|
PROPHECY
OF THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL
By
Carlos
Padilla, July 2008
INTRODUCTION
DANIEL THE PROPHET
TEXT OF THE 70 WEEKS OF
DANIEL AND OTHER RELATED TEXTS
DIFFERENT
INTERPRETATIONS FOR THIS PROPHECY
HISTORICAL FACTS AND
ACCURACY OF THE PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE
PROPHETIC
DATES AND NUMBERS
WEEK 70:
FULFILLED OR TO BE FULFILLED?
WEEK 70 RELATED TO THE RAPTURE AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION
REPERCUSSION
ON THE CHURCH AND ON ISRAEL IN THE END OF TIME
REPERCUSSION
ON THE WORLD IN THE END OF TIME
SPIRITUAL VISION OF THE
70 WEEKS
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
The prophecy of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 is still today,
2.500 years after, one of the most impressive and frequently studied by the
people of the Lord – Jewish and Gentile – due to the effect which the last week
(of years), week number 70, will have on the end of time. When the Lord Yahshua,
Jesus Christ talked about the end of times naming all the events which would
precede His second coming in His Kingdom,
He stops on a decisive point
of Daniel’s prophecy, on an event which is future to His own time and
which is part of the fulfilment of the prophecies included in the so-called
“Prophecy of the 70 Weeks of Daniel” which would happen to His people; He was
mentioning the abomination of desolation which Daniel spoke about.
The relevance of the
prophecy of the 70 Weeks of Daniel is not just announcing events which will
occur whenever they were prophesized to happen, with absolute historical
accuracy - as we will see below - regarding the reconstruction of the second
temple of Jerusalem and its destruction, but the fact that it announces and
states the involvement of these events with the coming, death and resurrection
of the Messiah and its relation to the
end of times and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
DANIEL THE PROPHET
Daniel is one of the major prophets of the Old Testament; Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. But, additionally, Daniel has major relevance as
apocalyptical prophet because of his revelations about the end of times which
God disclosed to him, as stated in Daniel 12. The connection between these
prophecies, written before 530 b.C. and those of John in the book of Revelation,
written around 95 a.D. , is more than obvious,
plus the
relevance of the
difference of over 600 years in history and the fact that both complement each other. The Lord
Jesus shows us these two men as two of His greatest collaborators of
prophecy and final revelation. Daniel, before Christ, and John, the beloved
disciple, after the ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven.
Daniel is a magnificent
example of a man of God who asks Him
about his people and studies the prophecies of previous prophets who received
the calling from Yahweh. This should be
the basis of the teaching
to the people of God regarding prophetic study. Daniel wrote in Hebrew and also
in Aramaic, the international language of his time, about the seventy weeks and
the four empires and the four parts of the statue, in Daniel 7. They are
reflected on the four horsemen of Revelation 6 and their relation with the
system of power in the last time, which is already spreading the antichrist way
of thinking in the apostate humanity, threshold to the end of the world. When
Daniel, or any of us, study the prophecies in the Bible in order to know the
Lord’s teaching and obey His Will, the Holy Spirit gives us the
wisdom. To be able to identify the
times and to know what time it is in God’s prophetic clock.
TEXT OF THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL AND OTHER RELATED TEXTS
BIBLE TEXT
DANIEL 9
1In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of
the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,
2in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the
number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the
prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of
Jerusalem...
...20
Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my
people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the
holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man
Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly
swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he
informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to
give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications
the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved;
therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision...
...Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your
holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins,
to make
reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness,
to seal up
vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. 25 Know therefore and
understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build
Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two
weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.
26 And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the
sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war
desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for
one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and
offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even
until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.
DANIEL 11
…For
the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and
return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall
even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of
strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the
abomination that maketh desolate.
DANIEL 12
…And
I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when
he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that
liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and
when he
shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these
things shall be finished. 8And I heard, but I understood not: then said
I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9And he said, Go
thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the
end. 10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked
shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand;
but the wise shall
understand. 11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken
away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand
two hundred and ninety days. 12Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to
the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
(1290 and 1335)
DANIEL 9
…In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of
the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 2In 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.
The desolation of Jerusalem in 70 years: may fulfil Jeremiah
29:10
JEREMIAH 29:10
...For thus saith the LORD, that after seventy years be
accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you,
in causing you to return to this place.
After 70 years be accomplished I will visit you. This was
accomplished just before Daniel received the prophecy of the 70 weeks. Another
70 years of the state of Israel may go past, as they have just celebrated
their 60th anniversary until the time of the gentiles, with a (false)
peace agreement which...may be broken after 3,5 years (1260 days, or 42 months
or time and times and half a time) by the antichrist? Remember the text:...
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction comes upon them...1Thessalonians 5:3. We will see it more clearly as
we go deeper into the prophecy.
ZECHARIAH 1
…Then
the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not
have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which
thou hast had
indignation these seventy years? 13And the LORD answered the angel that
talked with me with good words and comfortable words. 14So the angel that
communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, thus saith the LORD of hosts; I
am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15And I am
very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little
displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. 16Therefore thus
saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built
in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon
Jerusalem. 17Cry yet, saying, thus saith the LORD of hosts; my cities
through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort
Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
For 70 years and the Lord had mercy and gathered His people from
Babylon and built the temple. It was destroyed again on the year 70 after Christ
because they did not receive the Messiah. However, the Lord’s mercy is for Jews
as well as Christians. But, will they build the temple again for the third and
last time?
MATTHEW 24
...Whenever, therefore, ye may see the abomination of the
desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place (whoever is reading let him observe), 16then those in Judea, let
them flee to the mounts.
Regarding the text in Daniel who refers to the pagan statue which
Antioch IV placed on the temple, and later the Caesars after the destruction on
70 a.D. … and does it also refer to the future abomination still to come?
MARK 13:14
...And
when ye may see the abomination of the desolation, that was spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, standing where it ought not, (whoever is reading let him
understand), then those in Judea, let them flee to the mountains.
DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS FOR THIS PROPHECY
Before we go into the different interpretations, we have to
understand the purpose of the fulfilment of the prophecy of the 70 weeks shown
in Daniel 9:24.
