Israel in the Great Tribulation - Part 4

The Gathering of Israel

The Great Tribulation, as we saw in the previous post, is a time when Israel will be refined. The Jews who adamantly reject Jesus Christ during the Great Tribulation will die under the wrath of God. At the second coming of Christ, at the consummation of the Great Tribulation, every living Jew will look upon the Son of God, whom they crucified, and will believe on their Messiah for salvation. All Israel will be saved.

At the conclusion of the Great Tribulation, not only will Israel be saved, but Israel will also be gathered to her own land to inhabit it during the Millennium. Many scriptures teach that Israel, both kingdoms, will be gathered together to live in the land that God gave to her.

Deuteronomy 30:3 – “That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.”

Amos 9:14, 15 – “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”

Jeremiah 16:14, 15 – “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.”

Ezekiel 20:40 – “For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.”

Zephaniah 3:19, 20 – “Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.”

Just as sure as the Bible teaches that all Israel will be saved from sin, the Bible makes it equally as clear that Israel will be gathered again to live in the land that God gave to her.

Rapture of the Church or Gathering of Israel?

The prophets undoubtedly prophesied that Israel will be gathered in the latter times to dwell in her own land. But it is noteworthy that Christ taught this doctrine. Notice the following passage, and notice the words and phrases emphasized:

Matthew 24:29-31 – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear THE SIGN of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall GATHER TOGETHER his elect from THE FOUR WINDS, from one end of heaven to the other.”

In the above passage, Christ tells his disciples that, after the Great Tribulation, when the Son of man will gather together the elect at the sound of a trumpet. In times past, I previously had believed that the above passage made reference to the rapture of the church. Now, it is obvious to me that there is no way that this passage speaks of the rapture of the church.

Notice the phrases in the above passage that I emphasized: “the sign,” “gather together,” and “four winds.” These phrases are found in an almost-identical Old Testament prophecy:

Isaiah 11:10-12 – “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for AN ENSIGN of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up AN ENSIGN for the nations, and shall ASSEMBLE the outcasts of Israel, and GATHER TOGETHER the dispersed of Judah from THE FOUR CORNERS of the earth.”

In our passage above, Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus speaks of a sign. In Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 11, Isaiah speaks of an ensign. In Matthew 24, Jesus said that the elect would be gathered together; Isaiah said that the remnant of His people would be assembled and gathered together. Jesus said that the elect would be gathered from the four winds; Isaiah said that the remnant of His people would be assembled form the four corners of the earth. In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus is speaking of the same event of which Isaiah prophesies in Isaiah 11. There is one difference of wording between the two passages that will help us identify who Jesus refers to as “the elect.” In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus refers to a gathering together of the elect. In Isaiah 11, Isaiah speaks of a gathering together of the remnant, but Isaiah does not refer to this remnant as “the elect.” Isaiah refers to this remnant as “the outcasts of Israel” and “the dispersed of Judah.” Whom Jesus calls “the elect,” is not the church, but rather “the outcasts of Israel,” and “the dispersed of Judah.” When Jesus speaks of the Son of man coming after the tribulation to gather together His elect, He is speaking of the Son of man coming to gather the Jews who had been scattered in the tribulation.

In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus said that this gathering of the elect would take place at the sound of a trumpet. Isaiah does not say it in Isaiah 11, but Isaiah does confirm that the gathering of the Jews would take place at the sound of a trumpet:

Isaiah 27:12, 13 – “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and YE SHALL BE GATHERED one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that THE GREAT TRUMPET SHALL BE BLOWN, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.”

In Matthew 24:29-31, to say that Jesus is referring to gathering the church together is inconsistent with the context of the passage. In the verses immediately prior to this passage, Jesus makes it clear that in the Great Tribulation, Israel will be scattered. He states that those who are in Judaea should flee. He speaks to the Jews, telling them to pray that when they are on the run, they should pray that their flight be not on the Sabbath day. Clearly, Christ is teaching that the Jews will be scattered during the Great Tribulation. It only makes sense that, if the Jews are scattered DURING the tribulation, then it would logically be the Jews who are gathered together AFTER the tribulation. This makes the most sense in context of the whole passage, and a gathering together of the Jews fulfils many Old Testament prophecies regarding the gathering of the Jewish people in the latter times, never to be plucked up again.

