Eschatology in the Book of Daniel - The 70th Week

Introduction

Last week we covered the Antichrist in our study. We saw what the Bible had to say about this man: Who he was, what he would do, and how his reign would end.

This week we will look at the other main eschatological event covered in the book of Daniel known by several different names: The Tribulation Period, the 70th Week, The Time of Jacob’s Trouble.

In Daniel Chapter 9, Daniel is in a state of deep prayer asking God to understand the prophecy of Jeremiah and what it means for himself and the people of Israel. During his state of prayer the Angel Gabriel comes to him and reveals a vision about the future of the nation of Israel.

Daniel 9:24 - the 70 Weeks. The word “weeks” in the Hebrew simply means a unit of 7. So Gabriel is talking about 70 units of 7 years (490 years). This is referred to as “God’s Calendar for Israel”.

The First 483 years of this prophecy have already been fulfilled with Nehemiah Ch. 1 when the king decrees that the Jews can go back and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem being the beginning and the 69th week ending with the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

The 70th Week has not yet occured. The large gap between the 69th and 70th week is referred to as the Church Age - a period of time when God has “set aside” Israel to focus on the Gentile nations.

So what is the 70th Week? What are the key events of this time period on Earth? and what is the purpose of the 70th week?

I. What is the 70th Week?

The 70th week is a 7 year time period following the rapture of the church.

The rapture is an imminent event (meaning nothing else has to happen for it to happen) that will be Christ coming to the clouds and calling all the saved to heaven to be with Him. This will happen instantaneously (1 Corinthians 15:52), there wont be any time to prepare for it.

This worldwide event will usher in a 7 year period known as the Tribulation. (AKA the “70th Week”).

This 7 year period is specifically for the Jewish people, one of the main purposes is to restore Israel’s relationship with God and have them believing on the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

This 7 year period will be a time of mass chaos and confusion upon the earth. It will be unlike any period of history before it and it will be a time that no one will want to live through.

II. Key Events of the 70th Week

The Rise of the Antichrist (Daniel 11:36-39)

This evil ruler doesnt suddenly appear in his true character and assume leadership over the world. He begins his rise to power as a part of the ten-nation Coalition mentioned in Daniel 7:24.

He begins as a man of peace who “solves” the Arab/Israeli problem and proves himself to be a master politician. Gradually, his evil designs are revealed, and at the middle of the 7 year period, he will break that covenant, claim world control, and set himself up as god. (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2; Revelation 13)

The Tribulation (Daniel 12:1)

The 7 year period is triggered by the signing of a peace treaty with Israel by the Antichrist. He will seemingly solve the Israeli/Arab conflict and will bring “peace” to the world.

The first 3 1/2 years is known as the Tribulation, where God’s judgment will be poured out upon the Earth. The events of this period are described in Revelation 6-9.

Then exactly halfway through the 7 years the Antichrist will break his treaty with Israel, desecrate the Temple, and set himself up as god and demand the world worship him

This will mark the beginning of the last 3 1/2 years known as the Great Tribulation, where God’s Judgment will be even more severe upon the earth. It will be so severe that the Bible tells us if God didnt limit it to 3 1/2 years, everyone on earth would die (Mark 13:19-20)

The details of the chaos of this period are mentioned in Revelation 15-19.

War and Invasions (Daniel 11:40-43)

When the Antichrist sets himself up as god and demands worship and allegiance, not everyone will bow down to his will. Armies from the north and south will gather in the holy land to attack and attempt to overthrow the Antichrist. The Antichrist will win this battle and acquire great wealth as a result.

The Battle of Armageddon (Daniel 11:44-45)

Throughout the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period, nations will submit to the rule of the Antichrist, but there will be growing dissent and opposition, even though his work is energized by Satan. There will be a growing army from the east that will meet the forces of the Antichrist and will battle in what is called the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 9:13-21; 16:12-16; Joel 3:1-2, 12-14; Zech. 14:1-3). This battle will take place at the end of the 7 years of tribulation

The Return of Christ (Daniel 11:45b)

As the huge army from the east gets positioned to attack the forces of the Antichrist in Israel, the sign of the Returning Son of Man will appear in the heavens (Matt. 24:29-30), and the opposing armies will unite to fight Jesus Christ. But the Lord will descend from heaven with His armies, defeat both armies, and take captive Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet and cast them into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:11-21)

Zechariah also mentions that when He descends, the nation of Israel will see Him and will trust Him as their Messiah

The Millennial Kingdom

After all these events, Christ will sit upon the Throne of Israel again and will rule the earth for 1,000 years. We as His believers will be his “governors” or “enforcers”. We will, in a sense, “help” the Lord rule the earth.

III. The Purpose of the 70th Week (Daniel 9:24)

So what is the purpose of God allowing all these things to take place? Daniel 9:24 gives us the 6 reasons why

To Finish the Trangression = Transgression itself will be ended. A New Order on Earth will be established by Christ, with an end to man’s rebellion. The inauguration of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth

To make an end of sins = Not just the guilt of sin, but sin itself. This looks to a new and redeemed world

To make reconciliation for iniquity = This was accomplished on the Cross of Christ. But the 70th week will be to drive more people to reconciliation to Christ

To Bring in Everlasting Righteousness = A New order of Righteousness brought in by the Messiah

To Seal up the Vision and the Prophecy = both the ending AND fulfillment of prophecy, concluding the final stage of human history and culminating in the Millennial Reign. There will be no more need for prophecy

To Anoint the Most Holy = Refers to a place, not a person. The Most Holy Place is the Final Temple, that will be anointed and blessed. It is described in Ezekiel 40–48.

Essentially the purpose behind the 70th week is to put an end to all sin upon the earth and to restore it back to the way it was in the Garden of Eden, with God reigning on a perfect and sinless world.

Conclusion

God desires us to know these things so that we may give an answer to those that ask questions of you, and so that we can know what to look for in the signs of His coming.

Prophecy is not designed to make us fret and worry, it is designed to give us hope! It is designed to motivate us to be about the Lord’s business because we dont know how much time we have left until these things come to pass!

“Im not looking for the 2nd coming of Christ, Im looking for the Christ of the 2nd Coming”. - Clarence Sexton

Essentially what this means is, we ought not allow prophecy and the signs surrounding His return keep us from worshipping and serving Christ.

2 Thessalonians is all about this topic