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Dialogue received from Jon Zens by forwarder. ----------------
Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, "I have a dream." Having read many chat-room posts, magazines, books, and internet articles where concerns are expressed about things like the implantation of microchips, a central computer in Belgium, identifying the Antichrist with the likes of Henry Kissinger or Arnold Swartznegger, marks on foreheads, etc., etc., I have a burden. My spirit aches when I see well-meaning people being distracted by spending time imagining that prophecies are unfolding in newspaper headlines and current events. Of course we are closer to the end today than we were yesterday. That goes without saying. But I have come to believe that something is amuck when folks are cocksure that they are in the very last times and that their view of end-times is absolutely correct, and all others are suspect and errant. Please let me explore some thoughts with you in this regard. I'm not interested in defending some inflexible party-line; I'm open to learn from other brethren; I'm not going to do any detailed exposition of Bible passages. But I am going to share my heart with you, question the popular obsession with prophecy in our culture, and make some observations about various concerns I have. I believe that many people are being deceived by the fervor created by such phenomena as the "Left Behind" series of books, so my goal is to suggest some areas that need to be carefully evaluated. Your feedback will be welcomed, of course! I'm 58 years old, and I've been thinking about prophecy issues since 1965, when I was a part of Faith Baptist Church in Canoga Park, CA, where Roland Rasmussen was the leader. In 1978 my book, "Dispensationalism: A Reformed Inquiry Into Its Leading Figures & Features," was published by Presbyterian & Reformed Publishers. It is currently available from Chapel Library in Pensacola Florida and on several websites.
If we were to compile say 50 dogmatic statements about what would happen in the future made by Bible teachers between 1830 and 1900, we would discover that they were all dead wrong. Nothing happened as they predicted. Now if we picked another 50 such assertions for the period of 1920 to 2000, we would draw the same conclusion � time has shown them to be wrong. Hal Lindsey and others essentially predicted that Jesus would return within a generation (40 years) after Israel's nationhood in 1948. 1988 has come and gone and Jesus still has not come back. A retired brother told me that he heard a pastor in 1957 say, "We are at 11:59:59 in the prophetic timetable." What would he say now that 46 years have elapsed without the end? In 1979, Jack VanImpe said, "The Rapture is near, even at the door." Not a few were sure that America's invasion of Iraq would light the fuse for the final impending fireworks. The truth is, brethren, that if history continues for another 50 to 100 years, all the prophetic "the-end-is-near" hoopla going on right now is going to look foolish and mistaken, just like all the past prophetic rhetoric since 1830. For years Russia was said to be the great nation that would come down on Israel. When the USSR fell apart in 1991, the predictions had to be revised again. If you say, "History just can't go on for 50 to 100 years," you are on very shaky ground. Neither you nor I know what a day will bring forth, or how many days lie ahead. Everybody tends to think they are in the last generation, but they've all been wrong so far. Of course, there will be those who are "alive and remain" when Jesus returns, but they more than likely will not be thinking before the momentous event, "we are surely the ones in view in 1 Thess.4:17." I think we all need a large dose of humility and caution when it comes to curiosity about the future.
Some of you point out that there were premillennialists in the early post-apostolic times, and that is true enough. But it must be emphasized that none of those early fathers held that God had two purposes �- an earthly one with Israel and a heavenly one for the church. That opinion did not appear until roughly 1830. Charles Ryrie in "Dispensationalism Today" said that the two-purposes doctrine is the sine qua non of Dispensational theology. No pre-1830 premillennialist held to such a theory. The truth is there is a chasm of significant magnitude between pre-1830 and post-1830 premillennialists. For contemporary Dispensationalists to claim continuity and pedigree with the early premillennialists is not accurate in some crucial respects. The rapture doctrine assumes the two-purposes notion � God cannot resume His earthly purpose with Israel until the heavenly church is first removed.
Dean, you seem to be saying that Jesus' words, "not one stone will be left upon another; every one will be thrown down" (Mk.13:2), were only partially fulfilled in 70AD, and still await total fulfillment over 2000 years later. This cannot be! They were literally fulfilled in 70AD. Josephus' eyewitness account portrays the utter devastation of Jerusalem and the Temple. He said, "The war had blotted out every trace of beauty, and no one who had known it in the past and came upon it suddenly would have recognized the place, for though he was already there, he would still be looking for the city" (War, VI:8, Cornfeld trans.). The Jews' genealogical records were destroyed, so that no Jew now can say, like Paul did, "I'm of the tribe of Benjamin." The Jews were forbidden to return to the site of Jerusalem and the Temple for about 200 years after 70 AD. The city was absolutely desolate, having been raped and pillaged by the Romans for years after 70AD. Jesus said, "this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all" (Lk.11:50-51). To suggest that Matt.24:2, Mk.13:2 and Lk.21:6 were not totally fulfilled in first century events, and to suggest that they await further fulfillment 2000+ years later, is to distort God's Word beyond recognition. You claim to take Scripture literally, yet you fudge on Jesus' "this generation" wording. Why? Is it because a first century fulfillment doesn't fit your prophetic scheme?
