Practical Apocalypse

Daniel 9 is one of the most debated, confusing, and enigmatic sections in all of the Bible. Commentators have referred to it as a “dismal swamp” and a “bewildering maze: so many choices of ways to take, so many blind alleys and dead ends.” However, when we consider the chapter in its entirety, along with its place within the rest of the book and the storyline of the Bible, we can make a lot of sense of it and draw many practical applications.

It’s often forgotten that the “Seventy Weeks” are given in the context of Daniel’s bible study and heartfelt prayer of confession, contrition, and repentance. Our posture in approaching the vision must first match Daniel’s posture when he received it - humility. While Daniel’s language is very unnatural to us in an age of self-esteem, it is this attitude that leads to the angel Gabriel immediately going out to him to affirm God’s great love for him, a promise of restoration for the people of God, and the outline of God’s plan of salvation for all of time.