The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 2, The Purpose Statements)

Continuing from my previous post which you can read here, I would like look at the six purpose statements found in Daniel 9:24.

"Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to annoint the most holy place."

Daniel has just finished interceding for his people and city, Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been left desolate, the temple destroyed, and the people carried into exile on account of their departure from the Lord God.

As I stated previously, Jeremiah, as well as other prophets, had repeatedly warned the people to repent and obey the Lord. Their refusal to listen had finally brought God's judgement upon them as prescribed in the covenant between God and the people of Israel.

Daniel, recognizing that Jeremiah had prophesied a seventy year captivity, and knowing the time had come, seeks the favor of God on His people once again.

Scripture records for us that when Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian empire, Cyrus, king of Persia, allowed the Israelites to go back, as foretold in Isaiah 44:21-45:7. The fulfillment of these prophetic words are recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, and Ezra 1:1-4.

However, God's dealings with His people were not complete. Although they had suffered much, and many returned humbled and obedient, as a nation the root of unbelief had not been "pulled up" and destroyed.

Imagine Daniel's surprise when instead of seventy years, which were coming to a close, Gabriel announced seventy weeks were yet to come before Israel would be transformed as a nation into the people God had called them to be.

This is not seventy weeks in the literal sense of seventy, seven day weeks. Just like we would say there are 52 weeks in a year so add 18 more weeks and you have a year and roughly 4 months to go. No, this is speaking of seventy weeks of years which total 490 actual years. 

There is biblical precedence for this use of the term "weeks"  found in other passages of scripture. 

We see this in the story of Jacob (see Genesis 29:18-28). Jacob meets Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and agrees to work for Laban seven years for her to be his wife. When the time was up he assumed he was getting Rachel, but ended up being deceived, and woke up to Laban's daughter Leah instead. He confronts Laban, and is told this,

27. "Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years."

28. Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

                      Genesis 29:27-28 NASB

So we see here the term week used interchangeably with seven years. We see a similar thing in Leviticus and the law of the jubilee cycle,

8. 'You are also to count off seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven sabbaths of years, namely, forty-nine years. '

                             Leviticus 25:8 NASB

This is the same concept as in the above example of Jacob working a seven year week for Rachel.  Every seventh year was considered a sabbath. Therefore seven sabbaths of years would constitute forty-nine years. The Amplified version puts it like this,

8. And you shall number seven sabbaths or weeks of years for you, seven times seven years, so the total time of the seven weeks of years shall be forty-nine years.

                                  Leviticus 25:8 AMP

This differs from our western way of thinking, and it pays to understand that the scriptures that we read and love were written by men centuries ago with a middle eastern mindset. To understand this can go a long way in understanding and applying the word of God in our own lives today. I would like to come back to this concept of the jubilee cycle later.

We have these six purpose statements in this verse that must come to pass before Israel as a nation can be restored to permanence in the promised land, find restoration with God, and enter the millennial age. Again, a humble people returned from exile in the days Daniel, but they yet as a whole have not returned to the LORD. These six things must be accomplished in and by them on a national level.

1. Finish the transgression.

2. Make an end of sin.

3. Make atonement for iniquity.

4. Bring in everlasting righteousness.

5. Seal up vision and prophecy.

6. Annoint the most holy place.

Ultimately, the failure of the nation of Israel to remain faithful to the Lord their God was rooted in unbelief. This was the basis for their refusal to enter the promised land in the days of Moses (see Numbers 14:1-45). 

The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?"

                                    Numbers 14:11

And the author of Hebrews, referencing Psalm 95:7-11, states this,

15. While it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." 

16. For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 

17. And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

18. And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?

19. So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

                        Hebrews 3:15-19 NASB

Although the Bible makes mention of godly men and women found within the nation Israel, as a whole, the nation remained in this unbelief, which found its ultimate fulfillment in the rejection of their Messiah, Jesus.

This transgression, and the sin that flows out of it must be put away, not only on a personal level, but on a national level as well. As people who have been, and remain in covenant with God on a national level it must be this way. Although Israel is a secular nation by and large today, and by their departure from God have broken the covenant, it still remains in effect today, and Israel remains under God's judgement until they give up their unbelief and sin. This is something the Bible says they will do in the last days as a nation, not a few individuals here and there, but on a national level. 

Ultimately the issue of Jesus is at the core of the transgression. Jesus Himself had this to say,

37. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

38. "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 

39."For I say to you, from now on you will not see me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! ' "

                      Matthew 23:37-39 NASB

The day will come when Israel receives their Messiah as a nation. At the return of Christ they will look on Him whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns the loss of a firstborn son (Zechariah 12:10-14). At this point they will enter into what we know as the New Covenant. As Christians, do we realize that this covenant has been offered to the Jew first, and those of us who are Gentiles are grafted in?