Israel in the Great Tribulation - Part 3

The Salvation of Israel

Jeremiah 30:7 – “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

Here are two great promises of God to the Jewish people; first, that Israel has a time of trouble through which to go; and second, that at the conclusion of that time of trouble, Israel will be saved! Israel will be saved with the same salvation with which every Christian is saved! This salvation is a salvation from sin:

Daniel 9:24 – “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.”

Romans 11:25-27 – “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”

The salvation of the nation of Israel is a major Bible doctrine. When post-tribulationists omit it from their teaching, they usually spiritualize it to mean that the church will be saved. NONSENSE! There are too many scriptures that refer to the salvation and complete restoration of the nation of Israel to omit it or spiritualize it:

When I speak of the salvation of Israel, I am referring to the act of God Almighty cleansing Israel from her sin at the close of the Great Tribulation:

Micah 7:18-20 – “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.”

Zephaniah 3:19, 20 – “Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.”

Zechariah 10:6-10 – “And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.”

These are only a few of many more passages that promise the salvation of Israel from sin, and the restoration of Israel from the lands to which they had been scattered. Just as sure as Israel will be scattered during the Great Tribulation, Israel will be gathered, restored, and saved at the close of the Great Tribulation.

The Great Tribulation – A Refiner’s Fire

It is clear that the nation of Israel will be saved from her sin at the close of the Great Tribulation. Does this mean that today’s Jew is guaranteed salvation and need not worry about whether or not he is saved? Not at all. Does Israel’s national salvation mean that no Jew can go to hell? Certainly not. Opponents of the clear, Bible teaching that Israel will be saved raise these questions. While they are legitimate questions that deserve a clear, concise answer, the Bible is not slack to provide those answers.

TODAY’S JEW IS NOT GUARANTEED SALVATION

In the age in which we are currently living, the church age, God’s dealings are with Jew and Gentile alike. There is no distinction between God’s dealings with the Jews and His dealings with the Gentiles.

Romans 10:12 – “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

Galatians 3:28 – “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.”

Colossians 3:11 – “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”

As a matter of fact, when Christ prepared to ascend, He gave the Great Commission to His disciples. In this commission, He commanded them to give the gospel to the Jews first. We are reminded in the New Testament that the gospel is to “the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” This shows that the today’s Jew needs the gospel! He’ll go to hell without the gospel!

Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

The Jew received the gospel before it was given to the Gentile. Without the gospel, Jews are lost. In the first three chapters of the book of Romans, Paul goes through great trouble to show all mankind is in sin, and in need of a Saviour. In Romans 1, Paul shows that the heathen need to be saved. In Romans 2, Paul’s message is that the hypocrites need a Saviour. In Romans 3, the message is that the Hebrew, or the Jew, is under condemnation. At the end of these three chapters, Paul states his conclusion – “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” In Romans 10:1, Paul states that his prayer for the nation of Israel is that they might be saved. Such a request is unnecessary if today’s Jew is guaranteed salvation. In this age, Jews are blinded by the god of this world, and they are as lost and hell-bound as can be without Christ! They need a Saviour! If they die without Jesus Christ, they will wake up in hell!

JEWS IN HELL WILL NEVER GET OUT

When I teach that “all Israel shall be saved,” I am not teaching that no Jew will be in hell. Neither am I teaching that Jews who are in hell will someday get out of hell on the basis of Israel’s national salvation.

Jesus related to us a true story regarding a Jew who went to hell. In Luke 19, Christ tells about a rich man who died, was buried, and lifted up his eyes in a fiery, flaming hell. There was a conversation between this rich man and Abraham, the father of the Jews. The man in hell cried out to Abraham, referring to him as “Father Abraham.” Someone may say that Abraham is also the father of the faithful. This is true, but if the rich man were faithful to God, he would not have been in hell. Abraham was the rich man’s father because the rich man in hell was a Jew. He went to hell, and he will stay there forever. And yet, “All Israel shall be saved!”

The Salvation of Israel – How Will It Come About?

