† Daniel and Revelation are the two books in the Bible that are called the Apocalypse. They contain prophecies of end-time events.
† Some of the prophecies in Daniel are about 4 past empires and 2 future kingdoms.
|
Prophesy |
Daniel 2 |
Daniel 7 |
Daniel 8 |
|
Babylon (604-538 BC) |
32,37 |
4 |
|
|
Media & Persia (538-333 BC) |
32,39 |
5 |
3-6,20 |
|
Greece (333-147 BC), later divided into 4 (297BC) |
32,39 |
6 |
5-7,21 |
|
Roman Empire (272BC-AD476), later divided into 2
(AD285) |
33,40 |
7 |
8,22 |
|
Future kingdom eventually controlled by the
antichrist |
33,41-43 |
7-8 |
9,23-25 |
|
God’s everlasting kingdom |
34,44-45 |
11 |
25 |
† Other prophecies in Daniel appear to be describe the end-time.
|
Prophesy |
Daniel 7 |
Daniel 8 |
Daniel 9 |
Daniel 11 |
Daniel 12 |
|
Antichrist |
8,20-21,24 |
9-12,23-25 |
27 |
21-30,37 |
|
|
Persecution of saints |
25 |
12-13 |
|
|
1 |
|
Daily sacrifice stopped |
|
11-13 |
27 |
31 |
11 |
|
Abomination of desolation |
|
13 |
27 |
31 |
11 |
|
Middle of the last 7 years |
25 |
14 |
27 |
|
7,11-12 |
|
God’s eternal kingdom established |
13-14 |
25 |
24 |
|
2-3 |
|
The end |
18,28 |
17,19 |
26 |
|
4,9,13 |
† Many of the end-time prophecies in Daniel are found in parallel verses in the NT.
|
Antichrist |
2Th 2:3,9; Rev 12:3; Rev 13:1,5-6 |
|
Persecution of saints |
Rev 11:2; Rev 13:7 |
|
Daily sacrifice stopped |
2Th 2:4 |
|
Abomination of desolation |
Mt 24:15 |
|
Middle of the last 7 years |
Rev 11:3; Rev 12:6,14 |
|
God’s eternal kingdom established |
2Th 2:8; Rev 19:19-20; Rev 21:1 |
† Dan 9:24-27 talks about “seventy sevens”, a prophesy describing events that would happen in the history of Israel in a 490-year (70x7) period. However, events prophesied in the last “seven” have apparently not occurred. Most Biblical scholars believe that these events will happen in a 7-year period of Tribulation which is described in Revelation.
9:24 [about the purposes of the 70-7s]
These seventy sevens will result in the fulfilment of God’s final purposes. They will result in the glorious kingdom of righteousness with the following characteristics:
· restraining of transgression
· sealing up (end) of sins
· reconciliation for (cover) iniquity
· ushering in of everlasting righteousness
· sealing up of vision and prophecy (meaning terminating, because of the final and complete fulfilment of vision and prophecy, it is no longer required in the future)
· anointing of the most holy: anointment of the everlasting King or, more likely, annointing the supreme everlasting sanctuary to be the eternal dwelling place of God with men
9:25 [about the 3 periods of the 70-7s: 7-7s, 62-7s, and the last seven]
The 490-year (70-7s) period will begin “from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.” This happened in 445BC with King Artaxerxes’ decree (Neh 2:1-6). During the rebuilding in the first 7-7s (49 years), there will be troubles (as recorded in Nehemiah).
After the 7-7s, there will be another 62-7s (434 years) and the Anointed One will appear during this time.
9:26 [about the end of the 69th 7]
The Anointed One (Messiah) will be cut off at the end of the 69th 7. This points to the death of Jesus. (Some explain “will have nothing” to mean “having no crimes.”)
Based on historical research, the birthday of Jesus is widely accepted as in 4BC. This will put the date of His death in AD30 (3.5 years of mission from age 30). Between 445BC and AD30 is a period of only 474 years (as there is no zero year). This is 9 years shorter than the 69 sevens (483 years). The explanation is that the Hebrew calendar is based on lunar months, meaning one year is equivalent to 360 days. The 483 years will be about 474 years in our calendar.
The holy city and holy Temple were destroyed in AD70. The “desolations” refer to the placing of an idol at the burnt Temple site by the Romans.
Most believe that the present time is the gap between the 69th seven and the 70th seven because the conditions specified in Dan 9:24 have not been realized. Also, the description of the last seven fits prophecies about the antichrist. This period, as described in many different places in the Bible, is characterized by the domination of the antichrist in the world and persecution of the saints. It is commonly identified as the 7-year Tribulation period in the end-time and the last 3.5 years are described as the Great Tribulation (this term used only in Rev 7:14).
9:27 [about the 70th 7—the antichrist]
The antichrist will confirm a covenant of 7 years with the Jews.
However, at the middle of 70th seven, he will break the covenant and put an end to sacrifice and offering at the Temple. And on a wing of the Temple (Chinese translation incorrect, not “like flying”), he will set up “an abomination that causes desolation”, an image of himself.
At the end of the 70th seven, God’s decree will be enacted: the antichrist will be destroyed by God.
† There is no contradiction in the prophecies written by many different authors and in very different time periods: Daniel at about 530BC, Jesus (as recorded by Matthew) at AD30, Paul (in 2Th) at about AD50, and John (in Rev) at about AD95. This alone acts as a powerful witness that the Bible is reliably the Word of God which forms a worthy foundation for our faith.
† While the world will get worse before the end, all Biblical prophecies also assure us that God will destroy evil at the end. All injustice in the world is only temporary. We need to rest in the assurance that God’s plan will work out according to His perfect timing.