Daniel 9:21, commentary and pictures

While Daniel was still speaking in prayer, Gabriel, the same angel he had seen in the earlier vision, was sent swiftly from heaven and reached him about the time of the evening offering. He came to speak with Daniel and give him skill and understanding, opening the mysteries of future ages extending to the coming of the world's Redeemer. He took up the unfinished work of making Daniel understand the vision given before Babylon fell, supplying its missing time element, for the seventy weeks are cut off from the 2300 days and both periods begin together with the command to restore Jerusalem in 457 B.C. Daniel's humble, confessing, fasting prayer was heard before he had finished, proving that God hears the contrite one who seeks Him wholeheartedly and answers fervent prayer. As God then sent His messenger to make known the things for Daniel's deliverance, so He now hears His people when they seek Him with repentance, obedience, and earnest intercession, and makes known the things shortly to take place for their deliverance.

Gabriel's Swift Visit

While Daniel was still speaking in prayer, Gabriel was caused to fly swiftly and touched him about the time of the evening offering. He came while Daniel was still praying for Jerusalem and confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel and presenting his supplication, before the prayer was finished. His swift arrival at that hour was proof that heaven had heard the plea.

The visitor was the man Daniel had seen in the vision at the beginning, the same angel from the earlier vision. He came to continue explaining that earlier vision and to direct Daniel's attention back to the vision given before Babylon fell. That commission to make Daniel understand had been left unfinished when Daniel became sick after the earlier vision.

Gabriel came directly from heaven as a ministering angel and heavenly messenger, bringing in vision direct communication from God in answer to earnest prayer. His coming shows how closely heaven is connected with the fallen world, with heavenly powers joining earthly powers to reveal what shall take place. It calls for humility before God and for learning His lessons and seeking the Lord for understanding. Gabriel is the special messenger who conveys instruction to all the prophets, and he is the angel who appeared to John in vision.

Prophecy Gabriel Explained

While Daniel was still speaking in prayer for Jerusalem, confessing his own sin and the sin of his people Israel and presenting his supplication with fasting and affliction of soul, tears and humiliation, Gabriel was caused to fly swiftly and touched him about the time of the evening offering. His arrival before Daniel had finished praying proved that heaven had heard the plea and that he had not sought God for naught. Gabriel came to inform him and talk with him and give him skill and understanding about the prophecy. In this communion of Heaven's messenger with the earnest seeker for truth, heavenly powers connected with earthly powers to reveal what shall take place and the mysteries of future ages, calling for learning God's lessons and seeking the Lord for understanding.

Gabriel directed Daniel's attention back to the vision given before Babylon fell, to continue explaining it. His earlier commission to make Daniel understand that vision had been left unfinished when Daniel became sick after it. The explanation now given supplied the time element left unclear in Daniel 8. The seventy weeks are cut off from the 2300 days, so the two periods begin together with the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.

Those prophetic periods of Daniel 8 and 9 are reckoned from 457 B.C. as their starting point, a date established by historical and chronological facts. In this answer Daniel received needed light and truth, together with a view of future events extending to the coming of the world's Redeemer. That seventy-week prophecy underlay the proclamation that the appointed time was fulfilled and God's kingdom was at hand. The same prophecy also foretold the Messiah's death, though its proclaimers did not recognize this aspect of it.

The prophetic revelations recorded in Daniel's book were not fully understood by Daniel himself and were sealed until the time of the end.

Prayer Heard as Example

Daniel was still speaking in prayer when heaven answered, confessing his own sin and the sin of his people Israel and presenting his supplication before the Lord. His prayer was humble and contrite and joined with confession, pleading for God to hear and forgive and act for His city and His people. It was offered with fasting and affliction of soul, with tears and humiliation. He is held up as a statesman who kept seasons for meditation and prayer despite pressing duties, and his chapter is held up as an example of seeking God through prayer and supplication.

Gabriel’s arrival before Daniel had finished praying proves that his prayer was heard. He had not sought God for naught, for the coming of the ministering angel with the communication from God was God’s answer to his earnest prayer. The intensity and earnestness of his prayer of confession and supplication drew him nearer and still nearer to God, with assurance that God would answer.

The account shows that God hears the prayer of a contrite person who seeks Him wholeheartedly. He is willing to help those who come to Him. Daniel praying earnestly and having his prayer heard and answered is a model for sincere, fervent prayer, showing that earnest, fervent prayer can receive an answer from God.

Daniel’s skill and understanding came from God. Those who ask God in faith may receive wisdom, increased ability, heavenly power, and salvation. Humble prayer brings heavenly messengers to the suppliant to shed light and impart heavenly wisdom, proving that heavenly powers connect with earthly powers to reveal what shall take place. The event calls for humility before God, for learning God’s lessons, and for seeking the Lord for understanding.

As God heard Daniel while he was still speaking in prayer and came to his deliverance, sending Gabriel to make known to him the things to take place, so He now hears His people when they seek the working of the Holy Spirit with repentance, obedience, and earnest intercession. He comes to their deliverance and makes known to them the things which are shortly to take place. Therefore they are not to be intimidated by threatenings or overcome by despondency.