THE RAPTURE AND DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for listening to the Narrow Way Christian Ministries online Church service, today's sermon is a part of the Understanding The Gospel series and is titled: The Rapture And Daniel's 70th Week. The purpose of this sermon is to show you the timing of the rapture, which is detailed in a prophecy known as Daniel's 70th week. This sermon will explain Daniel's 70th week, and detail the timing of the rapture according to it. I would like to begin today's sermon by reading a scripture from the book of (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL’S 70 WEEKS
(Daniel 9:24) 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.
Daniel's 70th week is a small part of a larger prophecy, which details a timeline of the first and second coming of Jesus Christ, this timeline consists of 70x7 year periods, which began with the proclamation of King Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem. In this prophecy 1 week equals a 7 year period, 69 of these 7 year periods were fulfilled from this proclamation until the first coming of Christ, and the Roman invasion of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The Bible teaches us that there is a final seven year period before the end of this world, and the second coming of Jesus Christ. This final 7 year period is known as Daniel's 70th week, and is described in (Daniel 9:27) 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.
DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK
Daniel's 70th week is a 7 year time period that is described in the book of Daniel. The Bible divides this 7 year time period into 2 three and a half year periods, with the first three and a half year period consisting of 1260 days, and the final three and a half period, consisting of 1290 days. The next section of the sermon will show you this 7 year time period as it is detailed in the Bible, and explain how Daniel's 70th week reveals the timing of the Rapture, and the second coming of Jesus Christ.
THE FIRST HALF OF DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK
The first half of Daniel’s 70th week is the first three and a half year period of the end of this world, according to Bible prophecy. This three and a half year time period is described in both the book of Daniel, and the book of Revelation. The first reference to the beginning of Daniel's 70th week, is found in the book of (Daniel 7:25) And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The reference in (Daniel 7:25) to a time and times and the dividing of time, is describing the first half of Daniel's 70th week, this three and a half year time period is also mentioned in the book of (Daniel 12:7) And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half...
The first half of Daniel's 70th week described in (Daniel 7:25) and (Daniel 12:7) is also described in the book of (Revelation 12:14) And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
The Bible reveals that the first half of Daniel's 70th week, which is described as a time, times and half a time is 1260 days. This doctrine is confirmed in the book of (Revelation 12:6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
This 1260 day period mentioned in scripture is the beginning of the end of this world, and the first half of Daniel’s 70th week. According to (Daniel 9:27) this 1260 day period that makes up the first half of Daniel's 70th week, begins with the reinstatement of the Old Testament law, and animal sacrifices in Jerusalem. The Bible explains that this 1260 day period ends with the stopping of animal sacrifices in Jerusalem, and the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation, which is described (Daniel 11:31) And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
THE SECOND HALF OF DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK
The second half of Daniel’s 70th week begins at the end of the 1260 day period described in (Revelation 12:6), and it continues for 1290 days, or 42 months. This second three and a half year period known as the second half of Daniel's 70th week, consists of an extra 30 day month according to the Hebrew Lunar calendar, and this 1290 day period is distinguishable from the first half of Daniel's 70th week, because of this extra 30 day month. The second half of Daniel's 70th week, is described in the book of (Daniel 12:11) And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
This 1290 day period is the second half of Daniel's 70th week, which is described in the book of (Daniel 9:27) 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..
The beginning of this 1290 day period is marked by the stopping of Animal sacrifices in Jerusalem, and the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation, as was described by Jesus Christ in the book of (Mathew 24:15) 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:).
Jesus told us to understand Daniel's prophecy, and the Abomination of Desolation, that signals the second half of Daniel's 70th week. Jesus warned us about this event because it begins the great tribulation of God's people, and Daniel's prophecy reveals exactly how long the great tribulation will last, and the timing of the rapture.
THE RAPTURE IN DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK
By understanding the prophecy of Daniel's 70th week, and the 7 year time period which it describes, we allow the Bible to reveal more about this amazing prophecy, and we can discover the exact timing of the rapture, according to the timeline set out in Daniel's 70th week. The complete prophecy of Daniel's 70th week and the exact timing of the rapture, is revealed in the book of (Daniel 12:1-12) And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
According to (Daniel 7:25), (Revelation 12:6-9) and (Daniel 12:11), the great tribulation begins at the end of the time, times, and an half, which is the 1260 day period leading up to the Abomination of Desolation, and the second half of Daniel's 70th week. Because we know that the great tribulation of God's people ends with the rapture, Daniel's prophecy reveals how long Christians must endure the persecution, and according to the scripture the rapture takes place 75 days after the middle of Daniel’s 70th week, which is marked by the Abomination of Desolation. The 75 day reference comes from the 1335 day period mentioned in the book of (Daniel 12:12) Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
The 1335 Day time period mentioned in Daniel 12:12, begins at the start of Daniel’s 70th week (1260 days), and ends exactly 75 days after the “times time and a half” or the 1260 days described in both (Daniel 12:7) and (Revelation 12:6) To explain this doctrine further I would say: to wait the 1335 days mentioned in (Daniel 12:12) would equal 75 days after the first half of Daniel's 70th week or 1260 days described in (Daniel 12:7), (Revelation 12:6) and (Revelation 12:14). In short: to wait 1335 days would put you exactly 75 days into the great tribulation described by Jesus Christ, and the time of tribulation will be cut short as described in (Matthew 24: 21-22) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
75 DAYS BEFORE THE RAPTURE
(Daniel 12:1) And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
According to Bible prophecy Daniel's 70th week begins with the confirmation of the Old Covenant, and the reinstatement of animal sacrifices in Jerusalem. Scripture warns us that this event begins the end of this world, and a 1260 day period known as the first half of Daniel's 70th week, Bible prophecy explains that at the end of this 1260 days period there will be a war in heaven, and Satan will be cast down to the earth. This event is described in the book of (Revelation 12:7-9) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
According to the prophecy of Daniel's 70th week, this event will begin the great tribulation of God's people and take place exactly 75 days before the rapture. I would like to conclude today's sermon with a scripture from the book of (Revelation 7:9-17) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
