What is the very last sign before the end comes? It is this: the gospel of Jesus will be preached to the whole world. Listen to the exact wording from Jesus’ prophecy:
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24: 10-14
Notice the phrase, “as a witness.” Is it the preaching that is the witness or is it the people who are witness to the power of God? It is the latter! Image a world-wide spreading of the gospel which results in multitudes repenting of their sins and asking Jesus into their lives then producing the fruits of a new heart. These converted believers go out to witness and to preach. Preaching and witnessing go together otherwise; it is just a bunch of sermons.
Contrast this group with the generation existing at that time:
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then, many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24: 10-14
Just before the completion of the gospel going to the whole world, Jesus describes the generation that we now live in…
“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. “
Matthew 24:10:14
I can’t think of a better description of our society at this moment. People who are easily offended, betraying each other, hating, lawlessness, people no longer capable of loving others. Our newspapers, newscasters, movie producers, and social media confirm this to be true. Jesus said this would be the condition of society just before the end comes.
An Overly Sensitive Civilization
America and the world have become a “sensitive society.” Laws are passed, and pressure is brought to bear to force every person never to offend anyone. Will laws and protests get the desired result? No!
Political correctness has become the new commandment of lawmakers and a Godless press. Everyone’s words (especially those in the public eye) are measured, analyzed, and judged unfairly…primarily for political and power gain. Lawyers have become the ones carrying the big stick to threaten and force people back into line so no one is offended; otherwise, the offenders will risk life, property, and reputation.
Who are the ones on the list we are not to offend?
Certain Ethnicities
Sexual Preference and Gender Identification
Religious Preference, other than Christians
Rioters and Looters-Many state politicians say they are justified and should not be condemned.
Organizations with deceptive messages
People with opposite beliefs about the topic of freedom and values
Who does not make the list?
American Caucasians
Men
Heterosexuals
Traditional male and female families
Followers of Christ
Jesus said, in the last days, people would be offended and His followers would be hated:
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets (teachers) will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound,the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 34:9-14
A blessing is given to those not offended by Jesus:
“…blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Matthew 11:6
The Solution:
The solution is obvious when we consider and understand the truth about the human heart. Everyday people are born in this world who will reset the chain of sin and wickedness.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23
Jesus said the answer to our society’s ills is found only in the change of the heart…a different way of thinking and doing things:
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
If you have been born again, you will love all those on the list of the easily offended. But, generally, you won’t be loved back. You will be hated and persecuted anyway. Will that offend you?
You will see in everyone a bit of God’s image. They will be respected and loved even though you don’t agree with them. Here are our orders as followers of Christ.
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you,do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Matthew 5:44.
Can you do this?
Are you doing as Jesus instructed, or are you following the example of those easily offended….looking for ways to retaliate…to “one-up” them?
Do Not Be an Offender
We should be careful not to offend anyone if it is in our power, even in our habits. The Apostle Paul even encouraged us to not offend in things like what we eat or drink. Paul makes reference to this thought in Romans over the debate of food sacrificed to idols.
“It isgood neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” Romans 14:21
It is not God’s will for us to cause anyone to stumble, or be offended, or made weak. In another place, Paul said,
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,just as I also please allmenin allthings,not seeking my own profit, but theprofitof many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
Paul tried to “please all men in all things.” Paul was a people-pleaser! His desire was to put others above himself so “they may be saved.” Winning theological arguments or diet is not as important as winning souls.
Paul makes the point of not offending someone who invites you to dinner:
If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.
1 Corinthians 10:27
Vegetarians, can you do this? Yes! Go back to your diet the next day. Do not offend your host! A soul is more important than your food!
This was in the context of food sacrificed to idols. But, the main message is this. Don’t let your religion get in the way of saving and encouraging someone.
Christians That Offend:
Christians can be offensive in one of three ways:
Because people hate your leader, Jesus.
Because we tell them the truth about sin and its wages. (But even in this, we are to be harmless as a dove and wise as a serpent.” “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless[a] as doves.” Matthew 10:16
Because some of us are too religious, You may have heard of some people who are “so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good.” These are more interested in winning a theological debate than winning a soul for Christ. These are usually a denominationalist. They say things like, “My church is the right church, and everyone else is going to hell.” Or they are so consumed by being religious through useless forms and ceremonies to score points with other people or God Himself.
In Jesus’ day, there was a religious group who were offended by the words of Jesus over traditions:
When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
But He answered and said,“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matthew 15: 10-20
The religious people were offended because their tradition of ceremonial washing of hands before eating was ignored by Jesus and His disciples. Why? Because it was a useless act of worthless religion.
Jesus was Offended
The most striking example of someone who was truly offended yet did not retaliate was Jesus in His final hours, where he was beaten, whipped, and made fun of. Even as He was dying on the cross, he prayed for His enemies. One author described Jesus this way:
“The Savior made no murmur of complaint. His face remained calm and serene, but great drops of sweat stood upon His brow. There was no pitying hand to wipe the death dew from His face, nor words of sympathy and unchanging fidelity to stay His human heart. While the soldiers were doing their fearful work, Jesus prayed for His enemies, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” His mind passed from His own suffering to the sin of His persecutors and the terrible retribution that would be theirs. No curses were called down upon the soldiers who were handling Him so roughly. No vengeance was invoked upon the priests and rulers, who were gloating over the accomplishment of their purpose. Christ pitied them in their ignorance and guilt. He breathed only a plea for their forgiveness,—”for they know not what they do.” Desire of Ages. P. 744
My friends, we live in a sensitive society. People are easily offended. As a result, we see hatred, division, murderers, hate, and racism growing at an alarming pace!
Our best response is to try to not offend anyone
Through the power of Christ, don’t be easily offended
When we are offended, pray for our enemies:
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”
Matthew 5:44
As you see the madness of this world, don’t be down, you followers of Jesus,. Look up!
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Luke 21:28
We are one day closer to the return of Christ than we were yesterday.
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Galatians 4:4
In “THE TIME IS FULFILLED”-Part 1, a similar statement regarding the coming of Jesus and the fullness of time was presented:
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:-14-15
God knows the end from the beginning. The events of His kingdom come exactly as predicted and on-time as well. When the time was fulfilled, God sent Jesus for our salvation. A cross awaited Him. But what does “the time is fulfilled” and “fullness of time” mean? The time had come in God’s great time clock for Jesus to appear as the “Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.”
The coming of Jesus as the Messiah was predicted down to the year and the season. That prophecy is found in Daniel 9. It tells not only of His arrival on the scene as the “Anointed One” but also of His crucifixion, His keeping of the covenant, the final rejection of Jesus by His covenant people, and the acceptance of Jesus by the Gentiles.
When I first understood this prophecy exactly as God spoke it to Daniel, my faith lept! It was increased! I hope it does the same for you.
A Prophecy Sealed Until Our Day
It is likely that the theologians of Jesus’ time on earth did not know of this prophecy because God had commanded that the words be sealed up until the time of the end:
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”…And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
Daniel 12: 4, 9-10
Did you notice in the passage above the description of the people on earth during the time of the end? Does it not describe our generation exactly?
Many running to and fro, knowledge will increase. Never in earth’s history has travel been so fantastic. At the beginning of the 20th century, just over 100 years ago. Mankind could travel only as fast as a horse could take him. Then it moved to train, planes, and automobiles.
*There are 1.4 billion cars worldwide (as of 2022). There was just a handful 100 years ago. (*Hedges & Company)
Indeed, many people are running to and fro…to somewhere in the world and back either for work, pleasure, or vacations.
The prophecy also describes people made white (a metaphor for righteousness through Christ), contrasting the wicked who do not understand the times. What are they doing? They are living wickedly. They have become hedonistic (focused on pleasure, particularly sexually indulgent). No reference is required here. It is thrown in our faces everywhere and all the time.
So the prophecies were meant for our time. A society that needs proof. Perhaps your experience with Christ could use additional reasons for your faith. Let’s look at the prophecy that predicted the exact times of Jesus life upon the earth:
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Daniel 9 Explained Clearly
Let’s read it thoroughly…
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the 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.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7), and threescore (60) and two weeks (2): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
And after threescore (60) and two weeks (2) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (1): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Daniel 9: 24-27
If you count up the number in parenthesis, the sum will be 70 years mentioned at the start. There is a reason why they are split up that way i.e., 7 weeks + 60 weeks + 2 weeks + 1 week. This will be explained later. For now, let’s figure out the starting date for the 70 years.
The setting for these verses is important in understanding the prophecy. Daniel and his people (The Jews) had been taken captive by Babylon, and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and lay desolate as prophesied by Jeremiah. It was predicted by Jeremiah that they would be in captivity for 70 years!
“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
Daniel 9:2
As the 70 literal years drew near to the end, Daniel began to pray and confess his sins and the sins of the people (Verses 4-20). Then Gabriel (an angel) came and informed Daniel that he had come to
“give thee skill and understanding.”
Daniel 9:22
Then Gabriel beings to explain verses 24:27 above. But, this is part of the unexplained part of the 2300 days found in Daniel 8 (A study for another time)
From Daniel 9: 24-27 above, we observe the following:
70 weeks was given to Daniel’s people (Israelites) and the city of Jerusalem to:
Finish the transgression.
Make an end of sins.
Make reconciliation for iniquity.
Bring in everlasting righteousness.
Seal up the vision and prophecy.
Anoint the most Holy.
So God was giving the Jewish people 490 weeks to do all those things. Impossible to do on their own, but achievable under the power of a mighty God. With God’s bidding comes His ability to do it through His strength.
So let’s set this stake in the ground: The 70 weeks are given to the Jews.
An easy calculation shows that 70 weeks is 490 days (7 X 70). In Bible prophecy, the day = year principle should be used to unlock the timelines for history. The verses that support this principle can be found in the passages below:
“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 forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.”
Numbers 14:34
“And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.”
Ezekiel 4:6
God was giving the Jewish people 490 years for their assignment. During this time, he sent prophets and others to inspire and help keep them close to Him. But as one reads their story, it is quickly seen that they often went after other gods and forsook the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob…the one and only true Creator God!
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city…”
Daniel 9: 24
If we can determine where the 490 years began (with certainty), we can understand the other parts of the prophecy.
The timelines start here:
“….from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.”
Daniel 9: 25
This command to restore and build Jerusalem can be found in Ezra Chapter 7, when Artaxerxes gave the commandment in 457 BC (**See the notes at the end).
So, now that we have a starting date, let’s see where it takes us: The first stop is the coming of the Messiah, the Prince.
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince….
Daniel 9: 25
The Messiah, the Prince, can refer only to Jesus himself. He is both the Messiah and a Prince
He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
John 1:41
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
John 1:45
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
From this, we know that from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Jesus would be a certain length of time. How long?
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7), and threescore (60) and two weeks (2): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Daniel 9: 25
From 457 BC to Jesus is prophesized to be 69 weeks or 483 days, or 483 prophetical years. Let’s do some math:
Starting at 457 BC and moving through history 483 years brings us to the fall of 27 AD.
