“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has triumphed! He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
It made headlines on the first day of the New Year, the worsening condition of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who has been in a vegetative coma since January 4, 2006. With all major organs reportedly in failure the Prime Minister (according to an article in The Times of Israel on Jan 1) may have as little as four days to live. Interesting time frame considering four days would be January 4, 2014 – an even 8 years from the day he suffered his massive stroke.
Most of us are familiar with prophecy of Rabbi Kaduri who linked the death of Prime Minister Sharon with the soon coming of the Messiah, who he revealed posthumously to be none other than Jesus of Nazareth. He also said, that the Messiah (Jesus) would return shortly after the death of Ariel Sharon which, if his words are true could be very, very soon.
I’ve been thinking about this the past couple of days and have found myself wondering why, (if the above is true) would God move to reveal his soon coming in this particular way. After all, we have all the information we need in the scripture, don’t we? What more do we need?
PARABLES
Jesus, as we know often spoke in parables and sometimes God has even used people as living illustrations of his word to make a point. In the book of Hosea, we see God make the strange request for Hosea to take to himself an adulterous wife as a symbol of the unfaithfulness of Israel and in Ezekiel chapter 4, the prophet Ezekiel (for whom the book is named) is instructed to lie for 390 days on his left side and then again 40 days on his right as a sign unto Israel of their iniquity. I think therefore that it is just possible that Mr. Sharon is himself a living illustration of what God has already revealed through his word. Let’s take a look.
First of all, the name Ariel. Besides being the first name of Mr. Sharon, it is also an alternate name for Jerusalem and means “lion of God.” In Isaiah 29:1, we see the city of Jerusalem referred to as Ariel.
” Woe to you Ariel, Ariel, the city where David settled!”
Interesting how the name Ariel is repeated twice – note the similarity, if you will to Matthew 23:37 where Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem uses the name twice as well.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you …..”
The double use of the word is undoubtedly significant – perhaps lending impact not only to the words being spoken but, to the severity of the judgment being leveled against them as well.
But, what has that to do with Mr. Sharon? Well, let’s take a look.
On Jan 4, 2006 after suffering a massive stroke Mr. Sharon slipped into a deep vegetative coma. Just five months earlier he had been instrumental in moving Jewish settlers out of Gaza, an action I believe that led to his current condition. In Isaiah 29:10 it is prophesied that a deep sleep will fall over Israel for their rejection of God, a condition in which they will remain until God reverses it.
“The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep. He has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers)”.
And, though they are in deep slumber Jesus made it plain in Matthew 23 that because of their rejection they would not see him again until they say:
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”.
A strange request for someone deaf, blind and deeply asleep. And, yet this is what Jesus has said.
THE OPENING OF THE SCROLL
Incredibly, their ability to hear and see has to do with the opening of a scroll that has been sealed; a scroll which no one can either open or read.
“For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read and say to him, ‘Read this please’, he will answer ‘I can’t, it is sealed.” Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read and say ‘Read this please’, he will answer, I don’t know how to read …. Isaiah 29:11-12
Do you see the similarity here to the Revelation 5 passage? A sealed scroll in which no one is found who can open or read it? Take a look.
“Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.” Revelation 5:1-4
But amazingly just as John was about to give up hope someone is found who can.
Then one of the elders said to me , ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:1-5
Yes, the Lion of the tribe of Judah is able to open the sealed scroll and on that day according to Isaiah 29 – Israel will both see and hear!
“… in that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 29:11-19.
A PROPHETIC TIMETABLE
Because of the similarity of these passages I feel there is a strong connection between the verses of Isaiah 29, Revelation chapter 5 and current events as they relate to Mr. Sharon. It is entirely possible that God may be using Mr. Sharon as an indication of where we (and, particularly Israel) are at on the prophetic timetable. If these verses indicate what I think they do – the scroll in heaven may be opening very, very soon!
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6
Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus! Cindy
Heaven Bound 
Welcome back Cindy, you started out the new year with a bank.
God Bless
[Thank you so much! Many blessings to you too! C]
By: Oh Noes! on January 4, 2014
at 11:55 pm
(with a bang) opps
By: Oh Noes! on January 4, 2014
at 11:56 pm
(oops) their, I fixed it.
Great post, Cindy. Rapture/judgment may be closer than we dare hope. Even so, come Lord Jesus!
By: David on January 5, 2014
at 9:11 pm
Although I am certain I have read many of your wonderful posts, and of course I am deeply saddened for Mr. Sharon and his loved ones, this has to be my favorite post. I got goose bumps, reading and believing how close we are to seeing our Messiah Jesus/Yeshua!
