Places, Prophecies and Political Power

in the Tribulation

Future Events, Part 5

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

© February 27, 2011

www.pastorkennedy.com

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Last week we reviewed the prophecies of many Old Testament and New Testament prophets, regarding the coming “Day of the Lord”.  Today we are looking at the predictions of the coming Tribulation through other parameters:  God’s continuing desire to focus our attention on the Middle East, and Israel in particular; and, time periods defined in the Scripture regarding this Tribulation period.  We are reviewing this so God’s people will be aware of what the Scripture says regarding this terrible time period, to affirm its reality because of specific reference to it, and to prepare themselves to “be ready” for the Lord’s coming.

Life does not consist in the abundance of the things that we possess.  The depth of meaning in our life is realized when we have a vital relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and fulfill His purpose for us in this world.  We should know what the Scripture says and be ready to give account of the Hope that is within us!  We should not be deceived by persons in cultic religions who seek to use end time prophecy to capture the hearts and minds of those who are unaware of what God says in His Word.  We need to know what the Bible says.

These prophecies were not often given for those who wrote them…but instead, for those living in the last days.  We do not know for sure, but those prophecies may have been written for us and for our enlightenment and encouragement!  That is why we are studying Future Events!

The Bible and History – The Bible and Predictive Prophecy

If a book is prescribed to be from God, but does not have accurate historical facts, it should be obvious that it is not from God.  If the record is historically accurate this accuracy gives foundational support to Biblical claims of inspiration.  The Bible has been so accurate that it has been a primary source for trustworthy historians to correlate their opinions of history, as have archeologist, for hundreds of years.  

It is one thing when worthy authors can look back on the known details of history to record accurate facts, but when prophets of God, as recorded in Scripture, look deeply into the unknown future to accurately foretell events that are to take place – predictive prophecy is something that once again reveals the certainty of the “inspiration” of the Bible, by God.  Only God, our Creator, precisely knows the future.  No other “holy book” in the world has hundreds of predictive prophecies, like the Bible.  Predictive prophecy must be fulfilled.  If there is no fulfillment, the “inspiration” of that “holy book” is considerably suspect.  The certainty of “inspiration” by God from Biblical prophecy has always been proven true and will continue to be proven so.

2 Peter 1:19–21

19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

This series on Future Events is founded squarely on our personal belief, individually and corporately as Christians, that the Bible is the Word of God and that it is accurate in its predictive prophecy…100% accurate!  From a worldly perspective, that is a bold assertion, is it not?  Eventually we will look at the prophetic book of Revelation, but let’s start with a man who, some 2,500 years ago, through the inspiration of the Spirit of God, wrote of world-shaking events well beyond his life:  the Prophet Daniel.

God’s Word to Daniel on the World’s Political Power

God evidently wants us to understand the primary events of world domination – including His coming Kingdom!

Daniel was just a young man when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and forced him into exile to Babylon.  In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign the king had a dream that brought Daniel squarely into the scope of dominant world rulers over a breadth of time, including the Last Days. 

God gave Daniel these prophecies not for himself…but possibly for us!  That is why we are studying them!

The following account is Daniel’s recounting of the king’s dream, with its interpretation, as God gave it to him.

Daniel 2:31–45

31 “You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

39 “After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

“The enormous, dazzling and awesome statue”

1.  The head of gold – The Babylon Empire under Nebuchadnezzar

2.  The chest and two arms of silver – The Media-Persia Empire which followed

3.  The mid-section - Brass/bronze – Greece’s Empire under Alexander the Great

4.  Iron legs – Rome with the Eastern and Western divisions

5.  The feet & 10 toes of Iron and Clay – End-time, “ten kings” – (from which, we will see, that three fall as the final a world leader rises).

6.  The Supernatural Kingdom of Jesus Christ breaks all other earthly kingdoms and is eternally established by God

Another Vision Given by God to Daniel

Some years later, after Daniel had become a governor in Babylon he was given another prophetic vision of the same nations and rulers who would dominate the world primarily affecting God’s chosen people.  This companion vision was similar to the two dreams that Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh – they were different in symbols (seven plump and lean cows; seven good and lean ears of corn – Gen. 41 –see verse 32), but of the same in interpretation – the two confirming the validity and certainty of the singular revelation of the coming bountiful years and severe famine.

