In the 70 weeks of Daniel prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) he was told when the long-awaited Messiah would appear, be anointed, and offer a new covenant.
But he was also told that his people (the Jews) and Jerusalem would be desolated, because they would deliver the Messiah up to be killed.
This caused Daniel such great distress, that he mourned for three weeks.
The fresh communication from heaven in Chapters 10, 11 and 12, was for the express purpose of enabling Daniel to understand matters concerning his people, which had not been disclosed by the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks.
The 70 weeks of Daniel prophecy has nothing to do with the end times, as it was fulfilled during the 490 years from 457 B.C. to 34 A.D.
Daniel 10 and 11 describe what would take place during that time, and Daniel 12 gives more information about the desolation of the Jews in 70 A.D.
Most false teachings on prophecy are a result of the teacher not understanding how the prophecy has already been fulfilled, so they speculate that it must be future.
Daniel 10 records his sorrow and the purpose of the angel’s message.
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2-3
So the angel returned to Daniel to help him understand the 70 weeks of Daniel prophecy.
“Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” Daniel 10:14
“My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength.” Daniel 10:16
During their 70 year captivity in Babylon, Jerusalem and the temple laid in ruins, so they had no home.
The “former days” of Israel’s national existence occurred before their Babylonian captivity.
The “latter days” of Israel’s national existence began when they were released by Cyrus in 457 B.C. to go rebuild Jerusalem and the temple; and they ended in 70 A.D., when the Roman army destroyed the city, temple and people.
Note: If a prophecy teacher applies the term “latter days” to the end times, you now know that their teaching is out of context.
Daniel 11 gives the continuous historical narrative of events that would take place during the latter days.
This time frame spanned 490 years, so there are detailed accounts of its fulfillment by historians. Here’s a list of key figures who fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel 11:
God used Cyrus, leader of Medes-Persia, to set the Jews free from Babylonian captivity, and to empower them to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the temple.
Alexander the Great of Greece rose up and ruled with great dominion.
The Seleucids (kings of Syria, “the north”) and the Ptolemies (kings of Egypt, “the south”) had incessant wars.
Antiochus Epiphanes, the vile person, surrounded Jerusalem with his armies (the abomination of desolation) and killed 10’s of thousands of Jews. They defiled the sanctuary and caused the daily sacrifice to be taken away for 2,300 days (Daniel 8:14). His persecution of the Jews began in 171 B.C. and the temple was cleansed on December 25, 165 B.C., which is 2,300 days.
The Maccabean uprisings delivered the Jews in the reign of Antiochus, and faithfully served their people as rulers and priests for 130 years.
King Herod exalted himself above all gods (leaders). To protect his kingdom, he decreed for the slaughter of the babes of Bethlehem, in an attempt to kill baby Jesus.
Caesar Augustus conquered many countries such as Egypt, and took power of their treasures.
Many prophecy teachers incorrectly apply Daniel 11 verses to an end-times Antichrist, but the context clearly shows that they are not, and that history has confirmed their fulfillment.
The Millerites applied the day-for-a-year concept to the 2,300 days, making it 2,300 years from 457 A.D. to 1844 A.D, which they said was the year that Messiah would return.
Obviously He didn’t return, but instead of correcting the mistake about it pointing to 2,300 years; the Seventh Day Adventists proclaim that Messiah entered a period of Investigative Judgment in 1844 A.D., which would mean that Messiah has been in that process for 174 years. But you can clearly see that it was 2,300 days, not years.
Daniel 12 records the details he was given regarding the desolation of his people.
Daniel 12:1
“And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.”
This lines up perfectly with Jesus words in Matthew 24:21, “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.”
Note: The 70th week of Daniel was fulfilled by Jesus, so His Olivet Discourse and some of His parables warned about this time. His Olivet Discourse is not about the end times, it’s about the great tribulation that would come upon the Jews from 66-70 A.D.
As you will see in the timeline below, the desolation of the Jews was horrific, but all of the Christians (spiritual Jews) escaped Jerusalem, and none were lost.
Daniel 12:2
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
This isn’t about Jesus second coming, rather it’s about waking up people who are spiritually dead.
Referring to the beginning of Jesus ministry, Matthew 4:14-16 says, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live.” John 5:25
Paul affirmed this, “Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:14
Jesus, the Light of the World, shined on them during His 3.5 year ministry, which occurred during the 70th week of Daniel. Some accepted Him as their Messiah and were saved to everlasting life; some rejected Him and were condemned.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18
When Paul preached the gospel to the Jews in Antioch, they rejected his message.
Paul responded with “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:46
This fulfills Jesus parable of the Wedding Feast, that when the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah and they persecuted and killed His servants, He responded with,
“But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'”
Daniel 12:3
“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3
Jesus disciples shined the light of the gospel and many were saved.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15
Daniel 12:4
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
This is not talking about the end of time, but the time of the end of the latter days of Israel.
These words bring the prophecy to an end; and it is not difficult to see the resemblance they bear to the final words of Matthew 28:19-20,
“Go therefore (run to and fro) and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching (increase knowledge) them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The day spring of true knowledge from on high waited upon the footsteps of the apostles of Christ, as they traversed the Gentile world, dispelling darkness, and doubt and fear, and diffusing light, and confidence and joy over every condition of human life.
Colossians 1:26-27 verifies the unveiling of knowledge, “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Daniel 12:6
Daniel asked for more information about the desolation of Jerusalem and the Jews.
“How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?“
Daniel 12:7
The angel answered, “it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.“
The time, times, and half a time is 1260 days or 3.5 years, which occurred from Dec.. 66 A.D. to July 70 A.D.
The holy people are the Jews, who were scattered by the Roman army.
“If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:42-44
Note: This is not about the end times where there is great tribulation in the whole world, rather it is about the Jews in Judea being scattered because of their rejection of the Messiah.
Daniel 12:8
“Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”
He was asking how the “time of trouble” (which was spoken of in verse 1) would end.
It is the same period as that to which Jesus was referring when He said in Luke 21:22, “these be the days of vengeance that all things that are written may be fulfilled.”
Daniel 12:9
“And he (the angel) said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
Again, it doesn’t say “the end of time” as in the last days; but “the time of the end” of the prophecy regarding the Jewish national existence.
Jesus book of Revelation (written in 95 A.D.) describes the fulfillment of many of the prophecies of Daniel, so knowledge of their fulfillment increased after the time of the end, after the latter days of the Jews national existence ended in 70 A.D.
Daniel 12:10
“Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”
The precious shed blood of the Lamb of God made many pure, white and refined.
‘And He(Jesus) said to them, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28
But the wicked did not understand the time of Jesus coming.
“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Luke 19:41-44
And they rejected their promised Messiah.
“Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:32-36
And the wicked Jewish leaders delivered Him up to be crucified.
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Luke 23:34
Daniel 12:11,12
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits (i.e., survives, or endures), and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.”
This tells us that the interval of time between when the abomination of desolation occurred and when the daily sacrifice was taken away, was 1,290 days.
So let’s see how Daniel 12 was fulfilled on the timeline.
Day 1 – Nov. 66 A.D.
The first approach of the Roman army under Cestius surrounded the city, which was the “abomination of desolation” that Jesus warned the disciples about.
“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.” Matthew 24:15-16
This is confirmed in the corollary passage of Luke 21:20-21, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Note: The abomination of desolation had to be something that the disciples could see. An idol placed in the temple would not be seen except by the priests. For more information, read the Abomination Of Desolation Deception
The Jewish historian Josephus records that Cestius made such rapid progress that the city was on the point of being captured.
The seditious element fled in large numbers, and the peaceable inhabitants were about to throw open the gates to the Romans, when a remarkable thing took place, so unaccountable from any natural standpoint that it can only be attributed to the direct intervention of God, and for the fulfillment of the word of Christ.
Josephus tells how the people were about to admit Cestius as their benefactor, when he suddenly recalled his soldiers and retired from the city without any reason in the world.
Had he not withdrawn when he did, the city and the sanctuary would, of course, have been spared; and Josephus says it was, I suppose, owing to the aversion God already had towards the city and the sanctuary that he (Cestius) was hindered from putting an end to the war that very day (II 19:6).
This happened because Jesus promised His disciples a way of escape, that ‘when they should see the abomination of desolation’ (the idolatrous Roman armies, with the images of their idols in their ensigns) ready to lay Jerusalem desolate, ‘stand where it ought not,’ ‘in the holy place‘ of Jerusalem; they should then ‘flee to the mountains‘.
They escaped and Josephus did not record one death of a Christian at the hands of the Romans.
Roman Commander Titus and his army division was then sent to Judea, where they killed Jews in outlying cities, and then surrounded Jerusalem.
During this time, Nero, the Emperor of Rome died, so the Roman army stayed camped around the city of Jerusalem, awaiting further orders.
They tried to get the Jews to surrender, but the Jews were emboldened because they saw God cause the first division of the Roman army leave for no reason, so the Jews warred against the Romans.
When Vespasian was declared Emperor in 69 A.D., Titus (Vespasian’s son) was commanded to end the Jewish rebellion. For this achievement Titus was awarded a triumph; the Arch of Titus commemorates his victory to this day.
The 70 weeks of Daniel prophecy foretold the people of the prince coming to desolate the city and the temple.
“And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood. ” Daniel 9:26
“And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate.” Daniel 9:27
Of this period of great tribulation Josephus says, in the introduction of his ‘Wars of the Jews‘ historical documentary.
“It had come to pass that our city Jerusalem had arrived at a higher degree of felicity than any other city under the Roman government, and yet at last fell into the sorest of calamities again. Accordingly it appears to me that the misfortunes of all men from the beginning of the world, if they be compared to those of the Jews, are not so considerable as they were.”
The sufferings of the Jews had this peculiar characteristic, namely, that they were mostly inflicted upon themselves by the warring factions within the city, concerning whom Joseph says in another place:–
“It is impossible to go distinctly over every instance of these men’s iniquity. I shall, therefore, speak my mind here at once briefly: That neither did any other city ever suffer such miseries, nor did any age ever breed a generation more fruitful in wickedness than this was, from the beginning of the world” (Wars V. 10:5).
