What Saith the Scripture?
http://www.WhatSaithTheScripture.com/
The Seventy Weeks of Daniel
Or, The Wisdom of God in All of the Seventy Weeks
"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"
(Daniel 9:24).
by Tom Stewart
10-30-98
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Preface
Daniel's Seventieth Week (Daniel 9:27)-- known also as the
Tribulation Week-- is the present focus of prophetic interest, because it still remains
to be fulfilled. However, The Ancient of Days (7:9) has wisely outlined a much broader
program of Seventy Weeks-- from 445 BC to 2005 AD-- that includes Christ's Atonement
on Calvary, the Church's evangelization of the world, the judgment of the world,
and the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom of the LORD Jesus Christ on Earth.
The following is an exposition of Daniel 9:24, and is intended to emphasize some
foundational aspects of "things to come" (John 16:13). All discussion and
appreciation of the "things which must shortly come to pass" (Revelation
1:1) must first grapple with this revelation by the Angel Gabriel to the prophet
Daniel, the "greatly beloved" (Daniel 9:23).
When the Redeemed of the LORD arrive at their Heavenly destination, much of their
rejoicing will be centered upon how wise God was in planning the events of Daniel's
Seventy Weeks. The Apostle Paul epitomized this very desire to make known God's Wisdom.
"8 That I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning
of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To
the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be
known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God" (Ephesians 3:8-10).
Seventy Weeks: Scope of the Prophecy
A period of 70 weeks (Daniel 9:24) is the equivalent of 490 days. But, was 490 days
the actual intent of the revelation given to Daniel? Among the many objectives that
would be attained in the Seventy Weeks is "to bring in Everlasting Righteousness"
(9:24). That points to the Advent of the Messiah. "5 Behold, the days come,
saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall
reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In His
days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby
He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:5-6).
Christians already know the LORD Jesus Christ to be the Sun of Righteousness With
Healing in His Wings (Malachi 4:2), because of His atoning work on the Cross after
His First Advent. But, wasn't Daniel actually being revealed the Second Advent of
the Messiah and not simply the First? "Even the righteousness of God
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe"
(Romans 3:22). Jews, who rejected the Messiaship of Jesus, still await the Advent
of their Messiah. "For they [the Jews] being ignorant of God's righteousness,
and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God" (10:3).
It is entirely proper to view the Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:24) as representative of
a period greater than 490 days. "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). This passage
establishes that the LORD used the possibility of equating a day for a year, i.e.,
in the punishment of Israel for refusing to enter the Promised Land after the negative
report from the spies. Consequently, the Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:24) can be properly
interpreted as referring to a period of 490 years, because each week of 7 days would
be the equivalent of 7 years, i.e., "each day for a year" (Numbers 14:34).
Therefore, 70 weeks would be the equivalent of 70 times 7 years or 490 years.
In his book The
Coming Prince -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Voice/The.Coming.Prince.html -- (1895), Sir Robert Anderson carefully outlined the position that
the Seventy Weeks could be taken as: (1) 69 weeks: adding together "seven weeks,
and threescore and two weeks" (Daniel 9:25), plus (2) a disconnected and final
70th week, i.e., separated from the end of the 69th Week (April 6th 32 AD) by approximately
1,966 years until the beginning of the 70th Week (1998 AD): "he [the Antichrist]
shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week [the 70th week]" (9:27). Anderson
determined that the "commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem" (9:25)
referred to the Persian king Artaxerxes Longimanus' decree to rebuild the city of
Jerusalem of March 14th 445 BC (Julian). "For the wall of the city... the king
[Artaxerxes, who was the son of Ahasuerus (a.k.a. Xerxes), who, in turn, was the
husband of Queen Esther] granted me [Nehemiah], according to the good hand of my
God upon me" (Nehemiah 2:8). Further, Anderson determined that 69 weeks of prophetic
years of 360 days (69 x 7 x 360) or 173,880 days, proceeded from March 14th 445 BC
(Julian) to April 6th 32 AD (Julian)-- the very Palm Sunday of our LORD's Triumphal
Entry into Jerusalem.