I might be wrong, but I heard that Rabbi Kaduri died in 2006, and as specified, his note for the revelation of the Messiah was not to be read for one year following his death. If that is indeed the case, the note was not read until 2007, and so I find it also interesting that 7 years later in 2014, we will most likely see this fulfillment. I have also heard that Mr. Graham is failing as well. Both of these men have had a significant impact on people of faith, and the world for that matter.
Perhaps, if these two men die close together, they will be replaced by two powerful witnesses! Who knows, but one thing is certain, these events, circumstances, and prophetic connections, are not by chance.
Thank you Cindy, you are in my prayers, May God continue to bless you and heal you – Amen!
[Thank you so much Tamra for you comments. Yes, we have so much to look forward to this year! Blessed to be watching with you! May Jesus come soon! C]
By: Tamra on January 5, 2014
at 12:53 am
hope you find this worth posting and sharing….God bless
The 70th Week of Daniel Delusion
by Steve Wohlberg
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes. — Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Christians often debate about whether Jesus Christ will return for His Church before the seven years of tribulation (the “pre-trib” view), in the middle of the seven years (the “mid-trib” view), or at the end of the seven years (the “post-trib” view). Yet by far the most important question worth asking is: Does the Bible really predict a future “seven-year period of tribulation” in the first place?
Shockingly, there is no specific Bible text predicting any seven-year tribulation. The entire theory is based on an interpretation of one primary verse, Daniel 9:27, which says:
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… (Daniel 9:27 KJV).
Modern interpreters often conclude:
1.“He” is the Antichrist
2.Antichrist will make a treaty with the Jews for “one week” (the last “week” of the 70-week/490-year prophecy)–meaning seven years of Tribulation.
3.In the middle of the Tribulation, Antichrist will cause the sacrifices of a rebuilt Jewish temple “to cease.”
Thus Daniel 9:27 is applied to Antichrist, a seven-year Tribulation, and a rebuilt Jewish temple–yet the verse itself says none of this. The fact is that countless credible Bible scholars of the past applied Daniel 9:27 to Jesus Christ, not antichrist.
Matthew Henry’s commentary on Daniel 9:27 states, “By offering himself a sacrifice once and for all, he [Jesus], shall put an end to all the Levitical sacrifices.” (1). British Methodist Adam Clarke’s commentary says that during Daniel 9:27’s “term of seven years,” Jesus Himself would “confirm or ratify the new covenant with mankind.”(2). The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown commentary also says: “He shall confirm the covenant—Christ. The confirmation of the covenant is assigned to Him.” (3).
The following ten points provide solid evidence that Daniel’s 70th week doesn’t refer to any future Tribulation at all. Rather, it was fulfilled nearly two thousand years ago.
1.The prophecy of “seventy weeks” means seventy straight sequential weeks. There is no example in Scripture (or anywhere else!) of a time period starting, stopping, and then starting again. All biblical references to time are consecutive: 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:4), 400 years in Egypt (Genesis 15:13), etc.
2.The 70th week follows immediately after the 69th week. If it doesn’t, then it cannot properly be called the 70th week!
3.It is illogical to insert a 2,000-year gap between the 69th and 70th week. There is no gap between the first seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. Why insert one between the 69th and 70th week?
4.Daniel 9:27 says nothing about any “tribulation,” “rebuilt” Jewish temple, or “antichrist.” Zero.
5.Daniel 9:24-27’s focus is the Messiah. After the Messiah is “cut off” (referring to Christ’s death), “the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This refers to the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman armies led by Prince Titus in A.D. 70. (4)
6.“He shall confirm the covenant.” Paul said “the covenant” was “confirmed before by God in Christ” (Galatians 3:17). Jesus Christ came “to confirm the promises made to the fathers” (Romans 15:8). The word “covenant” is Messianic, and always applies to the Messiah, not antichrist.
7.“He shall confirm the covenant with many.” Jesus said, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many…” (Matthew 26:28). Jesus was quoting Daniel 9:27 specifically.
8.“In the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice…to cease.” After 3 ½ years of ministry, Jesus Christ’s death put an end to all sacrifices in God’s sight. He is the final Sacrifice!
9.“For the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate” (Daniel 9:27, KJV). It was abominable for the Jewish leaders to put God’s Son to death. This ended their temple. Jesus predicted, “Your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:38).
10.The 70 weeks applied to the Jewish people (Daniel 9:24). Christ’s public ministry lasted 3 ½ years during which His focus was “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). After His resurrection and then for another 3 ½ years, His disciples preached mostly to Jews (see Acts 1-6). When the Jewish Sanhedrin stoned Stephen in 34 AD (see Acts 7), the gospel shifted to the Gentiles (see Acts 13:46)–exactly as prophecy predicted.
