Daniel 9:20

Daniel 9:20 says, And whiles I was speaking, and 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;  Daniel said that while he was still praying, confessing not only the sins of others, but his as well, that God's answer came.  We know that God always answers the prayers of His followers, even if the answer is not immediate, as it was for Daniel.  Verse twenty-one adds, Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.  Daniel said that the angel Gabriel appeared to him again about the time of the evening oblation, or prayer time.  The temple may have been desolate, but the faith of at least some of God's people was not.  Verse twenty-two continues, And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.  Daniel said that Gabriel informed him that Gabriel had come to give Daniel skill and understanding.  When God sends us an answer to our prayers, though they may not be delivered by an angel, He gives us the ability to understand the answer as well.  Verse twenty-three states, At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.  Gabriel said that even as Daniel began to pray, the answer had already been given.  We are told that God knows our needs even before we ask, but this does not mean that He doesn't expect us to ask in sincerity and faith.  In the next four verses, Daniel is given the time until the restoration of the temple and the coming of the Messiah.  Verse twenty-four adds, Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.  The people were to be given time to repent and be restored.  This is thought to refer to the four hundred and ninety years, seven times seventy, that passed from the prophecy until Christ did come.  Verse twenty-five continues, Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.  Matthew Henry says there are differences of opinion about when this edict to restore the temple was issued.  Whenever it was, we can be certain that it was when God said it would be.  Verse twenty-six says, And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  Matthew Henry says there is some uncertainty about the meaning of this time reference.  It most likely refers to the time to build the temple.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.  This is a reference to the coming of Christ, Who would lay the foundation for a spiritual temple, or kingdom.  We, as followers of Christ, know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.