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1.History of the Covenant People

2.The Covenants

3.The 70 Weeks of Daniel

4. Daniel's 70th Week

5. The Rapture

6. The Antichrist and his kingdom

7. Israel Restored and the Temple Rebuilt

8. The First half of the Tribulation

9. The Middle of the Tribulation

10. The Last half of the Tribulation

11.The Second Coming of Messiah

12. The Millennial Kingdom

13. Eternity

 
 

           

4.  Daniel's 70th Week (Seventieth Week)

The seventy weeks of Daniel, was a message delivered to Daniel from God, through the angel Gabriel.  The message contained a blueprint for world events, revolving around Daniel’s people, the Jews, and his holy city, Jerusalem.  In Daniel 9:24, Gabriel informs Daniel with the completion of the 490-years on his people and city (70 Weeks), the Messianic Age[ will have begun. However,  before the Messianic Age, Messiah the prince will be killed or “Cutoff”. According to the qualifiers, specified by Gabriel, the  Messiah is cutoff on Passover, 33 A.D. (See Daniel’s Timeline. #1) This corresponds with the close of  69 weeks[2] (69x7) or 483 years. From the command of the King of Persia, Artexerxes, who gave word to Nehemiah (Neh. 2:8) to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25), to  The killing of Messiah the prince, was 69 weeks or 483-years. In Daniel 9:26, Gabriel informs Daniel after the Messiah the prince is killed the Temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed by a group of people, descendents of The prince who is to come.  The people who came were the Romans, linking the future prince or ruler to the Roman empire. 
The 69th week closes with Messiah the prince being cutoff, but the 70 weeks are not yet complete.  The killing of the Messiah, stopped the prophetic clock, before it was completed. There is one week or seven-year period remaining. This seven-year period begins with the confirming of a covenant with many regarding a future  Jewish Temple.

The 70th Week of Daniel’s 70 weeks  is a seven-year period, which begins with the agreement between the prince who is to come, a descendent of the Roman armies, and Israel allowing the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt. Before the 70th week can be examined we need to understand its context to other events. 

The Gap between the 69 and 70th week.

Gabriel informed Daniel, that a specific time period was determined (Daniel 9:24) on his people and his city. The Hebrew word for determined is Jt'j, chathak meaning to divide.  The time divided, 490-years upon Daniel’s people, the Jews and his holy city Jerusalem.  A question is often asked, regarding the 70 weeks, why is there a gap between the 69th and 70th week? Why is the time not continuous?  This is prophetic compression, where the time gap between one prophecy in one verse and second verse is separated by time, but the time is not revealed. Two good examples of this is Zechariah 9:9 and 9:10 and Isaiah 9:6 and 9:7. In verse Zech. 9:9, Messiah is seen entering Jerusalem on a donkey while in verse 10 He is seen ruling over the nations, compressing  the first and second coming. In Isaiah 9:6 a child is born, a son given, in Isaiah 9:7 He is ruling on David’s throne over the nations. Both Zechariah 9:9 and Isaiah 9:6 refer to the first coming of Messiah, and Zechariah 9:10 and Isaiah 9:7 refer two the second coming. Daniel 9:26 is referring the first coming of Messiah, the 70th week is completed with the second coming.

Those who argue, there is no gap between the 69th and 70th week argue the “He” who confirms the covenant in 70th week is Jesus the Messiah, who  with his death after 3 ½ years of ministry caused the Temple sacrifice and offering to cease, because they no longer served a purpose.

This interpretation contrives the text to say what it does not.  There are several reasons a time-gap is clearly in the context of Daniel’s Seventy weeks

·         Daniel 9:26 indicates Messiah the prince will be cutoff or killed at the end to the end of the 69th week.

·         After Messiah’s death, the Temple and city are destroyed, 37 years later.

·         The 70th week is not in the context of their destruction.

·         Following the death of Messiah the prince the Temple is destroyed, but in the 70th week, a 7-year covenant is confirmed requiring a Temple for sacrifice. Therefore, a future Temple is required.