Further, to suggest that the today's "wailing wall" in Jerusalem is part of the Herod's Temple is without foundation for several reasons. First, those stones are part of Antonia, a Roman structure, not the Temple. Jesus said, "not one stone would remain upon another," so the Temple stones were leveled in 70AD as Jesus predicted. The current "wailing wall" cannot consist of rock from Herod's Temple. Second, the "wailing wall" is on the west side, so those who pray are facing east. These people should know better than that. In the OT, service toward God in the Tabernacle and Temple was always done from the east side facing west. The priests faced west toward the Holy Place. Third, the current "Dome of the Rock" cannot be where Herod's Temple was located. The Temple was located about 1200 feet south of the Dome of the Rock. The Dome of the Rock is located in what would have been to the Jews an "unclean" area of the Antonia fortress, which Herod built to curry favor with Rome. Living waters from the spring of Gihon ran through the Temple area. If the Temple was where the Dome of the Rock is now located, the presence of this spring would be impossible. These points, and many others of significance, are documented in Ernest L. Martin's "The Temples that Jerusalem Forgot" (ASK, 2000, 486pp) and "Secrets of Golgotha: The Lost History of Jesus' Crucifixion" (ASK, 1996, 464pp.). All of this, of course, shows how futile and misdirected the ruckus is about a future Jewish Temple replacing the Dome of the Rock. They're contemplating a Temple located in the wrong place! More than that, they dare to revive obsolete old covenant shadows in the future, when the reality has appeared in the past -- Christ said His body was the Temple that would be raised up, and that His body the ekklesia is the Temple that is being built in the gospel age (Jn.2:19-22; Eph.2:21).
The rapture theory seems to put contemporary and future "Jews" in a lose-lose situation. Their return to Israel since 1948 is seen as a fulfillment of prophecy. But what awaits these people in the post-rapture "Great Tribulation" period according to Dispensationalists' interpretation of Zech.13:8-9? Two-thirds of them will be exterminated. Based on Israel's current population, two-thirds would come to a total of about 3,000,000 deaths. So why aren't today's premillennialists warning them to get out of the land in order to avoid the alleged post-rapture slaughter? The answer is simple. In order for their bliss to occur via the rapture, the land of Israel must be fully populated with people who will face the prophetically-predicted mass liquidation. So according to today's prophecy experts for every three people who return to their homeland, two will be murdered under the worst of circumstances in the "Great Tribulation." It is no wonder that this embarrassing aspect of premillennial eschatology is not widely publicized (cf. Gary North, "Fundamentalism's Bloody Homeland for Jews," www.LewRockwell.com/north/north222.html; Don Preston, "Israel: 1948 Countdown to Nowhere," 2003, 47pp.).
In the past I posted some material from Bob Emery's "Evening in Ephesus: The Revelation of Jesus Christ," in which he submitted that the "666" figure was fulfilled in the person of Nero: "By using the numerical value for each letter in Nero's name, it was easy for the Christians throughout the Empire to see that he was the beast. "Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six'" (p.83). To me this makes a lot more sense than all the fruitless speculation that has gone on over the years in trying to identify the 666 with various leaders or cultural phenomena. Nero fulfilling 666 also makes sense because when Revelation was written, the Temple was still standing (Rev.11:1-2) "measure the temple of God .it has been given to the nations and they will tread under foot the holy city for 42 months." "For forty-two months," Emery notes, "from spring of A.D. 67 until the end of the summer in the year A.D. 70, the Gentiles did trample Jerusalem underfoot" (p.67). It seems natural to see the brunt of John's visions related to first century events, not to events pushed out some 2000+ years. Revelation deals mostly with things "soon" to come to pass, not things to be speculated about 2000 years later (cf. Jay Adams, "The Time Is At Hand: Prophecy & the Book of Revelation," Timeless Texts, 2000, 138pp) . One of the crucial pillars of the eschatology that God has two purposes - an earthly one for Israel and a heavenly one for the church - is the notion that the 70 weeks of Daniel were not consecutive. They posit that the first 69 weeks were consecutive, but that the church age is a hiatus, a parenthesis (2000 years and counting), between the 69th and 70th weeks. After the rapture of the church, they say, God picks up His earthly purpose with Israel again, and commences Daniel's 70th week. Whether or not these weeks run consecutively is not a small issue, as the interpretations that result are as far as east is from west. In the 69-hiatus-then-70 view, the Antichrist is seen as making a covenant with Israel in the 70th week. When the 70 weeks are seen as consecutive, the 70th week brings history to the ministry of Christ, and he makes a covenant with many unto salvation. The one is Christ-centered; the other is Antichrist centered. The natural way to take Daniel's prophecy is for the 70 weeks to run in sequence, with the 70th week culminating in Jesus Christ. The other view requires certain assumptions to be read into the text (cf. Jay Adams & Milton Fisher, "The Time of the End: Daniel's Prophecy Reclaimed," Timeless Texts, 2000, 120pp.). If Daniel's 70 weeks were completed in the first century, then the pillars of the Darby-Scofield-Chafer-Ryrie-Walvoord-VanImpe-Lindsey-LaHaye prophetic scheme crash to the ground.
Dean, as I said to you over a year ago, I do not think your paper, "Amillennialism: The Most Pervasive Heresy in History," gives any evidence of having studied the most representative articulations of this view. When your paper was read at our conference, the amils present indicated that they did not feel you represented their position properly. They wondered who on earth you were describing. You gave no documentation for where you got your information about the amil view. Some of the key books that present the amil view are Anthony Hoekema, "The Bible & the Future" (Eerdmans; cf. www.graceonlinelibrary.org/theology for Hoekema's "Amillennialism - Part 1"), William Cox, "Amillennialism Today" (Pres. & Reformed), Floyd Hamilton, "The Basis of Millennial Faith" (Eerdmans), William Hendriksen, "More Than Conquerers" (Baker), and Leon Morris, "The Revelation of St. John" (Eerdmans). These sources will not yield the caricature of Amillennialism you gave in your paper.
Further, Dean, I think it is way out of line for you to assert that Dan gives no evidence of being a brother in Christ because of his Preterist views. You have not even met him. I have, and while I disagree with his overall prophetic viewpoint, I have no basis to think his profession of Christ is suspect. Salvation comes to those to trust only in the merits of Christ, and have no confidence in their flesh. People can hold to a variety of millennial perspectives and still participate in grace-alone salvation. I urge you to rethink your judgment against Dan in light of Rom.15:7. I disagree with both you and Dan about eschatology, but frankly it seems to me that Dan takes the Scriptures just as seriously as you do, and in many cases he seems to take God's Word at face value more than you do.