Because the Romans had surrounded the walled city, the food supply was cut off and the Jews were trapped inside.
As a result, 100′s of thousands of Jews died:
From infighting, as different factions warred against each other.
From starvation and disease.
From being crucified by the Romans when the Jews tried to find food outside of the city walls. Hundreds of people a night were caught and crucified outside the city walls, so many in fact, that trees had multiple bodies hung on them.
Josephus recorded that one man, by consent from his family, killed his parents, his wife, his children, and then himself, in order to escape a much worse fate at the hands of the wicked people in the city.
“but the wicked shall do wickedly..” Daniel 12:10
Day 1290 – July 70 A.D.
The Roman army breached the walls of Jerusalem and the daily sacrifice was taken away.
Josephus has recorded the very date on which it occurred, saying:
“And now Titus gave orders to his soldiers that were with him to dig up the foundations of the tower of Antonia, and make a ready passage for his army to come up, while he himself had Josephus brought to him; for he had been informed that, on that very day, which was the seventeenth day of Panemus, the sacrifice called ‘the daily sacrifice’ had failed, and had not been offered to God for want of men to offer it; and that the people were grievously troubled at it” (Wars, VI. 2.1.).
1,290 days had passed from when the the abomination of desolation (the Roman army under Cestius) appeared; until “the daily sacrifice was taken away.
Jesus had warned about the bloodshed that would come on this generation.
“And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:24
This fulfilled Matthew 24:29, as the High Priest (Sun), the High Council (moon) and the Jewish religious leaders (stars) were removed from power, their leadership darkened forever.
“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.”
This fulfilled the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers” where the wicked tenants killed the son of the vineyard owner.
“But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” Luke 20:14-15
This fulfilled Jesus words of Woe to the scribes and the Pharisees.
“Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:34-36
Recall what the Jewish leaders said when they handed Jesus over to be crucified:
“And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Matthew 27:25
As so it was as the Roman army flooded into the city and killed 100’s of thousands of Jews by the sword. And those who were captured were sold into slavery.
Titus wanted to save the temple, but the Roman soldiers were so enraged at the wicked Jews, that they tore it down brick by brick, to be able to capture all of the gold.
This fulfilled Jesus words in Matthew 24:1-2, “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Day 1335 – Sept 70 A.D.
In correspondence with this is the recorded fact that a month and a half after the daily sacrifice failed, the siege was ended by Titus’ getting sudden and unexpected possession of the upper city, the last stronghold of the besieged.
This last action took place, according to Josephus, the seventh day of the Hebrew month Elul, answering to our September; so that the further duration of the siege after the failure of the daily sacrifice was approximately one month and a half (Wars, VI 8, 4, 5).
“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
That those days were “shortened” by some Divine interference, is indicated by the abrupt and unexpected manner in which the last stronghold fell. Josephus tells how the “tyrants” (the dominant faction in the city) surrendered.
“Did now wholly deprive themselves of the security they had in their own power, and came down from those very towers of their own accord, wherein they could never have been taken by force. …They left those towers of themselves; or rather they were ejected out of them by God Himself. …The Romans, when they had gotten on the last wall without any bloodshed, could hardly believe what they found to be true” (ibid).
In regard to the promised blessing of Daniel 12:12 (Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.), it may be observed that Titus immediately extended clemency to the survivors and he set free those who had been bound by the tyrants (Wars, VI, 9, 1).
Recalling the words of our Lord when, referring to the same period of unequaled distress, He said in Matthew 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
So the followers of Jesus who had been taken captive by some Jews, were set free by Titus, fulfilling Jesus promise to those who endure during that time of great tribulation.
Note: 1,290 days + 45 days = 1335 days, so the 1,260, the 1,290 and the 1,335 day prophecies have been fulfilled. If you heard a Pastor teaching that they apply to the future, you now know that their teaching is false.
As you can see, the prophecies in Daniel 12 describe the desolation of the Jews and Jerusalem in 70 A.D., not a future tribulation period that affects the whole world.
Here’s the scene of the “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.”
100’s of thousands of Jews died inside the walled city of Jerusalem even before the Roman army entered the city. Nobody buried anyone for fear of being killed. All of those bodies were just heaped up in the streets and around the temple.
Many thousands of Jews were crucified outside the walled city, so that all the trees were full of dead bodies.
100’s of thousands of Jews were killed by the Roman sword.
97,000 Jews were captured and sold as slaves.
But everyone who was found written in the book of life, Jesus Church, were delivered.
This was the time of Jacob’s Trouble, not some end-times scenario.
And the “the power of the holy people had been completely shattered, and all these things were finished.” Daniel 12:7
So when you hear a prophecy teacher quoting verses from Daniel 9, 10, 11 and 12, to apply them to an end-times Antichrist, you now know that they are a False Prophet.
They may just be misguided, they may be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, either way their prophecy teachings are false, and they will be held accountable before the Lord.
If your pastor is teachable (many aren’t), please share this study with them, for surely God’s true ministers want to know the truth. Amen!
If you wonder how it’s possible that so many Pastors don’t understand the fulfillment of prophecy, click on End Times Antichrist Deception
So can I just get both of you take’s on exactly is going to happen to us that are Christian’s here now? Like wen we die or if we live to see His return. Like the part talking about the end of his grace… are you saying we die just to die, there is no heaven for us? If everything has been fulfilled and supposedly He already returned… what happens to us in your opinion? I have studied the bible closely all my life. So I know what I get out of it or how I believe it to happen…but can you both, please provide me with your individual answers about that specific question? I would so appreciate it. I think in review of all these comments I need to fast in prayer and study further or more. May God bless you., Jencie Arnold
I’m not real sure what you’re referring to with your questions Jencie, as this is a Daniel 12 Prophecy Deception page; so I will just answer your questions.
People who die will be raised up at one of two times: The saints will rise up from the grave when Messiah returns. The unbelievers will rise up after the 1,000 year reign; to be judged for their sins.
The saints who are alive when Messiah returns, will meet up with Him and the dead saints rise up.
Though most of Revelation has already been fulfilled during the last 1,900 years, Messiah has not returned yet. Here’s a Revelation Fulfillment Summary, that shows you what has already been fulfilled; where we are at now on the fulfillment timeline; and what will happen next as we await Messiah’s return. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/revelation-fulfillment-timeline-summary/
Is it not possible that although these events from Daniel happened in 70ad that they could happen again in the future. Could not what happen to the Jews then be a foreshadowing of endtime events. After all the history of Israel foretells of Christ s first coming .When the deciples ask Christ to tell them about the temple they also asked about the time of The End ( implying to come) and his coming (tieing the two together)
When the disciples were asking about the temple, they were asking about the end of the age, not the end of the world. Some Bibles translate that word incorrectly.
They knew that the Jews had been given 70 weeks to prepare and to accept their promised Messiah. And some did, and were saved. But the majority rejected Him and delivered Him up to be killed.
Their punishment was the desolation that happened from 66-70 A.D. This effectively ended the latter days of the Jews, it was the end of that age, that time period.
So the Olivet Discourse is talking about what would happen in the 1st century, leading up to the desolation of the temple, city and Jews.
Here’s a Bible study series on the fulfillment of the Olivet Discourse. http://theolivetdiscourse.com
So what then now? Just keep sharing Jesuswith everyone until death? 🙂 that sounds great lol
Thank you so much for this article which gives so much insight. I have a question on something which is not clear to me: you say in the article:
“This tells us that the interval of time between when the abomination of desolation occurred and when the daily sacrifice was taken away, was 1,290 days.”
In Daniel it says that FROM the time that the daily sacrifice is removed AND the abomination of desolation occurs there will be 1290 days.
May you explain? I just don’t get it. Thank you! Jannet
Thank you for your comment Jannet! I understand the confusion, as it seems to imply an order of the two events.
There’s two ways to look at it. If I said that ‘From the time of Messiah’s death, and when He was born, there was 33 years’, do you see that it’s defining two events, and the amount of time in between them; and that the order of the two events didn’t matter?
The second premise would be that the abomination of desolation, which was the Roman army surrounding Jerusalem in 66 A.D.; caused the temple sacrifice to be take away at that time. So the two events took place at the same time; and then 1,290 days passed before the city was flooded by the Roman army, which led to the desolation of the temple, city and Jews.
We know that Jewish historian Josephus recorded that the first division of the Roman army surrounded Jerusalem in 66 A.D. And we know that the Roman army flooded into the city of Jerusalem 3 1/2 years later, in 70 A.D. So we can clearly see the 1,290 day span of time.
I hope that helps you see a bigger picture. Keep learning and growing in The Way! David
Note that in the visions of the Book of Daniel some or all of the four world empires are mentioned over and over. I believe this is to tell us the time or empire in which the vision applies. How do we know the time of which Chapter 12 is concerning? Although most translations do not include the word end in verse 1, I believe that is what is intended, but the end of what? All of Daniel’s prayers and his concerns were for his people (Jews) and the Jewish faith. Michael stands guard over the sons of Daniel’s people (Jews). Therefore, I think Chapter 12 concerns the end of Judaism as Daniel knew it (Temple worship, animal sacrifices, etc.).
I believe there could be two separate 3 ½ year periods mentioned in Daniel Chapter 12. The one mentioned in verses 11 and 12 that I believe is from the crucifixion of Jesus to the stoning of Stephen and the one in verses 1-7 which seems to be part of the Great Jewish Revolt climaxing in the destruction of the Jewish Temple in July of 70 A.D. Josephus writes that 1.1 million non-combatants died in Jerusalem, mainly because of violence and famine and 97,000 were enslaved. 1290 days is 3 ½ years plus 12 days. If the stoning of Stephen was the last straw (the determining abomination of desolation), then I believe Stephen was stoned 1290 days after Jesus was crucified. Then perhaps there was an intense persecution of Christians after the stoning, which died down after an additional 45 days (at the 1335 days). This could also mark the date for the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. Jesus used Paul to usher in the Age of Grace we now have through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:1-2), by revelation of the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.
