Israel's Seventieth Week

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”   Daniel 9:27  NKJV

Today I would like to follow up on last weeks post concerning the coming Ezekiel 38-39 war by sharing a post from a few years ago which explores one of the results of Ezekiel’s prophecy revealed by the prophet Daniel.  Many are of the opinion, and I agree, that the conflict we are told about in Ezekiel leads directly to the rise of the antichrist and his covenant with Israel. While we, of course, have no way of knowing if this will prove to be an accurate assessment, I believe it is certainly plausible that it will in some way be a significant part of the process which produces the events which will occur as Daniel foretold.

I imagine most of us are familiar with the old expression, “no deal is better than a bad deal”, and I for one think that the situation Israel is soon to find herself in will be a perfect example of that saying.  In the very near future, after the War of Ezekiel 38-39,  Israel will  acknowledge the supernatural intervention of God to defend them and rebuild the Temple in order to return to the Levitical system of worship.   It is the antichrist, however, who brings this to pass and as a result, they accept this man of sin as their messiah which sets the stage for all that is to come.  You see, the antichrist does not allow Israel to rebuild the temple solely for themselves, but also because he needs it for an event he has planned for the future.

“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 winter or on the Sabbath. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.      Matthew 24:15-21  NKJV

How many of you have seen the classic old western movie “High Noon” starring Gary Cooper?  The entire movie revolves around the climax, which is a confrontation between the town marshal and the outlaw who will arrive on the train at high noon.  When the nation of Israel signs a treaty with the antichrist the clock begins on the seventieth week of Daniel.  This is a period of time which the Bible teaches is seven years of three hundred and sixty days each for a total of two thousand five hundred and twenty days.  Unfortunately for Israel, their “High Noon” will occur at the midpoint, or three and one half years into this period of time.

What we are told will happen at that time reveals exactly who the antichrist is, and what his plan has been all along while allowing Israel to rebuild their Temple.  The phrase “abomination of desolation” is found several times in the scriptures and is spoken of  specifically by both Daniel and Jesus.  What it refers to is an event which has occurred once before, and will happen once again at the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week.  In 168 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a Greek king that had conquered Israel, erected an altar to Jupiter Olympus in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

Most all scholars agree that what Jesus is telling us in this passage from Matthew is that at the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week, this scenario will be repeated when the antichrist stands in the “holy place” and proclaims himself to be god.  We also find in the book of Revelation that he erects a statue there and commands all to worship it.

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”     Revelation 13:11-15  NKJV

This is the “abomination” Daniel refers to in the passage above, and it is at this point, after just three and a half years, that in Jesus’ own words a time of “great tribulation” begins, all because what the antichrist has been after all along is to be accepted and worshipped in place of the true God.

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”    2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  NKJV

Obviously the “Great Tribulation” begins because there are those on the earth who see the antichrist for who he really is, and refuse to worship him.  He will then begin a persecution the likes of which this world has never seen. 

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”       Revelation 13:16-17  NKJV

What we are told about this time is very clear, either you take the mark and worship the beast or you will be hunted down and killed. 

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”  Revelation 13:6-10  NKJV

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”     Revelation 20:4  NKJV

Do you notice how black and white this time of Great Tribulation will be?  There are only two sides to this conflict; those who choose to worship the beast, and those who reject his claims and chose to have their names written in the Book of Life by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior.  How terrible will this time of persecution be?  Consider what Jesus had to say about that question.

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”    Matthew 24:22  NKJV

Unless God chose to intervene, eventually all would be killed.  So in His infinite wisdom, God chose to limit the length of the Great Tribulation to only three and one half years.  Then what will occur is something the entire world has been waiting for since Jesus ascended to Heaven forty days after His resurrection.  I have shared before that I believe the order of these coming events are the Rapture, the destruction of Damascus, the Gog/Magog conflict, the confirmation of a peace between Israel and its enemies which begins the Seventieth Week of Daniel, and the Abomination of Desolation after twelve hundred and sixty days. 