-
- To finish the transgression.
At repentance.
-
- To make and end of sins. Through His Blood.
-
-
To make reconciliation for iniquity. On
the Cross.
-
-
To bring in everlasting righteousness. Before
the Father, for the souls of the saved ones.
-
- To seal up the vision and prophecy. Anointed with
very costly oil of spikenard.
Jesus fulfilled all these things for those who receive Him as
their saviour, and the only event still pending is the establishment of the Kingdom
at the end of week 70. The sequence of events has the following order, summarized from
the Bible Text:
-
- From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build
Jerusalem there will be 7 weeks, and 62 weeks; the street shall be built again,
and the wall, even in troublesome times. Year 445 b.C.
Ezra and Nehemiah accomplish the restoration.
-
- After the 62 weeks the Messiah was cut off. 445
or 457 – (69x7=483) =
33 a.D. On the Cross. We will see the explanation of the calculation of years
and dates below.
-
- The people of the prince that shall come destroyed the city
and the sanctuary. The roman troops.
Titus 70 a.D. The prince that shall come represents not only Titus who would
become Caesar,
but also the antichrist of the end of time.
-
- 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.
The desolate will come after. Unfulfilled? We will see below.
There are two basic schools of interpretation of the last week;
one of them teaches that it was fulfilled on 70 a.D. with the destruction of
Jerusalem and the temple, and another one says that it is an event for the end
of time and of the second coming of the Messiah. He mentions that it is a future
event.
The Catholic Church – as it can be read in the Bible of Jerusalem
– teaches that this prophecy was totally fulfilled on the year 168 b.C. in
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, which is an obvious mistake for two reasons: the first
one because it does not coincide with the 69 weeks of years (69x7=483 years)
from the commandment to restore the city and the temple, in 457 or 445 b.C., which
leaves us in the year when Jesus walked triumphantly into Jerusalem when he
accepted to be called King; and certainly neither with the death of the Messiah,
which they ascribe to a messiah, or anointed, who is not Christ but the priest
Onias III. These events happened in history, but the dates do not match and
neither do part of the main characters involved. It could be said that they are
part of the subsequent fulfilment but leaves the prophecy unfulfilled. The
second one , and more conclusive, is that Christ Himself prophesized, in Mathew
24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, the destruction of the temple, with the famous words: …
There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall
not be thrown down...which happened in year 70 aD. According to these sources,
Antiochus Epiphanes built an altar for idolatry in the temple of the Lord
(1Maccabees 1:54, historical book, deuterocanonical), and thus he would have
fulfilled the prophecy, but Jesus said that it was yet to be fulfilled – and it
was fulfilled.
If we understand the death of Christ to be the end of sacrifice
and offering, it does not match with any agreement between leaders of Rome and
Israel for a 7-year week.
Other
students
state that week 70 lasts for 70 years, which is an adaptation to explain their
own vision, but the prophecy is clear and uses weeks of years throughout; we
cannot apply days, years and other time measurements to make dates match our
convenience. Therefore, they apply this last week in years to the first 70 years
of Christian age, and towards the first half the sacrifice would cease through
the death of Jesus; in any case it would be invalidated through His
atonement death
which also invalidates the offering. This vision implies that the death
of the Messiah is part of the covenant and will be after the destruction of the
temple; however, the order revealed to Daniel states that the death of the
Messiah would be first and the destruction of the temple would come later,
followed by the last week of 7 years and after the first half – 3,5 years – the
sacrifice and the offering would cease.
The two main details about the last week, number seventy, are:
first that it happens after the death of the Messiah and after the city and the
sanctuary are destroyed and, second, that in the middle of the week, three and a
half years or 1260 days, or 42 months, or time and times and half a time…would
cease the sacrifice and the offering. And
for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate...verse 27 of
Daniel 9. It agrees with the time given to the woman who would be fed for 1260
days in Revelation 12:6.
The last week, week number 70, according to the pre-tribulationist
theory, is the last week of 7 years for humanity, which includes the “Great
Tribulation”, when the antichrist will appear and in the middle of it – 3,5
years – Daniel 9:27, the sacrifice and the offering would cease. According to
Daniel and Revelation, this tribulation will last for 42 months (the same as
1260 days, which is 3,5 years, which is half of the 7 years). The years are
measured according to the prophets’ calculations: 360 days and 30 days for each
month: Daniel 7:25 and 12:7; Revelation 11:2 and 3, 12:6 to 14 and 13:5. Daniel
12:1 is specific and also a reflection of Matthew 24: Daniel talks about time of
trouble, such as never was…and
at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in
the book.
We all know that both the death of the Messiah and His
resurrection have been fulfilled; also the destruction of the city and the
sanctuary – the temple – on year 70 aD. Therefore, for the sacrifice and the
offering to cease in the middle of the week, there must be a covenant. The
covenant is an agreement between a leader of the fourth empire and a leader of
Israel. Israel ceased being a nation after the destruction, and became a nation
again in 1948. Similarly, the fourth empire must have been or must be
established again. This is the period of the Church and the lapse between week
69 and 70 which would start…when Israel has occupied its land for 70 years?
Besides, the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood system must be in place, with the
sacrifices and the offerings, and it has not been in force since that year 70 aD.
Jesus says that the abominable desolation which the prophet Daniel spoke about
would be
standing where it ought not – it was to happen in the future, after the time
when He was with the apostles – such as when the temple was destroyed, and there
shall not be left one stone upon another, which happened just like He
prophesized. But the abominable desolation could not be established because
there was no temple.
According to the above arguments it seems that week number 70 has
not happened yet, but in order to confirm this we have the following historical
data:
HISTORICAL FACTS AND ACCURACY OF THE PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE
After the 70 years of captivity of the Jewish people in Babylon,
Daniel studies the prophecies in Jeremiah 25:11 and receives the revelation.
