The Last Eight Days, Part 2

[Guest]

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Matt. 24:1-2)

How this must have astonished the disciples. Over 500 years earlier the prophet Daniel had revealed that beginning with a decree authorizing the reconstruction of Jerusalem, Israel would be given 490 years during which all necessary preparations for the Messianic Kingdom would be made . They would finish transgression, put an end to sin, atone for wickedness, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy (place). The most holy place refers to the Temple. Accomplishing this would require the Messiah to come and die for the sins of the people (Daniel 9:24-26).

The disciples knew the 483 year mark had been reached a few days earlier and that the Messiah was among them. He had explained to them that when they got to Jerusalem He would be executed but would come back from the grave three days later (Matt. 16:21, Luke 18:31-33). So there were only seven years left of the 490 years. The Temple had been undergoing a major reconstruction that so far had required 46 years (John 2:20) and wasn’t complete yet. But now Jesus was saying everything would be torn down. Not one stone would be left standing on another. How could that be?

As they began their trek up the Mt. of Olives on their way back to Bethany, four of the disciples (Peter, James, John and Andrew) approached Jesus to ask Him about these things. They had 3 questions for Him. First they wanted to know when this would happen. They also wanted to know what would be the sign of His coming, and what would be the sign of the end of the age (Matt. 24:3).

By their questions we can tell they’d been discussing this among themselves. Wanting to know when the Temple would be destroyed was an obvious reaction to his earlier statement, but the Lord’s 2nd Coming was still a new idea to them. And if the Temple was going to be torn down how would they know when the end of the age would come? They certainly could no longer count on it it happening in 7 years.

Matthew’s account of the Lord’s response does not contain an answer to their first question. But Luke’s does, so let’s go there first.

Jesus told them, “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies you will know its desolation is near. There will be great distress in the land (Israel) and wrath against this people (the Jews). They will fall by the sword and be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:20, 23,24).

The disciples were to understand that when they saw the Roman Armies surrounding Jerusalem it would mean Temple was about to be destroyed. The Jews mounted an unsuccessful revolt against Rome in 66 AD and by 70AD Jerusalem and the Temple lay in ruins.

In answering their 2nd and 3rd questions, Jesus began with an overview. In the times ahead there would be false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, but they would not signal the end. He said nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There would be famines and earthquakes in various places. He characterized these as the beginning of birth pangs, meaning they would be indicators that the time of the 2nd Coming was near.

He said the Jewish people would be persecuted and hated by all nations because they would be blamed for His death. There would be false prophets, and an increase of wickedness, but he who stands firm to the end would be saved (Matt. 24:4-13).

We know he wasn’t talking about the Church here because our salvation is not contingent upon standing firm to the end. Our salvation was assured from the moment we believed (Ephes. 1:13-14). God has set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing this (2 Cor. 1:21-22). Jesus had post rapture believers in mind here, because they have no such guarantee. As you’ll see there’s no mention of the Church anywhere in this discussion because Jesus was speaking as a Jewish prophet explaining to His Jewish disciples about the end times as they concern the Jewish people. Remember, their questions to Him were about the remaining seven years of Daniel’s 70 Week prophecy, which is all about Israel.

Then He completed His overview by saying the Gospel would be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matt. 24:14). Now before you say, “There’s where the Church comes in,” let me take you to Rev. 14 to see the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Rev. 14:6-7)

Now the Lord gave them the first specific sign in answer to their questions. He said when the people of Judea see the abomination that causes desolation standing in the Holy place they should immediately flee for their lives (Matt. 24:15-16). The term abomination that causes desolation was well known to them even though it had only happened once previously. In one of history’s clearest models of the anti-Christ, the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes placed an image of the Greek god Zeus with his own face on it in the Temple and demanded that the people worship it on pain of death. This rendered the Temple unfit for use and started the three and one half year Maccabean revolt. The annual celebration of their victory over the Syrians is called the Feast of Hanukkah. Every Jew knows the meaning of the abomination of desolation from this celebration. It was a sign they could all could recognize.

Jesus told the people of Judea to pray their flight wouldn’t be in winter or on a Sabbath when that happens again, because that sign would signal the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21). It’s more difficult to flee one’s home in the winter and it’s against the Law for Jews to travel on the Sabbath.

It’s hard to over estimate the significance of that statement. Even though Jesus had earlier warned the disciples the Temple was soon to be destroyed and the people would be scattered to the nations, He now said there would be a Jewish nation in Israel with a working Temple again as the End of the Age approached. From about 135 AD until 1948 there was no Jewish nation, and since 70AD there hasn’t been a Temple there.

With 20-20 hindsight we can see that with the rejection of the Messiah, Daniel’s 70 week prophecy was suspended 7 years short of it’s fulfillment. The Lord’s brother James explained to the Early Church leaders that this suspension would remain in force while the Lord took from the Gentiles a people for Himself (the Church) and after that Israel would be restored (Acts 15:13-18). Therefore the Church Age didn’t cancel the remaining seven years, it has just postponed their fulfillment. After the Church has been raptured Israel’s final 7 years will resume and this time all their objectives will be reached.

The 3 ½ years of judgment that begins with the abomination that causes desolation will be the worst the world has ever seen or ever will see again (Matt. 24:21) No period of time is more carefully measured in all the Bible. It’s variously described as being 3 ½ years, or 42 months or 1260 days long. And then the Lord will return and put an end to it. He said if it was allowed it to run its course not a single human being would survive, but for the sake of His elect He will put an end to it at its appointed time (Matt. 24:22).

Immediately after the end of the Great tribulation the Sun and Moon will go dark and the stars will fall from the sky. The world will be plunged into darkness. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear as the only light in the sky and all the nations of the Earth will mourn. Then they will see the the Lord coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory (Matt. 24:29-30).