It distresses me that in the practical outworking of things among many Premillennialists, the limelight falls on Israel instead of Christ. This is illustrated in Charles Feinberg's "Israel: At the Center of History & Revelation" (Multnomah, 1980). The Lord does not have two separate purposes, one for Israel and one for the church. He has one eternal purpose which He purposed in Jesus Christ (Eph.3:11). Adrio Konig's book, "The Eclipse of Christ in Eschatology" (Eerdmans, 1980) is a wonderful corrective to the popular Israel-centered mentality. Steve Temple's message at our 2003 Searching Together Conference, "Christ: The Center of Eschatology," was a glorious presentation of how Adam failed, how Israel failed, but how in Christ all the Father's promises in the gospel are "Yes" and "Amen." The Scripture does not say, "Kiss Israel," but "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way" (Ps.2:12). The Lord may indeed have future purposes for the Jews, but they will be in connection with gospel-grafting into the olive tree, not in regard to some alleged separate earthly purpose (after the church is removed from history) that results in another Temple and animal sacrifices.
Rev.20 is used as the framework for a 1000-year Israel-centered period on earth which occurs after the rapture of the church, and after a time of "Great Tribulation." Among other strange phenomena during this alleged millennium, it is posited that there will be glorified, immortal saints living on earth and mingling with mortal wicked people. It is a time of incredible material prosperity, and procreation is resulting in babies who live to be very old. However, it would seem that if one just reads Rev.20, minus all the imported baggage packed into the text, you would never come up with such a picture. Here are some questions I have. If Satan will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming (2 Thess.1), how can he be bound for a 1000 years after that event? If history comes to an end at His glorious coming (2 Thess.1), what would be the sense of the devil no longer deceiving the nations after than event? Do the martyrs who live and reign with Christ for 1000 years appear to be above or on the earth? Where is there any focus or mention of Israel in Rev.20? Don't the images portrayed in Rev.20 seem more heavenly-oriented than earth-based? When Christ returns there will be no more curse and no more sin. Thus, the idea of the devil functioning after His glorious return in a millennium where sin remains present is an opinion that needs to be evaluated long and hard.
It seems to me that the prophetic dogmatism since 1948 that Christ will return in our times is a built-in set-up for letdown and disillusionment (cf. L. Festinger, et al.,"When Prophecy Fails: A Social-Psychological Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World," Harper, 1964, 253pp). A person in our assembly recently received a spam-generated ad for the "Left Behind Prophecy Club," which promises (for a monthly fee) an "in-depth analysis of the news in light of end-time prophecy" provided by LaHaye, Jenkins, and Hitchcock "to help you see and interpret the signs." They will no doubt get many paying customers to partake of their speculations. Paul L. Maier, in a new novel, "More Than A Skeleton" (Thomas Nelson, 2003), shows the fallacies of end-times predictions. He notes, " I believe that the heart of the Gospel is being replaced by an overemphasis on prophecy, which turns away serious seekers of faith. I fear that their over-literalizing of what is obviously symbolic material in the Bible could send people into a panic and disillusion others when such �prophecies' fail." Not a few premils are uncomfortable with the details of Lindsey's and LaHaye's vision of the future, but the fact remains that the basic contours of their eschatology (Rapture, Tribulation, Millennium, etc.) are the same.
Hal Lindsey said in 1981, "I believe absolutely we are the generation that will see the end of the present world and the return of Jesus Christ," and then cited Jesus in Matt.24:34, "Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." But the generation Jesus had in view was the one He lived in - not one 2000+ years later - as is indicated by His words to the disciples, "when you see standing in the holy place - the abominaton that causes desolation,' spoken of by Daniel, then let those in Judea flee to the mountains." Jesus, predicting 70AD, said of the Temple, "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down" (Matt.24:2). To teach that our generation will surely be alive when Jesus returns, and to import contemporary events into the Book of Revelation, is an act of futility and arrogance by well-intentioned people (and by some hucksters). Keith said, "only the spiritually blind could miss these things [being fulfilled in our day]." I would humbly suggest that those who think they see what bodes in the future may actually be the ones afflicted with blindness in this regard.
The truth is, all of us are probably "wrong" in some ways concerning our conception of the future. What will actually happen transcends anything our finite minds can conceive of. What the Lord intends to do will come to pass, regardless of what our opinions may be. I think it is important for us, therefore, to be sure we focus on what we know to be true. Jesus is concerned that we take care of those with needs in varied situations while we await His return (Matt.25:31-46).
Thank you for considering some of the things on my heart.
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I used to feel the same way as you until I read this new interpretation on Biblical prophecy... http://www.grandunifiedprophecies.blogspot.com/ It is like an end times primer and should be cut out and read over again the day they sign the Final Peace Treaty. Then maybe all the controversy over interpretations will be layed to rest once and for all!
You are aware that the Left Behind series is fictional, right? Why place your trust in a man? Why not take the Bible as it reads?
There are many problems with this new eschatology being taught today. I would like to use the principal that you laid out yourself to help us look at the basic problem with this new interpretation. Therefore, we will look at fulfilled prophetic scripture to disprove the modern false teachings.
I believe the first place the modern eschatological mindset has taken the wrong turn is in the interpretation of Daniel's 70 weeks. As Jon Zens has stated it is incorrect to interpret the 70 week period in Daniel as anything but a contiguous period of time with the final week, the 70th, being Christ-centric rather than antichrist-centric. It is Christ who confirms the convenant with Israel for 7 years, not the antichrist. The death of Christ seals the covenant, not with the blood of animals as was the case for the Old Covenant, but with His own precious blood.
