Daniel 9:27 KJV
As I explained in my previous post, Israel has been lulled into a false sense of security by an individual who confirms a covenant with her enemies. What will this covenant look like? Look for something that guarantees Israel's right to exist in the land, and to restart the sacrificial system, and build a temple. However this plays out, Israel will be found living securely without walls or gates. This is something that is hard to imagine today (see The Seventy Weeks of Daniel Part 6).
We do know from scripture that at the mid point of this final seven year period something changes, and catches Israel completely off guard. Two things happen, an invasion of Israel by a coalition of Middle Eastern and North African nations (Ezekiel 38:1-16), and the placing of what is referred to as the abomination of desolation. This event is foretold by Daniel in several places, as well as the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, and John in Revelation 13:6, 12-15. For the sake of time and space I will not quote all of these passages. Please read them for yourself. I have linked all of these passages so you can read them as you read this post.
In Daniel 8:9-11 we read of a little horn, another term for the Antichrist, who stops the daily sacrifice, and desecrates the newly built temple. As Gabriel explains the vision recorded in this chapter we discover that this little horn will be a king of fierce countenance, who will have a power outside of himself that will enable him to destroy the holy people, and prosper in what he does for a season. This king will magnify himself in his heart, even standing up to the "Prince of princes" who we know as Jesus (Daniel 8:23-25).
And in Daniel 11:21-31 this same "little horn" is referred to as a vile person who gains a kingdom through flattery. This individual makes a league with others, but afterwards works deceitfully in building a coalition of nations. Just as the term "little horn" is representative of a small leader, this man, starts small and gains power as he goes along.
He reaches a point where he becomes enraged at the "holy covenant" (Daniel 11:30), and at this point he invades Jerusalem, takes away the sacrifice, and places the abomination of desolation, the beginning of a period of intense persecution leading up to the time of the end.
Just as we read in Daniel chapter 8, this king will magnify himself above every god, even God Himself. He will do as he wills, and prosper until the determined time set by God to accomplish His divine purpose (Daniel 11:36).
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1 KJV
Compare to Jeremiah 30:6-9
6. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Therefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7. Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
8. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
9. But they shall serve the LORD their GOD, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
Jesus refers to this time of Jacob's trouble in Matthew 24:15-21. He warns that when the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet takes place, those in Judaea must flee. This is the time of Jacob's trouble, or in the words of Jesus, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the begining of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
We have the witness of three men, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Jesus. They are all speaking of the same event, which starts with the invasion of Jerusalem ( see also Luke 21:20-22), and the placing of the abomination of desolation. This time of tribulation will be unlike anything that the world has seen up to now. As Luke records, For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled (Luke 21:22).
This unequaled time of tribulation will last for a "Time, times, and a half" until the scattering of the power of the holy people is accomplished (Daniel 12:7)
In Revelation 12:2-17 we read that the dragon ( Satan) persecutes the woman (symbolic of Israel), who flees into the wilderness for 1,260 days (Rev 12:6), and verse 14 refers to this same time period again as a "Time, times, and half a time. Revelation 11:2 tells us that Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles for forty-two months, and we read in Revelation 13:5-7 that the beast ( Antichrist) will have power to rule for forty-two months. During this time he blasphemes God, and makes war with, and overcomes the saints.
All of these passages are speaking of the same event. The invasion of Israel beginning with the placing of the abomination in the temple will start a reign of terror that the world has never seen the likes of. This period of time will last three and one half years. During this time period the nation of Israel will face incredible devastation. Zechariah records that in the land of Israel, two third of the Jewish people will be cut off and perish, with one third left who will be refined as silver is refined and gold is tried. This is what is referred to as the scattering of the power of the holy people, what is meant by the saints being overcome. At the point of their absolute helplessness and hopelessness, when rock bottom has been reached, they will call on the LORD, and he will hear (Zechariah 13:8-9).
I am emphasizing the persecution of the Jewish people during this period of time. By no means do I intend to leave the impression that Christians will be gone from the earth at this time in history. Revelation 7:9-27 records that a great multitude comprised of people of every nation will come out of the great tribulation. How do they come out? They are martyrs, they were killed for their faith. My intention here is to dig into the seventy week prophecy of Daniel, which refers primarily to his people, the Jewish race, and what they will go through to bring them back into covenant relationship with their God.
If we look back at the purpose statements found in Daniel 9:24, we see that the restoration of Israel is the conclusion of this prophecy.
1. Finish the transgression.
2. Make an end of sins.
3. Make reconciliation for iniquity.
4. Bring in everlasting righteousness.
5. Seal up vision and prophecy.
6. Annoint the most holy place
At the conclusion of the seventy weeks, we must see the national salvation of Israel, and the triumphant reign of Christ. There is a thread throughout scripture that foretells this. As I finish up these posts on Daniel's seventy weeks, I would like to look at the future restoration of Israel to the bond of the eternal covenant.
No comments:
Post a Comment