This second vision given to Daniel, instead of identifying dominant world powers through the image of a ruling man, using different types of metals (gold, silver, brass, iron, clay and iron mixed – and the rock cut out without human help becoming a mountain that filled the whole earth), this vision portrayed the kingdoms through types of animals: 

1.  A two-horned ram (the Media-Persian Empire),

2.  A shaggy goat with a large horn, and when broken off, then four horns – representing Alexander the Great of Greece, then the four generals taking over his empire following his untimely death. 

3.  Finally, a “master of intrigue” – rising from the lineage of one of these four generals, (following the “iron” empire of Rome) in the “end times”.

Daniel 8:19–26

19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

23 “In the latter part of their reign [“latter”: Hebrew: (ʾachariyth /akh·ar·eeth/) 1a end, issue, event. 1b latter time (prophetic for future time). 1c posterity. 1d last, hindermost.Strong’s], when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

It is interesting reviewing Daniel’s prophecies because they put the Middle East in the center of God’s predictive prophecies throughout the Scripture.

1.   Places in Turmoil in Tribulation Time:  The Middle East
   

What makes the Middle East special?  What makes the Jewish nation so special?  Why is there such interest in Israel when it comes to “Future End Time Events?”

The Prophetic Restoration of Israel

There are numerous references to Israel being restored, from various captivities going through great turmoil and being blessed by God, always though, being restored to her land in the end.

The following are but a few references to this restoration of Israel to her land.  Some of these prophecies refer more specifically to Israel’s return from captivity in Babylon, but they also refer, in general I believe, to Israel’s re-inheritance of her own land as other end-time prophecies imply Israel being back in her own land (“abomination of desolation”, peace treaty, etc.) which we will see later:

Jeremiah 30:3

3 The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,’ says the Lord.”

Zechariah 8:1–8

8Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

3 This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

4 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

6 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the Lord Almighty.

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

Zechariah 10:8–10

8 I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before. 9 Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return. 10 I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them.

Ezekiel 34:14

14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

Israel becomes a Nation again – after almost 2,000 years

Following World War 2, in the fullness of time, on November 29, 1947 the United Nations General Assembly approved the resolution that led to the establishment of a Jewish State. For 1,878 years Israel had not been a nation, then on May 14, 1948 at 4 p.m., Israel declared themselves to be a nation once more.  Never before, in the history of the world, had a nation been so disbursed for such a period of time, to then be gathered together as a nation again, back to their land.  All of Jerusalem was brought under the control of the Jewish nation following the six-day war, June 5-10, 1967.

The “Budding of the Fig Tree”?

It is this amazing national rebirth that has led many Bible scholars to believe this singular event to be a fulfillment of Jesus’ enigmatic prophecy of the “budding of the fig tree”, when he was telling his disciples of the last days:

Matthew 24:32–35

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Whether or not the rebirth of Israel as a nation is a fulfillment of these words of Jesus, we do not know, but the restoration of the Jewish Nationhood should be seen as a miracle for any nation so completely scattered, for two millennia, across the face of the earth.

When we see the turmoil fomenting in the Middle East so vividly before us, we realize that these events could be the birth pains setting in place the people and places to be established before Christ’s coming.

Remember last week I gave you four reasons why the Bible tells us that there will be a Tribulation?

1.  Most Old Testament Prophets clearly prophesy of a future, terrible “Day of the Lord” (which include Tribulation horrors as well as “Christ’s Glorious and Terrible Second Coming”).

2.  Jesus Christ tells His disciples specifically of the coming of this terrible period, referring to signs spoken of by Daniel the Prophet.

3.  Multiple verses throughout Scripture point to a seven-year Tribulation.

4.  John the Apostle in the final book of the Bible, Revelation, tells us of specific events that will happen during this catastrophic Tribulation which concur with all the prophesies from Jesus and the Prophets.

1.   The Length of the Tribulation Period:  Seven Years
   

How do we know that the Tribulation period is to last seven years?  Why is this important for us? 

Because the Tribulation is given specific periods of time in Scripture, we can be assured of the reality of this coming serious world event.

Note:  Time periods used by the Jewish people are based on the lunar calendar (established on the phases of the moon).  The lunar calendar is generally estimated as having 360 days, instead of 365 days as in the Gregorian calendar.  Because of this the number of days below, are divided by 360, to establish a yearly estimate.

There are four ways that the Scripture cross-references the time period of the Tribulation:  “one week” or “one seven”, 1,260 days, 42 months, or by simply using the phrase “time, times and half a time”.  I will list the Scriptures to show you the correlation.