The division of the week into two periods of 3 1/2 years is also incorrectly interpretted as events signficant to the antichrist and completely ignores the fact that Christ died in the middle of the week, only 3 1/2 years after His baptism. It was in the midst of that week, the 7 years, that Christ's sacrifice on the cross annulled the animal sacrificial system previously ordained by God.
But before His death Jesus instructed His disciples not to go to the gentiles at first but to remain in the household of Israel. Thus, His disciples completed the last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week by preaching the New Covenant gospel to the house of Israel. When the persecution started, at the hands of Saul, then they were spread through-out the lands carrying the gospel message to the gentiles.
It is only when we do not see the truth of this fulfilled prophecy that we begin to speculate as to how this final week might possibly be played out. So what you speak of as yet unfulfilled prophecy, suggesting that we wait to see how it all unfolds, has already been fulfilled--the week being 27AD to 34AD (7 years).
What I would like to do next is to address each point that I have made to refute your eschatological position with supporting scripture. Then we can look at what we have wrought and hopefully reason together as to the reasonableness of either position and whom is best served by each scenario--whether Christ, or antichrist. Would you be agreeable to this?
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I wanted to add another comment to what has gone before to try to clear up some of the misunderstandings about Daniel's 70 weeks. If anyone responds and wishes to know more then I will add more comments and eventually cover all of the last part of Daniel 9.
The 70 week vision of Daniel 9 is part of a larger vision given to Daniel in chapter 8. We know this because of the testimony of Daniel himself.
In chapter 8, Daniel is retelling his vision and he asks the angel, "(v13) How long will this be?" To which the angel replies, "(v14) Unto 2300 days (or evenings and mornings)."
Now Daniel is very troubled by this 2300 day period. How do we know this? Because he tells us, "(v27) I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it."
Why was he so troubled that the vision depicted a period that would last 2300 days? Again, Daniel explains it.
Just to recap our story: The angel had said that the sanctuary would be cast down and trampled under foot. Daniel, of course, was very interested in the restoration of the temple because it directly effected his people and represented a return to their land and the rebuilding of their beloved city Jerusalem. When he asked the angel how long this would last the angel had replied, "(v14) Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
This astonished Daniel and he did not understand the vision. So he tells us in chapter 9 that he studied the prophecy of Jeremiah only to discover that the word of the Lord to Jeremiah described a period of only 70 years (or prophetic weeks) period for the desolation of Jerusalem.
Now imagine how Daniel must have felt just about now. The word of the Lord to Jeremiah had specified 70 years. But now the angel was talking about a much longer period of 2300 weeks (or years) for the temple to be trodden down. Daniel must have been heart-broken and very dissappointed because I can bet he was anxious to return to Jerusalem and to be free of captivity.
So what does he do? He begins to pray and inquire of the Lord and to repent for the sins of the whole nation. In essence he is admitting their guilt and pleading for the Lord to have mercy and to not prolong the period of desolation but to restore the city of Jerusalem and the temple. A portion of his prayer goes like this;
"(v17) Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake."
Does the Lord answer our prayers? Yes. Look what Daniel tells us happens even while he is on his knees praying.
Daniel 9: 20 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; 21 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. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 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.
So while Daniel is pleading for mercy from God, the Lord sends Gabriel to show Daniel the meaning of the vision. Gabriel says, "I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."
This is where the 70 weeks comes in.
The first thing that Gabriel tells Daniel is 70 weeks are apportioned for his people and their holy city to accomplish 6 very specific things.
to finish the transgression
to make an end of sins
to make reconciliation for iniquity
to bring in everlasting righteousness
to seal up the vision and prophecy
to anoint the most Holy
Notice that all six items pertain to Jesus' coming. These could not be fulfilled by the Jews. Only Jesus could accomplish these things. Especially is the last item very clear that Jesus will be annointed the Christ (which means, annointed) within this 70 week period. (If that is not clear to you bring this to my attention so we can cover it in more detail.)
Now, in order to see the full picture we need to draw a simple timeline. Not everyone will agree with these dates. But they have been established and accepted after much debate and study of scriptural and historical records.
457BC -- Command given to restore Jerusalem (Ezra 7:11-) 408BC -- Seven weeks (49 years) and wall is built (Neh 7) 27AD -- 60 and 2 weeks (434 years) and Jesus is annointed Christ (Matt 3:13-17) 31AD -- Midst of 70th week Christ is crucified (Matt 27:37) 34AD -- The 70th week ends
The baptism and crucifixion of Jesus seals up the visions: both the 70 week vision and the 2300 days vision. These two events, the witness of the water and the blood, put a stake in the ground of time which cannot be moved. Therefore, they most assuredly fulfill the 5th requirement of the vision to "Seal up the vision and prophecy."
And we must also take notice that the 70 weeks is wholly contain within the 2300 day vision as well, for it is determined, or divided, from the 2300 day vision as described earlier.
Well, I need to close for a while. Let me know if anyone would like to continue with Daniel.
quote:Thus, His disciples completed the last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week by preaching the New Covenant gospel to the house of Israel. When the persecution started, at the hands of Saul, then they were spread through-out the lands carrying the gospel message to the gentiles.
It's not what the bottom half of Dan 9:27 says.
quote:And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
Yes, I will try to answer your question. I am working on this reply and will update it as able.
The "he" in this verse is surely Jesus. Let me try to show you why.
Daniel 9:27
quote:And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:
In Jeremiah 31:31 the Lord says that he will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In verse 32 the Lord says that this new covenant will not be like the one he made with their fathers when he took them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant. In verse 33 the Lord says that the new covenant will be the writing of his law in their hearts and minds. We know from Hebrews 8:8,10 that this is the "new" covenant we speak of today as Christians because Jeremiah 31 is quoted there to explain what the new covenant involves.