Jesus said in effect that the generation of people being born when the first of the end times signs appear will still be alive at the 2nd Coming (Matt. 24:34). Since He began by saying there will be a nation of Jewish people in the Promised Land in the end times, and since that hadn’t been the case until 1948, scholars believe that the rebirth of Israel was the event that kicked off the End Times. If so, then many of the people who were born in 1948 will still be alive when He returns.

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36)

From Matt. 24:29-30 we can tell that Jesus was speaking about the day and hour of his return to Earth after the end of the Great Tribulation, and while you have likely seen different different interpretations of what follows, it’s important for you to understand that all of it pertains to the time immediately surrounding the 2nd Coming.

First He said it would be similar to the days of Noah. Before the flood unbelievers had no idea what was coming and why, and when Noah tried to warn them about it they just laughed, as if he was crazy. Right up to the day of the flood, they kept going about their lives, clueless to the fact that life as they knew it was about to end forever. It will be like that at the End of the Age as well. This is why Jesus said the nations will mourn when they see Him coming (Matt.24:30). They’ll finally realize that what they’ve been hearing is true and it will be too late for them to do anything in response.

He gave three examples of people appearing to be just alike and doing the same things, but one would be received into the Kingdom while the other would be sent away to eternal punishment. Matthew mentioned only two of them, the men in the field and the women grinding with a hand mill (Matt. 24:40-41). Luke added the two people sleeping in the same bed (Luke 17:34). The Lord’s point was that what differentiated them was not external and physical, but was internal and spiritual. It’s what they believe that makes them different.

The key to understanding these examples lies in the words taken and left. The Greek word for taken means to take unto oneself, or receive, and refers to surviving believers who will be received into the Kingdom. The word for left means to send away. These are the unbelievers who will be sent away for judgment. This example speaks of Tribulation survivors who will stand before the Lord upon His return to learn of their destiny.

Then He gave a warning that those who survive the Great Tribulation will not know the day or hour of His return so they should be watching for Him like a homeowner watches for a thief he knows is coming (Matt. 24:42-44).

Next, the Lord told them four parables, each one an example of how it will be just after the 2nd Coming. You’ll see that throughout this discussion there’s been no mention of a rapture or even of the Church itself. Nor will there be. This discussion is about Israel’s last seven years. The Church will be gone by then.

The Faithful Servant. (Matt. 24:45-51)

The first parable is about servants of a master’s house who’ve been given the responsibility of seeing that his other servants are fed . Remember, a parable is a fictional story placed in an Earthly context that’s designed to convey a Heavenly truth. Every character or event is symbolic of something else. Understanding what they symbolize helps us discover the Heavenly truth.

The servants in charge are post rapture ministers of the Gospel, which is symbolized by the food they provide for the other servants, their congregations. Their master is the Lord. None of them know exactly when He will return but when He does those who have been faithfully preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom will be rewarded. Those who’ve misled their flocks and preached a false Gospel will be punished. James warned us that those who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). By their actions, these servants will have shown themselves to be false teachers and will be judged accordingly.

Keep in mind that eternal security is a blessing given only to the Church. Post rapture believers will have to maintain their own righteousness or risk losing their salvation. Rev. 14:12 says they’ll have to keep God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. And Rev. 16:15 says, “Behold I come Like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” When used symbolically, clothing stands for righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) and post rapture believers will be responsible for their own.

The Ten Virgins. (Matt. 25:1-13)

Next He told the parable of the 10 virgins or bridesmaids. Once again He began by identifying the time frame of the parable. By saying “at that time” He was referring to Matt. 24:36, the day and hour of His 2nd Coming, which follows the end of the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:29).

The story is about 10 young women who’ve been waiting a long time for the bridegroom to come. It’s late and all 10 have fallen asleep. Suddenly they hear someone shouting that the bridegroom is finally coming. They’ve all been given lamps and oil to help light the way but five of them have run out of oil, and the other five can’t lend them any. Those without oil hurry to buy more, but while they’re on their way the bridegroom arrives and the wedding banquet begins. Arriving late, they ask the bridegroom to let them in but he claims not to know them and they’re denied entrance.

This is another example of how some tribulation survivors will be received into the Kingdom while others will be excluded. The key ingredient here is oil, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit and identifies the five who have it as faithful believers, while those without it are not.

Those who try to find the Church in this parable overlook the fact that the timing is all wrong, and the church is the bride, not a bridesmaid. A bride doesn’t need the groom’s permission to enter her own wedding banquet. Also, characterizing the five without oil as backslidden Church Age believers violates the one condition of our salvation, which is belief, not behavior. And finally, a Church Age believer cannot lose the Holy Spirit, who is sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Once again, the Lord warned those on Earth at the time to keep watch because they won’t know the day or hour of his return (Matt 25:13).

The Talents. (Matt. 25:14-30)

Using the word “again” to begin this parable indicates the Lord is still speaking of the time just after His 2nd Coming and that means the servants are Tribulation survivors. It’s the story of three servants who were given allotments of money, 5 talents, 2 talents, and 1 talent respectively, by a master who was going away for a time. When He returned he called them in for an accounting. The servants who were given 5 and 2 talents had both doubled their master’s money and were commended. The servant given one talent had buried it in the ground and returned it to him untouched. This servant was rebuked. The talent was taken from him and he was thrown into the outer darkness.

Remember, in a parable everything is symbolic. The key to understanding this one lies in discovering what a talent of money symbolizes. Five talents was a lot of money, so the talents must represent something very valuable to the Lord, but there’s no indication in the Bible that money is valuable to Him. Seeing them as abilities we have is also a mistake because we don’t have anything He needs. Even the most “talented” among us can not contribute anything to His accomplishments. Out of love He sometimes lets us help, but He doesn’t need our help. Job 35:6-8 tells us our sins don’t hurt Him and our righteousness doesn’t help Him. They only affect us. However, according to Psalm 138:2 He values His name and His word above all things.