Early reports this week on the talks between the US and Iran suggest they appear to be falling into the same pattern as talks in the past, with many of the opinion that there will be no substantial progress or favorable agreements.  The speculation that some sort of military action seems to be inevitable are rising quickly and the conditions necessary for the prophecies in Ezekiel and Daniel are appearing as we watch.  While this news may be disconcerting for others, the Church looks on with anticipation of its removal from this world via the rapture.

“And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:“Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.“And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.”   Acts 15:13-17. NKJV

The passage above is an account of a discussion at a council held in Jerusalem concerning the growing Church made up of Gentiles and the Jewish Christians who believed the gentiles were required to become Jews.  What I want to point out is the phrase “to take out”, which we find in verse 14 means “to take in order to carry away “ and “out of, from, by, away from”.  What James was telling his listeners was that Israel as a nation had been set aside while God took for Himself a people, what we know as the Church, from the Gentiles.  When this is complete He will allow Jesus to take the Church away before the tribulation starts and God turns His attention back to Israel and begins the seventieth week of Daniel.

So much is happening right now in this world that many find it hard to believe the Church will be here much longer.  As there are no preconditions for the rapture, and coupled with the signs we are seeing fulfilled before our very eyes, it certainly seems time is definitely running out.  This passage makes it pretty clear that the rapture occurs before the tribulation begins, and if you recall we spoke last week about the possibility it also begins before the events of Ezekiel 38,39.  Time is running out and our call to go home to be with our Lord could happen at any moment.

If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Is Now the Time?

“Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, “and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army,”Ezekiel 38:1-4   NKJV

Much of the news this past week has surrounded the US sending forces to the Middle East in preparation for a possible attack on Iran.  The world is holding its breath while speculating on US intentions and if it will attack Iran directly.  Coupled with that are the recent protests in Iran against the ruling Islamic regime, which makes it seem entirely possible that the US and Israel might well work together to strike Iran proper.  Of course, these events have caused the subject of this passage from the prophet Ezekiel to take center stage and inevitably led to the question is now the time for its fulfillment?   

One of the more interesting things I have discovered over my years as a believer is just how often you learn something new from a passage in the Word that you have already studied. Many in the body are familiar with this passage and have read or listened to expositions on its meaning and future fulfillment.  Yet I have noticed that there is one particular fact contained in it which many, and myself included, have often failed to notice and that can be found in the word “hooks”.  You see, while many speculate on what exactly causes Magog, known today as modern day Russia, to invade Israel they seem to miss the fact that the word “hooks” is plural.

In other words, it is not just one reason which provokes this event to take place but several, which combined produce a compelling justification for an attempted invasion of Israel.  I also believe there is another reason God chooses to use the word “hooks” to describe Russia being pulled into this conflict.  Something we can never overlook is that while a fish can be tempted to take the bait, it goes without saying that they regret it immediately when they feel the hook.  Yet there will be no escape in this scenario as it is God Himself who is using the “hooks” to draw Russia into the conflict.  

Considering all of this, and the fact that many believe this prophecy is about to be fulfilled, we would be wise to investigate if there might be reasons for Russia to unwillingly be drawn into this conflict. If an attack on Iran were to occur, I believe it follows that Russia would certainly consider defending its huge monetary investment in Iran. 

“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; “Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. “After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. “You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”  Ezekiel 38:5-9  NKJV

Notice if you will, that the first nation listed here after Magog in the previous verses is Persia, or better known in our present day as Iran.  I mention that because in his teachings on this prophecy, the late Chuck Missler made the point that whenever there is a list of nations assembled for combat in the Old Testament, the second one mentioned is always the instigator. Considering how prominent Iran is in the news today, and the numerous reasons for it, I believe if we look closely at the relationship between Russia and Iran we can begin to see a few of the hooks God tells us about.  If we accept the premise that Iran is the instigator, I believe the primary reason Russia becomes involved is the simple fact that they have made a huge investment financially with Iran and as such, they are obligated to protect that investment at all costs.  

“ ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: “You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—“to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.”  Ezekiel 38:10-12  NKJV

  

Many who choose to study biblical prophecy and apply it to current events in the Middle East are quick to point out that it is evident that not only are we living in the end times as described in the scriptures, the pressure needed to produce the explosion of end-time conflicts described in these verses from Ezekiel is occurring right before our eyes.  Especially intriguing is the fact that all of the countries mentioned in this passage, who in the past have not been on good terms with each other, are now aligned as allies and all consider the nation of Israel as a target of opportunity waiting only for a plausible excuse to attack. 

My thought today is that the stage seems to be set for some sort of engagement with the country of Iran which will threaten the investment that Russia has made with them.  When this occurs, Russia will be compelled to defend Iran in order to protect it.  The coming weeks may well see these thing begin to play out before our very eyes.  I believe that what the world has begun to realize and understand about the current administration in the US and specifically our president is that he means what he says.  The rulers in Iran are well aware of this fact and it stands to reason they are considering all of their options should the US follow through on its threats to attack, including consulting with Russia’s leadership on how to react.

Of course, when considering this prophetic conflict which the prophet Ezekiel tells us will happen, the question which immediately comes to mind is does it occur before or after the rapture of the Church?  It should come as no surprise that there are differing opinions on that subject but for what it is worth, I will share the conclusion I have come to, and the key to that can be found in the following passage.

“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My fury will show in My face. “For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, ‘so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’ “I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. “And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. “Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” ’            Ezekiel 38:18-23  NKJV

What I believe, and most scholars as well, is that this conflict is the point in time when God chooses to reveal Himself to Israel in such a way that, as this passage says, “Then they shall know that I am the LORD”.  Since this is the time where God turns His attention back to Israel, I believe it only makes sense that He has first allowed Jesus to remove the Church in order to begin His focus on the nation of Israel and the fulfillment of the seventieth week of Daniel, otherwise known as the tribulation.

If the thought of what is to come makes you uneasy, understand that God has provided a way of escape for those who choose to believe that He sent His Son to die for our sins.  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”         1 John 1:9  NKJV

If you are reading this and have never made the decision to accept Jesus Christ into your heart and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered you by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Dear Father in heaven, I believe in your son Jesus. I believe that He died on the cross for my sins, that He rose up from the grave, and that my sins are forgiven.  Forgive me of my sin, help me to walk with you, and thank you for saving me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Are You Groaning?

I have never forgotten this poster which was hung prominently on the wall of a gym I frequented years ago, and unfortunately, it has proven over time to be prophetic.  Truth be told as I watch the strength of my physical body slowly age for the worse, regardless of the effort I put in to delay the onset, change is inevitable.  One of the unfortunate results of that is I most certainly groan much more than I used to. The dictionary defines groaning as a mournful sound uttered in pain or grief, due to a sudden or continuing overburden.  O how I can relate.

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”            1 Corinthians 5:1-5  NKJV

Yet we find that the Bible tells us that there is another reason that we groan, and as funny as it may sound, it is usually a result of similar circumstances.  You see, we all recognize the fact that this body is just a temporary home for us until that day in which we will receive our new bodies as we enter into God’s presence.  Notice if you will that Paul uses the word tent to describe the bodies we now possess.  A tent is considered a temporary dwelling rather than a permanent one, and it is for this reason Paul describes our present bodies as such.  I think given a choice, most of us would prefer to live in a house rather than a tent and enjoy the permanence and protection a house affords.

