DANIEL REFERS TO EVENTS
The Book of Daniel also refers to the events of the Tribulation. Daniel 9:24-27 records
Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks. A careful study of prophecy indicates that the length of
these weeks is seven years each. Sixty-nine of these weeks (483 years) have already been
completed. The 70th week is the seven years of Tribulation that will come upon Israel and the
whole world in the end times.
How the Antichrist fits into the 70th week of Daniel is seen in verse 27: “He shall confirm
the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it
desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”.
So, at the beginning of the Tribulation, the person known as “the Antichrist” will make an
agreement with Israel, but in the middle of the week (after three and one-half years), he will
break his agreement with the nation. This coincides with other prophecies that indicate the
Antichrist will place himself in the temple and will demand to be worshiped as God in the
middle of the Tribulation.
Again, believers are to be reminded that for these prophecies to be fulfilled, a third temple
must be built in Israel.
SITE CHOSEN FOR THE TEMPLE
Israel’s religious history revolved around two temples. The Bible reveals that a third
temple will be in existence during the Tribulation. A major consideration concerning the third
temple is where it will be built.
In tracing Israel’s history, it is interesting to note that a particular spot had special
significance as long as 2000 years before Christ. This was the spot where God told Abraham,
“Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of
Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell
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thee of “ (Gen. 22:2).The mountain God showed Abraham is thought to be Mount Moriah, on
which other significant events were to take place later.
On Mount Moriah David purchased a threshing floor from Ornan (also known as Araunah)
in order to offer burnt offerings to God (see II Sam. 24:18-25) .Second Chronicles 3:1 shows
that this was the same place where Solomon’s temple was later built: “Then Solomon began to
build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto
David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the
Jebusite”. After Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, it was rebuilt on the
same spot about 70 years later and then remodeled by Herod about the time of Christ.
Some say that what is known, as the “Wailing Wall” today is the remains of the western
wall of Herod’s temple. Whatever the case, it is evident that the location of the temple has had
special significance in Israel’s history for nearly 4000 years. Today it is believed that Islam’s
Dome of the Rock stands in this precise place.
JERUSALEM HOLDS A UNIQUE POSITION
The city of Jerusalem has held a unique position in God’s program for Israel, and it will
continue to play a prominent role in the future. At the dedication of Solomon’s temple, the
Lord said through Solomon, “Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of
Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be
there; neither chose I, any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: but I have chosen Jerusalem,
that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel” (II Chron.
6:5,6).
The city of Jerusalem has had violent history, and it will experience extremely difficult
times in the future, according to biblical prophecy. Both the past and the future of Jerusalem
are referred to in the Gospels.
Luke 21:20 says, “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that
the desolation thereof is nigh”. Notice that the sign of desolation was an encompassing of the
city by armies.When this sign occurred, the instructions were “Then let them which are in
Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not
them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all
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things, which are written, may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them
that give such, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this
people” (vv. 21-23).
These are the recorded words of the Lord Jesus Christ. He concluded these statements
by saying, “They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all
nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles, be
fulfilled” (v.24). The tragedy predicted here was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when Titus, the general of
the Roman armies, destroyed Jerusalem and scattered the Israelites among the nations. The
people of Israel will remain scattered “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”.
Another prophecy concerning Jerusalem is recorded in Matthew 24. Christ said, “When
ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in
the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into
the mountains” (vv.15,16). Notice that the sign given here concerning Jerusalem’s destruction
is “the abomination of desolation” standing in the holy place. This refers to the Antichrist, who
will stand in the third temple during the Tribulation and demand to be worshiped.
Although there are many similarities between Luke 21 and Matthew 24, there are also
significant differences. The sign given in Luke 21 was the encompassing of the city by armies;
the sign given in Matthew 24 is the abomination of desolationk in the holy place. Luke 21
refers to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in A.D.70. It also foreshadows
the surrounding of Jerusalem by armies in the future. Matthew 24 refers to the enemy’s
coming in, although the city is not completely destroyed.
Matthew 24:27-31 tells what will occur at the end of the seven years of tribulation. The
Lord Jesus Christ will return to earth. At the Rapture of the Church, referred to in I
Thessalonians 4:13-18, the Lord will only appear in the clouds to catch away believers from
the earth. But at the end of the Tribulation, Christ will return to the earth (see Zech. 14:1-5).
Notice particularly that verses 4 and 5 say, “His feet shall stand in that day upon the
mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave
in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great
valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
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And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach
unto Azal: Yea, Ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah
king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee”.
THREE TIME PERIODS
Although Luke 21 refers especially to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman
armies in A.D. 70, three time periods are actually referred to in this chapter. The first one
refers to the destruction that occurred in A.D. 70: “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed
with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.... And they shall fall by the edge
of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations” (vv.20,24). The second one
talks about the times of the Gentiles: Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (v.24). The third time period refers to the return of
Christ to earth at the end of the Tribulation: “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the
moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and
the waves roaring... And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power
and great glory” (vv.25,27).
The first time period is already past; the second time period appears to be almost over,
and the third time period is still ahead.
Although God has not given all the details of what is going to take place. He has given a
broad outline of events. It is important that Christians be faithful witnesses for Him while
there is still time. Now is the time to accept the Lord and to be fallowers of Lord Jesus. May
the good Lord prepare for His Kingdom. Praise the Lord. Amen.
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