31. "Behold days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,

32. not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.

33. "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

34. " They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD, ' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

                   Jeremiah 31:32-34 NASB

Keep in mind that the larger context of these verses concern the time of Jacob's trouble or great tribulation. Although the New Covenant has been in effect since Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, and millions have entered into it through the new birth, the Jews for the most part have not. The first believers in Messiah were Jews, but for the last two thousand years it has been primarily Gentiles who have entered in through the blood of Jesus. Again, the Bible assures us that the day is coming when all Israel shall be saved (Romans 12:26).

Zechariah tells us that at the close of the final tribulation a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants ofJerusalem for cleansing from sin (Zechariah 13:1). This is the point of Christ's return. Every eye will see Him, and those who are left of Israel, who have survived this terrible time will look upon Jesus, the one they pierced, and grieve for Him. Zechariah records the time of national repentance that occurs at this time (see Zechariah 12:1-14). The sin of the nation will be removed in one day (Zechariah 3:8-11).

At this time the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:22-29 will take place. The nation scattered throughout the nations will be gathered back to their land for good. They will be cleansed from all of their iniquity, and they will be God's people, and He will be their God. 

Isaiah tells us that "A redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD (Isaiah 59:20). 

If we read on we see the Spirit poured out upon the nation for good, never to depart. Again, we are talking about the return of Christ in the last days. If we read on into chapter 60 we come to the millennial kingdom, a time of peace and righteousness on earth. The dilemma of disobedience and the ability to remain in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be forever removed as the people will now be righteous, not only in right standing with God, but in faithfulness as well,

"Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified."

                                Isaiah 60:21 NASB

14. 'Behold, days are coming, ' declares the LORD, 'When I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

15. 'In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.

16. 'In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness. '

                       Jeremiah 33:14-16 NASB

 The apostle Paul tells of the certainty of this in Romans 12:26-27, and so all Israel will saved; just as it is written,

"THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM , WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."

What does it take to bring an individual to the end of themselves? Our pride is what keeps any of us from yielding our lives to God. This pride is what must go if we are to surrender to Him in true repentance. We have touched on the end of transgression and sin, and the bringing in of everlasting righteousness. Now I would like to share some thoughts on making atonement for sin. 

The concept of atonement is one of reconciliation. We understand that Jesus has made atonement for sin on the cross. Through His death and resurrection we have forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God. This is what most of us probably think of when we hear the word atonement. 

There is another aspect to atonement or reconciliation however, and this is what Daniel 9:24 is referring to in the statement "make atonement for sin."

Again, Jesus is the one who has provided atonement for sin, and there is no other way to receive forgiveness for our sin, no way to earn it or pay for it. However, this is something Israel has to go through to reach the point of brokenness. It is a judgement brought on by disobedience, ultimately meant to sift, refine, and bring a nation to the point of repentance. 

A purging of sin is a necessary part of this process. In Ezekiel 20:33-38we read that God will take severe measures to bring Israel back into covenant relationship with Him. It will be with a mighty hand and outstretched arm and wrath poured out (Ezekiel 20:33). They will be brought out into the wilderness where God will enter into judgement with them (Ezekiel 20:35-36 compare Jeremiah 31:1-2).

37. "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

38. and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. This you will know that I am the LORD."

                          Ezekiel 20:37-38 NASB

This purging of the rebellious from the land will bring forth a humble people who find grace in the wilderness,

This says the LORD, "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness-- Israel when it went to find it's rest.

                               Jeremiah 31:2 NASB

8. "It will come about in all the land," declares the LORD, "That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it.

9. "And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people, ' and they will say, 'The LORD is my God."'

                           Zechariah 13:8-9 NASB

And finally the idea of atonement entails the removal of guilt and punishment as we see in Isaiah 40:1-2,

1. "Comfort, comfort My people," says your God.

2. "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare had ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."

This passage articulates these points perfectly. This time of warfare or tribulation has achieved its goal. The nation had suffered much for its iniquity, but through a purging process the nation has been brought to a place of repentance and restoration. The time of tribulation is over, God has forgiven their unbelief and sin, their guilt has been erased, and the time of punishment is over, never to occur again.

This is in answer to Daniel's pleading on behalf of his people Israel, and his holy city Jerusalem. The restoration needed has to be accomplished. The Babylonian captivity did not do a thorough job. Although a people returned to the land, they were not yet as a nation living within the bond of the covenant. This will be the purpose of what is known as the time of Jacob's trouble or great tribulation (see Daniel 12:1-7).