The evidence is overwhelming! These eight words found in Daniel 9:27: “confirm… covenant… many… midst… sacrifice… cease… abominations… desolate” all find perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ and early Christian history. One major reason why the Jewish nation as a whole failed to receive its Messiah was because its scholars misinterpreted Daniel 9:27. They failed to see Jesus Christ as the predicted One who would die in the midst of the 70th week! The same thing is happening today as Christian scholars misapply the same prophecy.
The “seven-year tribulation theory” is like a gigantic bubble. Once Daniel 9:27 is correctly understood and the pin of truth inserted, “Pop goes the seven years!” It’s a fact: There is no Bible text that teaches any “seven-year tribulation.” If you hunt for it, you’ll end up like Ponce de Leon searching for the Fountain of Youth. He never found it.
Jesus Christ confirmed the covenant and caused the sacrifices “to cease.”
May error cease in our minds as we follow God’s truth.
Endnotes:
1. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. IV—Isaiah to Malachi, Complete Edition, (New York, NY: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1712) 1094-1095, notes on Daniel 9:27.
2.The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes by Adam Clarke, Vol. IV—Isaiah to Malachi, (New York, NY: Abingdon-Cokesbury, written about 1825) 602, notes on Daniel 9:27.
3.Rev. Robert Jamieson, Rev. A.R. Fausset, and Rev. David Brown, A Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Complete Edition, (Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Company: 1871) 641, notes on Daniel 9:27.
4.See notes on Daniel 9:26 in commentaries by Matthew Henry (p.1095), Adam Clarke (p.603), and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown (p.641).
[Thanks for writing although I would have to say that I disagree and not just me but a number of fine Bible scholars who have done immense study on the subject. To do otherwise is an injustice to a vast amount of scripture which points the other direction. I adamantly agree with the gap between the 69th and 70th week as God foresaw the times of the Gentiles (the church age) and the final week which will bring his refocus back on Israel – something he began to accomplish in 1948. Blessings in Yeshua! C]
By: Rapturebibleprophecyforum on January 5, 2014
at 2:44 am
thanks for sharing! God Bless
Here is another way of saying it…..and many more BIBLE Scholars agree before 1850 with this……
7 Years of Tribulation?
by Steve Wohlberg
A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake. -Confucius (551-479 B.C.).
The concept of a seven-year Tribulation is the underlying foundation of the entire Left Behind scenario (and all other pro-rapture books and movies). The theory is: rapture first, then seven years of horror.
Book Two of the Left Behind novels declares, “The disappearances have ushered in the seven year period of Tribulation” (The Tribulation Force, inside cover). Book Three reveals, “…the seven-year Tribulation is nearing the end of its first quarter…” (Nicolae, inside cover). Book Six tells us, “It’s the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation” (The Indwelling, inside cover). Book Eight begins with, “…the dawn of the second half of the seven-year Tribulation” (The Mark, inside cover). Book Eleven opens “six years into the Tribulation, two and one-half years into the Great Tribulation” (Armageddon, p. vii). Thus this New York Times, USA-Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling series of end times, prophecy books, endorsed by well-respected church leaders worldwide, is built entirely around this seven-year framework
Where does this “seven-year” concept come from anyway? It may shock you, but if you look for “seven years of tribulation” in any concordance, you won’t find it. The truth is, from Genesis to Revelation, there is no exact passage that specifically mentions a seven-year period of tribulation at all. Amazingly, the entire theory is really based on a rather speculative interpretation of two little words in one single verse. The text is Daniel 9:27; and the two words are, “one week.” Let me explain.
The Book of Daniel was written while the Jews were in Babylon—in exile because of their sins. Daniel 9:24-27 contains a prophecy from the angel Gabriel to encourage the Jewish people that they would be given a “second chance” to return to Jerusalem, rebuild their temple, and ultimately, receive their Messiah (Jesus Christ). This highly controversial prophecy literally reads:
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 [62 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 out upon the desolate (Daniel 9:24-27 KJV).
Thus we have a prophecy about “seventy weeks.” Gabriel then subdivides the period into three smaller periods of seven weeks (verse 25), sixty-two weeks (verse 25), and one week (verse 27). 7+62+1=70.
Seventy weeks = 490 days. A day in prophecy represents a year (see Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6). Thus 490 days are really 490 years. Without going into all the chronological details here (I will get more specific in a later chapter), the prophecy starts with a direct “commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” (verse 25) after the Babylonian captivity and reaches down to the first coming of Jesus Christ. After 69 weeks (after 483 years), “shall Messiah be cut off” (verse 26). All Christian scholars apply this to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. After our Lord’s agonizing death, “the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” (verse 26). While there are differences of opinion as to who “the people of the prince” refers to, the majority of scholars nevertheless apply the destruction of “the city and the sanctuary” to the second destruction of Jerusalem and its rebuilt sanctuary by Roman armies under Prince Titus in 70 A.D.
