Edition 32. March 10th 2010

In this edition:

●News items

●The amazing prophecy of Daniel's 70 weeks.

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In the news:

Before we get into this edition, I'd like to draw your attention to some interesting news items that are prophecy related:

●A news item crossed my desk a week ago which jumped out and grabbed my attention. It said that Germany and France were secretly planning a new Europe-wide federal government after Greece is bailed out.

●I've maintained for some time that Europe in its present form is not yet in it's end-time form, but its getting there. Now another news item of prophetic interest is that Europe is going to form its own new monetary fund to rival and replace the US-based International Monetary Fund (IMF)

●Greece is still in the news as it teeters on the brink of sovereign debt default. Spain is next. It's economy is much larger than Greece. There are now cracks appearing in the French economy as well. It may be in line for economic shaking next. The UK is on the verge of losing its triple A rating, which will send its currency down a lot further and cause many knock on problems.

●Russia has just cold-shouldered Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel by selling advanced S300 missiles to Iran. Iran has cold shouldered every non-Muslim nation in the world by proceeding to enrich uranium to weapons grade. Isn't it interesting that not one Muslim nation has opposed Iran in this.

●Iran begins production of its own cruise missiles. These are able to carry a nuclear warhead.

●IAEA now says Iran IS preparing to make a nuclear bomb.

●One headline declared, "Dire warning: Israel must strike Iran now." The article goes on to say that Tehran will have nukes before the UN or Obama can do anything!

●Obama accused of helping Iran.

●Syria debates attacking Israel

●Old Jewish tribe found in Zimbabwe.

These news items again point to the fact that the world is on course for its dramatic confrontation with God. Bible prophecy is in many ways being fulfilled before our eyes. They also point to the fact that time is getting shorter!

The central issue is that the world is not getting better and safer! We are on the verge of some very dramatic developments. I can't emphasise enough how important it is to know your Bible in these days. I've said many times and will say so a lot more; the way to be safe in these days is to have a soft, broken heart before our Lord, to know Him and to be right in doctrine.

False doctrine or ignorance always leads to wrong living and choices. In the case of prophecy, it leads to ill-preparedness with many huge consequences!

Daniel's 70 weeks

There are many "hidden" messages with a double reference in this prophecy that are truly incredible. They tie in perfectly with many other prophecies in Jeremiah, Ezekiel and some others. I will share these in the next edition which I hope to have ready over the weekend. Be prepared for some real surprises!

This very important prophecy outlines the central role that Israel, Jerusalem, the temple and the Jewish people have played and will again play in the future. The prophecy dramatically foretells of two coming world rulers, one who will rule forever and one who will rule for a very short season with earth shattering consequences.

Daniel 9:24-27 "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city. To finish transgression. To make an end of sins. To make reconciliation for iniquity. To bring in everlasting righteousness. To seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem to Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty two weeks, the street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty two weeks Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and sanctuary the end of it shall be with a flood and until the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to the sacrifice and offering. And on the wings of abominations shall be one who makes desolate."

This is perhaps the most important prophecy in the Bible. Some call it the skeleton upon which all else is built. Some interpretations of this are very fanciful and terribly complicated and a waste of time. What I want to do now is ignore all the peripheral unimportant issues and deal with the simple, obvious and logical view.

The first thing we need to understand is that the original word used for "week" in this prophecy is the word "shabuwa" which literally means a "seven". So this obviously, and in the context, is not talking about weeks of days but weeks or sevens of years. Because it was written in Old Testament times we also need to use the Hebrew year of 360 days in the calculations.

Let's now break this down in simple terms.

In this single prophecy Daniel predicts the greatest events of history and the coming greatest events of the near future. He also gives timelines for these dramatic events.

70 weeks (years) or 490 years are determined upon your people (the Jews) These events will take place.

●To finish transgression and make an end of sins.

●To bring in everlasting righteousness (Millennium and beyond)

●The triumphal entry of Messiah into Jerusalem

●The cutting off or crucifixion of Messiah (not for Himself...for us)

●The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

●The coming of the antichrist.

●The antichrist setting himself up as God in the temple (abomination of desolation)

●The coming of the seven year tribulation period.

●Tribulation desolations determined.

The starting point of the prophecy, until the coming of Messiah the Prince is indicated as the command to restore and re-build Jerusalem and it's walls. This is found in Nehemiah 2:1-8 and is called the decree of Artaxerxes. According to well researched chronology this happened at 445BC. This was the starting point for this great prophetic clock.

The prophecy gives the time until Messiah the Prince is cut off, and then it gives the time until Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed by the people of the prince who is to come. It then goes on to say that there will then be one week (7 years) during which he (the antichrist) will bring an end to sacrifices and bring in many desolations.