At this point vision and prophecy will have reached it's fulfillment. What has been prophecied concerning these days will have come to pass. Imagine what the Old Testament prophets wrote, what Jesus foretold, John's revelation all coming to fruition. The world is now entering the millennial age. The Kingdom has been restored to Israel (Acts 1:6) with Jesus, their Messiah ruling from Jerusalem. 

This brings us to the final purpose statement, the annointing of the most holy place. Yes, there will be a temple in Jerusalem in the days of the millennium. This is something that may be hard for some of us to fathom, but passages such as Isaiah 2:1-5, 60:1-7, Ezekiel 40:1-43:27 confirm this. 

In Daniel we read of the cleansing of a temple after the time of tribulation.

13. Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?"

14. He said to me, "For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored."

                              Daniel 8:13-14 NASB

This refers to the abomination of desolation, which is placed in a temple yet to come. When this event occurs we are 3.5 years into the final seven years of the seventy weeks (more to come on this). This marks the start of the great tribulation. We can know from these verses that once the sacrificial system begins in Jerusalem there will be 2,300 days until the restoration of the holy place. This event is likely to take place shortly after the return of Christ. Somewhere around the 1,290 to 1,335 days mentioned in Daniel 12:11-12. This would place the start of the sacrifices just before the end of the first year of Daniel's 70th week. 

It's my belief, that the temple that is defiled by the Antichrist is not necessarily the temple that will exist during the millennial kingdom. The description given in Ezekiel is not of something that would fit alongside the Al Aqsa mosque today on the temple mount (see Rev 11:1-2). Right now with the Dome of the rock, and Al Aqsa occupying the temple mount there is little room for a larger temple. Also, the temple mount is under Muslim control presently, so we will have to wait and see how this all plays out. 

As we look at the timeline presented in the next two verses of our passage we will gain more understanding, especially as it deals with the events of the latter days.

  

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 1, Background Information)

Daniel chapter 9 records Daniel's prayer of repentance on behalf of himself and his nation who have been in captivity in Babylon for almost seventy years. The Medo-Persian empire has recently defeated the Babylonian empire, and Daniel  observed  the prophecy previously given by Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem was to last seventy years.

This is what motivated Daniel to seek the Lord God with prayer and fasting. Daniel's prayer, recorded in Daniel 9:4-19 is well worth the study. It shows a truly humbled and contrite individual pleading with God on behalf of His chosen, yet rebellious people. Daniel understands that God alone is righteous and just with His judgement against the nation. All he can do is to plead for mercy, and deliverance from their captivity for the sake of God, as they, the Israelites, are called by His name.

In response to his prayer, Gabriel comes with a message for Daniel concerning his people, and what was to come in the future concerning them.

24. "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to annoint the most holy place.

25. "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

26. "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

27. "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed is poured out on the one who makes desolate."

                              Daniel 9:24-27 NASB

Daniel, as I stated above, had been observant that the time for Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the end of the Babylonian captivity was drawing near. Jeremiah's ministry began years before Daniel, but he still prophecied during the early days of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Jerusalem, and therefore much of what he spoke had been written down and was available to those who had been carried off to Babylon. Years had past by, and now Daniel was stirred by these prophetic words,

10. "For this says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill my good word to you, to bring you back to this place.

11. 'For I know the plans that I have for you, 'declares the LORD, 'Plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope.

12. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

13. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

14. 'I will be found by you' declares the LORD, 'And I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, 'declares the LORD, 'And I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.' 

                     Jeremiah 29:10-14 NASB

This is what Daniel does. He believes the words of God spoken by Jeremiah. He acts upon them by fervently seeking the Lord in prayer and fasting. He understands why the nation had gone into exile. The problem was sin, disobedience to God. All that had happened to them as a nation was the result of violating the covenant God had made with them at Sinai. Just a few chapters back in Jeremiah this is addressed,

3. "From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.

4. " And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not inclined your ear to hear,

5. saying, 'Turn now everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your deeds, and dwell on the land which the LORD has given to you and your forefathers forever and ever;

6. and do not go after other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands, and I will do you no harm.'

7. "Yet you have not listened to Me," declares the LORD, "In order that you might provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm.

8. "Therefore this says the LORD of hosts, 'Because you have not obeyed My words,

9. 'Behold I will send and take all the families of the north, 'declares the LORD, 'and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror and a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.

10. 'Moreover, I will take from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.

11. 'This whole land will be a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

12. 'Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, ' declares the LORD, ' forv their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it a everlasting desolation.

