Series: Resilience
Message: Hope
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 21:8-13.

Read: Daniel 9 - As you re-read for the final time this week in the ESV translation, what did you discover new about God’s character?

Reflect: The Hebrew word “nehtak,” is only used once in the Bible, even though it is used many other places in Hebrew writing. It essentially means to cut, or to divide. The context helps us know that the 490 years are part of a much longer period, the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14. This is how we breakdown the 490 years:

          7 weeks start: 457 B.C. The decree to restore Jerusalem by Artaxerxes 
          62 weeks start: 408 B.C. Restoration of Jerusalem 
          1 week starts:  27 A.D. Baptism of Jesus and ends with death of Stephen, 34 A.D.

But in the middle of that last week, 31 A.D., Jesus is crucified and resurrected. 

Now connect this all together with the 2,300 day prophecy of Daniel 8:14, and start back at 457 B.C. and you will arrive at 1844 A.D. 

When the Apostle Paul in Galatians 4:4,5 shares that at the right moment God sent the solution, we can appreciate the accuracy and intentionality of the entire plan of salvation. We live in the day of atonement. We believe that Jesus is coming soon. Daniel’s vision only brings hope into our lives. That hope is Jesus. 

Recalibrate: 

1. Life is incredibly short and precious; what are you called to do with the rest of it?
2. Seeing the Bible knitted together so tightly, what other messages do you need to consider?

Respond: Pray for your hope to be placed in Jesus only.  

Research: Read one of the books or commentaries for this series on chapters 9. *Found in the Bibliography