Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37

Can dry bones hear?

The Lord took hold of Ezekiel and carried him off to a valley filled with bones. 

This was all very real to Ezekiel.  He does not say he had a vision, nor does he use any language suggesting that it only seemed that he was in a valley filled with bones.  He was there – bones all around him.  He could feel the hot sun on his back, and hear the drone of the lone fly buzzing around.  He could hear the sounds of desert insects.

I remember those sounds.  I grew up on the northern edge of the Great Basin Desert.  According to Wikipedia, it covers much of, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and California.  Dry skeletons of cattle or coyotes were not that rare, but I never saw a human skeleton, let alone a whole valley full of them.  I picture the dry sandy soil.  I feel the hot dry air that must have surrounded Ezekiel.

Ezekiel is drawing a picture for us.  Can you walk with Ezekiel as he looks around the valley?  As he walked among the bones, Ezekiel observed that there were very many of them and they were very dry.  They were human bones – a great army (verse 10).

Then the Lord asks Ezekiel a question.

“Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”  (Ezekiel 37:3, NLT)

Literally translated, God asks, “Can these bones live?  Humanly speaking the answer is an obvious, “No!”  This is the point of the question.  Once when Jesus was teaching His disciples about salvation they said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”  (Matthew 19:25, NLT)  Jesus answered:

“Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But with God everything is possible.”  (Matthew 19:26, NLT)

This is the point of the question.  Humanly, there was no possible way those bones could live.  This is an important point.  God asks the question to point out this rather obvious point.

God is pointing to the nation of Israel, but the parallel to our salvation is clear.  There is no possible way that we who were dead in our trespasses and sins could save ourselves.

Ezekiel responds, “Lord God, You know.”  (Ezekiel 37:3, NASB)

Apparently, Ezekiel realized that God could do anything, and so avoided giving his human reaction of “No possible way!”

Next, God tells Ezekiel to speak to the bones, and say, “Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord.” 

Talking to dry bones is a bit strange.  However, it makes a point.  The principle here is important.  In Isaiah 55:11, God says:

…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  (NIV)

Jesus also said:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.  (Matthew 24:35, NIV)

It was by the word of the Lord that the world came into existence.  God’s word can accomplish anything because God can do anything He pleases.  This is the true meaning of sovereignty.  There are no limits on God.  He does whatever pleases Him.  What is the point of talking to dry bones?  Can dry bones hear?  If it is the word of the Lord to them, yes they can.

As Ezekiel spoke to the bones, they came back together.  Then he prophesied to the wind and the freshly reassembled bodies came back to life.  The word for wind and spirit are the same, so we can assume this is the working of the Spirit of God.

This prophecy has gained a lot of attention over the years.  It is a fascinating picture and has been put to music, as you all know.  The order in which the bodies come back together is rather gruesome if one thinks about it.  However, the order is important and we will see why in a little while.  The dry bones are obviously symbolic.  However, the prophecy interprets the dry bones for us.

Ezekiel 37:11 says:

Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel.  They are saying, 'We have become old, dry bones--all hope is gone.  Our nation is finished.'  (NLT)

The dry bones represent the nation of Israel. 

In 70 A.D., Rome sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the nation of Israel.  The Israel and Judaism Studies website says:

The dispersion of the Jewish people is traditionally dated from the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE…  The Roman historian Cassius Dio records that in a subsequent revolt in 135 CE some 580,000 Jewish soldiers were killed; and following that revolt the Emperor Hadrian decreed that the name "Judea" should be replaced by "Syria Palestina" - Philistine Syria or "Palestine".[i]

The fortunes of Palestine were not good.  Just as the Lord had said through His prophets, the land became a wasteland.  According to the website just quoted:

By the 19th century the population of Turkish Palestine had been reduced to less than 500,000, including about 25,000 Jews.  The only fertile areas were in the narrow central plain.  The north consisted of rocky hills and of valleys in which large regions had degenerated into malaria-ridden swampland, while the south was mostly desert.[ii]

The people of Israel were scattered throughout the world.  There was no hope for the nation.

