Part 12

Questions Regarding Daniels’ 70th Week

“SEVENTY WEEKS (70x7 = 490 years) ARE DETERMINED (Heb., hatak, decreed) UPON THY (Daniel’s) PEOPLE (Israel) AND UPON THY HOLY CITY (Jerusalem), TO FINISH (Heb., kala, restrain) THE (Israel’s) TRANSGRESSION, and to make an end of sins, and to MAKE RECONCILIATION for INIQUITY, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Daniel 9:24)

As noted, Daniels’s 70 weeks prophecy may be properly interpreted as 490 years by considering 70 weeks X 7 days, with each day for a year = 490 years. As we will see Israel is decreed to be under Gentile captivity or rule for 490 years for good reason.  Let’s now consider some questions regarding Daniel’s 70th Week.

1) “How do you know a day can be Biblically interpreted as a year” in Daniels prophecy of the 70 weeks of years such that each day of the 70th week is a year long?

We must let the Bible interpret itself wherein a “day” is often spoken of as a “year.”

“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, EACH DAY FOR A YEAR, shall ye bear your iniquities, even (that is) FORTY YEARS…” (Num 14:34).

2) Why would God place Israel in captivity or under the rule of Gentile kingdoms for 490 years?

Israel was to be punished with Gentile rule for 490 years as repayment to the Lord for disobeying the Lord’s command to rest “the land” every seventh year, which is called a Sabbatical year.

“Then shall THE LAND [of Israel have the opportunity to] ENJOY ITS SABBATHS as long as it lies desolate (empty) and YOU ARE IN YOUR ENEMIES’ LAND; then SHALL THE LAND REST, to enjoy and receive PAYMENTS FOR ITS SABBATHS [divinely ordained for it].” (Leviticus 26:34 AMP)

Every “week” of Daniel’s 490 weeks of 7 years is a “Sabbatical week of years” ends in the seventh year called the “Sabbatical year.” This is also called the Hebrew “shmita” – occurring every seventh year or sheviit (Hebrew: שביעית, literally meaning “a seventh”. The “shmita” is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah for resting the Land of Israel (See Leviticus 26). This is still observed by some in contemporary Judaism today. (http://www.hazon.org/resource/shmita-project/) “Shmita” literally means “release of debts.”   Israel had disobeyed the Lord’s commandment to allow the land to lay fallow or at rest for 490 Sabbatical years.

Aside from Daniel’s prophecy, because Israel is currently set aside during this day grace for the Gentile “body of Christ,” the next “shmita” year would be from Oct. 4, 2014 to Sept. 22, 2015.

For its failure to obey God’s law to “rest the land,” Israel was judged and sent into captivity to allow the land to rest. The Gentile kingdoms of Babylon , Medo-Persia, Hellenistic Greece , and Rome had held Israel captive of ruled Israel for 483 years when Jesus was executed. Thus, seven of the four hundred ninety years remain. In the last seven years Israel will be under Antichrist’s rule as some form of a revived Roman empire, including its religious element called “Mystery Babylon, Mother of Harlots” (Rev 17:5).

So, just how many years and Sabbatical cycles (the 7th year) did this prophecy entail?  The Lord’s judgment upon Israel was that Israel was to be in captivity for the 70 weeks of years or 490 years (Daniel 9:1-2); each was for the Sabbatical years not kept by the people of Israel . Thus the Lord brought Israel into captivity “to make reconciliation for their iniquity (lawlessness)” (Dan. 9:24, above). This was the length of time decreed by Gabriel to Daniel for what the Lord will bring upon Israel . The 70 weeks of years of judgment are for “debt due,” and “release of debt” to the Lord for His land that supplied their sustenance.