The beginning of the 70 weeks according to Daniel 9:25 would be
on the command to restore Jerusalem. Even though there are four proclamations to
restore and build Jerusalem: Ezra 1:1-4 in year 539 b.C. Proclamation of Cyrus,
king of Persia, whose spirit was awaken by Yahweh – it is truly impressive how
God changes a man’s heart to serve Him; do not miss reading it. Ezra 5:3-7 in
year 518 b.C. of king Darius. Ezra 7:11-16 in 457 a.D. king Artaxerxes and the
fourth in Nehemiah 2:1-8 in 445 a.D. Nehemiah also by Artaxerxes.
The date to be taken into consideration is the one which implies
the reconstruction of the city on 445 a.D., not only of the temple. This is the
date for the beginning of the four periods which the 70 weeks are divided into:
7 weeks of years (49 years) which are a jubilee: Leviticus 25:11, when the city
and the walls would be reconstructed in times of trouble, which coincide with
the years of tribulation in times of Ezra and Nehemiah. After these 49 years
there was an uninterrupted period of 62 weeks of years, which are 434 years,
which added to the previous 49 become 483 years. These, added to the year of the
commandment (445 b.C.) take us to year 33 a.D. of the public appearance of Jesus
the Messiah in His triumphant entrance to Jerusalem, on Palm Sunday. We will
see, later on, that both the Jewish and Julian calendars need to be taken into
account to match the years, since each of the ages use a different one. After
the 62 weeks the Messiah was cut off. This event also happened on year 33 a.C.,
according to historical data, when Jesus Christ was crucified, which fulfils
exactly the prophecy received by Daniel. After His resurrection, the Lord did
not provide any further details on this prophecy.
The following event was
also prophesized by Christ Himself: the destruction of the temple after His
ministry, which happened on year 70 a.D. and which also appears in history books
(The Jewish War, by Flavius Josephus).
Another event which fulfils Christ’s prophecy which is found in Matthew 24.
The troops came, from Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria (same as today, does the
threat to destroy Jerusalem come from Syria?) who, 33 years after Christ (year
66) saw the situation of the Jewish rebels who were determined to become free
from the roman yoke. The revolt began in 67 and finished in 73. The temple was
destroyed in year 70, when the troops of roman General Titus assaulted and
destroyed Jerusalem. 66 years later, Adrianus built a sanctuary for Jupiter
Capitolinus. Besides, this emperor would change the name of Jerusalem to his own
and to praise his pagan god, and called the city
Aelia Capitolina, but he was
not able to place a statue in the sanctuary neither step on the temple because
it had been destroyed.
We can certainly say that the abomination of desolation was
fulfilled because the sanctuary was desecrated and the disciples left Jerusalem,
fulfilling part of the Lord’s prophecy. However, there was no 7-year agreement;
therefore the fulfilment of this last part will be subsequently and totally
completed in the future.
Jews would be led away captive to all nations (Luke 21:24) until
the times of the gentiles were fulfilled. We all know about this historical
evidence, but not everybody is aware of the fact that Jews from all over the
world are called from all nations and are fast and steady settling in Jerusalem,
specially since 1948, and they are building their thriving estate, inviting all
Jews to return to the promised land. They have just celebrated their 60th
anniversary in 2008 which, together with the celebration of Pentecost and the
global day of prayer, are evidence of the fact that Jerusalem is the world’s
spiritual centre for Christianism and Judaism.
Further into history, on year 363 a.D, Julianus, who wanted to
invalidate Jesus’ prophecy “and they shall not leave in thee a
stone upon a stone”, tried to build the third temple, but the workmen said that
there were balls of fire flowing from the ground and they could not lay the
foundations.
Therefore, the last week was not fulfilled in the first
centuries, although we must accept that the prophecy was partly fulfilled in the
year 70 a.D. when troops from Titus destroyed the temple; but neither him nor
any other emperor was able to place the abomination – or statue of Jupiter
Olympus – on the Holy Place, because the temple was destroyed and what did
happen is that the Zealots sieged the temple so the Romans would not do it.
However, the part which was fulfilled was that the statue on the temple
destroyed by Adrianus on 136 a.D. and which was standing where it ought not,
meaning that it did not fulfil the prophecy because it was not in the holy
place because it had been destroyed. This information is provided in Mark 13:14.
This argument can be used by those who consider that the prophecy
has been fulfilled. If we consider this fact as what the Lord refers to, we do
not have any other prophecy left in this sense, since it has been fulfilled, and
any other future argument on this part of the Prophetic Text is useless. The
issue is that the Lord did refer to the holy place in the temple, just like
Daniel did, but the most important point – and which cannot be found in history
– is that there is no agreement or covenant for 7 years between a leader of the
fourth empire and Israel which has been broken in the middle of the week of 7
years.
PROPHETIC DATES AND NUMBERS
The seventy weeks are a Jewish concept called “shabua”: group of
seven. In Leviticus 25:8 we find the origin and the meaning of counting weeks of
years for the jubilee, which is 7 weeks of years (7x7= 49 years) and a
sabbatical year every 7 years, so we have 70 sabbatical years 70x7= 490 years.
With respect to year 483 which would fulfill the prophecy
coinciding with the year of the passion of Christ:
Year 457 a.D. 7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks of years. 69x7=483
x 360 days. I we rest the year of the edict, el 457-483 years of the 69 weeks we
come to year: 26 a.D. For many, this year has no meaning, but proven history it
means the following:
Herod died on 4 b.C. and
before this, the Gospel tell us about the killing of the children under 2; Jesus
Martyrs. On his side Pontius
Pilate began his ruling over Judea on year 26 and lasted until 38. And again the
Gospels tell us he wanted to be gracious with
Year 445 a.D. 7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks of years. 69x7=483
years x 360 days (the prophetic year in the Jewish calendar has 360 days) =
173.880 days. Year zero does not exist, year 1 b.C. goes on to year 1 a.D. and
counts as one single year.
Year 32 a.D. fulfilled, on the triumphant entrance into
Jerusalem, but it is the beginning of the 33rd Jewish religious year,
Passover and crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Messiah, Yahshua. 32+445= 477, we
have to deduct year 0, which results in 476 in the Julian calendar of 365,2425
days per year. 476x365,2425= 173.855 days.
