27 And he shall make a
strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he
shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of
abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is
poured out on the desolator.” (Daniel 9:27, ESV)
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)
Using Strong's concordance this verse could be translated either way and be accurate. So which is the right way?
Does the Antichrist, the "He" in this verse, Make a covenant for a
week, and then break it "in the midst" of the week? Or shall "He" put an
end to sacrifice" for the whole first half of the week, as was the case
with Antiochus Epiphanes and his abomination, which lasted exactly 2300
days as per Daniel 8:13-14?
How one interprets this subtle difference will determine where one
places the Abomination of desolation in regard to the final week.
The KJV Theory, as I will call it from here on out, is the one most
in the churches are familiar with. The Antichrist makes a peace treaty
with Israel, and then proceeds to break it half way through the week.
This then in turn would imply that the Abomination that causes
desolation occurs in the middle of that week. This also implies that all
the events of revelation are crammed into that final week, And that we
will be raptured before all of them.
The ESV Theory States that the Abomination comes first, and is
followed by a period of 1260 -1290 days of "Jacob's trouble", and great
tribulation, Similar to how Antiochus Epiphanes heard about the
overthrow of his self appointed high priest, and came with armies and
killed 80 thousand men women and children in the course of three days,
which was followed by a period of 2300 days of persecutions and
defilement of the temple, etc. What this theory does, Is that it expands
the events of Revelation outside of the final week. Thus some of the
events occur before the final week begins.
More on Antiochus Epiphanes here:
The reason why I bring this up, here and now, is that there is talk
now of Israel requesting a 5-7 year peace treaty. Yet if the latter
theory is true, then what we are to be looking for is an action on the
part of the Israelites which will set off an immediate response from the
powers of the region. One of these could quite likely be the
construction of the new temple on or near the temple mount.
At this point, I want to remind you of the Words of Jesus as recorded in Luke:
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then
let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are
inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country
enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas
for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in
those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21)
Notice that "times of the gentiles" in verse 24. Compare this to what is written about the two witnesses in Revelation 11.
2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Is Not this current dispensation the "time of the gentiles"?
consider the following:
Consider that 688 ad-1948 ad =1260 years.
Now, let us consider another of Daniels Prophecies from chapter 12.
11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.
So what Happened with regard to Israel 30 years after 1948....1978....
This
treaty, allows for the sovereignty of Gaza and the West Bank under
Palestinian control. If one were to extend this Prophecy of Daniel 12,
and go to 1335 "days", we wend up with the year 2023. 2023-7= 2016,
which is two years from now.
So,
though the camp David accords are not the Abomination of Desolation,
this treaty brokered the P.A. into existence...thus the abomination is
set up. Even now these people are defiling the Temple Mount. Though they
do not control Jerusalem. In other words, The time of the gentiles has
ended. It did so in 1948, as it pertains to Israel. 1335 days point to
the end of these things, and the Blessed restoration of all things. What
happens between now and then, will be, to say the least, "troublesome".
Also
worth considering, is that 1290 years prior to the 691 ad date, we
have the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, which began the
captivity of 70 years for Ezekiel among others. This was when the temple
was looted, and the daily sacrifices would have ceased. All these
things are leading up to the final week of Daniel 9:27. Those who are
trying to place events into this prophecy which come from other
prophecies, may be erring in that this seven years is specific for
Israel. That final week will have each of the following positive events
taking place: "to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to
anoint a most holy place". The Great tribulation must come first in
this final seven years, so that in the latter half, these positive
changes will take place.
For an idea of what this first half of the final week will be like, read Jeremiah 25:15-38:
Consider
all these words written here, as there are far too many coincidences
and perfect fulfillments here of the days involved in these prophecies
of Daniel. A form of "replacement theology" is the attempt to combine
the prophecies for Israel with those of the church. Though less
detrimental than seeing Israel as non-existent, and less Anti-Semitic,
This fallacy bears the fruit of confusing the actual prophecies. In
other words, trying to fit the judgment of the church into the final
week of Daniel 9:27 is to say we will escape this judgment as a church,
assuming you believe in the Pre-Trib rapture. Conversely, saying that we
will be around to witness the Lord's wrath on Israel and the Nations,
When no other "righteous" person or group has throughout Biblical
history, is also a fallacy, as proposed by those who say they are "Mid
or Post- tribbers". I Am reminded of the Words of Paul here in Romans
11:
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way ALL Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
Whether
any of you agree with me here, the Judgment of the church is now
occurring around the World. Many are facing captivity, Martyrdom,
persecution, and seduction. "Judgment begins at the house of God" (1
Peter 4:17), In a year, or two this judgment will be complete, and the
final week will begin. Those who have endured will be taken away, and
those who have failed will be given a strong delusion that they will
believe a lie. They will enter the winepress of God's wrath, poured out
in full measure. Let us not mix together, what was meant to remain
apart.
God Bless.