This is the date Jesus was baptized by John (anointed), and He began his ministry as the prophecy predicted. Here is an important verse in connection with Jesus’ baptism:
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:“
Matthew 3:16
A dove represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
69 weeks or 483 years of the 70 weeks or 490 years has been explained. Isn’t it comforting to know that God, through the prophet Daniel let the world know when Jesus would come on the scene?
Now let’s look at the last week or 7 years. This is where Hal Lindsey and his followers use the 7 years as a period of tribulation. They disconnect it from this timeline and attempt to run it down to the end of time after Jesus “raptures the church.”
But we will let the verses speak for themselves and maintain the timeline that is constantly demonstrated in the book of Daniel. If we keep the last week in the context of the remainder of the prophecy, as it was intended, we learn the most interesting part of this prophecy.
Daniel tells us Jesus would be cut off, after His 3 1/2 years of ministry as the Son of Man and Messiah:
“Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:….”
Daniel 9: 26
Jesus died for our sins and not for Himself. Would you not agree that this verse is a direct reference to Jesus?
But before He is cut off, he would do the following:
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,
Daniel 9:27″
Jesus was to “confirm the covenant with many for one week or 7 days, which is 7 years in prophecy. But He is “cut off” in the middle of the week or 3 1/2 days, which is 3 1/2 years in prophetic time.
Jesus’ ministry was exactly that long (3 1/2 years) before He was “cut off” or crucified on a Roman cross in 31 AD. He ministered from 27 AD to 31 AD.
As Daniel 9:27 stated, the sacrifices and oblations also ended at the time of Jesus’ death. The law of ceremonies had taught the Jewish nation about the price of sin, the sacrifice for it, and the plan of salvation. Those ceremonial laws were the school master at bringing people to Jesus and help them understand the lesson of sin, forgiveness, and grace. The School Master died forever the day Jesus died on the cross as the true Lamb of God.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:24, 25
All the festivals, drink and meat offerings, and special Sabbath days (Not the weekly Sabbath) were shadows pointing to the body of Jesus. All those had served their purpose and were fulfilled in Christ:
“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Colossians 2:17
The schoolmaster is not the ten commandments (which are eternal) as some may try to assert.
On the other side of the cross before Jesus, the people looked forward in faith to Jesus (the Messiah) and what He would do for them. All of us on this side of the cross look back in faith at what Jesus has done for us.
It is all about faith regardless of where a person stands in time.
Something extraordinary occurred at the crucifixion of Christ to demonstrate the truthfulness of the two verses above:
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Matthew 27: 50, 51
Thus ended the rounds of ceremonies and the laws put in place by Moses to teach about Jesus. Please note: These laws did not include the 10 commandments as some would assert. A study for another time.
Jesus told His disciples this:
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.“
Matthew 15: 24
By directing the priority of their mission, Jesus was “confirming the covenant” with the children of Israel during His ministry. With them, He spent most of His time. His plea for the coming Kingdom of God was a message primarily to the Jews.
He also told His disciples to do the same:
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10: 5, 6
The disciples did this for 3 1/2 more years after Jesus was “cut off” or crucified in 31 AD. The timeline takes us 3 1/2 years forward to the end of the 70 weeks or 490 years.
In the year 34 AD, some interesting things happen to mark the end of the 490 years “determined” or “cut off” for the Jewish nation:
In this year, Stephen was martyred, and Paul was converted to be the teacher to the Gentiles
“I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 1:11
A very interesting passage of scripture also marks the end of 70 weeks given to the Jews to do all those things of the covenant listed in Daniel 9. It is a point where the responsibility of carrying the gospel to the entire world is taken off the shoulders of the Jews and given to the Gentiles. It is the point where God determines who is a real Jew or seed of Abraham.
Paul and Barnabas were preaching to a large group, but were interrupted by the Jews because of the large following of the two disciples. Those religious leaders who were interrupting contradicted Paul and Barnabas and actually blasphemed God! But it is what Paul and Barnabas say that marks the Spiritual transition from Jew to Gentile.
“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13: 45, 46
The appointed people of God had failed to keep the covenant (agreement), and God turned to the Gentiles and made them heir to the promises of God:
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“
Galatians 3:29
No longer was there a distinction between literal Jew and God’s chosen people simply identified as belonging to Christ:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.“
Galatians 3:28
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 2:28, 29
So Jesus came the time was full…when the events of Daniel 9 were complete, God sent forth His Son to teach and become a sacrifice for our sins. After His resurrection and return to the Father, The anointing of the Holy Spirit was given to all who would believe Him to finish the work and proclaim to the world, “The time is fulfilled.” Jesus is coming soon, but this time, there is no succinct time line…But Jesus did give us signs and warnings. Indeed, our God is an On-time God. Below is a chart that helps explain the timelines:
Appendix-For Deeper Study
Notes about the dates described above:
Ezra has three decrees with different dates that could be used. Nehemiah has a date also. But in the decision as to which one to use, you must keep in mind the keywords of the prophecy: “the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.” There is no reference to the rebuilding the temple, although that was part of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
The four decrees are : 1.) The decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4) 2.) The decree of Darius I (Ezra 6:1-12) 3.) The decree of Artaxerxes I (Longimanuus) (Ezra 7: 12-26) 4.) The decree of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah Chapters 1 and 2)
Let’s eliminate some of the dates based on the guiding verse of Daniel 9:25
Ezra 1-gave instruction only for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Said nothing about the whole city. We can eliminate this date.
Ezra 6-simply the endorsement by Darius of the decree of Cyrus. Only mentions the building of the “house of God.” We can eliminate this date.
Ezra 7 makes provision for the complete restoration of the Jewish state, including the right to appoint magistrates and judges, hold trials, and pass and execute sentences upon violators of their own national laws. This date fits the idea of “restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2-Wording has not been preserved, but was simply a reinstatement of Artaxerxes original authorization to Ezra recorded in Ezra chapter 7.
Determination of the date of the decree: It was in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign (Ezra 7:7,8)
Biblical evidence for the 457 BC start date:
The dates for Artaxerxes’ reign are well documented in ancient sources: Greek historians, Ptolemy’s Canon The Babylonian business tablets Elephantine papyri from Egypt From the above documents, we know that Xerxes was killed in late December of 465 B.C. and the reign of Artaxerxes began at the time.
Artaxerxes Reign
Fall to Fall
First year
464/463 B.C.
Second year
463/462 B.C.
Third year
462/461 B.C.
Fourth year
461/460 B.C.
Fifth year
460/459 B.C.
Sixth year
459/458 B.C.
Seventh year
458/457 B.C.
Therefore, the seventh year of Artaxerxes, according to Jewish reckoning, extended from the fall of 458 to the fall of 457 B. C.
Note: the references in this prophecy to the destruction of the city and temple and desolations:
“….the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined… for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”
Daniel 9:27
This is not a reference to a small historical character called Antiochus or a future Anti-Christ, but to the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD as predicted by Jesus himself when he told the disciples. There has never been a temple since then and never will be!
“Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Matthew 24:2
“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not e in the winter or on the Sabbath. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
Matthew 24: 15-22
The total destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman soldiers was horrible. Many who tried to escape were crucified outside the city. At one time, the number of crosses outside the city almost made it look like a forest of trees. Those who heeded the advice of Jesus escaped the city and remained alive.
The abomination of the fourth beast of Rome made desolate the once proud city of Jerusalem. The rebellion of the Jewish nation was humbled forever.
The church of Jesus replaced the Jewish nation as His witness. Now if you are Christ’s, you are a person of the promise.
The temple and the city were destroyed, never to be rebuilt again. The next city is the Holy City, New Jerusalem, built by the Lord Himself. It will come down from heaven and set up on the new earth.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
The most important question in Revelation 6 and 7 is not the identification of the 144,000 and the Vast Multitudes. Instead, it is John’s heartfelt, but worried, inquiry:
“…who is able to stand?”
Revelation 6:17b
Why would he ask this question? For context, let’s look at John’s vision in the last few verses of Chapter 6.
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Revelation 6: 12-17
The events preceding John’s question are graphic! There is nothing to suggest the scenes are symbolic or related to anything other than the second coming of Jesus. God reveals to us, through John’s vision, the effects of the dramatic cosmic phenomenons on the earth and the lost who are alive at the second coming of Jesus:
The sky rolls back like a scroll as it prepares for the entrance of Jesus and His entourage. It is a glorious scene! The sky is filled with the glory of Jesus, the Father, and all the holy angels:
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels,…
Matthew 16:27
Every mountain and island is moved out of its place. A universal upheaval of the mountains, islands, and seas. The Old Testament prophet Amos, like John, describes the earth as trembling; swelling, heaving, and the people mourning:
Shall the land not tremble for this, And everyone mourn who dwells in it? All of it shall swell like the River, Heave and subside Like the River of Egypt.
Amos 8: 8
This scene frightens men (mankind) who think they are powerful and rich…the so-called leaders of this world. They are contrasted with the powerful King of the Universe, who is making His way back to earth many of its inhabitants are shaking and mourning because the reality of their demise has arrived.
All the lost of this world run to dark places (caves) and ask the rocks to fall on them so they won’t see the face of the Lamb. They recognize that the day of His wrath has come. The redeemed have a different response:
“Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
Isaiah 25:9
The lost ask the question: “Who is able to stand?” or, put another way, “who is able to survive the appearance and wrath of the Lamb?
Revelation Chapter 7 answers the question, “Who is able to stand?”
Author
Malachi asked a similar question:
“But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
Malachi 3:2
Many today are confused about the second coming of Jesus, but the Bible has a multitude of verses clearly describing Jesus’ appearance. It is a destructive event that every eye can see (Rev. 1:7) No one will be wondering if He is coming or has come. It is not kept a secret. His coming is like the glowing light of lightning spreading across a dark prairie shining from the east to the west.
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:27
The lighting is not about its quickness but rather the light that all can see.
The first time Jesus came to this earth, he came quietly wrapped in swaddling clothes as a babe in a manger. But the second time, he comes like a Lion, as a conquering King. God’s prophets and Apostles describe the events as cataclysmic in nature. Here are a few from both Old and New Testament prophets:
They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the Lord And the glory of His majesty When He arises to shake the earth mightily.
Isaiah 2:19
And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the Lord of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger.
Isaiah 13:13
The sun shall be turned into darkness,And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
Joel 2: 30-31
Our God shall come and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous (violent storm) all around Him.
Psalm 50:3
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (unexpected), in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
“For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi 4:1
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The Answer:
Immediately after John asks the question, “Who is able to stand?” we are shown a cosmic scene of 4 angels, on the 4 corners (North, East, South, and West), holding back 4 winds:
After these things, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, Revelation 7: 1-2
These 4 angels have the power to harm the earth and the sea or let them be harmed. So they are holding back the winds of strife until given the order to do so. But a 5th angel cries out with a loud voice.
“Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
Revelation 7: 3
This “loud voice” in Revelation is like Paul’s description of Jesus’ return Paul records a shout and the voice of the Archangel (1 Thess 4: 16)
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
1 Thess. 4:16
This 5th angel appears to be Jesus. The One in charge. But this is another study for a different time.