So far, we have seen 69 weeks fulfilled. That leaves “one week” left, otherwise known as the famous “70th week of Daniel.” Again, that highly controversial text literally says:
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… (Daniel 9:27 KJV).
Based on the day-year principle (which is valid), the “one week” remaining in this prophecy must refer to a period of seven years. Pro-rapture promoters claim this is the seven-year period of tribulation. Their idea is that while the first 69 weeks (or 483 years) did reach to the first coming of Jesus Christ, the prophetic clock has stopped because the Jewish people largely rejected Him. Then they slide the 70th week (the last seven years) all the way down to the end times, call it the tribulation, and say it applies to the Jewish people after we’re gone.
Rapture teachers interpret Daniel 9:27 as follows:
(1) “He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” “He” is the antichrist who will make a covenant (or peace treaty) with the Jews during the seven years of tribulation.
(2) “In the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease…” In the middle of the seven-year tribulation, the antichrist will break his covenant, turn against Israel, and stop their animal sacrifices.
(3) The phrase, “he shall cause the sacrifice…to cease” is viewed as irrefutable proof that a Jewish temple (which includes sacrifices) must be rebuilt on the Temple Mount inside Jerusalem.
Bestselling author Hal Lindsey in his The Late Great Planet Earth reflects this current view when he writes about “God’s last seven years of dealing with the Jewish people before the long awaited setting up of the kingdom of God (Daniel 9:27).” (The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 46) According to Mr. Lindsey, during those seven years “ ‘the Antichrist,’ breaks his covenant with the Jewish people and causes the Jewish temple worship, according to the Law of Moses, to cease (Daniel 9:27)…We must conclude that a third Temple will be rebuilt upon its ancient site in old Jerusalem.” (Ibid.)
Therefore, according to countless modern interpreters, Daniel 9:27 is applied to a future antichrist, a future peace treaty made with Israel, a future seven-year tribulation, and a future rebuilt Jewish temple inside Jerusalem. And all of this will supposedly start with the rapture. Honestly, that’s a lot to interpret from that single verse, especially when Daniel 9:27 says absolutely nothing about any seven-year tribulation, antichrist, or rebuilt Jewish temple!
Could there be something wrong with this picture?
==============================
7 Years of Tribulation? Part 2
by Steve Wohlberg
Prophecy-minded Christians all over Planet Earth often engage in a fierce debate about whether Jesus Christ will return for His Church before the seven years of tribulation (the “pre-trib” view), in the midst of the seven years (the “mid-trib” view), or at the end of the seven years (the “post-trib” view). Yet by far the most explosive question few seem to be asking is: Is an end-time “seven-year period of tribulation” really taught in the Bible in the first place?
In 1945, after months of agonizing deliberation, U.S. President Harry Truman finally issued orders to drop two atomic bombs upon Japan in an attempt to end World War II. On August 6, the “Little Boy” fell on Hiroshima. Three days later, the “Fat Man” was released over Nagasaki. Approximately 130,000 people were instantly vaporized. Many heated discussions have occurred as to whether or not it was the right thing to drop those bombs. One thing’s for sure, in the minds of those who made that fearful decision, they believed it was for the ultimate good of America.
Dear friend, it is for the benefit of Christians everywhere that God’s bomb of truth should now be released over what I have come to call, “The 70th week of Daniel Delusion.”
As we have seen, the entire 7-year theory is based on Daniel 9:27, which says:
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… (Daniel 9:27 KJV ).
This may shock you, but historically, the vast majority of well-respected Bible scholars have not applied Daniel 9:27 to a seven-year period of tribulation at all. Neither have they interpreted the “he” as referring to a future antichrist (as many do today) . Instead, they applied it to Jesus Christ.