Surely Jesus' ministry involved confirming this new covenant with the house of Israel because we have evidence in these verses.
The first covenant was ratified with the blood of animals. However, the new covenant is ratified with the death of Jesus. It was not in force until Jesus died. This is also the case with legal wills today, unless a living will is in place.
See this verse: Hebrews 9:16,17 "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth."
Jesus tells his disciples at the last supper that his blood ratifies the new covenant.
Mark 14:24 "And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many."
Jesus tells the woman of Caanan that he has not been sent to ratify the covenant with anyone but the house of Israel.
Matthew 15:24 "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Jesus sends the twelve to the house of Israel only, specifically telling them not to go eslewhere.
Matthew 10:5,6 "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Now let's look at the next part of Daniel 9:27.
quote:and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,
Some have thought of this verse in the context of a man forcing the Jews to stop sacrificing animals. But they do not sacrifice animals today nor do they have a temple. It is because of the prophecies of Daniel 9 that they do not have either of these.
It was the death of Jesus on the cross as the Lamb of God that ended the animal sacrificial system and the earthly priesthood. There was no longer any need for either of them. Study these verses.
When Jesus died the veil that separated the Holy from the Most Holy was torn from top to bottom exposing the articles of furniture and the High Priest in the Holy of Holies. Since no man was able to look upon the glory of God in the Holies, the fact that this happened showed that the glory of God was no longer present there. There was no need. The Lamb of God had died once for all. There was and is no longer any need for any futher sacrifice to atone for sin.
Luke 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
The earthly priesthood and sacrificial system was destroyed by the cross. There was no more need of animal sacrifices once Jesus, the Lamb of God, had died to whom all of the animal sacrifices has pointed symbolically. Jesus became our High Priest so there was no more need of an earthly priesthood to provide that function. Now we are a nation of priests and we can each come to God for forgiven by the blood of Jesus. But Jesus was not a Levite. Rather he was from the tribe of Judah. So that law which served the earthly priesthood was invalid once Jesus died.
Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Hebrews 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
There was no longer any need of sacrifice when Jesus died. The animal sacrifices were continually offered year after year because the blood of animals could never purge our sins. These sacrifices pointed to the cross of Christ, the Innocent dying for the guilty. They were merely a shadow of the true. The death of the Son of God as the Lamb of God was the true. The blood of Jesus does purge our hearts of sin and removes our guilt. Thus, Jesus need only die once.
Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Now we come to our crucial verse but I will have to complete this, hopefully, tomorrow. It's time for bed now. Please check back for my update.
As you can see, this takes time to address. It has taken me over an hour to get this far. And I can only cover a portion of what is available to us. That is why it is so very important that you read the passages of scripture involving this subject for yourself. Nothing I give you here can help you unless you search this out with prayer and diligence for yourself. So please look up the verses and read them for yourself. Our salvation is very personal and is between us and God.
quote:and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
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Hi Jeff, Thanks for the reply and I agree with the verses you quoted and the explanations you gave for each verse except that one crucial verse – i.e. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him – which is from NIV.
I want to believe that the “he” at “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” is Jesus but I have a hard time understanding that the same “he”, being Jesus the Christ, will set up an abomination that causes desolation. I also don’t know what “that is decreed” is referring to. Should we simply say that translation is wrong and go by KJV?
I can't get too detailed right now but hope to answer your question shortly. I think we need to look at several translations and see which one(s) fit best with the other interpretations we understand.
I just want to add one more thing about the NIV and other translations that leave me a little suspect. They are not free. They are copyrighted. What this means is that in order for them to be copyrighted they must be unique. You can't take another version and copyright it and make money. I am not sure how different a version must be to be granted a copyright, but I am sure it must be significant and apparent.
Also, we must consider by whom and for what purpose this version was written (the NIV). It was conceived by the National Association of Evangelicals to be "suitable for public and private reading, teaching, preaching, memorizing, and liturgical use." It's not difficult to conjecture that they might translate certain passages in keeping with their own viewpoints so as to cause no little embarrassment during their liturgical use.
You may use the NIV, it reads well. But I would not use it alone for the purpose of serious study of any teaching where sides are so distinctly drawn among the various denominations. In a similar way I would not trust solely to the Catholic translation or the Scoffield. There is too much at stake!
So give me some alternate translations to look besides the NIV.
BTW, the NIV footnote seems easier to understand.
quote:Or "And one who causes desolation will come upon the pinnacle of the abominable temple , until the end that is decreed is poured out on the desolated city" NIV
I can find scripture to support this interpretation. (See Matthew 24). Jesus told his disciples that the temple would be destroyed and not one stone would be left on another. He warned that when they should see the abomination spoken of by Daniel standing where it should not be then they should flee.
But another interesting note is that Jesus cursed the temple prior to leaving it absent of his presence forever.
quote:Matt 23:37-39 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" NIV
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Hey Jeff, I know what you are getting at. I used to trust materials I can get at Christian book stores and not those free on the web - I was so wrong. My bad - for not noticing the footnote! I'll study some more...
So I am not saying that everything you pay for is bad and anything free is good. All I am saying at this time is that the NIV is copyrighted so it had to be unique enough and that it was conceived by a special interest group for their own purposes. The question we must ask when we interpret scripture is whether or not we can support the interpretation from other scriptures and whether there are any scriptures which are clearly antagonistic to our interpretation.
In other words, are there scriptures which, if not brushed aside, would overturn my interpretation of the passage in question? Or, does the testimony of other scripture support my interpretation. That is the questions we must resolve before we accept any interpretation of scripture. There has to be some intelligent thought mixed with prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit. True, we accept it by faith but our faith does not need to be blind.