The Seal of God
Thee harm, or destruction towards the earth, is held back so the 5th angel, who has the “seal of the living God.” can do the work of “sealing” the servants of God in their foreheads. The forehead (or frontal lob) is the seat of human thoughts, logic, and feelings. So this is a very real work of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, although symbolically presented. The purpose of sealing is to both protect and secure the person receiving this work of God the Spirit.
The prophet Ezekiel uses the same language and work when he talked about the people of Jerusalem being marked or protected before the destruction of Jerusalem:
“…and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it
” Ezekiel 9:4
It is interesting and revealing that the ones who had the “mark” on their foreheads (symbolic mark, not literal) were those who had sad feelings about the abominations done within its walls. They had a soft and humbled heart about the troubles and sins of the people. In the last days, those whose hearts hurt over the sin of this world will likely be candidates for the sealing taking place before the Lord comes. Jesus has recreated in them a new heart of flesh and, like Jesus, they seek the lost sheep to bring salvation.
Paul often talked about the Spirit that does the work of sealing, even today. Here are a few examples:
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1: 13-14
Notice the prerequisites for being sealed with the Holy Spirit:
Hearing the word of truth. The gospel of salvation (Faith or trust comes by the hearing of the word. See Romans 10:17.)
Believing is closely related to faith but is based on substance and evidence. It is not blindly believing; It has reasons to believe. This person uses the forehead to believe God-given logic and education in the word. (Hebrews 11:1).
Trust (aka faith) is a result of hearing the word and exercising trust in Christ. Without this faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
2 Corinthians 1: 21-22
Through the work of God, we are established in Christ, sealed by the Spirit given to us. Be careful that you “assume” you cannot be unsealed. It can happen by grieving away the Holy Spirit:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4: 30
At the same time, you can be assured that the evidence of the Spirit in you is sealed by a heart that has been changed.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8: 16
This mark on the forehead speaks of ownership, as does a seal. A seal on the document often identified the owner and protected the scroll’s contents. Hot wax was dripped on the outside of the document, and a signet ring or stamp was impressed into the wax.
It is a great thing to acknowledge God as your owner. This is beautifully stated by the prophet Isaiah:
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
Isaiah 43:1
In summary, the second coming of Christ is destructive for the lost, but those who look and wait for Him have a different response of joy and praise. Those who are sealed in their foreheads are protected from the wrath of the Lamb when Jesus returns with the glory of His Father and all the Holy Angels.
You can be sealed now IF you trust God and it is demonstrated and confirmed by His Spirit in you.
But what does all this have to do with the 144,000 and the Vast Multitude? Is the 144,000 a literal number and are only 12,000 from the 12 tribes sealed and saved? If not, what is the symbolism saying to us? This we will explore next time.
Just a few weeks ago, I wrote an article entitled, “Michael-Who is He?” I showed the reasons for the belief that Michael is an allegory for the pre-incarnated Jesus. A reader who attends our Tuesday night verse-by-verse Zoom study of Danieal and Revelation asked the following question. Below is my response. I thought it might be useful to share it with everyone. I encourage your thoughts and comments.
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.: Daniel 10:13
How do we explain that it says “Michael, One of the chief princes“
Thank you Sherree for the tough question and for reading the article! The passage you cite certainly seems to point away from the assertion that Michael (mîḵā’ēl=One like God) is the pre-incarnate Jesus. It seems to contradict the many other passages that point to Jesus as the Archangel. (Chief of the angels) as discussed in my article. The phrase “one of the chief princes” would diminish Michaels’ role as archangelos the “Chief of the angels” and make Him just one of the chief leaders.
As I mentioned in the article, whether Michael is Jesus or not, our interpretation should not take away from the divinity of Christ as some people have attempted to do. Because the divinity of Christ is Biblical. It is critical in understanding the awesome sacrifice of our Creator (John 1). (Note: I plan to write an article on the divinity of Christ next.)
In my opinion and mentioned in my article, the focus should be more on the actions of Michael who “stands up for his people” (Daniel 12:1), contends with the devil (Jude 1:9), and whose voice is the sound heard at our resurrection when Jesus returns (1 Thess 4: 16-18). These actions are most important to understanding God and His character. Less important (my opinion) is the identity or name of Michael, whether it be a powerful angel or Christ Himself.
As you know, the word “Jesus” is not in the Old Testament. He appears with other names e.g.. “one like the Son of God“, “Messiah” etc., or in this case, I believe “Michael” (One like God). But I do not want to minimize the importance of words or your question. So I began a word study within the context of the chapter, and other passages regarding Michael the Archangel. I always try to keep an open mind.
CONTEXT OF PHRASE I looked a little deeper at the passage of Daniel 10:13, keeping it in its context. The most immediate context is that Michael appears again in this chapter (verse 21).
“But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me (Garbriel) against these, except Michael your prince) Daniel 10:21
This passage insinuates more exclusivity (No one) and differentiation from other princes (your prince). This is “noted in the Scripture of Truth”). Gabriel seems to point Daniel to the Scriptures for clarity. This is always the best thing to do…look at other related scripture
Continuing with context, Micahel is referred to later in Daniel 12:1
At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
As we have found in our study of Daniel’s prophecies, it is rich in symbols as in Revelation. So it is highly logical, as Charlie has pointed out that these Princes that are fighting against each other are in the spiritual realm (Eph 6:12). The Characters are in the spiritual struggle include angels (both good and bad), Christ (Michael?), and Satan (the Dragon of Revelation)
“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought”
Revelation 12:7
So context is king. It helps us with other difficult passages in the Bible (Note: you might want to read my other articles on “Context“-Shameful promotion, I know!
WORD and PHRASE STUDY But since words are important, I examined the phrase “one of the chief princes” in Hebrew to help me understand better Daniel’s description of the events in Chapter 10.
It seems that the phrase “one of” is the rub. If Jesus is Michael, this phrase “one of the chief Princes” makes Him like just one of the other “chief princes” (i.e. more than one chief). So I hope I am not straining at a gnat here 🙂 Here is the word study on the phrase you cited, please feel free to make your own conclusions.
One (‘eḥāḏ)- Translated most often as “one” (687 times), but it is often translated as “first” (36 times). It could have been translated as “First” instead of “One of”. Young’s Literal Translation agrees. It translates this passage as
“Michael, first of the chief heads, hath come in to help me,
Chief (ri’šôn)-This word appears 185 times in the Old Testament alone It has been translated “first” 129 times. The next most times it is translated elsewhere as “former” (32 times). I was expecting something related to how I understand the word chief (i.e. leader, captain, the main guy) as used elsewhere in the Bible. The main word used in Hebrew as “chief” is used 421 times in the KJV. This word in Hebrew is śar (It literally means what I was expecting (chieftain, leader). So why wouldn’t Daniel use this word?)
Princes śar-The word means what I was expecting for chief! (See above).
So with this in mind including the context. It could be interpreted as The First of the Chief Princes. This would line up with the second designation of Michael (Archangel) who is THE “chief” or leader of the angels. All other angel rankings fall below him as the leader.
Sorry to have gotten too far in the weeds. I hope this helps and does not confuse the subject further!
A former New York City Councilman, Earl Brown, wrote back in 1971, “The problem is not police corruption but a lawless society.” The New York Times, November 2, 1971
Is America being driven down the road to becoming a lawless society; a nation where laws are ignored, minimized, or rationalized away without consequence? Or have we already become a civilization of little to no morals where people do as they please without any accountability to their neighbors and God?
Recently, we have seen examples of a lawless society. There are called Permanent Autonomous Zones (PAZ). Areas of separation from laws and police within a city quickly and loosely established by a mixture of protestors and rioters.
The first such zone was established on June 8, 2020, in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle by George Floyd protestors and other people with destructive and hate-filled agendas The six city blocks and a park became a vacuum quickly filled by its new occupants after the Seattle Police Department vacated its East precinct area.
The zone had no leadership and was self-organized. So how did it all work out? Over its short history, the autonomous zone had two gun homicides and four additional shooting victims. All the identified victims were black men—precisely the demographic for whom the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) had claimed to offer protection.
CHAZ came to an end 28 days after it started when police removed barricades, arrested more than 30 people. Trucks were brought in to haul away tents and garbage. The police cited ongoing violence and public safety as the reason to end this experiment in a lawless existence.
A writer for the New York Times wrote this about the PAZ’s:
“Autonomous zones, protest camps, and intentional communities alike thrive on hard work and consensus — and can become disastrous rapidly.”
A question for this writer who seems to force positivity for such zones: Where was the “thriving,” “hard work,” and “consensus” among these camps? What good came from these lawless experiments? This statement by the NY Times writer is a practical example of the sugar-coated message of lawlessness being sent to a dying world.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
Other Autonomous Zones have attempted to follow the lead of CHAZ in Richmond, Philadelphia, and New York.
Arising at the same time are serious efforts to defund the police with the supposed goal of eliminating police brutality and racism. But whatever the ideal of such movements, the net result is fewer law enforcement officials in a time of rising lawlessness which encourages anarchism. Just to be clear, here is the Webster Definition of anarchism: “a political theory holding all forms of governmental authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups
What is next? Eliminate courts and judges?
A vast majority of citizens in the US are wise enough to see through the political attempts to fundamentally change this country to mirror their own radical ideas or to copy other countries. But they feel insecure with the irrational thinking of these people with political agendas and the move towards removing enforcement of laws protecting person and property.
American seems to be following the example of the French Revolution back in 1789 and 1799 where even God was thrown out! I recommend you read Chapter 15 of a good book called, The Great Controversy. Contact me and I will send you the link or a free paper copy.
If all that is going on in our world today were not bad enough news, it gets worse and will never get better for the country as a whole. How do I know? The Bible tells me so.
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JESUS VIEW OF LAWLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS
Webster’s dictionary describes lawlessness as “a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority.”
Lawlessness as found in the New Testament of the New King James Bible is translated from the Greek word Anomia. This word means “a condition without law.” King James often translates Anomia as “iniquity.” Both words are applicable, but lawlessness is a more understandable word for the description of our time as demonstrated in our current condition in the large cities of America.
When Jesus saw our day, he said these words:
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.Matthew 24: 12
Both lawlessness and iniquity as described in the Bible is sin in the eyes of God. Sin is defined as the “transgression of the law.” 1 John 3: 4
Our society is becoming dangerous for its citizens especially those in large cities. It will only get more lawless as time goes on. This is according to the One who is our Creator and Savior.
But here is where it gets interesting. Just as the anarchists want a society without law, a good deal of the churches are doing the same thing and turning their back of God’s eternal law of Ten Commandments.
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Did God Ever Intend For The Church To Make His Church Lawless By Doing Away With The Moral Law?
While the laws of the land cover protection of people and their personal belongings, God’s law includes matters of the heart, put are made evident by a person’s actions. Often the laws of the land intersect with God’s moral law. Both are designed to protect others and bring happiness.
The last six commandments are borrowed from God and modified for most societies in some capacity. These deal with the second table of the Ten Commandments which spell out how we are to relate to our fellow humans. They are meant to provide protection and His will for us in getting along with each other.
The first four of the commandments are different and are not part of the man’s civil law and never should be because it deals with man’s relationship with God. Freedom of religion prohibits the state’s enforcement of these laws.
