Daniel’s 70th Week

Last month, we left off the study of the final week of Daniel’s 70-week prophecy with an explanation of how both Daniel and John foretold that the antichrist will move with great force against God’s people, and that this will be a time of “Jacob’s trouble,” as highlighted also in the April newsletter. The Jews were taken into captivity by the Babylonians, Assyrians and Egyptians because they sinned against the Lord’s commandments and worshiped other gods. The Jews (God’s firstborn - Exodus 4:22) were again taken into captivity by the Romans and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in 70 AD. Once again, they were nearly wiped out during Hitler’s holocaust, between 1933 and 1945, when more than 6 million Jews were slaughtered. Why have the Jews been targeted throughout history? First, because they sinned and rebelled against God, and again because they “missed the time of their visitation” (Luke 19:44). The Word of God tells us that “Whatsoever things written aforetime were written for our learning...” Romans 15:4. If God spared not His firstborn who sinned, why do so many “Christians” today believe they are getting away with sin and disobedience to God? The Apostle John wrote, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1. He went on to say, “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ but keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 2:4. “Damnable heresies” (2 Peter 2:1) and “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1) are rampant in the last days. I didn’t intend to take this route apart from Daniel’s prophecy, but I am going to follow the leading of the Spirit. Churches would be better off to prayerfully follow the leading of the Spirit today, instead of adhering so closely to their own agendas. Multitudes of Christians nowadays want rather to believe a one-time sinner’s prayer is going to take them through this life and on to glory. Their faith hangs on an isolated scripture here and there, such as, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:9. This scripture is absolutely true, but it is only the beginning of God’s work in His people and this scripture cannot be isolated against all others that teach us to “...walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” Romans 8:1 and “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14. It is important to bear in mind that the scriptures have to be “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15) and that “no prophecy of the scripture is of private interpretation” 2 Peter 1:20. God’s Word is clear in warning us, “Know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16. Many “Christians” adhering to the doctrine of Calvin are quick to respond that we are not saved by works, but by faith alone. That is very true, but since when is abstinence from sin “works?” How laborious is it to abstain from something? Abstinence means to stay away from something; It is a “do-nothing” word. Abstinence = works? This is not an accurate interpretation of the word. The Bible tells us that we can’t earn our salvation by works, which Jesus purchased on the cross. This truth has nothing to do with obeying God’s commandment to abstain from sin. The Lord brought this to my attention. I didn’t think of it myself; I am not that wise. The entire Bible is full of scriptures which convey to us that sin destroys the soul and we must follow Christ to be saved. Jude wrote to the early Church, “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not” Jude 1:5. The point being made, they were destroyed after having once been delivered. James faced off with some “Calvins” of his day when he wrote, “...You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” James 2:18. He went on to say, “You believe there is one God; you do well; the devils also believe and tremble. But will you know, oh vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:19-20. Getting back to Daniel’s last week of the prophecy; the antichrist will persecute the saints during the great tribulation period, according to Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 7:25), and according to John’s prophecy (Revelation 13:5; Revelation 20:4). Contrary to some teachings and misinterpretation of the scriptures, people will be saved after the rapture, or “catching up” of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18), in that 144,000 Jews will be sealed with the seal of God (Revelation 7:3) and they will be protected during the great tribulation to come, the time of “Jacob’s trouble.” I am out of space. To be continued, God willing.