the “vision” in chapter8. Each time, the word vision comesfrom the same Hebrew word, hazon.“It was the third year of KingBelshazzar’s rule. After the vision[hazon] . . . I saw myself in the city ofSusa. It [Susa] has high walls aroundit. It is in the land of Elam. In thevision [hazon] I was beside the UlaiWaterway” (Daniel 8:1, 2, NIrV).

Daniel then described what hesees in the hazon (vision): the ram,the goat, the little horn, and so forth.Hazon means the general vision ofDaniel 8.

But when Daniel talks about the2,300 days, Daniel uses a differentword for vision, mareh. “The vision[mareh] of the evenings and morn-ings that has been given to you istrue. . . . I [Daniel] was worn out. I lay

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Lesson 1 Lesson TitleLesson 6 Daniel 9

sick for several days. Then I got upand returned to my work for the king.The vision [mareh] bewildered [puz-zled] me. I couldn’t [could not] under-stand it” (Daniel 8:26, 27, NIrV).

So, we have two words for “vision”in Daniel 8: (1) hazon for the wholevision, and (2) mareh for Daniel 8:14.Mareh is the vision about the 2,300days and the sanctuary beingcleansed. This is the vision Daniel didnot understand (Daniel 8:27).

Mareh and hazon appear again inDaniel 9. This is when Gabrielappears to Daniel. “While I was stillpraying, Gabriel came to me. I hadseen him in my earlier vision [hazon].. . . It was about the time when theevening sacrifice is offered. Hehelped me understand. He said,‘Daniel, I have come now to give youa good knowledge and understandingof these things. You are highlyrespected. So as soon as you beganto pray, the Lord gave you an answer.I have come to tell you what it is.Here is how you must understand[consider] the vision [mareh] ’ ” (Daniel9:21-23, NIrV).

Consider what mareh means.There is only one mareh of the 2,300days that Daniel said he did notunderstand. The word translated“consider” (Daniel 9:23) comes frombin, which also connects this to themareh of Daniel 8:26. Daniel neededunderstanding (bin) about this marehin Daniel 8:26.

Clearly, the explanation of Daniel9:24-27 is linked to the 2,300 days ofDaniel 8. Gabriel came to give Daniel

understanding about the mareh of the2,300 days!

Review the connection betweenDaniel 8 and Daniel 9. Be able todefend the position that Daniel 8and Daniel 9 are tied together.

Pix #24

ADDITIONAL STUDY: Ellen G. White,The Great Controversy, pp. 345–347;Prophets and Kings, pp. 553–556.

Daniel 8 ends with the mareh(vision) of the 2,300 days notexplained. Gabriel, the same angel inDaniel 8, appears in Daniel 9.

FRIDAY—AUGUST 4

Daniel 8 and Daniel 9 are connected toeach other.

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Lesson 6 Daniel 9

Gabriel tells Daniel to understand themareh of Daniel 8:14 and Daniel8:26. This mareh was a time proph-ecy. Then, quickly after telling Danielto understand the mareh, a timeprophecy, what does Gabriel giveDaniel? Another time prophecy.

No wonder Adventists see a power-ful connection between Daniel 8 andDaniel 9 and the prophecies in thesechapters. Other people also see thisconnection.The following quote comesfrom a Jewish commentary on thebook of Daniel. But this commentarytranslates the word mareh as under-standing of the vision. What do theseJews do with the 70-week prophecy?

“This (Daniel 9:2) points to Daniel’svision in Daniel 8:14. The part whichbothered Daniel in Daniel 8:14 is in

verses 16-26 as a mareh.”—Adaptedfrom Daniel, Art Scroll TanachSeries (Brooklyn, New York: MesorahPublications, Ltd., 1988), p. 258.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:1. Review this week’s lessons. Make

sure you understand the connec-tions between Daniel 8 and Daniel 9.

2. If you read Daniel’s prayer, you willnotice he often used the word we.“We” have done this. “We” havedone that. The Bible shows Danielto be a very faithful, holy person.So why did Daniel include himselfas one of those responsible for hispeople’s exile? What can we learnfrom Daniel including himself withhis people?