The Ten Commandments also identify what God calls sin.
Sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3: 4 KJ
The New King James Version rightly calls sin, lawlessness. A condition without law. When a person ignores the laws of the land or attempts to abolish them they are considered anarchists. The same can apply to the church.
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
1 John 3: 4
Unlike society, God holds people accountable for unrepentant sin or lawlessness even for those in the church who appear on the outside to be righteous:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 7:21-23(NKJV)
Wow! People who are prophets and healers can be lost because of two things: they don’t do the will of God and they don’t know Him!
What is God’s will? The last words from Solomon in Ecclesiastes tell us succinctly:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ecclesiastes 12: 14
God is clear that He is to be respected and with a certain amount of fear of the consequences for disowning Him. Also, we are to keep His commandments.
How can we know that we know Him?
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2: 3,4
Many church members cringe at the phrase, “keep His commandments.” It sounds so legalistic. Some churches have attempted to make the church lawless by saying things like the following and supply a few misunderstood verses while overlooking many. It is like crawling over dollars to get to a penny. They will say things like:
“The Law has been done away with.”
“Christ nailed the law to the cross.”
“We are under grace not under law.“
“We are New Testament Christians. We don’t have to keep the commandments.” It was for the Jews only.
“We can’t keep the law.”
Jesus kept the law for us. We don’t have to keep the law.”
We will talk about these in part 2 next time, but I do want to talk about the one that the Ten Commandments were done away with by his nailing them to the cross. Were they?
We Are Saved By Grace Through Faith Alone. It is a Gift!
No doubt it is clear from the entire Bible (OT included) that we are saved from eternal death because of God the Father’s amazing grace and love for His creation. It is extended to us through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus and it is our option to believe (faith).
We cannot simply nail the Ten Commandments on the wall then grunt and sweat our way into heaven. We would never be worthy enough. One of the clearest Bible texts on this topic was provided to us by Paul:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2: 8,9
With so much emphasis on grace and faith, the baby is sometimes thrown out with the bathwater when obedience and the Ten Commandments are mentioned. A very clear statement from Paul, James, and Jesus clarify things for us:
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 3:31
Notice there was evidently the argument in Paul’s day that faith replaced the necessity for God’s law. He argues the opposite. Faith and law go together. It is a faith that works! They don’t eliminate each other. James clarifies further:
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2:18
James confirms the union of faith and works (obedience included). Works and obedience are evidence of real faith. The first work, or act of obedience, a new Christian performs is baptism. After repenting and being born again the new follower obeys the commandment of Jesus and His apostles by being publicly baptized. Why? Because the Bible tells us so and we have a desire put in our hearts to follow Jesus which includes obedience. We don’t obey in order to be saved, but because we are saved.
Jesus, the spotless lamb of God was not baptized for us, so we don’t have to do it; He did it as an example for us.
Finally, we cannot blame Jesus’ for eliminating the Ten Commandments or any other commandment by Him and His Father:
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 17-19
We still have heaven and earth, therefore not one jot (smallest letter) or tittle (smallest stroke of a letter) has been altered by Jesus. He goes on further to reveal His displeasure of those who break one of the least of the commandments and teach men to do so.
What commandment would you think you could change or alter? None! Jesus didn’t change even the smallest letter!
Nailed to The Cross?
So why has the church tried to “do away” with the law? It is a misunderstanding of certain passages and not understanding how obedience connects with Grace and Faith. Here is the most popular verse used to render the church lawless:
“…Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Colossians 2: 14
If you start at the beginning of this chapter, you see Paul talking about spiritual circumcision (without hands) comparing with baptism and the resurrection of those who were “dead in… transgressions”.
Circumcision and baptism are not part of the Ten Commandments. The question is what is the “handwriting of ordinances (requirements) that was contrary (against) us?”
Let’ s get our answer from scripture:
The keywords are “handwriting“, “ordinances”, “against us”. A few questions to start: Are ordinances the Ten Commandments? Are they against us?
When we go back to when Moses on the mountain, God gave Moses two at least two sets of laws: 1.) The Ten commandments which were written on stone by the finger of God, and 2.) Ordinances that Moses wrote down with his own finger.
The Ten Commandments were so important that God wrote them clearly with His own finger on stone. Moses wrote the law contained in ordinances with his own hand on parchment and was told to put them beside the Ark while the Ten Commandments were put in the Ark. Two different sets of laws, written by two different entities and placed in two different places on two different mediums i.e. rock and a book.
Let’s look at the appropriate passages to end this study:
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Exodus 31:18
So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying: “Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; Deuteronomy 31: 24-26
Did you notice that this book was a “witness against you.” The handwriting (Moses) was “against us.” The Ten Commandments did not need a book; it needs only two tablets and can be read in a matter of a few minutes.
The whole “book” of the law was to be read every seven years:
And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years,…you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Deuteronomy 31: 10, 11
Conversely, the Ten Commandments were to be constantly before the people and in their hearts;
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up Deuteronomy 6: 6, 7
So from this we can see that the handwriting of ordinances that were against us and nailed that to the cross, not the law that is called the law of liberty by James. By this standard all people will be judged:
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. James 2: 10-12
In summary: A society that is lawless can be found on the streets of America and even in our churches! This is a sign of the end! God’s law will be a sign of those who belong to Him and the object of Satan’s wrath in the final days:
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Last time, our topic was “A Sensitive Society-A Sign of The End.”
We discovered from the prophecies of Jesus that society in the last days would be “sensitive” or easily offended. Here is the prophecy. It reads like today’s news:
“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24: 10-14
Notice the order of the underlined words: The condition of society opens them up to false prophets (teachers) and deception abounds. This is where we find ourselves in 2020. Sadly, this deception includes both the political and the church. Why? The prophet Hosea gives us a direct answer.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you
Hoseah 4:6
Today, we have a lot of information, but not much truth. The source of truth is rejected because it goes contrary to our feelings and our desires. Can anyone with eyes and ears not see Jesus is right? All we have to do is look at our TVs, newspapers, movies, social media….and, yes, even in the pulpits of our churches? The church will become less and less exempt from such feelings. Revelation tells us the worldwide religious society is moving towards a false church and a pure church. Another topic for another time.
All of these traits of the last-day people are because of selfishness and ungodly pride. It is all about “me.” On the other hand, for the sincere born-again follower of Jesus, it is not about you, but about others. You are driven to serve others and lead them to know the Jesus you know and the truth of God’s word.
Before we go on, an observation must be pointed out. Have you ever heard someone say, “These signs have always been around.” It is true, these characteristics of society have always been on planet earth. Our society is not unique to these sins. So, why make a big deal about these signs.
The difference is the scope and intensity. Our day is saturated with these sins and they are highly visible. Never has a generation had the information and ability to see and observe sin in action worldwide or the tools to quickly spread lies and deceit. The world has shrunk to the size of a smartphone. What generation of the past has been so immersed in sight, sound, and taste? Today’s highly paid and educated marketers and politicians use the science of understanding people’s desires and triggers to effectively sell their products and manipulate ideologies and worldviews of the masses.
The other day, I pulled up to a gas pump. When I inserted my debit card and began to pump gas, I was startled by the sound of a TV screen behind me; spouting out news and trying to get me to go in the store and buy something. Everywhere we turn, we see signs and hear the sounds of voices manipulating us. This is not a conspiracy theory, it is the fact of everyday modern life in a consumer society.
Before our time, communication was limited to mouth, mail, and manuscripts. Even in my youth, there were none of the devices that are taken for granted. My Grandfather and Grandmother could not Image an entire library of information and entertainment in your hand! Nor could they image a cashless society, banking on a phone or computer, nor travel in space; not to mention hundreds of TV channels (They had three channels and rabbit ears to get reception on their black and white TVs.)
Our youth’s “deep thinking” often goes no higher than the downward pose to their phone, tablet, or computer.
The availability of distraction and sin can not be found in any other age. Violence, death, perverted sex is now personal private entertainment for almost every age. As a society, we are not getting any better despite laws and the rhetoric of politicians. Paul put it this way:
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:13
To help us better understand why the signs of the end are more relevant to our current society, lets look at another prophecy of Jesus. He compares the generation before He comes with the days of Noah.
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Luke 17: 26-27
The eating, drinking, marriage, sounds no different than any other generation until you consider the context as recorded in Genesis:
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intentof the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (all day long). Genesis 6:5
All of these good things were taken to excess and became the main focus of life. Rich food, alcohol, and many wives. Instead of working to make a marriage work, they simply discarded their spouse like an empty wine bottle and got another sweeter tasting wine. The word “continually” is the Hebrew word for “all day.” Sin and evil were constantly on their mind all day long. From the time they rose until they went to sleep at night.
The marriage ceremony has always been a respected institution created by God for one man and one woman. It the year 2020, it is trivialized away and twisted into a political debate, political correctness, and fodder for confrontation and hatred.
So yes, sin, earthquakes, wars described by Jesus as the signs of our times have always been around, but like a woman in labor, the pains come faster and more consistent before the baby is born. So it is in our days. Our society is saturated with sins and at the same time ignoring and drifting further from God until the conscience is seared and the thoughts are evil every day.
________
Now let’s listen to what Paul said would be the escalated trademark sins of the last day.
But know this, that in the last days perilous (stressful) times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,unholy, unloving, unforgiving,slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. … always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth…”
2 Timothy 3: 1-7
Did you notice all of them have to do with selfishness? It is all about “me.” The focus of these sins is all about living with the thought of eating, drinking, and being merry…for tomorrow we die. 1 Corinthians 15:2. All of this is done to excess because that is their only reward on this earth. The reward for the follower of Christ comes when Jesus comes back:
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me.”
Revelation 22:12
These verses will be our focus next week. But today, I want to focus on one.
Perilous (Stressful times):
Our modern stress is unique from Noah’s day because of a couple of things:
Constantly Being Connected. Our phones remind us when news headlines pop us. Facebook, Twitter, TV’s scream out and make us aware of every bad thing that is happening and in an instant. Our minds are focused on the dictates of the screen. Often we find ourselves stressing over the negative, problems, and finding relief in the trivial. We are being taught how to hate and distance ourselves from those who don’t think as we do. The news and social media are full of deceptions for a society that wants quick simple answers that fit with their worldview.
What would it feel like if you were to detox yourself from all these devices and disconnect? But, let’s go further. How would you respond if you began to focus or think about things that are positive?
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8,9
What if you practiced this? Do you think your thoughts would change?
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.
Psalm 101: 3
Despite all these signs, there is hope for the one who wants it. For the one who desires peace, joy, and truth. Regardless of your particular sin, God is able to save you to the uttermost. Though your sin be as red as scarlet, His righteousness and power can make your sins go away.
I will end with an important verse. This passage in 1 Corinthians starts out with what we call negative thoughts but ends with beautiful encouragement in Christ.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11
All of these sins are equal. They all will end in eternal death. But the people who once practiced them no longer indulge in them! All community churches are made of people who were once vile sinners but have repented and turned from their sins. Jesus is able to save us from both the penalty of sin AND the power of sin. We can be washed clean!
Want to be washed? Call on the name of the Lord and His word!