Notice what the world-famous Bible commentary written by Matthew Henry says about Daniel 9:27: “By offering himself a sacrifice once and for all he [Jesus] shall put an end to all the Levitical sacrifices.”(1) T hus Matthew Henry applied Daniel 9:27 to Christ, not antichrist. Another famous commentary written by British Methodist Adam Clarke says that during Daniel 9:27’s “term of seven years,” Jesus Himself would “confirm or ratify the new covenant with mankind.”(2) A nother dusty Bible commentary reveals: “He shall confirm the covenant—Christ. The confirmation of the covenant is assigned to Him.” (3)
Here’s one more statement from a book called, Christ and Antichrist, published in 1846 by the Presbyterian Board of Publication in Philadelphia. On page 2, under Recommendations, are endorsements from many Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist ministers, including an official representative of the Southern Baptist Convention. (4) Commenting on the final week of Daniel 9:27, that ancient volume states:
…sometime during the remaining seven, he [the Messiah] was to die as a sacrifice for sin, and thus bring in “everlasting righteousness.” Here are allusions to events so palpable, that one would think, the people among whom they occurred, could not possibly have misapplied the prophecy. (5)
Okay, here we go. The following ten points provide logical and convincing evidence that Daniel’s famous 70th week has no application to any future seven-year tribulation at all. Rather, this great prophetic period was definitely fulfilled nearly two thousand years ago.
1.The entire prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 covers a period of “seventy weeks,” or 490 years. Logic requires that “seventy weeks” refers to one consecutive block of time, in other words, to seventy straight sequential weeks. There is no example in Scripture (or anywhere else!) of a stated time period starting, stopping, and then starting again. All biblical references to time are consecutive: 40 days and 40 nights (see Genesis 7:4), 400 years in Egypt (see Genesis 15:13), 70 years of captivity (see Daniel 9:2), etc. In Daniel’s prophecy, the “seventy weeks” were to begin during the reign of Persia and continue to the time of the Messiah.
2.Logic also requires that the 70th week follow immediately after the 69th week. If it doesn’t, then it cannot properly be called the 70th week!
3.It is illogical to insert a 2,000-year gap between the 69th and 70th week. No hint of a gap is found in the prophecy itself. There is no gap between the first seven weeks and the following sixty-two weeks, so why insert one between the 69th and 70th week?
Note: If you told your child to be in bed in 70 minutes, you obviously would mean 70 consecutive minutes. What if five hours later your fully awake son said, “But dad, I know 69 minutes have passed, but the 70th minute hasn’t started yet!”? After receiving an appropriate punishment, he would be swiftly sent to bed.
4.Daniel 9:27 says nothing about a seven-year period of “tribulation,” a “rebuilt” Jewish temple, or any “antichrist.”
5.The stated focus of this prophecy is the Messiah, not the antichrist. After the Messiah is “cut off” (referring to Christ’s death), the text says, “And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” I n the past, this has been consistently applied to the destruction of Jerusalem and the second temple by Roman armies led by Prince Titus in A.D. 70. 11
6.“He shall confirm the covenant.” Paul said “the covenant” was “confirmed before by God in Christ” (Galatians 3:17). Jesus Christ came “to confirm the promises made to the fathers” (Romans 15:8, emphasis added). In the King James Version, Daniel 9:27 doesn’t say “ a covenant” or peace treaty, but “ the covenant,” which applies to the New Covenant. Nowhere in the Bible does the antichrist make, confirm, or break a covenant with anyone. The word “covenant” is Messianic, and always applies to the Messiah, not the antichrist.
7.“He shall confirm the covenant with many. ” Jesus Christ said, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many… ” (Matthew 26:28). Behold a perfect fit! Jesus was quoting Daniel 9:27 specifically.
8.“In the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” After exactly three and a half years of holy ministry, Jesus Christ died on the cross, “in the midst of the week [in the middle of the seven years].” At the exact moment of His death, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…” (Matthew 27:51). This act of God signified that all animal sacrifices at that moment ceased to be of value. Why? Because the Perfect Sacrifice had been offered!
9.“For the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate.” “The abomination of desolation” (see Matthew 24:15) is not a simple subject, yet we know that Jesus clearly applied this event to the time when His followers were to flee from Jerusalem before the destruction of the second temple in A.D. 70. In a parallel text to Matthew 24:15, Jesus told His disciples, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies [Roman armies led by Prince Titus], then know that its desolation is near ” (Luke 21:20, emphasis added). The disciples did “see” those very events. Because of the “abominations” of the Pharisees, Jesus told them, “See! Your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:38). Thus Gabriel’s statement in Daniel 9:27 about Jerusalem becoming “desolate” was perfectly fulfilled in A.D. 70.
10.Gabriel said that the 70-week prophecy specifically applied to the Jewish people (see Daniel 9:24). During the period of Christ’s public ministry of 3 1 / 2 years, the Master’s focus was largely upon “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). After His resurrection and then for another 3 1/2 years, His disciples preached mostly to Jews (see Acts 1-6). After that second 3 1/2 -year period, in 34 A.D., the bold Stephen was stoned by the Jewish Sanhedrin (see Acts 7). This infamous deed marked the then-ruling Jewish leaders’ final, official rejection of the gospel of our Savior. Then the gospel went to the Gentiles. In Acts 9, Saul became Paul, the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). In Acts 10, God gave Peter a vision revealing it was now time to preach to the Gentiles (see Acts 10:1-28). Read also Acts 13:46. Thus approximately 3 1/2 years after the crucifixion— and at the end of the 70-week prophecy given f or the Jewish people—the gospel shifted to the Gentiles exactly as predicted in Bible prophecy.
