Monday, July 10, 2006

Prophecy and Current Events-7

















The Tribulation - The First Half
  
  
  



RELEVANT VERSES:



  • Daniel 9:21-26: As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, "Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. I am here to tell you what it was, for God loves you very much. Now listen, so you can understand the meaning of your vision. A period of seventy sets of seven [Hebrew - 70 sevens] has been decreed for your people and your holy city to put down rebellion, to bring an end to sin, to atone for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. [Or the Most Holy One] Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven [Hebrew - Seven sevens plus 62 sevens] will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times. After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, [Hebrew - After 62 sevens] the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end."

  • Daniel 12:11-12: From the time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration [Hebrew - the abomination of desolation] is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 day! NOTE: 1,290 days divided by 360 days/ Biblical Year = 3.7 years or divided by 365 days/year = 3.5 years.

  • Matthew 24: As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. But he told them, "Do you see all these buildings? I assure you, they will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another!" Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, "When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world [or age]?" Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come. The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object that causes desecration [Greek - the abomination of desolation] standing in the Holy Place"--reader, pay attention! "Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person outside the house must not go inside to pack. A person in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For that will be a time of greater horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones. Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Messiah,' or 'There he is,' don't pay any attention. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones. See, I have warned you. So if someone tells you, 'Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,' don't bother to go and look. Or, 'Look, he is hiding here,' don't believe it! For as the lightning lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. Immediately after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the nations of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever. However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So be prepared, because you don't know what day your Lord is coming. Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay alert and not permit the house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected. Who is a faithful, sensible servant, to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family? If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But if the servant is evil and thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk-- well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected. He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

  • Revelation 6: As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then one of the four living beings called out with a voice that sounded like thunder, "Come!" I looked up and saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory. When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, "Come!" And another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to remove peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere. When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come!" And I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And a voice from among the four living beings said, "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day's pay. And don't waste [or hurt] the olive oil and wine." And when the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, "Come!" And I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green like a corpse. And Death was the name of its rider, who was followed around by the Grave [Greek - by Hades]. They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease [Greek - death] and wild animals. And when the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness. They called loudly to the Lord and said, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?" Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters--their fellow servants of Jesus--had been martyred. I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds. And the sky was rolled up like a scroll and taken away. And all of the mountains and all of the islands disappeared. Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, and every slave and every free person--all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?"

  • Revelation 11:1-11: Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, "Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers. But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in sackcloth and will prophesy during those 1,260 days." These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from the mouths of the prophets and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. They have power to shut the skies so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to send every kind of plague upon the earth as often as they wish. When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them. He will conquer them and kill them. And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, [Greek - the great city.] the city which is called "Sodom" and "Egypt," the city where their Lord was crucified. And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will come to stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. All the people who belong to this world will give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them. But after three and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered them, and they stood up! And terror struck all who were staring at them. Then a loud voice shouted from heaven, "Come up here!" And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.

  • Revelation 19:11-16: Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True. For he judges fairly and then goes to war. His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him, and only he knew what it meant. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword, and with it he struck down the nations. He ruled them with an iron rod, and he trod the winepress of the fierce wrath of almighty God. On his robe and thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord of lords.






TERMS TO UNDERSTAND




  • Tribulation--affliction, trouble, pressure, distress - John 16:33: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

  • The Tribulation--the final seven years before Christ returns to the earth. Also referred to as Daniel's 70th week. This begins after the Rapture we covered last week.

  • The Great Tribulation--the last 3½ years before Christ returns to the earth. This will be the most intense and difficult time of trouble the world has ever known - Matthew 24:21: For that will be a time of greater horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again.

  • The Day of the Lord- A time when God directly intervenes in the affairs of men especially by judgment but also by way of blessing. It is often used in the Bible to describe the judgment and wrath of God poured out upon the world during the Tribulation period.

  • Daniel's 70th Week--based on Daniel 9:24-27. This refers to the final seven years before Christ returns to the earth (the "week" being a period of seven years, not seven days). "A period of seventy sets of seven [Hebrew "70 sevens"] has been decreed for your people and your holy city to put down rebellion, to bring an end to sin, to atone for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.[Or the Most Holy One] Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven [Hebrew "Seven sevens plus 62 sevens"] will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times. "After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, [Hebrew "After 62 sevens"] the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. He will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, [Hebrew for "one seven"] but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. Then as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, [Hebrew "an abomination of desolation"] until the end that has been decreed is poured out on this defiler." The "Anointed One" is, of course, Jesus Christ. The ruler referred to is the Roman Titus. The "He" who will make a treaty is the Anti-Christ.



