A Few Thoughts On Prophecy / Part 6
Series – June 2017 – Grace & Truth Magazine
A Few Thoughts On
PROPHECY / Part Six
In this, our last section, we will consider links between several passages of Scripture. The Lord’s Olivet discourse details events that will take place after the rapture, which at that time was yet to be revealed. Christ’s speech can be roughly divided into three parts, paralleling the three sub-divisions of the prophetic portion of Revelation 6-16 (seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls). These are to take place during the seven-year period termed the “70th Week,” after the rapture of the Church. Several links also exist with Daniel 9:24-27, as outlined in the following overview.
First Half Of The 70th Week
The first line of Daniel 9:27 – “then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week” (NKJV) – parallels “the beginning of sorrows” (“birth pains” in some translations, Mt. 24:4-14; Mk. 13:4-13; Lk. 21:8-19) and the seal judgments (Rev. 6).
Second Half Of The 70th Week
The middle of Daniel 9:27 – “but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate” – ties with the trumpet judgments (Rev. 7-9, with details in Rev. 11-13) during the abomination of desolation.1 Many details of this end time idolatry are found in Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14 and Revelation 13. Note that the predictions of Luke 21:20-24 mainly refer to the events that took place in the years 68-70 and 132-135 AD, although some details also apply to the future destruction of Jerusalem.
Described Condition Olivet Discourse Revelation 6
False prophets / messiahs Mt. 24:5,11 v.2
Wars Mt. 24:6 vv.2-4
International discords Mt. 24:7 vv.3-4
Famines Mt. 24:7 vv.5-8
Pestilence Lk. 21:11 v.8
Persecution / martyrdom Mt. 24:9 vv.9-11
Earthquakes Mt. 24:7 v.12
Cosmic phenomena Lk. 21:11 vv.12-14
Conclusion Of The 70th Week
The end of Daniel 9:27 – “even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” – correlates to the final birth pangs (Mt. 24:15-29), which are the bowl judgments (Rev. 16, with background details in Rev. 14-15, 17-19). Daniel 9:24-27 reveals the timetable for these events and shows some links between the first and second coming of the Messiah. These verses explain how the Messiah would be presented to His people 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Here is where a “gap” of unknown duration started (see Isa. 61:1-2; Lk. 4:19), between Christ’s first and second coming. Remember, the rapture precedes His second coming (see 1 Th. 4:14-18).
Sometime after the beginning of this “parenthesis,” or “in-between period,” the Messiah was executed (Dan. 9:26). His rejection and violent death resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple forty years later, as well as the Jews’ dispersion among the nations in 70 AD. The acceptance of a false, or counterfeit, messiah (Jn. 5:43) caused further trouble during 132-135 AD. Another destruction of Jerusalem and of a third temple that still must be built, where this future idolatry (abomination) will be centered, is yet to come (2 Th. 2:3-12).
It is important to understand that the rapture2 of the Church (1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Th. 4:16; Phil. 3:21) is not part of the prophetic events, but it is the prerequisite for those events to take place and the pouring out of God’s judgments (seals, trumpets and bowls). These things cannot take place as long as the true Church is on earth. The false church will continue after the rapture and be judged on earth at the end of those seven years (Rev. 17-18). About 1,000 years later, after the great white throne judgment, all unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15).
ENDNOTES
1. Some feel the trumpet judgments precede the manifestation of the abomination.
2. This spectacular event will include the believers of the Old Testament. They will be in heaven with the Church, seen as part of the 24 elders and later as guests at the wedding of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9).
By Alfred Bouter
This concludes this Series.