Thanks for sharing your perspective Wayne. To me, the 1,290 and 1,335 days have a direct match from 66-70; and the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman army.
Hi David, nice job on the little bit of reading I’ve done on your site. You’ve got really good patience with a guy who thinks he understands it all as he is known as Donald M. Agsten. The guy thinks you’re stubborn and in actuality, he is the stubborn one. So, if he should read this, I’d like him to know that he has plenty of time to pull up a chair and discuss things with the Jews who have missed the ‘first coming’ as those who are still waiting for the ‘second coming’ have much in common with the Jews waiting for the ‘first coming’ as neither group is getting what they’re looking for. What Donald has done is to take the old Jewish concepts and applied them to the second coming. Futurists like him understand well that the Jews will never get to see the ‘first coming’ as they’ve missed it. Futurists like him will never understand they’re in the same boat for different reasons. Futurists have misunderstood the ‘time statements’ in the Bible and even worse, they’ve completely misunderstood the ‘nature’ of the second coming. So futurists miss out on both counts!!! So poor Donald M. Agsten can argue his points until he is blue in the face. What he is hoping for in the future is NEVER going to happen. Maybe the Lord will turn on a lightbulb above his head and he’ll get it. I’m not trying to be mean or cruel. I’m just hoping after his 45 years of study, he’ll start to look around and realize 100% of the futurist preachers are dead wrong. All he has to do is repent (literally change his mind) and I hope the Lord helps him with that. Keep on the good path, David, you’ve started on. It works!!!! Cheers, Eric Widmer
Thank you for your comment Eric! I’m confident in what I teach, as I learned it from the great theologians of the 16th-20th centuries, who wrote whole Bible commentaries before the futuristic deceptions crept into the church. So it’s not about being stubborn, as I don’t know it all, and I’m still learning; but you can read the Revelation Timeline Decoded study series and see that all my explanations line up. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com
We can only teach the truth about prophecy fulfillment, and pray that the Spirit moves to wake people up, so that they can see the enemy’s many deceptions.
Keep learning and growing in The Way!
David
We agree on a lot. Here is my understanding.
Abomination of Desolation
In the Book of Daniel, the word Abomination is mentioned 3 times (9:27, 11:31 and 12:11), the word desolation 5 times (9:2, 9:18, 9:26 and in 11:31 and 12:11 it is mentioned in combination with abomination) and the regular sacrifice 5 times (8:11, 8:12, 8:13 and in combination with abomination of desolation in 11:31 and 12:11).
To God an abomination was anything that involved the worship of false gods in sacred places (Ezekiel 5:11). The question is when did these abominations take place that are mentioned in Daniel?
Abomination
First a look at Daniel 11:31:
Daniel 11:31New International Version (NIV)
31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
In the Book of Daniel four empires are continuously mentioned (the Babylonian, the Empire of the Medes and Persians, the Greek and the Roman Empires). Chapter 11 starts in the second empire in the first year of Darius the Mede and mentions that 3 more kings will arise in Persia. Then in verse 3 a mighty king will arise, and will rule with great authority and do as he pleases (Alexander the Great). It goes on to describe the Greek Empire after Alexander the Great in detail but never gets to the Roman Empire. So, to me it has become evident that the abomination that causes desolation in Daniel 11:31 happened in the period of the Greek Empire. History records that Antiochus IV (175bc-164bc), who surnamed himself Epiphanes, which means “the god made manifest”, issued a royal edict suspending the Jewish religion on pain of death. He even turned the priest’s rooms and the Temple chambers into public brothels. He also dedicated the Temple to Zeus, and over the altar was placed a statue of Zeus and a pig was sacrificed on the alter itself.
Second a look at Daniel 9:27
Daniel 9:27American Standard Version (ASV)
27 And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the [a]oblation to cease; and [b]upon the wing of abominations shall come one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out upon the desolate.
Chapter 9 starts in the first year of Darius in the Medo-Persian Empire when Daniel prays a beautiful prayer that God would forgive the Jews and let them return to their homeland because he knew that the 70 years spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah were coming to an end. Then Gabriel came to give Daniel insight with understanding with the seventy weeks of years’ vision.
Daniel 9:25-27American Standard Version (ASV)
25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto [a]the anointed one, the prince, shall be [b]seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times. 26 And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and [c]shall have nothing: 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 even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the [d]oblation to cease; and [e]upon the wing of abominations shall come one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out upon the desolate.
I have also come to believe that the term to restore Jerusalem probably means after at least partial self-rule was returned to the Jews. Without self-rule, how could it be a true restoration of Jerusalem and how could the Jewish people be held truly accountable for the seventy weeks of years. The King Cyrus decree did not give them this power but the first decree of King Artaxerxes 1 (Ezra 7:11-26) did give them this power.
I believe in a timeline of Jesus being born on (Festival of Trumpets) Tishri 1, 2 B.C.; being baptized on (Day of Atonement) Tishri 10, 29 A.D. and being crucified on (Passover Lamb Slaughtered) Nisan 14, 33 A.D., because of the scripture in the first part of Revelation 12; which seems too important to be ignored and although I know next to nothing of astronomy, the following article seems like a perfect description of what occurred and God is perfect: http://www.theopenscroll.com/when_jesus_was_born.htm
Also from Tishri 10, 29 A.D. to Nisan 14, 33 A.D. is exactly 3 ½ years.
It is hard to know precisely what is meant by the expression “from the going forth of the word”, verse 25. I think it means from the time the decree is in full effect and moving forward. It seems that Ezra was led to be very precise with dates.
Most historians agree that Persian King Xerxes 1 was murdered in August 465 B.C. by Artabanus the commander of the body guard but after that there is much confusion. Some have King Artaxerxes on the throne almost immediately but it is believed he was off fighting battles and some historians have Artabanus or Darius (Xerxes oldest son, who was also killed by either Artabanus or Artaxerxes) on the throne for about seven months until Artaxerxes killed Artabanus; therefore, making the accession year of King Artaxerxes 1 464 B.C. God is perfect but human historical accounts are not perfect. Most of the history of the Persian Empire is written by Greek historians because when the Greeks conquered the Persian Empire they destroyed the records of the Persians.
I have read that the Persians did not count the partial year of the accession in the king’s regnal years but the last year is counted, regardless of their lengths. Some historians have written that the Persians used a spring to spring regnal year; I have also read that most historians say they used a fall to fall regnal year. We will use the fall to fall regnal year.
King Artaxerxes I Regnal year
Accession year 464 B.C. begins in fall
1st Regnal year 463 B.C. Tishri Sept./Oct.
2nd Regnal year 462 B.C. Tishri Sept./Oct.
3rd Regnal year 461 B.C. Tishri Sept./Oct.
4th Regnal year 460 B.C. Tishri Sept./Oct.
5th Regnal year 459 B.C. Tishri Sept./Oct.
6th Regnal year 458 B.C. Tishri Sept./Oct.
7th Regnal year 457 B.C. Tishri Sept./Oct.
The Jews have a religious calendar year and a civil calendar year (a little like our calendar year and fiscal year) and they start 6 months apart. Some historians say Ezra used the religious calendar, it starts in the spring and the first day of the year is Nisan 1. Historically Nisan 1 is the first day that the Tabernacle was set up (Exodus 40:2).
Other historians however insist that Ezra used the civil calendar which starts in the fall and the first day of the year is Tishri 1, an even more amazing date. Historically Tishri 1 is the Feast of Trumpets and I believe is the day Jesus was born in 2 B.C. Tishri 1 in 29 A.D. would have been the 30th birthday of Jesus. Levitical priest could begin to perform the full duties of the priesthood at the age of thirty (Numbers 4:1-3). John the Baptist’s father Zechariah was a priest therefore he was in the priestly line. Jesus is priest of the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110). Hence it is most appropriate that Jesus start His ministry at the age of thirty. I believe Jesus was thirty years old when He began His ministry (Luke is precise in his writings, why would he be so vague on the age of Jesus). I believe what is translated in Luke 3:23 as Jesus being “about thirty years old” really means it was about His thirtieth birthday. I believe it was only nine days after His thirtieth birthday when Jesus was baptized (Tishri 10, The Day of Atonement). The Jews refer to the days from the Feast of Trumpets (Tishri 1) to the Day of Atonement (Tishri 10) as the Days of Awe or the Days of Repentance.
I believe Ezra used both calendars, using the fall to fall calendar regarding the king’s regnal years because that is what the Persians used and using the spring to spring religious year to describe his trip to and stay at Jerusalem for the following reasons:
1. Ezra was a priest; therefore, it is logical that he uses a religious calendar.
2. It is uncertain if King Artaxerxes made the decree in his seventh year, but if he did Ezra would not be leaving for Jerusalem on the first of the first month; he had animals to buy for sacrifice, freewill offerings to collect, etc. (Ezra 7:11-28) unless he switched to a different calendar.
3. In Ezra Chapter 7 verse 9, states that on the first of the first month he began to go up and verse 8 states that he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. It does not seem necessary to mention that it was still the seventh year of the king if he had started in the first month of the king’s seventh year; therefore, the calendar year had been changed from fall to fall to spring to spring.
4. When the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled on the ninth month it was the rainy season Ezra 10:9-13. If Ezra used a civil calendar the ninth month would be Sivan (our May/June) and not in their rainy season which runs October to April. If he was using the religious calendar the ninth month would be Kislev (our Nov./Dec.) which would fall in the rainy season.
5. It is likely that Ezra would prefer not to make the trip in the winter months so a spring to spring calendar is more likely. (Ezra 7:6-10)
If King Artaxerxes’ seventh year began in the fall of 457 B.C. and Ezra began his trip in the spring it was then 456 B.C. (Nissan 1 to be exact). In Ezra 10:7-17, Ezra goes on to describe the events of what I believe is 456 B.C. Then by the Nissan 1 of what I believe is 455 B.C. leaders had been chosen to represent the whole assembly and the people had agreed to cleanse themselves of foreign wives. Perhaps then the decree was in full effect and God would start counting the time to begin their test period. It is possible that an additional time period, say 6 months, was given to fulfill the promise to cleanse themselves of the foreign wives.
