Apocalyptic Math
Notes
Transcript
Looking For The End
Looking For The End
Is there some code hidden in the numbers of apocalyptic scripture?
Will it tell us the date of the end?
1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom—
2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.
3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
Seeking Understanding
Seeking Understanding
In scripture?
How to interpret instruction?
How to interpret prophecy?
In prayer?
Will I like His answer?
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
When the Answers Seem to be Hiding
Daniel studied Jeremiah’s letter
God has good plans
The exile should have ended
Why hasn’t God restored the Israelites to their home?
Time to pray!
20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill—
21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.
22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.
23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:
24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.
26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
Modified Prophecy???
Was Jeremiah's prophecy wrong?
Was Daniel’s interpretation wrong?
God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer wasn’t what he has hoped for!
But God was faithful to His word.
3 “ ‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands,
4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.
6 “ ‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.
9 “ ‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.
14 “ ‘But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands,
15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant,
17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.
18 “ ‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over.
Back to Apocalyptic Math
Jeremiah said 70 years
Daniel’s vision said 70 x 7
Following the warning in Leviticus 26:18
Does this mean the exile will last 490 years?
Did this vision start a countdown to Jesus?
Symbolic Numbers, Not Literal
7 = complete or fullness
10 = completeness in law and divine authority
7 x 10 = 70 = totality in judgement
7 x 70 --> It’s going to be a while!
What does this mean for us today?
Can we trust God’s promises?
Does He change His mind?
When will they be fulfilled?
Are there answers in scripture?
What is the purpose of prophecy?
Has God’s word taken root in your heart?
What promises in scripture do you pray about today?
Would you be able to recognize God’s voice if He answered?
What if God gave you an answer you didn’t want to hear?
