Chapter 01 – The 70^th week of seven years.

A brief overview.

Table – The Great Tribulation – classified by events.

The seventy weeks of seven years and the last week of seven years.

The beginning of birth pangs.

The two witnesses.

The distress of the faithful in Jesus.

The Great Tribulation.

The Antichrist.

The Antichrist kills the two witnesses in Jerusalem.

The conquest and the dispersion of Jerusalem.

The reign of the Antichrist.

The fifth seal.

The great darkness.

The seventh seal.

The Day of the Lord.

The day of the wrath of God.

Table – Sequence and Duration of events in the Last Days.

How and why the Great Tribulation begins.     –     Discourse 1133

A brief overview.

Mit dem Eintritt in die Siebzigste Jahrwoche nehmen nach Daniel die Ereignisse der Endzeit ihren Anfang. Diese letzte der von Daniel geschauten siebzig Jahrwochen, erstreckt sich über zwei Perioden der Endzeit. In der ersten Hälfte dieser sieben Jahre kommt die "Trübsal jener Tage" (Mt 24,29)  mit ihren Katastrophen und der Christenverfolgung über die ganze Erde.

Die daran anschließende große Finsternis mit der Wiederkunft des Herrn, der Auferweckung der Toten in Christus und ihrer Entrückung gemeinsam mit der noch lebenden Endzeitgemeinde, ist das letzte Ereignis dieser ersten halben Jahrwoche, welches mit seiner weltweiten Dunkelheit auch bereits die zweite Dreieinhalbjahresperiode, den "Tag des Herrn" oder "Tag des Zornes Gottes" ankündigt.

Bei der Interpretation der 70. Jahrwoche zeigt sich daher eine Zweiteilung der Ereignisse. Es beginnt damit, dass bei Daniel 9,27 der dort erwähnte "er" für "eine (Jahr-) Woche einen festen Bund mit den Vielen" (des jüdischen Volks?) schließen wird, aber dann "zur Hälfte der Woche wird er Schlachtopfer und Speisopfer aufhören lassen" und damit offenbar diesen Bund brechen.

Und dieser "er" – der Antichrist – wird dann auch, nach neueren Erkenntnissen, in beiden Perioden agieren. Im ersten Teil, als "Mensch der Gesetzlosigkeit", wie ihn Paulus in 2The 2,8 nennt (siehe auch Mt 24,12!). Er wird vom Herrn Jesus bei dessen Wiederkunft am Ende dieser Zeitperiode, "durch den Hauch seines Mundes" (2The 2,8) vernichtet. Im zweiten Teil der Jahrwoche (am "Tag des Herrn") wird dieser verstorbene Mensch vom Satan wiedererweckt ("Tier aus dem Meer" / Off 13,1) und herrscht als "dämonischer Antichrist".

(See also Discourse 86: "The first andf the second Antichrist.")

Diesem auferweckten Dämon wird nach Off 13,7 "Gewalt gegeben über jeden Stamm und jedes Volk und jede Sprache und jede Nation". Er wird als falscher "auferstandener Messias" offenbar zum Weltherrscher und kämpft in der Schlacht von Harmagedon mit seinen weltlichen Heeren gegen den Sohn Gottes und dessen himmlisches Heer. Diese Schlacht verliert er und wird gemeinsam mit seinem falschen Propheten lebendig in den Feuersee geworfen (Off 19,20).

Bei einer näheren Analyse dieser Bibelstellen ist zu erkennen, dass dem ersten, dem menschlichen Antichristen, in der ersten Halbwoche hauptsächlich die jüdische Welt als Wirkungsbereich zugeordnet werden kann. So z.B. die Christenverfolgung (Mt 24,9-11) und der Gräuel der Verwüstung am heiligem Ort/Tempel (Mt 24,15). Der zweite, der dämonische Antichrist hingegen, wird in der zweiten Halbwoche seine Macht und Herrschaft über die ganze Welt ausdehnen (Off 13,7).

Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.

Mt 24,9 "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 24,10 "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 24,11 "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 24,12 "Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 24,13 "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 24,14 "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.

24,15 "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), 24,16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 24,17 "Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 24,18 "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 24,19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 24,20 "But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. Mt 24,9-20;

From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Dan 12,11 "From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12,12 "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! 12,13 "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 12,11-13;

And on the wing (because of the tolerance) of abominations will come one who makes desolate.

Dan 9,27 "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 9,27;

Bei Matthäus finden wir nun zwei Mal einen Hinweis auf eine Trübsal. Einmal jene der Christenverfolgung, in welche die Christen um des Namens Christi Willen verfolgt und getötet werden (Mt 24,9-20). Und dann ein zweites Mal in Mt 24,21. Doch wie sich aus dem Kontext ergibt, geht es hier in beiden Texten immer nur um die eine, die Große Trübsal.