WHAT is the "Tribulation"?


The word "tribulation," used as a prophetic term, comes from Jesus' Olivet discourse, during which He laid out the future course of human history all the way to its climax at His Second Coming. The Lord said, in response to His disciples’ question, What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew. 24:21 - King James Version).


It is a time that will begin with Antichrist signing a seven-year covenant guaranteeing Israel's peace and security (Daniel 9:27). This era is kicked off, symbolically, beginning with the first horseman of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:1).


The Tribulation is generally thought to occur before the Second Coming of Jesus and the end of the world. It will last seven years in all, usually divided into two periods of 3.5 years each. The time period for these beliefs is based on the phrases found several places in the book of Daniel, "time, times, and half a time," interpreted as "a year, two years, and half a year," and the book of Revelation, "a thousand two hundred and threescore days" and "forty and two months" (the prophetic month averaging 30 days, hence 1260/30 = 42 months or 3.5 years). Note: a score is 20.


The Tribulation is a future 7 year period of time where God's wrath is poured out on the earth by means of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls, which are laid out chronologically in the Book of Revelation and follows the rapture of the Church. The first 3 1/2 witness the rise of the antichrist and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. The Great Tribulation is simply the last 3 1/2 years. The purpose is to give the nations an opportunity to repent and to draw Israel back into God's plan. It is the seventieth week of Daniel 9:24-27. It begins with a seven year covenant signed by the Antichrist and Israel and ends with the Second Coming of our Lord to set up His kingdom on earth. - http://www.tribulationforces.com/basics/glossary.shtml#T


Why does Israel need this covenant or peace treaty? What's going on today in Israel and the Middle East? - War! What are the signs today? What's happening today that points to this time? Is the war between Israel and Hizzbolah? The conflict in Gaza? Iran's (Persia's) sword rattling? Threats from Damascus (which Isaiah 17:1 says is to be a "heap of ruins" in the end times)?



Tribulation events


All Christians then alive will be taken bodily up to Heaven (called the rapture) before the Tribulation begins. Those who become Christians after the rapture will live through (or perish during) the Tribulation. After the Tribulation, Christ will return.
The rapture and the Second Coming (or Greek, paraousia) of Christ are separate events.


The Tribulation will end when Christ returns from Heaven to defeat God's enemies and set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth (Revelation 19:11-16).


Throughout Scripture, the Tribulation is referred to by other names such as:


1) Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Joel 1:15, 2:1, 11, 31, 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2)


2) Trouble or tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1)


3) Great Tribulation which refers to the most intense second half of the 7-year period (Matthew 24:21)


4) Time or day of trouble (Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15)


5) Time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)


It is a 7 year period, but the Lord has cut it short (Mark 13:20; Romans 9:28). We are now living in that generation in which this will happen. During this horrible period of God’s wrath, Russia, Iran, and other nations will come against Israel. The USA becomes involved. One-fourth of the world’s population will die. One-third of trees are burned up. All green grass is burned up. One-third of the sea will become blood. One-third of the creatures in the sea will die. One-third of the ships are destroyed. One-third of the waters become wormwood (or poisoned, or radioactive). Massive famines, increased earthquakes, and more diseases will happen as birth pangs of a woman. Those left alive will have opportunities to receive Jesus through the preaching of 144,000 male, virgin Jews; however, death by decapitation lies ahead for most that put their trust in Jesus, unless they renounce their faith. There will also be many false Christs and false prophets. A one-world, false religion that God calls MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH will increase. This religion has existed for thousands of years and exists today (in what form?). The nations of the world have become intoxicated with her false teachings. The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt.



The 2000 Year Gap

The clearest and most complete chronological prophecy that God has given to us is the 70 week prophecy in the book of Daniel (9:24-27). These 70 weeks involve 490 years of Jewish history (each "week" equals 7 years). The first 69 weeks (483) years have been fulfilled in history. The last week, known as Daniel's 70th week, is a seven year period which has not yet taken place in history. This is also known as the seven year Tribulation period.