John Gill's Expositor (1760) commented on Daniel 9:25-- "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"
(Daniel 9:25)-- in agreement with Sir Robert Anderson. Incidentally, Gill did briefly
state another position on the Seventy Weeks taken from Sir Isaac Newton's Observations
on Daniel. John Gill summarized Newton's position: "Sir Isaac Newton thinks
the seven weeks unto Messiah, which he detaches from the sixty two, respects the
second coming of Christ [e.g., 7 weeks of years from May 14,1948 to May 14,1997--
a modern application by contemporary interpreters], when he [Christ] shall come as
a Prince, and destroy antichrist, and that it takes in the compass of a jubilee;
but when it will begin and end he [Newton] does not pretend to say."
John Gill explains his reason for disagreeing with Newton. "Within the space
of seven weeks, or forty nine years, reckoning from the twentieth of Artaxerxes;
when the Jews had a grant to rebuild their city and wall, and were furnished with
materials for it; and which was done in very troublesome times... Nehemiah chapters
four and five for which the space of seven weeks, or forty nine years, were cut out
and appointed; and that this event belongs solely to this period is clear from the
Messiah's coming being appropriated to the period of the sixty two weeks; which leaves
this entirely where it is fixed." In other words: (1) the "seven weeks"
(Daniel 9:25) points to the period encompassing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls,
i.e., "to restore and rebuild Jerusalem" (9:25), while (2) the "threescore
and two weeks" points to "Messiah the Prince" (9:25) and His First
Advent. Like Gill, John Zachary in his Threshold of Eternity (1989) agrees
with Sir Robert Anderson's understanding of the Seventy Weeks. I, also, agree with
Anderson, Gill, and Zachary; but, am grateful to know that Sir Isaac Newton lent
his time, intellect, and name to the study of "things to come" (John 16:13).
Upon Thy People: Israel
The Seventy Weeks of Daniel prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) concerns the Jews, i.e., Daniel's
"people" (9:24). It is not a myth that God has chosen Israel for Himself.
"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen
thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face
of the earth" (Deuteronomy 7:6). Israel is presently blinded by unbelief. "Blindness
in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in"
(Romans 11:25). "Because of unbelief they were broken off" (11:20); but,
"if they abide not still in unbelief, [they] shall be graffed in: for God is
able to graff them in again" (11:23).
The Church presently abides as the people of God only because Israel was cast off
by God for unbelief. "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of
the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead" (Romans
11:15). This is only a temporary situation, since Israel will soon be restored to
faith and favor at the LORD Jesus Christ's Second Coming. "25 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. 26 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:
27 For this is My Covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins" (11:25-27).
Because God set His affection upon Israel, Satan has sought to exterminate Israel.
"They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the
name of Israel may be no more in remembrance" (Psalm 83:4). Though the LORD
has allowed Israel to be afflicted, it is that they may learn to seek Him. "It
is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy Statutes"
(119:71). God's anger against Israel's rejection of Himself will not be but for a
short time longer. "In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment;
but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer"
(Isaiah 54:8).
Upon Thy Holy City: Jerusalem
Jerusalem is also known as Zion. "11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters
of Judah be glad, because of Thy judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, and go round about
her: tell the towers thereof. 13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces;
that ye may tell it to the generation following" (Psalm 48:11-13). The Psalmist
extolled the virtues of Zion. "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole
earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King"
(48:2). We should familiarize ourselves with this Scriptural magnification because
they are the thoughts of our LORD. Just remember the LORD Jesus' lament over Jerusalem:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which
are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as
a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37).
The kings and popes of this world have long sought to possess Jerusalem-- the apple
of the LORD's eye. "7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter
of Babylon. 8 For thus saith the LORD of Hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto
the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His
eye" (Zechariah 2:7-8). Like a selfish child, Satan wants whatever the LORD
Jesus possesses. "I [Satan] will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will
be like The Most High [and possess what He possesses]" (Isaiah 14:14). O LORD,
wilt Thou not judge Him?