On November 2, 1917, the British government issued what is known as the Balfour Declaration.  This declaration announced the support of the British for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.  Up to this point there did not seem to be any hope of Israel existing again as a nation.  Then on May 14, 1948, Israel was declared and recognized as an independent, sovereign state by the international community.  These are just two events in the long history of the Jewish people who lived for centuries without a homeland and yet never gave up their Jewish identity.  The events of the last hundred years have seen a dead nation come back to life.  The dry bones that Ezekiel spoke to heard the word of the Lord.

This is a direct fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:12-14, which says:

¹²Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  ¹³Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.  ¹⁴I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ 

God is bringing the people back to the land.  Not all of this is completed.  I do not believe that the Spirit of God is in them yet, and they do not yet recognize their Messiah.  However, what could not be envisioned for almost 1900 years has come about.  Every year the Jewish people continue to immigrate to Israel until the population is now over 8 million.

This also is consistent with the three-step process of the bodies being restored.  First, the bones came together, then flesh covered the bones and then the Spirit was breathed into them.

First, the bones came together.  This began when the Balfour Declaration started the immigration of the people of Israel back to their homeland.  However, they were technically under British rule.  They were not their own nation.

Then, in 1948, Israel was given her independence and recognized as a nation by the world.  The bones now had flesh.  Israel has a government, a constitution, laws and a parliament, but they are spiritually dead.  If one moves from the Arab section of Jerusalem to the Jewish section, the spiritual darkness is the same.  Both proclaim there is one God and both deny that Jesus is the Messiah.

Ezekiel 37:21 says:

Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land.  (ESV)

God has done this: dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:22 says:

And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.  (ESV)

God has done this: flesh on the bones.

Ezekiel 37:22-24 says:

And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms.  ²³They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions.  But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

²⁴“My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd.

God has not done this yet.  This is the third step in the process represented by the Spirit breathing life into the corpses.  The title of this series is “What’s Next?” and this is the answer.  This is what is next. 

This breathing of life into Israel will be a traumatic time.  Jesus spoke of the beginning of birth pangs that were not yet the end, but Jeremiah speaks of the birth pangs.  Jeremiah 30:5-7 says:

⁵Thus says the LORD:  We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace.  ⁶Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child?  Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor?  Why has every face turned pale?  ⁷Alas!  That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.  (ESV)

This is the time of trouble known as the Tribulation.  Notice, verse 7 says it is a time of distress for Jacob.  This is also spoken of as “Jacob’s travail” or “Jacob’s trouble.”

The Tribulation is not meant for the Church.  1 Thessalonians 5:9 gives us the encouragement that God has not destined us for wrath.  Those seven years are what remains of Daniel’s seventy weeks and God’s promise to Israel 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.  (Daniel 9:24, ESV)

This is the Spirit blowing life into the nation.  Then as Ezekiel 37 and Jeremiah 30 say:

“My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd.”  (Ezekiel 37:24, ESV)

These things are written for our encouragement.  We do not need to despair like those who have no hope.  We do not need to store up food for the seven years of trouble. 

I want to close with a parable that Jesus gave:

¹¹As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.  ¹²He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.  ¹³Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’” (Luke 19:11-13, ESV)

This is what we are to be doing until Jesus returns.  We are to be engaged in business, Kingdom business -- not entangled in civilian affairs.  (2 Timothy 2:4)

We have been given His Spirit to be His witnesses until He returns.  These are the last days.  The bones have come together.  The flesh is on the bones.  The wind is picking up.

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[i] http://www.ijs.org.au/Historical-Background/default.aspx  (Accessed October 27, 2017)

[ii] ibid.

Seventy Weeks

Daniel 9

The Bible is one story.  It has many parts but all the parts fit together. 

The message of redemption is simple enough that a child can understand it.  It goes like this.  I am a sinner.  Jesus died for my sins.  If I accept Jesus as my Savior, He will forgive me of all my sins and make me part of His family. 

As we get older, we fill in a lot more details, and we are also able to understand a lot more of the story.  Details concerning creation, the fall, God’s promises to Abraham and many others all get added to our understanding.  However, our basic understanding does not change.

In much the same way, our understanding of prophecy is built on the whole of Scripture.  A child can understand Jesus is coming back.  However, the Scriptures have a lot more to say about His return and the circumstances of His return.

While there are many reasons why it is important for us to understand Bible prophecy, let’s look at just a couple. 

