Daniel 9:24-27, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, unto the Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troubled times.  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  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."

This passage is prophetic in its content and is very specific as it speaks of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the ultimate coming of Jesus, His death on the cross, the destruction of the temple by the Roman general, Titus in 70 A.D. and the seven years of Great Tribulation. The time referenced in this passage is weeks of years. So, a week in this passage isn't 7 days but 7 years. With the seventieth week becoming the 7 years of Great Tribulation.

The most prominent thing which characterizes this period is the Messiah being cut off, and that the series of events would commence which would conclude in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. He does not say that this would be immediately on the conclusion of the sixty-two weeks, but he says that it would be "after" or "subsequent" to the close of that period. The word does not necessarily mean immediately, but it denotes what is to succeed - to follow - and would be well expressed by the word "afterward."

The final week (the 70th week) looks into the future and a time during which in the middle of the tribulation period the Anti-Christ sets himself up as God and desecrates the altar of the temple and makes himself the focus of worship. Satan pursues the establishment of an unholy trinity to mimic the true trinity.

Anti-Christ is coming, and many will be deceived through his power. May we look forward to the coming of the true God our Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Read Titus 2:13)  

Are you ready for the future?

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. What thoughts flood your mind in relation to the fact of the Great Tribulation?

2. How is the world being prepared to receive the Anti-Christ?

3. Where will you be during the Great Tribulation? How does this make you feel?