Gino,

In reference to your post “desolate”   http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/march2013/gino317-1.htm  

For what it’s worth let me share with you my interpretation of Daniel 9:27 that may give you yet more to ponder on concerning this verse.

Daniel 9:27  
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.

It’s no secret from my prior posts that I believe due to an abundance of scripture that this last pope will become the antichrist. To fulfill God’s word in Revelation 17:8 this last pope Francis will through the indwelling of Satan and Satan’s ability to take on any appearance he chooses……… morph into John Paul II to fulfill Revelation 17:11. This will happen at some point in the next 42 months.

Rev.17:8…….”And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast (antichrist) that was, and is not, and yet is.”
Rev.17:11…….”The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”

God tells us that this will happen after the rapture when He says that the people who see and witness this event will not have their names in the Book of Life.

So with this in mind let’s take a fresh look at Daniel 9:27.

..…Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week…..
Did not this pope (the antichrist) just make a covenant, an agreement with over a billion people to become their leader. And we know from Revelation 17 that this is the last pope and we know from scripture that the tribulation period lasts seven years hence…..with many for one week.  One week meaning seven years as per Daniel.

..…But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering…….
 What would be the middle of the week if a week is seven years? 42 months
 The bible says in Revelation 13:5 that the beast (this pope) will play Mr. Nice Guy for 42 months befriending the planet and the whole world will love and adore him. Then what happens? Revelation 13 states that at the 42 month mark he turns into the Satan filled being he is. He then blasphemes the true God, God’s name, God’s tabernacle, and all those who dwell in heaven. How does he blaspheme? He blasphemes by declaring that he is the one true god of the universe not Jesus, not the trinity, just him. He then proves to the world that he is indeed God by killing the two witnesses who no one on the planet was able to harm. Then he cancels all sacrifices and offerings offered to heaven by all religions. Those offerings won’t be necessary anymore because he…. being the true God…. now resides on earth. He will demand that the whole world worship him and to prove that they are, they must take a mark on their forehead or hand. An image of this beast that speaks must be worshipped under the penalty of death.

…..And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate
If you were a member of an air “wing” in the air force you would be in a large group or a large number. So Daniel is saying that this beast, this antichrist, who is Satan himself will be responsible for putting the world through thousands of unspeakable abominations around the planet. Worldwide carnage, murders, wars and every unspeakable act you can imagine will go on from the 42 month mark of his reign until…….. God decides (which is determined) to puts a end to it (consummation)  short of seven years. The end result will be a desolated planet hence……one who makes desolate.

A conclusion then that one must draw is that the seven year tribulation period officially began the day Francis signed on the dotted line to be the new pope. Someone on Doves mentioned that it was also the first day of the Jewish calendar….interesting.  So click your stopwatches from that point and count ahead 42 months that’s when Mr. Nice Guy Francis or John Paul II turns into a monster……..Satan himself.

Where does that leave us with the rapture timing? In Revelation 6:11 God indicated that it was a number of souls that had to be reached for the rapture rather than a date. But in the Song of Solomon 2:8-13 and Isaiah 18 God seems to strongly indicate that it will happen in the spring. This spring…..sometime after march 21st ?? Is there any reason it couldn’t be a number of souls and a season?

Also the bible tells us that the two witnesses ministry lasts 42 months and if they are indeed killed by the antichrist to prove that he is the true god soon after the first 42 months of his seven year reign then those two witnesses should soon be showing up on the world stage. Will we get to see them before we are raptured?  It appears to me that the window timeframe for the rapture is really narrowing when you take this into account.

I along with others have always believed that the rapture happens at the opening of the sixth seal accompanied by a huge worldwide earthquake and that millions of us show up in heaven a few verses later.  

I don’t believe that the seven seals are judgments but have been and will be benevolent interventions by Jesus on behalf of His church over the centuries. The first four seals have already happened. I posted a lengthy article concerning this. The fifth seal will happen in heaven unknown to us when Jesus wakes up His believers that are asleep from the many centuries since His death. Those are the dead in Christ who will rise first. I have a hunch they are now awake and waiting as per Revelation 6. The sixth seal will be the greatest intervention of all when He whisks His “alive in Christ” away just prior to the start of His great wrath. This will be initiated by a huge worldwide earthquake. Is that a rumble I hear in the distance?

Gino……That’s my take on Daniel 9:27 ……..and a few more things I threw in for free

Hope this gives you some food for thought on these verses
Blessings……John B