End Times Framework

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FAST FORWARD PART TWO

“LET THE READER UNDERSTAND”

OR, THE END TIMES FRAMEWORK

JESUS’ OLIVET DISCOURSE #2

DANIEL 2, 9 AND MATTHEW 24:15-29

ROGER BARRIER, SENIOR PASTOR

1-13-08

S-1744

Today we continue our four-Sunday emphasis on Jesus’ teaching concerning future events. His Olivet Discourse is found in Matthew 24. We call this series, “Fast Forward.” We will take a moment to review for those who missed last week.

Stunned by Jesus’ pronouncement regarding the destruction of the Temple, the disciples asked three questions.

1. When will this (the destruction of the Temple) happen?

2. What will be the sign of your coming?

3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

The Mountain Peak Principle: Events that seem close together may in fact be separated by varying lengths of time.

The Multiple-Fulfillment Principle: Prophecies may be fulfilled multiple times. For example, the Abomination of Desolation predicted by Daniel (Daniel 9:27) is at least a triple fulfillment (Matthew 24:15).

"LET THE READER UNDERSTAND"

Under God’s inspired influence Daniel prophetically laid out the framework for world history from his day to the second coming of Christ and then on to the end of the age. His prophecies provide the framework for understanding all other end-time prophecies.

The Multi-Metallic Man (Daniel 2:31-45)

Golden Head (Babylon)

Silver Chest and Arms (Media-Persia)

Brass Belly and Thighs (Greece)

Iron Legs (Rome)

Feet and Toes of Iron Mixed with Clay (Kingdom of the Anti-Christ)

The Rock (Jesus, Matthew 21:42-44)

The Mountain (The Kingdom of Christ)

Some Lessons:

1. All human governments stand on delicate foundations.

2.  All human governments eventually deteriorate and decay.

Professor Alexander Tyler wrote about the fall of the Athenian Republic 2000 years earlier when the thirteen colonies were still a part of Great Britain: “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policies and is always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed in the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith... to great courage... to liberty... to abundance... to selfishness… to complacency... to apathy... to dependency... and back to bondage.”

3. The power of human governments is increasing.

The Seventy “Sevens” Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27)

God had a plan for Israel (bondage in Babylon) that lasted 70 years. God has another plan for Israel. This one extends for 490 years (70 X 7years) from Daniel’s day until the second coming of Christ and until and Christ establishes His Messianic Kingdom.

"Heptad” refers to seven of anything—just as “dozen” refers to twelve of anything.

From the command to rebuild Jerusalem (March 4, 444 b.c.) until the “Anointed One” (Jesus Christ) came was predicted to be sixty-nine “heptads” (69 X 7 years = 483 years). 483 Jewish years later or 173,880 days (360 days per Jewish year X 483 years = 173,880 days) after March 4, 444 B.C. was April 6, 32 a.d..—Palm Sunday.

When Christ entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, 32 a.d., God's prophetic time clock stopped and has remained stopped for almost two thousand years. There is a time gap after the end of the sixty-ninth “heptad” and before the seventieth. The clock hands today stand poised at “sixty-nine.” There is still one "seven" to go.

Three events occur after the sixty-ninth "seven" and before the seventieth "seven" begins.

1. The "Anointed One" will be crucified.

2. The people (the Romans) of the ruler who will come (the Anti-christ) will destroy Jerusalem (The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 a.d.)

3. There will be no peace on earth. Wars will continue unabated until Christ returns.

Several events will occur during the final seven years.

1. The prophetic clock will restart when the Anti-Christ makes a seven year peace treaty with the nation of Israel.

2.  After three and one-half years the Anti-christ will desecrate the Temple by placing an image of himself in the Holy of Holies (This is the “abomination of desolation” Daniel, Jesus and Paul warned us to watch out for.) The Anti-christ will then break the peace treaty and the greatest persecution of the Jewish race in all history will commence.

3. The seals, trumpets and bowls of destruction described in the Book of Revelation commence once the peace treaty is broken.

4.  The Battle of Armageddon occurs at the end of the seven-year period with the destruction of Anti-christ and his forces.

Some More Lessons:

1.  Discerning Christians have no reason to be baffled nor confused regarding the events of the end of the age.

2.  Investing in global outreach provides personal involvement in bringing in the Kingdom of God on earth.

3. Living holy lives is the best preparation we can make for the return of Christ.