173.855 - 173.880 = 25 days of difference which, added to the 5th
of march of year 32 take us to 30th march, when the first month (Nisan) of year
33 must have started, before Passover, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey,
a colt, the foal of a donkey and for the first time He did not stop the crowds –
as He had done previously – from shouting: Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!...After the 62 weeks the
Messiah was cut off…Fulfilled.
Decisive figures in the prophecy of the 70 weeks:
Daniel 12:11 tells us that
from the time when the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the
abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1290 days. Blessed is he who
waits, and comes to 1335.
Daniel 11:31 is Christ’s reference of the abomination of
desolation.
Figures which mean the same time:
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in
the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering... Daniel
9:27.
1260 days are prophesized by the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3
(they will prophesy and harm the earth during
3,5 years) but then the beast which comes up from the bottomless pit will
kill them…and the reign of the antichrist will start?. And their dead bodies
will lie in the street of the great city 3,5 days; after 3,5 days the breath of
life from God will enter them.
As a relevant fact we find that 1290 and 1335 is a longer period of
time than 1260+1260 which is 7 years. Does it imply that there is more than the
3,5 + 3,5? I mean that the difference between 1290 and 1260 is 30, and it says
that blessed is he who waits and comes to 1335 days, which is 45 more than 1260
(coming of Christ?). We will be able to see these details later.
She will be in the wilderness for 1260 days, where she has a
place prepared by God, the woman clothed with the sun who was about to give
birth to the
male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron – which
is Israel - Revelation 12:6; and she would be taken care of for a time, times
and half a time (v.14). The same as we find in Daniel 12:7. Time, times and half
the time: and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy
people (1948, or this date is the threshold of the end of the time of the
gentiles?), all these things shall be finished.
42 months of the beast in action, which had one of its heads deadly wounded and
was healed. Rv. 13:5.
1260 days, 42 months or 3,5 years, and
1290 blessed is he who waits to 1335.
Let us see all these figures in depth:
They can be the four times of the four empires which have had
power over Israel up to date: the Babylonian empire, the
Medo-Persian empire,
Greek empire and the Roman empire, which in the prophecy they are one and only
spiritual governing power. The last one has continued through the Catholic
Church, inheriting the power from Constantine and which is still in force
nowadays. Europe has been raised from this very same empire.
Jesus Christ’s ministry lasted for 3,5 years, or 1260 days, 42
months.
…And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and
the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1290 days. Blessed is he
who waits and comes to the 1335 days…Note that blessed is he who stays beyond
the abomination of desolation, does that mean beyond tribulation?
About the temple and its destruction, historical data reveals that
they took place the same day of the same month, with the difference of the year:
the first time it was on the 9th day of the month of Av of 587 b.C. an the
second time on the 9th day of the month of Av of 70 a.D.
The order of dates could well be: first 1290 in Daniel 12:11 and
then 1260 in Revelation. Why? Because in 7 years there is always a leap year,
and it happens in the middle of the first one, or at least that is how it is
explained in the Bible. But this is not the end of how the times are expressed,
since Daniel 12:12 tells us to wait until 1335, which is another leap year –
which is the 8th year – and since there are 45 days’ difference
between 1290 and 1335 (15+30) that takes us to the day of the Passover: the 15th
day of Nisan of the 8th year, when it will be celebrated on heaven,
not on earth. We don’t see the other 30 days, they are only there to tell us
that it is a leap year and that it is part of a set of two leap years (which is
8 years) after the end of the 7 years: the last week; knowing that the 30
additional days, the additional month, is added to the end of the year which
will not be completed, since it will be after the day of the Lord. Blessed is he
who not only waits but actually comes to that date, because he will be
celebrating the new Passover in the Kingdom of the Lord.
Jesus announced how He yearned to have that Passover in heaven
with us, and He will celebrate it after all been fulfilled and He comes
in heaven with His angels to take us with Him.
WEEK 70:
FULFILLED OR TO BE FULFILLED?
We can list four different options to analyze on the fulfilment
of week number seventy.
1.- Week fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes on 175 b.C. and 3,5
years of great tribulation against Israel. Daniel 11:30. If the anointed or
messiah which the Text refers to is Onias III the priest, who was murdered in
175 by order of Antiochus’ who is also the prince who shall come, and would
confirm the covenant for one week after the death of Onias, breaking the
covenant 3,5 years after. It does not fulfil the part where Jesus Christ
Himself said that the abomination of desolation which Daniel spoke about would
be a future event to His time on earth in human form. Besides, Antiochus did not
destroy the city, or the temple, he only placed a statue of Jupiter Olympicus,
Zeus the father, and offered sacrifices there apart from also trying to impose
worshipping of himself in the whole empire, which caused the Jewish to rise led by Judah Maccabee. Besides, it does not coincide with the 69 weeks or 483 days.
2.- Week fulfilled by Christ after His triumphant entrance in
Jerusalem, since in the middle of the week (which starts on Palm Sunday with His
entrance and finishes with his resurrection), He dies on the Cross and He puts
an end to acceptable sacrifice, since He is the last sacrifice which the Father
would accept
for sin. In this case it
is not totally fulfilled since there is no 7-year covenant between Israel and
Rome, and the week of 7 days cannot replace the week of years.
3.- Week of tens of years. The temple was destroyed on 70 a.D.,
if we consider those 70 years to be a week of tens of years, Christ died in the
middle of that week and He ceased sacrifice, as He was the last sacrifice which
the Father would accept for sin. Just
like in the previous option, the week of years is not fulfilled and there is no
7-year covenant, or any other type of agreement, between Israel and Rome.
4.- Week of the end of times, when the antichrist starts to
reign. The covenant is between the future kingdom or empire or union of
countries which were part of the old Roman Empire: Europe, with Israel. After
Pentecost, Israel is replaced
by the Church until the time of the gentiles with the apostasy is fulfilled, and
until the messianic start the conversion of Israel. Once the political treaty
with Israel is signed – which is to happen after the return to the Holy Land:
which is at present time. Will it be necessary for the third temple to be built
in order to re-establish sacrifice and offering, and to allow for the agreement
with the so-called leader, which would then be cancelled in the middle of the
week, bringing in the abomination of desolation and the wrath of God which will
be poured out on Zion, coming in Christ to save His people already converted to
Yahshua?
