Sunday, February 15, 2009

Pre-Trib Removes Jesus From 70-Week Prophecy and Substitutes Antichrist in His Place

Day-for-a-Year Prophecy
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, 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 [457BC]unto the Messiah, the Prince, [Jesus]shall be seven weeks threescore and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah [Jesus]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 of it shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And He [Jesus] shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week He [Jesus] shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abomination he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate" (Dan. 9:24-27).

This prophecy is the "70 Weeks of Daniel." It was written as 70 weeks, which is 490 days. As it turns out, however, the time period covered does not match 490 days, but fits perfectly into 490 years. This is called the, "day-for-a-year" prophecy interpretation. There’s not time and space here to completely cover this prophecy but let’s quickly look at highlights. The event marking the beginning  of the prophecy is the, "commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem" (Vs.25). This command was given in 457 BC. Exactly 490 years later brings us to 34 AD. Did a significant event occur in 34 AD concerning Jesus and His Gospel? An extremely significant event occurred. Stephen, one of the original deacons in the founding Church in Jerusalem, was stoned by the Jewish leaders. This blatant evil deed caused the early Church to scatter and, in so doing, the Gospel became completely opened to the Gentiles. Daniel prophesied that much would be accomplished during the last week of the 70-weeks. The words in his prophecy correspond to Jesus` baptism, His Last Supper, His confirmation of the New Covenant, His death, and the end of the sacrificial system. Daniel's prophecy also marked the end of the Jews being the nation God would use to deliver the Gospel to the rest of the World.

"Messiah the Prince"
"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 threescore and two weeks"  (Vs.25). Seven weeks threescore and two weeks is 69 weeks, or 483 days. Convert these 483 days to 483 years and we have an exact fit. Starting at 457 BC and counting exactly 483 years brings us to 27 AD, the exact year Jesus was baptized and started His ministry.

"Anoint the Most Holy"
This is one of the events that was to happen at some time before the end of the 70 Week Prophecy.  This event actually happened at the beginning of the 70th Week of Daniel's Prophecy. When Jesus was Baptized, as He came up out of the water, "the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove, and lighting upon Him. And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt.3:16-17).

"He Shall Confirm The Covenant"
"He shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week" (Dan.9:27).

Underscore the words "Covenant" and "many." Now let's look at the following from Jesus at His Last Supper: "This is My blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt.26:28). Jesus' words are almost a quote from Daniel’s Prophecy. This is important! Pre-Trib removes Jesus from fulfilling this prophecy and replaces Him with Antichrist!! Not only is such a thing incorrect, it is... well, let's continue and let our Readers decide! Let's see if Jesus or Antichrist fits the Prophecy:

Did Jesus Confirm a Covenant?
And if so, did He "Confirm a Covenant for a WEEK?" He Did ABSOLUTELY! For exactly 7 years (7 prophetic days), Jesus did everything possible to confirm His New Covenant with the Nation of Israel. The 7 years started with His Baptism and ended 7 years later when the Jewish leaders stoned Stephen. The first half of the 7 years, 3 ½ years, Jesus personally conducted His attempts to, "Confirm His New Covenant" with the Jews. The second 3 1/2 years of that 7 year time period, the Disciples followed Christ's command to take the Gospel to the "Jews first" (Rm.1:16). The stoning of Stephen marked the end of the 70th week. So, the 70th Week started with Jesus' Baptism, His "Anointing," and ended when the Jews officially cast away their last opportunity to take part in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The official leaders of the Jews called a meeting of the Sanhedrin in the Synagogue in order to put Stephen the Deacon on trial. Stephen's face shown as if he were an Angel as he addressed them, giving them an inspired speech, warning them that they were forever casting themselves away from being God's chosen people. Steven was stoned 3 1/2 years after Jesus was crucified, and his death caused the Gospel to be scattered "unto the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8; See also Matt.10:6; Lk.24:47; Rom.2:9-10) (See Acts 8:1 for Biblical documentation of Stephen’s death causing the Gospel to be "scattered abroad").