God must fulfill the promises He has made. We call these promises prophecy. He’s given His word that He will do all that He says (Isaiah 46:11) because His name is at stake (Ezekiel 36:22-23). Study His word and your faith will multiply as you read of prophecy after prophecy being fulfilled. But ignore it and you’ll lose even the little bit with which you began. In the Church Age we’re protected against total loss (1 Cor. 3:15), but it won’t be so afterward. If they don’t use, they’ll lose it. And they’ll lose their place in the Kingdom as well.

The Sheep And The Goats. (Matt. 25:31-46)

The Lord’s final example leaves no doubt as to its timing. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on his throne in heavenly glory” (Matt. 25:31) It’s the time just after the 2nd coming when He will bring all the world’s tribulation survivors to stand before Him in judgment. He’ll separate them based on how they treated His brothers during the Great Tribulation. Believers, called sheep, will be placed on His right and welcomed into the Millennial Kingdom where they’ll help repopulate the Earth. Unbelievers, called goats, will be placed on His left and then thrown into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

This appears to be a judgment based on works, but as with everything else the Lord looks at the motive behind our actions. Only a true believer would be willing to take the risks necessary to help protect the Jewish people against the anti-Christ’s determined effort to wipe them out to the last one. If he can do this before they petition the Lord’s return he will have won, so his extermination efforts will be even more relentless than Hitler’s. Anyone caught trying to thwart his effort will share the fate of the Jews. Those who help the Jews will be doing so at their own peril. But it will be as if they are helping the Lord Himself out of gratitude for all He’s done for them. Their faith will be rewarded.

After Jesus had told them all these things they joined the rest of the disciples and continued on their short walk to Bethany, where they were staying. More next time. The link.

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, Parker1.

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Matt. 24:1-2)

How this must have astonished the disciples. Over 500 years earlier the prophet Daniel had revealed that beginning with a decree authorizing the reconstruction of Jerusalem, Israel would be given 490 years during which all necessary preparations for the Messianic Kingdom would be made . They would finish transgression, put an end to sin, atone for wickedness, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy (place). The most holy place refers to the Temple. Accomplishing this would require the Messiah to come and die for the sins of the people (Daniel 9:24-26).

Parker1, I'm going to attempt to give you some food for thought in your quest for truth from the Olivet Discourse. First, you need to understand a few things here: The Isra'elites were NOT the ones who would accomplish those six goals in Dani'el 9:24; the Messiah Himself was/will be the One who accomplishes them. Using the infinitive forms of the verbs makes the subject of those verbs more nebulous, allowing for Someone else besides "his people" to be the ones accomplishing those goals. You're right that the "qadosh q'dashiym" refers to the "holy of holies," the innermost sanctum of the Temple where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, and that it required the Messiah to come and die for the sins of the people, but the Messiah had to be the One to accomplish all the rest, too.

The disciples knew the 483 year mark had been reached a few days earlier and that the Messiah was among them. He had explained to them that when they got to Jerusalem He would be executed but would come back from the grave three days later (Matt. 16:21, Luke 18:31-33). So there were only seven years left of the 490 years. The Temple had been undergoing a major reconstruction that so far had required 46 years (John 2:20) and wasn’t complete yet. But now Jesus was saying everything would be torn down. Not one stone would be left standing on another. How could that be?

Actually, more time than just 483 years had passed and it was then the 487th year. Yeshua`s "ministry" (His offer of Himself as the Messiah, the Anointed TO BE KING) was the first 3.5 years of the last "seven" of Gavri'el's "seventy sevens" of years. They rejected Him as their King, however, and He had pronounced them "desolate" in Matthew 23:38 which He had just done while still in the Temple, in keeping with the prophecy in Dani'el 9:27:

Daniel 9:27

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.

KJV

Matthew 23:37-39

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

KJV

I know that many are of the opinion that this verse is talking about the "antichrist," but it CANNOT - by either the rules of English grammar in the translations or more importantly the rules of Hebrew grammar in the original text - refer to the "prince that shall come" of verse 26! It must refer back farther to the Messiah of verse 26! Furthermore, it is the MESSIAH who confirmed the Davidic Covenant in insisting that Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) immerse Him to "fulfill all righteousness." (See Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; and Psalm 89:1-4, 26-37.) And, it was the Messiah who caused the sacrifice and the oblation to cease THE VERY DAY that Yeshua` was crucified! (See Hebrews 10:1-22.) It was for the overspreading of abominations COMMITTED BY THE JEWS in their rejection of Himself that forced Him to leave them "desolate." (See Matthew 23:1-36.)

Therefore, it was HE, the MESSIAH, who put the gap in the seventy "sevens" of Daniel 9:24-27. He left them desolate until such time as they could say, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD," or in Hebrew, "Baruwk haba' b'shem YHVH!" such that "Baruwk haba'" means "Welcome, comer!" And, the gap is not between the 69 "sevens" and the last "seven," but between the first 69.5 "sevens" and the last HALF of the last "seven."

As they began their trek up the Mt. of Olives on their way back to Bethany, four of the disciples (Peter, James, John and Andrew) approached Jesus to ask Him about these things. They had 3 questions for Him. First they wanted to know when this would happen. They also wanted to know what would be the sign of His coming, and what would be the sign of the end of the age (Matt. 24:3).

By their questions we can tell they’d been discussing this among themselves. Wanting to know when the Temple would be destroyed was an obvious reaction to his earlier statement, but the Lord’s 2nd Coming was still a new idea to them. And if the Temple was going to be torn down how would they know when the end of the age would come? They certainly could no longer count on it it happening in 7 years.

Matthew’s account of the Lord’s response does not contain an answer to their first question. But Luke’s does, so let’s go there first.

Jesus told them, “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies you will know its desolation is near. There will be great distress in the land (Israel) and wrath against this people (the Jews). They will fall by the sword and be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:20, 23,24).