The unavoidable question is whether the last part of the prophecy
implies that a future third temple must be built (Ezekiel 36:33). At the
beginning of the first 7 years of the covenant, the sacrifices and offerings
will be re-established, and in the middle of that week of years, 3,5 years, the
abomination of desolation will be placed in the holy place in the form of an
abominable person who would sit on a throne there, the so-called antichrist,
declaring himself god and imposing worship to him, just like the caesars, old
leaders and pharaohs did, amongst others.
The situation nowadays is that there is no temple. The temple was
finally destroyed, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy. The Jews no longer had a Holy
Place, neither a place to sacrifice and make offerings to God in Zion. The new
temple of the soul would be the new construction which Jesus would make in those
who were born again, inside, through His Holy Spirit. In the strict historical
sense, the prophecy is still unfulfilled as far as historical events are
concerned.
My personal opinion is that Bible history tells us that
prophecies have partial and subsequent fulfillments, as it happens with the two
comings of the Messiah, the destructions and re-constructions of the temple,
etc.
Finally, I want to point out that the text in Daniel 9:24
specifies that the seventy weeks are determined on his people and on the Holy
City. This implies and shows that whilst the people of Daniel did not exist as
such, were recognized, and lived in Jerusalem, the conditions for the
fulfilment of the last week could not be met. If he had said that the seventy
weeks were determined on human kind, they could have been consecutive. But,
also, the fourth kingdom had to be in place, the series of the four major
empires in history and which have been involved in the history of Israel and
Judah. In this case, Rome was the fourth empire.
Rome fell, just like Israel did. Nevertheless, Rome has always
prevailed as a religious empire, and also had political power for centuries.
Similarly, the Church has replaced Israel as people of God. Therefore, the
religious Rome gives way again to the political Rome, which is working – or just
about to start – and Israel is again almost fully functional, pending the
religious function of the temple instead of the Church which…will it be
raptured?... will the church of Rome fall and the Church of Christ be raptured,
leaving political Rome and Israel, which has a place prepared in the wilderness
for 1260 days, which is half of the 7 years?. It is now, with the re-birth of
Europe and the kingdom, or empire, or union of Mediterranean countries when
both, Israel and the prince who shall come, can hold the covenant of the last
week, number 70. The events which are to happen in this week are in the Bible
and we have already reviewed them, there is only left for the sacrifice and the
offering to be established. When we see Israel giving fruits we will remember
the parable of the fig tree when it becomes tender, but the fig tree already has
leaves and the fruits are already visible, so we know that the summer is near.
Mark 13. Therefore, week 70 is yet to be fulfilled. Let us see the historical
events which it will bring.
WEEK 70 RELATED TO THE RAPTURE AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION
There are different positions
with regard to the interpretation of how the fulfilment of the beginning, or the transition, of week 70 will affect the
rapture and the great tribulation.
It is obvious that the Lord has shown us the wonderful event of
the rapture in Matthew 24, which Paul also refers to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17,
and all Christians should look forward to it, to be raised to heaven with the
Lord and all the brethren. However, the discrepancy between the different
visions lie in whether the event will happen before, in the middle, or after the
great tribulation which will take place during the last week, week number 70, of
Daniel’s prophecy.
Although the great tribulation may be understood as an event
which has already been fulfilled for the Church under the prosecutions of the
roman caesars during two thousand years; most churches have a futuristic
interpretation, i.e.: pending fulfilment in the end of times, and they can
position themselves in several ways:
The pre-tribulationist vision believes that the faithful Church
will be
raptured
just
before week 70 starts, which will be the kingdom of the antichrist.
The mid-tribulationist vision believes that the Church will be
raptured
in the middle of
the tribulation, which is 1260 days, or 42 months, or 3,5 years, when the
abomination of desolation appears and the antichrist makes himself known as god.
This interpretation also agrees with Jesus Christ’s words telling us to flee to
the mountains when we see it, which already happened in year 70 and shall happen
again on That day.
And the post-tribulationist vision believes that the Church will
go through the prosecution of the great tribulation and that at the end of the
7th week of 7 years, the Messiah will come and will take us.
Week 70 may also be a week which refers to Israel only, and not
to the Church. Israel has a place prepared for them in the dessert where they
will be taken care of for 1260, according to Revelation 12. But verse 17 also
says that the dragon was enraged with the woman (Israel) and went to make war
with the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ. This will
happen before the end of times.
REPERCUSSION
ON THE CHURCH AND ON ISRAEL IN THE END OF TIME
Week 70 is known by Christians as the tribulation and the labour
pains of the Messiah for the Jews, both referring to the threshold of the
Kingdom of the Lord. Jeremiah 30:7.
The Church
1948 is the official date when Israel is considered again as a
nation. From the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus Christ the Messiah about
the destruction of the temple in the year 70, until that date, is the period of
time when the Church has been preaching, anointed by the Holy Spirit since that
day in Pentecost, through the councils, the inquisition and the reform, coming
to the mega-churches and the mass-evangelization through satellite TV and the
internet. There have been major humanitarian works, many lives have been saved,
many souls have been saved, and also there have been many abominations and
atrocities and those responsible for them will face the Judgment of the Lord.
Now, we the Church, announce the next prophecy on the nation of
Israel which has already been fulfilled in the first part: the return to the
Holy Land as a nation and later its spiritual restoration, to the coming of
Jesus Christ in His Kingdom…
and when the
power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall
be finished…Daniel
12:7. 1948 + 70 years = 2018?
On their part, the apostles were aware of the fact that they
lived times when the coming of apostasy and the antichrist were already
announced but, furthermore, they were already announcing the works of many
antichrists
in their times. Their
references to the prophecies of Daniel are a clear evidence of their
relevance:
2 Thessalonians
2:2 to 4; 2Timothy 3:11; 1John 2:18; Jude 18.
