3113 - Daniel's 70 Week Prophesy

We have seen so far that God intended for man to know when the endtime is near (3113, The Beginning), and a "pre-tribulation rapture" is not one of the events we Christians should expect as one of the signs (3113 - The Pre-Tribulation Rapture). We know that the many prophesies of Daniel, John (Revelation), and Jesus all point to the same period of time. There are many prophecies within this time period which also must be fulfilled, and will be shown in later posts. The identification of this time line is vital to understanding God's plan for us...now. Chapter 9 of the Book of Daniel is a most important guide to this understanding.

(Note: much of this information comes from Daniel's Timeline, a site I found while researching the "Seventy 'sevens'" Daniel spoke of in 9:24. Much of what God led me to is very similar to this individuals insight, therefore I will quote this information often.)


Daniel 9:24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish^[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
 We know that many biblical prophecies can be interpreted to represent various time periods. A common interpretation of this passage identifies the "Seventy 'sevens'" as meaning 70x7, or 490 years. Using this method and tying it to the destruction of the Temple and it's rebuilding in @ 440BC  calculates to @ 33AD, the year of Jesus resurrection. 



In the original Hebrew, Shabuwa is in plural form; meaning FeastS of Weeks rather than only one Feast of Weeks. This verse reads: “Seventy Shabuwas or Shavuots are determined.” Shavuot is one of the feasts call “The Feast of Weeks” ( known as Pentecost in the Christian churches). There is only one “Feast of Weeks” per year. To extend the clarity to the fullness of the verse, it literally reads, “Seventy Feasts of Weeks” (or 70 Yrs) are determined from some starting point unto God’s Rest. Also note that 70 years is the time allotted for a man's life on Earth in Psalms 90:10. Henceforth, 'sevens' and 'weeks' will be interpreted as 'years'.

²⁴ “Seventy ‘sevens’^[a] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place."

a. Or ‘weeks’; also in verses 25 and 26

This is where God has led me.

The word weeks was translated from the Hebrew word Shabuwa meaning a period of Seven and also Feast of Weeks, one of the seven Feasts of the Lord:

SHABUWA (shaw-boo'-ah); Noun Masculine, Strong #: 7620:  seven, period of seven (days or years), heptad, week; Feast of Weeks (Shavuot)

Daniel goes on to tell us in verse 25: “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 

This statement used following verse 24 translates to seven in this instance; we know from scripture the Messiah will return before the Temple is restored; the result being 7+60+2 weeks = 69 weeks.

Continuing, Daniel is told from this same starting point (commandment to restore) the years will come and go until threescore score and 2 weeks have passed (62 yrs). Sometime after this 62yr period has passed, the sanctuary will be destroyed by the prince of the people (the antichrist). Notice the period left from the 62-year marker to the 69-year marker just happens to leave a remaining 7-year period: 

Daniel 9:26   "After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.^[g]The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.” The end of this 62 year period begins the seven years of Tribulation. In the midst of this 7 yr period two major things happen as recorded in verse 27; he, the antichrist, will cause the altar to be shut down and the abomination that makes Jerusalem desolate: Daniel 9:27 “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”  *The Temple DOES NOT have to be completely rebuilt to fulfill Dan 9:27 prophecy. If a corner stone is set, the court can be measured to establish the location of the altar. Then, with the altar up and operating, this prophecy is satisfied. This was the same procedure used to rebuild the Temple in ancient times too. The walls were restored AFTER the altar was operating. 

Jesus spoke of this prophesy at length in Matthew chapter 24. He also uses the parable of the fig tree (which also contains Jesus admonition for seeing the signs of His coming, 3113, The Beginning) and a generation that will not pass. The fig tree represents Israel. God determined that a man’s days should be threescore and ten, or seventy years (Psalms 90:10). Matthew 24:32-34  “Now learn a parable of the fig tree (Israel) When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves ye know that summer [is] nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation (ours) shall not pass (70 years), till all these things be fulfilled.” Taken as a whole, as Jesus taught His disciples the meaning of Daniel’s prophesy, that when the seventy year cycle begins and Israel is restored, that generation will not pass before the prophesy is fulfilled.

