Revelation Part 7
For the past four weeks we have looked at the subject of divine revelation. Now that we have a foundation to work from we will consider the great end-time revelation given to the Apostle John . The Revelation of John is the final book of the NT. Without a good understanding of this book it is almost impossible to stay
spiritually balanced as we face the conclusion of this age.
After chapter three the church is not mentioned by name. The events of Daniel’s 70th week begin to unfold with the signing of a covenant between the Antichrist and the nation of Israel. Daniel’s 70th
week is referred to commonly as the Tribulation Period or Jacob’s Trouble.
Dan 9:20 I went on praying, confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel and pleading with the Lord my God to restore his holy Temple. 21 While I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came flying down to where I was. It was the time for the evening sacrifice to be offered. 22 He explained, “Daniel, I have come here to help you understand the prophecy. 23 When you began to plead with God, he answered you. He loves you, and so I have come to tell you the answer. Now pay attention while I explain the vision.
24 “Seven times seventy years { 490 } is the length of time God has set for freeing your people and your holy city from sin and evil. Sin will be forgiven and eternal justice established, so that the vision and the prophecy will come true, and the holy Temple will be rededicated. 25 Note this and understand it: From the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until God’s chosen leader comes, seven times seven years will pass. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, and will stand for seven times sixty two years, but this will be a time of troubles. 26 And at the end of that time God’s chosen leader will be killed unjustly. The city and the Temple will be destroyed by the invading army of a powerful ruler. The end will come like a flood, bringing the war and destruction which God has prepared. 27 That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him.”
Today’s English Version
This awesome period of time is Daniel’s 70th week plus 75 days. Within this time period the following things will happen.
1. The ultimate manifestation of man’s rebellion;
2. The revealing of the Antichrist;
3. The apostasy of the nation of Israel;
4. The Rapture of the church;
5. The outpouring of God’s wrath
6. The consummation of the “ Times of the Gentiles”;
7. The spiritual rebirth of the nation of Israel;
8. The destruction of the armies of the world at the battle of Armageddon;
9. The defeat of the Antichrist and Satan.
Note: The great debate about the second coming of Jesus Christ rages on. Some take a pre- tribulation position hoping that the church will be caught up with Christ at the beginning of the seven year tribulation period. However, the early church fathers did not hold this position. In my opinion this is an escapist mentality . Which does not agree with scripture. We will see what Jesus taught on the Mount of Olives in Matthew chapters 24 & 25 will give us the time of his second coming and the catching away of the church.
Prophetic events follow this order:
The Rapture or catching away of the church will occur immediately prior to the beginning of the day of the Lord.
The Day of the Lord will occur in the second half of the tribulation period.
The cosmic disturbances associated with the sixth seal will signal the approach of the
Day of the Lord.
The Day of the Lord will begin with the opening of the seventh seal.
Rev 8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. NKJV
Time Line – Daniel’s 70th Week