The salvation of the nation of Israel will occur after the Great Tribulation, and the Great Tribulation will be an agent to assist in bringing it about. In this present age, there are unbelieving Jews. In the Great Tribulation, there will also be unbelieving Jews. However, at the end of the Great Tribulation, every living Jew will at that time be saved! Throughout the Great Tribulation, Israel’s blinded eyes will gradually be opened, as more and more Jews will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. There will 144,000 Jews sealed during that time. There will be other Jews who will believe in their Messiah. At the close of the Great Tribulation, when Jesus Christ comes with the saints, every Jew living at that time will look upon Jesus Christ, and the Deliverer will save Jacob from his transgressions:

Zechariah 12:10 – “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

This verse is clear that the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will look upon the One that they crucified, and will weep when they learn that it was their Messiah that they killed. The Jews looked upon whom they pierced when Jesus died on the cross (John 19:37); but there no weeping by the nation of Israel for Jesus when He died. John says that the Jews will look upon Jesus again at His second coming, and will wail because of Him.

Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Yes, Israel will behold their Messiah coming down from heaven after the Great Tribulation, and will weep because of Him. And yes, grace will be poured out to the entire nation, and all Israel shall be saved.

Zechariah 13:1 – “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

The fact that every living Jew will be saved at the second coming of Christ is soundly substantiated. Now, briefly, I will discuss the role of the Great Tribulation in bringing this about.

During the Great Tribulation, there will be unbelieving Jews, as there is now. Those Jews who absolutely refuse Christ in the Great Tribulation will suffer the wrath of God during that time, and will die lost under the wrath of God. Obviously, those Jews who die under the wrath of God will not be numbered with “all Israel” at the close of the tribulation. This is why, if you are a Jew, that the doctrine of the salvation of Israel is no guarantee that you will be saved. The Great Tribulation is a refiner’s fire. It will sever those Jews who will never be saved from those Jews who, at the close of the Great Tribulation, will be saved. After the Great Tribulation cuts off those Jews who would never be saved, the Jews who are left – every living Jew at the end of the Great Tribulation – will call upon the name of the Lord and be saved! Don’t take my word for it; take Zechariah’s word for it:

Zechariah 13:8, 9 – “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

Israel in the Great Tribulation - Part 2

The Scattering of Israel

Jeremiah 30:7 – “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

One of the most important things to remember concerning the Great Tribulation is that it has a Jewish aspect to it. Jeremiah writes, “…it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble…” Jacob was the man in the book of Genesis whose name was changed to Israel. Israel’s twelve sons became the heads of the twelve families, or tribes, of the nation of Israel. The Great Tribulation has much to do with the nation of Israel – “it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble.”

While some insist that the above verse is not referring to the Great Tribulation, scripture makes it clear that the verse concerns the Great Tribulation. The previous verse makes this clear:

Jeremiah 30:6 – “Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, AS A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL, and all faces are turned into paleness?”

This passage of scripture is talking about a time that is compared to a woman in travail. Paul calls this time the day of the Lord:

I Thessalonians 5:2, 3 – “For yourselves know perfectly that the DAY OF THE LORD so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, AS TRAVAIL UPON A WOMAN with child; and they shall not escape.”

I have already discussed in detail that the day of the Lord is a time period which is initiated by the Great Tribulation (see my recent posts entitled The Day of the Lord – parts 1, 2, and 3).

Jeremiah’s very description of “Jacob’s trouble” shows us that he is speaking of the Great Tribulation:

Jeremiah 30:7 – “Alas! for that day is great, SO THAT NONE IS LIKE IT: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

What does Jeremiah say about time of “Jacob’s trouble?” He says there is no day like it! This exact description is given in scripture to describe both the day of the Lord, and more specifically, the Great Tribulation. I brought out these scriptures in part two of my posts on the day of the Lord, but I will list them again for the benefit of the reader:

Joel 2:1, 2 – “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for THE DAY OF THE LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; THERE HATH NOT BEEN EVER THE LIKE, NEITHER SHALL BE ANY MORE AFTER IT, even to the years of many generations.”

Daniel 12:1 – “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, SUCH AS NEVER WAS SINCE THERE WAS A NATION, EVEN TO THAT SAME TIME: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

Matthew 24:21 – “For then shall be great tribulation, SUCH AS WAS NOT since the beginning of the world to this time, no, NOR EVER SHALL BE.”