The disciples were to understand that when they saw the Roman Armies surrounding Jerusalem it would mean the Temple was about to be destroyed. The Jews mounted an unsuccessful revolt against Rome in 66 AD and by 70AD Jerusalem and the Temple lay in ruins.

Mostly, this is true. However, the companion verses to Luke 1:20-24, found in Matthew 24:15-28 and Mark 13:14-23, also speak mostly about the same time period, although the "tribulation" continues until the Messiah returns. The Bar Kochba Revolt of 132-135 A.D. is also included within that time period.

In answering their 2nd and 3rd questions, Jesus began with an overview. In the times ahead there would be false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, but they would not signal the end. He said nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There would be famines and earthquakes in various places. He characterized these as the beginning of birth pangs, meaning they would be indicators that the time of the 2nd Coming was near.

He said the Jewish people would be persecuted and hated by all nations because they would be blamed for His death. There would be false prophets, and an increase of wickedness, but he who stands firm to the end would be saved (Matt. 24:4-13).

We know he wasn’t talking about the Church here because our salvation is not contingent upon standing firm to the end. Our salvation was assured from the moment we believed (Ephes. 1:13-14). God has set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing this (2 Cor. 1:21-22). Jesus had post rapture believers in mind here, because they have no such guarantee. As you’ll see there’s no mention of the Church anywhere in this discussion because Jesus was speaking as a Jewish prophet explaining to His Jewish disciples about the end times as they concern the Jewish people. Remember, their questions to Him were about the remaining seven years of Daniel’s 70 Week prophecy, which is all about Israel.

Good reasoning! You're right about the Jews being the focus; however, something you should consider is this: The Gentile believers (commonly called "the Church") are NOT a separate entity! We are a SUBSET of Yeshua`s Isra'el! (We are grafted INTO the Olive Tree along side the "natural branches" as "branches from a wild olive tree" - Romans 11; we are "made nigh by the blood of Christ" when we were once "aliens of the commonwealth of Israel" - Ephesians 2.) As such, we are not entitled to a "get out of tribulation free" card, as though we have any preference or privilege among those whom God loves! The "rapture" (Greek: harpazo, meaning "to be snatched away") doesn't occur until the Messiah arrives, and He doesn't come more than once!

Then He completed His overview by saying the Gospel would be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matt. 24:14). Now before you say, “There’s where the Church comes in,” let me take you to Rev. 14 to see the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Rev. 14:6-7)

Yes, but you need to understand what that "Gospel" is:

It is NOT the "death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ" that people get from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4! It is the "gospel of the KINGDOM" found in the Gospels! Consider Mark 1:14-15 for a moment:

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

KJV

Consider WHEN this occurred. It was very early in Yeshua`s Kingship offer! Who at that time even believed that Yeshua` was the Messiah, let alone that He would have to die?! Furthermore, who back then would have believed that the Messiah would be raised from the dead?! And yet, Yeshua` didn't explain what He meant by this statement, nor did He explain what the "gospel" was! It was as if He ASSUMED that His audience already KNEW what the "gospel" and the "kingdom of God" were! And, indeed, they did:

Isaiah 52:1-10

1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

3 For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

4 For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation (deliverance; rescue); that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation (deliverance; rescue) of our God.

KJV

(Verse 7 was quoted by Paul in Romans 10:15 and there "good tidings" was translated as "gospel.")

THIS is the "gospel of the Kingdom!" It's the good news about GOD'S KINGDOM! It's not a "spiritual kingdom"; it's DAVID'S KINGDOM ruled by haMashiach Elohiym, God's Messiah, Yeshua`, who understands what God His Father wants done!

It is THIS "gospel" that Yeshua` said will be proclaimed before the end comes!

Now the Lord gave them the first specific sign in answer to their questions. He said when the people of Judea see the abomination that causes desolation standing in the Holy place they should immediately flee for their lives (Matt. 24:15-16). The term abomination that causes desolation was well known to them even though it had only happened once previously. In one of history’s clearest models of the anti-Christ, the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes placed an image of the Greek god Zeus with his own face on it in the Temple and demanded that the people worship it on pain of death. This rendered the Temple unfit for use and started the three and one half year Maccabean revolt. The annual celebration of their victory over the Syrians is called the Feast of Hanukkah. Every Jew knows the meaning of the abomination of desolation from this celebration. It was a sign they all could recognize.

Yes, but this desolation abomination occurred in the first century in 70 A.D! You're right about Antiochus Epiphanes' abomination erected in the Temple and Dani'el 7 and 11 are about him, but he is NOT a "model of the anti-Christ." He IS the one about whom Dani'el 7 and 11 were written! Yeshua` is not referring to either chapter in Matthew 24:15; he is referring back to Dani'el 9:27 and that, in turn, was fulfilled by Matthew 23:1-39.

Jesus told the people of Judea to pray their flight wouldn’t be in winter or on a Sabbath when that happens again, because that sign would signal the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21). It’s more difficult to flee one’s home in the winter and it’s against the Law for Jews to travel on the Sabbath.

It’s hard to over estimate the significance of that statement. Even though Jesus had earlier warned the disciples the Temple was soon to be destroyed and the people would be scattered to the nations, He now said there would be a Jewish nation in Israel with a working Temple again as the End of the Age approached. From about 135 AD until 1948 there was no Jewish nation, and since 70AD there hasn’t been a Temple there.

With 20-20 hindsight we can see that with the rejection of the Messiah, Daniel’s 70 week prophecy was suspended 7 years short of it’s fulfillment. The Lord’s brother James explained to the Early Church leaders that this suspension would remain in force while the Lord took from the Gentiles a people for Himself (the Church) and after that Israel would be restored (Acts 15:13-18). Therefore the Church Age didn’t cancel the remaining seven years, it has just postponed their fulfillment. After the Church has been raptured Israel’s final 7 years will resume and this time all their objectives will be reached.

