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.
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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.
How do you deal with the death of a loved one? Where does your comfort come from? If you are an unbeliever of Jesus and the Bible, your comfort is likely to come from within yourself, earthly philosophies, prescribed medication, empathy from close friends and family, or self-medication (illegal drugs or alcohol). Your worldview is likely: you die, return to dust, and that is the end forever. So the lifestyle motto is, “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” 1 Corinthians 15:32
However, if you are a follower of Christ and a student of the Bible, you will not “grieve as do others who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13. Did you know the Bible is extremely clear on where we are to find our comfort? In fact, regarding death, Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4: 18 we are “to comfort one another with these words.” What words? Words like: “They are in a better place.” “They are finally reunited with their spouse.” “They are with Jesus and the angels now.” ”That they are in heaven hunting with their favorite dog.”
No! Those words are not to be given as comfort and should never be used. They are not Biblical! These are words made up by the imagination only. They are false words of comfort. As someone once said, “The Bible may make you uncomfortable with the truth, but it will never comfort you with lies.” Here are the words from the Bible that tells the follower of Jesus how they are to obtain peace of mind and comfort for someone close who has died “in Christ”:
“For the Lord, himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. WHEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS!”
Did you catch that? Our comfort comes from knowing and believing two things: 1.) When the Lord returns (“descend(s) from heaven”), it will be a loud event (“Trumpet of God” and the “voice from the archangel”)
2.) When the Lord returns, there will be a lot of activity on earth, particularly at graveyards or wherever the followers of Christ were buried/cremated. Those that “died in Christ” will be resurrected. And if we are alive to escape death, we will all meet up in the air to meet Jesus and eternity will begin (“so shall we ever be with the Lord.”) These are the words that are to bring comfort: not our imaginations or made up stories of the dead “looking down on us.” Over and over, God’s word points us to the return of Christ and the resurrection, not the death bed as the point where we meet Jesus.
Here is a well-known verse. Jesus’ own words:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. John 14: 1-3
Please note: Our comfort is in the fact that when He comes again, He will then receive us and we will go to “where He is now”. We will be there with Him! Where is Jesus now? He is with the Father! “…I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” John 20:17
What joy! Christ can resurrect a body that has turned to dust. He will then breathe into the newly formed nostrils and create a living, immortal soul. Then the “dead in Christ” along with those alive in Christ will return with Him to the Father in heaven! Even Job understood this. Listen to the hope of Job about his own death:
“\For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Job 19: 25-26
Job had the confidence that his Redeemer lives and even though his skin will be destroyed, he will see God when He stands on the earth! How clear is that? Does he see God at death? No! When the Redeemer comes to the earth!
Daniel also understood the same thing!
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2
Did you know that the Bible never says we have an immortal soul? But, we receive immortality when we are changed at Christ’s return. Hear the words of Paul who wants to clear up the mystery about death:
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this Mortal must put on IMMORTALITY.So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this MORTAL shall have put on IMMORTALITY, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55
When the Lord returns, some will not sleep (die). They are alive in Christ. Both the alive in Christ and those who “died in Christ,” will be “changed” immediately (“twinkling of an eye”) at the sound of “the last loud trumpet”. It is then, and only then, that “the mortal will put on immortality.” It is at the return of Christ we become immortal, not at death!
Note the last question in 1 Corinthians 15: 55.
Please read in the context. This rhetorical question cannot be asked until the Lord returns.
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
I have heard it asked at funerals about the deceased without mention of the second coming. To do so is to take it out of its beautiful context of Jesus’ return.
All of these clear passages plus many more are overruled and explained away by a few unclear and out of context verses like:“Absent from the body and present from the Lord.”
How beautiful is God’s words about the death of those who die! “He gives His beloved, sleep.” Psalm 127:2 It is like a sweet, dreamless, unconscious sleep where a long time is reduced to a microsecond. The Christian falls asleep like they would in surgery where the passage of time is not felt. They awake to the sights and sounds of the return of Jesus with all the holy angels. They come from the graves with new bodies and are made immortal. The families of the earth are reunited in the air and then taken to heaven by Jesus and the multitude of angels. Jesus then takes us to where he is now…the home of the Father…New Jerusalem.
One day (after 1,000 years), the New Jerusalem comes back to earth with the redeemed. God will make a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells and where there is no more pain or death! All tears will be wiped away! Earth will be the home of the redeemed where we will enjoy the works of our hands by building houses and planting vineyards. “From one Sabbath to another and from one new moon to another we shall come to worship.”
These are the words that give me comfort! They are Biblical and make sense to those who know Jesus. God’s own words are much better than our imagination!
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
Last time, we reviewed from the Bible how the church today was given examples and warnings so that we don’t make the same mistakes. The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 10 is dedicated to warnings to the early church and these certainly apply to us in modern times:
Now, these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Nowall these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition (instruction or warning), upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10: 6-11
Paul also adds that the things written in the scriptures that gives us reasons to endure and be encouraged we can have hope. If we are not students of the Old Testament stories of Israel, we are missing the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and the things they did right.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4
Conclusion: The Old Testament experience of Israel and how God dealt with their weaknesses is highly relevant to those who take the name of Christ and are part of the body of Christ…His church.
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This time, we will explore a prophecy that gives Israel a period of time to repent and accept the Messiah. If not, their mission will end. We will also understand when and how it ended. Jesus confirms the end of their mission in several parables. We looked briefly at three last time. Of particular impact is the parable of the wicked Vinedresser in Matthew 21, Jesus ends the message with this prophecy:
“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21: 43-44
Embed in this statement is the desire of God and points out the failure of Israel….”bearing the fruits.” God desires the mission to produce results. If our church is not effective, then we are no better than the centuries God worked with Israel. We are repeating the same mistake. We have become religious….form without substance…a facade hidden behind grand buildings, suites, and shining white teeth. Programs that do not have Jesus in it anywhere.
In this study, we will look at an amazing prophecy found 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. But, most of all, it gives us a warning.
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 even 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 included.
“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
This statement by the angel refers back to the previous chapter’s vision of the Ram, Goat, and the 2,300 days of the sanctuary being cleansed. As stated by Daniel himself in the last verse of Chapter 8, the dream was not completely understood.
And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it. Daniel 8: 27
Then Gabriel gives the explanation of the time element not understood in the previous Chapter (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.
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, 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
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 sent forth his Son…”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
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
Ephesians 2: 14-15
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 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!
God has a stopping point when we harden our hearts and refuse to believe His word and follow Him. When our only interest is in ourselves, our heritage, our traditions, and ceremonies instead of being the light on the hill, we become nothing more than a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
Will the church make the same mistake as Israel and assume God will ignore our continued failures to follow Him and His Word seriously. Will the uselessness of rounds of self-serving religions acts become our savior rather than the One who created us? Will the sinner die for eternity because we did not “Go …, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” Matthew 28: 19-20
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.