Mark 13:19 – “For in those days shall be affliction, SUCH AS WAS NOT from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, NEITHER SHALL BE.”

The Great Tribulation has a Jewish aspect about it. No one can study it without seeing the significance of the nation of Israel during this dreadful time. At this time, I will examine several passages of scripture that reveal God’s dealings with Israel during the Great Tribulation.

The Scattering of the Jews

In Jeremiah 30, it is clear that during the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Jews will be scattered. I will not comment much on this subject, as I already have done so in part 3 of my series entitled The Day of the Lord. At the close of Jacob’s trouble, the Lord promises to gather Israel out of the nations to which they have been scattered:

Jeremiah 30:10, 11 – “Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”

It is only reasonable to believe that if, after the time of Jacob’s trouble, God is going place Israel in their own land, then during the time of Jacob’s trouble, Israel must be scattered. The scattering of Israel is a major Bible teaching regarding the nation of Israel in the Great Tribulation. Christ brings out the point in great detail in the Olivet Discourse:

Matthew 24:15-20 – “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”

Christ says, “Let them which be in Judaea FLEE!” He goes on, “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house!” He further instructs those who see the abomination of desolation (an event described in my previous post) not to return back to take their clothes. In addition to this, Christ further instructs them to pray that their flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day!

Two things are clear regarding the above passage; first, that Christ is dealing with the Jews during the tribulation; and second, that the Jews will be on the run during that time. Christ’s mention of the abomination of desolation regards the Jewish temple and the abominations committed in it during the Great Tribulation. “Let them which be in Judaea FLEE!” Judaea is a land of Jewish occupancy. Christ then gives a prayer request – He requests that they pray that their flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day! The Sabbath is of Jewish concern. The Jews will have a flight (or, a time of fleeing) in the Great Tribulation. Christ instructs them to pray that it will be neither in the winter, nor on the Sabbath day!

TO BE CONTINUED…

Israel in the Great Tribulation - Part 1

Daniel’s Seventy Weeks

Daniel 9:24-27 –

“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, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

“And after threescore and two weeks 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: 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.”

Volumes have been written about this vision of Daniel, the man of God. There is no way I can cover every verse in great detail. I will hit the main points to show God’s dealings with Israel during the Great Tribulation.

The Events That Brought About This Vision

The ninth chapter of Daniel opens with Daniel’s investigation of the seventy-year captivity of the Jews. The Jews were at this time slaves in the country of Babylon (although Babylon at this time was under Medo-Persian rule). Daniel, by reading Jeremiah’s writings, saw that the Jews were only to be in captivity to the Chaldees for seventy years. Knowing that the seventy years were nearly expired, this brought Daniel the prophet to his knees. He prayed one of the most humble, most powerful prayers in the entire Bible. He prayed a prayer of confession, confessing Israel’s sins to their God. He then asks for the mercy of God upon the grounds of His promises.

In response to his prayer, the angel Gabriel interrupted Daniel to give him the answer to his prayer; that is, the vision of the seventy weeks.

Daniel's Vision of the Seventy Weeks Concerns the Jews

While some attempt to “spiritualize” Daniel’s seventy weeks, making it apply to the church, the scripture is clear – the subject of the seventy weeks is concerning the nation of Israel:

Daniel 9:24 – “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city…”

Gabriel makes it plain – “Seventy weeks are determined upon THY PEOPLE, and upon THY HOLY CITY.” It makes no sense to make this vision of the seventy weeks apply to the church, or to the church age. This vision came as an answer to Daniel’s prayer. Daniel’s prayer regarded the Jews specifically. He refers specifically in his prayer to the seventy-year captivity of the Jews in Babylon, an event peculiar to the Jews. He refers to God’s commandments to the Jews given in the Law of Moses. It would be a dishonest interpretation of scripture to say that Daniel’s prayer was concerning his people, the Jews, and concerning the city of Jerusalem; and then turn around and teach that the answer to Daniel’s prayer, the vision of the seventy weeks, is concerning the New Testament church. This vision of the seventy weeks strictly relates to the Jewish people and the Jewish city of Jerusalem.

What is the Meaning of the Term “Weeks”?