First, understanding prophecy is important to the believer to keep us from being deceived.  Jesus warned:

“Don’t let anyone mislead you, ⁵for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. ⁶And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. (Not panicking or being upset is another reason to understand prophecy.)  Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. ⁷Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. ⁸But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.  (Matthew 24:4-8, NLT)

Jesus clearly says, “Do not be deceived.” There are other passages that warn of the deception that is in the world, and as we see in these words of Jesus, many will be deceived.  In the Bible, God has given us enough information that we need not be deceived.

Second, understanding Bible prophecy is important to give us hope.  Titus 2:13 calls the return of our Lord our “blessed hope.” While there are many truths that give us hope, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 mentions just one:

¹³And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

The resurrection of the dead and the reign of Christ on earth are elements of Biblical prophecy that give us hope.  However, not all Biblical prophecy was meant for us to fully understand.

Some elements of Bible prophecy are meant for the help of those who are living in the future times spoken of.  In other words, some things will be clear to those going through the tribulation that may not be clear to us.  These passages will give hope to those living in such times.  In 1 Peter 1:10-11, Peter explains that the prophets did not always understand what they were given.  Then in verse 12 he says:

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.  (1 Peter 1:12, ESV)

We are to study diligently to understand, and pray that God will make the meaning clear to us.  2 Timothy 2:15 tells us:

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

It is important for us to apply ourselves to the Word of God, and understand what is given to us.  However, we cannot go beyond what is written and fill in details that are not there in the text.  For example, we will not know the name of the antichrist before the rapture.  2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 makes this clear.  So, stop trying to guess who it might be.  It is a waste of time.  It is enough to know that the spirit of antichrist is already at work in the world.

When Daniel was praying for his nation and confessing his sins and the sins of his people in Daniel chapter 9, God sent Gabriel with a message to give Daniel insight and understanding.  As I have said, the entire Bible fits together, and all of Bible prophecy fits together.  When Gabriel gave his message to Daniel, he also gave us important information about God’s plans.  Understanding the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 can keep us from being deceived.  Understanding the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 can give us hope.  Understanding the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 helps us understand some other prophecies, and particularly the book of Revelation.

Gabriel told Daniel:

A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.  (Daniel 9:24, NLT)

Most translations translate the “sets of seven” as weeks.  It is clear from the context that Gabriel is referring to sets of seven years.  It is not natural in the English language to refer to “weeks of years,” but this was the Hebrew way of thinking and speaking.  Therefore, seventy weeks or seventy sets of seven are referring to 490 years not 490 days.

Next, and this is important, Gabriel said, “…has been decreed for your people and your holy city…” 

Who are Daniel’s people?  The Jews! 

What holy city is Gabriel referring to?  Jerusalem!

The Church is not Israel and Israel is not the Church.  Failure to make this distinction leads to a lot of confusion and the necessity to “spiritualize” many of the prophecies.  We are living in the times of the Gentiles. Jesus said, “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”  (Luke 21:24, ESV)  In order to understand Biblical prophecy, it is important to keep this distinction.

God states the purpose of the seventy weeks.  He says these weeks are to “finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

So, God has a plan for His people to end their rebellion.  The plan is not completed yet.  We know that the atonement spoken of has taken place with Jesus on the cross, but bringing in everlasting righteousness and anointing the Most Holy are yet to be completed.  It is worth noting that the word “Place” is added by the translators.  The Hebrew is ambiguous.  It could mean the Most Holy Place in the Temple, or it could mean a person.  Literally, the passage just says, “and to anoint the Most Holy.”

Now let’s consider the rest of the prophecy.  Gabriel says:

Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.

After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing…  (Daniel 9:25-26, NLT)

Here again, it is important to notice the exact words of the prophecy.  The decree is to rebuild Jerusalem, not the temple.

2 Chronicles 36:22-33 and Ezra 1 tell of a decree by King Cyrus of Persia commanding the rebuilding of the Temple.  This decree was issued in 538 B.C.  Ezra records two additional decrees issued in relation to the temple.  (Ezra 6:1, 6-12 and 7:11-26)  However, Nehemiah 2:1-8 records a decree issued by Artaxerxes Longimanus authorizing the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem.  This decree was issued on March 4, 444 B.C.  (Of course, this date will vary by which school of thought one subscribes to.  The NLT note puts it in April of 445 B.C.  I am going with the dates given by Dr. John Walvoord in his book, “End Times,” but after a few thousand years it may not be worth quibbling over a year or two.)