The explosive evidence is overwhelming! Point by point the events of Daniel’s 70th week have been fulfilled in the past. These eight words found in Daniel 9:27: “confirm…covenant…many…midst…sacrifice…cease… abominations…desolate” all find perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ and early Christian history.
In the words of that 1846 Presbyterian publication,
The seventy weeks of Daniel therefore, have certainly ended many centuries ago. We are not to look to the future for the fulfillment of these predictions. We must look to the past. And if to the past; where is there one who can have any adequate claims to being the subject of these prophecies, but Jesus? He, and he only can claim them; and to him they most certainly refer. (7)
…one would think, the people [the Jews] among whom [these events] occurred, could not possibly have misapplied the prophecy. (
But they did. In fact, one major reason why the Jewish nation as a whole failed to receive its Messiah was because its scholars misinterpreted Daniel 9:27. They failed to see Jesus Christ as the predicted One who would die in the midst of the 70th week! Amazingly, the exact same thing is happening today. Sincere Christian scholars are now misapplying the very same prophecy.
The entire “seven-year period of tribulation” theory is an end time delusion, a massive mega-myth. It may even go down in history as the greatest evangelical misinterpretation of all time. The whole concept is like a gigantic bubble. Once Daniel 9:27 is correctly understood and the sharply-pointed pin of truth is inserted, “Pop goes the seven years!” It’s a fact: There is no text in the Bible which teaches a “seven-year tribulation.” If you hunt for it, you’ll end up like Ponce de Leon searching for the mystical Fountain of Youth, but never finding it.
The current debate and tremendous confusion over pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib is really a smoke screen of the enemy to hide the real issue. What is the real issue? We’ll find out when we study what the Book of Revelation truly teaches about Israel, Babylon the Great, and Armageddon.
Taken from Chapter 5 of Steve Wohlberg’s newest book, End Time Delusions: The Rapture, the Antichrist, Israel, and the End of the World.
References:
1.Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. IV—Isaiah to Malachi, Complete Edition, (New York, NY: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1712) 1094-1095, notes on Daniel 9:27.
2.The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes by Adam Clarke, Vol. IV—Isaiah to Malachi, (New York, NY: Abingdon-Cokesbury, written about 1825) 602, notes on Daniel 9:27.
3.Rev. Robert Jamieson, Rev. A.R. Fausset, and Rev. David Brown, A Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Complete Edition, (Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Company: 1871) 641, notes on Daniel 9:27.
4.Rev. Samuel J. Cassels, Christ and Antichrist, (Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1846; Reprinted by Hartland Publications, Rapidan, VA)
5.Ibid., 47.
6.See notes on Daniel 9:26 in commentaries by Matthew Henry (p.1095), Adam Clarke (p.603), and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown (p.641).
7.Cassels, Christ and Antichrist, 49.
8.Ibid., 47.
By: Rapturebibleprophecyforum on January 5, 2014
at 3:33 pm
A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.
I agree with Cindy. I have invested over 25 years in prophetic research, and have made the reasonable conclusions to what I feel is correct, trustworthy, and for me, comforting in my hope and faith. God bless you also.
By: Tamra on January 5, 2014
at 3:47 pm
Thank you for reading….I agree with the scriptures…God Bless….Steven
By: Rapturebibleprophecyforum on January 5, 2014
at 5:05 pm
my dear brother in the resurrection,
Peace be unto you. Let us eat from the Tree of Life and be not concerned with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Let us fill our hearts with the Mystery of the Age, Christ (Colossian 1:27). Let us choose Life, as written by Moses in Deuteronomy 4:19 or the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation.
We can always separate ourselves from each other with knowledge and superior understanding. It is more difficult to build up each other and the body. Let the scriptures be for edification and building.
The Scriptures are a book of Life. Let us encourage each other as the Apostle Paul wrote and seek the Oneness. Let us, you and I, fill our hearts with the Spirit of the One who is the firstborn of the Dead. He is the head of the body and we are joined in and through HIM who created all things.
By: Chilqiyyah חִלְקִיָּה , for my portion is Yah on January 9, 2014
at 12:12 am
The fullness of meaning I may not know, but five months, (grace period?), after moving Jewish settlers out he suffered this stroke. Eight years is a very long time to live in such condition.