                          Jeremiah 25:3-12 NASB

Over and over God reached out to His rebellious people, through the prophets, urging them to repent and obey. Now the covenant curses had come upon them and they were driven from the land into exile (see Leviticus 26:14-46 and Deuteronomy 4: 23-31, 28:15-68, 30:1-20 these passages describe the consequences for rebellion against the LORD, yet hold out the offer of mercy and restoration upon heartfelt repentance).

This was Israel's dilemma. They, as God's chosen people, had broken covenant with Him. The land they possessed belonged to them as an everlasting possession (see Genesis 13:14-17, 26:1-5, 28:3-4, 35:11-12 the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) however, they as a nation were required to live in faithful obedience to the LORD to remain in it.

Now, just as Jeremiah spoke, Babylon had been defeated by Cyrus, and Darius the Mede was now on the throne. Daniel understands why they are there, and what it will take to dwell in the land of promise once again.

This the point of Gabriel's message. It is a message that ultimately points to the restoration of Israel, not only to the land promised them, but to be the holy people that God requires, never again falling away into apostasy, a light to the nations as God has called them to be.

Abide in Him

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.

They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out , in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.

But you have an annointing from the Holy one, and you all know.

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

As for you, let that abide in you which you have heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.

These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.

And as for you, the annointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His annointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

And now little children abide in Him, so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him with shame at His coming.

If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

                             1 John 2:18-29 NASB

My previous post dealt with the topic of deception in the last days. You can read it here. I would like to continue with this theme as I believe that it is vital for us to be well grounded in the faith, not just in the end times, but even now, as false teachers have always been among us.

John is writing to Christians who have received the faith (the gospel, doctrine etc.) firsthand from the eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ (see 1John 1:1-4). These Christians as John states, knew the truth. That was the purpose of his epistle. He was confronting false teaching that threatened the Church. He was not protecting a group of believers who didn't have a grasp on the truth, but they knew the truth from the beginning. They were literally grounded in the apostle's teachings.

This is important in so many ways. We must be firmly grounded in the truth. Although the original Apostles are long gone, the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3) is the same faith built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20) that has been handed down to us through the word of God. 

Let us endeavor to grasp it, understand it, believe it, and make it ours. It must not merely be a faith of the head, but a living, active faith that is obeyed and followed, and allowed to transform us into the image of Christ. Anything less than that is not the faith found in the pages of scripture.

What we believe about Jesus affects our worship and submission to Him. Anything other than what is revealed in scripture will impact our faith in a negative way. Ultimately, the danger is that we will end up believing a different gospel, and following a different Jesus than the only Jesus who can save us (Galatians 1:6-9, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Our abiding in the truth, and consequently in Christ, is where our safety is found. To be outside of the truth is to be outside of Christ, and to be susceptible to all forms of error.

John was confronting heresy in his day that twisted the truth of who Jesus truly was. This was, and is the spirit of antichrist. There is nothing new under the sun, and new twists on old heresies still abound today. No doubt when the final beast kingdom arises, false prophets will arise out of it deceiving many with the same attacks on the person and work of Jesus.

It is my firm belief that the end time beast prophecied to arise will be made up of the Muslim nations surrounding Israel today. The scriptures are clear, all the nations mentioned in prophetic passages concerning end times events surrounding the day of the LORD are Muslim majority nations today. While many teachers are looking to a coalition of European nations to spawn the antichrist, the Bible actually directs us to look at the Middle East. 

You must understand that Islam has its version of "Jesus." The Jesus (Issa) of Islam is a mere man. He never claimed to be God, He was never crucified, and in the last days He will return to help an individual referred to as the Mahdi (the antichrist?) eliminate Jews and Christians, and install Islam as the final religion. This Issa destroys a man known as the Dajaal, (Islam's version of the antichrist) who by the way refers to himself as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." That's a bit eerie isn't it?

It wouldn't be too farfetched to imagine the false prophet of Revelation 13:11-18 claim to be Issa (Jesus), deny his deity, deny that he was crucified, and instead direct all worship to the man known as the Mahdi. Now I admit this is speculation at this point in time. We don't know how everything will play out, but we have the warnings found in the scriptures telling us of false prophets and false Christs raising and deceiving many. 

I want to make something clear. I love Muslim people. My wife and I are aquainted with many Muslims. We have had some of them in our home, and been in their homes as well. We see a people who are themselves blinded by a deception that has run for 1,400 years now. They are born into this, and desperately need the light of Christ to shine into their hearts. Just as you or I at one time also were lost without Christ, so are they. Unless they come to a knowledge of the truth and surrender their lives to Jesus, they too will perish. God loves all people and sent Jesus to die for the Muslim as well as the Hindu, atheist etc. We are all on level ground at the foot of the cross.