After the first 69 weeks, the Messiah was cut off. Daniel's 70th week will not begin until a covenant or treaty is made between the Antichrist and Israel (Daniel 9:27).


The Church Age is nearly 2000 years in duration. How can we explain this "GAP" between the 69th week and the 70th week? It is as if God's clock for Israel has stopped, waiting to start ticking again at some future time.


Just as the Church had an abrupt beginning shortly after the conclusion of the 69th week (the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost), so we should expect the Church to have an abrupt removal shortly before the beginning of the 70th week.

Reference: http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/proph/rapture.htm





The tribulation is divided in half by the abomination of desolation, mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24:15 ("The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place"--reader, pay attention!) See Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11.


Matthew 24:4-14 refers to the first half of the tribulation and are parallel to the first five seal judgments found in Revelation 6.



Birth Pangs


Matthew 24:8 characterizes the events of verses 4-7 as " the beginning of birth-pangs." The Greek word means " the pain of childbirth, travail-pain, birth-pang." It is said to be " intolerable anguish, in reference to the dire calamities which the Jews supposed would precede the advent of the Messiah."


Most likely our Lord had in mind the Old Testament reference to birth pangs in Jeremiah 30:6-7, which says, 'Now let me ask you a question: Do men give birth to babies? Then why do they stand there, ashen-faced, hands pressed against their sides like women about to give birth? In all history there has never been such a time of terror. It will be a time of trouble for my people Israel. Yet in the end, they will be saved!

Reference: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/AnInterpretationofMatthew24_25_4.html




The Commandment to Rebuild


Daniel 9:25 sets the start point of beginning of the 70 weeks at the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem. We will look at this first by looking at the Word to find the varying commandments to rebuild while Israel was in exile.


There were three commands to rebuild the Temple and or Jerusalem given in that time period. The first command was given about 536 BC to Ezra by the Persian Cyrus (possibly the son of Esther and Ahaseurus) (Ezra 1:1) to rebuild the temple, the second command was also to Ezra by Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:1) giving Ezra authority in the temple and the finances to furnish it. The third command was given to Nehemiah by Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem and the wall (Nehemiah 2:1-8).


When compared to Daniel 9:25 it becomes apparent which decree is being referred to, it is the decree by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah to rebuild the walls and Jerusalem. For Daniel 9:25 does not call for the rebuilding of the Temple (which was to Ezra), but again it was to Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem.


This gives us the start point of the 70 weeks "in the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes". So the next question is when did Artaxerxes start his reign. I checked with various sources and it varies a little but it gives a range of dates around 465BC. When is 20 years into his reign? Around 445 BC.


The Timeline of Daniel's 70 Weeks


Now, let's look at the time periods Daniel lays out in Daniel 9:25.


First the 7 week period which we know is 49 years. Multiply that by 360 (since we're converting from Jewish Prophetic to Western) and divide by 365 (to get to Western years) and you get 48.3 years.


Now do the same for the 62 week period and you get 428.05 years (434 x 360 then divide by 365).


Add those together and you get the total WESTERN time for the 69 weeks which is 476.4 years. Now take 30 ( the approximate time of Christ's crucifixion) and subtract 476.4 and you get 446.4 BC. Now keep that in mind and let's compare it as follows:


Let's start with the crucifixion of Christ at AD 30 (the end of the 62 weeks portion) Daniel 9:26 -"And after 62 weeks the Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself" and we start backing up 428.05 years (the 62 weeks) and this brings us to 397 BC. Go back now the additional 48.3 years (the 7 weeks) Daniel 9:25 that brings us back to 445.3 BC. Who was King in 445 BC? Artaxerxes was. Now look at Nehemiah 2:1-8 and what does it say? In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes reign (Nehemiah 2:1) comes the decree.


Now, there are three variables to consider in all of this that can cause these dates to flex. So instead of showing every possible outcome I picked the most common.


Variable #1: The 20th year of Artaxerxes reign (Nehemiah 2:1-8 - the command in question). I've seen 3 dates for this 446BC - 444 BC. For the purpose of this exercise I chose 445BC.


Variable #2: The age of Christ at His baptism. The Bible in Luke says he was about 30. Is that 30? 29? 32? For the purpose of this exercise I chose 30, 31 and 32.