            The starting point, the restoration of Israel, is not difficult to determine. On November 29, 1947 (UN Resolution No. 181) created the State of Israel. The timeline can now be completed:

            1947: Israel restored

                        +62 years = 2009: Beginning Tribulation (Daniel 9:26)

                        +69 years = 2016: Messiah’s Return (Daniel 9:25)

                        +70 years = 2017: God’s Rest (Daniel 9:24)

This is the same timeline given to me by God in dreams February, 2012.

There are a few other interesting comparisons on Daniels Timeline, I quote:

To illustrate another example, we turn to Ezekiel. He was commanded by God to lie on his side for 390 days (one day for each year pertaining to the exile of Israel). God said He would give Israel 7 times punishment if they refused to obey. This gives a total of 2730 years (390 x 7). Israel was carried away captive to Assyria in 720 BCE. From 720 BCE, to 2730 years later brings us right back to the year 2010 as shown on the Daniel's Timeline.

Consider the Jubilee years (one Jubilee = 50 yrs). God said in Genesis that He would not strive with man forever because he is yet flesh, saying that man’s days shall be 120 years. (One Jubilee X 120 Jubilees = 6000 years). From Adam (around 4000BC) to the present day (2000 AD) also equals 6000 years. God told us in Psalms and in Peter that one day is as 1000-yrs. God creating everything in six days and resting on the seventh day, it is the same as to say, after six-1000 year days (or 6000yrs), He will also rest on the 7th-1000 year day (1000yrs), called the Millennium Rest.

The last three Jubilees were: 1867 (The final emancipation of the Jews in Austria and Hungry), 1917 (The 400 yr Ottoman rule ended - Balfour Declaration), and 1967 (The Six Day War - Jerusalem was re-united); It's pretty easy to figure out the next Jubilee year (1967 + 50yrs = 2017). We are at this threshold today, approaching the 120 th Jubilee year (6000 yrs), the time of the restitution of all things.

On a side note I'd like to share a dream I had this past Sunday: Flying on the back of what felt like a plane, but going MUCH faster, I saw the most beautiful sky above and the brightest white clouds below which were perfectly aligned along the path of my flight. Even though what I flew on felt very solid, I could see through it and watched joyfully as the clouds sped by. The calm I felt was exhilarating! What felt like days passed, until for some reason I doubted the stability of what I flew on, it began to shake, banked hard right, and I began to fall off. I woke up panicked and very disappointed in myself for losing confidence in my ride and not reaching whatever destination lay ahead. Today I woke realizing I was on the back of an Angel experiencing the beauty of God until my faith wavered. I hope I get another chance soon...God willing!

Next: 3113 - Current Events

3113 - Pre-Tribulation Rapture

I have believed my entire life that at some point, when the coming of Christ is near, that the righteous in Christ would be "raptured" to Heaven before the beginning of the Tribulation, and those "left behind" would have to endure the seven years of the Anti-Christ's rule on Earth. I read the "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins with fervor, multiple times. Then I asked God to guide me through the Bible to better understand these events. This is what He has shown me.

The Origin of Pre Tribulation Rapture
A Church of Scotland minister, named Edward Irving, was the first to preach the "rapture gospel."

Just how the "rapture" theory occurred to Irving is an intriguing facet of modern churchianity's history. Irving held some eccentric positions on the use of "spiritual" gifts, including speaking in tongues and prophesying. He contended that these gifts were for the present day "church", and had quite a few followers of his radical notions. However, when chaotic disturbances arose in Irving's services during the manifestations of these "gifts", the Church of Scotland took action, dismissing Irving from his position as minister in 1832.