In the prophesy the first seven weeks of years (7X7=49 years) probably dates the completion of the “street and moat”. 49 years after the start of 455 B.C. is the first day of 406 B.C. (I am using the Jewish religious calendar year but Gregorian B.C. and A.D. dates). Then we have the 62 weeks of years (7X62=434 years) or total of 483 years (69X7). 483 years after the start of 455 B.C. is the 1st day of 29 A.D. (there is no 0 A.D. year so to get to the A.D. date we must add 1) the period up until the beginning of the year in which Jesus began to minister as the Messiah “unto Messiah” (Daniel 9:25). Jesus’ ministry started in 29 A.D. at the age of 30.
I hope you agree that the anointed one is Jesus (verse 25) and it is He that was cut off by His crucifixion after 69 full weeks (of years) in the middle of the 70th week (486.5 years) or 3 ½ years into His ministry (which I believe began when the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove after His baptism: that was His anointing by God).
The covenant is contained in verse 24 but it was not fulfilled by the Jews. They did not accept their Messiah and they did not anoint him as their King. If they had the Millennial would have started then, but God was not surprised He knew precisely what would happen, He knows the end from the beginning.
Read Psalm 2. Psalm 2 was probably written by King David about 1000 years before Jesus was crucified. Notice once God determines something it is like it has already happened. To God it is history and can be spoken of in the past tense. Nothing on earth can change it nor speed it up nor delay it. It will happen at the appointed time.
Do not think that because it was written of about 1000 years before it happened that it was determined then: read Revelation 13:8 and Acts 2:22-24.
I do not believe in the gap theory because the 70 weeks of years were given to the Jewish people as a test period but also a period of grace. It would make no since to put a gap of time during the test period.
Every seventh year the land was supposed to rest as is written in Leviticus 25:3-5.
Leviticus 25:3-5Darby Translation (DARBY)
3 Six years shalt thou sow thy field, and six years shalt thou prune thy vineyard, and gather in the produce thereof,
4 but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest for the land, a sabbath to Jehovah. Thy field shalt thou not sow, and thy vineyard shalt thou not prune.
5 That which springeth up from the scattered seed of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, and the grapes of thine undressed vines thou shalt not gather: a year of rest shall it be for the land.
What was the punishment stated by Moses if they did not obey this command of the Lord?
Leviticus 26:33-35New American Standard Bible (NASB)
33 You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste.
34 ‘Then the land will [a]enjoy its sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land will rest and [b]enjoy its sabbaths. 35 All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your sabbaths, while you were living on it.
These scriptures explain why the Babylonian captivity and the 70 years the Jews were in captivity. Now there were 490 years involved to get the 70 sabbath years in which they did not allow the land to rest. As a result, I believe God gave them 490 years (70 weeks of years) is a testing period, which was also a period of God’s grace.
Matthew 18:21-22Darby Translation (DARBY)
21 Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?
22 Jesus says to him, I say not to thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven.
Jesus brought a temporary end to the sacrifice when He entered the Temple and drove out the money changers then it was made of no use when He Himself was crucified for our sin.
I believe the abominations started with those committed by the Jews themselves described in 2 Kings Chapter 23. “On the wing of” I think is an expression for in flight, in motion, meaning continuing abominations until a complete destruction. I believe the persecution of the innocent is an abomination to God, especially in a city and by a people set apart by God to be called by His Name. I believe these were the continuing abominations, the persecution of the followers of the Way.
I believe the Jewish nation was given still another 3 ½ years to accept the crucified Messiah and I believe that time ended when Stephen was stoned to death. Stephen was “a man full of the Holy Spirit” and when he was brought before the Council; he gave them a message inspired by the Holy Spirit that cut them to the quick. When they covered their ears, they were blocking out the words of the Holy Spirit and when they stoned him, it could be said they were stoning the Holy Spirit (the third part of the Trinity).
Matthew 12:31-32New American Standard Bible (NASB)
31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever [a]speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever [b]speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
No wonder this was the abomination that determined the destruction; after which the test period was over (the end of the 70 weeks of years) but after which abominations continued until the complete destruction: I believe that came in 70 A.D. when the Roman and other incorporated armies destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem.
Third a look at Daniel 12:11-12
Daniel 12:11-12Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
11 and from the time of the turning aside of the perpetual [sacrifice], and to the giving out of the desolating abomination, [are] days a thousand, two hundred, and ninety.
12 O the blessedness of him who is waiting earnestly, and doth come to the days, a thousand, three hundred, thirty and five.
1290 days is 3 ½ years plus 12 days. If the stoning of Stephen was the last straw (the determining abomination of desolation), then I believe Stephen was stoned 1290 days after Jesus was crucified. Then perhaps there was an intense persecution of Christians after the stoning, which died down after an additional 45 days (at the 1335 days). This could also mark the date for the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. Jesus used Paul to usher in the Age of Grace we now have through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:1-2), by revelation of the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.
How do we know the time of which Chapter 12 is concerning? Although most translations do not include the word end in verse 1, I believe that is what is intended, but the end of what? (see below)
Daniel 12:1Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Time of the End
12 “Now at that [end] time Michael, the great [angelic] prince who stands guard over the children of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; but at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the [a]Book [of Life], will be rescued.
I like the Contemporary English Version translation:
Daniel 12:1Contemporary English Version (CEV)
12 Michael, the chief of the angels, is the protector of your people, and he will come at a time of terrible suffering, the worst in all of history. And your people who have their names written in The Book[a] will be protected.
All of Daniel’s prayers and his concerns were for his people (Jews) and the Jewish faith. Michael stands guard over the sons of Daniel’s people (Jews). Therefore, I think Chapter 12 concerns the end of Judaism as Daniel knew it (Temple worship, animal sacrifices, etc.).
I believe there could be two separate 3 ½ year periods mentioned in Daniel Chapter 12. The one mentioned in verses 11 and 12 that I believe is from the crucifixion of Jesus to the stoning of Stephen and the one in verses 1-7 which seems to be part of the Great Jewish Revolt climaxing in the destruction of the Jewish Temple in July of 70 A.D. Josephus writes that 1.1 million non-combatants died in Jerusalem, mainly because of violence and famine and 97,000 were enslaved.
Desolation
Desolation means bleakness, barrenness, a state of emptiness or destruction.
We have already considered Daniel 9:26, Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11 in combination with the word abomination. Daniel 9:2 and Daniel 9:18 remain. Both verses are contained in Daniel’s beautiful prayer for forgiveness of his people. Therefore, they are referring to desolations already in existence in Daniel’s day caused by the Babylonian invasion and captivity.
Regular Sacrifice
Regular Sacrifice refers to the sacrifices that were offered daily; one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
We have already considered Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11 in combination with the words abomination of desolation. Therefore, Daniel 8:11, 8:12 and 8:13 remain.
Daniel 8:11-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
11 It even magnified itself [a]to be equal with the [b]Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. 12 And because transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, [c]while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host [d]to be trampled?”
In Chapter 8 Daniel has a vision concerning the second and third world empires, Medo-Persia and Greece. He does not get to the fourth world empire, Rome. Therefore, it seems evident that what Daniel describes in Daniel 8:11-13 happens in the Greek Empire because just after writing of the Greek Empire in verses 21 and 22, in Daniel 8:23 it says “in the latter part of their rule” and goes on to describe the end of the vision. Again, like Daniel Chapter 11 this is a description of what will take place under Antiochus Epiphanes and his persecution of the Jews that would end the evening and morning sacrifices for 2300 days (Daniel 8:14) from 171 BC to 165 BC.
Daniel Chapter 7
So, are any of the prophecies contained in the Book of Daniel still left to be fulfilled for our generation or has it all been fulfilled by now? In Chapter 7, Daniel’s vision goes through all 4 beasts representing all 4 world empires, with the 4th beast developing 10 horns. Then another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, [g]this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. I believe this horn represents the last antichrist. After this beast is slain, the Son of Man (Jesus) is given an everlasting dominion.
In the interpretation of the dream starting in verse 25, 25 He will speak [y]out against the Most High and wear down the [z]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and [aa]they will be given into his hand for a [ab]time, [ac]times, and half a [ad]time. 26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, [ae]annihilated and destroyed [af]forever.
You have probably heard of what people call a prophetic year consisting of 360 days. Well I do not believe God would use a year length that does not fit within the years of the prophesy timeline.
I found an interesting article on the internet called 360 vs 365 by Guy Cramer. Although a lot of it is beyond my understanding, here are some of his thoughts on the subject.
During the time of the flood, Noah tells us that a 150 days’ period started on the seventeenth day of the second month, and ended on the seventeenth day of the seventh month (Genesis 7:11,24 and 8:3-4).
150 days divided by 30 days a month = 5 month
30 days x 12 months = 360 days
He believes the change to 365.24 days per year happened in the 8th century BC when King Hezekiah was given a 15-year extension on his life and was given a sign to assure it would happen in
Isaiah 38:8.
“Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz ten degrees backward.” So, the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down. (Isaiah 38:8)
Earth may be headed for a 360-day year again!
Daniel 7:25 speaks about the last part of the tribulation with the antichrist in power as lasting three-and-one-half years. In Revelation 11:2 and Revelation 13:5, the same period of time is described as 42 months. Revelation 11:3 and Revelation 12:6 tell us that it is 1,260 days.
1,260 days divided by 42 months = 30 days per month.
42 months of 30 days per month = 3 1/2 years exactly of 360 days per year
To achieve a 30-day month the earth’s orbit around the sun must be sped up so a year would = 360 days
A scripture I always wondered the meaning of is Daniel 7:25 when he is talking of the antichrist.
Daniel 7:25New American Standard Bible (NASB)
25 He will speak [a]out against the Most High and wear down the [b]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and [c]they will be given into his hand for a [d]time, [e]times, and half a [f]time.
Will he be allowed to change time back to a 30-day month and 360-day year? It would make him seem all powerful in most people’s eyes.
