Archive for February, 2019

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 3

Saturday, February 23rd, 2019

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 3

Age of the Prophecy Revisionists

The majority of preachers today are not aware of the major revisions to prophetic teachings that were brought in during the age of the great revisionists from 1740 to 1832. Many of these teachings came out of the Evangelical Age and he Age of the great Awakening.

I do not accept many of the revisions that were made during this period.

I challenge anyone reading this to produce a pre-1740 book on prophecy, based on Biblical interpretation, that shows a diagram dividing the tribulation period into two sections, each one 3 and ½ years in length, with the first resurrection occurring at the beginning of the first 3 and ½ year period.

I would also like for someone to show me a published book before 1740, based on Bible interpretation, showing a diagram dividing the tribulation period into sections, each one 1260 days in length, with the first resurrection occurring at the beginning of the second period of 1260 days.

For that matter, I would also like to see a published book before 1740, based on Bible interpretation that taught the rapture would occur at the middle or the beginning of the tribulation period. If you should find one, which is possible, try to find two more. And after you do that, try to find a book that stated the three “HE’s” in Daniel are Jesus Christ. I implore you to do this before the Rapture.

It is possible that a pre-1740 published book does exist somewhere that shows the tribulation period divided into two sections, each one 3 and ½ years in length, but I have looked long and hard for it in many old musty religious book archives in the U.S. and abroad, and I have yet to find it.

Prophetic teachers of this generation have lived with the two division diagrams so long they think they came over on the Mayflower. But basically these diagrams were a product of the first of the week rapture position, which is such an ingrained part of prophecy teaching today. The so-called “first of the week” position, as well as what is known as the “middle of the week” position, cannot be found in existence in any published book about the Bible before 1740. In fact, it is the term “week,” appropriated by the revisionists, that is largely responsible for the mass exodus from orthodox prophetic teaching, which occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The bulk of all prophetic teaching of today is based, directly or indirectly, on the revisionist teaching on Daniel 9:27, which, to a large extent, was accelerated with the initial appearance of the “first of the week” position in the early 19th century. If the teaching on Daniel 9:27 by the revisionists is incorrect, then much of today’s prophetic teaching is in error. I believe this is the case, and I have been labeled as a revisionist myself because of it. I am certain that the great Bible expositor B.H. Carrol, who continued to believe the pre-1740 teachings until his death, was correct in what he taught concerning Daniel’s 70th week. For you see, before 1827, the majority of orthodox prophetic teachers were convinced that the “he” in Daniel 9:27 was Jesus Christ, not the antichrist – THEY WERE RIGHT. We are not waiting for a “week of seven years” to be fulfilled! Why not? Because Jesus has already fulfilled most of the first 3 and ½ years. We are facing a tribulation period of the last 3 and ½ years, preceded by a much briefer period of hudna peace than many are expecting.

I implore you to take a look at what was taught by most orthodox prophetic teachers before 1827 about Daniel’s 70th Week. It is fully exposited in our Prophecy Archives on Updates 55, 56, 57 and 58. Also please scan Updates 74A, 73D, and 82A for the pre-1740 Rapture Position.

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER – PART 2A

Thursday, February 14th, 2019

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 2A

BELIEVER – DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE GLORIFIED RESURRECTION BODY GOD HAS PROMISED TO ALL THE SAVED?

THE GLORIOUS BODY OF THE BETTER RESURRECTION WILL BE SEEN BY ALL BELIEVERS AT JESUS’ JUDGMENT SEAT

NOT ALL BELIEVERS WILL HAVE THE SAME DEGREE OF GLORY IN THE MILLENNIAL AND FINAL HEAVEN AGE.
THE DEGREE OF GLORY MANIFESTED WILL DETERMINE WHERE ONE LIVES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

II Corinthians 5:1,2,10
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Colossians 3:23-25
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily (from the soul), as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Since 1982, I have openly contended that Revelation 11:18 pictures the saved in heaven being judged for rewards after the seventh trump, the last trump, is sounded, and that the seven vials of wrath are being poured out on the earth while they are being judged. I contend that the better resurrection in Hebrews 11:35 will are directly tied to the degree of “glory” manifested by the spiritual bodies all shall see at the judgment seat.