We know that when Nehemiah started to build the wall of Jerusalem, it only took 52 days.  However, they completed the wall not the city.  Nehemiah set up a system (Nehemiah 11:1) where one tenth of the population lived in Jerusalem and the other nine tenths lived in the surrounding area.  By this means, at the end of 49 years, Jerusalem was rebuilt with streets and strong defenses just as was foretold of the first set of seven sevens.

The prophecy also foretold another sixty-two sets of seven for a total of sixty-nine sets of seven.  At first glance, 444 B.C. plus 483 years (7 times 69) puts us at 39 A.D., but this is doing the math with our Gregorian calendar.  The Gregorian is a solar calendar based on the sun and seasons.  The Hebrews used a lunar calendar.  Our years are calculated on the basis of a 365-day year.  The Bible calculates on a 360-day year.  For example, Revelations 11:2, 12:6 and 13:5 speak of 42 months or 3 ½ years as being 1,260 days.  If we do the math:  1,260 divided by 3 ½ equals 360.  When 483 years is multiplied by 360 days it equals 173,880 days, which corresponds to 33 A.D.  As a matter of fact, March 5, 444 B.C. to March 30, 33 A.D., the day of Jesus’ Triumphal entry is 173,880 days. (Calculated using the true length of a year as being 365.2422 days.)  The triumphal entry was followed a few days later with the crucifixion.[i]  Again, this is consistent with Gabriel’s words, “…the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing…” (Daniel 9:26)

It is important to note that so far nothing has been said about the seventieth week.  Christ was to be cut off after the sixty-ninth week.  This introduces a gap.  Verse 26 says:

And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. (ESV)

The city and the temple were destroyed 37 years after Jesus’ crucifixion.  The prophecy says “the people of the prince who is to come” will be the ones who destroy the temple, which describes the Roman Empire. The text does not say “the prince who is to come.”  This confirms that there is a gap intended here.  Gabriel picks up the seventieth week with verse 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.  (ESV)

The “he” here refers to “the prince who is to come” not to Christ. We see the half of the week reflected in the 42 months prophesied in Revelation.

The gap is explained by what I mentioned earlier about the times of the Gentiles. Remember the seventy weeks of Daniel has to do with the Jews.  Paul explained:

¹³Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry ¹⁴in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. ¹⁵For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

²⁵Lest 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. ²⁶And in this way all Israel will be saved…  (Romans 11:13-15, 25-26, ESV)

Notice it says, “…until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” God still has a plan for the Jews, but this is the Church age, the time when Jerusalem is trampled underfoot by the Gentiles. The seventieth week is the 7 years of the tribulation, when the prince who is to come will make a strong covenant with the people of Israel.

I want to encourage you with the certainty of these events.  I will end with the words of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonian church:

¹Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. ²Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. ³Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.  (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, NLT)

From 2 Thessalonians 2:7 we know that the man of lawlessness will not be revealed until the restrainer is out of the way.  Therefore, as in the passage above we can know for certain that the day of the Lord has not begun yet.  As long as we, the Church, are still here, we can know for certain that the day of the Lord has not already begun.

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[i] Calculations and content taken largely from:  “End Times: Understanding Today’s World Events in Biblical Prophecy”, John F. Walvoord.  Copyright 1998 by Word Publishing.  pgs. 112-119.

Understanding the Times

Daniel 9

We live in uncertain days.  Wars, fires, terrorist attacks, hurricanes, earthquakes and a host of other calamities are happening all around the world.  What are we to think of the times we are living in?  Let’s take a look at what the Bible teaches about understanding the times we are living in.

We will start our exploration in the Old Testament, back before David became king of Israel.  During the last days of Saul’s reign over Israel, many of his military leaders were defecting and going over to David.  1 Chronicles 12:32 tells of some of these when it says:

From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.  (NLT)

These men were noted for their discernment in understanding the signs of the times, and therefore, made the choice to align themselves with David.  Since there were 200 of them, it does not seem that this was a unique giftedness as much as training or education.

Jumping forward in history to when Jesus was teaching in Judea, we find Jesus confronting the religious teachers of His day about their inability to discern the signs of the times.  Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day with the following statement:

“You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; ³red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!”  (Matthew 16:2-3, NLT)

Obviously, Jesus expected them to be able to understand the times they were living in.  In other words, understanding did not require special knowledge as much as attentiveness.

