Introduction

Daniel was an Old Testament prophet who lived most of his life during Israel's Babylonian Captivity.  The twelve tribes of Israel had split in 931 BC into the Southern Kingdom (Judah and Benjamin under King Rehoboam), and the Northern Kingdom (the remaining ten tribes, who followed King Jeroboam I).  God sent the Northern Kingdom into captivity in 722 BC while prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah warned of a similar fate to come for the Southern Kingdom.  In 605  BC God brought the Babylonians against Judah to capture and destroy Jerusalem and the Temple--and haul off the remainder of God's chosen people into captivity. 

Daniel's nation had been removed from the "Promised Land" as punishment for disobedience (Jeremiah 25:4-11). 

During the next 70 years Daniel made several important prophecies, but Daniel 9 might contain one of the most important prophecies ever made in the Old Testament--it not only is the only prophecy with a given starting date, but it has a definite time length.  In four verses, it spans over 2,500 years--from Israel's return from captivity to the return of Israel's Messiah and His establishment of the much promised kingdom.  Verse 24 presents the entire prophecy; verse 25 describes the first 69 weeks; verse 26 describes events between the 69^th and 70^th weeks; then, verse 27 describes the 70^th week.