For example, someone may read a passage to me and then interpret it such that a spaceship will be returning to earth to pick us up and take us to heaven. (This actually happened, BTW). I may say to the person, "I can't see that interpretation in the scripture." If they then reply that I must accept it by faith then they are attempting to deceive me. There is nothing in scripture to bring me to that conclusion so I cannot blindly accept that by faith. Every other principle taught in scripture that we accept by faith is clearly developed by, not just a few passages, but many passages and is in harmony with the theme that runs through-out the Bible.
So with that in mind let's take a look at the last part of Daniel 9:27. We want to interpret the passage in harmony with the rest of the Bible. This requires that we find other scripture to support our interpretation and that we not find scripture which overturns it.
Now the last part of Daniel 9:27.
In the KJV it reads, "...and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
In the NIV it reads, ""And one who causes desolation will come upon the pinnacle of the abominable temple , until the end that is decreed is poured out on the desolated city" NIV (footnote)"
To me, neither of these verses imply that the "he" actually causes the abomination. I see them suggesting that perhaps the "he" brings about the desolation because of the abomination. Whether the "he" is Christ or the Roman General Titus, it is God who brought the desolation of the Jewish temple. And, God will see to it that it remains so until the consumation which I am inclined to interpret as the consumation of all things, or the end of the world. I also see the end of the world as the end of the "time of the Gentiles."
In verse 26 we learn that "the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary." We now understand this to be the Roman army that came in 67AD, left, then came back in 70AD and burned the city and destroyed the temple. It is a well known fact that Christ died in that 70th week and that the temple and city were destroyed in 70AD.
BTW, Sir Isaac Newton notes that 3 1/2 years transpired between the 67AD seige and the final destruction in 70AD. He interprets the last part of Daniel 9:27 as "in half a week" (3 1/2 years) whereas the KJV interprets it as "in the midst of the week." But he also states that
quote:How after these weeks Christ was cut off, and the city and sanctuary destroyed by the Romans, is well known.
Yet shall he confirm the covenant with many for one week. He [Christ] kept it, notwithstanding his death, till the rejection of the Jews, and calling of Cornelius and the Gentiles in the seventh year after his passion.
But I see nothing here to get me very excited about a theory that antichrist will, at some unknown future period of seven years duration, fulfill this prophecy. I think that is unfounded, speculative, and contrary to sound doctrine. I know of no other passage in scripture to support that interpretation. In order to arrive at that interpretation assumptions are laid as the foundation upon which other scriptures are then laid to build up this erroneous interpretation.
This is by no means a full treatment of the subject at hand. We can go deeper if that is required. At this time I prefer to accept a more conservative and historical interpretation of the 70 weeks which is based on the witness of the New Testament and secular, historical accounts regarding the destruction of the temple in 70AD by Titus. I see nothing antagonistic about this view with other scripture or history.
If you disagree would you please give me some scripture to support an alternate interpretation.
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Hi Jess, What brothers me is Dan 9:26 – Why would it said after 62 weeks (total of 69 weeks) that
quote: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
? Messiah was cut off in the final week alright but “the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary”, which I understand it to be the event at around 70AD, in fact came long after the 70th week. Does it make more sense to put
quote: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
after 9:27 if that’s what Daniel meant? Some are putting Dan 9:27 together with 11:36. What is your response to that?
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Well, in between chapter 9 and 11 is this verse in chapter 10, verse 14. "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days."
Remember that Daniel is seeing a vision that lasts 2300 days (mornings and evenings). In Chapter 8 it is covered briefly. But in chapter 9 Gabriel comes to explain the first 70 weeks in greater detail, alluding to what extends beyond the 70 weeks. In chapter 10 the vision continues and flows right into chapter 11.
So chapter 10 and 11 are just more of the 2300 days, not the 70 weeks.
Daniel 11:3 is definitely Alexander the Great of Greece who eventually overthrew the Persian Empire to conquer them and rule the world.
Then for several verses afterwards it talks about the four generals who divided the Greek Empire when Alexander died at a very young age. Those four generals were Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy. One went North, one went South, and so on. The King of the South—Ptolemy—ruled over the land of Egypt. The Egyptians became extremely powerful. They continually battled with the King of the North—the Roman power. Then comes the Caesars.
I believe verse 20 to refer to Augustus Caesar. It was during the days of Augustus that the decree was passed that all the world should be taxed. Everyone was commanded to return to his own city to be included in the census for tax purposes. Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
If verse 20 is Augustus then verse 21 must be Tiberius Caesar. He was one of the vilest rulers ever to ascend the Roman throne and follows Augustus. Corruption, bribery, extortion and murder were all part of his political strategy. Does verse 22 refer to Jesus as the prince of the covenant? Does his "breaking" refer to the crucifixion? Tiberius was Caesar at this time. See Luke 3:1.
Now the rest of the chapter is a little harder to prove. I'll have to go back and review my notes from when I studied this out.
I've been reading the thread and I am interested in it as I have had a hard time understanding what Daniel is saying in Chapter 9.
I know that Daniel was enquiring about Jeremiah's prophecy that the land of Israel had to enjoy her sabbaths, for as long as she laid desolate she kept the sabbaths. That prophecy said the land would lay desolate 70 years and it did that according to 2 Chronicles 36:21 To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years. And threescore and ten years equals 70 years.
So 2 Chronicles 36:21 tells us there was also 70 actual years that the land of Israel enjoyed her sabbaths. And Jeremiah's prophesy was fulfilled.
Well this might be a stupid question but if Jeremiah's prophesy was fulfulled as 70 actual years and ended with King Cyrus's proclamation to build a house in Jerusalem for God then why does those same 70 years last until the time Christ comes in Daniel chapter 9?