Hebrews 11:35
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that THEY MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION.

In II Corinthians Paul talks about this spiritual body, as compared to our temporal, and the advantage gained in glory by not fainting in our labors in this temporal body while waiting for the first resurrection. And he advises us that we will receive in our new bodies a recompense for what we have done in our temporal body.

II Corinthians 4:14 to 5:2,10
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. [15] For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. [16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; [18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. [1] For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

When the bodies of the saved are resurrected they will be changed at the last trump, the seventh trump, for the temporal flesh and blood body cannot inherit anything in the kingdom of God.

I Corinthians 15:50-52
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

I have long contended that all the saved will receive glorified bodies, and that all will be glorious, but I also contend that there will be a difference in the degrees of glory they manifest. I believe that some will receive a “better resurrection” than others, and that this relates to the degree of glory manifested by the person of the new body in which they will dwell. Paul’s conclusion to the last trump rapture in II Corinthians stresses the advantage gained in laboring for the Lord in your temporal body.

I Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The verses that lead up to the last trump in I Corinthians, and those that follow it, point out that when the temporal body is sown in the earth at the time of its physical demise, the glory of its resurrection will be in proportion to the degree of its spiritual labors during physical life. God will give every saved person a body as it pleases him, and I conclude he will give a body proportionate in glory to what the individual sowed in his or her lifetime.

Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

I Corinthians 15:38-41
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. [39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. [40] There are also celestial bodies , and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

In verse 42 Paul draws a conclusion to what he has just stated. He has pointed out that the sun to our eyes us more glorious in appearance than the moon, and in turn the moon is more glorious than the stars. The word “So” is a definite conclusion to what he summarized beginning with verse 35.

I Corinthians 15:35, 41,42
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. [42] SO ALSO is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

Paul then leads into the quickening change by the last Adam, Jesus, at the first resurrection, informing us that we will bear the image of the heavenly in our spiritual body at the time when we shall all be changed.

I Corinthians 15:42-51
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. [45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. [46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

The change in our inner man, that we let the Lord make in us while we are still present in our temporal body, will be reflected in our final body.

II Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

John 6:62, 63
What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? [63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

James 1:25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 2

Tuesday, February 12th, 2019

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 2

THE RAPTURE AND THE RUPTURE

Isaiah 26:12-14
Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. [13] O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. [14] They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

Psalm 91:7-16
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. [8] Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. [9] Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; [10] There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. [11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. [13] Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. [14] Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. [15] He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. [16] With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Romans 4:4-8
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Isaiah 26:14-21
They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. [15] Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth. [16] Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. [17] Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord. [18] We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. THE RAPTURE – [19] Thy dead men shall live, together with MY dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall CAST OUT the dead. THE RUPTURE – [20] Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. [21] For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the EARTH also shall disclose HER blood (dam), and shall no more cover HER slain.

THE RAPTURE OCCURS ON TRUMPET 7 IN REVELATION

THE RUPTURE OCCURS AFTER IT SOUNDS IN 7 WRATH VIALS

BETWEEN TRUMP 7 & VIAL 7 THE SAVED ARE JUDGED IN HEAVEN

Revelation 11:15,18
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
[18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

THEN HE RETURNS WITH THE SAVED AT HIS SECOND ADVENT

I Thessalonians 3:12,13
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
[13] To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting ONE ANOTHER: and so much the more, as ye see THE DAY approaching.

Ephesians 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 1A

Monday, February 4th, 2019

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 1A

Stop Worrying about World Prophetic Fulfillment

Start being concerned about your relationship with God

This is a full exposition of one of the events used in Part 1

THE ANTICHRIST WILL NOT BE A JEW – THE RAPTURE WILL OCCUR WHEN THE LAST TRUMPET (7) SOUNDS – WHEN BELIEVERS SUDDENLY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, WILL THEY STAY IN THEIR CHURCH WHERE THEY WERE TAUGHT THESE 2 THINGS?

Age of the Prophecy Revisionists

The vast majority of preachers today do not realize the major revisions to orthodox prophetic teachings that were introduced by revisionists from 1780 to 1880. I do not accept the majority of the revisions made during this period.

