Pattern for Rest

                                           1            2             3            4            5          7            

Man    - 7 days           work    work    work    work    work   rest 7x1 day

Land  - 7 years          work    work    work    work    work   rest 7x1 year

Earth - 7,000 years   sin        sin         sin         sin         sin     rest 7x1,000 year

Seven sabbatical cycles brought GOD’s people to the Jubilee to bring restoration to His people and to their land. The Jubilee is a one-year sabbath for the land. The Jubilee cycle is a 49-year repeating pattern. It consists of seven sabbatical cycles, followed by a 50th year called the Jubilee. During the Jubilee the land rests, debts are cancelled, and land is returned to its original Owner.

GOD’s Sabbath Years are Important

The children of Israel were not faithful to GOD. For 430 years they refused to allow their land to rest during the sabbaticals and Jubilees. For 70 years the land was not allowed its sabbath rest.
Because of their disobedience, GOD allowed the children of Israel to be taken captive to Babylon for 70 years. While they were in Babylon the land back in Canaan enjoyed its 70 sabbath years of rest.

Daniel is taken to Babylon in 605 BC when he is only a teenager. Throughout his captivity he remains faithful to GOD As he realizes the 70 years of captivity is almost over, Daniel turns to GOD and pours out his heart in contrition and repentance.
Daniel is deeply concerned because GOD’s people are permeated with sin. He begs GOD to heal His people from their leprosy of sin. While Daniel is still praying Gabriel arrives from the courts of heaven to answer Daniel’s prayer. Gabriel says: “As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:

“Seventy 'sevens' are decreed
For your people and your Holy City
To finish transgression,
To put an end to sin,
To atone for wickedness,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy
And to anoint the Most Holy.” Daniel 9:23,24 .

In a simple, compact, elegant prophecy Gabriel answers Daniel’s prayer. GOD does have a plan to deliver His people from sin and wickedness. GOD does have a plan to bring everlasting righteousness into their lives.