Gabriel's delivery of this prophecy concerning the Jews and Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24-27)
demonstrates how a deficiency of understanding of Old Testament prophecies has crippled
modern Christianity's appreciation of this Time of the End (12:4). Speculation about
the geopolitical significance of Jerusalem and Israel haunts especially the Western
mind; namely, "What is so important about Israel?" The King of Kings (Revelation
19:16) shall sit upon the "Throne of His father David" (Luke 1:32) making
"[His] enemies [His] footstool" (Psalm 110:1). Jerusalem will be the focus
of the Millennial Reign of the LORD Jesus Christ. "8 And it shall be in that
day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem... 9 And the LORD shall be King
over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name One" (Zechariah
14:8-9). Daniel's "holy city" (Daniel 9:24) is significant because God
thinks it is significant.
To Finish the Transgression: The Church's Evangelization of the World
The Great Transgression of the Nation of Israel was the rejection of their Messiah.
"Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone [Jesus]
which the builders [Jewish priests and scribes] rejected, the same is become the
head of the corner: this is the LORD's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?"
(Matthew 21:42 cp. Psalm 118:22-23). One of the great mysteries of this Church Age
is the obstinacy of Israel to Jesus-- their Messiah. But, Isaiah prophetically
recorded Israel's reaction to her Messiah. "For He [the Son] shall grow up before
Him [the Father] as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He [Jesus]
hath no form nor comeliness; and when we [Israel] shall see Him [Jesus], there is
no beauty that we should desire Him" (Isaiah 53:2).
Israel's loss was the world's gain. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 15:16),
made it his practice to attempt to deliver the Gospel in each community to the "Jew
first, and also [then] to the Greek [Gentile]" (1:16). Rejection from the Jews
was common to Paul. Listen to Paul's discourse to the Jews of Antioch of Pisidia.
"16 Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience... 41 Behold, ye despisers,
and wonder, and perish: for I [Jehovah] work a work in your days, a work which ye
shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you [Habakkuk 1:5]. 42 And
when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words
might be preached to them the next sabbath... 44 And the next sabbath day came almost
the whole city together to hear the Word of God. 45 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. 46 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 13:16,41-42, 44-46).
But, how can the Holy God (Joshua 24:19) in this Church Age of world evangelization
"finish the transgression" (Daniel 9:24)? He has given man the godlike
capacity to freely choose to accept or reject the "Saviour of all men, specially
of those that believe" (1Timothy 4:10). Still, we have underestimated the capabilities
of God. Certainly He does good, because "there is none good but One, that is,
God" (Mark 10:18); but, how can He also take credit for evil? "I form the
light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these
things" (Isaiah 45:7). Only the Almighty can consistently, wisely, uncompromisingly,
and sovereignly address evil, while remaining absolutely holy. "The fear of
the LORD is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13). Even the Body of Christ must maintain
this same holiness, while being "simple concerning evil" (Romans 16:19).
How? "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"
(Philippians 4:13).
The LORD's motivation "to finish the transgression" (Daniel 9:24) is certainly
not to propagate sin, but to bring sin and sinning to a conclusion. "Fill ye
up then the measure of your fathers" (Matthew 23:32). Not until that measure
of sin is full, will God allow Himself to not forgive. Then and only then,
will God not forgive the unforgivable. "31 Wherefore I say unto you,
All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against
the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against
the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy
Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world
to come" (Matthew 12:31-32).
To Make an End of Sins: The Judgments of the Tribulation Week
Even the Early Church saw the need of warning the world of "judgment to come"
(Acts 24:25) when evangelizing the lost. Contrary to the belief of the lost sinner--
and backslidden professing Christian-- all sin must be judged. "Every transgression
and disobedience received a just recompence of reward" (Hebrews 2:2) in the
past. Since God has not changed-- "I am the LORD, I change not" (Malachi
3:6)-- He will still judge all sin. "For if we would judge ourselves, we should
not be judged" (1Corinthians 11:31).