I challenge anyone reading this to produce a pre-1740 book on prophecy, based on Biblical interpretation, that shows a diagram dividing the tribulation period into two sections, each one 3 and ½ years in length, with the first resurrection occurring at the beginning of the first 3 and ½ year period.

I would also like for someone to show me a published book before 1760, based on Bible interpretation, showing a diagram dividing the tribulation period into sections, each one 1260 days in length, with the first resurrection occurring at the beginning of the second period of 1260 days.

For that matter, I would also like to see a published book before 1760, based on Bible interpretation that taught the rapture would occur at the middle or the beginning of the tribulation period.

It is possible that a pre-1760 published book does exist somewhere that shows the tribulation period divided into two sections, each one 3 and ½ years in length, but I have looked long and hard for it in many old musty religious book archives in the U.S. and abroad, and I have yet to find it.

All these revisions by prophetic teachers began with a so-called ‘great awakening’ Evangelical Movement that began in 1730, and intensified in 1760. So it is possible a pre-tribulation publication with diagrams was published between 1730 and 1760 but I haven’t been able to find it, nor have I found a publication in this period that identified the “he” in Daniel 9:27 as the Antichrist. All identified the “he” as Jesus Christ.

Daniel 9:27 is one of two Scriptures used to prove the Antichrist must be a Jew. The other is John 5:43.

John 5:43
I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

This prophetic utterance by Jesus did refer to a Jew who would follow him some 100 years later, namely, “the prince” Simon bar Kokhba.

Begin Wikipedia

Simon bar Kokhba (transliterated as Bar Kokhva or Bar Kochba) was the Jewish leader who led what is known as Bar Kokhba’s revolt against the Roman Empire in 132 CE, establishing an independent Jewish state of Israel which he ruled for three years as Nasi (The”prince,” or “president”). His state was conquered by the Romans in 135 CE following a two-year war. He became the last king of Israel in history.

Originally named Simon ben Kosba (or ben Koziba), he was given the surname Bar Kokhba (Aramaic for “Son of a Star”, referring to the Star Prophecy of Numbers 24:17, “A star has shot off Jacob”) Simon bar Kokhba was introduced to the Sanhendrin by his contemporary, the Jewish Sanhedrin sage Rabbi Akiva.

After the failure of the revolt, many, including rabbinical writers, referred to Simon bar Kokhba as “Simon bar Kozeba” (“Son of the lie”).

End Wikipedia Reference

Prophetic teachers of this generation have lived with the two division diagrams so long they think they came over on the Mayflower. But basically these diagrams were a product of the first of the week rapture position, which is such an ingrained part of prophecy teaching today. The so-called “first of the week” position, as well as what is known as the “middle of the week” position, cannot be found in existence in any published book about the Bible before 1760. In fact, it is the term “week,” appropriated by the revisionists, that is largely responsible for the mass exodus from orthodox prophetic teaching, which occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The bulk of all prophetic teaching of today is based, directly or indirectly, on the revisionist teaching on Daniel 9:27, which, to a large extent, was accelerated with the initial appearance of the “first of the week” position in the early 19th century. If the teaching on Daniel 9:27 by the revisionists is incorrect, then much of today’s prophetic teaching is in error. I believe this is the case, and I have been labeled as a revisionist myself because of it. I am certain that the great Bible expositor B.H. Carrol, who continued to believe the pre-1760 teachings until his death, was correct in what he taught concerning Daniel’s 70th week. For you see, before 1827, the majority of orthodox prophetic teachers were convinced that the “he” in Daniel 9:27 was Jesus Christ, not the antichrist – THEY WERE RIGHT. We are not waiting for a “week of seven years” to be fulfilled! Why not? Because Jesus has already fulfilled most of the first 3 and ½ years. We are facing a tribulation period of the last 3 and ½ years, preceded by a much briefer period of peace than many are expecting.

I implore you to take a look at what was taught by most orthodox prophetic teachers before 1827 about Daniel’s 70th Week. It is fully exposited in our Prophecy Archives on Updates 55, 56, 57 and 58. Also please scan Updates 74A, 73D, and 82A for the pre-1760 Rapture Position.