Is it Jesus or Antichrist?
Let's stop here and look at something very important. Pre-Trib says that, instead of Jesus making a Covenant for a week, Antichrist will make a future Covenant with the Jews for a prophetic week, which is 7 years. They arrive at this interpretation by moving the 70th week of Daniel from Jesus' time, and placing it to "End-Times." More on this in a moment. If the 70th Week of Daniel's prophecy fits perfectly into the time frame starting at Jesus' baptism and ending when Stephen was stoned, a VERY important event must happen in the "Midst" (middle) of that week. DID IT?

"In the Midst of the Week"
Did something happen 31/2 years after Jesus was Baptized? And did this event, "Confirm His Covenant" and "Cause the Sacrificial System to Cease?" Daniel Prophesied, "He shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week, and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease" (Dan.9:27).

Did "Sacrifice and Oblation Cease" when Jesus Died?
At the exact moment Jesus died, a miraculous event literally stopped the sacrificial system in the Temple. Matthew records it thus: "The veil in the Temple was rent (torn) in twain from top to bottom"  (Matt.27:51). God sent a direct signal to the Jewish nation that their, "sacrifices and oblations should cease" immediately! The Real Lamb had just died for humankind, thus in God's eyes, the "sacrifice and oblation" stopped, and it SHOULD have stopped for the nation of Israel and the rest of the world. The Jews may have repaired the torn veil, but it was for naught. There was, and is, to be no more sacrificing animals after Jesus died, ever! A quick note! Pre-Trib calls on an Ezekiel Prophecy to say there'll be a Temple in their so-called "Earthly Millennial Kingdom" in which there will be animal sacrificing. See Website "Ezekiel's Millennial Temple" to see 8 Un-Answerable Questions Pre-Trib faces concerning the Temple they say will be in place for a 1000 years here on earth.

Pre-Trib's Misguided 70th Week Interpretation
Pre-Trib, however, says the, "Sacrifice and Oblation Ceasing" is yet in the future and will be fulfilled by Antichrist, not Christ! This is a Double Error for Pre-Trib! For them to take a Prophecy that is CLEARLY about Jesus, and substitute Antichrist is not just an error, it is blasphemy!  We want to be kind and respectful, and we realize that this a serious accusation, but we must always tell the Truth! We said "Double Error," and later in this Website we will look at mass confusion caused by removing Jesus from this Prophecy and replacing Him with Antichrist. EVERY Pre-Trib Minister should re-examine this!! Pre-Trib says that, instead of the Prophecy describing the work of Jesus, it describes Antichrist making a covenant with Israel allowing them to re-build their Temple and re-establish their animal sacrificial system. Then, according to Pre-Trib, 31/2 years later, half way through Daniel's 70th Week, Antichrist breaks his Covenant, stops the Jews from sacrificing animals, and begins persecuting them. Pre-Trib says this persecution goes on for an additional 31/2 years, thus completing the Prophecy. These 2 time periods of 31/2 years, says Pre-Trib, establishes the length of the Great Tribulation as 7 years.

Seven Year Tribulation?
This mistake of cutting off the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy, substituting Antichrist for Jesus, inventing an Antichrist/Jew Covenant, moving the Prophecy from Christ's time to the End Times, is the only reason Pre-Trib promotes a Seven Year Tribulation. Actually, if we use John's information in Revelation, the Great Tribulation appears to be less than a year. See "The Great Tribulation."

What Does Scripture Really Say?
If we leave the 70th week at the time of Jesus and the Apostles, and look at what John really saw in Revelation, we see the total time of the Tribulation as probably 1 literal year. The actual time for the "Seven Last Plagues" portion of the Tribulation seems about 2 literal weeks. We arrive at this by again using the "Day for a Year" principle. Note the following: "Therefore shall her (Babylon's) plagues come in one day [1 day = 1 prophetic year], death, and morning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" (Rev. 18:8). If the "one day" in this verse is prophetic time, "Day-for-a-Year," then the Tribulation would be 1 year. Now lets look at a prophetic "hour." John saw the "Kings of the Earth who have committed fornication with her (the Great Whore or Babylon)," "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour [prophetically 2 weeks] is thy judgment come" (Rev.18:10; see also vss.17 and 19). If 1 day is a prophetic year, 1 hour would be a 24th of a year, which is approximately 2 weeks. Can we say for absolutely certainty that this "One Day" and "One Hour" interpretation is 100% correct? Maybe not, but taking into account all of the other prophecies in Revelation, it does seem to make sense.