So with that in mind, we must know what we believe, why we believe it, and make sure it is the truth. It can be hard to debate a Jehovah's witness, a Mormon, or a Muslim. Many people fall for the deception that these groups spread. It is amazing how similar these three cults are in their beliefs. An attack against the person and work of Jesus Christ is at the heart of these group's message. Indeed they preach a different gospel and a different Jesus than that which has been revealed in scripture.

Back to our passage, John speaks of an annointing that we as believers possess. This annointing is the Holy Spirit, who Jesus also refers to as "the Spirit of truth" in John 14:15-26. It is the role of the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in each believer. Through the indwelling presence of the Spirit we have fellowship with the Father and Son. This is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27). 

The Holy Spirit is referred to by Christ as the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit guides us into the truth, and without the revelation of the Holy Spirit we cannot expect to abide in truth in our own strength. With this annointing we do not need the opinions of men to direct us into the truth. While the ministry gifts are meant for the edification of the Church, and are vital in guiding the Church through deception and on to maturity (Ephesians 4:12-15), ultimately we have the responsibility to study these things for ourselves with the annointing of the Holy Spirit.

Men are fallible, prone to make mistakes, and even deliberately mislead. We must always back up what we hear with the word of God, made clear to us by the Holy Spirit. That is the meaning of this passage.

If we remain in the truth, submitted to Christ in trust and obedience, we have nothing to fear at His return. His truth will preserve us from error. With the Holy Spirit to guide us we can be confident in these days we live in. I read something years ago, and I don't remember who said it, 

"The Holy Spirit will not lead you where the word of God cannot keep you."

These are meaningful words for us to ponder. By the power of the Holy Spirit, let us press on to know Christ, abiding in His presence, safe in the storm, and not ashamed at His return.

For further reading

The Spirit of Antichrist.

Do Not Be Deceived

Deception has been Satan's weapon from the very beginning when he approached Eve saying, "Indeed, has God said..."  (Gen 3:1). It has always been a deadly thing to watch out for, and will be until the very end when Satan is ultimately destroyed in the lake of fire (see Rev 20:10).

We find verses throughout the scriptures warning us against deception. If we are to stand before the Son of man at His return, we must be strong in our faith, unmoved in the face of what might be the strongest deception the earth has ever seen.

On one occasion Jesus' disciples asked about the signs of His second coming. Jesus begins His reply with a warning against deception.

It is quite amazing to look at the various "prophecies" concerning the return of Christ that have been floated out there over the last few centuries. Up to this point none of them have come to pass. As a result, people have been disappointed, disillusioned, and the word of God has been malinged. People have been deceived by men who could have been easily refuted if someone would have only tested them against the word of God. Therefore it becomes us to make sure that we are not deceived. Our souls, and the souls of others depend on it.

So in Matthew 24:4 Jesus says to His disciples, "See to it that no one misleads you."

Immediately He explains that many will come in His name, declaring that they are the Christ, and mislead many (verse 5). 

He then goes through the signs of the end. Wars and rumors of wars, nations rising up against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms, famines and earthquakes in various places. Note in verse 8, these are not the end, but the beginning of the birth pains!

Then severe tribulation, persecution and death, a great falling away, people betraying one another. The arrival of false prophets with more deception. Here we hear that the love of most will grow cold, but the one who endures all of this to the end will be saved.

This is the general flow of things that Jesus lays out in Matthew 24:3-14.

Jesus zeros in on the final great tribulation (3 1/2 years) leading up to His return and gathering of His elect in the next section of this chapter (Matt 24:15-31. Starting with the event that signals the start of this time of tribulation, the abomination of desolation, Jesus again describes the events leading up to His second coming. He warns of false Christ's and false prophets deceiving many. The signs and wonders performed by them will be so powerful as to mislead the elect if that is possible (Matt 24:23-24).   

This is the same thing Paul warns of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12. Note here that Paul, in his response to those who were confused about the timing of Christ's return and the gathering of the saints (rapture) tells them, "Let no one in any way deceive you." (2 Thess 2:3).

He then states that His second coming and the rapture/gathering of the elect, will not occur until after the great falling away occurs, and the man of lawlessness is revealed (the abomination of desolation). Just like Jesus, Paul does not want us to be in the dark about the events leading up to the return of Christ. When these events begin to unfold we dare not be taken by surprise, as the deception will only get worse.

And like Jesus,  Paul also tells of a time of false signs and wonders that will decieve many. Let's compare these scriptures,

"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect."

                                   Matt 24:24 NASB

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.

That is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but too pleasure in wickedness.

