03.03. Key Texts
Key Texts
Daniel The dream of Nebuchadnezzar found in Dan 2:1-45 refers to the kingdoms of Babylon, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks and then the Romans. The stone that struck the statue is the kingdom established by Jesus. His kingdom will endure forever. This kingdom that arose from the stone that struck the statue cannot be the second coming of Christ, according to the text, it has to be the first coming. Note the interpretation in Dan 2:36-45, Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold, which is the Babylonian empire. The second kingdom refers to the Medes and Persians. The third refers to that of the Greeks and the fourth to the Roman empire. Note specifically the following verse related to the Roman empire. It is in the “days of those kings”.
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. (Dan 2:44 NAS95) “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Mat 10:7 NAS95)
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. (Mat 11:12 NAS95)
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” (John 18:36 NAS95) The vision of the four beasts in Dan 7:1-28. The first three beasts have already passed, but the fourth one is placed into the end times.
‘He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. ‘But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. (Dan 7:25-26 NAS95) The vision in Dan 8:1-26 with the ram and goat refers to the kingdom of the Medes and Persians being defeated by the king of Greece. Dan 8:11-14 refer to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes in the time of the Maccabees. In Dan 9:24-27, Gabriel brings the decree for Daniel’s people (Israelites). It is important therefore to note that the seventy weeks all refer to the Jews. This is really important when we look at the book of Revelation to determine the start of the seven years. There is a time gap between the 69th week and the 70th week. Luke refers to this time as the “time of the Gentiles”. (Luk 21:24). It would therefore be more proper to refer to the age that we are in as the “time of the Gentiles”, rather than the “Church age”.
“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (Dan 9:24-27 NAS95) The vision of Dan 10:1-21, Dan 11:1-35 refers to the time of the Medes and Persians and then the Greek kingdoms to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes.iv There is a shift at this point to looking at the end times.
“Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time. (Dan 11:35 NAS95) In verse 40, it is made really clear that the focus is now on the end times.
“At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through. (Dan 11:40 NAS95)
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. (Dan 12:1-2 NAS95)
“But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” (Dan 12:4 NAS95) And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. (Dan 12:6-7 NAS95)
“From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. “How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! (Dan 12:11-12 NAS95)
“But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.” (Dan 12:13 NAS95)
Let’s examine the texts to establish some key points. The seventy weeks references seventy sabbatical cycles. A sabbatical cycle is seven years. The first seven weeks therefore is seven sabbatical year cycles to form one Jubilee cycle. Thus, we have 69 weeks = 483 years from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the Messiah. (This by itself would rule out the time of the Maccabees). To any ancient Jew, the “weeks” of Dan 9:25, which were periods of seven years, would immediately bring to mind the sabbatical year cycles the LORD established in Exo 23:10-11 and Lev 25:1-55.v A number of other items from Daniel’s prophecy also do not fit with trying to put the “abomination of desolation” from Dan 9:27 into the time of the Maccabees. First, the Messiah comes and is killed. Next you need the city and sanctuary destroyed; This did not happen then. The temple was destroyed previously by Nebuchadnezzar and after it was rebuilt, it was not destroyed until Titus did so in 70 AD. The matter of making a covenant with many (Jews) and after 3 ½ years, when the “abomination of desolation” comes, does not fit with either the Maccabees or Titus. Neither can it be said that there was an “increase of knowledge” either in the times of the Maccabees or the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. So, the time of the Maccabees is ruled out as is the time of Titus. The 483 years coincides with the coming of Jesus the Messiah. After the 62 weeks, the Messiah is cut off. So sometime after the arrival of the Messiah, He is killed. The next phrase is interesting and must be examined carefully. It is not the prince who is to come, but rather the people of the prince. So, who are these people of the prince who are to destroy the temple and Jerusalem after the Messiah is killed? History records that it was the Roman legions along with their auxiliaries that destroyed Jerusalem. While many assume that because it was Titus and the “Roman” legions that destroyed Jerusalem, that the ruler must come from a revived Roman empire. The fact is though that most of the soldiers in these legions and their auxiliary units were from the surrounding area. (See appendix A for citations) In light of this, it is most likely that the prince will be from the Middle East. This lines up with the book of Revelation where the armies come from the East and Babylon is mentioned, essentially, as the seat of power of this kingdom. The destruction by Titus in 70 AD also does not line up with Daniel’s prophecy. The Messiah had come and was killed, but Titus never made a covenant with the Jews that were in Jerusalem because the Jews refused. Not only that, Titus actually did not want to destroy the temple.vi The Gospels The main sections are in Mat 24:1-51, Mat 25:1-46, Mark 13:1-37, Luk 17:22-36; Luk 21:5-36. The setting is just prior to his death and resurrection. The first passage from Luke is just prior to them going to Jerusalem. The rest are when Jesus and the disciples are walking in the temple area, the disciples point out the wonderful buildings, beautiful stones and dedicated gifts and proceed to the Mount of Olives. Jesus tells them that not one of these stones (of the temple buildings) will be left upon each other. The following is the account of this conversation and is a compilation of the synoptic Gospels in order to get the most complete information. Note that Jesus does not present everything in a chronological order. At one point He specifically says that “before these things”, “this will happen”. This first passage is set at the end of time. And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. “They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. “For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. “Remember Lot’s wife. “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. “There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. [“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”] And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” (Luk 17:22-37 NAS95) Note that the last part of the last verse is similar to Mat 24:28 which is also placed at the end times. And as He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.” And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, (Mark 13:1-3 LSB)
“Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” (Mat 24:3 LSB) And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one deceives you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (Mat 24:4-5 LSB)
“And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” (Luk 21:9 LSB)
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains. (Mat 24:7-8 LSB) Here is a time marker. The following occurs prior to what was just said.