The ultimate result of Irving's dismissal was the formation of the Catholic Apostolic Church, which still exists until this day. Irving's movement grew and became the basis of modern day Pentecostalism  The natural evolution of this movement has resulted in the recent emergence of the "Toronto Laughing Spirit" phenomenon which has seduced and mislead more than a few well-intentioned people.

However, in 1830 during one of Irving's sessions before his dismissal, a young Scottish girl, named Margaret MacDonald, fell into a "trance". After several hours of "vision" and "prophesying" she revealed that "Christ's" return would occur in two phases, not just one. "Christ" would first come visibly to only the righteous, then He would come a second time to execute wrath on the unrighteous in the nations.

This "secret rapture" was promoted by Irving claiming he, too, had heard a "voice" from heaven commanding him to teach it. (Some modern researchers submit that Irving's speculations of the "rapture were influenced by the Spanish Jesuit priest, Lacunza whose book Irving had translated in 1827 under the title, The coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty)

John Darby, an Englishman and pioneer of the "Plymouth Brethren" movement became caught up in the rapture philosophies of Irving. When Darby heard about Irving's activities, he traveled to Scotland to talk with Irving and his followers about the "secret rapture". It was Darby who became the master developer of "scriptural" arguments to support the theory/doctrine that evolved.

Darby's development of the "rapture" theory has since become widely popularized in Britain and finally in the U.S., largely as a result of Cyrus Scofield's notes in his Scofield Reference Bible.

I won’t dispute this young woman’s vision; I simply believe her timing is misinterpreted.

 Revelation 20:4-6 RSV - “They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years."

Jesus teachings concerning the Rapture and its timing are present throughout the New Testament, all of them contradicting the pre tribulation rapture.

The Parable of the Weeds
Matthew  13:24-30 

^{24 "}Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Matthew 13:41-42

^{41 "}The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Matthew 24:37-41

^{37 "}As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. (Notice God left Noah on the ark and took the unrighteous.)"

Matthew 24:13-21

^{13 "}but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Mark  13:11- 23

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." (Those righteous left will suffer "distress".)

John 17:15-16

^{15 "}My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."

Corinthians-1 15:51-53

 "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST trump: (This is when and only when there is anything at all like a rapture. It plainly says that it will be at the LAST trumpet angel which is at the end of tribulation on the Day of the Lord.) for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, (Seventh trumpet angel; *See Revelation 10:5-7 Cross Reference below)  and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality."

Revelation 10:5-7   

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, (The voice of the 7th angel and the last trump are one and the same.) when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be  finished, (The angel sounds at the finish, not the beginning.) as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."

Revelation 7:2-4

^{2 "}Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: ³ “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” ⁴ Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel."

 Zephaniah 2:3

"Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger."  ( In order to be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger, the meek will have to be here.)       

We can see from Scripture that there will be only one rapture, that the righteous must endure to the end of Tribulation to see the glory of the second return of Christ. A pre tribulation rapture would actually require a third return of Christ of which He never speaks.

 Next I will begin to tie in the Book of Daniel to current events, and explain Daniel's 70 weeks.             

3113, The Beginning

I first spoke of this date in my blog in My Personal View of Current Events in March of last year. The original idea for applying Daniel to today is in my blog "Time Travel" from 2009. That post involved going backward using the Book of Daniel prophesies. Now let's move forward.

When taken together, God expects us to listen and watch for His signs and know when His judgement is near. Debate can be had as to knowing the "exact date", but I believe He told me as He told Noah.

I have never considered myself a prophet, just a simple servant of God doing my best to do His will. I have delayed publishing most of this for over a year struggling with the thought that it was not God's will, but mine. Lately, He has placed an overwhelming burden on my heart to share this with all who would listen. Originally intended to be a book, these posts are my notes, as every time I start to type the pages of the book I shake uncontrollably with excitement...more than normal...and cannot hit the right keys. Now it's too late for publication in book form.