“And them that had escaped from the sword (survived) carried he away to Babylon (CAPTIVITY); where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: 21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, UNTIL THE LAND HAD ENJOYED HER SABBATHS: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years (70 years).”(2 Chronicles 36:20-21)

The decree for Israel to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple came from the Persian King Artaxerxes. Then, as prophesied, Messiah was “cut-off” at the end of the 69th Sabbatical year, number 483. The beginning of the next and final civil 7-year cycle of Daniels prophecy appears to be on the Rosh Hashanah, which will be the “new year’s day” after the Rapture. This starts the next Sabbatical cycle of Daniel’s prophesied 70th week. This timeframe is important to establishing Christ’s 2nd coming to establish  His Kingdom, wherein there is the ultimate “rest that remaineth for the people of God (Heb 4:9).

Having completed 483 years in captivity, Daniel’s 70th week of 7 years to come will fully restore the 490 Sabbatical years that Israel took from the Lord by not allowing the land to have its Sabbath rest every seventh year. This remaining “debt” is paid in the 7-yr Tribulation judgments of Daniel’s 70th week under Antichrist’s rule. With the debt then discharged, the Lord will return to earth to reign with believing Israel , to bless the earth in His righteous Theocratic Kingdom .

After the pre-tribulation War of Gog & Magog (see Eze 38-89), Daniel specifically tells us the 70th week will begin with a “covenant” between Antichrist and Israel . This deceptive guarantee of peace and safety for Israel will mark the beginning of the 70th week, the seven-year Tribulation period.

There is no indication in Scripture regarding exactly when the Temple will be reconstructed. It may be rebuilt during the present age or at the latest during the first half of Daniel’s 70th Week. Today, even though Israel has possession of Jerusalem , they are unable to rebuild the Temple because of the presence of the Islamic Al Aksa Mosque that sits on the Temple mount. The Temple mount is a Muslim holy site (Haram al-Sharif) and because of the religious strife between the Jews and Muslims it is currently impossible to rebuild the Temple . The Bible strongly indicates there will be a Jewish Temple and “sacrifice” will be restored (v27) for a time before the time of the abomination of the “image of the Beast.”

We know from Daniel that the temple will be rebuilt and sacrifice will be reinstituted. This will be in ignorance, not having believed the real Messiah, Jesus Christ, has come and been offered already “for the sin of the world,” once and for all time. The website www.templeinstitute.org describes the ongoing preparation for the coming Temple . They have reproduced and readied the gold Menorah and other Temple elements.

The Nation Israel will continue to be a center of trouble for the world as we see today, until the Antichrist confirms his covenant of peace with Israel as prophesied in Daniel 9:27.

      “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem . 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zechariah 12:2-3)

In Isaiah 28:15-18 we see that Israel ’s false security with Antichrist’s covenant will be broken.

“And he (Antichrist) shall CONFIRM THE COVENANT WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK (7 YEARS)… and in THE MIDST OF THE WEEK (at 3-1/2 yr) he shall cause the (Temple) sacrifice and the oblation (offerings) to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even (that is) UNTIL THE CONSUMMATION (end of the age), and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27)

“Because ye (Israel) have said, WE HAVE MADE A COVENANT with DEATH, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for WE HAVE MADE LIES OUR REFUGE, and UNDER FALSEHOOD have we hid ourselves:” (Isaiah 28:15)

Israel ’s covenant with the Antichrist will not last. Antichrist will break his security covenant with Israel in the middle of the seven years. Antichrist will put an “end to sacrifice” to God offered in the newly built Temple . In a wing of the temple, the “False Prophet” will set up an image of Antichrist that will actually speak (Daniel 9:27). This will convince many to “worship the image of the Beast (Antichrist)” (Rev 3:15).

 “He (the “false prophet” Rev 16:13, 19:20) was granted power to give breath to the image of the Beast, (the coming Antichrist) that THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST should both SPEAK and cause as many as would NOT worship the image of the Beast to be killed.”  (Revelation 13:15)

“Your covenant with death (Antichrist) will be annulled (broken); your agreement with the grave will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it” (Isaiah 28:18).