David was eighth son of Jesse.
Bullinger has many things to say about eight that may weigh in on this.
[Hi Jeff, Thanks for writing! I agree the number 8 is very significant! Watching to see what God is going to do in these next few days – exciting and powerful times in which we live. A blessing to be watching with you and so many others. Keep looking up! C]
By: jeff on January 5, 2014
at 11:03 am
Interesting,
The signs are everywhere, potential peace treaties, blood moons, and tricky pontiffs.
But, a bit of warning here…
Kaduri claimed to be a Kabbalist, if you dig a little in to what he said you will find what he was talking about, was not the Jesus of the Christian Bible…
“The revelation of the Messiah will be fulfilled in two stages: First, he will actively confirm his position as Messiah without knowing himself that he is the Messiah. Then he will reveal himself to some Jews, not necessarily to wise Torah scholars. It can be even simple people. Only then he will reveal himself to the whole nation. The people will wonder and say: ‘What, that’s the Messiah?’ Many have known his name but have not believed that he is the Messiah.”
http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/23877/Default.aspx
—
Deu 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
—
Blessings,
Keep looking up!
Mike
[Thanks Mike, your imput always viewed as valuable and welcome! Blessing to you my friend! C]
By: Mike on January 5, 2014
at 7:31 pm
Hi Mike,
Excellent points!
The BIBLE is the INERRANT WORD of GOD….:)
kabbalah is not….:)
Prov 25:2
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
KJV
Some will see others will be blind because they say they see….
There is NO 7 year pre tribulation rapture….
God Bless
Steven
We are NOT appointed to Wrath.
By: Rapturebibleprophecyforum on January 5, 2014
at 8:10 pm
This blog post represents one of the worst cases if eisegesis I’ve ever encountered. The rabbi’s vision of messiah was a false vision. He claimed that the messiah had “attached himself to the soul” of a person now living in Israel. After the death of Sharon the messiah would be revealed and his name is Yeshua. That is not the manner in which we are instructed that the real Jesus will return. You guys need to stop promoting these foolish Jewish fables and stick with the word.
Acts 1:11 – ….Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
a few seconds ago · Like
By: Steve Lumbley on January 8, 2014
at 11:32 pm
To Steve Lumbley
Amen……….and no 7 year pre tribulation rapture…..
We are not appointed to Wrath….
God Bless….
Steven
By: Rapturebibleprophecyforum on January 8, 2014
at 11:49 pm
Arrogance, pride, and mean behavior are certainly a disgust before The Lord, and I find these comments rather sad myself. Why are you men even on here if you find it so distasteful in the first place? Simply remove yourself, and it is settled!
Steve, you wrote out YOUR views, and you are free to believe as you choose, just like the rest of us. God has called us to peace, and to love one another. As believers, we are to display the fruits of The Spirit! In a very short amount of time, we ALL know the truth and see our Messiah King Jesus coming for His Bride, acting in manner as the church of Philadelphia! I’m sure we will all have made some mistakes and wrong assumptions, from the positions and beliefs we have made from prophetic studies. Calm down brother, and stop forcing yourself on everyone else!
For the record, I too am pre-wrath, and I am not looking to the Rabbi’s messiah, but my Messiah that I have come to know and love with all my heart, and long to see more than anything else. This COULD still be just another sign, we are watching for as we continue to watch and pray that we will be counted worthy to escape ALL these things! Amen!
By: Tamra on January 9, 2014
at 12:17 am
Thanks Tamara!
You can certainly lose an audience by overstating the case in Pharasitic zeal. Or in internet lingo being a troll.
Rather be a gentle leader, say it in love.
In Revelation 4 and 5 the 24 elders get their crowns and the Church sings a new song before the scroll is read, no doubt. Worthy is the Lamb! We can all agree on that!
Blessings.
Mike
Isaiah 26:16-21
By: Mike on January 9, 2014
at 9:09 pm
The internet can not always give the tonation……of the message……
Truth can also be very offensive…………just ask the Pharisees……..Jesus gave TRUTH…..
did it offend the Pharisees?
Jeremiah….Ezekiel…..Isaiah…..lots of people sharing the WORD of God were not popular…….
If I said something not true let me know………..if I offended was it me or the scriptures?
God Bless
Steven
There is NO 7 year pre tribulation
We are NOT appointed to Wrath…….
By: Rapturebibleprophecyforum on January 9, 2014
at 9:27 pm
I recently received confirmation of Sharon being a type of Israel being asleep in my email
Cindy, you are most definitely hearing from the Lord. Our personal lives are connected on a spiritual level to the Gaza disengagement in 2005 + 8 years later (Jan. 4, 2014 being the anniversary of his stroke).