The Mt. of Olives Discourse and Abomination of Desolation Spoken of by Daniel
Speaking of the Temple and surrounding buildings, Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the [b]end of the age?”
They asked 3 questions: when will these things be (speaking of the destruction of the temple), what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age. What is meant by the end of the age? Let’s consider what age were they in. They were in the age of the Temple being the center of their worship with Jewish Festivals and animal sacrifices. They knew that along with the Temple’s destruction would come the end of the age of Jewish worship, as they knew it and they asked what would be the sign of the coming of these events.
Matthew 24:34New American Standard Bible (NASB)
34 Truly I say to you, this [a]generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
We have all been taught various things about this verse, mostly that it cannot mean exactly what is says. But what if it does mean exactly what it says? Then everything said before this verse in Chapter 24 must happen before the generation to which Jesus is speaking passes away. Jesus knew how His disciples would understand this verse, and we know by their writings how they did understand it, He would not deceive them.
I believe Jesus is speaking to His disciples in 33 A.D. and according to history the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed in 70 A.D. Could all the events mentioned in Chapter 24, before verse 34 really take place in 37 years.
Before we consider the verses in Matthew Chapter 24 leading up to verse 34, let’s look at another scripture in Matthew.
Matthew 16:27-28New King James Version (NKJV)
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
I have always been told that this scripture is referring to the transfiguration that is described in the next chapter of Matthew, but it never seemed to exactly fit to me. Verse 27 states that the Son of Man will come but He is there talking to them; therefore, He will have to go somewhere and come back to come in His kingdom, it also says He will come with His angels. Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) says He will come in His reign, New Life Version (NLV), PHILLIPS and Good News Translation (GNT) say He will come as king, and New Century Version (NCV) says He will come with His kingdom. Jesus may be referring to the transformation but I do not think we should assume that is the case. Now let’s consider the verses in Matthew Chapter 24.
Matthew 24:5New American Standard Bible (NASB)
5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the [a]Christ,’ and will mislead many.
Considering 1 John 2:18-22, 1 John 4:3 and 2 John 1:7 it seems clear verse 5 is possible.
Matthew 24:6New American Standard Bible (NASB)
6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
There were several Jewish revolts, the Great Jewish Revolt started in 66 A.D.
Matthew 24:7New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
Nations and kingdoms seem to be in constant disputes with one another. As for famines read Acts 11:27-28 (Claudius was in office 41-54 A.D. and this famine occurred around 50 A.D.). In 62 A.D., there was a large earthquake around Pompeii and probably several smaller ones in other areas also read Acts 16:25-27
Matthew 24:8New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs
Matthew 24:9New American Standard Bible (NASB)
9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
The Jews have never been a popular people and they have been persecuted many times because they are a peculiar people set apart by God. In the time of Roman occupation, I believe they were hated by the entire Roman Empire, which were all the nations surrounding to them. During this time, Pharisees delivered up Christians (Matt. 23:31-36) and even family members delivered up family members (Matt. 10:31-39, John 15:18-23).
Matthew 24:10-13New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 At that time many will [a]fall away and will [b]betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, [c]most people’s love will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
These were very stressful years for the Jews and I believe the last years can be referred to as Jacob’s Trouble. False prophets did arise (2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1). It would be unimaginable that these years are not covered in prophesy. Therefore, these events could have and I believe did take place between 33 A.D. and 70 A.D.
Matthew 24:14New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole [a]world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
This verse at first seems highly unlikely to have happened by 70 A.D., but let’s consider scripture on this subject. The meaning of the Greek word oikoumene interpreted here as whole world is widely disputed. It is a Greek word, but in Roman times it was applied mainly to the Roman Empire. The Greek word kosmos was used more as a term for all the earth.
Consider these scriptures about the preaching of the gospel at the time of the apostles: Romans 1:8, Acts 17:6, Acts 2:8-11, Acts 19:9-10 and Col. 1:23.
Matthew 24:15-22New International Version (NIV)
15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
According to Tacitus there were 600,000 visitors crowding the streets of Jerusalem for the Passover. After five months, the walls were battered down, the great Temple was burned down, and the city was left ruined and desolate. Josephus wrote that 1,100,000 million noncombatants were killed and 97,000 taken prisoner. That is close to no survivors left.
To God an abomination was anything that involved the worship of false gods in sacred places (Ezekiel 5:11). So, which one of the abominations mentioned in Daniel is Jesus speaking? It is an abomination that causes desolation. I believe it may have occurred more than once but it was the same abomination and it occurred when the Roman army came against Jerusalem between 66-70 A.D.
Let’s look at some scripture recorded in Luke concerning the same event:
Luke 21:20-24New International Version (NIV)
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Roman armies were made up of not only Romans but armies of other nations within the Roman Empire. Heathen uncircumcised men and they carried their ensigns on poles, images of their gods (Rome had an eagle and an image of Caesar) and they worshiped these images, especially before and after battle. I believe Jesus was telling His followers that when you see these armies in the Land of Judea approaching Jerusalem, it was time to get out without delay. Most often people would run to Jerusalem for protection, but Jesus was telling them to flee to the mountains.
Read all of Luke Chapter 21 it is relating to the same Mount of Olives discourse as Matthew Chapter 24 and when he writes verse 24 he is not writing of a future event for us. It has already happened in 70 A.D.
I am not alone in believing these events have already happened:
Augustine wrote in 379 A.D.: for Luke very clearly bears witness that the prophecy of Daniel was fulfilled when Jerusalem was overthrown.
C. H. Spurgeon wrote in 1888: This portion of our Savior’s words appears to relate solely to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Albert Barnes wrote in 1949: The abomination of desolation means the Roman army, and is so explained in Luke.
Matthew 24:23-28New International Version (NIV)
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
Again, the warnings are directly to the disciples of Jesus in 33 A.D.
Matthew 24:29-33New International Version (NIV)
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[b] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[c] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d] is near, right at the door.
These things must have already taken place because verse 34 says that this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Read these scriptures concerning clouds: Psalm 97:1-6, Psalm 104:1-9, Jeremiah 10:12-13, Joel 2:1-2, Zephaniah 1:14-16, Revelation 1:7, in Isaiah 14:12-15 Satan exalts himself, in Isaiah 45:1-13 Cyrus the King of Persia is prophesied of and named by name about 200 years before he existed. Coming in the clouds is symbolic of coming in great power but I believe Jesus literally came in the clouds.
I believe a future prophesy of Jesus in the clouds is Daniel 7:13, there are probably others.
Does verse 31 of Matthew 24 mean that some have been resurrected already? It seems to suggest that is the case. I do not know of any scripture that would be violated by multiple resurrection times nor multiple Comings of the Son of Man.
Jesus is described as returning in the clouds or in glory in several other scriptures: Acts 1:9-11, Luke 9:26, Matthew 25:31, Matthew 26:64, Mark 13:26, Mark 14:62, Revelation 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 2 Thessalonians 1:4-8.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 and Matthew 24:31 indicate that Jesus does not return to earth when He comes in the clouds. But it is indicated that a resurrection to eternal life does happen: Psalm 50:4-6, and 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
It also indicates that some of the living will be translated when Jesus comes in the clouds and I am very confused by that: 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. Verse 51 in 1 Corinthians 15 says we shall not all sleep, but will be changed. I have struggled with whether a rapture has already taken place (there could be more than one) but I think my best guess is that Jesus comes in the clouds at least twice with the second time being when some of the living are translated. That would be different than Hebrews 9:27. But I believe God makes rare exceptions in special situations or maybe the rapture is a death, just an instantaneous one.
I certainly do not understand it all and I am struggling to put it together. Consider Paul’s description of our resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:42-44New International Version (NIV)
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
We are raised a spiritual body. Possibly with just a seed of our original bodies, perhaps a DNA molecule, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38.
It is apparent by reading the epistles of Peter, James and John and the letters of Paul that all of them believed that they had a chance to live to see Jesus return in the clouds with power. I have come to believe that Jesus did return in 70 A.D.
The Revelation to John
I have come to believe that the Book of Revelation is a combination of letters and visions, a collection that John kept as instructed.
Revelation 1:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
I believe the first eight verses were written before John was on the island of Patmos and was written before the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Therefore, it could be said “the time is near”.
Revelation 1:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So, it is to be. Amen.
Notice at least some of those who pierced Him were still alive and would see Him. After the semicolon may be in the future but it is impossible to be sure. Also note that Revelation 1:7 confirms Matthew 26:63-64.
Matthew 26:63-64 New International Version (NIV)
63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
I believe verse nine starts a second letter or letters to the seven churches and it is sent from the island of Patmos after 70 A.D. In verse nine, John describes himself as a fellow partaker in the tribulation (the tribulation that climaxed with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D) like it had already happened. Jesus dictates these letters (and I believe they are the second letters to the churches) and John pens them.
Think of this John may have been the only one of the 12 disciples to be alive and witness Jesus’ return in the clouds, which was hinted at by Jesus.
John 21:20-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
20 Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
The order in which John recorded the visions may not have always been in the order he received them and indeed (as with some prophetic visions) the order he received them may not be the chronological order in which they occur.
I believe Chapter 4 begins another vision because it says, “after these things”.
I believe Chapter 7 begins another vision because it says, “after this”.
I believe Chapter 15 may begin another vision because it says, “and I saw another sign in heaven”.
I believe Chapter 18 may be the beginning of another vision because it says, “after these things”.
I believe Chapter 19 may be the beginning of another vision because it says, “after these things”.
Thanks for sharing your insight Wayne! That’s a lot of information, I printed it out and will read it all when I get a chance. David
A thought provoking analysis but you are claiming Jacob’s Trouble is a past event, when 100,000s of Jews were killed…yet 1,000,000s of Jews were killed in the 20th century and this was not considered Jacob’s Trouble. How can you be absolutely certain Jacob’s Trouble isn’t a future event, killing even more than all past events combined?
Thank you for your comment Hamilton! Keep in mind that it is not the number of Jews who were killed that is the determining factor, it is the sheer horror of the scene, in such a small space, the old city of Jerusalem.