Gabriel tells Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city.” What does the angel mean by the word “weeks”? In the twenty-first century, we think of a “week” as being a period of seven days. However, in Daniel’s time, especially in the Hebrew language, the term “seventy weeks” simply meant “seventy sevens.” Let me say it another way. A “week” is simply “a period of seven.” That’s not a typo. Let me type it again. A “week” is simply “a period of seven.” Here in the west, in the twenty-first century, when we hear the word, “week,” we think of a period of seven days. And that’s right. A week is a period of seven days. But it can also be a period of seven years. That is exactly what is meant in our text.

Gabriel tells Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city.” God’s dealings with the Jews would consist of seventy periods of seven years each. God’s would deal with Israel for 490 years.

What Will God Do For Israel in 490 Years?

At the end of seventy weeks, or 490 years, six great purposes in the plan of God for the nation of Israel will be accomplished. They are listed clearly in Daniel 9:24 –

1) To finish the transgression – Israel will no longer transgress the law of their God.

2) To make an end of sins – Israel’s sins will be completely blotted out. Their sins will not just be temporarily and annually atoned for, as they were under the law, but Christ’s blood will completely abolish their sins.

3) To make reconciliation for iniquity – Because of the “end of sins” made by the blood of Christ, Israel will enjoy limitless fellowship with God, completely and forever reconciled to Him.

4) To bring in everlasting righteousness – Righteousness will be imputed to the nation of Israel – eternally.

5) To seal up the vision and the prophecy – Daniel’s vision and prophecy of the seventy weeks, as well as every prophecy to Israel as a nation will be fulfilled at the end of the seventy weeks.

6) To anoint the Most holy – This refers to the “Most holy,” or “the holiest of all,” or “the holy of holies.” It is the compartment in the Jewish temple where the presence of God dwells. At the end of seventy weeks, Israel will have their temple in their possession from the man of sin.

The Events of the Seventy Weeks

Now, we get into the meat of the seventy weeks. I will keep it as brief as I can, and try to make it as simple to understand as possible. Daniel 9:27 deals with the final “week,” or the final seven-year period of the seventy weeks. I will examine that final week shortly. First, let us examine the sixty-nine weeks prior to the final “week.” Look again at Daniel 9:25, 26 –

“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, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.  And after threescore and two weeks 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.”

Here is what we learn from these verses:

1) There are three major events that will occur in these sixty-nine “weeks,” or 483 years. First, there is the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem. Second, there is the rebuilding of the street and the wall of Jerusalem. Third, there is the coming of Messiah the Prince (Christ’s first coming). Each of these three events has already been fulfilled.

2) The seventy weeks of Daniel did not begin until the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem was given. This commandment marks the beginning of the seventy weeks. Ezra and Nehemiah record the fulfillment of this event, and the seventy weeks hereby began.

3) From the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to Messiah the Prince (Christ’s first coming) was a sum seven weeks (49 years) and threescore and two weeks (62 weeks, or 434 years), for a total of sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years.

4) After sixty-nine weeks, Messiah (Christ) would be cut off; that is, He would die. Also, after the sixty-nine weeks, the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. Christ’s death has been fulfilled, and shortly thereafter, Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D.

Dear reader, do not let all this information overwhelm you. The important thing about the seventy weeks of Daniel is this: sixty-nine “weeks” have definitely been fulfilled. We know this because the events that happen therein are now recorded history. Ezra and Nehemiah record both the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the actual rebuilding of it. Christ literally was born sixty-nine “weeks,” or 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Christ has indeed been cut off, but not for Himself. Sixty-nine weeks of Daniel’s seventy weeks are history.