The age of apostasy is today, with a faster and faster
destruction of moral and doctrine supported by laws, not to speak about how the
love of many has cooled down and their zeal for the Holy Spirit and the fire
from the Lord has been cut off …Come out of her my people… says the Lord in
Revelation 18:4 to those who have been standardized in their spirits by human
systems of tradition, imposition and submittal, apart from also being slaves to
sin.
The Church faces the situation of the rapture, but the Church is
made by us believers, disciples, each and every one of us, and therefore, just
like Paul told us to do in his first letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 5: …But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as
a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night
nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us
watch and be sober... ...putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a
helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain
salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ... ...Therefore comfort each other and
edify one another, just as you also are doing
Let this be our hope until the rapture comes, which we can
already see near, and which just like Paul said we will not be surprised at the
time, and it will not be a secret – like many people preach – but we are aware
that the day is coming and …every eye will see Him…
The Messianics and the Christians pro-Israel, the present
connecting nexus.
The Messianic Jews are being prosecuted by Jews who do not
believe in Yahshua in the same way as the Christians are, and the Jews have been
in the past. But it is clear that they are a tool from Adonai to awaken their
people.
Let us pray and support their great work because they teach us
the real meaning of the Word of God regarding interpretation of feasts,
traditions and hopes of Israel on the fulfilment of over 300 prophecies in the
Bible about the Son of God, who became God because He was God made man, who was
massively rejected by the Jews and also by the gentiles in the world. But there
is a promise made by Elohim, which they hold on to, and the Messianic are right
in doing so, because they know that the Lord will make His people receive the
anointment of the Holy Spirit on That day, just like He said they would, and
this is why they preach about Yahshua, from Isaiah 9:6, as the one who was
crucified and resuscitated and will come to establish His kingdom from Zion.
...Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which
caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them
unto their own land, and have left none of them anymore there.
Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my
spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 39:28,29. Also in
Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11.
Israel
Between the year 70 a.D. and 1948, the Church has evangelized.
During that time for the Church, Israel was not recognized by God as nation,
they were otherwise taken captive amongst nations, until the prophecy is
fulfilled starting with the return of Israel to their land (1948). This new
situation has brought us to a time when both the Church and Israel coexist, and
this has only happened before since the ministry of Jesus Christ until year 70
a.D. It could be that the Lord has put another 70 years, like the captivity in
Babylon which the Jewish people already suffered before they were released to
reconstruct the temple and Jerusalem, now for the re-establishment of Israel –
counting from 1948 there would be 10 years left, after the 60th
anniversary, which takes us to 2018 – and all the people of Israel may be
converted to Yahshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ,
by God Himself, according to the prophecy in Romans 11.
We do not know whether it is necessary for the temple to be
re-built, since the sacrifice and the offering may be established in a
tabernacle, like in Moses’ times. But the idea of the temple does not escape
anybody. Even though the orthodox Jews know that the temple must be raised by
the Lord and not by man, the most radical sectors will make an attempt. The
model was already taken to the esplanade of the temple and Ariel Sharon laid the
first stone in July 2001.
The seven years would start with a period of peace lasting three
and a half years (Revelation 12:6 and 14), during which the third temple could
be built, to renew the sacrifice and the offering, and in the middle of the
seven years, the antichrist who would have agreed peace with Israel, would
proclaim himself god and would demand worship and the offering from the Jewish
religion, and again he would erect a statue or worship of himself or with his
entrance to the Holy Place. Israel could be, as it is happening nowadays,
threatened to be exterminated by the final war of the northern block, and by the
east, to force them to accept this peace treaty. And again they would see
extermination close when all nations gathered against them, in the future battle
of Armageddon, which is in the north of Jerusalem, and they would then claim to
Yahshua the Messiah to come to rescue them and would destroy enemy nations,
establishing the kingdom of God for all nations which had been saved.
The return of Israel is an essential event and previous to the
future battle of Armageddon and the second coming of Yahshua the Messiah. Under
this scenario with Iran’s nuclear plans, “the
Persian kingdom; old enemy”, which
have given them the capacity to destroy,
probably the whole of the western world and maybe even the whole of
civilization, Israel, aware of this first-hand, does not cease in preparing an attack
for self-defence which may allow them to survive,
knowing that the
international community, who are always late doe to their bureaucracy, would not stop the attack.
It is precisely at this point, which many actual prophets are
teaching, that now when Israel is under extermination threat, when a leader from
the old roman empire would make an agreement with a leader from Israel,
promising protection if they were not to attack, and that this agreement applied
to Daniel’s prophecy of the last week would be part of humanity’s last time, and
is applied to the kingdom of the antichrist. In the middle of the week, as
Daniel’s text says literally, the sacrifice and the offering would stop, and
until the end
that is determined is poured out upon the desolate.
But during the second three and a half years, the wrath of the Lord is poured on
the earth, as stated in the plagues of Revelation. Let’s remember that in order
to have sacrifice and offering there must be a temple, and also for the
antichrist to enter into the Holy Place as the abomination of desolation, and
for what is determined to be poured upon the desolate, and the whole of the
prophecy will be completed with the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah.
A Bible text which could be telling us about a future temple is
Revelation 11, since it describes the instructions given to John about the
measurements of the same, the altar which is required to fulfil the 7th
week and those who worship there. However, John is told not to measure the outer
court because it has been given to the gentiles and they would trample on the
holy city for 42 months, 1260 days, 3,5 years. On this respect, it is worth
mentioning about a project which Kaufman discovered that it is possible to
re-build the temple on the same location, leaving the Dome of the Rock on the
right wing, south facing, in order to avoid a holy war on the place, but
everybody is aware of the fact that it would be a miracle if there would be no
fight over it for more than 3,5 years, and we do not know which is the exact
position of this act within the Lord’s prophetic puzzle on mount Moriah, the
Temple Mount, where Isaac was to be sacrificed.