·         Daniel 9:27 indicates the Prince who is to come is a covenant breaker, not a covenant keeper. To break a covenant puts the covenant breaker under the curse of the agreement.  Jesus would not break a covenant he confirmed.

·         Daniel 9:26 indicates the Prince who is to come is future, and the people who destroy the city as precursors to the prince who would come following the death of Messiah the prince.

·         If there were no time gap, then the 490 years would be complete leaving the 490-years unfulfilled, because the period was determined on Daniel’s people and city, the Jews and Jerusalem. The Jews and Jerusalem have not yet experienced the events of Daniel 9:24.

·         The word determine means, dividing, the time was divided on Jerusalem and the Jews, meaning the 490-years are segmented ( 7 weeks+ 62 weeks + 1 week= 70 weeks).

·         The stopping of the sacrifice and offering at the Temple causes God’s judgment not blessing. The word consummation means complete destruction, this destruction poured out on the desolate, results from the abomination on the Temple. Therefore, this event is separate from Christ’s death and covenant.

                  He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.  And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,  Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” Daniel 9:27b

Preparations for the 70th Week

1.The Gathering of Scattered Israel (See Daniel’s timeline #3)

Following the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. Josephus records Titus’ order to destroy the city,

 NOW as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, because there remained none to be the objects of their fury, (for they would not have spared any, had there remained any other work to be done,) Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing.[3]

 

According to Josephus, over one million people perished during the destruction of Jerusalem, in 70 A.D.  Many fled to Arabia, and Persia escaping Rome, while others were exiled to outskirts of the Roman Empire

Fifty years later, in 132 A.D. Emperor Hadrian attempted to place a temple of Jupiter on the Temple Mount, the Jews revolted and rallied around Bar Kokhba, who Rabbi Akiva hailed as the  Messiah. Three years later, in 135 A.D. 580,000 Jews were massacred by the Roman legions.  The city was renamed Aelia Capitolina, and Judea was renamed Palestine, Jews were forbidden from entering the city. The remaining Jews were exiled to the outer parts of the Roman Empire.   The Covenant curses of Deuteronomy were active, the Jews were scattered throughout the world. The result of Messiah’s the prince’s rejection (Daniel 9:26)

64“Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods,

Deuteronomy 28:64a

God’s word also promised a day of gathering, when the Jewish people would be gathered back into the land of promise.  In order for the 70th week to take place, Daniel’s people the Jews need to be in Jerusalem.  Gabriel, informed Daniel that the 490-year period was determined on his people and his city. There are still seven-years to be completed. They will be completed after Israel is in the land.

The gathering of dispersed Israel, is a consistent theme in the Old Testament.  Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Micah and  Zechariah all wrote about a future day when Israel would be gathered.

3“that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where theLord your God has scattered you. 4“If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there theLord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you.5“Then theLord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.[4] Deuteronomy 30:1-3

 

'For behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord, 'thatI will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,' says the Lord. 'And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.'…..'Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says the Lord, 'Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid. 11. For I am with you,' says the Lord, 'to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.' Jeremiah 30:4,10-11

 

8After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.  Ezekiel 38:8

These are a sampling of the scriptures regarding Israel’s restoration.  The events foretold are unique in Israel’s history and are taking place in the present not in the past. The verses speak about a long period of desolation in the land, confirming the words of Daniel 9:26, “till the end of the war desolations are determined”.

2. The need for a Jewish Temple (Daniel’s Timeline #4)

In addition, to the need of the people to be in the land, prophecy also requires a future Temple to initiate the 70th week. Before a Temple can be built, the people need the will to build a Temple.  Presently the Dome of the Rock stands in the way of a future Temple.  Over 1.2 billion Muslims hold this location sacred, believing Mohammad ascended up to Heaven from the top of Mt. Moriah in 622 A.D.

The Muslim world has already threaten World War if the Dome of the Rock is destroyed, and the Muslim world is braced for such an event.  The building of the Temple will cause a world wide conflict pitting Muslim nations and their allies against Israel and her allies. 

