Daniel’s 70th Week

We left off this study of Daniel’s amazing 70 weeks prophecy last month at Daniel 10:13, as Gabriel explained to Daniel that his prayers were heard before God on the very first day of his fast and prayer vigil, but the prince of Persia delayed the Lord’s response sent by His archangel, Gabriel. Gabriel continues his conversation with Daniel and explains to him how a vile king (the antichrist) will come to power during the last days (chapters 10-11). “Now I have come to make you understand what shall befall your people in the latter days, for yet the vision is for many days” Daniel 10:14. Gabriel then tells Daniel about a series of events concerning Middle Eastern rulers in the latter days, specifically the rulers of the northern and southern kingdoms (from the vantage of Israel), and how the antichrist will come to power. “He shall enter peaceably, even upon the fattest places of the province, and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers. He shall scatter among them the prey, the spoil and riches; yes, and he shall forecast his devices against the strongholds, even for a time” Daniel 11:24. I can’t help but mention that Barack Obama has plundered America like no other president has before him, spending more than all US presidents before him combined. He has caused millions of dollars (cash) to be delivered to Afghan officials in suitcases and backpacks. No other national leader has gone into the Middle East and taken down presidents, like Libya’s Muammar al-Gaddafi and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak (southern kingdoms), while he also has his eyes set on taking down Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad (a northern kingdom) – something to think about. The antichrist will come to power as a figure bringing peace, but he will “work deceitfully” (Daniel 11:23). John the Revelator was given prophecies which expound on the prophecies that had already been given to Daniel. Gabriel told Daniel to “shut up the words and seal the book” on some of the revelations given to him, “until the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4), which revelations are actually given later to John and are written in the Book of Revelation. John wrote of two riders on white horses in the Book of Revelation. Many people have confused the first rider on a white horse (Revelation 6:2), who has a bow in his hand and a crown on his head, who goes forth conquering and to conquer, with Christ at His return; but that interpretation is incorrect. The first rider on a white horse is the antichrist, not Christ. Jesus appears on a white horse in Revelation 19:11, and His description is quite different than that of the first rider. The first rider appears with a bow, but no arrow, indicative of feigned peace. Yes, he has a crown, but the antichrist will rule, until the Lord’s return. When Christ appears in Revelation 19:11, He arrives on a white horse, but He is described as “Faithful and True and in righteousness He will judge and make war.” The two descriptions are very distinct. We need to be filled with the Spirit of God and very perceptive, because Jesus forewarned us, “There shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” Matthew 24:24. Gabriel continues further with his description of the antichrist, “And the king shall do according to his will and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper, until the indignation (God’s wrath) is accomplished, for that which is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the god of his fathers, nor the desire of women, or regard any god, for he shall magnify himself above all; but in his estate, he shall honor the god of forces and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, silver and with precious stones and pleasant things…He shall enter also into the glorious land (Israel) and many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of his hand: Edom (modern Jordan) and Moab (also a mountainous area in Jordan today) and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand upon the countries and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver and over all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians shall be at his steps Daniel 11:36-38,41-43. These prophecies concerning the last week (seven years) of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy are very telling. We covered the events of the first 69 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy in the first two newsletters of this study. We are now covering the 70th week of the prophecy. I am out of space – to be continued next month, God willing.