Während der Herr Mt 24,1-8 eine kurze Schilderung des Anfangs der Wehen gibt, beginnt in Mt 24,9 die Beschreibung dieser Großen Trübsal. In Mt 24,21-26 wird dieselbe Große Trübsal, nur noch detaillierter beschrieben. Am Ende, in Mt 24,27-31, wird dann das Kommen des Herrn mit der Auferweckung der Toten in Christus und ihrer Entrückung gemeinsam mit der noch lebenden Endzeitgemeinde prophezeit.

For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

Mt 24,21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 24,22 "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. 24,23 "Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. 24,24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 24,25 "Behold, I have told you in advance. 24,26 "So 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. Mt 24,21-26;

And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.

Dan 12,1 "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. Dan 12,1;

Die Prophezeiung über die Verfinsterung der Gestirne bei der Wiederkunft des Herrn, hier unten, in Mt 24,29, beginnt dann mit "Sogleich aber nach der Trübsal jener Tage". Nachdem der Herr diese Trübsal kurz davor, in Mt 24,21, als die Große Trübsal "wie sie seit Anfang der Welt bis jetzt nicht gewesen ist" bezeichnet hat, heißt dies aber, dass wir uns hier mitten in der Großen Trübsal befinden.

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky.

Mt 24,27 "For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 24,28 "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 24,29 "But immediately after the tribulation (Rev 7:14!) of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky (Rev 6:12-14!), and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 24,30 "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. 24,31 "And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Mt 24,27-31;

Hier bezeichnet der Herr die Zeit vor seiner Wiederkunft als "die Trübsal jener Tage". Es ist also jene Zeitperiode, welche der Herr mit der Entrückung der christlichen Gemeinde beenden wird. Es sind auch jene Tage, von welche der Herr sagt: "um der Auserwählten Willen werden jene Tage verkürzt werden" (Mt 24,22).

 Die Wiederkunft des Herrn und die Entrückung beenden hier, wie es scheint, diese Zeitperiode der ersten Halbwoche und leiten über zum zweiten Teil, der zweiten Halbwoche, mit dem "Tag des Herrn" oder "Tag des Zornes Gottes". Die Verfinsterung der Gestirne ist daher auch der Ausgangspunkt beim Vergleich der Parallelität von Mt 24 und in Off 6 und 7.

The sun became black, the moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, and the sky was split apart like a scroll.

Rev 6,12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;6,13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 6,14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Rev 6,12-14;

(See also Discourse 05: "The parallel course of events in Mt 24 and Rev 6 und 7.")

Und dabei zeigt sich schließlich auch in der Offenbarung eine Zweiteilung dieser Endzeit: in der ersten Hälfte der Jahrwoche haben die Juden offenbar eine religiös-beherrschende Funktion (1The 2,4) und sind für die Christenverfolgung verantwortlich. Obwohl bereits zu Beginn dieser Halbjahreswoche auf die Christen der Welt Zwang ausgeübt wird, beginnt die tatsächliche Christenverfolgung und die Tötung von Christen offenbar erst ab der Aufstellung des Gräuels an heiliger Stätte.

(See also Discourse 48: "An alternative view on the sequence of events in the Last Days.")

Der zweite Teil der Jahrwoche – der Tag des Zornes Gottes – wird dann nur mehr in der Offenbarung beschrieben. Es sind die Posaunen- und Schalengerichte, welche bei genauerer Betrachtung ebenfalls eine so große Trübsal darstellen, wie sie seit Menschengedenken nicht gewesen ist.

The Great Tribulation – classified by events. (LANDSCAPE)

(See also Chapter 03: "The Great Tribulation.".)

The seventy weeks of seven years and the last week of seven years.

The vision of Daniel.

Daniel had read in the book of the prophet Jeremiah of the seventy years, which have been decreed for Jerusalem, where it says that it will be a desolation and a horror, and that the land and its inhabitants together with the nations all the way round will serve the king of Babylon (Jer 25,11-12). Only when seventy years have been completed for Babylon, the Lord will bring his people back to Jerusalem (Jer 29,10).

This whole land will be a desolation and a horror for seventy years.

Jer 25,8 "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Because you have not obeyed My words, 25,9 behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror and a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. 25,10 ‘Moreover, I will take from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. 25,11 ‘ This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

25,12 ‘Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the LORD, ‘for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation. Jer 25, 8-12;

When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will bring you back to this place.

Jer 29,10 "For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. Jer 29,10;

As Daniel was on the one hand very concerned about his people, but on the other hand did not understand this prophecy, he prayed to God to give him understanding for these mysterious words. And indeed, after Daniel had fasted for two weeks and had not had any tasty food to eat, God sent the archangel Gabriel, who should explain this prophecy to Daniel.