If I could understand this maybe I could start to understand more. Do prophecies in the bible have duel or triple meanings sometimes?
To me the 70 weeks prophecy has a duel meaning. One was that the land of Israel actually laid desolate for threescore and ten years and the other was a spirutal prophecy. So my point is that if the spiritual prophecy could be spanned until the time of Christ, which was actually much longer than 70 actual years then WHY COULDN'T IT SPAN UNTIL THE END OF TIME??????? It makes sense to me, that this is what is happening and therefore the 70th week could really, the last week could be at the very end.
Chubbena, I responded to you in an earlier post. See above.
Kim, I don't think the 70 years in captivity are the same as the 70 weeks in Daniel 9. They may overlap because certainly the captivity did not end before the walls and city were rebuilt some 49 years after the decree to rebuild. I don't know if the two 70 year periods are significant but I do not believe them to be referring to the same period of time. The captivity of the Jews in Babylon ended prior to Jesus' birth. As we know, some chose not to leave Babylon but they were free to go before this time.
Also, Kim,
I think you are mistaken. The first 70 year prophecy spoke of when the end of Jewish captivity would end. The second 70 year (week) prophecy foretold the coming of the Messiah. If you try to mess with either of these times then you are saying and doing two bad things.
Bad thing #1) You assert that God either lies are cannot tell time correctly. This leads us to doubt other promises of his.
Bad thing #2) You remove a pillar of truth that Jesus was the Messiah. The prophecy foretold the exact time when the Messiah would come. The Wise men were seeking him and the rulers used the prophecies to guide them to Bethlehem. Herod also knew this.
Remember, that one thing the 70 weeks was to accomplish was the sealing up of the vision and the prophecy. If the coming of Jesus as the Messiah did not happen on time then God's prophecy failed to seal up either the vision or the prophecy.
What is going on is that the enemy of all souls would like nothing better than to confuse the issues and keep us always waiting and watching until it is too late. As humans we tend to procrastinate anyway. We don't need help. If we don't properly understand these important prophecies then we are going to be easier to deceive and be led to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
Jesus told us to be watch for the signs of his coming which he enumerated in Matthew 24.
quote:Matthew 24 30"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d]is near, right at the door.
The only problem is that you are saying there is a first 70 years and a second 70 years and the bible never says that. The bible just refers to both periods of time as 70 years. You are the one assuming that there are 2 70 years. Daniel was thinking about the 70 year prophecy that Jeremiah gave at the beginning of Daniel chapter 9 and he set about seeking and praying and bringing his supplications before God for his sins and Israel's sins. I'm only reading my bible. If Daniel was mediating on what Jeremiah said and then an angel showed up and started talking about 70 years, what can we assume? We can assume that they are the same 70 years, can't we??? One has an actual physical meaning and the other a spirtual. One lasts 70 actual years and the other till the end of time. One an actual physical fulfillment and the other a spiritual fulfillment. This is not unusual in the bible.
Unlike some, I do not assume everything I heard in the fallen away institutional churches to have been incorrect. On the contrary, the devil did a bit of mixing lies and errors and truth in those churches. If you are one of those that assumes that everything taught in the church is incorrect, you have fallen for the lie of the devil. That's what he wants you to think. His plan was to really confuse us all. Many are making theses incorrect assumptions. You can't decide that everything is a lie just because you heard it in church. Doctrines must stand by themselves as found in the Word of God regardless whether it was something we heard in the churches.
If I would assume that everything I heard in church was a lie or an error I would never have discovered that men really led God's church. Because the church I was raised in was a form of Godliness that denied the power of God but it still believed that women shouldn't preach. Now if I was like most people I would just have thrown the baby out with the bathwater, but I'm not like most people. I'm willing to understand that Satan allowed some truth in these churches to just mix people up all the more.
The churches preach a gathering away, I'm not so sure I'm ready to throw that out yet. I've got some more searching to do.
In believing this about the 70 years why is it that you say that I am saying something God said would come to pass, has not. I do not understand. God said that the nation of Isreal would be in captivity for 70 actual years and it was. God also said that in the 62th year that the Messiah would be cut off and He was. So what didn't come to pass? I don't understand.
By the way, this is an important day in the nation of Israel. Is anyone looking for the great things that God will do today?
You acknowledge that Christ came after the 7 weeks, after the 62 weeks, for a total of 69 weeks, that is good. That has been fulfilled and that is a significant event because the baptism was his annointing as the Messiah. But if you admit that all that was foretold and came to pass right on time just as God's word said, then why would you think that God would pass by the most important event of history for all eternity and not mention the crucifixion? The crucifixion happend dead in the middle of the 70th week. If you claim that the 70th week is yet to come, as many Evangelicals do, then where is the prophecy of the crucifixion and when is it supposed to happen?
The 70 week prophecy foretells the first advent of Jesus, the Messiah. The covenant that Jesus confirmed with the Jews was the New Covenant. When he died he sealed that will (covenant or testimony) forever. Because, after a man dies the thing cannot be changed. Even human wills cannot be altered after the testator dies. The death seals the will. So too, the death of Christ on the cross seals the New Covenant, the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ. This is our hope!
You unwittingly admit that there are two distinct 70 year periods when you refer to them as "both." Both is not singular nor a few. Both is two.
Now if there are two what if one is called first and the other second to distinguish them from one another. These are the rules of speech.
The 70 years of Jeremiah started when Daniel went into captivity. Daniel was a youth then. He was an old man when he received the vision of the 70 weeks. His captivity ended shortly thereafter.
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I have done research on this issue and have concluded that Daniel's 70th Week is still in our future and will begin the day they sign the Final Peace Treaty. The 70th Week contains many critical end times prohecies, which you can read the details below. To believe that it has already been fulfilled negates all these critical prophecies and is a dangerous false teaching.