                          2 Thess 2:8-13 NASB

Jesus and Paul are speaking of the same thing. The revealing of the Antichrist corresponds with the abomination of desolation. This is that. He will sit in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God (2 Thess 2:3-4). This is going to be a time of great deception, as we also see in Revelation 13:11-18.

Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.

He exercises all the authority of he first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out if heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the the image of the beast to be killed.

And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to he given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

And he provides that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that if a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty six.

Here we are introduced to another beast, who is later referred to as the "false prophet" ( Rev 19:20). He operates with the same authority as the first beast or Antichrist. This period in time will be filled with all sort of miraculous signs, perhaps the most stunning will be the resurrection from the dead of the Antichrist ( see Rev 13:3). This event will cause the whole earth to follow after the beast in amazement. The false prophet, just as Jesus predicted, will perform amazing signs to deceive the world into worshipping the beast and his image. The whole economic system will be tied into this worship. It will be a line drawn in the sand so to speak, an irrevocable choice to make.

I fear that we won't be ready for this when it happens. Most Christians are not expecting to see these things unfold. As I previously stated, no one talks about this, no Sunday sermons on this topic, no midweek Bible studies. We need to understand what will someday come, perhaps in our lifetime, and prepare ourselves, by God's grace to stand firm come what may.

How can we be strong? How can we keep our focus and avoid falling into deception?

In John 8:32-32 Jesus exhorted to those who had come to believe in Him,

"If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

There is freedom in the truth. To hold the truth dear, to love it, and to put it into practice is costly, but freeing. To stand in the truth in the midst of Earth's darkest hour might cost you everything in the physical realm, but you will be spiritually free. 

There is no need to be misled. God has given us by His word, everything we need to know to make it through whatever we may face in this life. We have His Holy Spirit within us bringing to our remembrance what we need, when we need it (John 14:26). Study the word, rely on the Holy Spirit to teach you. Now is the time to prepare. Keep your lamps full of oil, and a little extra as well, for some day there might not be time to buy more ( see Matt 25:1-13).

Those who do not love the truth, but instead reject it, can expect to be deceived. In fact, God will send them a deluding influence as a judgement because they did not love the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness (2 Thess 2:10-12). People may be shocked by this, but God will not be mocked, you reap what you sow (Gal 6:7-8). At this time in history evil will have reached it's fullness. To allow yourself to fall into deception, to worship the beast and receive his mark will involve a deliberate choice to align yourself with evil. 

But again, God gives more grace, and we can depend on Him to bring us through. We have His word which is truth. By taking heed to it we can see clearly in the midst of error, and avoid the pitfalls and traps that would otherwise ensnare us.

Watch and Pray

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgement and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

                                1 Peter 4:7 NASB

If we look back at the previous verses in this chapter we read that the time past is sufficient for us to pursue a course of sensuality and self indulgence (see 1 Peter 4:1-7). This is the way the rest of the world lives, but we are no longer of this world, but seek a heavenly kingdom (John 18:14, Heb 13:14). 

In keeping with the theme of 2 Peter 3:10-11, But the day of the Lord will cone like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and it's works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness...

How then should we be living now? How should we prepare for the coming day of the Lord? As I previously have stated, we may not be the generation to see the final days of Earth's history, but yet we will all stand before God someday, so how can we be prepared for that day?

Prayer is vital to our spiritual survival. Just as the air we breath is necessary to our physical well being, prayer is necessary for our spiritual well being. Without air we die, likewise, without prayer we die.

So according to the above passage we can see that sound judgement and self control are absolutely necessary if we are to maintain a healthy prayer life. How can one be alert and focused on the spiritual realm while indulging in the flesh? 

As Christians, we are in a spiritual battle for our very souls. As we approach the end of time things can only intensify. Therefore we must be alert, and understand what is going on around us. It is time to be sober minded, and constantly bringing everything to God in prayer. I think that focused prayer is one of the hardest things for us as believers to maintain. I speak for myself here. We can be so easily distracted, the "noise" in our busy minds smothering our faith.

Jesus, in His discourse on the last days and the signs of His return, says this,

"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

for it will come up on all those that dwell on the face of all the earth.

"But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of man."

                           Luke 21:34-36 NASB

Jesus is telling us the same thing here. If we become wrapped up in the cares of life, or spend our time indulging our fleshly desires, we will be taken by surprise when the things He has foretold begin to take place. We will be blindsided when actual tribulation arrives, when deception abounds everywhere. We are to be alert, vigilant, watching, and fervently praying for the grace to stand in the face of a trial unseen yet by the world.

If we aren't alert now, how can we expect to "spring into action" when the rubber meets the road? Jesus tells us that it is by our endurance we will gain our lives (Luke 21:19). He foretells of a time when the love of many will grow cold, but the one who endures to the end will be saved (Matt 24:12-13).