If you study the “lunar calendar” you will see how variable and inconsistent the days are from month to month and year by year (to include leap years, etc.) – which can be very frustrating and confusing.  So, the four depictions of this specific time in Scripture, give one a greater clarity, rather than by just using one depiction.

The primary passage that speaks to the Tribulation being a seven-year period is the prophecy given to Daniel about “70 Weeks” or “70 sevens” being decreed for Daniel’s people.

o  “70 Weeks”, Seven ‘sevens’, 62 ‘sevens’, and “one week”

Daniel 9:24–27

24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

25 “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

Without commenting on the meaning of these verses, I believe it is quite obvious that a period of “seven” is established for the Tribulation.  When Jesus was referring to the end-time event of the “Abomination that causes Desolation” in Matthew 24:15, I believe He was referring to Daniel 9:27.  This confirms to me a seven-year Tribulation period, is divided into two, 3 ½ year periods.

Daniel 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

To give more scholarly opinions on Daniel 9:20-27, I have included comments from theologians whom I respect, in the addendum, at the end of these notes.

o  1,260 days (3 ½ years)

In Revelation 12:6, 14, these 1,260 days together with “time, times and half a time” are mentioned together, which identifies what “time, times and half a time” means…3 ½ years.

Revelation 12:6

6 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

Revelation 12:14

14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.

o  Time, Times and Half a Time (3 ½ years)

Daniel 7:25

25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

Daniel 12:6–7

6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”

7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”

Daniel 12:11–12

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

The 1,290 and 1,335 days obviously identify longer time periods than the normal 3½ year, or time, times and half a time period.

o  42 months (3 ½ years)

Revelation 11:2

2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

Revelation 13:5–8

5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

o  2,300 days

Daniel 8:13–14

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?”

14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 (6.3 years) evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”

All of these days, months and years add up to one major factor:  the last half of the Tribulation period known as the Great Tribulation, Jacob’s Trouble and the time of the outpouring of God’s Wrath on the world – will be a time of distress so great it has never before been seen in the history of the world. – Just like Jesus and the prophets said!

The Tribulation period of seven years, including the last time period of three and one half years is the final stand of evil on the earth…evil incarnated into the antichrist, for his world domination and damnable mark.  It all begins with a covenant he makes with Israel (Dan. 9:27).  Half way through that seven year period, the antichrist breaks that covenant and takes over the temple (he possibly negotiated the building of the temple in the first place – at the time of the covenant).  His image is set up on a wing of the temple, the image becomes alive through the spiritistic, satanic power of the false prophet – the “abomination of desolation” is established and is now in place; the world economy and worship are consumed with the beast’s mark which is enforced on pain of death.  Three and one half years, from the setting up of the “abomination, which makes desolate”, Jesus returns in Power and Glory.

Are we preparing ourselves for God’s Eternal Kingdom?

“In the time of those kings,

the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed,

nor will it be left to another people.

It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end,

but it will itself endure forever.”

Daniel 2:44

2 Peter 3:11–13

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,

the home of righteousness.

*******

Addendum

Commentary on Daniel 9:20-27

by Dr. Warren Wiersbe

Seventy Weeks of Prophecy (9:20–27)

There was no evening sacrifice being offered in Jerusalem, but Daniel was offering himself and his prayers at the time of the evening offering (see Ps. 141:1–2), and the Angel Gabriel came to give him his answer. Daniel was concerned about Jerusalem and the holy mountain (v. 20). Would the city be restored? Would the temple be rebuilt? Would the nation ever be redeemed from sin and would righteousness ever dwell on the earth? Gabriel had all the answers for Daniel, and we find them in the famous prophecy of the “seventy weeks.”

The number seven has been stamped on Israel from the beginning. They had a Sabbath of days (Ex. 23:12), setting apart the seventh day for honoring God. They also had a sabbath of years (Lev. 25:1–7); they were to let the land lie fallow on the seventh year and give it rest. Because they broke this law, the Israelites went into captivity, one year for each sabbatical year they failed to obey God (2 Chron. 36:21; Lev. 26:33–34). They also had a “sabbath of sabbaths,” with every fiftieth year set apart as the Year of Jubilee (Lev. 25:8–17). But now Daniel was to be introduced to a new series of Sabbaths—seventy “weeks” (seven-year periods), making a total of 490 years of prophetic time for the Jews. (The word “weeks” in v. 24 is actually “sevens”—seventy sevens are determined, making 490 years.) Please note that this 490–year period of time has to do with Jerusalem and the Jews: “your people...your holy city...” (v. 24, nkjv). And God has specific purposes to fulfill in this period: the removing of sin and the bringing in of righteousness. The result will be the anointing of the most holy place in the temple, that is, the return of Jesus Christ to the earth to reign in glory from His temple in Jerusalem.