The 3 ½ years of judgment that begins with the abomination that causes desolation will be the worst the world has ever seen or ever will see again (Matt. 24:21) No period of time is more carefully measured in all the Bible. It’s variously described as being 3 ½ years, or 42 months or 1260 days long. And then the Lord will return and put an end to it. He said if it was allowed it to run its course not a single human being would survive, but for the sake of His elect He will put an end to it at its appointed time (Matt. 24:22).

First, the warnings that Yeshua` gave regarding their flight to the mountains when they saw Jerusalem being overrun by the Romans was fulfilled in the first century. This was actually accomplished in the years before 70 A.D., between 66 and 69 A.D.

Second, He only suspended the last 3.5 years, 3.5 years having already been fulfilled in the "ministry" of Yeshua`.

Third, you're right about the final 3.5 years being postponed, but it's wrong to assume that the "tribulation," even the "great tribulation," has to do with the final 3.5 years! The "tribulation" began in the first century and has continued ever since. It will continue until the Jews of Jerusalem can say to Yeshua`, "Baruwk haba' b'shem YHVH!" "Welcome, Comer on the authority of YHVH!" (See Matthew 23:37-39 again and Psalm 118:22-26.)

Fourth, never refer to Matthew 24:21 (about the "great tribulation") without Matthew 24:20. They are TOGETHER! They are a single thought - a syllogism! IF they fail to pray as instructed, THEN "great tribulation" would occur. They did NOT so fail to pray, and the "great tribulation" to which Yeshua` was referring was AVOIDED! This, too, already was fulfilled in the first century! However, there are other verses, for example Revelation 7:14, that speak about a "great tribulation" in our future.

Fifth, the "tribulation" (Greek: thlipsis, meaning "pressure; distress") has been going on, primarily for the Jews, since the first century A.D. When Yeshua` said,

Matthew 24:22

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

KJV

He was informing His disciples that the "distress" would not be continuous; there would be intervals of relative peace - intermissions - in between pressures so that the Jewish people wouldn't be totally wiped out. That's why we can identify various periods of pressure down through the years - the persecutions, the inquisitions, the pogroms, the Holocaust, etc.

Immediately after the end of the Great tribulation the Sun and Moon will go dark and the stars will fall from the sky. The world will be plunged into darkness. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear as the only light in the sky and all the nations of the Earth will mourn. Then they will see the the Lord coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory (Matt. 24:29-30).

Jesus said in effect that the generation of people being born when the first of the end times signs appear will still be alive at the 2nd Coming (Matt. 24:34). Since He began by saying there will be a nation of Jewish people in the Promised Land in the end times, and since that hadn’t been the case until 1948, scholars believe that the rebirth of Israel was the event that kicked off the End Times. If so, then many of the people who were born in 1948 will still be alive when He returns.

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36)

From Matt. 24:29-30 we can tell that Jesus was speaking about the day and hour of his return to Earth after the end of the Great Tribulation, and while you have likely seen different different interpretations of what follows, it’s important for you to understand that all of it pertains to the time immediately surrounding the 2nd Coming.

First He said it would be similar to the days of Noah. Before the flood unbelievers had no idea what was coming and why, and when Noah tried to warn them about it they just laughed, as if he was crazy. Right up to the day of the flood, they kept going about their lives, clueless to the fact that life as they knew it was about to end forever. It will be like that at the End of the Age as well. This is why Jesus said the nations will mourn when they see Him coming (Matt.24:30). They’ll finally realize that what they’ve been hearing is true and it will be too late for them to do anything in response.

He gave three examples of people appearing to be just alike and doing the same things, but one would be received into the Kingdom while the other would be sent away to eternal punishment. Matthew mentioned only two of them, the men in the field and the women grinding with a hand mill (Matt. 24:40-41). Luke added the two people sleeping in the same bed (Luke 17:34). The Lord’s point was that what differentiated them was not external and physical, but was internal and spiritual. It’s what they believe that makes them different.

The key to understanding these examples lies in the words taken and left. The Greek word for taken means to take unto oneself, or receive, and refers to surviving believers who will be received into the Kingdom. The word for left means to send away. These are the unbelievers who will be sent away for judgment. This example speaks of Tribulation survivors who will stand before the Lord upon His return to learn of their destiny.

Actually, the key to understanding WHEN these examples TOOK place is found in the PRONOUNS! Whenever the translation of these words become "ye" and "you" and "your" and "yours," then Yeshua` is talking DIRECTLY TO HIS STUDENTS right there in front of Him at the time! Even verbs that imply a "you" understood as the subject refer to His students - His disciples - not to a future group of people!

(More to come...)

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, again, Parker1.

Continuing on...

Then He gave a warning that those who survive the Great Tribulation will not know the day or hour of His return so they should be watching for Him like a homeowner watches for a thief he knows is coming (Matt. 24:42-44).

Next, the Lord told them four parables, each one an example of how it will be just after the 2nd Coming. You’ll see that throughout this discussion there’s been no mention of a rapture or even of the Church itself. Nor will there be. This discussion is about Israel’s last seven years. The Church will be gone by then.

The Faithful Servant. (Matt. 24:45-51)

The first parable is about servants of a master’s house who’ve been given the responsibility of seeing that his other servants are fed . Remember, a parable is a fictional story placed in an Earthly context that’s designed to convey a Heavenly truth. Every character or event is symbolic of something else. Understanding what they symbolize helps us discover the Heavenly truth.

The servants in charge are post rapture ministers of the Gospel, which is symbolized by the food they provide for the other servants, their congregations. Their master is the Lord. None of them know exactly when He will return but when He does those who have been faithfully preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom will be rewarded. Those who’ve misled their flocks and preached a false Gospel will be punished. James warned us that those who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). By their actions, these servants will have shown themselves to be false teachers and will be judged accordingly.