Here is a study series on Messiah’s Olivet Discourse, which explains it in more detail. http://theolivetdiscourse.com
Thank you David for the quick response. I went to the study above, it denies the Discourse parallel to the Revelation seals and allegorizes the Second Coming. Wouldn’t Bible interpretation be harmonized by concluding the Discourse partially describes two events; namely history repeats itself a third time…the 70AD Roman Jerusalem invasion and a future Jerusalem invasion/tribulation prior to the Second Coming?
Messiah clearly said that all of the things that He described would be fulfilled in that generation, so I don’t believe that it is referring to two events, just to the desolation of the city, temple and Jews, in 70 A.D.
It’s simply not a prophecy about the end times, but about the Jews, who had transgressed by rejecting their promised Messiah and delivering Him up to be killed.
Huh? Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake…some to everlasting contempt.
Makes no sense. How can someone “wake up” to everlasting contempt?
Todd, how do the dead awaken and then take action to redeem the time? “Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. .” Ephesians 5:14-16
How do the dead become watchful? “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. ” Revelation 3:1-2
People like you nitpick at every point, instead of seeing the mountain of evidence, that what was described in Daniel 12 was fulfilled for 66-70 A.D.
Oh how easy the futurists have it, for they can just assign the fulfillment to the future, and not have to prove anything.
For the Daniel 12 fulfillment, why depart from the year-day principle? Am I understanding your teaching correctly that is in 1260 literal days? I have been on a path of learning and revelation over the past couple years, and am so glad I have come to understand the deception so many in the church are under. Thank you for providing a concise, clear commentary on historicism! There is so much great information out there, but none as easy to read as your site!
Thank you for your comment Amy! People, such as the Seventh Day Adventists, get in trouble when they apply the 1 day = 1 year to every prophecy.
The 2,300 days of Daniel 8 is a great example. History proves that it was fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, the vile person, who surrounded Jerusalem with his armies (the abomination of desolation) and killed 10’s of thousands of Jews. They defiled the sanctuary and caused the daily sacrifice to be taken away for 2,300 days (Daniel 8:14). His persecution of the Jews began in 171 B.C. and the temple was cleansed on December 25, 165 B.C., which is 2,300 days.
So history proves the fulfillment of prophecy.
The same is true of Daniel 12. Jewish historian Josephus recorded the events of the 66-70 A.D., so that we can now see how the 1,290 and 1,335 days were fulfilled during that time frame.
The great theologians of the 16th-20th centuries taught these same things, I just take their teachings and put them into concise studies.
Here’s a list of my prophecy studies series to keep learning:
The 70th Week Of Daniel Deception http://70thweekofdaniel.com/
The Olivet Discourse Deception http://theolivetdiscourse.com/
The Falling Away of 2 Thessalonians 2 http://christianitybeliefs.org/the-falling-away/
Islam In Bible Prophecy http://christianitybeliefs.org/islam-in-bible-prophecy/
Revelation Timeline Decoded http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/
Contact me anytime with questions or insight on the studies,
Blessings to you,
David
Tied to send you considerable information to show you how wrong you really are but your blog wouldn’t accept it. Narly dude, you need to do more study.
Here’s a list of my prophecy studies series. Obviously I’ve studied quite a bit, and what I teach is what the great theologians of the 16th-20th centuries taught.
The 70th Week Of Daniel Deception http://70thweekofdaniel.com/
The Olivet Discourse Deception http://theolivetdiscourse.com/
The Falling Away of 2 Thessalonians 2 http://christianitybeliefs.org/the-falling-away/
Islam In Bible Prophecy http://christianitybeliefs.org/islam-in-bible-prophecy/
Revelation Timeline Decoded http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/
p.s., it’s gnarly dude, not narly dude 🙂
I have studied “End Times Prophecy” for forty-five years and what I teach is what The Bible says in and of itself. The great theologians of the 16th-20th centuries taught what they saw looking back, the prophetic look is ALWAYS forward. God calls things that are not as though they were.
YOU ARE WRONG IN YOUR HISTORIC VIEW!
I would like to see you post this one.
I tried to upload an abbreviated/excerpted seventy-five page report to show you the error of your way but your blog would not accept it. I am sure that Satan appreciates your historic view because people will be thinking that these things have already been fulfilled instead of seeing them as they are being fulfilled by The Antichrist who is one single man and most certainly NOT a Pope. I do agree that the Catholic Church and the Popes are antichrist in that they are against and or opposite Christ.
I will try to keep this as concise as possible which is hard to do since there is so much prophecy that will be fulfilled during the reign of The Antichrist. Jesus spoke Aramaic, a form of Hebrew. The Hebrew verb had no future tense that is why much prophecy is written as though the people were speaking of the events as if they were just happening. A good example is: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen;” (Isaiah 21:9, Revelation 14:8 and 18:2) instead of “will fall”. That is why when Jesus said: “This generation shall not pass” (Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30 and Luke 21:32 He was talking about the generation that will be living when The Antichrist is in power not the generation in which He Himself was living.
Just as Noah entering The Ark and rising above the flood was a rescue from The Judgment of God “The Rapture” will cause The Saints to rise above The Judgment of God in the form of The Seven Seals and The Seven Trumpets-Vials. There is a perfect harmony to Daniel, The Olivet Discourse and Revelation each showing three periods of three and one-half years. In Revelation the harmony is Chapters 4-11 which are chronological and viewed from Heaven and Chapters 12-16 which are topical and are seen as one viewing from the earth. The Rapture comes BEFORE the TWO TRIBULATIONS, and yes there are TWO, one for the Church and one for Israel. So “The Rapture” does take place before, as in PRE, either of the TWO tribulations. God is bringing both The Old and The New Dispensations to an end in this ten and one-half year period. The New Dispensation has to end first because it is the one that we are in now. It must end first and then the Old Dispensation will be brought to a close during Daniel’s 70th week which IS YET TO RUN! The Seven Seals bring The Age of Grace to a close and then The Seven Trumpets and Vials close The Dispensation of Law. An interesting note: The Dispensation of Grace or The New Testament is approximately two thousand years long and takes three and one-half years to close where as The Dispensation of Law or The Old Testament is four thousand years long and takes seven years to close.
Concerning the TWO TRIBULATIONS: The FIRST is for The Church or The Saints and is found in: Daniel 7:9, and 12:1, The Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:7-14, Mark 13:8-13 and Luke 21:10-18 (put these side by side and see for yourself) and in Revelation it is covered by The Seven Seals. These are just a few of the prophecies covering The Tribulation for The Saints to get you started on the right track.
The SECOND period of Tribulation is for Israel and is the last half of Daniel’s 70th Week and is “The Two Witnesses” prophesying for 1260 days clothed in sackcloth and IS NOT 1260 days of years or any other perversion of time. This is found in: Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 11:31-35, Zechariah 14:2, Joel 3:9-16, The Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:15-28, Mark 13:14-23 and Luke 21:20-24. (Put these side by side and see for yourself)
Then we have Jesus visible “Second Coming” when “Every Eye Shall See Him”. This is found in: Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27 and Luke 21:25-28. (Put these side by side and see for yourself)
Here are some other things from The Olivet Discourse that will help you see “THE TRUE PICTURE”:
Jesus made the following statement in each of the gospels to make the disciples ask the two questions that He wanted to answer. They asked the questions in the reverse order of which they would take place. Rather than correct their error, He simply answered them in the order that the events would take place, i.e. “the end of the world,” (There is no “end of the world” because the Greek word translated world here is “aiōn” which means “age”). (As in “age of grace”) and then “thy coming.” “Thy coming” refers to the second part of His return (“when every eye shall see Him”) which takes place at the seventh “trumpet-vial” in Revelation.
Jesus’ Statement is found in Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6. The Disciples Questions: in Matthew 24:3, Mark 13:3-4 and Luke 21:7. The Answers to The Questions “The Fist Signs” are found in Matthew 24:4-6, Mark 13:5-7 and Luke 21:8-9. (Place these side by side also)
In all three Gospels Jesus says “don’t be deceived”. Deceit plays a very important part in Satan’s plan for the end. He will use a false peace and prosperity brought about by The Antichrist and many false teachers (deceivers) to deceive a multitude.
Mr. David Miles, don’t be one of the “deceivers” by continuing to teach your “historic fulfillment” of what is yet to come. If you can’t see the truth in what I have given you here I will very strongly recommend that you take the advice that I have seen you give so many others on your website: “continue to study” and “do away with your programming”.
The Babylon that Saddam Hussein started rebuilding in 1983 is the one that will be destroyed in Revelation. Cyrus DID NOT destroy Babylon in “one hour” Revelation 18:10, 17 and 19 and they DID NOT “stand afar off”. The rebuilding now is what attracts God’s people and He warns them: “come out of her, my people,” Revelation 18:4. The United Nations has gotten involved with the rebuilding which means that The Tri Lateral Commission, The Council on Foreign Relations, The World Bank and The International Monetary Fund are quite probably involved and they are all Satanic Luciferian organizations.
Tyre was sacked by Alexander not destroyed by a tidal wave coming down from the north. The tidal wave is quite probably not an army but this one is hard to call. (See Ezekiel 27:32) Tyre gets to be an in depth study in itself because there were two, the island and the mainland. The mainland will be rebuilt after seventy years. Isaiah 23:15-18. This would be done approximately seventy years into “The Millennium”. The island will not be rebuilt because of Revelation 16:20.
The Temple WILL be rebuilt: Ezekiel Chapters 41, 42 and 43. This temple will probably be built or at least started before The Rapture during the reign of Antichrist and possibly in spite of or to spite him. The Temple mentioned in Haggai 2:9 “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” This temple will probably be built during The Millennial Reign of Christ and His Saints.
I DO NOT see in The Bible where “hail” is symbolic for war. In Revelation it even gives the weight of the hail stones: Revelation 16:21 see also Job 38:22-23.
I also DO NOT see in The Word of God where “earthquake” is symbolic of political upheaval. The word “earthquake” is found 16 times in 13 verses and several seem to be direct visitations from God.