“While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” DESTRUCTION WILL COME ON THEM SUDDENLY, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

The sacrilege of the image of Antichrist in the Temple being worshiped is the “abomination that causes desolation (Heb. shamem, “astonishment,” Dan 11:31, 12:11). This is a significant event because Jesus Himself gave it as a specific sign of His soon return at “the end of the age,” (below). Jesus said; “when you see the appalling sacrilege [the abomination that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place — let the reader take notice and ponder and consider and heed [this] (Matt 24:15 (AMP).

This event has been prophesied in Scripture from Isaiah to Revelation. The “Great Tribulation” occurs when the Antichrist declares that he is God, in the Temple of God , in the middle of the 7-year Tribulation. Antichrist will stop Jewish sacrifices from being offered and begin a period of unprecedented persecution of Israel known as “The Great Tribulation.”

As we detailed in the past installment, “The Great Tribulation” will last for “a time, times, and half a time” – 3-1/2 years (Daniel 7:25, 12:7; Revelation 12:14), recorded also as “42 months” in Revelation 11:2 and as 1,260 days in Revelation 11:3 and 12:6. The Great Tribulation will be a time of incredible supernatural activity on the earth and in the lives of mankind.

“The 1st resurrection” of the Old Testament believers and the Tribulation martyrs will occur at the time of the harvest, to reign on earth with Christ as “priests of God” in His Theocratic Millennial Kingdom .

“And many of them (of Israel ) that sleep in the dust of the earth (the dead and buried) SHALL AWAKE, SOME to EVERLASTING LIFE, and SOME to SHAME and EVERLASTING CONTEMPT.” (Dan 12:2)

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in THE FIRST RESURRECTION: on such the second death (in the lake of fire) hath no power, they shall be PRIESTS OF GOD and of Christ, and SHALL REIGN WITH HIM (Christ) a THOUSAND YEARS. (Rev 20:6)

In the Bible only those of the children of Israel can be referred to as “priests of God” (v6, above). The term “priests of God” is never seen in Paul’s letters to or concerning the members of “the body of Christ.”

His Jewish disciples asked Jesus “what shall be the sign of thy coming, and THE END OF THE AGE” (Matt 24:3). Their question reflects their understanding that His return would be at “the end of the age.” Jesus told them that the angelic harvesters would come with a “sickle” at “the end of the age” (Matt 13:39). They separate “the tares” (the false grains, unbelievers) to be burned, from “the wheat” (Messianic believers) taken into His “barn” (Matt 13:30). (See the page of Part 7 for more detail.) Jesus gave them several signs, warning them to “watch” or “stay alert” because of the great deception that would come in the last days.

Note by contrast, “the body of Christ” is NOT looking for any “signs,” but rather awaits “the shout” at the Rapture (1Thes 4:13-18). The Rapture of “the church, which is body of Christ” (Eph 1:22b-23a) was not among the signs since it wasn’t yet revealed. Only later did Paul receive the “revelation of the mystery,” which  includes the Rapture. “I shew you a MYSTERY; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1Cor 15:51). The “mystery” was “kept secret” (Rom 16:25) until Jesus from heaven revealed it to Paul for “the body of Christ.”

The following list includes some of the signs and events that will take place during The Great Tribulation, prior to, and at the Lord’s return. (Not necessarily in chronological order.)

1. Worldwide “rebellion” and believers “falling way” from faith in the God. (Matt 24:9-11; Dan 8:11-12)

2. The Antichrist will persecute and kill the people of God. (Revelation 12:13-17, 13:5-7, Dan 7:25)

3. A Jewish remnant will flee to what appears to be Petra in ancient Edom , in the Jordanian desert for three-and-a-half years (Revelation 12:14), out of the reach of Antichrist’s influence (Dan 11:41).

4. Angels will announce the fall of “Mystery Babylon the Great is Fallen” (Rev 18:1-2). This religious/political power will support the Antichrist, but then he will destroy her. These angels will warn the world not to worship the beast or take his “mark” (Rev 14:6-11, Matt 24:14).