Keep in mind that eternal security is a blessing given only to the Church. Post rapture believers will have to maintain their own righteousness or risk losing their salvation. Rev. 14:12 says they’ll have to keep God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. And Rev. 16:15 says, “Behold I come Like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” When used symbolically, clothing stands for righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) and post rapture believers will be responsible for their own.

First, that's wrong. Not every character or event is symbolic of something else in a parable! Only those things that are DEFINED by Yeshua` are symbolic, and in most parables, there's only ONE point that Yeshua` is trying to make. Thus, it is far too easy to over-analyze a parable and come to wrong conclusions, particularly when someone is trying to fit characters or events of the present into the parable! He is simply talking about the need for anyone who is His servant to be on guard and be ready for when the Master returns.

Second, and MOST IMPORTANT, you are TOTALLY WRONG about "eternal security is a blessing given only to the Church!" (Where'd you get THAT idea?! That's just nuts!) How can anyone be given "eternal life" if he cannot be certain that it's "eternal?!" It's a piece of fiction to say, "Post rapture believers will have to maintain their own righteousness or risk losing their salvation!" IN EVERY AGE OF MANKIND, ONE MUST BE JUSTIFIED BY GOD OR HE'S OUT OF LUCK! There's no such thing as "maintaining one's own righteousness!" All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags! What can ANYONE do to warrant God's favor? The ONLY way that one is made right with God is through God's declaration:

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

KJV

The words translated "reconciled," "reconciling," and "reconciliation" have to do with EXCHANGING PLACES! And, the key to this exchange is found in verse 21: "He (God) made Him (Yeshua`) to be sin for us, who (Yeshua`) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Yeshua`)!" There's the exchange: He, in spite of God's righteousness within Him, was called "SIN" by God and crucified, and in turn, we, in spite of our sin, can now be called "GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS!" Even David knew that it has to ALL be of God! So, this is not just a NT thing or a "Church only" thing!

Psalm 130:3-4

3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

KJV

Remember Yeshua`s words here?

Luke 18:9-14

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

KJV

So, that's NOT what Revelation 14:12 is saying!

Here's the Greek of this verse:

12 Hoode hee hupomonee toon hagioon estin, hoi teerountes tas entolas tou Theou kai teen pistin Ieesou.

12 Hoode = 12 Here

hee = the

hupomonee = cheerful-endurance

toon = of-the

hagioon = saints/holy-ones

estin, = is,

hoi = the

teerountes = guards

tas = of-the

entolas = commandments/precepts

tou = of-the

Theou = God

kai = and

teen = of-the

pistin = trust

Ieesou. = of-Yeshua`.

And, it goes on from there...

15 Kai eekousa phoonees ek tou ouranou legontees, "Grapson, 'Makarioi hoi nekroi hoi en kurioo apothneeskontes ap' arti. Nai, legei to Pneuma, hina anapaeesontai ek toon kapoon autoon ta gar erga autoon akoluthei met' autoon.

15 Kai = 15 And

eekousa = I-heard

phoonees = a-voice

ek = out

tou = of-the

ouranou = sky/heaven

legontees, = saying,

"Grapson, = "Write,

'Makarioi = 'Blessed/Happy

hoi = the

nekroi = dead

hoi = the/those

en = in

Kurioo = (the)-Lord/Master

apothneeskontes = shall-die

ap' = from

arti. = now-on.

Nai, = Yes,

legei = says

to = the

Pneuma, = Spirit,

hina = so-that

anapaeesontai = they-may-rest

ek = out

toon = of-the

kapoon = labors/fatigues

autoon = of-them/their

ta = the

gar = for

erga = works/deeds

autoon = of-them/their

akoluthei = do-follow/accompany

met' = with

autoon. = them.'"

The Ten Virgins. (Matt. 25:1-13)

Next He told the parable of the 10 virgins or bridesmaids. Once again He began by identifying the time frame of the parable. By saying “at that time” He was referring to Matt. 24:36, the day and hour of His 2nd Coming, which follows the end of the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:29).

The story is about 10 young women who’ve been waiting a long time for the bridegroom to come. It’s late and all 10 have fallen asleep. Suddenly they hear someone shouting that the bridegroom is finally coming. They’ve all been given lamps and oil to help light the way but five of them have run out of oil, and the other five can’t lend them any. Those without oil hurry to buy more, but while they’re on their way the bridegroom arrives and the wedding banquet begins. Arriving late, they ask the bridegroom to let them in but he claims not to know them and they’re denied entrance.

This is another example of how some tribulation survivors will be received into the Kingdom while others will be excluded. The key ingredient here is oil, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit and identifies the five who have it as faithful believers, while those without it are not.

Those who try to find the Church in this parable overlook the fact that the timing is all wrong, and the church is the bride, not a bridesmaid. A bride doesn’t need the groom’s permission to enter her own wedding banquet. Also, characterizing the five without oil as backslidden Church Age believers violates the one condition of our salvation, which is belief, not behavior. And finally, a Church Age believer cannot lose the Holy Spirit, who is sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Once again, the Lord warned those on Earth at the time to keep watch because they won’t know the day or hour of his return (Matt 25:13).

It's talking about those who are ready going into the KINGDOM, not into salvation! Think more literally! We're NOT told that the "oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit!" This has NOTHING to do with salvation!

The Talents. (Matt. 25:14-30)

Using the word “again” to begin this parable indicates the Lord is still speaking of the time just after His 2nd Coming and that means the servants are Tribulation survivors. It’s the story of three servants who were given allotments of money, 5 talents, 2 talents, and 1 talent respectively, by a master who was going away for a time. When He returned he called them in for an accounting. The servants who were given 5 and 2 talents had both doubled their master’s money and were commended. The servant given one talent had buried it in the ground and returned it to him untouched. This servant was rebuked. The talent was taken from him and he was thrown into the outer darkness.