Because of their ignorance of the times, many of the people of Jesus’ day did not understand that He was their Messiah.  This is precisely what Jesus was pointing out in Matthew 16.  However, it is important to understand that their ignorance was willful.  God made it plain in His Word, and Jesus made it plain in His teaching, but many chose not to acknowledge or recognize the truth.

Scripture tells us that it will be the same in the last days.  Many will remain ignorant on purpose.  In 2 Peter 3:3-7, Peter tells us:

³Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. ⁴They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

⁵They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. ⁶Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. ⁷And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.  (NLT)

Pay special attention to the words, “They deliberately forget.”  Verse 3 specifically says that those who mock the truth follow their own desires.  Many truths of Scripture are inconvenient if we are determined to follow our own desires.  The promise of Jesus’ return and the judgment of God on those who suppress the truth by their ungodliness is just one of these inconvenient truths.

Knowing the signs of the times is not a prophetic gift.  It is a matter of knowing the Word of God, and applying it.  For example, Herod’s scholars were able to discern that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem when Herod inquired as to the location of Messiah’s birth.  While many of Jesus’ day did not recognize the signs of the times, there were many who did recognize the times.  We have the Gospel account of Nicodemus as well as many others who came to Jesus.  Acts 2 gives the account of 3,000 believers added to the Church in one day.  Therefore, we can assume that the signs of the times were clear to those who believed.

Many passages in the Bible speak of what is to come. Dr. John Walvoord, in his The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook, discusses a thousand passages on prophecy, some of which are single verses and some of which are paragraphs or entire Bible chapters.  According to Dr. Walvoord, half of those passages, approximately five hundred, have been fulfilled.[i]

This gives us a couple of things we can build on.  First, we can see the reliability of Bible prophecy.  Everything has been happening just as it says in the Bible.  Second, it shows us how we can interpret prophecy.  The prophecies fulfilled so far have been literal.  For example, it was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and he was born in Bethlehem.  It was prophesied that Jesus would be born of a virgin, and he was born of a virgin.  From the way prophecies have been fulfilled in the past, we can see that the literal interpretation is what we can expect.

In Daniel chapter 9, we see Daniel interpreting the prophecies of Jeremiah in their literal sense.  Daniel 9:2 says:

I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.  (NLT)

He is referring to Jeremiah 25:11 that says:

This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

However, he prays for the rest of the prophecy to be fulfilled because Jeremiah 29:10 says:

This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.  (NLT)

These prophecies drove Daniel to pray.  We especially see this in Jeremiah 29:11-14 which says:

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹²In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. ¹⁴I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.

In Daniel’s prayer, recorded in Daniel 9, we see the wholehearted seeking of the Lord that Jeremiah is speaking of.  Daniel had spent over sixty years serving foreign kings as a captive from Judah, and knew from the prophecies that the time was drawing near for the end of the captivity.

As Danial was praying and seeking God, the angel Gabriel came and delivered a message to Daniel.  Daniel 9:21-23 says:

²¹As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. ²²He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. ²³The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.

There are a couple of things that are worth noting in Gabriel’s opening statement to Daniel.

First, he tells Daniel that he came to give Daniel insight and understanding.

There are mysteries and things that we cannot understand.  For example, although we believe and teach the Trinity, it is a concept that we cannot fully understand or comprehend.  Even so, it is clearly taught in Scripture.  There are many things in prophecy that are difficult to understand because we do not have the ability to know what has not yet come about.  For example, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was foretold in the prophets and was clearly understood, but who would have pictured a stable and who would have understood He would be greeted by shepherds?  However, as difficult as prophecy is, it is given to give us insight and understanding.  In Amos 3:7 the Scriptures say:

Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.  (NLT)

Even the prophets had a difficult time picturing what was clearly given to them.  1 Peter 1:11 tells us:

They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. (NLT)

Prophecies are given to give us insight and understanding, but until the events actually unfold, we cannot picture all of the details.