In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus also talked about the Temple and its end-time significance. In Matthew 24:2 Jesus refers to the stones of the Temple, before the Roman destruction in 70 A.D.

2And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:2

Later Jesus, after referring to a series of events leading to his return, refers to the book of Daniel and the Temple-Mount and events taking place in Jerusalem prior to his glorious return.

14“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

Matthew 24:14-15

The book of Daniel refers to the Abomination of desolation in four chapters, ( Daniel 8:13, 9:27,11:30 and 12:11).  In each case, the abomination refers to the desecration of the Temple by placing an Idol, in the Most Holy, or Holy of holies.

            Jesus is taking about a future desecration at the end, corresponds to Daniel’s 70th week, where the Temple sacrifice is stopped, and an abomination, that brings desolation is set up. This is a future not a past event.[5] In order for this to happen there needs to be a Temple, and the desire to build a Temple.

            Today in Israel, there is a growing Temple movement, who’s goal is to reestablish the Temple,  destroy the Dome of the Rock, and construct theThird Temple[6].  In addition to the prophetic reason there is also a practical reason for Israel to establish the Temple.  The only claim Islam has on  Jerusalem is the Temple-Mount where they claim Mohammed ascended into Heaven.  As long as this claim is maintained, Israel and Jerusalem will always be subjected to Muslim territorial demands. The Temple will eliminate their claim to Jerusalem.

           

3. The Rapture,  Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation or Post-Tribulation?

The word rapture is not found in the Bible, but is Latin and means “Caught up”. The words  “caught up” is taken from I Thessalonians 4:16-17. The event referred to is the resurrection of saved individuals, and how God will deal with those who are alive at the time. When Christ receives his church, what happens to those who did not die and are living at the time? The rapture explains the order of events.   For those who believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, the rapture orresurrection of the saved is not at question, only the timing of the event.

16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

I Thessalonians 4:16-17

Those read the Bible literally, believe in the establishment of a Millennium[7], a one-thousand year period of time, when the Messiah will reign over the earth.  Since this is a future event, and we live prior to its fulfillment, we live in a Pre-millennial age.  The return of Christ, will be the start of the Millennial Age when the saints will be rewarded for faithful service.

Prior to the return of Christ, the Bible refers to a period of conflict, this period is known as the tribulation period, according to the 70th week of Daniel, the period will last 7-years, some see the period lasting 3 ½ years. This period is period unique in the history of the earth, unparalleled in evil and brutality, never to occur again, the time is also known as Jacob’s trouble. (See also Daniel 12:1, Jeremiah 30:7)

21“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:21-22

And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. Daniel 12:1

The question is when does the rapture happen in relation to this time of trouble, the tribulation?  There are three main views of the timing of these events, Pre-tribulation, Mid-tribulation and Post-Tribulation.

 

Pre-tribulation: believes before the tribulation period, Christ calls his church out of the world, so                    they will not suffer the wrath of God’s judgment with the world.

Mid-tribulational: The belief that the rapture will occur at the midpoint of the tribulation period,           prior to the great tribulation when God pours out his wrath on the earth.

 Post-tribulational: The belief that Israel and the Church will both go through the Tribulation period, and when the period is complete, before Christ returns to judge the world he catches up His church.

 

Israel and the Church

One of the main question regarding the rapture is the relationship between Israel and the Church.

God’s relationship with the church and natural Israel are separated by different dispensations[8]. The church is grafted into Israel’s covenant during thechurch-age[9]. In the future, God will again deal with Israel, the descendents of Jacob. This future dealing with Israel will be during the 70th week. The prophetic clock will start again when the fullness of the Gentiles is complete.

25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

Romans 11:25-27

This church-age is in the letters to the seven-churches in the book of Revelations chapters 2 and 3. In Revelation, the seven-churches, can be divided into seven church periods, covering the span from the Apostolic Church to the Lukewarm Church, prior to the return of Christ. 