Remember, in a parable everything is symbolic. The key to understanding this one lies in discovering what a talent of money symbolizes. Five talents was a lot of money, so the talents must represent something very valuable to the Lord, but there’s no indication in the Bible that money is valuable to Him. Seeing them as abilities we have is also a mistake because we don’t have anything He needs. Even the most “talented” among us can not contribute anything to His accomplishments. Out of love He sometimes lets us help, but He doesn’t need our help. Job 35:6-8 tells us our sins don’t hurt Him and our righteousness doesn’t help Him. They only affect us. However, according to Psalm 138:2 He values His name and His word above all things.

God must fulfill the promises He has made. We call these promises prophecy. He’s given His word that He will do all that He says (Isaiah 46:11) because His name is at stake (Ezekiel 36:22-23). Study His word and your faith will multiply as you read of prophecy after prophecy being fulfilled. But ignore it and you’ll lose even the little bit with which you began. In the Church Age we’re protected against total loss (1 Cor. 3:15), but it won’t be so afterward. If they don’t use, they’ll lose it. And they’ll lose their place in the Kingdom as well.

Not quite. Look at the parallel passage in Luke 19 for more understanding, and remember: "In a parable everything is symbolic" is not true! Look for the point Yeshua` is trying to make in the rest of the context!

The Sheep And The Goats. (Matt. 25:31-46)

The Lord’s final example leaves no doubt as to its timing. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on his throne in heavenly glory” (Matt. 25:31) It’s the time just after the 2nd coming when He will bring all the world’s tribulation survivors to stand before Him in judgment. He’ll separate them based on how they treated His brothers during the Great Tribulation. Believers, called sheep, will be placed on His right and welcomed into the Millennial Kingdom where they’ll help repopulate the Earth. Unbelievers, called goats, will be placed on His left and then thrown into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

This appears to be a judgment based on works, but as with everything else the Lord looks at the motive behind our actions. Only a true believer would be willing to take the risks necessary to help protect the Jewish people against the anti-Christ’s determined effort to wipe them out to the last one. If he can do this before they petition the Lord’s return he will have won, so his extermination efforts will be even more relentless than Hitler’s. Anyone caught trying to thwart his effort will share the fate of the Jews. Those who help the Jews will be doing so at their own peril. But it will be as if they are helping the Lord Himself out of gratitude for all He’s done for them. Their faith will be rewarded.

This is NOT a parable! While the "sheep" and the "goats" are metaphors for nations who treated the Saints well and those who did not, respectively, the rest of the passage is LITERAL! When Yeshua` arrives and after His vengeance is poured out, He will then set up a WAR TRIBUNAL! This is not a person-by-person judgment. These are the nations that had anything to do with the Invasion of Isra'el! If they treated Isra'el well, they were made a part of the Messiah's Kingdom; if they did not, they were left outside of His Kingdom, doomed to be thrown into the Fire. (Notice that it does NOT say they go into the Fire at this point in time!)

After Jesus had told them all these things they joined the rest of the disciples and continued on their short walk to Bethany, where they were staying. More next time. The link.

I hope you can take this in the spirit in which it was offered. You are so very close in lots of ways, but we all have blind spots. These are some of the blind spots that I've had to wrestle in my years of learning.

[Montana Marv]

Roy

Back to Prophecy 101

Prophecy must be 100 percent accurate to be Prophecy.

You just invalidated Daniels Prophecy. You say the prophecy of Daniel 9:24 was fulfilled by Christ. CHRIST is not mentioned in that prophecy. "Your People and Your Holy City" are mentioned.

Unless Prophecy has moved from being Literal to being Spiritual to being Substitution Theology; Prophecy has become invalidated. Does Christ come on a "White Horse" (literal) or does the White Horse mean Purity (Spiritual), or is the White Horse really a green donkey (Substitution).

In Christ

Montana Marv

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, Montana Marv.

Roy

Back to Prophecy 101

Prophecy must be 100 percent accurate to be Prophecy.

You just invalidated Daniels Prophecy. You say the prophecy of Daniel 9:24 was fulfilled by Christ. CHRIST is not mentioned in that prophecy. "Your People and Your Holy City" are mentioned.

Unless Prophecy has moved from being Literal to being Spiritual to being Substitution Theology; Prophecy has become invalidated. Does Christ come on a "White Horse" (literal) or does the White Horse mean Purity (Spiritual), or is the White Horse really a green donkey (Substitution).

In Christ

Montana Marv

First, I am a literalist; so I would say in answer to your ending question that Christ would come on a literal white horse. (No caps necessary.)

Second, don't you yet understand that "Messiah" = "Christ?" The two terms are synonymous because "Messiah" is an English transliteration of the Hebrew word "Mashiach," meaning "Anointed-One," and "Christ" is an English transliteration of the Greek word "Christos," also meaning "Anointed-One." And, "Messiah" IS certainly within the prophecy of Dani'el 9:24-27!