I love the Covenant theologians.  However, there is a glaring weakness in their teaching on the end times.  In their view, the Church replaces Israel in God’s plan.  As a theology, Covenant theology developed largely before the 1940s.  Therefore, Israel was not a nation, had no prospects of being a nation and people living in the world of their day could not picture the world we live in today.  Now, when I look at the world in relation to prophecy, Ezekiel 37 and the Valley of Dry Bones makes a lot of sense.  God has kept his promise to make a dead nation live again. Certainly, I make no claim to be wiser than the Covenant theologians, but history has provided further revelation and will continue to do so as events unfold and we see how they fit with Scripture.

As events unfold, the clear and literal meaning of the prophecies is revealed.  This is why, as Luke 2:25-32 records, Simeon was able to understand so clearly that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel.  This is also why Anna was able to discern the same truth.  Neither of them would have been able to understand the truth if the Holy Spirit had not made it clear to them.  However, it is important to understand that not one of us is able to understand the Word of God without the Spirit of God.  The Spirit gives understanding to all who seek the Lord wholeheartedly as Daniel did.  God wants us to understand.  He gave us prophecy to give us insight and understanding, not to confuse us.

I said there were a couple of things worth noting in Gabriel’s opening statement, and insight and understanding is just the first one.  The second is that Gabriel tells Daniel, “…you are very precious to God.”

These word translated “very precious to God” in the NLT is translated “greatly beloved” or “highly esteemed” by other translations.  This is a translation of the Hebrew word “חֲמוּד֖וֹת,” (chamad) which means, to covet.  It is the word used in the Ten Commandments when it says, “Thou shalt not covet.”  When used in this bad sense, it refers to an inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire, such as lust or greed.  It is also used to describe idolatrous tendencies of delighting in things to the point of worship.  However, it is used in a good sense to describe the delight we can find in God’s Word in Psalm 119.  It is God’s delight in Daniel that explains His desire to make His plans clear to Daniel.  Notice the people that God has delighted in: Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Elijah, Isaiah and others.  They all received revelations of who God is and what He was or is planning to do. 

The Church is the bride of Christ.  We know that He loves us.  He gave His life for us.  He delights in us.  In John 15:15, Jesus says:

I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.  (NLT)

Jesus said he had told the apostles everything the Father told Him.  In addition, because of His love, He promised to send the Holy Spirit. In keeping His promise, He has given us His Holy Spirit, and it is His Holy Spirit that makes the truth known to us.  In John 16:13, Jesus says:

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.  (NLT)

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth and tell us about the future.  He does this because He delights in us.  However, our understanding is not automatic.  We need to do what Gabriel encouraged Daniel to do.  In Daniel 9:23, Gabriel told Daniel, “Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.”  Paul gave the same sort of encouragement to Timothy when he said:

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  (2 Timothy 2:15, NLT)

The KJV said, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…”

There is much that can be discerned about the times we are living in just by paying attention to the Word of God.  As God’s people, we must be people of the Word.  If anyone teaches something inconsistent with God’s Word, they are not to be trusted.

As we look at the troubling events in the world around us, I want to encourage you with the word of Paul to the Thessalonians.

⁹For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. ¹⁰Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. ¹¹So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.  (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, NLT)

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[i] John F. Walvoord. End Times: Understanding today’s world events in biblical prophecy.  Word Publishing, 1998. pg. 11

The Tribulation

Daniel 9:20-27

What is the Tribulation?

In Matt 24 Jesus spoke of wars and rumors of war, and told us not to be alarmed because these things have to happen but they are not yet the end.  Let me read to you some of what Jesus said.

Matt 24:7-12

⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains. ⁹"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹²Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, (NIV)

Notice that this says these are the beginnings of birth pains.  This is not describing the Tribulation.  This is describing the increasing wickedness in our world.  According to statistics gathered by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2010) an average of 159,960 Christians worldwide are martyred for their faith per year. 65% of all the martyrs in history were in the 20^th century.¹  False prophets and those claiming to be Christ have been numerous.  These things have been happening just like Jesus said they would. 

And yet verse 6 of Matthew 24 tells us not to be alarmed because it is not yet the end.  These are the beginnings of birth pangs.

Now let’s look at what the Bible tells us about the Tribulation.  First look at Daniels 12:1:

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-- everyone whose name is found written in the book-- will be delivered. (NIV)

We see here that there will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.  So all the suffering of World War 2 and the persecution of the Jews and the martyrdom of Christians in China and the communist nations will pale in comparison to the sufferings of the Tribulation period.  However, look at what it says – “at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered.”  I believe this is speaking of the rapture.