Now for the outline of the 490 years. Verse 25 tells us that the event that will trigger the 490 years is a decree (see Neh. 2:5) permitting the Jews to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. (It is interesting that the event that will trigger the last seven years of this period will be the covenant of the Antichrist to protect the Jews. We find a decree at the beginning and at the end of the 490 years.) History tells us there were four different decrees relating to Jerusalem: Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes all made decrees concerning the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 1, 6, and 7); and Artaxerxes decreed that Nehemiah could return to rebuild the walls (Neh. 2). This was in 445 B.C., and it is the decree Dan. 9:25 is talking about; it took place nearly 100 years after Daniel received the message from God. Gabriel said that there would be a total of sixty-nine weeks, seven and sixty-two, between the giving of the decree and the arrival of Messiah, the Prince, in Jerusalem (69 x 7 = 483 years). Keep in mind that “prophetic years” in the Bible are not 365 days, but 360 days long. It has been calculated by scholars that there were 483 prophetic years between the decree in 445 B.C. and the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (cf. The Coming Prince by Sir Robert Anderson, Kregel, 1967).

But Gabriel divided these 483 years into two parts—seven weeks (7 x 7 = 49 years), and sixty-two weeks (62 x 7 = 434 years). Why? Well, it took forty-nine years to rebuild Jerusalem, and this was done (as Gabriel said) “in troublesome times.” Read Nehemiah and see how difficult a task it was to restore the city. Then, 434 years later we come to Messiah, the Prince, who is “cut off” (His death on the cross) for the sins of the world. It was His death on the cross that accomplished the purposes given in v. 24. What followed His death? Did Israel accept Him and His message? No. They lied about Him, persecuted His messengers, stoned Stephen, and refused to acknowledge His kingship. What happened? Rome came and destroyed the city and wrecked the temple. The nation “cut off” Jesus Christ, so He cut them off from being a nation. Until May 14, 1948, Israel was not a free nation.

Rome is called “the people of the prince that shall come.” Who is this prince? Not “Messiah the Prince,” because that refers to Christ. “The prince that shall come” is Antichrist. He will be the leader of the restored Roman Empire. So, the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 was but an illustration of a future invasion and destruction to be led by Antichrist. This prince will make an agreement with the Jews to protect them from the other nations, and this agreement will be set for seven years. This final seven years is the completion of Daniel’s 490–year period. Between the death of Christ and the signing of this covenant you have the entire Age of the Church, a “great parenthesis” in God’s program. The 490 years are in operation only when Israel is in God’s will as God’s people. When Israel crucified Christ, she was set aside and the “prophetic clock” stopped ticking. But when the Antichrist signs his pact with Israel, then the last seven years of Daniel’s “seventy weeks” will start being fulfilled. This seven-year period is known as the Tribulation, or the time of Jacob’s trouble. It is described in Rev. 6–19.

After three and a half years, Gog and her allies will invade Palestine (see Ezek. 38–39), and God will judge them. Antichrist will invade the land, break his covenant, and set himself up as world dictator. He will stop all worship at the Jewish temple (see 2 Thes. 2) and force the world to worship him and his image. This is the abomination of desolation (see Matt. 24:15; John 5:43; Rev. 13). How will this period end? Jesus Christ will return to earth, meet the rebel armies at Armageddon, and defeat them (Rev. 19:11–21). 2

2  Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the Old Testament (Da 9:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Additional Commentary on Daniel 9:25-27

by Dr. John Walvoord and Dr. Roy Zuck

The divisions of the 70 “sevens” (9:25-27)

9:25. Important revelation was then given Daniel about the inception of this important time period and its divisions. The 70 “sevens” would begin, Gabriel said, with the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This decree was the fourth of four decrees made by Persian rulers in reference to the Jews. The first was Cyrus’ decree in 538 b.c. (2 Chron. 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; 5:13). The second was the decree of Darius I (522-486) in 520 b.c. (Ezra 6:1, 6-12). This decree actually was a confirmation of the first decree. The third was the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus (464-424) in 457 b.c. (Ezra 7:11-26). The first two decrees pertain to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and the third relates to finances for animal sacrifices at the temple. These three say nothing about the rebuilding of the city itself. Since an unwalled city was no threat to a military power, a religious temple could be rebuilt without jeopardizing the military authority of those granting permission to rebuild it. No one of these three decrees, then, was the decree that formed the beginning of the 70 sevens.