Special Prophecy Update 123D

June 11, 2003

What a Difference a “HE” Makes!

Almost 30 years ago I accepted the Pastorate of Dardanelle MBC, while still a Seminary student. I attended the University of Arkansas in Little Rock and Arkansas Tech University during the summers of my time in Seminary because it did not offer summer courses. I graduated from the Seminary in 1975 while enrolled full time at Arkansas Tech University, from which I graduated and began teaching at Dardanelle High School in 1977. I have not changed my beliefs on any of the things I was taught in Seminary concerning salvation, security of the believer, the two church ordinances, or the local identity of the church. However, there are many things I once believed in prophecy,that I am no longer able to teach with any conviction. I came to Dardanelle MBC like Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail, believing I was ready to teach prophecy. As I studied the doctrines of salvation, the church, and the church ordinances I discovered realms of Scripture to validate what I had been taught, but when I began to search for Scriptures that would fit all the diagrams from which I was teaching prophecy, I found very few I did not have to distort. I retired as a synoptic analyst in the National Security Agency, and I know quite well how to put the pieces of a puzzle together to form a whole premise. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called the Synoptic Gospels, and they can be pieced together synoptically into a Harmony of the Gospels. All the pieces of the salvation-church-ordinances puzzle came together and formed a perfect picture of conformity, but the many pieces of the prophecy puzzle simply would not mesh together, unless I symbolized or spiritualized to a massive degree. I found that in our work there was indeed agreement on the doctrines of salvation, the two church ordinances, and the church itself, but in prophecy I found “first of the weekers,” mid-tribbers,” “seventh trumpers,” “last of the weekers,” split rapturists,” and “progressive rapturists” – Or Pre, Mid, Seventh Trump, Post, Split, and Progressive positions. I knew there had to be a reason for these great divisions, and was hopeful that perhaps the answer might be found in a historical search to see if all of them have always existed and, if not, when did each one arise. What I found staggered me. Before 1740 only three positions were taught – The Last of the Week and the Seventh Trumpet – The Mid-Tribulation position was born in 1788 (See Updates 74A and 73D). During all my research I also discovered something that shocked me down to my toenails – Before 1800 the majority of Bible expositors believed that the “HE” in Daniel 9:27 is not the antichrist, but the true one, Jesus Christ. I am convinced they were correct.

Daniel 9:27
And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations HE shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

I was fully aware of all this by 1992, but out of cowardice as to what I knew I would face from the bulk of my brethren, I would only teach it at the church I have pastored since 1974. My cowardice did not cause me to lie to the brethren – I simply stopped talking about the first three and one-half years of Daniel’s 70th week in my lectures, stopped presenting the worldwide antichrist empire that is taught today, and honed in on the last 1260 days of the tribulation period. I have believed the Seventh Trumpet position since 1982, and the “HE” of Daniel 9:27 as Jesus since 1992. Knowing that I must soon face my Savior, and give account of all I have taught from his Word, I decided to publicly declare what I believe about Daniel 9:27, for better or for worse. Many of the men who taught me prophecy, whom I love and deeply respect, may well denounce me and regret ever having known me, but I will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ and, in all conscience, I cannot continue to keep this to myself. I was taught synoptic analysis in the AWS and NSA, and contextual analysis in Seminary. The synoptic subject of the contextual discourse in every verse of Daniel 9:24 to 27 is the Messiah the Prince, Jesus Christ. In verse 24 Jesus is “the most Holy” who is anointed. In verse 25 Jesus is “the Messiah the Prince.” In verse 26 Jesus is identified as “Messiah” who is cut off. And in verse 27 Jesus is the “he” who confirmed God’s blood covenant at his death in the “midst” of the last week of Daniel’s 70 weeks of years. Jesus has already confirmed most of the first three and one-half of the last week of seven prophetic years. The prophet Isaiah, who wrote some 150 years before Daniel, whose writings were probably in Daniel’s possession when he wrote during Babylonian captivity, wrote of the one who would fulfill the “covenant” of Daniel 9:27.

