Amos 3:7, “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” Throughout the ages, God has disclosed his strategy of redemption for a fallen world so that people are without excuse (Romans 1:20). Some of the most detailed prophetic writings in the Bible are found in the book of Daniel, where the prophet records future world powers, the fate of the nation of Israel and ultimately the dynamics of the appearance of the Messiah not once, but twice.
“Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.” Daniel 9:24. In my article Prophetic Precision, Jan 24, 2021, I examined the calculation of the seventy weeks and showed how the first 69 weeks of years culminated with the crucifixion (“the Anointed One will be cut off and having nothing.” Daniel 9:26).
Verse 26 then goes on to reveal that, “The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This came to pass when the Romans sieged Jerusalem and destroyed the temple in AD 70. It is at this point where there is a disconnect between the first 69 weeks of the prophecy and the seventh and final week, when everlasting righteousness will be ushered in. When that finally happens, the story is complete. It is the end.
The significance of Daniel’s writings was highlighted by Jesus’s fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 when he permitted himself to be honored as king when he rode a donkey into Jerusalem and the people laid palm branches on the ground before him while singing Psalm 118:26 (Luke 19:38). The Pharisees fully recognized what was happening and attempted to halt the celebrations, however, Jesus responds by saying, “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:40. Jesus recognized that the mathematics of the first 69 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy identified that particular moment in time when he would be proclaimed “Messiah King” (Mashiach Nagid).
When telling his disciples what the signs preceding his return and of the end of the age would be, Jesus directs their attention to Daniel 9:27 and qualifies his statement with, “let the reader understand,” (Mathew 24:15). By doing so, he brings the Roman empire into focus as the dominant kingdom in the end times. Daniel 9:26 tells us that war will continue until the end, intimating that there is a period of time between the sixty ninth and seventieth weeks which certainly has been the case. In fact, there has been more bloodshed due to war in the twentieth century than in the previous nineteen combined. The times of the gentiles have been associated with war and violence on unprecedented levels.
The seventieth week is earmarked by a covenant that is one ‘seven’ in length or seven years long established by the “ruler who will come”. “In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.” Daniel 9:27, and “He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods.” Daniel 11:36.
We are told that this individual will arise out of the people of the old Roman empire (Daniel 9:26). What we must be careful not to overlook is that the Roman empire not only consisted of the western European nations but the eastern nations as well since Constantine established Constantinople as the eastern capital, often referred to as the Byzantine empire. Therefore, the nations of Greece, Turkey, Syria and Jordan must be considered as potential areas the antichrist will emerge from.
The twelfth chapter of Daniel reveals, “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.” Daniel 12:1. Jesus also referred to this time of tribulation in the 24th chapter of Mathew. “For then there will be a time of great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” Mathew 24:21-22.
From the time the man of lawlessness (as the apostle Paul calls him) is revealed, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him, he will wreak havoc on the people of the world in unprecedented ways causing all to receive his mark and worship him as a god. Those who refuse will be killed. What used to be unimaginable has already entered the realm of possibility as civilization has witnessed in the draconian response of governments to the pandemic of the last two years. We have seen a disease exploited by world powers to generate more wealth for the extremely wealthy and impoverish the middle class in manipulative and unethical ways.
While many have embraced the government tactics in the name of health and safety, we must exercise discernment because there will come a time when the stakes will be much higher. The dark forces that rule this world have tilted their poker hand slightly and given us a glimpse of which cards will be at play when the tyranny of the antichrist comes to fruition. While the WEF, UN and others advocating a one world government may not have succeeded yet, they are certain to attempt to subjugate the masses again.
The good news for believers lies in Daniel 12:1b-2, “But at that time your people – everyone whose name is written in the book – will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” The apostle Paul elaborated upon this concept to the church at Corinth, saying, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
Additionally, Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”
Jesus often spoke in parables to conceal certain truths from the unbelief of the Jews. In the same way, Bible prophecy remains hidden in plain sight from the spiritually dead people who remain unrepentant and in denial of God. For those who seek the truth, there is enlightenment. For those who confide in the Lord there is comfort. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Mathew 7:7-8.
Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” By revealing to the prophet Daniel five hundred years before Christ, what would take place in Jerusalem and in the distant millennia of the future, God disclosed his plan for the redemption of humanity. Jesus had expectations that the Jews would know the signs of his ministry and who he truly was. In the same way, we are to know the signs of the times and the events that indicate the return of Christ is imminent. We are to know the lateness of the hour we live in.
God did not reveal these things through the prophets, the apostles and through Christ’s own words so that we would be unprepared for what lies ahead. Jesus said, “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Mathew 24:43-44.