Variable #3: Pertains to the actual day and month of those two events occurring. This exercise doesn't take the day of the year into account but rather the year as a whole. The impact of this variable could affect the time depending on when it occurred within the year.


Regardless of those three variables it clearly shows that the literal interpretation of Daniel's 70 Week Prophecy passes muster as the beginning and the end of the first 69 weeks aligns scripturally and historically. Not a coincidence!!


So in the time frame I propose Artaxerxes decreed the rebuilding of Jerusalem to Nehemiah and he went forth to build it. That is the start of the 70 weeks of Daniel.


This puts the end of the 69th week at the crucifixion of Christ.


Let's now tie all of these foundational facts together.


In Daniel 9:25, the time period is broken into two parts, the first 7 weeks (49 years) which relates to the time from the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem and it's walls to it's completion and then the second part is 62 weeks (434 years) which describes the length of time from the completion of Jerusalem until Christ is crucified in Daniel 9:26 (a further description is provided in that verse).


The second time period laid out in Daniel 9:26 continues with the events of 70 AD and the destruction of Jerusalem when the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. There is no doubt this event occurred under Titus at that time. Josephus confirms this....however...is Titus the prince that shall come? No. Are the people of the prince referring to the Jews? No. The temple was destroyed by the Romans, who left no stone upon another partly out of the fury of battle and partly to garner the inlaid gold in the walls throughout the temple.


So when combining these facts with Daniel 9:27 we now start to see a picture of "things to come". In verse 27 it says "he shall confirm the covenant". Who is the "he"? He is the same as described in verse 26, the prince to come, he is also the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:2, John names him as the "antichrist".


Of note is the terminology used here, he shall confirm the covenant...this implies a covenant that at some point could have been already in place but he reinforces/reinstitutes it. Have we seen a 1 week (7 year) covenant with Israel and its neighbors? Sure, the Oslo accords is an example...one that was started but never reached completion.


As we continue, the covenant is confirmed with many for 1 week (7 years) of which in the midst (3 1/2 year mark) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and the "abomination of desolation". The implications here are huge. First, the Jews, who didn't accept Christ as the Messiah, do not oblige the New Covenant that He provided for us. Therefore they still fall under the Old Covenant. By the Old Covenant they were required to conduct sacrifices (the Day of Atonement) to cover the sins of Israel. However, ever since the temple was rebuilt that is the ONLY place that they are allowed to perform those rituals. With the temple destroyed they are unable to do that. Do orthodox Jews desire the Temple to be rebuilt? Yes. Do they wish to continue the sacrifice rituals? Yes. Can they without a temple? No.


By implication of the verse, the Temple will be rebuilt, thus causing the sacrifice and oblation to start again. Now, Daniel, Christ and John refer to the abomination of desolation in the Temple and the fact that Israel will abandon Jerusalem and head for the hills so to speak. When does this occur? At the midpoint of the Tribulation (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14, Revelation 13:5). Revelation 13:5 places the event at the midpoint of the 7 year period as it says that the antichrist will blaspheme (the abomination of desolation) and be given the power to continue 42 months (3 1/2 years). Also, simultaneously in Revelation 12:6 the Bible shows Israel fleeing and being protected by God for 1260 days (3 1/2 years) which is a result of the abomination of desolation. So now we see the time period for the second half of the Tribulation.


How long is the first "half" of the Tribulation? Revelation 11:3 is the picture of the 2 witnesses that begin their "ministry" at the beginning of the Tribulation and they work for 1260 days until they are killed at the midpoint of the Tribulation. So we now see the first half of the Tribulation being 3 1/2 years.


Conclusion


By following through with this study, it is clear that Daniel's 70 weeks started with Artaxerxes' commandment to Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem circa 445BC. It took Nehemiah about 49 years to complete the rebuilding of the city. Then at the completion of the 69th week, around 33AD the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was cut off, crucified for us, to cover our sins.


What about the 70th week? It has yet to occur yet. The natural flow of the verses shows that the destruction of the Temple occurs and later, after that, at some other time the "end would come".


Reference: http://www.tribulationforces.com/tfcdr/daniel70weeks.shtml



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posted by Oakview Bible Fellowship at 6:28 PM