Jesus’ last church on earth will be washed by His word
…He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, Ephesians 5: 26
Bad news ends in good news for those who want it. The most powerful testimony that God’s word is truth is a transformed life.
There are many books and Hollywood-type movies about the rapture and end-time events. This material is impressively presented using modern entertainment production methods, but the producers take liberties with the truth of God’s word. It has led many Christians to believe and put their faith in books and movies rather than the plain teachings of God’s word.
The modern scenarios taught regarding the return of Jesus, the time of trouble, the anti-christ, the millennium are new to the Christian church. These popular teachings of Jesus return we not taught until recently. The early church and teachers since the availability of the Bible to the public have not taught anything but the simple Biblical teachings concerning the return of Jesus and the end-time events
Today’s movie producers include a 7 year period of tribulation initiated by the “rapture” of the church being “caught up” to heaven and Israel’s agreement with the Anti-Christ. It gives the Christian the warm feeling of avoiding any uncomfortable situations on earth before Jesus comes.
Contrary to the Bible the authors and producers split the coming of Jesus into two parts. According to them, the unprepared (including the Jewish nation) remain on the earth to endure the “time of trouble” for a second shot at salvation. During this time there are terrible events on earth, unlike anything that has ever been seen. At some point of these several years, the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” finally accept Jesus as a nation and go about evangelizing the world in preparation for the return of Christ. They present a part “A” of the return of Jesus. Part “A” is Jesus coming for His church before the 7 years of tribulation. Part “B” is the “glorious return” at the end of the 7 years where “every eye” will see Him.
These popular views are based on erroneous interpretations of Daniel, particularly Daniel 9, the plain teachings about the return of Christ; and a misunderstanding of most of Revelation.
When Jesus was asked about the signs of His coming, the first words out of His mouth were a warning to watch out for deception:
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
Matthew 24: 3-4
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In this study, we will look at the 70-week prophecy of Daniel and the core message which is primarily a warning to Israel to prepare for the first coming of Jesus. This is a wonderful study that gives historically accurate times lines for the coming and mission of Jesus.
As I studied my way out of atheism, this prophecy helped me understand Jesus was all that the prophets, the disciples, and Jesus Himself claimed to be. It will reveal the mercy and love extended to rebellious Israel and give evidence for your faith in Jesus. The events proclaimed here were made hundreds of years before Jesus appeared on the banks of Jordan to be baptized by John and begin His earthly ministry.
As we read the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 and compare it with actual history and Biblically documented historical dates. We will discover the power of this prophecy written almost 500 years before Jesus and we will understand more about Israel and end time events!
Please follow closely. When we are finished, I recommend you verify the dates at your local library or other resources. Beware of the confusion of the internet. Also, I have included a chart at the end in the “Appendix” to make these dates easier to see and follow. There are also other helpful references.
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the 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.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7), and threescore (60) and two weeks (2): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
And after threescore (60) and two weeks (2) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (1): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Daniel 9: 24-27
If you count up the number in parenthesis, you will have the 70 years mentioned at the start. There is a reason why they are split up that way. I will not go into those historical reasons in this writing.
The setting for these verses is important in understanding the prophecy. Daniel and his people (The Jews) had been taken captive by Babylon and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and lay desolate as prophesied by Jeremiah. It was predicted by Jeremiah that they would be in captivity for 70 years!
“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
Daniel 9:2
As the 70 years drew near to the end, Daniel began to pray and confess his sins and the sins of the people (Verses 4-20). Then Gabriel (an angel) came and informed Daniel that he had come to
“give thee skill and understanding.”
Daniel 9:22
Then Gabriel gives the vision as stated in Verses 24-27 above. This is the skill and understanding Daniel needed other than simply knowing the Jews would soon be freed after 70 years of captivity.
From Daniel 9: 24-27 above, we observe the following:
70 weeks was given to Daniels people (Israelites) and the city of Jerusalem to:
Finish the transgression
Make an end of sins
Make reconciliation for iniquity
Bring in everlasting righteousness
Seal up the vision and prophecy
Anoint the most Holy
So God was giving the Jewish people 70 weeks or 490 days to do all those things; ending with anointing the most Holy. We shall see that the anointing of the most Holy is not in regards to the apartment in the sanctuary necessarily, but the Holy One of God-Jesus
The 70 weeks given to the Jews are calculated in the verses in sections:
threescore (60) and
two weeks (2)
7 weeks (7) and
1 week (1)
Quick addition shows this is 70 weeks or 490 days (7 X 70). But in Bible prophecy, the day = year principle should be used to unlock the timelines for history. The verses that support this principle can be found in the passages below:
“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 forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.”
Numbers 14:34
“And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.”
Ezekiel 4:6
God gave the Jewish people 490 years for their assignment. During this time, he sent prophets and others to inspire and help keep them close to him. But as one reads their story, it is quickly seen that they often went after other gods and forsook the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob…the one and only true Creator God!
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city…”
Daniel 9: 24
If we can determine where the 490 years began (with certainty) we can understand the other parts of the prophecy.
The timelines start here:
“….from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem”
Daniel 9: 25
This chart should help in the understanding of the prophecy lines.
The glorious temple of Solomon had been leveled by the Babylonians when they conquered Israel. King Nebuchadnezzar’s army took captives to Babylon including young Daniel and his friends. But, at the end of the literal 70 years, a command would be given to restore and build Jerusalem. The actual command is found in Ezra Chapter 7 when Artaxerxes gave the commandment in 457 BC (See the **notes at the end).
So, now that we have a starting date, let’s see where it takes us: The first stop is the coming of the Messiah the Prince
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince…
Daniel 9: 25
The Messiah the Prince can refer only to Jesus himself. He is both the Messiah and a Prince
He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, Wehavefound the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
John 1:41
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, Wehavefound him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
John 1:45
“For unto us a child is born, unto us, a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
So we know that from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Jesus would be a certain length of time. How long?
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7), and threescore (60) and two weeks (2): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
From 457 to Jesus is 69 weeks or 483 days or 483 prophetical years. Let’s do some math:
Starting at 457 BC and moving through history 483 years brings us to the fall of 27 AD
This is the date Jesus was baptized by John (anointed) and he began his ministry as the prophecy predicted. Here is an important verse in connection with Jesus’ baptism:
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:“
Matthew 3:16
A dove represents anointing.
Another interesting passage that makes sense in the light of Jesus beginning his ministry exactly on time according to Daniel’s prophecy some 500 years before Jesus is this one:
“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sentforthhisSon…”
Galatians 4:4
The time was “full.” In other words, Jesus came to this earth and began his ministry right on time. It may be possible that this quote is in reference to this particular prophecy. Whatever the case, we know that God knows the future and will not do anything unless he reveals it by his prophets:
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7
69 weeks or 483 years of the 70 weeks or 490 years has been explained. Isn’t it comforting to know that God, through the prophet Daniel let the world know when Jesus would come on the scene?
Now let’s look at the last week or 7 years. This is where Hal Lindsey and his followers use the 7 years as a period of tribulation. They disconnect it from this timeline and attempt to run it down to the end of time after Jesus “raptures the church.” But we are going to let the verses speak for themselves. We will keep the last week on the timeline as intended. If we do, we learn the most interesting part of this prophecy.
Daniel tells us after Jesus began his ministry that Jesus would be cut off:
“Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:….”
Daniel 9: 26
But before He is cut off he would do the following:
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,
Daniel 9:27″
Jesus was to “confirm the covenant with many for 1 week or 7 days which is 7 years in prophecy. But He is “cut off” in the middle of the week or 3 1/2 days or 3 1/2 years
Jesus ministry was exactly that long (3 1/2 years) before He was “cut off” or crucified on a Roman cross in 31 AD. He ministered from 27 AD to 31 AD.
As Daniel 9:27 stated, the sacrifices and oblations also ended at the time of Jesus’ death. The law of ceremonies had served their purpose of teaching the Jewish nation about the price of sin, the sacrifice for it, and the plan of salvation. Those ceremonial laws were the School Master to bring people to Jesus and help them understand the lesson of sin, forgiveness, and grace. The School Master died forever the day Jesus died on the cross as the true Lamb of God.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:24, 25
All the festivals, drink and meat offerings, and special Sabbath days (Not the weekly Sabbath) were shadows pointing to the body of Jesus. All those had served their purpose and were fulfilled in Christ:
“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Colossians 2:17
On the other side of the cross, the people looked forward in faith to Jesus (the Messiah) and what He would do for them. All of us on this side of the cross look back in faith at what Jesus has done for us.
Something extraordinary occurred at the crucifixion of Christ to demonstrate the truthfulness of the two verses above:
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Matthew 27: 50, 51
Thus ended the rounds of ceremonies and the laws put in place by Moses to teach about Jesus. Please note: These laws did not include the 10 commandments as some would assert. A study for another time.
Jesus told His disciples this:
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.“
Matthew 15: 24
Jesus was “confirming the covenant” with the children of Israel during His ministry. With them, he spent most of His time. His plea of the coming Kingdom of God was a message primarily to the Jews.
He also told His disciples to do the same:
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10: 5, 6
This the disciples did for 3 1/2 more years after Jesus was “cut off” or crucified in 31 AD.
This takes us 3 1/2 years forward to the end of the 70 weeks or 490 years.
In the year 34 AD some interesting things happen to mark the end of the 490 years “determined” or given unto the Jewish nation:
In this year Stephen was martyred and Paul was converted to be the teacher to the Gentiles
“I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 1:11
A very interesting passage of scripture also marks the end of 70 weeks given to the Jews to do all those things of the covenant listed in Daniel 9. It is a point where the burden of carrying the gospel to the entire world is taken off the shoulders of the Jews and given to the Gentiles. It is the point where God determines who is a real Jew or seed of Abraham.
Paul and Barnabas were preaching to a large group but were interrupted by the Jews because of the large following of the two disciples. Those religious leaders who were interrupting contradicted Paul and Barnabas and actually blasphemed God! But it is what Paul and Barnabas say that marks the transition from Jew to Gentile or Spiritual Jew:
“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13: 45, 46
The appointed people of God had failed to keep the covenant (agreement) and God turned to the Gentiles and made them heir to the promises of God:
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“
Galatians 3:29
No longer was there a distinction between literal Jew and the God’s chosen people simply identified as belonging to Christ:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.“
Galatians 3:28
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 2:28, 29
Thus the 70-week prophecy came to an end! There is no room or context in the prophecy for 7 years of tribulation or the Anti Christ. It is simply not there. To try to force it takes away from a beautiful and important part of the ministry of Christ.
While Hal Lindsey has everyone looking at Jerusalem for the rebuilding of the temple to mark the soon return of Jesus, the Anti Christ is at work elsewhere in the world. this we will see in future studies. This is so deceptive that almost the whole world is taken in. What a great diversion by the enemy of mankind!
In conclusion, the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9 is mishandled to try and support 7 years of tribulation at the end of time and the work of the Anti Christ. If the prophecy is kept in its context, it becomes a prophecy to support Jesus as the Messiah, his crucifixion, the spread of the gospel, and God’s long-suffering with the lost sheep of the house of Israel!