God hates sin, so there will be a Tribulation Week. "Tribulation and anguish,
upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile"
(Romans 2:9). Even when the Judgments of the Tribulation Week seem to come from man,
i.e., the first 5 Seal Judgments (Revelation 6:1-11), God has merely induced sinful
man to fulfill His will. "26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers
were gathered together against the LORD, and against His Christ. 27 For of a truth
against Thy holy child Jesus, Whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate,
with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do
whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:26-28).
Why all this Divine, Tribulational ferocity against sin? God hates sin because it
is against the highest good of Himself and the universe. David recognized this fact
when he confessed the sin of his adultery with Bathsheba. "Against Thee, Thee
only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified
when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest" (Psalm 51:4). All sin is
the "transgression of the Law" (1John 3:4), but what Law is transgressed?
"Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself"
(Luke 10:27). Therefore, all the ills of mankind emanate from sin. "Your sins
have withholden good things from you" (Jeremiah 5:25). Also, "Thus saith
the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained
their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity,
and visit their sins" (14:10). Soberly, God warns: "The soul that sinneth,
it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20).
Sin is so much a part of mankind that mankind eliminating itself would seem to be
the perfect fulfillment of Gabriel's revelation to Daniel to "make an end of
sins" (Daniel 9:24). But, Scripture assures the Faithful that "except those
days [the days that are about to come upon the world] should be shortened, there
should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened"
(Matthew 24:22). The suicide of the world will be prevented by the miraculous hand
of the Creator, because "God is love" (1John 4:16).
Also, God is Only Wise (Romans 16:27); so, He has masterfully engineered His Providence
to use man's sin to "make an end of sins" (Daniel 9:24). The Psalmist informs
us: "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt
Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10). Even when man does "evil with both hands
earnestly" (Micah 7:3), the Almighty assures us that "no weapon that is
formed against thee [not to mention Him] shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17).
To Make Reconciliation for Iniquity: The Atonement of Christ on Calvary
Without the voluntary sacrifice of the Son of God upon the Cross of Calvary (32 AD),
Christianity would be as the ungodly who deny the Only LORD God (Jude 5)-- a well
without water. "Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees
whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots" (12).
If the LORD Jesus had succumbed to the wilderness temptation of the devil (Matthew
4) or failed to prevail in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14), Christianity
would have died in childbirth. "7 But we speak the Wisdom of God in a mystery,
even the hidden Wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which
none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the LORD Of Glory" (1 Corinthians 2:7-8). But, Jehovah well understands
the value of His Son's sacrifice. For "without shedding of blood is no remission
[forgiveness]" (Hebrews 9:22) of sins.
Just as "it is a fearful thing [for a sinner] to fall into the hands of the
Living God" (Hebrews 10:31), it is an amazement that God has heralded across
the world the Gospel message: "Be ye reconciled to God" (2Corinthians 5:20).
Only the LORD of LORDS (1Timothy 6:15) could make the magnanimous offer of reconciliation
for sinful man. "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (2Corinthians
5:18). Mankind simply does not comprehend how mortally sin has impacted the human
race. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). God is
actually working to reconcile man, not to damn man. "To wit, that God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them"
(2Corinthians 5:19).
Consequently, the presence of even one sinner in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15)
is evidence that the LORD will not overrule His gift of the ability of mankind to
make Godlike moral choices of right or wrong, in order to impose another gift of
eternal life. "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt
ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow
him" (1Kings 18:21).
To "make reconciliation for iniquity" (Daniel 9:24) is a gift from God.
Gabriel revealed to Daniel that God's program involved a free gift. "For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our
LORD" (Romans 6:23). This aspect of Daniel's Seventy Weeks prophecy points directly
at the Cross of the LORD Jesus Christ. For this, the LORD Jesus "stedfastly
set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51) to reconcile us to Himself on the
Cross. "20 And, having made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to
reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth,
or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled" (Colossians 1:20-21). All
that remains for anyone to participate in this program of reconciliation is a willing
act of faith. "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved"
(Acts 16:31).