I believe concerning “The Rapture” Revelation 4:1-2 are symbolic of “The Rapture” because of the descriptive similarities of these verses:
Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first VOICE which I heard was as it were of a TRUMPET talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last TRUMP: for the TRUMPET shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a SHOUT, with the VOICE of the archangel, and with the TRUMP of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Also this is where Daniel covers approximately 2600 years with a single verse. Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (This is where Daniel goes from where he is in Babylon to Heaven just after “The Rapture”.)
There is one very important point that you must realize: You have Israel, Old Testament, Law and PHYSICAL where as on the other hand you have Church, New Testament, Grace and SPIRITUAL with Jesus being the transition. Example concerning Jesus: by His “physical” stripes we were healed of “spiritual” things. Other examples are as follow.
1. Noah entered into the ark and rose above God’s judgment. The Flood. The flood receded and Noah and his family came back to earth. PHYSICAL
2. The Rapture takes place causing The Saint to rise above the earth while the Seals and Trumpet-Vials plagues are being administered and then ten and one-half years later Jesus returns with His Saints to rule. This is when “every eye shall see Him” which will take thirty days, the difference between Daniels 1260 and 1290 days and this corresponds to “The Seventh Trumpet-Vial. The time periods in Daniel are better laid out in chart form because it is easier to see the relationships and it is very apparent that there is no perversion of time as in days of years etc. SPIRITUAL
3. When the people were bitten by serpents Moses held up the brass serpent they looked on it and lived. PHYSICAL
4. Jesus said that He would be lifted up like Moses lifted up the serpent. This is because we have been bitten by the serpent, Satan, spiritually in the form of sin and by looking to Jesus we live in the form of eternal life. SPIRITUAL
5. Moses was to strike the rock the first time and then speak to it the second time and out flowed water. PHYSICAL
6. Jesus was struck down once and for all now all we have to do is to speak to Him and out flows living water unto eternal life. SPIRITUAL
I know that I have been hard on you. Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” and Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
As I have said before, you should have my email address and I would be glad to send you more in depth studies to help you see the truth concerning what is coming and the wonderful plan that our God has for “The Time of the End”.
In HIS LOVE, Sincerely, Donald M. Agsten
Your intro proves your folly, “The great theologians of the 16th-20th centuries taught what they saw looking back, the prophetic look is ALWAYS forward.” That just doesn’t make any sense! By that logic prophecy fulfillment would always be future.
Daniel was written in the 6th century B.C. The prophecies in it were fulfilled by the first century, which was forward looking.
Revelation was written in the 1st century A.D., and the prophecies in it have been in the process of being fulfilled since it was written.
I appreciate your concern, but the studies on this website prove you explanations are wrong. The prophecy of the Two Witnesses has already been fulfilled. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/the-two-witnesses-of-revelation-11/
The 70th week of Daniel has already been fulfilled. http://70thweekofdaniel.com
Most of the prophecies in Revelation have already been fulfilled. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/revelation-fulfillment-timeline-summary/
The prophecies in the Olivet Discourse have already been fulfilled. http://theolivetdiscourse.com
I pray that you take the time to learn the true fulfillment, for your explanations are leading people astray.
David
Hello David, it’s me again. First: I would like to say that in your previous post your P.S. correcting my misspelling of “narly” was done in good taste, especially the little smiley face at the end of the comment. Second: I would like to thank you for posting my comments as it shows your willingness to be fair and just in your blog by not censoring that with which you do not agree.
It is certain that one of us is engaged in folly and leading people astray, possibly even both of us. Time will most certainly reveal conclusively what is the correct interpretation of “The Time of The End” according to The Holy Scriptures.
As far as the prophetic look always being FORWARD, logic dictates this to be true until the prophecies are completely fulfilled as God intended them to be and then they become history as with Jesus’ First Coming in “the fullness of time”. Galatians 4:4. The prophecy of the “Two Witnesses” HAS NOT yet been fulfilled because Revelation 11:4-14 HAS NOT been fulfilled to the letter. Please show me in history since The Crucifixion of our Lord that 1. “Fire proceeded out of their mouth” 2. The heavens were shut 3. Water turned to blood 4. The beast came out of the bottomless pit overcame them and killed them 5. Their bodies laid in the street three days and an half 6. The spirit of God entered into them and they stood on their feet 7. A great voice from heaven called them to come up hither and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies beheld them. These will all be literally fulfilled as will every other prophecy of Revelation, Daniel and The Olivet Discourse because they are all future. A good example of a wrong historic view would be Antiochus Epiphanes putting a sow in the temple and forcing the Jews to worship it. This DID NOT fulfill “the abomination of desolation” because in Daniel 8:13, 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11 these are always in reference to “The Antichrist”. When Jesus referred to “the abomination of desolation” in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 He then proceeded to tell of “The Signs of His Coming” AGAIN, making these events all FUTURE! The reason that Antiochus Epiphanes putting a sow in the temple and forcing the Jews worship it does not qualify AT ALL is because of II Thessalonians 2:1-10 where it makes it absolutely clear that “The Antichrist” is a man and is yet to come AND HE WILL SIT IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD. He is shown to be a man especially in Thessalonians 2:2 and 3. 2Th 2:3 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 perdition; 2Th 2:4 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. The “falling away”, which will come first, is the church leaving Bible Doctrine because of all of the new perverted versions of The Bible that are in circulation now because in some way they all deny Christ and/or His Deity and “Atoning Blood”. These perverted versions all came about as a result of the intellectuals that brought us the corrupt Alexandrian minority texts. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Romans 10:17. If your Bible, The Word of God is perverted then your faith is perverted also and The King James (Authorized Version) is the only readily available English translation of The Holy Scriptures on which The Spirit of The Living God rests. Satan’s grand plan of deceit has been and is working very well! Revelation 12:9
Another good example would be your insistence on the 1260 days in Daniel being days of years when there is no scriptural evidence to justify your conclusion. In Ezekiel chapter 4 verses 5 and 6 where we have an INSPIRED EXPLANATION of days equaling years then it is so, otherwise the stated time period MUST BE taken at face value. Eze 4:5 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. Eze 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. (This is the only place in The Holy Scriptures where I can see any justification for “the day equals a year” to be applied). In Daniel 9:24 the original reads “seventy sevens” (Strong’s H7657 and H7620) in place of “seventy weeks” which is how we are able to determine the fact that it is “seventy weeks of seven years each. Also there is nothing in The Scriptures that says that these “seventy weeks” run consecutively which allows for “The Age of Grace” to be a parenthesis between the 69th and 70th week, which it actually is.
I feel that when you step outside of The Word of God you become involved with heresy, conjecture, opinion, speculation, and prejudice, all of which are subject to error, controversy and confusion and God is not the author of confusion. As I have said before The Word of God explains and substantiates itself when studied diligently. To me the early theologians seemed to be led more by their intellect than The Holy Spirit of The Living God as were The Alexandrian Minority Text translators. I say this because I have a free Bible Study program called e-Sword that has Bibles, Commentaries and Dictionaries grouped together so that I am able to go to any verse in The Bible and then go to “Commentaries” and compare for example: Barnes, Clarke, Darby, Gill, JFB, etc and I have found that at times on various verses they will both concur and resist each other.
Here is just one small example of why at times I am at odds with John Gill:
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass,…. Not the generation of men in general; as if the sense was, that mankind should not cease, until the accomplishment of these things; nor the generation, or people of the Jews, who should continue to be a people, until all were fulfilled; nor the generation of Christians; as if the meaning was, that there should be always a set of Christians, or believers in Christ in the world, until all these events came to pass; but it respects that present age, or generation of men then living in it; and the sense is, that all the men of that age should not die, but some should live
till all these things were fulfilled; see Mat 16:28 as many did, and as there is reason to believe they might, and must, since all these things had their accomplishment, in and about forty years after this: and certain it is, that John, one of the disciples of Christ, outlived the time by many years; and, as Dr. Lightfoot observes, many of the Jewish doctors now living, when Christ spoke these words, lived until the city was destroyed; as Rabban Simeon, who perished with it, R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, who outlived it, R. Zadoch, R. Ishmael, and others: this is a full and clear proof, that not anything that is said before, relates to the second coming of Christ, the day of judgment, and end of the world; but that all belong to the coming of the son of man, in the destruction of Jerusalem, and to the end of the Jewish state.
(Why did Mr. Gill change the word “be” in The Scripture Verse to “were” in his commentary? Was this due to prejudice or to fit an erroneous preconceived notion?)
I truly wish that I would have spent more time simply studying The Word of God and less time in all of these additional resources, and there are very many, because the more time that I spent in The Word of God without all of these distractions the clearer the picture became. And yes, occasionally I was able to glean bits of information that I can consider to be useful in my quest for The Truth, but not substantially so.
Currently in the realm of fulfilled prophecy we have an independent Jewish state in Palestine for the first time in nearly two-thousand years. This was brought about by Hitler’s persecution of the Jews and is what I call “The First Crisis”. There are two more crises to follow, both of which will be brought on by The Antichrist. This first crisis brought about “The Partial Return” (Ezekiel chapter 35 thru 36:5) which is to prepare the land for “The mass Return” (This being “The Second Crisis”). (Isaiah 11:11-16 and Ezekiel 36:7-38. According to Ezekiel 36:10 this will include all of the Jews from all lands. Here is a brief scenario of “The Return of The Jews” with the applicable Scripture verses. All of these events with the exception of “The Partial Return”, which is currently in progress, are to be fulfilled in the not to distant future.
1. The Partial Return: Ezekiel chapter 35 thru 36:5
2. The Great Worldwide Persecution which will be brought about by The Antichrist: Deuteronomy 28:63-68 and Ezekiel 37:1-14. This will result in step 3.
3. The Jews expulsion to The Desert of Egypt (The Wilderness of the people Ezekiel 20:35): Deuteronomy 28:68 and Ezekiel 20:33-44.