Daniel’s Seventieth Week

While some insist that Daniel’s seventieth week is fulfilled, just as the previous sixty-nine weeks are fulfilled, the scriptures make it clear that the seventieth week of Daniel has not yet been fulfilled. Notice:

Daniel 9:27 – “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, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

There is one phrase in the above verse that shows that the seventieth week of Daniel is yet unfulfilled. It is this phrase: “…and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate.” This is a key event regarding end-time prophecy. The scriptures call this event “the abomination of desolation.” This is when a man with whom the above verse deals sits in the temple, claiming to be God, breaks his seven-year covenant with the Jews, and causes the sacrifices in the temple to cease (I will identify this man momentarily). Jesus spoke about this event, showing that it would occur during the Great Tribulation, before His second coming:

Matthew 24:15, 21, 29 – “When ye therefore shall see THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)… For THEN SHALL BE GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be…IMMEDATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Clearly, the abomination of desolation is associated with the Great Tribulation, which will consummate with the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that the abomination of desolation will occur in the Great Tribulation. Daniel said that the abomination of desolation would occur in the midst of the seventieth week. The Great Tribulation, which ends with the second coming of Christ with His saints, has not yet occurred. It is therefore impossible for the seventieth week of Daniel to have occurred. Daniel’s seventieth week is therefore none other than what Christ calls “Great Tribulation.”

The Man of Daniel’s Seventieth Week

Who is the man that will make the temple desolate with his abominations? Let us look at it again:

Daniel 9:27 – “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, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

There is a “he” in this verse. “He” does several things. Let us examine them, so we can clearly identify this man:

1) “And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” – This man will make a covenant with the Jews for one “week,” or for one period of seven years.

2) “…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…” – This man will cause all sacrifices to cease in the Jewish temple. They will cease because of his committing of abominations.

Now, some insist that the man of this verse is Jesus Christ. This is impossible. Christ certainly not cause any sacrifice to cease as a result of His own abominations. The previous verse shines some light:

Daniel 9:26 – “And after threescore and two weeks 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.”

The last person mentioned in the previous verse is “the prince that shall come.” This is the man whose people destroyed the temple. Surely, this is not Jesus Christ. This is none other than the man of sin, the beast of revelation, the man often referred to as the antichrist.

Jesus states that the abomination of desolation would occur in the tribulation, and that Christ would come at the end of the tribulation. Paul reiterates this. Paul speaks of the abomination of desolation, stating that the man of sin would sit in the temple, claiming to be God. Paul goes on to say that the man of sin would be destroyed by Christ’s second coming:

II Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 8 – “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God… And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

Conclusion

There is much more to say about Daniel’s seventy weeks, especially the one period of seven years that is yet to come – the seventieth week, but time only allows me to conclude. The church has no part in the seventieth week of Daniel. Seeing that this last period of seven years is the time period that Christ calls the Great Tribulation, I have already established in previous posts that the church is delivered from the wrath of God occurring on the day of the Lord, which includes the Great Tribulation. After Christ comes for His church and the church is removed from the scene, the man of sin will be revealed. He will begin a seven-year covenant with the nation of Israel, and he will break that covenant in the middle of the seven-year period. During this time, God Almighty will again deal with the Jewish people. Do not forget – Daniel was told that the seventy weeks were determined on “thy people,” the Jews, and “upon thy holy city,” Jerusalem. The Great Tribulation is very much of Jewish concern.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Israel - The Key to Bible Prophecy

Romans 11:25, 26 – “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

In the above passage, Paul begins by expressing his desire that the reader be not ignorant of a certain mystery. And many today are ignorant of this very thing! This great mystery is fourfold, and it must be understood before one can study prophecy successfully. This fourfold mystery is stated plainly in the above passage, and is defined as follows:

1) Blindness is happened to Israel. Surely no one will argue that the term “Israel” here refers to the church.  Many Jews, both in Paul’s time and in our time, are blinded to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ is their promised Messiah, but they could not see it. They crucified Him. And today is no different. They are yet blinded.

2) Israel’s blindness is only “in part.” Paul said, “Blindness IN PART is happened to Israel.” Every Jew is not blinded. There is a portion of Israel, even today, that believes that Jesus Christ is their Messiah. These are called “Messianic Jews.” There is a remnant in Israel. Some Jews are not blinded, but have been enlightened.

3) Israel’s blindness is only temporary. This is one part of the passage that some do not get. Israel’s blindness is NOT permanent. In the above passage, Paul says, “…blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL…” The word “until” means “from now to a certain time.” Israel’s blindness is not permanent; it is only UNTIL a certain time. The time when Israel’s eyes would be opened is when “the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Here is the clear Biblical teaching that, at some point, God’s dealings with the Gentiles as it is now will cease, and God’s attention will be turned back to the Jews. Paul makes it clear in Romans 11:1 that God is not finished with Israel. Zechariah 1:17 reiterates this truth that “the Lord shall YET choose Jerusalem.” Again, in Zechariah 2:12, “the Lord shall choose Jerusalem again.” When God turns away from the Gentiles and back to Israel, Israel’s eyes will be opened!