 

The Prince to Come (Daniel’s Timeline #4)

 

The 26th verse in Daniel 9, introduces us to the prince who is to come and his descendents who destroy Jerusalem and the Temple.  The prince who is to come is a descendent of the Roman Empire.  In addition, Daniel informs us the individual will make a covenant with many for seven-years.  We know from the context of the verse, the covenant will regard a Jewish Temple, the Third-Temple.

Scripture, specifically the books of Daniel and Revelation tell us additional information about this coming world leader. 

·         He will come as the leader of a powerful nation, which will guarantee Israel’s right to build the Temple on the third most holy location to Islam. (Daniel 9:27)

·         He will be both a military and spiritual leader. (Revelation 13)

·         He will persecute and kill those who do not submit to his system. (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:15)

·         He will have a false-prophet who will do signs to deceive the nations. (Revelation 13:13)

·         He will be a friend to Israel at the beginning. (Daniel 9:27)

·         He will invade Israel, and conquer the city Jerusalem and desecrate the New Temple after 3.5 years. (Revelation 11:7, Matthew 24:15, Zechariah 14:2)

 

This individual will at the end of the 70th week period, lead the nations of the world against God, by gathering the world’s armies to the land of Israel. The gathering point is the hill of Megiddo and known as Armageddon.

 

The 70th Week

The positioning of Israel to begin the 70th requires several important steps before this period can begin.  Some steps are implicitly stated in scripture, some inferred and others we can only speculate.  This we clearly know from scripture must happen before the 70th week can begin.

·         Israel must be restored to the land

·         There will be a conflict between the Islam and the Israel, before the 70th can begin.

·         Israel must have the desire to rebuild the Temple

·         The prince who is to come will be a world leader and a descendent of Rome.

·         The Dome of the Rock must be removed to make way for the Third-Temple.

 

The First Half of Daniel’s Seventh Week

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;Daniel 9:27a

(See Daniel’s timeline #5)

The tribulation period is a seven-year period, the 70th seven of the 490-year period.  The prophetic clock stopped at the “Cutting off” of Messiah the Prince. The clock starts again when theprince who is to come confirms the seven-year agreement with many.  The word “confirm” in Hebrew is rb'G, Gabar and means to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty.  This treaty’s is effective by using force. 

The only way a treaty like this could be confirmed would be through military might, the use of force, the prince who is to come will enforce peace through military might.  Revelation chapters 6 to 9 corresponds with the first 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th week.

In Revelation chapters 6 to 9, we some significant events occur during this period.  In Heaven on the throne is Christ, who is opening the seven-sealed scroll, which no man could open, but Christ.  When the seals are opened, we see what is transpiring on the earth.

The first four seals describe a false peace, followed by war, one quarter of the Earth’s population dies during this time.  The series of events in these first four seals describes a nuclear war, and its aftermath.   Christians throughout the world will die for their faith. The world will go through geological and cosmic disturbances.

In the first half of the tribulation period, Jews who rejected Jesus Christ before will suddenly realize Jesus is the Messiah and will begin to spread the Gospel (Revelation 7:1-8). In Jerusalem two strange individuals, will be proclaiming God’s judgment on the Earth (Revelation 11:9-10). They torment those living on the earth, by their proclamations about Christ, they will be safe and secure in Jerusalem for the first half of the tribulation.

Again, we see war break out on the world, in the first-half of the tribulation and another 1/3 of the population dies from war.  Added to the problems of war, asteroids and comets strike the earth destroying water and food supplies. Earthquakes shake the foundations of the earth.  These earthly events correspond with the blowing of the seven trumpets by seven angels in Heaven. On earth, the two-witnesses, one being Elijah, warn the earth of these judgments.

By the close of the first half of the tribulation more then half the earth’s population has died. 