The fourth decree was also by Artaxerxes Longimanus, issued on March 5, 444 b.c. (Neh. 2:1-8). On that occasion Artaxerxes granted the Jews permission to rebuild Jerusalem’s city walls. This decree is the one referred to in Daniel 9:25.

The end or goal of the prophecy is the appearance of the Anointed One, the Ruler. This refers to Christ Himself. God the Father anointed Christ with the Spirit at the time of His water baptism (Acts 10:38), but the anointing referred to here is the anointing of Christ as the Ruler in His kingdom (cf. comments on “anoint the Most Holy” in Dan. 9:24). This prophecy of the 70 sevens, then, ends not with the First Advent of Christ, as some suggest, but rather with the Second Advent and the establishing of the millennial kingdom.

This 490-year period is divided into three segments; (a) 7 “sevens” (49 years), (b) 62 “sevens” (434 years), and (c) 1 “seven” (v. 27; 7 years). The first period of 49 years may refer to the time in which the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem, permitted by Artexerxes’ decree, was completed (444-395 b.c.). Though Nehemiah’s wall construction project took only 52 days, many years may have been needed to remove the city’s debris (after being desolate for many decades), to build adequate housing, and to rebuild the streets and a trench.

9:26a. The 62 “sevens” (434 years) extend up to the introduction of the Messiah to the nation Israel. This second period concluded on the day of the Triumphal Entry just before Christ was cut off, that is, crucified. In His Triumphal Entry, Christ, in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, officially presented Himself to the nation of Israel as the Messiah. He was evidently familiar with Daniel’s prophecy when on that occasion He said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:42).

Thus the first two segments of the important time period—the 7 sevens (49 years) and the 62 sevens (434 years)—ran consecutively with no time between them. They totaled 483 years and extended from March 5, 444 b.c. to March 30, a.d. 33. How can 444 b.c. to a.d. 33 equal 483 years? For an answer see the chart “The 483 Years in the Jewish and Gregorian Calendars.”

(For more details see Harold W. Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1977, and Alva J. McClain, Daniel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969.)

According to Daniel 9:26 the Anointed One was not “cut off” in the 70th “seven”; He was cut off after the 7 and 62 “sevens” had run their course. This means that there is an interval between the 69th and 70th “sevens.” Christ’s crucifixion, then, was in that interval, right after His Triumphal Entry, which concluded the 69th “seven.” This interval was anticipated by Christ when He prophesied the establishing of the church (Matt. 16:18). This necessitated the setting aside of the nation Israel for a season in order that His new program for the church might be instituted. Christ predicted the setting aside of the nation (Matt. 21:42-43). The present Church Age is the interval between the 69th and 70th “sevens.”

Amillenarians teach that Christ’s First Advent ministry was in the 70th “seven,” that there was no interval between the 69th and 70th “sevens,” and that the six actions predicted in Daniel 9:24 are being fulfilled today in the church. This view, however, (a) ignores the fact that verse 26 says “after the 62 sevens, ‘ “not ”in the 70th seven, ‘” (b) overlooks the fact that Christ’s ministry on earth was three and one-half years in length, not seven, and (c) ignores the fact that God’s six actions pertain to Daniel’s “people” (Israel) and His “Holy City” (Jerusalem), not the church.

When the Anointed One would be cut off, Daniel was told, he would have nothing. The word translated “cut off” is used of executing the death penalty on a criminal. Thus the prophecy clearly points to the crucifixion of Christ. At His crucifixion He would “have nothing” in the sense that Israel had rejected Him and the kingdom could not be instituted at that time. Therefore He did not then receive the royal glory as the King on David’s throne over Israel. John referred to this when he wrote, “He came to that which was His own [i.e., the throne to which He had been appointed by the Father] but His own [i.e., His own people] did not receive Him” (John 1:11). Daniel’s prophecy, then, anticipated Christ’s offer of Himself to the nation Israel as her Messiah, the nation’s rejection of Him as Messiah, and His crucifixion.