Very elaborate calculations have been done by many, taking into account the 360-day year and allowing for leap years and most agree and come to the same conclusion. I am not going to get into these calculations here, but I have done them myself as well.

The diagram above presents the summary and gives a simple visual interpretation.

Some analysts object to the gap between the 69th and 70th week interpretation because the prophecy itself doesn't mention or imply a gap. This is where simple logic comes in.

If there was no gap, (of about 2000 years) the entirety of the prophecy including the tribulation would have come and gone long ago. Secondly, the church age was a mystery to those in the Old Testament period, they could not see it, so Daniel did not write about it. There simply has to be a gap between the 69th and 70th week representing the church era.

The 70th week (or tribulation period) is part of the 70 weeks but doesn't follow immediately after the 69th due to the church age gap. Because it is part of Daniels prophecy, the 70th week distinctly relates to Israel and the Jews. The prophecy says that 70 weeks are determined upon your people, which is the Jews.

The prophecy says that Jerusalem and the temple will be destroyed by the people of the prince who is to come. This prince (the antichrist) will cease sacrifices half way through the tribulation. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, so we can accurately say that the person who is to become the antichrist will arise from the revised Roman empire. This today is Europe, but not in its present form. To more accurately fit Bible prophecy Europe needs to include Turkey and become more compassionate to Islam.

The abomination referred to here is also mentioned by Jesus in Mathew 24:15 "So when you see standing in the holy place, the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel"... This indicates that the person to become the antichrist will set himself up in the temple in Jerusalem.

This is truly amazing and points to the precision of Bible prophecy.

By the way, the thick black lines on the chart above refer to the Old Testament period, implying that the tribulation period is a return to or the completion of the Old Testament.

Matthew 23:38,39 "See your house has been left to you desolate, for I say to you, you shall see Me no more until you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'"

It's important to realise that Bible prophecy covers many aspects of things. In most cases it's simply God predicting the future. This doesn't means as some believe, that He is sitting in heaven pushing buttons to make things happen. Yes there will be a time in the tribulation period soon to occur, where God will most certainly be "pushing buttons" of incredible judgement. But this will only be then. He has warned about this, but its good to remember that "He reserves His wrath for His enemies."

Summary:

These are the most important and dramatic events of world history past and future. They are all contained in just a few sentences! It's wrong to see this in isolation, simply because all other prophecy ties in perfectly.

This incredible prophecy fits in perfectly with the prophecy of our Lord, called the Olivet discourse, in which He outlines His second coming and the tribulation period. It also fits in perfectly with the entirety of the Revelation. It fits in perfectly with other prophecies from Daniel. In fact it fits in perfectly with all other prophecy of the Bible.

Conclusion:

To deny all of this exposes your ignorance or perhaps deception. If you have problems with this I strongly urge you to study these things out yourself. Do not study the Word of our Messiah through the eyes of church doctrine though. Just read it straight! Also bear in mind that you can't take this or any portion of scripture in isolation. If you read your Bible without pre-conceived ideas all will dove-tail together and fit like a jigsaw puzzle.

If you allow yourself to be led by His Spirit as you study, you will be led into all truth and peace will be the result.

Bible prophecy is perhaps the most important aspect of our spiritual lives, it is so exciting. It is also a very powerful tool of evangelism. Almost everyone has some interest in their future. Prophecy answers all of the most important questions of life. it gives hope, encouragement and above all, helps you prepare for the soon coming of our great King and Messiah.

Daniel 7: 13-14, 22 "I was watching in the night visions and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days. To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all nations should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion...The Ancient of Days came and judgement was made in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom"

Heaven or hell:

Young woman, your life is before you, but you may not have the time ahead that you think you will have. You may be planning for a long successful life, but your your life may end tomorrow. It may not be long before the coming of our Messiah. Are you planning for His coming? Are you running your own life your own way, or are you being wise and planning for eternity now? If you don't let our Messiah into your life, He will not let you into His eternal kingdom!

Old man, is your head-full of gray hair indicating your wisdom? You are on the verge of a journey that requires deep yet very simple wisdom! If you set off on your journey to eternity without the knowledge and salvation of God in your heart, your destination will be hell. Your tombstone may say RIP, but you will not rest in peace like your dead body. If you chose the life of God, your journey will lead to eternal glory and true wonderful peace!

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In closing this edition here is one of my own paintings. It's a mixed media representation of things related to Jerusalem. Merged into this collage is the Damascus gate (centre) The walls of Jerusalem, a menorah, the star of David, the Torah scroll, the shofar blower, the Hebrew letter shin, the olive leaf, the shrine of the book and other goodies.

Kind regards and many blessings...Shalom and grow in grace!