I am not too gullible to believe the world revolves around the United States. Being "the most powerful nation on earth" headed by "the most powerful man on earth" we do have some influence. That said, events taking place today in the world, including America, point toward certain biblical prophesies that need discussion. Over the centuries many have believed the end of time was eminent, but I believe more evidence points at today than any other time in history, with more signs coinciding than ever. Their views were that of an apocalypse, mine is one of celebration!! This is my viewpoint. I will post segments over the next few weeks laying out in detail what I believe the Bible tells us about TODAY. Feel free to comment, but hear me out to the end, everything will tie together!

Many of Daniels prophesies came to him from God in dreams (prayerful). Studying the prophecies of Daniel over the last 4 years searching for the same knowledge God gave Daniel eluded me. Beginning in 2009, I tried desperately on my own to piece together the number of days Daniel spoke of concerning the Temple and the return of Christ and correlate them to today’s events. Nothing seemed to add up, bits and pieces would fall into place, but there were too many gaps left unfilled. In February of this year I received the same dream three nights in a row. The first night I was naturally somewhat skeptical, I hadn't read Daniel in several months. The second night was more vivid. The third night was chilling.

I awoke exhausted as though I had run a marathon. I told my wife that God had spoken again, this time with a date. I then began my study in earnest, researching, but mostly listening to the voice of God. The information I found was insightful. We will see that the beginning of the seven year Tribulation was in 2009. The mid-point of the seven year period would fall 3 ½ years later, sometime in 2013. The date I was given: March 1, 2013. Daniel chapter 12 gives a detailed account of what will happen at the time of Christ’s return:

“1 At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book —will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”

7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed. ”

8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance. ”

1.      Foresight:

 Our ability to know when then coming of the Lord will occur:

This is the most often quoted passage concerning our knowledge of the End Times:

Matthew 24:32-41 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^[e] is near, right at the door. ³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[f] but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left."

This passage has been broken down into two separate ideas: first, ³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[f] but only the Father." This leaves out the previous statement by Jesus that "³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it^[e] is near, right at the door." Between the two Jesus interjects reference to His Earthly rule ^{35 "}Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Note that Jesus teaches that we know how to read the signs of an oncoming summer. When the signs prophesied begin, that generation shall not pass away. When Heaven and earth will pass away only God knows (the end of His 1,000 year reign). Noah knew of things to come days before the flood. God told him. And as for the last, one man and one woman will be taken...the chaff...the other two left behind...to rule with Christ 1,000 years. Jesus taught that the good will be left until the harvest, and the evil sorted at that time:

Matthew 13:24-30 "²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” 

(I will discuss this more in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture later)

More scripture to support these ideas:

      Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

      John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."

      

      Revelation 22:6  " And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done."

    

      Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret [things belong] unto the LORD our God: but those [things which are] revealed [belong] unto us and to our children for ever, that [we] may do all the words of this law."

     

      John 14:26  " But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

  

      Thessalonians-1 5:4-5   "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness."

Summary:

1. March 1, 2013 (3113) will begin the last 3 1/2 years of Tribulation, which started on July 5, 2009 (1,335 days backward); the start of John's seven bowls from Revelations beginning September 11, 2016 (1,290 days); culminating in Jesus return to establish his Millennial Kingdom October 26, 2016 (1,335 days forward). 
2. The 70 Year prophecy in Daniel 24 ties with the formation of Israel and the timing is the same; 62 years until the Messiah is cut off (2009), 69 years until the restoration of the Temple (2016, the period between is the seven years of Tribulation), 70 years until God's rest (2017). The number of years a man is allotted on this earth (one generation, "...This generation shall not pass...") is three score and ten, 70 years, in Psalms 90:10.
3. The current events happening in the United States, Israel, and the entire Middle East directly tie to the events of which the Bible speaks.

I do not fear this time, I rejoice that my children and grandchildren will see the Glory of Christ!

Next : The Pre-Tribulation Rapture