Perseverance in faith is also required to receive the benefits of the LORD Jesus
Christ's reconciliation. "21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies
in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled 22 In the body of
His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreproveable in
His sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not
moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was
preached to every creature which is under Heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister"
(Colossians 1:21-23). But, thanks be to God, that He has granted to us His Holy Spirit
to work "in [us] both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians
2:13). The LORD Jesus shared the secret of His success-- and our success-- "My
Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17). In other words, we must willingly
cooperate with the work that the LORD has promised to perform. "Thy people shall
be willing in the day of Thy power" (Psalm 110:3). Also, "Teach me to do
Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness"
(143:10).
To Bring in Everlasting Righteousness: The Second Coming of Christ
Apart from the LORD Jesus Christ, righteousness is only a fantasy. "21 But now
the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law
and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ
unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Romans
3:21-22). Only God's "righteousness is an Everlasting Righteousness" (Psalm
119:142). When He whose "name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13)
appears at His Second Coming to "smite the nations" (19:15), then Everlasting
Righteousness will be brought in.
Righteousness has become a word associated with those who are "holier than thou"
(Isaiah 65:5) when rolled from the tongue as "self-righteousness". Consequently,
the possession of true righteousness is often lost in an attempt to distance oneself
from being identified as a modern Pharisee. But, David was unafraid to admit his
righteousness. "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according
to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me" (Psalm 18:20). Yet, this
Old Testament Saint clearly comprehended the source of his righteousness. "Thy
righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD,
thou preservest man and beast" (36:6).
Likewise, we of the New Testament times ought to have even greater appreciation of
true righteousness, because of the fuller revelation of the LORD Jesus Christ. "Simon
Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"
(2Peter 1:1). Though righteousness is an act of the will, it would be foolhardy for
anyone to say that we are righteous simply because we will it. The Apostle Paul set
forth the right idea. "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1Corinthians
15:10). Coupled with the grace of God, our Gospel understanding is: "If ye know
that He [the LORD Jesus] is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness
is born of Him" (1John 2:29).
To Seal Up the Vision and Prophecy: The Sealed Battle Plan of God
Later in the Book of Daniel, the angel told Daniel to seal up the prophecy given
to him. "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the
time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased"
(Daniel 12:4). Why would the LORD go through all the trouble of revealing His prophetic
program to Daniel, only to tell Daniel to "shut up the words, and seal the book"?
It appears that the LORD will divulge His battle plans only on a "need-to-know"
basis. "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall
do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand"
(Daniel 12:10). Those hypocritical that are truly not seeking the LORD will be unaware
of what the LORD is accomplishing in the affairs of man. "O ye hypocrites, ye
can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?"
(Matthew 16:3). Again, "None of the princes of this world knew: for had they
known it, they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory" (1Corinthians 2:8).
Unfortunately, the world has taught its own to value all the wrong things, i.e.,
"the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life"
(1John 2:16). With this warped sense of reality, the world system has produced generations
of "murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh
great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage"
(Jude 16). How can such an evil generation understand or appreciate the "manifold
Wisdom of God" (Ephesians 3:10)? They will not understand. Again, "None
of the wicked shall understand" (Daniel 12:10). Just look at those who are "at
home" in this world. They are completely deceived. "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" (1Thessalonians 5:3).
The Holy Spirit is the source of teaching for the Saints. "But the Anointing
[the Holy Spirit] which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that
any man teach you: but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things, and is Truth,
and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him" (1John
2:27). Knowledge of God's prophetic battle plan is dispensed only by the Spirit of
God. "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into
all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that
shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come" (John 16:13). The same
Spirit that shows the Saints "things to come", prevents the enemy from
obtaining Understanding of His battle plans-- even though the enemy has access to
the same Scripture of Truth, which the Saints possess. "But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned" (1Corinthians
2:14).
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, faced an overwhelming enemy, that the LORD promised to
defeat, if they would "believe in the LORD [their] God" (2Chronicles 20:20).
Even as the LORD gives His people deliverance and peace, He gives confusion to
the enemy! "22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments
against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah;
and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the
inhabitants of mount Seir [who were supposedly allies], utterly to slay and destroy
them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped
to destroy another [self-destruction]" (2Chronicles 20:22-23).