4) All Israel shall be saved. Here is another part of this mystery that many do not understand – ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED! Some interpret Paul’s words “all Israel shall be saved” to mean “all the church will be saved.” Ken and Agnes Macdonald, post-tribulation advocates, in their book, The Second Coming, have this to say about the national salvation of Israel – “ ‘And so all Israel shall be saved’ (Romans 11:26) does not mean that the entire nation of Israel will be saved when Jesus returns, as many teach. This verse refers to the salvation of the church.”* With all due respect – that’s foolish! In the previous verse, Paul states, as we have already discussed, that blindness in part is happened to ISRAEL. Surely, Ken and Agnes Macdonald, as well as other post-tribulationists, do not believe that blindness in part is happened to the church! Ken and Agnes Macdonald believe that “Israel” in Romans 11:25 deals with the nation of Israel, but in the very next verse, “Israel” refers to the church. There is no ground for this. “All Israel shall be saved” means “all Israel shall be saved!” The national salvation of Israel is also supported by many Old Testament prophecies, including Jeremiah 30:7; Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 50:20; Isaiah 14:1, 2; Zechariah 1:17; Zechariah 2:12; and Zechariah 12:1.

When discussing the prominence of Israel in Bible prophecy, it is understood that volumes can be written on this subject alone. The nation of Israel is the key to Bible prophecy. To study prophecy without studying the nation of Israel is like brewing coffee without water! Israel is the key.

Nearly a year and a half ago, my heart was stirred to study Bible prophecy in greater depth. I began with a subject I had previously neglected to study; that is, the biblical doctrine of the Millennium. I posted much of that study on this blog. As a result of that study, I was convinced beyond any doubt, more convinced than I had ever been in my life, that there HAD to be a literal 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ upon this present earth. When studying this subject of the Millennium, I clearly saw that the doctrine of the Millennium has much to do with the nation of Israel. It would take place after Israel’s Messiah would return to the earth with His saints; it would take place after Christ would gather Israel from the nations to which they were scattered during the Great Tribulation; and it would fulfil literally and completely the covenants of Abraham and David. Because the Millennium occurs after the Great Tribulation, it is impossible to study the Millennium in detail, without at some point meeting the doctrine of the Great Tribulation. So, I began to study the doctrine of the Great Tribulation. It is of no surprise that the Great Tribulation is a time period of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel. The Great Tribulation serves two basic purposes; first, to deal with the nation of Israel in preparation for the coming of Israel’s Messiah and the Millennium; and second, to deal with the Gentile nations in pouring out wrath upon them. In the next post, I will deal with Israel’s place in the Great Tribulation.

*Macdonald, Ken and Agnes. The Second Coming: Tough Questions Answered. Revivals and Missions, Inc. ©1991. p. 106.

He is Risen as He Said!

Matthew 28:6 - "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Two British men, Lyttleton and West, set out to disprove Christianity once and for all. Having met to discuss their plans, they decided what each should do to fulfil their task. Lyttleton agreed to study the conversion of Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus; West decided to study the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They would study these topics for a year, then meet again to discuss their findings. They would then show once and for all the hoax of Saul's so-called conversion, and the fraud of Christ's apparent resurrection.

A year came and went. The two met again as planned. Lyttleton revealed his findings - the conversion of Saul of Tarsus had to be real, and Lyttleton himself had converted to Christianity. Then, West showed his conclusion - that the resurrection of Jesus Christ must have occurred as it is written in the Holy Bible, and he too had become a Christian.

The Fact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

This subject is similar to other Bible doctrines in the sense that one's opinion regarding its actuality does not alter the fact of its occurrence. I am not debating the fact of Christ's resurrection; I am declaring the fact of His resurrection. Your feelings concerning the matter are completley irrelevant. I am not conducting a poll. I am not hosting a debate. I am declaring what the Bible, the Word of God, says concerning the matter. And, what the Bible declares is the final authority on every issue.

