The Final Seven Years (Daniel's Seventieth Week)
Seven Years Left
Daniel chapter 9.24-27 gives us God's time-line for Israel. Verse 24 starts, 'Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.' God has decreed a period of seventy weeks, at the end of which, God's purposes concerning Israel will have been brought into fruition. As we will see, each of Daniel's weeks stands for a period of seven years, making a total of 490 years altogether.
The beginning of the seventy weeks was marked by 'the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem'. From that time until the Messiah 69 weeks pass, a period divided into seven weeks and sixty two weeks, making 69 weeks altogether, or 483 years. Sixty nine weeks after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (or 483 years after the decree), the Messiah would be 'cut off'. This was fulfilled by the death of Jesus the Messiah for our sins. After this event, Daniel comments that the 'city and the sanctuary' would be destroyed. This occurred in 70 AD. Therefore, we can safely conclude that the first 69 weeks out of the seventy that are decreed to 'seal up vision and prophecy' have already passed, the first 483 years out of 490 years altogether. The seventieth week remains, the last seven years.
We know that the last seven years did not follow straight after the first 483 years. The Bible itself makes a division between the first 69 weeks and the 70th week. We have seen all of the events of the first 69 weeks, the first 483 years. We have seen the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah and we have seen Messiah the Prince who died, or was 'cut off' 483 years after that decree at about AD 30. In AD 70 we also saw the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem that we are told would happen after the Messiah would be cut off: 'Know therefore and discern that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the anointed one (Messiah in Hebrew), the prince, shall be seven weeks and sixty two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times. And after the sixty two weeks shall the anointed one (Messiah in Hebrew) be cut off and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary...' Dan 9.25,26. However, we have not yet seen the signal that triggers the beginning of the final seven years of history. The most part of the prophecy has been fulfilled already and the prophetic clock is now suspended, waiting to begin counting again when we see the sign that is to herald the beginning of the final seven years. It is a specific sign and cannot be mistaken. When it occurs, no one will be able to be in doubt of it.
What is the sign that marks the beginning of the seven years?
Daniel 9.27 tells us about the final week of his prophecy. He says that the Antichrist, called in Daniel 9.26 'the prince who is to come', 'shall make a firm covenant with many for one week'. The final week of Daniel, the last seven years of history that have yet to run their course, are marked at their beginning by a seven-year covenant made by the Antichrist. Many treaties and covenants have been made by many people but this one is made by the Antichrist, specifically for a period of seven years.
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At that time, there are ten rulers of the earth and they give their authority to the Antichrist. Revelation 17.12,13 says, 'the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings with the beast, for one hour. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.' Antichrist is a world ruler, not a ruler over one nation: 'There was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation' Rev 13.7. Daniel 7.23 says that this beast, this kingdom of antichrist, that is different from all the other beasts Daniel saw, is one that will 'devour the whole earth'. Uniquely, the dominion of the Antichrist's kingdom will be over the whole of the earth. This is why we can be sure when we see the treaty that Daniel speaks about. It is made by none other than the Antichrist himself and for no other period of time but seven years.
What Characterises the Last Seven Years?
'Even unto the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out upon the desolate' Daniel 9.27. Luke 21.22 says, 'These are days of vengeance'. Daniel 11.36 calls this a period of 'the indignation' or 'the wrath' in other translations. Rev 16.1 says that the angels appointed for the task should 'pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth'. There is no biblical reason to distinguish between the first and last three years of the seven year period, both are characterised by the outpouring of the wrath of God. Rev 6.16,17 pictures men already in the first half of the seven years crying to the rocks to fall on them to hide them from 'the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath is come, and who is able to stand?' From the beginning of the seven years and through to their end, all of the judgments unleashed on the earth by the seals, the trumpets and the bowls, are judgments wrought on the earth by God from heaven. The Lamb Himself unseals the seven seals of the scroll that begin the terrible judgments of the seven year period. In Matthew 24.21, the final 3.5 years in particular are characterised by 'great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.' Matthew 24.29 refers to 'the tribulation of those days'.