Again, the summary chart of the dates demonstrate the accuracy of the events we have discussed above:
Below is information if you want more detail otherwise I hope this prophecy helped you see how God is in control.
*Notes about the dates described above:
Ezra has three decrees with different dates that could be used. Nehemiah has a date also. But the decision as to which one to use, you must keep in mind the key words of the prophecy: “the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.”
The four decrees are :
The decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4)
The decree of Darius I (Ezra 6:1-12)
The decree of Artaxerxes I (Longimanuus) (Ezra 7: 12-26)
The decree of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah Chapters 1 and 2)
Let’s eliminate some of the dates based on the guiding verse of Daniel 9:25
Ezra 1-gave instruction only for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Said nothing about the whole city. We can eliminate this date.
Ezra 6-simply the endorsement by Darius of the decree of Cyrus. Only mentions the building of the “house of God.” We can eliminate this date.
Ezra 7 makes provision for complete restoration of the Jewish state, including the right to appoint magistrates and judges, hold trials, and pass and execute sentence upon violators of the own national laws. This is the date that fits the idea of “restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2-Wording has not been preserved, but was simply a reinstatement of Artaxerxes original authorization to Ezra recorded in Ezra chapter 7.
Determination of the date of the decree: It was in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign (Ezra 7:7,8)
Biblical evidence for the 457 BC start date:
The dates for Artaxerxes reign are well documented in the ancient sources: Greek historians, Ptolemy’s Canon
The Babylonian business tablets
Elephantine papyri from Egypt
From the above documents, we know that Xerxes was killed in late December of 465 B.C. and the reign of Artaxerxes began at the time.
Artaxerxes Reign
Fall to Fall
First year
464/463 B.C.
Second year
463/462 B.C.
Third year
462/461 B.C.
Fourth year
461/460 B.C.
Fifth year
460/459 B.C.
Sixth year
459/458 B.C.
Seventh year
458/457 B.C.
Therefore, the seventh year of Artaxerxes, according to Jewish reckoning, extended from the fall of 458 to the fall of 457 B. C.
Note: the references in this prophecy to the destruction of the city and temple and desolations:
“….the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined… for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”
Daniel 9:27
This is not referenced to a small historical character called Antiochus or a future Anti-Christ, but to the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD as predicted by Jesus himself when he told the disciples. There has never been a temple since then and never will be!
“Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Matthew 24:2
“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
Matthew 24: 15-22
The total destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman soldiers was horrible. Many who tried to escape were crucified outside the city. At one time, the number of crosses outside the city almost made it look like a forest of trees. Those who heeded the advice of Jesus escaped the city and remained alive.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bearthem now.”
John 16:12
In the revelation of truth, Jesus was patient and gentle with the disciples., but often He had to be plain spoken because the times and events dictated such.
I think of this verse and the Savior’s methods of dealing with men, women, and children. I especially think of it when I approach the topic you are about to read. For some people, this will not be the right time to hear this; for others, it will be light upon their path and it will make sense to them. Wherever you are in your Jesus journey, remember that truth is not dangerous. It will bring freedom and peace to your soul:
Jesus said,
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:16
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalm 119: 105
I encourage you to prayerfully check to see if what I am writing is true when compared with the scriptures and the historical references.
One of the reasons I know the Bible is true and that its writers are honest is because they do not try to sugar coat the bad stuff. We live in a world where the bad stuff is often kept secret. Advertisers would never talk about the negatives of their product. If they are forced to do so (medicine for example), it comes in the form of a palatable soothing monotone voice to minimize the impact.
Being politically correct is no longer an option. It is a requirement in our society. But, in the Bible, God tells it like it is; it is not politically correct. That is why many who would quote the words, even in a caring loving manner are considered uncaring and maybe even a bigot. Many people don’t like what they hear from God’s word, but that does not change what is true.
Then, there is the matter of rightly handling the word of truth. Often those who would teach or speak God’s word will do so in error, conjecture, or poor interpretation. Then, throw in the work of the enemy to pervert truth and we have a world of confusion, anger, and distrust.
Before I begin this difficult study, please read the material with the desire to know the truth and a prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I try to use as many scriptures as possible to reveal the gems of truth that lies within its pages. This is a difficult topic, but it is the truth. Truth is not always found on the main highway but lies along the narrow path. It is not on the lips of the majority but in the hearts of a few who seek it with all their heart. Jesus and His word is the “pearl of great price.”
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
Daniel saw some things that disturbed him greatly and it caused him to be sick. I can identify with him. Truth is not always comfortable, but it will always bring a peace that passes understanding. Truth will increase your faith and trust in the God who made you and all creation.
“Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
Daniel 7: 19 – 20
Daniel seems to be clear about the three beasts of this chapter and what they represented because his only interest after his vision was to know about the 4th beast and particularly the strange looking little horn that came up out of the 4th beast.
Shouldn’t we want to know the truth about the fourth beast and the horn? Can we know the truth? Yes, we can! How do we know? Because the angel comes back and explains them to Daniel.
I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
Daniel 7:16
While much of the vision is yet future for Daniel, we can see his future in the interpretation and it will help us understand the basis for interpreting our future!
This 4th beast was different from the others. What does that mean? First of all, this beast so so different that Daniel could not find anything in nature such as the lion, the bear, and the leopard to represent its appearance nor its character.
If one thinks about it, Daniel could easily understand how the Lion with two wings and the Bear with three ribs could represent Babylon and the Medes/Persian empire because he lived during the fall and rise of Babylon. He also lived to see the Medes and Persians begin to become a world power. But Greece was yet to appear as was the 4th kingdom of Rome and the little horn power.
Fulfilled prophecy is more clearly understood as one looks back. Wouldn’t you agree? The fulfillment of prophecies past is the basis for the principles involved in interpreting those parts of the prophecy yet future. The fulfilled prophecies of Daniel were so accurate that many attempt to put Daniel’s vision at a later point so it becomes history rather than the divine hand of God moving among the powers of the earth. This is impossible when you consider the time span covered in the prophecy.
Through archaeological discoveries, historians catch up with the word of God and validate its accuracy. Truly, Daniel saw these visions of 4 great Monarchs before they happened. He was there personally at the rise and fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia. But, he was not there for the other powers that were to arise nor the time of judgment and the 2nd coming of Christ as this vision depicts.
Daniel is careful to describe the times of his visions for those in the future who would doubt.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon
Daniel 7:1
This time in the 6th century BC was before the events yet to occur as described in the picture below.
The imagery of the ferocious 4th beast and the cunning and power of the little horn made Daniel sick. I am sure if we were given a look into the future to see how it all ends, we would be troubled greatly too! This is what will happen to many who read Daniel and Revelation. The scripture unfolds the identity of the 4th beast and the little horn power. It also gives us a picture of heavenly things.
“This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Daniel 7:28
As we saw from the previous study, the fourth kingdom to appear on the world scene was the iron monarchy of Rome.
At this point, let’s see the comparison of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 regarding those powers during Daniel’s time and those yet future. (Daniel 8 will also add to this chart, but we will fill it in when we study that chapter next.)
Daniel 2 was a simple straightforward prophecy of 4 major kingdoms rising and falling. The prophecy was a timeline that spoke to the diminishing value of the metals and therefore the value of its countries, particularly in a spiritual sense.. It is finally a mixture of strong and weak as demonstrated by the combining of iron and clay in the feet and 10 toes.
Daniel 7 repeats Daniel 2, but begins to layer in detail and some facts that are difficult to accept. Daniel 7 fills in some elements of time, but even more obvious is its attention to the power ruling just before God sets up His kingdom.
Daniel 7 does not stop at the 10 divisions (10 horns of the 4th beast), but goes further into Daniel’s future and we will see even more detail of the worlds future events when we compare it with Revelation!
New Detail of Daniel 7:
The new detail about the 4th power (legs of iron with 10 toes or the 4th beast with 10 horns ) is that three of the 10 divisions are uprooted by the little horn that speaks great things and persecutes others after it comes up among the 10 horns.
“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things”
Daniel 7:8
The interpretation of this is clear:
And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Daniel 7:24
The horns represent ten kings that shall arise and the little horn is a different type of king that shall subdue three kings.
Since the symbols (metal and animals) are demonstrating a timeline of succession, we have the basis to identify the king that arose during the 10 divisions of Rome.
There are some identifying marks in this chapter that helps us determine who was or is the little horn power.
1.) It will come up among the divided kingdom of Rome between the time of 350-500 A.D. (Verse 8)
2. It would be a little Kingdom. As noted by the little horn (Verse 8)
3 . It would have a man speak at the head of it. (Verse 8)
4. It would be “diverse” or different from the other 10 Kingdoms. [(Verse 24)
5. It would “Pluck up” or “subdue” 3 of the 10 divisions. (Verse 8, 24)
6. It would speak great words against God. (Verse 25)
7. It would emerge from Pagan Rom (Verse 7, 8
8. It would wear out the Saints for “time, times, and dividing a time” (Verse 25)
9. It would “THINK” to change times and laws(Verse 25)
5. (Origin actions) It would “Pluck up” or “subdue” 3 of the 10 divisions. (Verse 8, 24)
The emperors of Western Europe were largely Catholic and supported the papacy in its growth and authority.
Three Arian kingdoms, however, did not support the papacy–the Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths. So the Catholic emperors decided they must be subdued or destroyed.
Here is how Dr. Mervyn Maxwell, a theologian and historian, described the results in volume 1, page 129, of his book God Cares: “The Catholic emperor Zeno (474-491) arranged a treaty with the Ostrogoths in 487 which resulted in the eradication of the kingdom of the Arian Heruls in 493. And the Catholic emperor Justinian (527-565) exterminated the Arian Vandals in 534 and significantly broke the power of the Arian Ostrogoths in 538.
Thus were Daniel’s three horns –the Heruls, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths–‘plucked up by the roots.’ ” It is not difficult to recognize that the papacy fits this point.
It is interesting that the Vatican, home of the pope, sits near what is called the 7 hills of Rome.
6. (In the place of God) It would speak great words against God. (Verse 25).
Just as the term anti-Christ does not mean against Christ, but rather in place of Christ, the phrase “speak great words against God is better translated “speak great words concerning God.. The Hebrew word for “against” (tsad) is only used 1 other time and it is in the previous chapter of Daniel!:
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning (or against) the kingdom;
Daniel 6:4
One of the names of the Pope is “Vicar of Christ.” The term “vicar” comes from the Latin word vicarius, which means “instead of.” Calling the pope the “Vicar of Christ” implies that he has the same power and authority that Christ had over the church
The Papacy claims to be the voice of God on earth. When the Pope makes a judgement on doctrine, his pronouncements are infallible:
“An infallible pronouncement—whether made by the pope alone or by an ecumenical council—usually is made only when some doctrine has been called into question. Most doctrines have never been doubted by the large majority of Catholics. “
From Catholic Answers website
“The Pope can make and unmake laws for the entire Church; his authority is supreme and unquestioned. Every bishop, every priest, every member of the Church is subject to him.” Quoted in the New York CatechismThe Catholic book, “My Catholic Faith” which is based on the Baltimore Catechism, on page 251
Further evidence of Roman Catholicism replacing God and His word is in the tradition of seeking a priest to forgive sins. Only Jesus can forgive sins. He has attained that right through his sinless life, death, and resurrection. To think another man can forgive sins is operating “instead” of Christ and is blasphemous.
