PROOFS OF THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE (part two) By John Henry BIBLICAL PROOF #1: DANIEL 9:24-27: Failure to interpret the Scriptures dispensationally, and failure to distinguish between Israel and the Church will inevitably lead to misinterpretations, and misconceptions. I am not a Hyperdispensationilist, that is, I do not believe that people are saved in different ways in the various dispensations, but I am a Dispensationilist and believe that God has worked in different ways at different times. Clearly seen are at least 3 dispensations: 1) The Old Testament economy [there are actually 5 Old Testament dispensations]; 2) The New Testament economy [The Dispensation of Grace, or The Church Age]; and 3) The 1000 year reign of Christ on Earth [The Millennium]. The last of the 5 OT dispensations is normally called the Dispensation of Law. It runs from the Exodus to John the Baptist, and deals with the Nation of Israel. The Dispensation of Law deals almost exclusively with Gods chosen people, the Hebrew people; whereas The Dispensation of Grace deals primarily with the Church. The Prophet Daniel was given a prophecy concerning the final 490 years of The Dispensation of Law. Here is what he recorded with my notations: Daniel 9:24-27: Seventy weeks [of years = 490 years] are determined upon THY PEOPLE [the Jews] and upon thy holy city [Jerusalem], to finish the transgression [judge rebellion against God], and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity [these speak of Christs work for our salvation], and to bring in everlasting righteousness [the Millennium and beyond], and to seal up the vision and prophecy [fulfill Bible prophecy], and to anoint the most Holy [Prophet, Priest, and King Jesus]. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem [the decree went forth in 445 BC] unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks [the time it took to rebuild the city], and threescore and two weeks [7 x 62 = 69 weeks or 483 years]: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off [crucified], but not for himself: and the people [the Roman people led by Titus] of the prince that shall come [Antichrist] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary [done in A.D. 70]; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant [reinstitute Temple sacrifices] with many for one week [7 years]: and in the midst of the week [3 1/2 years into the Tribulation] 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 first 69 weeks of this prophecy have been fulfilled to the letter and to the day. To break down the seventy weeks, or 490 years, is given here: * 7 weeks - 49 years for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. * 62 weeks - 434 years added to the above 49 years. This total of 483 years was to the date of the coming of Messiah Jesus. * 1 week - 7 years is the period of the Tribulation which is broken down into two 3 1/2 year periods. It is the last 7 years of the OT Dispensation of Law. The 70 weeks began in the 20th year of the reign of Persian King Artaxerxes with his commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem (Neh 2:1-8; Dan 9:25). This occured on the 1st of the Jewish month of Nisan in 445 B.C. This is our starting point. The first 7 weeks or 49 years bring us to 397 B.C. and to Malachi and the end of the Old Testament. These were troublous times as witnessed by both Nehemiah and Malachi. The next period of 62 weeks, or 434 years, bring us to the Messiah. Sir Robert Anderson in his book, The Coming Prince, has worked out the schedule. From the 1st of the month Nissan in 445 B.C. to the 10th of Nisan (April 6) A.D. 32, are 173,880 days. Dividing them according to Jewish the year 360 days, he arrives at 483 years (69 sevens). On this day Jesus rode into Jerusalem offering Himself for the first time, publicly and officially, as the Messiah (Matt 21:1-17). It was the next day that the Lord cursed the fruitless fig tree, a symbol of Israel (Hos. 9:10; Joel 1:6-7; Jer. 8:11-13; Hab. 3:16), knowing that they would reject Him. Jesus said to the symbolic fig tree, … Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! (Matt. 21:19-20) Later the same day while in the Temple the Lord Jesus said, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus went out, and departed from the Temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the Temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Matt. 23:37 - 24:2) It was the people of the prince that shall come who did this (Dan. 9:26). Daniel had said they shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Dan. 9:26). The Roman General Titus accomplished this in 70 A.D. After the 69 weeks or 483 years there is a time break. Between the 69th week and the 70th week three events of utmost importance are to take place: 1. Messiah was cut off (Dan. 9:26; cf. Isa. 53:8). This was the crucifixion of Christ to make reconciliation for iniquity (Dan. 9:24; cf Isa. 53:6). 2. Messiahs Church was fully established (John 20:19-23; Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:4-8). 3. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed and Israel ceased from being a nation. This took place in 70 A.D. There has now been a Divine 2000 year (+/-) time out interval between the 69th and the 70th weeks of Daniel. We are now in that time out period called by God which we have dubbed, the Age of Grace, but when the Lord says, play ball Israels time clock will begin ticking again. This time gap was not seen by Daniel, but just as the first 69 weeks of the prophecy were for Daniels people (the Nation of Israel), so likewise will the last 7 years be. It is the Tribulation period which is also called the time of Jacobs trouble. (Jer. 30:7; cf Dan. 12:1). The reasons we know that the Lord will come for His people prior to the final week of Daniel 9:27 are these: 1. No one of this Age can know the time of our catching up in the clouds to be with Jesus. Jesus said, But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only (Matt. 24:36; cf. 24:50, 25:13; Mark 13:32; Luke 12:46; Acts 1:7; 1 Thess. 5:1-2). Here the Lord is not speaking of His return to set foot upon the Earth, but rather of the Rapture (Matt. 24:40-42). 2. The last week of Daniel 9:27 is for Israel. After the Rapture the Antichrist will confirm the covenant with the Jews and others for 7 years. Those in the Tribulation can know the day of Christs return, but we cannot know the day of the Rapture. Heres why: And he [Antichrist] 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 ... (Dan 9:27) Daniel 9:27 coupled with other passages in Daniel (7:25, 12:7) and in Revelation (11:2-3, 12:6, 14, 13:5) show us that exactly 7 years from the signing of this covenant to reinstitute Temple sacrifices Christ will return to take control of the Earth. This fact alone proves the Pre-Tribulation position. This knowledge helps us understand why how that no one of this Age can know the time of our catching up in the clouds to be with Jesus, but they of the Tribulation can know the time of the return of Christ to the earth exactly 7 years after the Antichrist is revealed. The 7 year Tribulation is for Israel, not for Church Age believers.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:09:05 +0000
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