The entire period of the last seven years are characterised by wrath being poured out. This period of seven years is commonly referred to today as 'the Tribulation'.
What is the purpose of the last seven years?
The entire period of seventy weeks is concerned with Israel and Jerusalem. Verse 24 of Daniel 9 says, 'Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city'. Daniel's people is the Jewish people. In answer to the question, 'How long shall it be until the end of these wonders?' Daniel 12.6, the man clothed in linen comments, 'When they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished', verse 7. The holy people is Israel. The purpose of the seven years is to break Israel's will in order to bring Israel to repent in regard of their national rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. In Hosea 5.15, Jesus says, 'I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly.' God speaks to Israel to commend them to gather together into the land of Israel 'before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah's anger come upon you' Zeph 2.2. The nation of Israel has abhorred God's Messiah: 'Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship, because of Jehovah that is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee' Isaiah 49.7. There is none better qualified then Jesus to be the fulfillment of this prophecy; Who has the nation of Israel abhorred like Jesus of Nazareth? This is the primary reason for the last seven years, characterised by the outpouring of the wrath and indignation of God. It is called in Jeremiah 30.7, 'the time of Jacob's trouble'.
All of this is not just to punish Israel but to turn her heart in repentance and bring her into salvation. Out of every three Jews in Israel, one will remain alive to the end of the seven years. Zech 13.8: 'In all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name and I will hear them: I will say, "It is my people"; and they shall say, "Jehovah is my God".' The entire nation left alive at the end of the seven year period will be saved as it is written, 'So all Israel shall be saved' Romans 11.26. Not one will be left in unbelief - hallelujah! God's purpose for the seven years is the repentance and salvation of His nation Israel.
God also pours out His wrath on the nations and peoples of all the earth because they 'repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk; and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.' Rev 9.20,21.
Marking the Middle of the seven years
Right at the mid-point of the seven year period, the Antichrist will 'cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease' Daniel 9.27. By this time, the unregenerate Jewish nation, back in the land of Israel in a condition of unbelief, will have rebuilt the Temple and re-started animal sacrifices in the Temple. Isaiah 66 speaks of this Temple; uniquely in history, it is a Temple that God did not want Israel to build and the sacrifices are ones that He has not commanded or desired: 'Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest? For all these things hath my hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith Jehovah: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as he that slayeth a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as he that breaketh a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as he that offereth swine's blood; he that burneth frankincense, as he that blesseth an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations' Isaiah 66.1-3.
In the middle of the seven years, the antichrist and his forces will 'take away the continual burnt offering and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate' Daniel 11.31.
Marking the End of the seven Years
'Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.' Matt 24.29,30. The glorious coming of our Lord Jesus marks the end of the seven years. After this the nations will be gathered before Him and judged - the sheep and goat judgment of Matt 25. 'Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed' Daniel 8.14. After a seventy five day period from the glorious coming of Jesus Christ, the Millennial Kingdom will be set up (see Daniel 12.11,12.
Starting to count the days from the mid-point of the seven years, there are 3.5 years until the end: 'It shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished' Dan 12.7. In Revelation 11.2,3, this period of 3.5 years is numbered as being 1260 days, or 42 months, showing that the Bible is counting 30 days to each month. After this is the return of the King. Then is the period of 75 days until the Millennial Kingdom. Daniel says, 'Blessed is he that waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty five days' Dan 12.12, ie all those who will be counted righteous and will enter into the Millennial Kingdom. Many wicked people will survive the Tribulation, but during these 75 days they will be judged and destroyed and will by no means enter the Kingdom. All who enter will be blessed indeed! This will include every single Jewish person alive on earth at the time. Those not found in the land of Israel will be gathered from every corner of the earth: 'He shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other' Matt 24.31.