The Bible defines blasphemy as a man claiming to forgive sins
When He saw their faith, He said to him,
“Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Luke 5:21
The papacy has set up a non-biblical confessional for people to get their sins forgiven.
The Bible tells us we have direct access to Jesus:
Let us therefore comeboldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
Jesus said, our confession for the forgiveness of sins is tied directly to God and not another
“If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
1 John 1:9.
The priest and the one confessing truly believe that sins are being forgiven by the priest:
“Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ.”
Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion (New York: Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss, 1924), p. 279.
And he also claims to be God………….
“We [the popes] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”
Christopher Marcellus, Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512), manuscript SC, Vol. 32, col. 761 (Latin).
“Thou art another God on earth.”
Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter “The Reunion of Christendom,” dated June 20, 1894, trans. in The Great Encyclical letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), p. 304.
“The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.”
Catholic National, July 1895.
Truly the little horn (the papacy) speaks great words “in place” of God himself.
7. (Roots in paganism & its practices) It would emerge from Pagan Rome (Verse, 8)
There is little doubt here, but to let Rome answer for themselves.
“The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the Roman Empire baptized… The very capital of the old Roman Empire became the capital of the Christian empire. The office of Pontifex Maximus was continued in that of the pope.”
Alexander Clarence Flick, The Rise of the Medieval Church, pp. 148, 149.
“Whatever Roman elements the barbarians and Arians left … [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the emperor’s disappearance. The Roman Church in this way privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation.”
Adolf Harnack, What is Christianity? (New York: Putnam, second edition, revised, 1901), pp. 269, 270.
8. (Activity and time span) It would wear out the Saints for “times, time, and dividing a time” (Verse 25)
I am going to save this time prophecy until next time so I can spend more dedicated time on confirming its accuracy. We will see that the rule of the papacy started from 538 AD (the last opposing power against the papacy is conquered) and ended in 1798 (The pope is taken into captivity and dies). A period of 1, 260 years as predicted by God’s word. The Bible says after this time that the “wound would be healed” and this is the time we now live in. The time of the healed papacy that is daily ascending in power and recognition. The news and internet confirm this.
9. (Attempts to change God’s word) It would “THINK” to change times and laws (Verse 25)
The papacy has made several changes to the Holy Scripture, but most importantly to the eternal law contained in the ten commandments. More specifically, the 2nd commandment has been eliminated, the 4th commandment changed, and the 10th commandment divided into two commandments.
This is despite warnings from Jesus and many of the writers of the Bible. Here are just a couple of verses:
From Jesus (the lawgiver)
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot orone tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5: 18-19
Even the smallest punctuation mark cannot be changed. Whoever teaches anything different is in danger. How can the Pope have authority to change anything regarding the eternal law of God?
Wherefore the lawisholy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Romans 7:12
The Roman Catholic church may “think” to change God’s law, but His law is still the same. It is still a sin to transgress even the smallest of its precepts.
To demonstrate this attempted change, I have listed the 10 commandments (in summary) as described in the Catechism. This is the official book of the Catholics to teach new converts:
I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
Now, compare the 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5:
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
A careful comparative review will show that the Roman Catholic church leaders eliminated the 2nd commandment completely and divided the last commandment into two. Why?
Part of the Roman Catholic worship is to pray to the”saints” and little figurines that represent them. While this may seem harmless, it is a direct breaking of the 2nd commandment as given directly to mankind through Moses. It is also against the spirit of worship of praying directly to the Father through the Holy Spirit. If the practice of praying to saints in front of their image is harmless, then let the Pope reinstate the 2nd commandment
They have also changed the 4th Commandment as proof of the church’s authority to do so:
If you were to convert to Catholicism, you would be taught the following….not from the Bible, but from the church’s commentary on the Bible:
In the Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, we read: Q. Which is the Sabbath day?
A. Saturday is the Sabbath day. Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea, (AD 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday…. Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday? A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday. Q. By what authority did the Church substitute Sunday for Saturday? A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her! —Rev. Peter Geiermann, C.SS.R., (1946), p. 50.
My Friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ. The little horn power has done more than change a jot (a period) and a title (comma), which Jesus said was forbidden. It has taken a harsh chiselto the immutable law of God.
But, those who would go by God’s word alone (Sola Scriptura) are clearly identified as those who oppose the work of the little horn and honor every word of God’s unchanging law. It is out of love for God and fellow man that they respect the word of God over any power who would speak great things “in place”of God:
And the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman (church), and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keepthecommandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12:17
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keepthecommandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 14:12
The final conflict between the little horn (Papacy) and those who oppose its work, will be those who honor every word of God’s commandments
‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
It is a sad commentary that many Protestant churches today wonder after and follow the little horn power by minimizing the law of God and looking for another power to be the little horn power. For a more complete study on God’s law, please go to the category “God’s Will For Us.”
In the next study, we will layer in more detail concerning the time prophecy found in Daniel 7 and then look at Daniel Chapter 8. We will then bring in the companion verses of Revelation. The key to unlocking the prophecies of Revelation are found in Daniel. As we will see, John saw many of the same things as Daniel.
“I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:
Daniel 7: 15:16
Daniel 2 Review:
In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he did not understand and it troubled him greatly. None of the wise men, I call the “Fakers,” were able to help the King. But God used Daniel and his three companions to both remind the king of his dream and give him the interpretation.
This interpretation comes straight from Daniel and needs “no private interpretation.”
Quite simply, Daniel told the king that four (4) great powers would arise. He identified the first two in scripture as Babylon, then the dual kingdom of the Medes and Persians. After Daniel’s time, the other two powers appear on the scene as history tells us: Greece (Belly and thighs of brass) and finally Rome (Legs of iron).
Rome was the ruling power when Jesus was on the earth teaching and dying for our sins. It was a Roman decree and a Roman cross upon which our Lord died. Rome continued to rule as the disciples went out in the power of the Holy Spirit and built up the church.
Also during this time, the church began to be persecuted as we will see later.
The king’s dream does not stop here. The legs of iron are followed by the feet and toes of iron and part clay. This identifies the fall of Rome into 10 divisions, partly strong and partly weak. Three divisions were wiped out and there are current European countries that have roots in these tribes, but there were three, as predicted in the book of Daniel that would be completely destroyed by the Papacy: The Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths.
The prophecy ends with these startling words:
And in the days of these kings (The old division of Rome or what we now call Europe) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Daniel 2: 44-45
Over and over, the Bible talks of the 2nd coming as a time of destruction from the Lord. More specifically, it is described as follows:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
2 Peter 3:10
It also includes the unsaved:
…turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
2 Peter 2:6
“For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi 4:1
So when all the kingdoms of the earth are destroyed, God will create a new heaven (old destroyed) and new earth (old destroyed) and the “Rock” and God’s kingdom will fill the who earth. God will be our God and we will be his people.
“For behold, I create newheavens and a newearth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.”
Isaiah 65:17
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of Godis with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shallbe His people.God Himself will be with them and be their God.
In Daniel 7, another dream or vision is given. But this time, it is given to Daniel. Like king Nebuchadnezzar, the dream troubles Daniel and he does not know what it means. But, it is interpreted for him by the attending angels.
Like Daniel 2, we will let the Bible interpret itself and then we will check it out through history.
In this vision of Daniel, we will see that God has a way of revealing the truth and the future in a way as to prepare the heart to receive it. Daniel 7 is a principal of repeating and expanding. We will see the same four powers, but with more detail concerning the nature of the powers and we will see the introduction of a terrible power that comes from one of the powers described by Daniel 2.
A verse comes to mind as I write this introduction. Jesus said to His disciples the principal I just described of preparing the heart for truth:
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
John 16:12
The apostle Paul said something very similar:
I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able
1 Corinthians 3:2
In the Christian walk, especially as we interact with new Christians, we should be careful to give truth only as they are ready to receive it. We are to be:
…wise like snakes and gentle like doves.
Matthew 10:16
This vision of Daniel 7 is like meat. It will be new to many who read this and you might not be ready to receive it or digest it, but the words are certain and can be supported by the Bible and history. As we begin, pray for the Spirit of Truth and let the story reveal itself to you. Keep in mind, you have a loving and forgiving Savior who desires you to find peace and comfort in Him and his revelation.
The book of Daniel is about 4 animals that give fear and wonder to Daniel. But, he is particularly interested in the fourth beast and the little horn power. The interpretation is given to Daniel and it goes way beyond the time he is living even until the coming judgment of planet earth.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.
Daniel 7:1
This first verse is important because it gives the time and Daniel’s dream. The first year of Belshazzar would be 540 BC.
Here is what Daniel saw that year:
“I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.”
Verse 2 and 3
As the beasts are described, they look something like below. Very strange! Wouldn’t you agree? They are animals with something unusual about each.
When we read and study the Bible, we should read it as literal unless there is some overall reason to apply symbolism. Here we have good reason to apply the rule of symbolism because of the description of the beasts, but even more important the interpretation is given by the Bible itself for these symbols of great beasts. To do otherwise is to lose the message God is giving us. Is that a fair statement? I will explain as we go along.
To help us with the beginning of this prophecy, let’s look at some passages that unlock the symbolic meaning of this prophecy and others. In Daniel’s vision, he is seeing “the four winds stir up the Great Sea.”
What do the four winds and the Great Sea represent?
Revelation describes the four winds in this passage:
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree…”Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
Revelation 7:1, 3
From this passage in Revelation, we can see that the 4 winds represent turmoil, strife, destruction. Another passage supports this interpretation:
Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“Behold, disaster shall go forth From nation to nation, And a great whirlwind shall be raised up From the farthest parts of the earth.”
Jeremiah 25:32
Even more important is the self-interpretation from this Chapter about the beasts. In its interpretation we can see logically that the winds and sea would indeed represent nations arising out of turmoil and wars:
What are the four beasts? Let’s let the angel of Daniel 7 tell us:
“Those great beasts, which are four, arefour kings which arise out of the earth.”
Daniel 7:17
If four kings or kingdoms arise, where do they come from? The sea of people and the winds of war.
So early in this prophecy, we can conclude that Daniel is seeing four kingdoms arise from the many people and the results of conquering wars. It is interesting that King Nebuchadnezzar also saw four kingdoms: Babylon, Medes/Persia, Greece, and Rome. Then Rome is divided into 10 kingdoms. It is in the days of these kingdoms that our Lord sets up his kingdom that shall never be destroyed by wars or strife.
Daniel goes on to describe the four beasts in more detail:
The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
Daniel 7: 4
The wings represent the rapidity by which Babylon conquered its foes under king Nebuchadnezzar. But, the wings are plucked and a man’s heart is given to it. The boldness of the Lion wanes as it comes to a close of its earthly domination. The man’s heart compared to the Lion illustrates the weakness that came about as it lay dormant and exposed caused by wealth and luxury.