This event seems possible, since the next part of the Text is the
two witnesses – one of them being Elijah, who was due to come just before the
end, before the coming of the Messiah, like John the Baptist came before the
first coming of the Messiah when He came to fulfil the atonement and sacrifice
for our sins …Elijah
was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it
might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and
six months (3,5 years). James 5:17. And Elijah came first, and Elijah will come
first, because he will be one of the witnesses together with Moses who will be
in the street of Revelation 11. Verse 6 confirms that they have the power to
shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time of their prophecy,
which is 1260 days, 42 months or 3,5 years. Now he will come in glory to
establish the kingdom of Yahweh.
REPERCUSSION
ON THE WORLD IN THE END OF TIME
The world’s situation in not a promising one, as we can see in
the daily news. Famine, poverty, human and children trade, human organs trade,
children’s sexual slavery, aids, cancer, pandemics, wars for resources,
earthquakes, floods, climate change, ice poles melting, price battle for energy
resources, moral decadence, prosecution and apostasy of Christianism, political
corruption, nuclear proliferation, and a great many others. Nothing matters,
other than power and money; politicians do not care about the rest as long as
they can get votes. It seems that we are reading Jesus Christ’s words in Matthew
24.
Regarding the situation in Israel, the neighbouring countries and
the influence of the international community, there are several movements
underway trying to look for peace solutions, such as the famous – although
unsuccessful – Road Map. The efforts of international politicians from major
powers bear no fruit. The Middle East – or Near East, according to the writer –
is still a conflict without a solution. Most nations do not care about the
personal situation of the Jews and of the –wrongly called – Palestinians, but their
influence on international and financial stability make it a must to attempt to
reach a peace agreement. Others are earnestly interested, for humanitarian and
spiritual reasons, for peace to come to Jerusalem, but the terms and conditions
are really set out by God, and those of us who believe in His Word know about
them. However, the prophecy provides guidelines about the events to come.
According to the recent proposal for a Mediterranean treaty made
by several European leaders, due to the failure of Europe as a project and the
control of illegal immigration in countries with a Mediterranean border, they
would not only invite those countries with Mediterranean coastline but they are
also considering inviting countries which are not included in Europe at present,
and of course, Israel as well (too similar to the Roman Empire to be a
coincidence). Should this treaty go ahead, Israel would have to leave the
defence and nuclear weapons in the hands of the Northern Atlantic troops or of a
new defence organization which could include both the Israeli and Palestinian
armies. This new Europe/Mediterranean/Rome is still in a preliminary stage, but
is taking a more definite shape due to the failing European project. This new
treaty proposed by the 10 countries in Southern Europe, according to the quartet
(EU, Russia, USA, UN) and their special representative for the Near East, the
treaty’s project has green light and, in exchange, would guarantee peace between
Israel and Palestine, which would also be integrated and controlled. Thus, Iran
(Persia) and Syria would be discouraged from their project to destroy Israel
which is a nuclear threat of the new and powerful Iran with the atomic bomb made
with nuclear technology from northern and eastern nuclear powers. On the other
hand, Israel threatens Iran with an imminent attack on their nuclear
installations, just like they did in Syria recently, without any international
consequence. And let us not forget that there is a Bible prophecy, still
unfulfilled, about the capital of Syria, Damascus: Isaiah 17:1. There is no
record in history about this event happening ever before. It is well known that
Syria hosts most of the radical Islamic groups which fight against the Western
world and in Irak (Babylon), as well as against Israel.
Jesus, however, warns us that:
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall
deceive many and, or, here is Christ,
or the
time is near, do not believe it, for as lightning that comes from the
east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24. The origin of this term “Son of Man” is in Daniel, and is chosen by
Christ to refer to Himself with regards to the final events, so we must see part
of the light of truth in Daniel’s prophecies about His coming, and they also
coincide and are a reflection of the expressions and details which the Lord
revealed for John in Revelation.
Europe’s evolution: At the moment (year 2008) Europe is formed by
27 countries and its continuity is being compromised after the failure in the
ratification of votes by member countries. But it seems that this was already in
Revelation:
Revelation 12:3 ...another wonder in heaven; and behold a great
red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads...
Revelation 13:1 …and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and
upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy...
Revelation 17:3 …a
woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten horns...
Revelation 17:12 …and the ten horns which you saw are ten kings,
which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with
the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the
beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them. And
he said unto me, the waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples,
and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw upon
the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked,
and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Europe is made by 27 countries, with the seven crowns on the
horns, not on the heads; horns are kings, and it ends by saying that the last
ten kingdoms receive power for one hour, which represents a short time, which
could be the Mediterranean treaty. Europe has not even started to have one
single elected president, not by turns. Will we ever get to see one, and if we
do, who will it be?
In another vision in Revelation, John sees the four empires which
are revealed to Daniel as one single power which governs the earth in all ages,
as one single spiritual entity opposed and enemy to the Kingdom of God and of
His people. See Ezekiel 38 and 39. As we have already seen above, this empire
has always existed, and its fourth name which was linked to Israel was the Roman
Empire, which has always been there for as long as the Church has existed
through the Catholic Church, which took over when the church-estate came
together as one single system since Constantine. This empire was in Europe and,
as we can see, Europe has become this alliance of 27 countries mentioned above
(7 heads and 10 horns and 10 crowns; 7+10+10=27). Besides, and to summarize, the
political revival of the Roman Empire as Europe, or whatever becomes of it,
coincides with the rebirth of Israel as a nation, so that week 70 may be
fulfilled and they can both come to an agreement.
Jerusalem is the religious capital of the world; it is the most
beloved city, the city chosen by God to manifest the prophetic history, the most
wanted by all empires. If the last empire has to govern the city, it will want
to have the religious temple there. If the project to build the third temple
goes ahead, Christian groups will say that the other monotheist religions: Jews
and Muslims have their temple in the city but Christians don’t. Revelation 17:16
could describe the acts of the last empire, former Roman Empire, which would
give birth to a new empire, after Europe’s decadence, and they could even get to
burn the temple in Rome in order to claim a temple in Jerusalem, or a third
temple on the esplanade of Moriah, with the excuse of the Christians not having
a temple there to represent them. There is a prophecy on an earthquake in
Jerusalem which will divide it into three parts. Revelation 16:18 and 19.