The Prophets Foretold Christ's Resurrection

Psalm 16:10 - "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

Peter quoted this passage in Acts 2:27-31 - "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption."

Note this - the prophets foretold the birth of Christ - and every detail was fulfilled to perfection. The Old Testament prophets foretold the death of Christ, and every detail occurred exactly as it was written. And the prophets were not wrong in declaring that Christ would rise from the dead. And that is exactly what Jesus Christ did. He died, was buried with the rich, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

Jesus Himself Foretold His Resurrection

In the opening illustration of this post - the story of Lyttleton and West, although they were unsuccessful in disproving Christianity (which no one has been able to do), they were at least on the right track. They knew that if they were to bring Christianity to a screeching halt, they would have to prove that Jesus Christ is still dead, and no one has proven such a claim! True Christians have witnessed the power of a resurrected Saviour numerous times, but never has anyone been able to prove that Jesus Christ did not come out of the tomb that third and glorious morning after His death!

If the resurrection of Christ could be proven to be a hoax, then Christianity would certainly topple! Christ Himself told us before He died that He would rise again. If He indeed did so, then He is Lord, and every reader will bow before Him, either in this world, or in the world to come! If He did not come out of the tomb, then He is not Lord; rather, He would be a liar. But the Bible declares boldly, "Let God be true, but every man a liar." And look what Jesus said:

Matthew 16:21 - "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."

Mark 8:31 - "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."

Jesus foretold His own death and resurrection - if He did not rise, then that would make Him a liar - but He is risen as He said!

The Apostles Preached the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Throughout the book of Acts, it is clear that the apostles' message was that of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! They were brought before rulers because they preached that Jesus Christ not only died and was buried, but that He rose from the dead.

The skeptic does not believe that Christ rose from the dead because they do not believe the Bible over "science," they say (Then they'll turn right around and believe in evolution, which has neither been observed nor proven; or in manmade global warming, the hoax of the millennium). I would ask the skeptic, "Do you believe in secular history?" Surely, they're not so dense as to refuse secular history. Secular history contains within it the fact that there was a man who existed named Jesus Christ. It would entertain the reader to know that there are atheists who deny that Jesus Christ ever existed. It is good to know that, when we deal with atheists, we are not dealing with intelligent life. All you need is a calendar to show you that Jesus Christ existed. This year is called "2012." That is, "2012 A.D." "A.D." stands for "anno domini," which means, "in the year of our Lord." Those who hate the thought of Christ's existence are trying to change those letters to "C.E." - "Common Era;" and "B.C. (Before Christ)" to "B.C.E." - "Before the Common Era." Those sorry idiots can try to erase Jesus Christ out of secular history, but they'll never get it done. He existed.

Jesus Christ not only existed, but He lived and died. And, He not only died - He rose from the grave. The eleven apostles who walked with Christ while He walked upon the earth (there were originally twelve, but Judas hanged himself before Christ died, you'll remember) witnessed Christ's resurrection, claimed to have seen Him after He rose from the dead, and physically suffered for that fact.

Peter was crucified upside-down. The Bible does not say that; secular history says that. Do you know why he was crucified upside-down? Because he would not deny the Christ who he claimed to have seen after He rose from the dead! Paul the Apostle fought against Christianity, until He saw the resurrected Saviour on the road to Damascus. Secular history tells us that Paul ran to the chopping block to have his head severed from his body - still affirming that he had witnessed the resurrected Lord! John was boiled in oil, but wouldn't die (according to secular history; not the Bible). John was then sent to the Isle of Patmos to die in exile. But he was later freed and became the only apostle to die a peaceful death. But he did suffer, according to history. Matthew was killed with the sword. Mark was dragged to death by horses. James the Less was clubbed to death; James the Greater was beheaded. Bartholomew was whipped to death. ALL THE APOSTLES suffered for their faith in the resurrected Saviour! Again, not according to the Bible; according to history. Dear reader, you may claim that one man who dies for a hoax is a lunatic - but when every apostle who saw Christ after His resurrection suffered physically for the fact - it then becomes clear to any honest person that there is only one reasonable explanation - Christ rose from the dead, and the apostles who claimed to have seen Him suffered for that fact!