Pre-Trib's "Double Error" Problem
There can be no debating that, if the 70 Week Prophecy is REALLY about Jesus, and anyone attempts to remove Jesus and replace Him with Antichrist, it can be nothing less than Blasphemy. But, Pre-Trib's problem doesn't stop there. If Pre-Trib decided to correct their error by removing Antichrist and putting Jesus into their interpretation, one of the most essential pillars in Dispensational Pre-Trib would be gone and the whole Theory would self destruct. Pre-Trib's Rapture, their belief that Left Behind people have a Second Chance, their version of an Antichrist/Israel Covenant, their 7-Year Tribulation, their Millennial Kingdom on Earth, their "Grace frees us to change God's Law," their view about the Sabbath, all these and many more Pre-Trib Doctrines would be gone!  Thus Pre-Trib has no choice but to hold to their "Remove Jesus and Insert Antichrist" position. This creates more than an "Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Question!"
Conclusion
So, does it really seem to be a good idea to rip a week out of Daniel's 70 Week prophecy and re-attach it to end-times? All of the following events establish the fact that Christ, not Antichrist, fulfilled the 70th week of Daniel's Prophecy:
Christ's Ministry was 3 1/2 years in length.
His Baptism occurred exactly 483 years after the "Command to Rebuild Jerusalem."
At His Last Supper He Established His "New Covenant."
At His death, the Temple Veil was torn, a sign the Jewish Sacrificial system should cease.
He gave the Jews an additional 3 1/2 year opportunity to be His Evangelists to the world.

We have a choice. We can accept the above facts that fit perfectly in Daniel's 70th Week, or, we can attempt to remove Jesus from the Prophecy and replace Him with Antichrist. To replace Christ with Antichrist requires a lot of speculation based entirely on a Pre-Trib Rapture Theory. The interpretation we offer here, leaving the 70th Week as covering the 31/2 years of Jesus' ministry and 31/2 years from Jesus' Death till the Stoning of Stephen, is the same as Martin Luther and many other Reformers. The accuracy of this prophecy, when properly interpreted, is flawless and has been the source of many conversions to Christianity. The interpretation offered by Pre-Trib has become popular, but it completely fails even the simplest investigation. As to whether or not this, "Removing Jesus from the Prophecy and replacing Him with Antichrist," is Blasphemy, well, we'll show the facts from Scripture and let our Readers decide for themselves. Let's Pray for God's Holy Spirit to help us know the Truth!

Scripture for "Day-for-Year"
Is there Scripture for converting prophetic days to years? The best proof is its accuracy, but there is Bible  evidence. (See Eze.4:6; Num.14:34). There’s no Biblical command to apply the principle, but when the time and events fit perfectly, it’s the right thing to do. Everything in Daniel’s 70-Week prophecy, especially the 70th Week, took place exactly in order. The odds of all these things being accidental are beyond calculation. The accuracy of this prophecy is proof that the Bible can be trusted—proof that God, who knows the end from the beginning, is the actual Author of the Bible.

Thank you Dear Reader for your time. May God's Spirit guide us into all Truth as we seek to prepare for His Coming! Please see Our Other Websites listed below.
Yours in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr.

Our Websites are Listed Below:


Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus
What We Must Do to Enter the Millennium
Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?
The Millennium and 2012?
Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?
QUESTIONS You've Asked About the Millennium
Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat
Your QUESTIONS about DEATH
The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Who First Taught that Israel and the Church Were Separate?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!
The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath
Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.

Pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Yours in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr.


Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)