Isaiah 42:6
I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Simeon clearly revealed Jesus as the one who had come to fulfill the covenant to his people Israel, and as a light to lighten the Gentiles

Luke 2:25-32
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. [26] And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. [27] And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, [28] Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, [29] Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: [30] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, [31] Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; [32] A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

The word “he” in Daniel 9:27 does not refer back to the “prince that shall come” in Daniel 9:26 – That prince has already come, and the ones he led destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The “he” refers not to a coming antichrist, but to the contextual subject of each verse from 24 to 27 – Messiah the Prince, Jesus Christ. I am not waiting for an antichrist to destroy a sanctuary that was destroyed in Jerusalem more than 1900 years ago. I am waiting for the return of a Messiah who was cut off for my sins in the “midst” of Daniel’s last week after having fulfilled most of the first three and one-half years of it. The covenant was finished when the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and a token sign of its fulfillment was manifested by resurrection of many of the Old Testament saints, who came out of their graves after his resurrection.

John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Matthew 27:50-53
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. [51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; [52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

You will find a thorough verse-by-verse exposition of Daniel 9:24 to 27 in our Prophecy Archives in Prophecy Updates 55, 56, 57, and 58, but I will, in this Update, exposit on verse 27 as it relates to Christ.

Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

“He” is used three times. In each case it pertains to Jesus the Messiah. ”He” began to “confirm the covenant” with the “many” who would believe he was the one sent to confirm it when he was baptized in water by John, and he completed the covenant when he was crucified in his baptism by fire at Golgotha in the “midst” of Daniel’s 70th week, some three and one-half years after his water baptism. His water baptism pictured what would finish the covenant some three and one-half years later when he died, was buried, and then resurrected to complete the covenant. I am of the opinion he fulfilled the covenant during the first 1185 days of Daniel’s last week, and that the remaining 1335 days will begin when Israel actually believes it has “peace and safety.”

“He” caused “the sacrifice and oblation to cease” being acceptable to his Father when he became the true sacrifice that made void all the offerings, which had only pictured what he would do to confirm the covenant.

“He” made the Temple and its offerings spiritually desolate because of “the overspreading of abominations” he had twice cleaned out of it. The Temple had become a den of thieves and those who ministered in it had turned into blind guides.

Matthew 23:37,38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Matthew 21:12,13
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Matthew 23:23,24
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. [24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

“He” has made the Temple and all its sacrifices “desolate, even unto the consummation” of this present age. They will not be restored until Jesus returns at his Second Advent.

Matthew 23:38,39
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

The “consummation” of this present age will end when “that determined will be poured upon the desolate” men and women of this present age of the Gentiles who are spiritually desolate, having not the Spirit of Christ. And that determined will be poured out on the antichrist, who will be in a position where no one can help him, as well as his false prophet, and both will then be cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. The battle of Armageddon is the consummation of this age, and the last days of the tribulation period will see Michael the Archangel deal with the forces of evil during the pouring out of the vials of wrath.

Romans 2:28,29
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: [29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Daniel 11:45 to 12:1
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. [1] And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Revelation 19:19,20
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Daniel 7:11
I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

Daniel’s 70 weeks of years clock stopped ticking when Jesus the Messiah was cut off in the “midst” of the last week. The Hebrew word “midst” in a seven year week could mean any time between the end of the third year and the beginning of the fifth year, in other words, at any time during the fourth year. I believe Jesus fulfilled the first 1185 days of the 2520 days in Daniel’s 70th week, and only 1335 days remain. When the Israelis actually believe they have “peace and safety” enough to actually “say” it, then the clock will start to tick again, and they will thereafter be attacked some 1260 days before the final battle of Armageddon.

I Thessalonians 5:3,4
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Revelation 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Revelation 11:2
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

I was astounded to discover how much of our prophetic teaching about the antichrist’s reign, the tribulation period, the time of the rapture, and a multiplicity of all things related to prophecy, are all tied primarily to the interpretation that the “he” of Daniel is the antichrist. I have made my choice – I believe the majority of the prophetic teachers before 1800 were correct – I believe the “he” is Jesus. This has been a hard choice for me to make – what a difference “he” makes!