LORD’S DAY, JUNE 10
Daniel 9:25-27; 10:1-21
Romans 11:7, 25-26

“For I would not, brethren,
that ye should be ignorant …”

DANIEL’S SEVENTIETH WEEK

Daniel’s seventieth week must be read in the light of Daniel 2 and 7, and other related eschatological passages (Matt 24; 2 Thess 2; 1 Thess 4; Rev 11-13). The grand climax of the “end time”:

(a) world dominance by the fourth world empire (end time Rome)
(b) destruction of (a), establishment of God’s Everlasting Kingdom.

Daniel’s sixty-ninth week is marked by Messiah’s death (“cut off”) followed by Jerusalem’s destruction by the Romans in AD 70, divine retribution for crucifying the Messiah. For their blindness, Israel was laid aside (“casting away” Rom 11:15) and their witness for God was passed to the Gentile Church. Between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks (the Church Age) the nation Israel is partially and temporarily set aside in God’s salvation plan. During the seventieth week, the world will be dominated by one supreme world power, Daniel’s fourth world empire (Dan 2 and 7; Rev 13), led by a dazzling world ruler (Dan 9:27). It will be a time of worldwide oppression, turbulence, natural as well as supernatural, disasters (Matt 24). This period is generally referred to as the Tribulation (Matt 24; Mark 13).

This world ruler is referred to as the “little horn” (Dan 7:8, 25), “the prince that shall come” (Dan 9:26), “abomination of desolation” (Matt 24:15), “man of sin” (2 Thess 2:3), “antichrist” (1 John 2:18, 22), “beast” (Rev 13:4-5). His totalitarian and violent rule will climax in the second half of his seven-year reign; with merciless persecution against Israel (Dan 7:25, 9:27; Rev 11:2, 12:13-14, 13:7). His three-and-a-half years of diabolical dictatorship will be abruptly cut short by our Lord at His return in the clouds in power and great glory (Dan 7:13-14; Matt 24:30; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Rev 1:7, 19:11-16).

Two events will usher in this climactic seven-year period: the “catching up” of the believers, “the Church” (1 Thess 4:16-17); and the emergence of the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:3-7). Then God’s salvation plan will revert back to focus on Israel and the seventieth week will begin.

THOUGHT: “O, can you say, you are ready, brother?” (Crosby)
PRAYER: May I live my life ever-ready to see Thee, Lord.