Session Three Unpacking Daniel s 70th Week (Part 1 The First 3 1/2 Years) Biblical prophecy nfolds arond the nation of Israel and the Arab nations. Even thogh Israel is the KEY player, her srronding neighbors sch as Syria, Lebanon, Sadi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Libya to name a few are also players in the prophetic pictre. This will become very clear in ftre stdies as we npack Daniel s 70th week. Daniel 9:24-27 is vital in nderstanding God s prophetic pictre. It gives s the broad pictre of the nfolding drama of biblical prophecy. Let s review it: 70 X 7 weeks of years = 490 Years Page 1
THIS IS THE ONE WEEK or 7 YEARS AT THE END OF THE PREVIOUS CHART COVENANT BROKEN O False Peace Wars & Rmors of War 1 2 Famine Wide spread death over 1/4 of earth Martyrdom of saints Cosmic Upheaval Beginning of God s Wrath 3 4 5 6 7 1st Trmpet BEGIN- NING OF THE DAY OF THE LORD Revelation 6:1-17 SEALS 144,000 Jews Sealed by God Revelation 7, 9, 14 I. Looking at the FIRST 3 1/2 years of the seven years: A. It s INAUGURATION THE FIRM COVENANT BY THE ANTICHRIST! The last seven years of history BEFORE Christ comes to set p His Messianic Kingdom are terrible times known as the SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL. Some refer to this period as the Triblation Period. It BEGINS with the Antichrist signing a COVENANT with Israel. ** THE COVENANT WILL BE BOTH POLICTICAL AND RELIGIOUS_. Jews will be able to offer SACRIFICES and OFFERINGS again. The TEMPLE will be rebilt. Jews will be allowed FREE access to the TEMPLE mont. B. It s UNFOLDING THE SEVEN SEALS! Revelation 6:1-17 SEAL #1 Revelation 6:1 Rider on a White Horse! The Antichrist brings a FALSE PEACE! (Matthew 24:5) Page 2
The Antichrist comes on the scene as a man of PEACE making promises to Israel to gain a POLICTICAL advantage in the world. His offer to Israel will be so convincing and promise-filled that they will accept it with great anticipation. John s Description of how he comes: a. Riding on a WHITE HORSE a symbol of peace. b. With a bow BUT no arrows indicating that he comes to conqer BUT peaceflly. c. Wearing a crown (stephanos, a victor s crown, not a king s crown, diadema). 1. What do we know abot the Anti-christ? a. He will be a GENTILE of Roman Empire origin. Daniel 9:26-27 He will be from the PEOPLE of the Prince who is to come. They were PEOPLE of the Roman empire. This DOES NOT be that he will be from ROME. b. He possibly will be a MUSLIM. Why? 1). He will begin his rle from IRAQ a PREDOMINATELY Mslim nation made p of Shia and Snni Mslims. Revelation 17:1-13 Vs. 1 The Woman is BABYLON, the great city (vs. 18; 19:10) Vs. 3, 7 Babylon is sitting on a scarlet beast = the scarlet beast is the KINGDOM over which the Antichrist rles. ** Babylon in Iraq is the Antichrist s first place of power. Ths, there is a tie to Islam (Mslims). Arnold Frchtenbam, a well respected prophecy teacher, says,... Babylon is to be rebilt and becomes the Antichrist s world-wide political and economic capital of the world. 1 2). His kingdom will arise in the EASTERN REGION of the old Roman Empire. Revelation 17:8-12 1. Arnold G. Ftchtenbam, The Footsteps of the Messiah, pg. 192 Page 3
VS. 7 The Antichrist s beast kingdom is made p of: 7 heads and 10 horns VS. 8 It WAS (existed before) IS NOT (not in existence when John wrote) IS ABOUT TO COME... VS. 9-12 GOD S INTERPRETATION THROUGH JOHN! VS. 9-10 7 HEADS = 7 kings (kingdoms) 5 have FALLEN (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece), 1 IS (Rome), 1 IS YET TO COME (Antichrist s) VS. 11 The Antichrist s kingdom EXISTED BEFORE bt was not in existence when John wrote ( was and is not ) BUT it is an 8th kingdom (VS. 11) WHICH COMES OUT OF THE SEVEN. THIS MEANS THAT ONE OF THE 7 KINGDOMS IS HEALED (Rev. 13:3) AND ARISES AGAIN AS THE KINGDOM OVER WHICH THE ANTICHRIST RULES. Which is the ONE THAT IS HEALED? Some sggest it is the ASSYRIAN Empire. Phillip Goodman wrote, There is no history book and no crrent newspaper, that does not testify that Egypt, Babylon (Iraq), Persia (Iran), Greece and Trkey have lasted throghot history in one form or the other and contine to exist today (in some form). BUT NOT ASSYRIA! It died in 612 B.C. 2 If Goodman is right (he presents good argments), then the Antichrist cold very well be a Mslim who is in someway sympathetic to Israel, yet not forsake the desire to eradicate Israel. 2 Phillip Goodman, The Origin of the Antichrist from the Revived Roman Empire Specifically, the Eastern Leg!, pg. 7, www. prophecywatch.com. Page 4
RAPTURE VIEWS: Pictorially represented Raptre Pre-triblational View Daniel s 70th week Triblation Period of 7 years God s wrath pored ot on mankind Great White Millennim - 1000 year Physical Reign Throne Jdgment Eternity Mid-triblational View Covenant Signed Raptre Great White Throne Jdgment Daniel s 70th week Triblation Period of 7 years Seven Seals God s wrath Millennim - 1000 year Physical Reign Eternity Covenant Signed Post-triblational View Daniel s 70th week Triblation Period of 7 years Seven Seals God s wrath Raptre & 2nd Coming one event Millennim - 1000 year Physical Reign Great White Throne Jdgment Eternity DO NOT CONFUSE THE RAPTURE WITH THE MILLENNIUM They are NOT THE SAME. They refer to different events that happen at different times. Page 5
MILLENNIAL VIEWS (Reign ): Pictorially represented AMILLENNIALISM CHURCH AGE Millennial Reign Spirital not Physical, no physical reign on Earth ETERNITY POST MILLENNIALISM CHURCH AGE Millennial is being broght in NOW throgh the preaching of the Gospel. World is getting better and better. ETERNITY PRE MILLENNIALSIM CHURCH AGE TRIBULATION MILLENNIUM ETERNITY God saving people today throgh the preaching of the Gospel. The Chrch is being formed. The 70th Week of Daniel s prophecy Christ will rle and reign physically for 1000 years and the saved will reign with Him. Page 6
Estimated extent of the Kingdom over which the Anti-christ will rle. His rle will not be world-wide bt will affect ALL of the world in someway. It will be made p of areas of the old Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires. The geographical area is only and estimate based on the areas that made p the land masses of the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires. Page 7