In Luke 18:1-8 we have a parable that is meant to encourage persistent prayer. We are to pray and not give up, we have the promise that God will bring justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night. But here Jesus makes a statement that should cause each one of us to stop and think. "However, when the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

When Jesus comes back will He find me, you, watching, praying, trusting Him while everything is falling apart around us? That is a challenge for each one of us as we "see the day approaching."

What Will It Cost?

In keeping with my previous post, I would like to share a few more thoughts on being prepared for the final days. Again, whether we live to see the last days and return of Christ or not, we will all appear before God anyway, so we must be ready for that day 

Jesus tells us to count the cost in Luke 14:25-33. I think this is foundational for us. Just like the individual in Christ's example could not finish what he started, we need to be aware of what it means to follow Jesus. I am afraid that many make a quick decision that does not last when the going gets tough. What will you or I do when our world falls apart around us? If we have truly counted the cost, we should not be surprised when difficult times come 

I would like to focus on five things that Jesus touches on concerning the cost of discipleship.

1. Our wills

2. Our comfort 

3. Our possessions 

4. Our families 

5. Our lives 

In Mark 8:34-38 we read this,

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, " If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

"For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

                                Mark 8:34-38 NASB

1. If we are to follow Jesus, and make it all the way to the end, our wills must be surrendered to Him. We can't have a divided allegiance. Jesus won't take a part of us, and let us have the rest. There is a saying, and I don't know who said it, but it goes like this, "Either Christ is Lord of all, or He isn't Lord at all."

That is hard. But to deny ourselves means literally that. We say no to our plans, purposes, comforts, in order to follow, and do what Jesus desires us to do. To enlist in the army involves a giving up of a right to yourself to do what your commander asks of you. Likewise, we are in God's service, and it's not about us. 

In the New Testament we run into the idea of a "bond servant." Someone who had entered into this was now no longer their own. They had no plans of their own, no will of their own, no purpose other than to do their masters bidding. Ideally their master took care of their needs, but they lived for him. Likewise, a man carrying his cross is a "dead man walking." He no longer has any will of his own. It is completely out of his hands now. All of his plans are gone.

So, our wills must be surrendered. It is Jesus who is in charge, it is His will that we obey, no matter how hard it is. Of course, we can trust Him completely, as He will never leave us or forsake us. He is our helper, so we do not need to be afraid of what man may do to us (Hebrews 13:5-6).

2. Our comfort can hinder our following Jesus. Imagine being without electricity, plenty of food, a good vehicle, a nice house. You fill in the blank. What if Jesus called you to go to a place where those things were unavailable? Imagine the hardships that people all over the world now suffer for the sake of Christ. We have so much here in America. It can be hard to fathom what others go through who lack many of the things we take for granted. What we enjoy today here in the land of plenty might be gone someday. We have no guarantee what the future holds for us. Then what? 

In response to a scribe who told Jesus that he would follow Him wherever He went, Jesus said, "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head (Matt 8:18-21).

To follow Jesus we must expect hardships. We cannot let our comfortable lifestyles hinder us from going wherever Jesus leads us, and enduring whatever He allows in our lives as His disciples.

3. Our possessions can become great stumbling blocks as we follow Jesus as well. In Luke 14:33 Jesus demands the forsaking of our possessions if we are to follow Him. If we are not our own, it follows reason that our things are not our own either. How many people will turn back over a treasured possession that they refuse to give up? 

In Matthew 24:15-18 Jesus warns about the coming abomination of desolation. At that point in time in Judaea, everyone must flee, there will be no time to get your things before you go. I remember years ago, before I was saved, trying to figure out how I could last through the tribulation while holding on to some of my most treasured items. I thought Jesus command here in these verses seemed a little ridiculous. That in a nutshell is the foolishness of covetousness. Preserving your things will cost you in the end. 

There was a fire a century or so ago that wiped out several towns, not far from where I live, killing many people. The story is told of a train waiting on the tracks to take fleeing people to safety. People were coming with their things. One lady pushing a treadle sewing machine, another a piano. The fire was literally right behind them, the rails were red hot from the heat. When the abomination of desolation occurs the last thing on our minds at that point should be our possessions. Don't let your stuff anchor you to this earth.

4. We love our families, and for most of us we would do anything for them. But Jesus warns us not to let family keep us from following Him (Luke 14:26). 