 

The Midpoint of the Tribulation Period

 But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on  the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate. Daniel 9:27b

(See Daniel’s Timeline #6)

The midpoint of tribulation comes when the prince who is to come breaks the covenant and places an abomination or idol in the Temple and proclaims himself to be God (2 Thes 2:4).  During this period thetwo witnesses, bringing down God’s judgments on the world are killed by this world leader, who himself was killed but came back to life (Revelation 11:7-9, 13:14).

In Heaven, at this time, and unknown to the inhabitants on earth, Satan loses his position and access to heaven and is cast out with all his fallen angels (Revelation 12:7).  Satan then incarnates the individual known as the prince who is to come,  the beast (Revelation 13:4, Daniel 7:11), the little-horn (Daniel 7:8), takes reigns of his earthly kingdom.  He attempts to totally destroy the Jewish people, Israel and anybody who worships anybody but himself.  He enters the Jewish Temple and sets up an image of himself and demands the earth to worship him. This is the abomination of desolation Jesus spoke about.

God then opens an escape route, a sanctuary, for part of the Jewish nation. Jesus warned Israel when you see the abomination spoken of by Daniel the prophet, flee into the mountains. (Mathew 24;15).  A select group of Jews respond and are preserved from Satan's plans for the next 3.5 years in the mountains of Israel.

Satan’s rage is not stopped because he knows his time is short. He unites the world, under his control and creates a world economic system. Nobody can conduct any type of commerce without first pledging support the Beast, the prince to come.

 

The Last Half of the Tribulation Period

Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

 Daniel 9:27c

                Following the escape of fleeing Israel, Satan is enraged and plots to destroy Israel, by assembling the nations to Israel. He causes the survivors of the first half of the tribulation, to pledge allegiance to him, but Satan, is frustrated by God’s mercy. Before the world-wide marking system (666) can be implemented, three angels are sent to warn the inhabitants of the earth to reject the mark and worship the creator alone. (Revelation 14:6-13)

               All those who refuse to pledge allegiance (Worship) the prince who is to come, the Antichrist , are killed for their faith, but their spirits are seen in Heaven. (Revelation 15:2)  Then from heaven, seven angels are seen with seven bowls, these are bowls contain God’s wrath poured out on the Earth inhabitants. This pouring out of wrath in the second-half is what Gabriel tells Daniel what will happen,

               “Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate” Daniel 9:27c

 

            God’s wrath is poured on the earth. Those who chose Satan, and pledged their allegiance to the Antichrist by receiving the mark (666), receive painful sores. All the living creatures in the sea and in rivers die. The sun scorches the inhabitants of the earth.  Those who are left of the nations then gather for battle, against God in the hills of Megiddo, Armageddon.

Click to Expand the Chart Below


 


[1] The Messianic Age is period when Messiah (Gr. Christ) will rule on the earth. War will cease, the nature of animal world will change (Isaiah 11:6-11), Messiah, Son of David will reign over the earth from Jerusalem. 

[2] Week: means unit of seven, similar to dozen meaning 12 or gross meaning 144. Seven was a period of measure in Hebrew, similar to 7 periods of 7 years followed by the year of Jubilee on the 50th year.

[3] Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews,  Book 7, Chapter 1.

[4]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[5] Antiochus  IV Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.), the Seleucid king of Syria pillaged the Temple and set up an image on the Temple-Mount, almost 200 years before Matthew 24:15. Jesus is referring to a future event not a past event.

[6] The periods of the Temple are divide in to Three periods, the First is from Solomon to the Babylonian destruction (960-586 B.C.), the Second from 516 B.C. to 70 AD, and the Third is a future Temple yet to be built

[7] The Millennium is a 1000-year reign of Christ (Messiah), Revelation 20:4-6, where the saints rule and reign over the earth with Christ. This corresponds with Isaiah 11:6-9, Jeremiah 31:3

[8] Dispensations means management of the house (Ephesians 1:10,3:2,).

[9] When Israel rejected Christ (The Messiah was cutoff), the kingdom promised to Israel was inferred on the Gentiles until the 70th week when Israel will be restored and receive the Millennial blessings promised in Daniel 9:24. (See Luke 14:15-23, Matthew 22:1-14)