Paul also mentions the fact that we groan because of our burdens.  I think most all of us have had occasion to be reminded of the physical limitations of the bodies we now have, and have longed for a stronger or more durable one.  Paul groaned under the weight of his own troubles, and he put it this way;

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18  NKJV

The promise we find here is that the glory of our new bodies will completely overshadow whatever we have endured while waiting for them.  Something that occurred to me while reading this passage was the statement that the future glory will be revealed in us, and not to us.  Ray Stedman put it this way; “The word literally means “into us”.  This glory is not going to be a spectator sport, where we will sit up in some cosmic grandstand and watch an amusing or beautiful performance in which we have no part.  We are to be on the stage.  We are going to be involved in it.  It is a glory that will be “revealed into us” and we are part of it.”  Paul also goes on to tell us this;

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”  Romans 8:19-23  NKJV

Paul says that creation itself groans for the same reasons that we do.  At the fall, when sin entered this world, creation was corrupted just as we were and suffers because of it.  Have you ever considered that all of the natural disasters that occur around the world is nature’s way of “groaning”?  Hard as it might be to believe, Paul tells us in this passage that creation finds itself in much the same position as we do. When we are revealed in our new bodies, so too will creation receive its newness and this is what it is waiting for just as we are.

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”  Revelation 21:1  NKJV

I have given quite a lot of thought lately to just how much I will enjoy my new body when the rapture occurs.  Obviously my present condition is the main reason but I can’t help but wonder if the troubles we face because of our physical predicaments are God’s way of helping us realize and look forward to the gift of an immortal, incorruptible body which will be ours for all of eternity?  After all, how could we enjoy fully all that Heaven has to offer if we still were walking around in an earthly body with all of the limitations it has?

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will 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 has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”       1 Corinthians 15:50-54  NKJV

“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”  Romans 8:22  NKJV

Now let me ask you a question here.  If, as Paul tells us, “creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed”, and  “the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs”, is it not logical to conclude that what the world describes as “natural disasters”, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, drought, floods, fires, etc. is just creations’ way of revealing its’ own expectation of deliverance just as we do?  In fact, you could easily make the point that as we are part of God’s creation, when Paul uses the phrase “whole creation” he is referring to us as well.  Now at first that might sound a little strange, but consider how often we are told much the same thing throughout the scriptures.

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.”        Psalms 96:11-13  NKJV

The heavens will rejoice, the earth itself will be glad, the sea will roar, the fields will be joyful, and even the trees will rejoice when Jesus returns at the end of the Great Tribulation to judge the world. However this verse also mentions “peoples”  rejoicing as well.  Jesus Himself said that the stones He created could cry out with rejoicing and praise in this passage from Luke describing His entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

“Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”  Luke 19:37-40  NKJV

So my thoughts are that if creation itself feels much as we do, and is waiting patiently (or impatiently) for the return of Christ, it seems logical to assume our expectations are the same.  We are waiting for the promise of His return and the expectation of deliverance from the effects of sin.  As I grow older I find myself appreciating more and more the promise of a new body that will never grow old, and a life free from my sin nature and the temptations to do wrong.  I’m sure many of you would agree with me, and have given thought as I have as to just what we can expect when we meet our Savior in the air.

Although I highly doubt that any true believer feels that there is a possibility of being disappointed when we finally get to Heaven, I think it is reasonable to assume that the reality of what we find when we do go home might be somewhat different from some of our expectations as to what life might be like.  I recall one time listening to a pastor from California talking about his expectations of surfing on the perfect endless wave in Heaven and wondering if he missed the description in Revelation which says there will be no more seas.   

The passage from Romans uses the phrase "earnest expectation" to describe what creation is feeling.  In the Greek, this phrase means "anxious and persistent".  Are you anxiously and persistently looking for the return of Christ, or are your expectations of what we will find when we get to heaven being overshadowed by your short term expectations on this earth?   While the decisions we make in this life surrounding our circumstances are certainly important, we should take care not to let them take away from our expectation of deliverance from this earth, and the joy that awaits us in eternity.

I’m more than willing to admit that I am groaning in this body of death an am eagerly awaiting the new one I will receive when Jesus takes me home.  As a believer, that is the promise He has made to me and to all who have made the choice to believe in Him. If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to allow Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by simply praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered all of us by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

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