“Seventy weeks [490 years – 70 “sevens”] are determined upon thy people [Israel] and upon thy holy city [Jerusalem], to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness [Jesus’ reign in the Millennium and eternity], and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy [Jesus].
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem [March 14th 445 B.C.] unto the Messiah the Prince [Jesus Christ] shall be seven weeks [49 years], and threescore and two weeks [62 weeks or 434 years]… [For a total of 483 years]: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off [Jesus was killed on April 6th 32 A.D. on Passover day], but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come [Rome’s empire] shall destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary [Jewish temple]; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant (peace agreement or treaty) with many [Israel and others?] for one week [7 years, the last 7 years before Jesus Christ’s Second Coming…otherwise known as Daniel’s last 7 years or the Tribulation]: and in the midst of the week [3.5 years or 1260 days] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease [in Jerusalem’s 3rd temple] and for the overspreading of abominations [a statue or image of the Antichrist set up in the temple of Jerusalem] he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation [end of the last 7 years or Tribulation], and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate [the lost or unsaved who have taken the mark of the beast].”
This prophecy is only partially fulfilled. From the time the temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt until Jesus was crucified was exactly 483 years. The next 7 years should have completed Daniels’ 70 weeks [490 years] prophecy. However, this event [Jesus’ death] stopped the prophecy time clock at that time. God took his eyes [and blessings] off of Israel and shifted his focus to the new church (Christian believers).
The time we live in is mainly the age of the Gentile nations and church. God’s attention is now on the church, but soon his focus will shift once again to Israel. After the Rapture, the Antichrist will come onto the world scene and when he signs the peace agreement with Israel, the last 7 years of Daniels’ prophecy will resume and the Tribulation will have started. Israel will once again be on the world’s center stage.
Before the Tribulation starts, the Rapture of the church or of true Christians must first take place. The Rapture can happen any hour of any day. There are no events or any clue in the Bible regarding the timing of the Rapture. t could happen tomorrow or several years from now…but due to recent world events and the nations involved, it is evident the time is near for the Tribulation (Daniel 9:24-27) to start. Since the Rapture will take place before the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10), the Rapture should happen soon.
Daniel 9:27 states, that there will be 1260 days from the signing of the covenant to when the Abomination of Desolation occurs (at the mid-point of the Tribulation). The abomination of desolation is when the Antichrist becomes indwelt (possessed) by Satan (who wishes to be worshipped as God on this planet) and sets up some kind of image or statue of himself in the newly built temple in Jerusalem. His partner at this time (the False Prophet) then declares everyone on the planet should worship him as God or die.
I believe the dates of these two events could happen very soon. It is quite possible that they could happen on Israel’s (God’s) feast days, as so many other significant and prophetic days in Israel’s and the church’s history. To qualify (according to Daniel 9:24-27), the two dates must be separated by 1260 days. The signing of the peace treaty with Israel will be a very important and prophetic time for Israel.
The starting date of the Tribulation is when the Antichrist signs the peace treaty with Israel. Some scholars believe the date for this event will happen on the Jewish Feast day of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. The theme of the Feast of Tabernacles is “the coming presence of God”. The Antichrist (and Satan) wants to be God on this earth and to be worshipped as such.
Then, 1260 days later the Jewish (actually God’s and true believers) Feast of Passover begins. I believe the Antichrist will suffer a deadly head wound and supposedly die, and then miraculously resurrect back to life (Revelation 13:3)…imitating Jesus’ death on Passover and three days later his resurrection on the Feast of First Fruits.
The image/statue will be placed in the Jewish temple at that time (the abomination of desolation). Three days later during the Feast of First fruits, the Antichrist will miraculously come back to life again and will be possessed by Satan. They will require everyone on the face of the earth to worship him. He is trying to convince the world that he is the true “messiah” (not Jesus).
By using the Feasts of Passover and First fruits as the days for the Antichrist’s death, resurrection, and worship; he is attempting to fulfill biblical prophetic scripture of Jesus’ first coming. He is ignoring the fact that Jesus Christ has already fulfilled these Bible prophecies and is the true Savior of mankind.
Satan only knows how to imitate the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)…that is the best he can do. Unfortunately, many will believe him and worship him and will take the mark of the beast (666), and will forever be lost; spending eternity in hell.
The midpoint of the Tribulation starts after the abomination of desolation happens. The last 3 1/2 years or 1260 days will be the Great Tribulation (Daniel 9:27). It will end when the Lord Jesus returns to the earth to end the Great Tribulation (Daniels’ last 7 years or 70th week) at the battle of Armageddon. The battle of Armageddon takes place on Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets. The theme of the Feast of Trumpets is “a day of new beginnings.” Prophetic isn’t it?
According to Matthew 24:36, no one knows the exact day and hour of Jesus’ Second Coming. It happens when there is no light from the sun or moon. Earth’s magnetic field is ruined. Time becomes meaningless when there is no device to measure it. Remember, this happens at Armageddon and the earth at this point is nearly destroyed.
Jesus Christ returns with his saints and angels and destroys the gentile nations armed forces (and Satan and his demonic army) gathered around Israel at the Valley of Megiddo. He has the Antichrist and the False Prophet thrown into the Lake of Fire. Satan is bound and chained and placed in the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Revelation 20).
Ten days later on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, Israel sees Jesus their Messiah whom they have pierced (and not believed in) and mourn for him (Zechariah 12:10-11, Ezekiel 36:26-33, Romans 9:26).
Five days after the Day of Atonement, the Lord of hosts, Jesus Christ will usher in the long-awaited Millennium of peace (Zechariah 14:9-16). This will happen during Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. This is the only Feast (or appointed) day that all nations will commemorate its anniversary forever, in Jerusalem. Everyone will re required to come to Jerusalem once a year on this day or they will be punished.
If Israel continues to have significant national events happen on Feast days as they have in the past, this scenario works with the 1260 days interval. There will be approximately 1260 days from the signing of the covenant to the abomination of desolation. There will be approximately 1260 days from the abomination of desolation to the battle of Armageddon and Jesus’ Second Coming.
If these events happen within the next decade, starting with the signing of the peace agreement, the years that work (approximately 1260 days intervals) are 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2022. The years that do not work are 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021.
The signing of the peace agreement will take place on the Feast of Tabernacles. The abomination of desolation will happen on Passover day. The battle of Armageddon will take place on the Feast of Trumpets. Israel will accept Jesus Christ their Messiah on the Day of Atonement. Jesus will begin his Millennium reign of the earth on the Feast of Tabernacles.
At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed on the earth and will lead an army of unbelievers in one last attempt to overthrow Jesus’ reign. He will be unsuccessful and will be cast into the Lake of Fire, where he will spend Eternity with his demons and unbelievers. After this, God will create a new heaven (universe) and a new earth, where believers will live with Jesus forever. They will live a life free from sin, sickness, death, and unhappiness.
“But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
This is a possible scenario of the last seven years on this earth, as we currently know it; based on God’s Word─the Holy Bible. Bible prophecy is amazing and 100% accurate. It is truly amazing to see God’s Word taking shape before our very eyes, in these last days. Bible prophecy is the historical proof that will help with your faith regarding the Lord Jesus and his imminent return (both in the sky and the earth).
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).
Your fellow Bible student,
Randy Nettles