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[0:00] Well, we are continuing our examination of prophetic themes, and the sheet that you have, from which we'll be working, is provided simply for your convenience, and if you'd rather lay it aside and use your Bible, that's fine, it doesn't make any difference, but we just thought it might facilitate things a little bit.

[0:17] On the one side, we have Daniel chapter 9, on the reverse side, portion of Luke chapter 19, we'll be referring to both of these. We are engaging this subject of the 70 weeks of Daniel, because it is so absolutely key to the whole prophetic theme that is going to be unfolding.

[0:40] This is one of the most precise and one of the most astounding prophecies in all of Scripture. I have referred to it as the linchpin of biblical prophecy, because it really deals with this final conflagration that is coming upon the earth, and you'll recall that what sent us to Daniel was the statement of our Lord in the Olivet Discourse, in Matthew chapter 24, when Christ said, When you see the abomination that desolates, will the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet, and you who are in the house flee to the mountains, etc., because the time of conflagration is going to follow upon the earth, such as the world has never seen before, and will never see again.

[1:31] This is commonly referred to as Hophilipsis, the tribulation, the great one. It means that the earth is going to be put under such enormous pressure.

[1:46] It has never endured anything like this before. It will be a time of final retribution and judgment. Ultimately, the wrath of God is going to be poured out upon a rebellious and unbelieving society.

[2:03] And this is the great wrap-up. It is spoken of as the 70th week of Daniel. Someone has asked, Where is the 70th week of Daniel as far as we are concerned?

[2:17] Well, of course, it is future. We do not know when it is going to happen, but the element that is going to trigger the 70th week of Daniel is what we are going to look at this morning.

[2:30] And it is not, as is commonly believed, it is not really the rapture of the church. The catching away, or the translation of the church, the removal of the body of Christ, to be with Christ, is for sure the next event that is going to transpire in the prophetic calendar.

[2:52] But when that happens, that will not trigger the 70th week of Daniel. We are told very emphatically, what will trigger that is here in the sheet that you have before you, Daniel chapter 9, and beginning with verse 24, and let's just read these couple of verses if we may, and then we'll go back and make some comment.

[3:18] I'm talking about, well, let's start with verse 20 on this sheet. Daniel chapter 9 and verse 20. Daniel says, Now while I was speaking, praying and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, and he refers to him as a man, this is the angel Gabriel, who is one of the archangels, and is a particular emissary to the nation of Israel.

[3:55] Every time you read about Gabriel, has something to do with the nation of Israel. It is this angel who is going to appear to Mary, and announce the Messiah of Israel.

[4:07]  It is this same angel who is going to appear to Zacharias, and announce the arrival of John the Baptist.