Whenever we see the fig tree (Israel) with its leaves coming out,
about to give fruits, which start to believe in Christ, the summer (Christ) is
near. The Messianic Jews already fulfil this, since Israel has come to their
land, and the messianic are giving fruit, and their preaching to their own
people are the leaves of Israel, now the whole nation must receive Yahshua the
Messiah, Romans 11, and the end will come. Establishment of the nation of
Israel, the Gospel being preached to all nations, Messianic Jews converted,
preaching to the Jews, added to all of the above…Which events do you think are
still missing?
If you have understood the message and you still do not know the
Lord and wish to reconcile with Him and become part of the saints who will be
taken away in rapture to heaven, and you want those close to you to know Him as
well, I invite you to receive Him right now, in a change of mind – or repentance
– to have Access to the kingdom of God in the rapture of the Church. Pray the
following prayer, now that you are with God on your own:
PRAYER TO
RECEIVE YAHSHUA, JESUS CHRIST:
Father,
I
admit
that
I
am
a
sinner,
because
I
have
lived
without
You.
I
need
to
be
saved
for
eternity
by
your
mercy,
and
I
don't
deserve
receiving
you.
I
accept
Christ's
sacrifice
to
forgive
all
my
sins;
by
the
precious
Blood
which
you
shed
in
the
cross
for
me.
I
need
you
Lord,
I
hand
over
my
life
to
You,
I
open
my
heart
so
you
can
come
in
now
with
your
Holy
Spirit
and
become
my
Lord
forever.
I
give
myself
to
you
whole-heartedly;
You
know
my
heart,
Lord.
Lord,
I
wish
to
know
The
Bible,
Your
Word,
and
I
want
You
to
show
me
to
all
the
truth,
so
nobody
can
ever
mislead
me,
and
know
Your
will,
and
live
with
You.
Amen.
Learn more about your salvation, at
Receive Christ.
SPIRITUAL VISION OF THE
70 WEEKS
Spiritually, 70 weeks represent a human life, 70 years; Psalm
90:10. The first 7 weeks are the first years until we become conscious, the
basis to build the inner temple of the soul and mind. The 62 weeks are the adult
life during which a man is confronted with the experience of living and during
which he can accept the Messiah, being born again in his heart. And the last
week is the threshold of physical death, when he faces the end of his days, the
Day of Judgment, resurrection and eternity, surrendering his spirit to God.
The 70 years also represent, specifically, spiritual elderness
which is reached after the steps described in the 70 weeks, but in the spirit.
Seven weeks which are 49 years, a jubilee, the acceptance of the Messiah and
obtaining the basic knowledge of the Gospel and the Word of God, to build the
wall to protect the soul: faith. 62 weeks of experience with other Christians to
shape character, participate in the works of the gospel, of building the inner
temple of the soul and the neighbour's soul, and to become a useful member and
coordinated in a perfect team which is able to accomplish a project: this is a
good congregation.
Just like Christ invites us to forgive 70 times 7, He already
forgave His people during 70 years and now during 70 weeks of years, 70 times 7,
and will bring them back to their land. 490 years and 490 times we will forgive.
A week has 7 days. God made creation in 7 days of times. In
the middle of the week refers to the middle of the time of humanity, because
humanity will live for 7 years or 7 times which are distributed as follows:
Time: the time for humanity. Times: 2000 years for the time of the Jews since
Abraham and 2000 years after Christ which is the time of the Gentiles, and a
half of time which is in the middle, when it is counted since Christ, because He
comes in the middle of times: in the middle of the week, that is 3,5 (of time)
He will cease the sacrifice and the offering. Because Passover is Christ.
Jesus is the temple which would be destroyed on the cross and
which He would raise in three days and would appear after three and a half days
before His disciples.
CONCLUSION
The prophecy of the 70 weeks of Daniel, as we can see, is a
source of prophetic information which the Lord has placed in the hands of His
people to guide us through events which happened, happen and will happen during
the course of history, which affects believers and non-believers, so that the
latter will believe and see God’s powerful hand. Similarly, it reassures the
faith of believers and provides support and light through the darkness of this
world.
Daniel has been a reference
of a man who, whilst working in the matters
of a King who, in principle, did not worship Yahweh, the only living God, was
called and granted revelation because he asked God with a sincere heart to write
and leave testimony of the wonders of the Lord and of His love for His people,
even whilst being captive in the world. This is the part of the history of a man
of God which can be any of us.
As we can see through historical events, week number 70 has not
been fulfilled yet, and therefore is still pending, but it is not acceptable
that churches make this fact the centre of their spiritual life and reject those
who do not share the same view. Christians must work mercifully in holiness
preaching the Gospel, helping brothers and those in need until the Lord comes.
The Bible prophecies are always fulfilled; there is not one single time when God
speaks without fulfilment. Some people doubt about the authenticity of the
Bible. Historical facts and the precise fulfilment are obvious.
The 70 weeks in 490 years, the subsequent fulfilment of 69 of
them and the prophecy of the treaty of week number 70, when Israel and the last
empire sign the peace treaty which will break in the middle of the week, bring
us to our present time when we have seen the revival of the two parts. The
nation of Israel and Europe or future heir kingdom or continued Roman Empire,
have 7 years ahead of them, divided in two period of 3,5 years, 42 months or
1260 days. In the middle of the time there will be a break up, and the desolate
will appear, until fulfilment comes.
Therefore the Church, Israel and the world are at the threshold
of the events of this weeks which is directly related to the tribulation and the
rapture of the people of God, made up by Gentile Christians and Messianic Jews.
It is time for the real disciples of Yahshua, Jesus Christ, to preach the
construction of the interior temple of the soul, getting ready for the coming of
the Kingdom of God, so we may live this time in the last spiritual week of the
people of God in a vision of hope for salvation for our neighbors, which is our
hope, and of spiritual and true friendship between His people awaiting the
coming of the great day of our Lord and the establishment of His Kingdom. Until
that day comes, may the Lord guard us without falling and lead us in the Way to
eternity in His presence until the new Jerusalem in heaven.
And, as our beloved brother Peter said:…Bear
in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul
also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all
his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things
that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they
do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that
you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your
secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
|