It is now a perfect target for the next power to arise and take its place. This power is the dual kingdom of the Medes and the Persians and is represented by the bear that raised itself up on one side and had three ribs between its teeth.
And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Daniel 7:5
Eventually, the Persians dominated the kingdom and became stronger than the Medes. They came up “last” as we will see in the prophecy in the 8th Chapter. The Persians also become the dominant power. The command to devour much flesh was obeyed and it left nothing but three bones. These represent the three conquests of the Medes and Persians: Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt
This power represented by the bear ruled from the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus in 538 BC to the battle of Arbela in 331 BC. A time span of 207 years. It fell to the next kingdom represented by the four-headed leopard with four wings of a fowl,
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads, and dominion was given to it.
Daniel 7:6
If two wings represent speed, then 4 wings on the quick-footed leopard must represent an extremely rapid course of conquests for the next kingdom of Greece under Alexander the Great. This corresponds with the Daniel 2 prophecy and history.
Alexander has no parallel in historic annals for suddenness and rapidity.
Rollin, Ancient History, b.15, sec.2, gives the following brief synopsis of Alexander’s marches:-
“From Macedonia to the Ganges, which river Alexander nearly approached, is computed at least eleven hundred leagues. Add to this the various turnings in Alexander’s marches; first, from the extremity of Cilicia, where the battle of Issus was fought, to the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Libya; and his returning from thence to Tyre, a journey of three hundred leagues at least, and as much space at least for the windings of his route in different places; we shall find that Alexander, in less than eight years, marched his army upward of seventeen hundred leagues [or more than fifty-one hundred miles], without including his return to Babylon”
Alexander the Great began his conquests at age 20 and lived to reign only about 11 1/2 years more. He died at age 32 and was succeeded by his father Philip II. Alexander spent his life in the fast lane of wars and debauchery.
Alexander’s empire was divided among his four leading generals:
Cassander(Macedon and Greece in the west)
Lysimachus (Thrace and parts of Asia on the Hellespont and Bosphorus in the North
Ptolemy (Egypt, Lydia, Arabia, Palestine, and Coele Syria in the south)
Seleucus(Syria and all the rest of Alexander’s dominions in the east.)
Next to arise on the world scene is Rome illustrated as the “dreadful” and terrible beast.” It was different from the other powers and it had ten horns corresponding to the 10 toes of Daniel 2:
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Daniel 7: 7
There is not a beast in nature that Daniel can use to describe this fourth beast and how “dreadful and terrible” it is. It’s great teeth devour and brake to pieces the other countries. The only description that has a recognizable feature is its 10 horns. Again, the same number of the 10 toes of part iron and part clay of Daniel 2.
The nature of Rome was cruel. They perfected the tortuous death of crucifixion believed to have been invented by the Persians. Death by crucifixion could last up to 6 days! It was on a cruel Roman cross that Jesus took the shamefulness of our sins upon himself. This act by the Creator was the ultimate demonstration of the sacrificial love for His creation. It was part of the good news. But, the fact that Jesus arose a victor over the death of the cross is part of the good news message. The other part is that Jesus was resurrected and will one day return to change our mortal bodies into immortal bodies and to rescue us forever from the pull and presence of sin (1 Corinthians 15). The good news cannot be captured by a list of events in the life of Jesus. it is an experience initiated and propelled by the Lord and the work of the Holy Spirit.
We will end Part 1 with a description by Daniel of the 10 horns and the little horn that arose:
And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Daniel 7:20
Who was this final power that captured the attention of Daniel? This horn had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things and was more stout than the others.
This horn displaces three horns and speaks great things. This power exists today! It will bring the final deception of many people on this earth. In the next post we will discover the identity of the little horn and how it is described in Revelation 13 as the Beast that the “whole world wonders after.”
Despite the little horn’s power, we can trust in the One who is greater. Terrible times will come, but we can find peace in our Lord both day and night.
“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
Revelations 13:16
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12
I hope you appreciate our slow walk up to identification of the Antichrist. It is important to have the groundwork laid so that when we arrive, it will all make sense and be supported by scripture. There is so much confusion about this topic. But, it does not have to be so if we are using sound Biblical exegesis in our walk.
In previous studies, we were able to determine from scripture that the father of lies (Satan) works through deception. He creates delusion so great that more (rather than few) are deceived. If it were possible, the very elect could be deceived.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mark 13:6
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:24
Why are the elect not deceived? We discovered that it is because they love the truth, the righteousness of God, and have a personal relationship with Jesus. This passage expresses it well:
“….they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2: 10-11
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3
In these last days, we can expect Satan to have perfected his system of deception. His work will mimic the work of God even in appearances.
For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:14-16
We cannot trust appearances… those things that appeal to the eye…things that are majestic and grand. It is only through the simple word of God and a trusting relationship with Him that we can count ourselves as the elect.
Had Satan revealed himself in his real character, he would have been repulsed at once, for Adam and Eve had been warned against this dangerous foe; but he worked in the dark, concealing his purpose, that he might more effectually accomplish his object. Employing as his medium the serpent, then a creature of fascinating appearance, he addressed himself to Eve.
Great Controversy, page. 532
We must compare what we hear and see what we know about God through our personal experience (testimony), but even more important through his written word (law).
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Isaiah 8:20
It is a noble thing to research scripture to see if your preacher or teacher is telling the truth as found in God’s word. In these last days, it will be critical in discerning and avoiding the way that seems right, but leads to destruction:
These (followers in Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:11
The Bereans loved the truth and compared the Tanakh (Old Testament) with the preaching of Paul to make sure he spoke truth. Shouldn’t we do the same?
Too many Christians rely heavily on preachers and teachers to spoon feed them with theories, ideas, and doctrines. Most have little knowledge of God’s word and practical experience. Further, we have the power of media, film, grand churches, and masses to help push us down a broad path, rather than seek the narrow path.
Here is a test….Which one of these pictures best represent how Satan will appear to deceive people?
We can be certain that Satan will not be obvious. He will appear as a sheep, but inside is a ravenous wolf…a lion seeking to eat and kill as many as possible. He is insane and self-deceived. He uses ministers.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11: 14-15
If we are looking for a mean-spirited ugly Antichrist that is easily identified, then we are already on a broad path of deception.
Hollywood and the” Left Behind” books have portrayed the Antichrist as a Romanian man named Carpathia leader of the world community and world government who rises to power after the rapture. After 3/12 years in power, he is assassinated, but then resurrected by Satan and seeks to destroy the followers of Jesus.
But the Bible paints and entirely different picture as we have learned in these series ofSecond Coming Predictions.
What the Bible has to say about the real Antichrist?
The word Antichrist is found only 4 times in the New Testament (King James Version). They are all in the books of 1 John (3 times) and 2 John (1 Time). Let’s read all four:
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
1 John 2:18
John warns us that by looking for one Antichrist, we miss the many that were already come. Is that true today? Yes!
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:22
An antichrist that has already come is a liar and denies that Jesus is the Christ. Plain enough. Right?
and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
1 John 4: 3
So, we can know that the spirit of the Antichrist is already in the world.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2 John 1:17
Again, deception is connected to the antichrists that are in the world already.
The disciple John (who would later write and warn us about a power described as a beast in Revelation 13) gives valuable information. but it is the tip of the iceberg: He states that the followers had been taught about the coming of “The Antichrist,” but there were already many that have gone out in the world. These antichrists work through deception. They are liars just like their father the devil. They deny that Jesus is the Messiah, that He came in the flesh and that He will return in the flesh. They deny the relationship between the Father and Jesus.
All of these antichrists can be overcome by an understanding and acceptance of God’s word as given to holy men who were moved by the work of the Holy Spirit. This includes the books and letters of the New Testament in addition to the Old Testament.
Paul warns us as well:
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3: 13-15
Remember as we move forward, that the work of the Antichrist is not just one person, but the work of many including Satan himself. It will be deception that can only be unlocked through a comparison of their words with the words of God and a trusting relationship with the Lord.
Paul compliments the words of John when he talks about how the work of the antichrists causes apostasy. Many will leave the truth because of the deception of the antichrists. In fact, he warns Jesus will not come until after the “falling away.”
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Here we learn more about the nature and personality of the Antichrist.”
There will be a falling away, not just people but many churches. They will fall away from plain teachings of Jesus and God’s word. Those that fall away, do so because they are deceived. They “loved not the truth.”
It has always been the work of Satan to take God’s word away from the people. ..to minimize it….to ridicule those who believe it and live by it. Because it is here where his hand is revealed and his plan made plain. His plan is to counterfeit the work of God. To sit in the temple of God and receiving honor as God himself. Despite this appearance as an angel of light, he not only is opposing God, but he makes it seem like he IS God or, at the least, represents God.
Paul tells us that the work of the Antichrist was already at work. Paul refers to him as “that Wicked” who would be revealed to the whole world. He tells us that when Jesus returns this system of deception by Satan and the one who he gives power to deceive will be broken and will be consumed by the brightness of Jesus coming. But for now, he works in the specific method of deceiving and counterfeiting:
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thessalonians 2: 8-11 (KJ)
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So we can understand from scripture that the Antichrist is referred to as “that Wicked.” But, we shall also see that this work of deception against God is through a power described as the beast. It will not be just one person, but many who support the work of deception. It is possible that the ones doing the deceiving think that they are doing the work of God by persecuting those who disagree with their teaching and power. Remember, the deception is not only towards others, but also the person doing the deception is deceived.
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:13
“the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.”
John 16:2
Imagine killing someone and thinking you are doing God’s will. This is strong delusion. Remember Paul did this very thing before his conversion.
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To learn more about the work of the antichrists, we must move from the books of John to Revelation and Daniel. John also wrote Revelation and had more to say about the work of the deception caused by the Antichrist. But this time, he uses symbols that compare with the book of Daniel. They both saw the same vision even though they were separated by hundreds of years.
From comparing scripture with scripture, we will see the hand of Satan at work throughout the ages. It is he that gives the beast of Revelation his seat and great authority.
Many teachers and preachers read the following verses and make great sermons with plenty of opinion and twisting of scripture, but when we study the passages of scripture that bring us up to this point in earth’s history, we will know exactly who is the beast and therefore the Antichrist:
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or 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 it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Revelation 13: 16-18
We have many clues about the beast here, but unless we understand how we get to this verse, we will lack wisdom from God’s word.
Here are some of the clues: The beast has a worldwide influence regardless of a person’s position in life or income (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave)
There will be something (a mark) that will distinguish them from those under the control and power of the beast and those who have not been deceived. Persecution will come upon those who refuse to go along with the beast. They will not be able to buy or sell.
If we are wise, we will understand the number of this man.
If we want to know the entire truth about the beast, we must go back and compare Daniel with Revelation. This we will do beginning next week.
Who is the real Antichrist?
Can you think of a world power rich in religious history whose authority on religious matters comes from a single man and has great influence on all both small and great, rich and poor? A power that looks like the real thing in angelic clothing living in a beautiful tmeple, but denies the words of God by putting the requirement of studying its book rather than the Bible for acceptance? In fact, this man is worshiped and adored.
Next week, we will begin our journey back to Daniel and Revelation so that we can come back to the present and understand the future…from the word of God.
I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