To Anoint the Most Holy: The Millennial Reign of the LORD Jesus Christ
Though our LORD humbled Himself to the death of the Cross, He will soon be exalted
on the "Throne of His father David" (Luke 1:32). "8 And being found
in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a
Name which is above every name: 10 That at the Name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the
Father" (Philippians 2:8-11).
This time of triumph and exaltation will come following His Second Advent. "And
when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject
unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (1Corinthians
15:28). Israel will finally be converted. "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" (Romans 11:26). An even greater multitude of Gentiles
will also be converted. "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world,
and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?"
(11:12).
That "fullness" (Romans 11:12) will come in a single day. "Who hath
heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth
in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she
brought forth her children" (Isaiah 66:8). Along with converted Israel will
come the converted Gentiles to physically populate the world under the dominion of
the King Of Kings, and LORD Of Lords. "Yea, many people and strong nations shall
come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD" (Zechariah
8:22). The Feast of Tabernacles, which points the Millennial Reign of the Messiah
(Leviticus 23:34-43), will again be celebrated. "And it shall come to pass,
that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall
even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD Of Hosts, and to keep
the Feast of Tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:16).
The Prince of Peace will extend His peace to the subjects of His Millennial Reign.
"10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice
for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: 12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold,
I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing
stream" (Isaiah 66:10-12).
The Millennium's peace will be conspicuous for the absence of Satan the tempter.
"1 And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,
which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into
the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive
the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled" (Revelation
20:1-3). The world will soon see how much of a burden "that old serpent"
has been, by how pleasant the world will be without him.
But, Millennial Saints, be warned. Satan will be loosed from the Bottomless Pit at
the end of the Millennium for the LORD to test to see what you have learned during
those 1,000 years. "And after that he [Satan] must be loosed a little season"
(20:3). Many will fail that test and be destroyed with Everlasting Destruction. "7
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth,
Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand
of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp
of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of Heaven,
and devoured them" (Revelation 20:7-9). Even in the Millennium, the physical
inhabitants of the Earth-- particularly the children of those who initially entered
the Millennium-- will need to learn to trust the LORD Jesus Christ. Millennial Saints,
claim this promise for your children: "As for me, this is My Covenant
with them, saith the LORD; My Spirit that is upon thee, and My Words which I have
put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy
seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and
for ever" (Isaiah 59:21).
Good, wise, and intelligent government will be seen during the Millennium by the
reign of King Jesus. "6 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. 7 Of the
increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David,
and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice
from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this"
(Isaiah 9:6-7). Even with the temporary rebellion at the end of the Millennium, the
LORD Jesus Christ will rule forever. "And He shall reign over the house of Jacob
for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:33).
Conclusion
Heaven will have to be forever, just to accommodate the Saints' necessity
to praise the Living God. "Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises
unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely" (Psalm 147:1). The inhabitants
of Heaven are awed by the "manifold Wisdom of God" (Ephesians 3:10) in
the planning and execution of the Seventy Weeks. "Unto whom it was revealed,
that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now
reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost
sent down from Heaven; which things the angels desire to look into" (1Peter
1:12).
Even looking imperfectly at the events of the Seventy Weeks of Daniel, it is difficult
not to stand in amazement and say, "What hath God wrought!" (Numbers 23:23).
What we do not understand now-- but will discover later in Heaven-- will cause us
to join the Heavenly throng in adoration of our LORD. "Thou art worthy, O LORD,
to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for
Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11). Our love for God
will only grow as we understand more fully how the Infinite God has made available
the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8) to "whosoever
will" (Revelation 22:17)-- you and I. "For God so loved the world, that
He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have Everlasting Life" (John 3:16).
Thank you, LORD Jesus.
[For a discussion of the Tribulation Week, see our articles, "Tribulation Timeline"
(Part 1), (Part 2), (Part 3), and (Part 4). Our articles, "1998: Year of the
Apocalypse" (Part 1), (Part 2), and (Part 3), deal with the apocalyptic significance
of 1998.]
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