Now let’s consider what Jesus says about this same period of time in Matthew 24:21:

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-- and never to be equaled again. (NIV)

Jesus repeats and confirms what Daniel said 600 years earlier.  There is a time of unprecedented and not to be equaled suffering coming to Earth.

We know that the Tribulation will be a period of 7 years.  We get this primarily from the prophecy of Daniel.  In Daniel 9:27 it says:

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one `seven.' In the middle of the `seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (NIV)

These sevens that it is speaking of here are 7 year periods.  There are a total of 70 of these sevens.  This prophecy of Daniel proved accurate to the day for Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and we can be confident they will prove to be just as reliable in regards to the Tribulation. 

I am not going to try to cover all the events of the Tribulation at this time.  What I am attempting to establish is that it will be a 7 year period of unprecedented suffering and distress.  The book of Revelation tells us many of the judgments that will be poured out and of many of the events.  All of this leads me to another question for today.

Why?

Why the Tribulation?

In consideration of this I want to read you a piece of ancient literature.  Let’s look at Psalm 2:

¹Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

²The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

³"Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

⁴The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

⁵Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

⁶"I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

⁷I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.

⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

⁹You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

¹⁰Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

¹¹Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.

¹²Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

(NIV)

This Psalm was written perhaps 1,200 years before Jesus was born.  From before that time until the present, the nations continue to gather together and to take a stand against the Lord and against His anointed One, Jesus Christ.  Even in our nation, the most blessed and prospered nation in the history of the world, we are progressively kicking Jesus out of our public life.  This Psalm describes what is going to happen as a result. 

However, the Lord is not willing that any should perish.  He is actually using the Tribulation as a period in which individuals will have one last chance to repent and recognize Jesus as Lord.  People are doing just what Peter said they would do.  They are saying that everything is continuing just like it has always done.  But they do not realize that their destruction draws ever closer as they mock God and try to throw off what they see as chains and fetters.

Look with me at 2 Peter 3:3-9:

³First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

⁴They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

⁵But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.

⁶By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

⁷By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

(NIV)

If it is drawing near, when is it?

When is the Tribulation?

Daniel gives us some information about this in Daniel 9:24-27.

²⁴"Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

²⁵"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

²⁶After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

²⁷He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (NIV)

69 of the 70 “sevens” took place.  The end of these “sevens” was marked by Jesus being cut off “appearing to have accomplished nothing.” (Dan 9:27 NLT)   What remains is for the last “seven” to be accomplished.

Jesus told us this about the timing in Matt 24:32-33:

³²"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

³³Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.  (NIV)

So, we recognize that we need to watch the times.  We should be able to recognize the signs of the times. The best indicators are what we already read from Matthew 24:7-8

⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains.

These beginnings of birth pains are a good indication of what we are talking about.  A descent into evil is progressive.  As we have read today from 2 Peter 3 people will be saying, “Everything continues just as it has from the beginning.”  There is a constant increase in the problems in our world.  Earthquakes and tsunamis have increased.  Wars and conflicts continue to be waged all over the earth.  I think of the classic frog in a kettle.  I have never tried it, but I have heard that if you put a frog in a pot of water that is at a comfortable temperature and then slowly heat it up the frog will not try to escape and will eventually end up boiled.  People are saying everything is going on as always, but the pot is already near boiling.    

What then should we do?

What must we do to prepare?

First, I want to emphasize that Jesus has promised us victory.  He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

Jesus said, “I will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16)  We are not given the date or time, but we have marching orders.   By moving forward with courage and determination to influence our world for Christ, our forefathers accomplished great things.  The Lord has used our prosperity to send missionaries to the far reaches of the earth. 

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 says:

⁶And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.

⁷For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

(NIV)

We are part of what holds him back.  The Holy Spirit works through us.  The Bible warns that the love of many will grow cold.  This is what we must guard against.  We are not called and set apart to be defeated.  We are called and set apart to be salt that preserves and light that shows the way.  Difficulty is part of our calling.  Just like gold is refined by fire, our faith is strengthened by testing. 

Jesus is building His church, and we are to be part of it.  We are to be making disciples.

1. https://www.thoughtco.com/christianity-statistics-700533.  Accessed November 2012.

2.  Scripture quotations marked  NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

3. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.