The last seven years of this Age, sometimes referred to by commentators as Daniel’s 70th Week or the Tribulation, is divided into four parts.
Part One: The Final Peace Treaty from Daniel Dan 9:27 And he (Antichrist or another peace negotiator) shall confirm the covenant (final peace treaty) with many (Israel and Arabs) for one week (of years or last 7 years of this age. This seven year interim peace treaty initiates a period of peace in Israel, until the treaty is broken and a war breaks out about 3 ½ years later)
Part Two: The Mid Week War from Daniel Dan 11:29 At the time appointed (approx 3 ½ years after treaty is signed) he (US/Coalition) shall return, and come toward the south (to the Middle East); but it shall not be as the former (Desert Storm I and II), or as the latter (Armageddon). 30 For the ships of Chittim (western lands or Israel) shall come against him (Arab nation which attacked Israel: possibly Iraq, Syria, or Iran): therefore he (US/Coalition) shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant (treaty): so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them (Arabs) that forsake the holy covenant.
The Temple Takeover from Daniel Dan 9:27 …and in the midst of the week (approx. 3 ½ year after the treaty is signed) he (Antichrist) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (in the secret excavated Holy of Holies in the underground Jewish Temple), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (The Antichrist puts an end to the reinstituted Jewish sacrifices and sets up a command computer/television that will bring desolation to Israel).
Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part (US/Coalition forces headed by Antichrist), and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength (the Antichrist chooses the safest place in the Middle East for his command center- the underground Jewish Temple directly beneath the Arab Dome of the Rock), and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination (computer/television) that maketh desolate.
from John Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentile (US/Coalition Forces and later- the Russian/Arab Confederacy): and the holy city (Jerusalem) shall they tread under foot forty and two months (last 3 ½ years of this age before Jesus’ return).
Believing Jews Flee to Wilderness from Jesus Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation (computer/television), spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (excavated underground Jewish Temple/Holy of Holies), (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea (Israel) flee into the mountains (east of Israel possibly Petra): 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
from John Rev 12:6 And the woman (Jews who believe the prophecy) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days (approx. last 3 ½ years).
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon (Satan) saw that he was cast unto the earth (possesses the Antichrist), he persecuted the woman (Jews) which brought forth the man child (Jesus). 14 And to the woman (believing Jews) were given two wings of a great eagle (plane), that she might fly into the wilderness (east of Jerusalem), into her place (possibly Petra), where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time (approx. 3 ½ years), from the face of the serpent (Antichrist). 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water (troops) as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth (earthquake destroys troops). 17 And the dragon (Satan/Antichrist) was wroth with the woman (Jews), and went to make war (by requiring the world to take his mark) with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Christians).
The Mark of the Beast from John Rev 13:15 And he (Antichrist) had power to give life unto the image of the beast (computer/television), that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many (Christians) would not worship the image of the beast (taking the mark is worship of the beast) should be killed (beheaded for not taking the mark). 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark (possibly an invisible UPC tattoo containing the hidden use of the numbers 666 in the right/middle/end bars) in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast (Antichrist), or the number of his name (Antichrist’s name adds up to 666 possibly using A=6, B=12, C=18 etc. alpha numeric code). 18 Here is wisdom (not something obvious). Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six (666).
The Great Persecution from Daniel Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant (treaty) shall he (Antichrist) corrupt by flatteries: but the people (Jews/Christians) that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 3 And they that understand (the prophecies) among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days (last 3 ½ years). 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 36 And the king (Antichrist) shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers (Jewish), nor the desire of women (aged or homosexual or both), nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds (underground Jewish Temple) with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
from John Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God (all previous Christian martyrs), and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren (Christians in the Great Tribulation), that should be killed as they were (persecuted to death- this time from refusing the mark), should be fulfilled
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city (New York), because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints (Christians): here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead (Christians persecuted to death by the Antichrist) which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
The Falling Away by Paul 2 Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him (Rapture/1st Resurrection), 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (of so called Christians who take the mark), and that man of sin (Antichrist) be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the (underground) temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie (the lie is the indirect worship of the Antichrist though the taking of his mark): 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins (professing Christians), which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise (true Christians), and five were foolish (false Christians). 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil (Holy Spirit) with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom (Jesus) tarried (for almost 2000 years), they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight (at the end of this age) there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves (these virgins took the mark and were still able to buy and sell). 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him (the Christians who had been persecuted for not taking the mark and those that were Raptured) to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins (who had taken the Mark), saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Mat 7:21 Not every one (false Christians) that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day (of Judgment), Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (because they had taken the mark and fallen away).
The Two Witnesses by Malachi Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah (one of the Two Witnesses) the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD (Wrath): 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
by John Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses (Elijah and Enoch- some say Moses is the second witness instead of Enoch, but Elijah and Enoch were they only men not to die physically. According to Heb 9:27- And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:), and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days (last 3 ½ years of this age), clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast (Antichrist) that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city (Jerusalem), which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud (this might be the time of the Rapture); and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven (surviving Jews in Jerusalem).
The 144,000 by John Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion (Zion in Israel), and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Part Three: The Northern Invasion by Daniel Dan 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south (Arab Leader) push at him (Antichrist in Israel): and the king of the north (Russian Confederacy) shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries (of the Middle East), and shall overflow and pass over. 41 He (Russian Confederacy) shall enter also into the glorious land (Israel), and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon (lands to the east of Israel). 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. Dan 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44 But tidings out of the east (China mobilizing) and out of the north (Western forces regrouping under the Antichrist) shall trouble him (Russian Commander): therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain (Israel); yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
by Ezekiel Ezek 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog (Russian Confederacy), the land of Magog , the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. 7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. 8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought
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