The Middle to the End of the Tribulation, Part 1

We've seen that verses 4-14 give an overview of the tribulation period

Verses 15-26 give a detailed description of the 2nd half of the tribulation

This is some times referred to as the “great tribulation”

To understand this section we must turn to Daniel 9:24-27

Daniel 9:24–27 (KJV 1900)

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

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.

The parts of Daniel's 70 weeks:

During 7 weeks (49 years) Jerusalem would be rebuilt and the Temple worship restarted 9:24-25

After 63 weeks (434 years) Messiah would come to Jerusalem and die for the sins of the world 9:26

The prince (antichrist) will confirm a treaty with Israel for 1 week (7 years) to defend them from their enemies 9:27

49 + 434 + 7 = 490 years exactly!

Daniel's prophecy concerning these 70 weeks

The decree to rebuild Jerusalem was given by Cyrus in 445 BC

2 Chronicles 36:22–23 KJV 1900

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.

Ezra 1:1 KJV 1900

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

The city was rebuilt during “troubled times”

In 1975 Sir Robert Anderson in his book The Coming Prince proved that exactly 482 prophetic years have passed from the decree to rebuild the city and the day in which Jesus rode into Jerusalem as King

(Remember the Jewish Calendar only has 360 days)

Since we can prove that 482 years have been fulfilled (the best calculations ever done by man), we must now account for the missing week of 7 years

The most logical place for the remaining week to occur is after the rapture of the church

Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70 by Titus and was later rebuilt “by the people of the prince that shall come (a title for the antichrist)

The Jewish nation was spared – antichrist must have them to enforce his treaty

Daniel prophesied about an “abomination that maketh desolate”

Daniel 9:27 KJV 1900

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.

This took place in BC 175 by Antiochus Epiphanies

This man was a type of antichrist

He sacrificed a pig on the altar and desecrated the temple

The altar was later rededicated to God during the Maccabean revolt and the sacrificial system was restarted

The sacrificial system was ended after Titus' destruction, but will be reinstituted by antichrist

The antichrist as mentioned in Revelation 6, will come in peace

He has a bow (a weapon of war)

There is no mention of arrows (he'll desire to make peace)

For 3 ½ years he'll keep up the appearance of peace

From Matt.. 24:15 onward, his true colors will be revealed (Daniel 9:27

Daniel 9:27 KJV 1900

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.

Matthew 24:15 (KJV 1900)

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Important!

Do not forget, that even though many have come as partial fulfillments and types of antichrist, the true “man of sin” will not appear until we, the church are gone!