9:26b. The prophecy continues with a description of the judgment that would come on the generation that rejected the Messiah. The city which contains the sanctuary, that is, Jerusalem, would be destroyed by the people of the ruler who will come. The ruler who will come is that final head of the Roman Empire, the little horn of 7:8. It is significant that the people of the ruler, not the ruler himself, will destroy Jerusalem. Since he will be the final Roman ruler, the people of that ruler must be the Romans themselves. This, then, is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem about which Christ spoke in His ministry.

When the leaders of the nation registered their rejection of Christ by attributing His power to Beelzebub, the prince of the demons (Matt. 12:24), Christ warned that if they persisted in that view they would be guilty of sin for which there would be no forgiveness (Matt. 12:31-32). He also warned the nation that Jerusalem would be destroyed by Gentiles (Luke 21:24), that it would be desolate (Matt. 23:38), and that the destruction would be so complete that not one stone would be left on another (Matt. 24:2). This destruction was accomplished by Titus in a.d. 70 when he destroyed the city of Jerusalem and killed thousands of Jews. But that invasion, awesome as it was, did not end the nation’s sufferings, for war, Gabriel said, would continue until the end. Even though Israel was to be set aside, she would continue to suffer until the prophecies of the 70 “sevens” were completely fulfilled. Her sufferings span the entire period from the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70 to Jerusalem’s deliverance from Gentile dominion at the Second Advent of Christ.

9:27a. This verse unveils what will occur in the 70th seven years. This seven-year period will begin after the Rapture of the church (which will consummate God’s program in this present Age). The 70th “seven” will continue till the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Because Jesus said this will be a time of “great distress” (Matt. 24:21), this period is often called the Tribulation.

A significant event that will mark the beginning of this seven-year period is the confirming of a covenant. This covenant will be made with many, that is, with Daniel’s people, the nation Israel. “The ruler who will come” (Dan. 9:26) will be this covenant-maker, for that person is the antecedent of the word he in verse 27. As a yet-future ruler he will be the final head of the fourth empire (the little horn of the fourth beast, 7:8).

The covenant he will make will evidently be a peace covenant, in which he will guarantee Israel’s safety in the land. This suggests that Israel will be in her land but will be unable to defend herself for she will have lost any support she may have had previously. Therefore she will need and welcome the peacemaking role of this head of the confederation of 10 European (Roman) nations. In offering this covenant, this ruler will pose as a prince of peace, and Israel will accept his authority. But then in the middle of that “seven, ” after three and one-half years, he will break the covenant. According to 11:45, he will then move from Europe into the land of Israel.

This ruler will end . . . sacrifice and offering. This expression refers to the entire Levitical system, which suggests that Israel will have restored that system in the first half of the 70th “seven.” After this ruler gains worldwide political power, he will assume power in the religious realm as well and will cause the world to worship him (2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:8). To receive such worship, he will terminate all organized religions. Posing as the world’s rightful king and god and as Israel’s prince of peace, he will then turn against Israel and become her destroyer and defiler.

9:27b. Daniel was told that “the ruler who will come” (v. 26) will place abominations on a wing of the temple. Christ referred to this incident: “You [will] see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation” (Matt. 24:15). John wrote that the false prophet will set up an image to this ruler and that the world will be compelled to worship it (Rev. 13:14-15). But then his end will come (the end that is decreed is poured out on him). With his false prophet he will be cast into the lake of fire when Christ returns to the earth (Rev. 19:20; cf. Dan. 7:11, 26).

This covenant could not have been made or confirmed by Christ at His First Advent, as amillenarians teach, because: (a) His ministry did not last seven years, (b) His death did not stop sacrifices and offerings, (c) He did not set up “the abomination that causes desolation” (Matt. 24:15). Amillenarians suggest that Christ confirmed (in the sense of fulfilling) the Abrahamic Covenant but the Gospels give no indication He did that in His First Advent.

As stated, the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel at the beginning of the second half of the 70th “seven,” that is, it will be broken for three and one-half years. This is called “a time, times, and half a time” (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 12:14). The fact that this is the same as the three and one-half years, which in turn are equated with 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6) and with 42 months (Rev. 11:2; 13:5), means that in Jewish reckoning each month has 30 days and each year 360 days. This confirms the 360-day Jewish year used in the calculations in the chart, “The 483 Years in the Jewish and Gregorian Calendars” (near Dan. 9:26a). Since the events in the 69 sevens (vv. 24-26) were fulfilled literally, the 70th “seven,” yet unfulfilled, must likewise be fulfilled literally. 1

1 Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1:1362). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.