“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. “It will result in an opportunity for your testimony. (Luk 21:12-13 LSB) “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. (Mark 13:10 NAS95) The following verse again takes a break from the chronology and is a general statement.
“And when they lead you away, delivering you up, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:11 LSB) “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. (Mat 24:10 NAS95)
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. (Mark 13:12 NAS95) “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. (Mat 24:11 NAS95) “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. (Mat 24:12 NAS95)
“You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Mark 13:13 NAS95) The following is a somewhat separate statement again. The indicator as to the time frame is “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies”. That puts this set of verses into the time frame of the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD. Note that verses 23 and 24 describe what happened and especially noteworthy is that Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. This is frequently referred to as the “Church age”, but Scripture calls it the “time of the Gentiles”. The following passage in Luke, therefore, cannot refer to the end times.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. “Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. (Luk 21:20-22 NAS95)
“Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luk 21:23-24 NAS95)
We now come to another event to look at and determine its time frame. This section is set after the gospel has been preached to all nations. This places it towards the end or after the time of the Gentiles. Frequently, the previous passage in Luke is confused with the following one that is recorded in Matthew and Mark. The text makes a distinction in the time that each applies to. Luke’s marker is that Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, (Titus in 70 AD), Matthew and Mark put this in the context of “the end” and the marker is the “abomination of desolation” in the temple. These are therefore two different events that Jesus talked about and should not be confused. Another indicator that these are different events, is that in the Matthew and Mark accounts, it refers to a “a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will”. This cannot refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD, even though it was a horrific time, since that type of tribulation has occurred previously and the end times will see a greater tribulation. It is also at this time that Jesus returns and gathers the elect, which again does not fit for 70 AD. The great sign and wonders that Jesus talks about have not happened either.
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Mat 24:14 NAS95)
“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. “Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Mat 24:15-22 NAS95)
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. “For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. “Behold, I have told you in advance. “Therefore, if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. “For just as the lightning comes from the east and appears even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Mat 24:23-27 LSB) “But as for you, see! I have told you everything in advance. (Mark 13:23 LSB)
“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. (Mat 24:29-30 LSB)
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luk 21:25-26 LSB)
“And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. (Mark 13:27 LSB)
“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luk 21:28 LSB) After this, Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree.
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. (Mat 24:32-35 BEREAN) Jesus goes on to warn them to keep watch and be faithful. Note the parallel with Noah. All will be swept away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Mat 24:36-39 BEREAN) But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luk 21:34-36 BEREAN)
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. (Mat 24:42-47 BEREAN) Jesus reinforces this with the parable of the ten virgins. The whole point being to prepare and be ready. But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. (Mat 25:10 BEREAN) “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. (Mat 25:13 NAS95)
Jesus then tells of the parable of the talents. The point of this one is to be faithful in doing the task that is assigned to each one. The one that was not faithful is rejected. His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Mat 25:21 ESV) And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Mat 25:30 ESV) Jesus then proceeds to talk about the final judgement by comparing people to sheep and goats. When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Mat 25:31-32 BEREAN)
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ (Mat 25:34-36 BEREAN)
Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Mat 25:41 BEREAN) And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mat 25:46 BEREAN)
Thessalonians
Paul addresses the issue of the return of Jesus. There are a few points that again will allow us to put some markers in place.
Now we ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken in your mind or be alarmed whether by a spirit or a word or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it has not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, exhibiting himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then that lawless one will be revealed—whom the Lord Jesus WILL SLAY WITH THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming— whose coming is in accord with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (2Th 2:1-10 LSB) The markers are:
The apostasy comes first.
The “man of lawlessness” (this would seem to refer to the beast in Revelation) comes and exalts himself above every “so-called” god.
He takes his seat in the sanctuary.
He will be slain by Jesus.
The take-ways from this are:
There has to be some kind of great apostasy that is different in magnitude from anything that we have seen in history. Apostacy means falling away or rebelling.
apostasía. Based on apostátēs (politically a “rebel,” religiously an “apostate”), this term signifies the state (not the act) of apostasy. Paul is accused of apostasy against the law in Acts 21:21. Eschatological apostasy is the issue in 2Th 2:3, either with or prior to the man of lawlessness. Resting on Jewish tradition, this will be the decline of Christians into error and sin in the last days (cf. Mat 24:11-12).vii
ἀποστασία (apostasia). n. rebellion, apostasy, abandonment. Refers to rebelling or abandoning a former authority. The Greek word apostasia is the source of the English word “apostasy.” It is used only twice in the nt. Acts 21:21 reports a rumor that Paul is teaching Jews to abandon (apostasia) the teachings of Moses. 2Th 2:3 foretells a great “falling away” or “rebellion” (apostasia) from the Christian faith before the day of Christ.viii Jesus talks about this in Matthew as He talks about the end times and quite likely refers to the same event.
“And at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. (Mat 24:10 LSB)
Even though many leaders have exalted themselves above all gods, this must be different from that.
In terms of timing, this one is really important. He has to take his seat in the sanctuary of God. This can only take place once the third temple is built. This places it in the future. Since he is going to be slain by Jesus on His return, the timing is at the very end of the age. This puts it squarely into the last years of the tribulation just prior to the return of Jesus and answers the concern of the believers regarding the second coming of Jesus.