For us, God is leading us to some BIG CHANGES –a NEW BEGINNING and confirmation concerning a Prodigal coming home. (waking up? from a deep sleep?)
January 4, 2014 literally was a MARKED date in our life.
This is ALL very prophetic and indicative of the times. Ariel is another name for Jerusalem. And Sharon is a plain west of the Jordan River. The very area being disputed right now in the final status issues (the West Bank)
Also, Yeshua is the ROSE of SHARON. When we were married , we chose Barbara Streisand’s song, Evergreen. “Like a ROSE, under the APRIL snow”….I was always certain love would grow.
Our prodigal was born in APRIL, and this APRIL is the first of the Blood Moon Tetrads.
By: Anne on January 10, 2014
at 6:18 pm
Thankyou Cindy for your post i enjoy them very much for the edification of the body, may i recommend to the previous readers of the blog posting the beleif of Yashuas return and comments regarding 1 Thessalonian 5:9, would they indeed recognize one which labours among them and is over them, one would be wise to continue reading 1 Thessolonians 5:10-28.
Thankyou so much Cindy for your labours Much Love
Tom
By: Tom on January 10, 2014
at 8:46 pm
Hi Cindy. This is a fascinating post and I thank you for your faithful obedience in presenting what our Lord is revealing to you. Be blessed, dear sister, and may I encourage you also to keep up the excellent work.
In Yeshua,
Carlos
By: CARLOS MONTAÑA on January 10, 2014
at 11:38 pm
Hi Cindy. I am not a Bible scholar but a simple bookkeeper who loves the Lord and who loves to write. I offer this interpretation of the scroll of Rev.5 for your consideration. There has been much speculation as to the nature of the scroll described in Revelation 5. Some think that it may be a declaration of God’s prophetic judgment, or some sort of deed. As I explain in my new book “God’s Strategic Plan”, believe that this scroll is a judgment lien. A judgment lien is a document issued by a court where a debtor (man) is unable to satisfy a debt (caused by our sin) and this document authorizes that the debtor’s assets (our very souls) be forfeit in judgment. A person subject to a judgment lien is subject to lawful judgment and forfeiture and is often forced to declare bankruptcy (seek protection of the court). The scene in Revelation 5 is in fact a court session being called to order by the strong angel before the Righteous Judge, in which the accused, man (possibly vicariously represented by the weeping John) is subject to sentence of eternal death. John wept because he knew that man’s fate was sealed in that scroll. Then, steps forward, the only Person worthy to take the scroll of judgment from the right hand of the Righteous Judge; the Lamb who was slain and whose righteous sacrifice paid the debt on behalf of man. According to God’s law, without the shedding of (innocent and worthy) blood, there is no remission or release of judgment for sin. Therefore only the innocent Lamb that was slain was worthy to take the judgment scroll and legally discharge it as a lien on the souls of all men. This was a critical aspect of God’s Strategic Plan.
Robert Fullerton CPA Author: “God’s Strategic Plan”.
[Thank you Robert for sharing your thoughts. Your insight appreciated! /C]
By: Robert Fullerton on April 5, 2014
at 10:13 pm
Untill today, 6 April 2014, I was caught up in the modern theologic understanding described above and in opposition to Rapture Bible Prophecy Forum. I am wrong. My spirit was had itiching ears and wanted to understand the prophecy of 70 weeks as most Protestant Christians. However, I am not a modern day Christian.
I am a believer in Yah and His Messiah. His Plan was laid out for us to read & believe. Mr. Fullerton’s remarks pushed me into a position that necessitated the Word’s understanding of the coming “changing in the twinkle of an eye.” After much time, I must agree with Rapture Bible Prophecy Forum regarding the postulated modern view of the 70 week time period and the be in opposition to the knowledge based understanding of the ‘rapture and tribulation’.
Therefore, let us not eat from this Tree of Knowledge. Let us eat from the Tree of Life. Let un be of One Accord.
The rapture will happen, as it is in the Word. All other aspects are speculation and for itching ears and must be considered as the Apostle Paul states, dung. If it is not in the Word, for God is the Word, it is not for me and my house.
By: Robert Boehm Chilqiyyah חִלְקִיָּה , for my portion is Yah on April 6, 2014
at 5:44 pm
[…] his death titled: Ariel Sharon and the Scroll of Revelation 5. Which if interested you may read here. We have yet to see the consequences President Trump and America by extension will suffer as a result […]
By: Racing Towards Judgment – Part 2 | Heaven Bound on February 8, 2020
at 5:17 pm