4. Palestine will be taken over by the Arabs for a prey: Ezekiel 36:5
5. There will be war in Ethiopia: Isaiah chapter 18
6. The Ark of the Covenant (Ensign) Appears: Isaiah 18:3 and Isaiah 11:12. It will rest on Mount Zion and be visited until after The Return of Christ: Jeremiah 3:16.
7. The State of The Jews before their return: Jeremiah 30:17, Ezekiel 37:1-14 and Isaiah 1:2-24.
8. The Jews repent and turn to God: Deuteronomy 30:1-3 and Ezekiel 20:33-38. They will not accept Jesus at this time. Their accepting Jesus as Messiah will be the result of “The Third Crisis”.
9. The Miracles of The Return are found in Isaiah chapter 11 verses 15 and 16. (This is one of the places where I vehemently disagree with John Gill and many of the other commentators.)
10. The Great Mass Return: as stated previously, “The mass Return” (This being “The Second Crisis”). (Isaiah 11:11-16 and Ezekiel 36:7-38. According to Ezekiel 36:10 this will include all of the Jews from all lands.
11. Arabs and ALL strangers will be driven out of Israel: Isaiah 11:14.
12. David’s Tabernacle will be rebuilt: Amos 9:11.
13. The Temple WILL be rebuilt: Ezekiel chapters 41, 42 and 43. I explained this in more detail in my previous post.
14. There will be a Great Prosperity in Israel: Isaiah 3:16-23 and Ezekiel 38:11-12. This prosperity will lead to unbelievable sin and idolatry comparable to that which took place while Moses was on the mountain receiving “The Ten Commandments”. Let’s also remember that the original set of “The Ten Commandments” were broken upon Moses return and he had to go back and get “The Second Set”. Exodus 32:19.
The Rapture will quite probably take place sometime following step 14.
In defense of the futuristic view concerning prophecy, seventy-five years ago no one would have believed that the Jews would have an independent state in Palestine, that Babylon would be rebuilt and that the European Union would exist. Concerning the European Union, this is Daniel’s Image beginning to stand so that it can be destroyed by “The Stone” that “was cut out without hands”. See: Daniel 2:34-35 and 2:45. In the early 1970’s when I said that Babylon would be rebuilt I was ridiculed to scorn but the prophecies have presented and proven themselves to be correct and will continue to do so. As I have stated previously, Saddam Hussein began rebuilding Babylon in 1983.
There is so much prophecy yet to be fulfilled that it would be virtually impossible to post it in this blog in its entirety. If I am in fact wrong, then time will prove me thus, on the other hand when The Prophecies present themselves on the world stage they will be undeniable and irrefutable proof that The Word of God is infallible when “rightly divided”.
This is a list of terms that identify prophecies as future and point to “The Goal”, which is “The Redemption” of ALL that God created and called “good”. 1. “The Day of the Lord”, 2. “That Day”, 3. “The Last Days”, 4. “The End”, 5. “The time of the end”, 6. “The end of the world” which is unfortunately an incorrect translation of the Greek word G165 aiōn which means “age” as in “age of grace” and 7. “At that time”. There are other variations of these but this is a good starting point.
I am looking FORWARD and through all of Satan’s deceptions and I can see his final defeat over one-thousand years from now when he will be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity at the end of “The Millennium” when he will then become HISTORY! Revelation 20:10
I would like to close with six scripture verses, five from Ecclesiastes and one from Ephesians.
Ecc 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (Note: This one I can speak from much personal experience to be absolutely true).
Ecc 12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Looking forward to the day when, as promised, The God of All Creation will cause us each and every one to “come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Ephesians 4:13.
Sincerely, in His Love, Donald
I know that you won’t post this but I want you to read Isaiah chapter 11 and tell me that that has already happened. Israel being brought to the point to receive the Messiah at His second coming involves three crisis. Hitler brought about the first one, the partial return, the antichrist will bring about the next two. Do you know what they are? Before this is all over you will see the ark on the covenant again and many “End Times Prophecies” fulfilled. The “Age Of grace” is a parenthesis between the 69th and 70th week. Watch it happen!
The antichrist beast is the Popes of Rome. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/the-antichrist-sea-beast-of-revelation-13-is-the-popes-of-the-roman-catholic-church/
Most prophecies have already been fulfilled. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/bible-prophecy-made-easy/
The 70th week of Daniel has already been fulfilled. http://70thweekofdaniel.com/
As for Isaiah 11, I’ll let the esteemed theologian John Gill summarize it for you, as it is not about the end times:
This chapter is a prophecy of the Messiah, and gives an account of his descent, as man; of his qualifications for his office, as a Judge and King; of his performance of it; of the peaceableness of his kingdom; of the spread of it among the Gentiles, by the preaching of the Gospel; and of the last and general conversion of the Jews. His original and descent from David the son of Jesse, under the titles of a rod and branch, is described as mean and obscure, expressed by stem and roots, Isa 11:1 his gifts and qualifications for his work, in general and particular, Isa 11:2 the performance of it, both with respect to good men and bad men, in the fear of the Lord, with all equity, righteousness, and readiness, Isa 11:3 the peaceableness of his kingdom is figuratively expressed, by the agreement of savage and tame creatures, the former becoming the latter, and so losing their malignant and hurtful nature, through the efficacy of the Gospel, spreading the knowledge of Christ all over the world, Isa 11:6 particularly among the Gentiles, comparable to those savage creatures, who, upon the exhibition of Christ in the Gospel; should seek to him, and find rest in him, Isa 11:10 which will be followed or accompanied with a collection of the Jews out of all lands, and the conversion of them, which will be brought about by the power and grace of God, all impediments being by him removed out of the way; the consequences of which will be, peace among themselves, and obedience among the Gentiles, Isa 11:11.
I have studied Barnes, Clark, Darby, Gill, Henry, JFB, Keil & Delitzsch, etc. I can not agree with everything that they say because it does not agree with the Word of God. They did not have all of the pieces of the puzzle that we have now. There are three three and one half year periods in Revelation after the Rapture. Daniel, The Olivet Discourse and revelation each have a prefect harmony and harmonize with each other. I have it all worked out in columns for you to see but it won’t copy and paste into the blog as it is in my study. I would be glad to send you a copy so you can see for yourself. My KJV reads these things must come “hereafter” not shortly as yours does. The Greek word puts it in the future. Daniel’s Visions were sealed up until the “time of the end” not until the time of John on the isle of Patmos. “The Antichrist” will quite probably come out of Germany because Daniel says that he goes south, east and toward the pleasant land so he has to come out of the northwest. When he does he will most likely take Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania away from Russia because they were originally part of The Roman Empire. (he will pull up three horns by the roots) Daniel’s visions are all based on the territory covered by The Roman Empire. Gill is wrong about Isaiah 11:11 because “The Antichrist” will cause the Jews to be cast into the desert of Egypt where God will “plead with them face to face” it will be “a counting and a purging”. This is the second crisis. The “Ark of the Covenant” will come out of Ethiopia and lead the Jews back into their land. This is The “mass return” and will be “The Antichrists” first defeat. Satan can manipulate history but he cannot change the future. I could tell you a lot more but it is very obvious that you won’t listen.
All through The Bible Prophecies references to The Antichrist Beast are singular, not a succession of men as the Popes of Rome. Daniel calls him “the little horn” when he is antichrist and “the vile person” when he becomes satan incarnate. Ezekiel calls him “the prince of tyrus” when he is antichrist and “the king of tyrus” when he becomes satan incarnate. He becomes satan incarnate after the “deadly wound is healed” Each prophet has his own name for antichrist because they didn’t know what his name will be. The European Union at present has an empty seat that is numbered 666, it will be interesting to see who fills it. If you contact me I would be glad to send you a copy of my studies for your review with a bare minimum of my personal comments so you could see what just The Word of God has to say. You have my email address.
This website is broad in it’s topics. Here’s a list of my prophecy studies series that have a narrower focus:
The 70th Week Of Daniel Deception http://70thweekofdaniel.com/
The Olivet Discourse Deception http://theolivetdiscourse.com/
The Falling Away of 2 Thessalonians 2 http://christianitybeliefs.org/the-falling-away/
Islam In Bible Prophecy http://christianitybeliefs.org/islam-in-bible-prophecy/
Revelation Timeline Decoded http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/
Tax David. Please I need more studies and clarification on Daniel 10,11,12
Some day I may create a new study series on the book of Daniel, but here is a study that defines the beast kingdoms that were defined in Daniel 2 and 7; which the other books of Daniel describe in more detail. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/the-beast-kingdoms-of-daniel-2-and-daniel-7/
And here is a study on the fulfillment of Daniel 12, which described the time of Great Tribulation for the Jews from 66-70 A.D. http://theolivetdiscourse.com/daniel-12-is-not-about-an-end-times-antichrist/
Hi
In Daniel 12:7. It all depends on which version of the Bible you are reading the NKJV. Says shattered whereas the KJV says scatter. There are so many different versions of the Bible we must seek God’s guidance in which interpretation is correct. In this case if using a Thesaurus, you will find that the word scatter can also mean shatter. Thanks for sharing your blog very enlightening. 😊
Fiona, that’s when I reference the Hebrew word, to see what it says:
naphats – a primitive root; to dash to pieces, or scatter:—be beaten in sunder, break (in pieces), broken, dash (in pieces), cause to be discharged, dispersed, be overspread, scatter.
So if you drop a piece of pottery, it shatters and the pieces go everywhere. Which is the same basic meaning as scatter.
My response was to a previous comment regarding there being an error in Daniel 12:7. I don’t normally leave comments but I just want people to know there are many Bibles today and the KJV and NKJV being popular use different words. Needless to say, there was no error in Scripture on your part.
The details do fit nicely, however there is no reason some sort of replay of events some of them might not happen, Israel the small prototype sort of and the rest of the world figuring later because the Christian message will have gotten to the whole world.
telescoping events, and God’s time of 1 day = 1,000 years and so forth means both your take on it and SOME of the present standard view is correct.
The early church writers like Hippolytus and Irenaeus were acquainted with all these events, but still expected the antichrist to appear and viewed Antiochus Epiphanius as his forerunner prototype.