5. Another beast, the “False Prophet,” is a religious leader performing great signs to deceive the world, causing the majority to worship the Antichrist and receive his “mark” or be killed. (Rev 13:11-18)    

6. “Two witnesses” will preach for 1,260 days and be killed, but then after 3-1/2 days be resurrected in the sight of the whole world, ascending to heaven, followed by a killer earthquake. (Rev 11:1-13)

7. The wrath of God will be poured out on the unbelieving and disobedient world. (Rev 16:16, 19:17-19

8. The Lord Jesus Christ will judge His people, Israel , wherein the non-believers, two thirds of Israel ’s number, will die. (Psalm 50:4-5, Jeremiah 13:7-9, Revelation 11:18).The sun, moon and stars will be darkened before the “Day of the Lord.” (Joel 2:31, Mat 24:29, Isa 13:10, Acts 2:20), perhaps by volcanic ash and/or an eclipse of some sort.

Upon Christ’s 2nd Coming to Earth

1. The “trumpet” of the Lord’s 2nd coming will sound (Matthew 24:31 and Rev 11:15). In the Bible a trumpet sounding always speaks of imminent victory. There was no trumpet at Jesus’ 1st humble coming as a lowly servant. This “trumpet” marks Christ’s return as King of kings and Lord of lords. “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev19:16).

2. Christ will come to earth from heaven and appear in “the clouds” (Matt 24:30) with His holy “angels” (v31) and with the resurrected the Old Testament saints and Tribulation martyrs (Rev 17:14, 20:6).

3. The living surviving “elect” of Israel who were preserved during the Tribulation will be gathered at His coming.

5. At His return, The Lord will stand on the Mount of Olivet it will split apart in two. On the day of the Lord’s return an earthquake will split the Mt. of Olives in two, along an East-West line (Zechariah 14:6

9). It creates a great valley through the center of Jerusalem and will immediately fill with “living waters “that shall go out from Jerusalem ” for a waterway from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea (Zech 14:8).

6. The Lord will prepare “a feast” on Mount Zion and “wipe away all tears” (Isaiah 25:6-8).

8. The Lord will separate the Tribulations surviving wheat believers from the tare non-believers, and divide the believing sheep nations from the unbelieving goat nations, judging the goats and tares with destruction by fire. (Matt 13:30, Matt 25:31-34, 46)

9. All the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord. (Revelation 11:15; 20:4-6)

10. He will rule in His Theocratic Millennial Kingdom with “the rod of iron” in righteousness. 

We’ve recounted the expected horrible judgments but there will be blessing also coming just as the light of day follows the dark of night. A Biblical “day” begins with the evening, with the darkness of night time. It is followed by the brightness of the daytime. Most people know the Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown (Gen 1:5). The darkness of the “day of the Lord” covers the whole 7-year Tribulation period, climaxing in “THE Great day of the Lord” (Zeph 1:14). The Tribulation judgments are the night side of the “day of the Lord,” while the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom age that follows are the day side of the “day of the Lord.” Christ’s return ushers in the thousand-year benevolent and righteous Theocratic Kingdom reign of Christ on the earth. Christ will eliminate most of the curse at the time of His return for the 1,000 years. He will renew and restore Israel when He reigns from the David’s throne in Jerusalem .

“Of The Increase Of His (Christ) Government and Peace There Will Be NO END. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness…FOREVER” (Isa 9:7). “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms UNDER the whole heaven will be HANDED OVER TO THE SAINTS ( Israel resurrected saints), THE PEOPLE of the Most High…” (Dan 7:27 NIV).

At Christ’s return the heavens will be ablaze with the glory and brightness of His victorious 2nd coming. He will be accompanied by millions of His holy angels and also and by the resurrected believing Old Testament and martyred Tribulation saints who will then be in their glorified spirit-bodies.

The resurrected saint’s spirits will have moved from heaven’s “paradise” to join to their newly resurrected glorified spirit-bodies, to dwell on earth where they will then co-reign with Christ in His Theocratic Millennial Kingdom… and then in the Eternal Kingdom on the New Earth.