This verse seems harsh to many, and Jesus doesn't want us to literally hate our families. He is making a point. Who does our allegiance belong to? A disciple wanted to bury his father first. Jesus told him to "Let the dead bury the dead. You come follow me." (Matt 8:21-22). Again, Jesus is making a point about our allegiance to him. Remember the command to honor our parents? Jesus upheld that command. We are expected to love our enemies, how much more our families! How many people have refused the call of God on their lives because they put family ahead of God? That is the point. To follow Jesus will naturally bring division to many families (Matt 10:34-39). Again, in these verses we see the concept of carrying the cross, and losing our lives for Christ. Jesus here states that if we love family more than Him we are not worthy of Him. And back up a few verses and we find that in times of persecution betrayal will come from the members of one's own household (Matt 10:21). 

5. And finally we must embrace the fact of martyrdom. We may be called to physically lay down our lives for the cause of Christ. Jesus assures us that persecution goes with discipleship (Matt 10:22-23, John 15:18-21). Millions of Christians have suffered and died for the sake of Jesus, and multitudes are yet to die in His service. In Revelation we read of "souls under the altar" who were slain because of the word of God, and the testimony they maintained (Rev 6:9). The truth is there will be a number too large to count, of people from every tongue, tribe, and nation, who will suffer and die for Jesus during the great tribulation (Rev7:9-17). Popular teaching denies this, but scripture paints a picture of those who are victorious over the beast through death, and how do they overcome this onslaught instigated ultimately by Satan?

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

                        Revelation 12:11 NASB

That is key. They did not hold their lives so dear as to renounce their faith, even when faced with death. Countless Christians have made this same choice between life and death. Compromise or faithfulness. 

It is a trustworthy statement:

For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

If we endure, we will also reign with Him; 

If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

                       2 Timothy 2:11-13 NASB

Here the choice, in the greater context of the hardships suffered by the apostle Paul, is set before us. 

So this is hard. Remember Peter? His bold declaration to die with Jesus, only to deny Him a short time later. We need to make a firm choice, but not a rash choice. Our sufficiency is not of ourselves, but our strength comes from God. 

Again, do not fear what man can do, but rely upon God. Remember that this life is temporary, and death is the doorway into the eternal. To die in Christ is to enter into an eternity with Him in glory. To live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21-23).

To sum up, now is the time to count the cost, to make our resolution to follow Christ, by God's grace, no matter what may come. When dark days are upon us, will our lamps be full, or will we be out of oil (see Matt 25:1-13). It will be hard to stand strong then, if we are not prepared now 

Our Response

I have written several posts recently about the last days. While I believe this is important information, and people need to hear it, what good is it if we don't prepare for it now? And even if this generation does not live to see these events take place, we will all eventually stand before God anyway.

Peter tells us that the day of the Lord will bring sudden destruction upon the world as we know it. In view of that, how should we be conducting ourselves now (2 Peter 3:10-11)?

We find an answer a few verses later,

But according to His promise we are looking for a new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.

                          2 Peter 3:13-14 NASB

First, let's get our focus on the eternal. This world we live in is temporary. Ever since the fall it's been wearing out. We read in Romans that the whole creation is groaning for deliverance (Romans 8:19-22). Our possessions are temporary. Nothing lasts forever, and we can't take it with us anyway. So we must come to an understanding about this reality, and look forward to a new heavens and earth, and even more than that, long for Jesus to return. Jesus is coming for those who eagerly look for Him (Heb 9:27). 

Just like a child who eats a candy bar just before supper, our hunger for Jesus can be ruined by our possessions. We can get to a place where our happiness and security is all bound up in what we have here and now. Jesus warns about this, telling us that our treasures will steal our hearts

(Matt 6:19-21).

Then, we must be found by Jesus in peace. We must be at peace with God, and also with one another. Romans 5:1 tells us that we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. He is our justification, we appropriate it through faith. However, we can get complacent and neglect keeping short accounts with Him. In 1John 1:9 we read, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If you are aware of sin in your life confess it, turn from it. Be diligent to be found in Him at peace, spotless and blameless. It's easy to get dirty in this life, therefore we are told to be diligent. Make every effort, by God's grace and strength, to live in conformity to His will and word! 

And we cannot neglect peace with our fellow man. That involves love, forgiveness, overlooking things that really don't matter. Jesus finds this so important that He has this to say about it, 

Therefore, if you presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

                            Matt 5:23-24 NASB

And in Hebrews we read this,

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

                        Hebrews 12:14 NASB

Again, peace with our fellow man is not an option. We must do what we can to maintain it. Our brother may refuse, but we need to do as much as possible on our part (Romans 12:18). 

And sanctification is another way of saying holy living. It's our growth in godliness. We who have found salvation in Christ, now must grow in that grace. We learn what pleases the Lord, and we act accordingly. 

There is so much more I could say here, but I think it will be better to take several posts and discuss how we can live now in preparation to someday meet Jesus.