To recognize that the infinitive verbs don't have a defined subject yet does NOT invalidate Gavri'el's prophecy! (Dani'el merely wrote it down.) Look at it again in the original text:

24 Shaavu`iym shiv`iym nechtakh `al `amkhaa v`al `iyr qaadshekhaa

l-kalee' hapesha`

uwlhaateem chaTaa'owt

uwlkapeer `aavon

uwlhaaviy` tsedeq `olaamiym

v-lachtom chaazown v-naaviy'

v-limshoach qodesh qaadaashiym:

24 Shaavu`iym = 24 Sevens

shiv`iym = seventy

nechtakh = are-determined

`al = upon/against

`amkhaa = your-people

v`al = and-upon/against

`iyr = city

qaadshekhaa = your-holy

l-kalee' = to-restrict/prohibit

hapesha` = the-revolt/rebellion

uwlhaateem = and-to-close-up/seal

chaTaa'owt = offenses/sins

uwlkapeer = and-to-cover

`aavon = perversity

uwlhaaviy` = and-to-bring

tsedeq = righteousness

`olaamiym = of-ages (eternal)

v-lachtom = and-to-close-up/seal

chaazown = a-sight/revelation/dream/oracle/vision

v-naaviy' = and-a-prophecy

v-limshoach = and-to-anoint

qodesh = holy

qaadaashiym: = of-holies:

24 Sevens seventy are-determined upon/against your-people and-upon/against city your-holy

to-restrict/prohibit the-revolt/rebellion

and-to-close-up/seal offenses/sins

and-to-cover perversity

and-to-bring righteousness of-ages (eternal)

and-to-close-up/seal a-sight/revelation/dream/oracle/vision and-a-prophecy

and-to-anoint holy of-holies:

Can't you see that this verse doesn't say WHO is doing the determining? In point of fact, it is most likely GOD who is doing the determining! However, the verb translated "are-determined" is a reflexive verb which points back to the subject of the sentence, the seventy "sevens," being the RECIPIENT of the action! Furthermore, this action is AGAINST "your people" and AGAINST "your holy city!" They are NOT the ones who perform the six actions to follow!

The verse is saying that the PURPOSES for this 70x7 determination against Dani'el's people and his holy city are...

to restrict the revolt,

to close up offenses,

to cover perversity,

to bring eternal righteousness,

to close up a vision and prophecy,

and to anoint [the] Holy of Holies!

I've done NO damage to the prophecy! And, it WILL be 100% accurately fulfilled, just NOT by Dani'el's people or his holy city! They could not HOPE to do the repairs, the justification, or the anointing that only GOD could do! NONE of these six things could be done by Isra'el! So, who's left to get these tasks accomplished? It either has to be God YHVH the Father Himself or His Representative, His Anointed-One, His Messiah, His Mashiach, His Christ, Yeshua` (Jesus)!

"Prophecy 101" indeed! How about going back to HEBREW 101?

[Montana Marv]

Roy

Daniel 9:24 - Seventy Sevens are decreed for "your people" and "your holy city" TO: 1. Finish transgression, 2. Put an end to sin, 3. Atone for wickedness, 4. Bring in everlasting righteousness, 5. Seal up vision and prophecy, 6. Anoint the most holy.

Only one sentence long. Who is the decree for or to. Seventy Sevens (490 years) are decreed for "your people" and your holy city" TO: do the 6 tasks before them. Gabriel the angel gave this vision to Daniel.

Zech 13:1 - On that day, a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

Jeremiah 31:33 - This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hears, I will be their God, and they will be my people .... 34b - For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

When does all this happen, but during the Mill. All is forgiven and all is forgotten. The Lord now is their God. This is when the 6 tasks are fulfilled by Israel.

Daniel 9:27 is all about Daniels People and Daniels Holy City.

In Christ

Montana Marv

[Guest]

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps you should voice your opinion to the author, who's link I provided with my original post.

Edited May 9, 2012 by Parker1

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, Parker1.

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps you should voice your opinion to the author, who's link I provided with my original post.

Okay, I'd be happy to do so. I only hope I've also given you some food for thought, as well.

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, Montana Marv.

Roy

Daniel 9:24 - Seventy Sevens are decreed for "your people" and "your holy city" TO: 1. Finish transgression, 2. Put an end to sin, 3. Atone for wickedness, 4. Bring in everlasting righteousness, 5. Seal up vision and prophecy, 6. Anoint the most holy.

Only one sentence long. Who is the decree for or to. Seventy Sevens (490 years) are decreed for "your people" and your holy city" TO: do the 6 tasks before them. Gabriel the angel gave this vision to Daniel.

Zech 13:1 - On that day, a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

Jeremiah 31:33 - This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hears, I will be their God, and they will be my people .... 34b - For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

When does all this happen, but during the Mill. All is forgiven and all is forgotten. The Lord now is their God. This is when the 6 tasks are fulfilled by Israel.

Daniel 9:27 is all about Daniels People and Daniels Holy City.

In Christ

Montana Marv

I don't understand why you are so resistant to what I'm trying to tell you, but you are evidently looking at a particular translation of Dani'el 9:24 that is misleading you. The seventy sevens are NOT a time period for Dani'el's people and his holy city to do the six tasks! That is NOT what the Hebrew says AT ALL! That was my point in showing you the original text! They don't perform those tasks, and quite frankly, regardless whether "all is forgiven and all is forgotten," they CAN'T perform those tasks! They are not tasks that are HUMANLY possible! They must be performed SUPERNATURALLY by God or by God's Emissary! Just as we can do NOTHING of ourselves to earn God's favor or His justification; so the Isra'elites can do nothing of themselves to earn God's favor or His justification, in the Millennium or outside of the Millennium!

Zechariah 13:1 uses the same kind of reflexive verb: The house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem are cleansed from their sin and impurity in the fountain opened to them, but again, they CANNOT cleanse themselves!

Let me ask you a direct question: What did YOU do to receive everlasting life? For what part in the "salvation" process can you take credit?

Yeshua` once said,...

Luke 18:10-14

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

KJV

There's no difference between Jew and Gentile in this matter; those who think there's something they can do to be justified by God are going to find out that they were terribly mistaken!

Those who know there's NOTHING they can do to be justified by God fall humbly on the "mercy of the Court," and receive God's justification from Him because of His love and mercy at HIS whim!

I sincerely hope you haven't missed this point in your own experience! And, it doesn't matter who one is or in what time frame he exists! One CANNOT appease God through any merit of his own!

[nChrist]

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps you should voice your opinion to the author, who's link I provided with my original post.

I'll supply one opinion here. AMEN! - Jack Kelley is CORRECT! Great article - thanks for sharing this with us.