Daniel observed for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

Dan 9,1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— 9,2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

9,3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. Dan 9, 1- 3;

Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city.

Dan 9,22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. 9,23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.

9,24 "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.

9,25 "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.

9,26 "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. 9,27 "And he will make hard the 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 in the temple there will be abomination of desolation, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Dan 9,22-27;

The historical background.

The prophet Daniel had lived and worked between 605 and 562 B.C. In 597 B.C. Jerusalem was captured by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the first deportation of the people of Israel to Babylon was decreed. Under its king Zedekiah Israel becomes now tributary to Nebuchadnezzar. However, ten years later, in 587 B.C., Zedekiah falls away from Babylon. The consequence is a second siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The city is captured for a second time. At this event the temple is destroyed, too, and the second deportation takes place.

In 539 B.C. the Persian king Cyrus defeats the Babylonians and seizes Babylon. He then allows the Jews the return from Babylon to Israel in 538 B.C. and in 537 B.C. – 60 years after the first deportation – the first Jews returned to Jerusalem again. Between 520 and 516 B.C. the second temple was built in Jerusalem, which was then also consecrated in 515. So much for the historical facts.

(See also Table 03: "The historical empires and their effects on Israel.")

The interpretation of the seventy weeks.

As far as the interpretation is concerned, it must be pointed out that by the "seventy weeks" in Dan 9,24, seventy "weeks of seven years", that is to say units of seven years, are meant. Literally it says there, seventy "units of seven", but this word – with an identical consonant – normally referred to the week. We find such an arrangement also with other passages of the Scriptures. Thus, for instance in Lev 25,8: "You are also to count off seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven sabbaths of years, …". So, the meaning of this term in Dan 9,24 is therefore unambiguously the "week of seven years".

There are now several methods of calculation for "placing" these 490 years. Quite a convincing attempt was made by Gerhard Maier in his book "The prophet Daniel" (Wuppertaler Studienbibel, page 345 and the following pages). But no matter how the assignment of the 70 weeks of seven years is carried out, one thing must be got clear at any rate – contrary to some different interpretations: The promises of Dan 9,24 refer quite unequivocally to the time   a f t e r   the 70 weeks of seven years!

Seventy weeks to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity.

Dan 9,24 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. Dan 9,24;

After the announcement that these seventy weeks have been decreed for the people of Israel, it says "to finish". That is to say only when these seventy weeks of seven years are completed, the events which follow now in the text will be fulfilled. And these events are:

-  The transgression will be finished.

-  An end will be made of sin.

-  Atonement will be made for iniquity.

-  Everlasting righteousness will be brought in.

-  Vision and prophecy will be sealed up.

-  The most holy place will be anointed.

As things are looking today, there cannot be talk about an end of transgression, not in Israel and not in the world. Sin has not been made an end of in such a way that it would not have any effect any more. Sin as such has not even been recognized in the world, that is why people cannot make atonement for iniquity either; everlasting righteousness does not exist at all, not even a temporal one. Vision and prophecy have been fulfilled so far only partly, and the most holy place – that is to say the temple in Jerusalem – cannot be anointed either for all these reasons. Also because of the fact that up to this day there does not exist a temple in Jerusalem.

Although we therefore have to admit that all these statements cannot be fulfilled at our time at all, we nevertheless realize that for the faithful at least a part of the announcements has found a prefulfillment in the act of redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. As a result of the acceptance of his sacrifice for our sins, our iniquity is atoned and our sin is made an end of. With that – among faithful Christians – also the transgression is finished and our today’s decision in favor of Jesus brings us eternal righteousness, when the Lord returns.

But we have to bear in mind that the statements of Dan 9,24 are considerably more comprehensive. The matter at issue is not only iniquity, sin, and transgression of the faithful. The matter at issue is the iniquity of mankind as a whole. And when it says in the following that "vision and prophecy will be sealed up", this also means and even means in particular the fulfillment of one of the core messages of the Old Testament and the New Testament: the return of the Lord and the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth – that is to say the Millennium.

But the fulfillment of all these prophecies is not promised before the last days. When the seventh trumpet sounds, when the kingdoms of the world will be the kingdom of God and the Lamb, then – and not before then – the mystery of God is finished, as Rev 10,5-7 tells us.

Then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.

Rev 10,5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven,10,6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 10,7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets. Rev 10, 5- 7;

And then also the last statement in Dan 9,24: "and the most holy place will be anointed" will correspond with the prophecies for this last, joyous time on this earth.

Its entire area on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy.

Ez 43,9 "Now let them put away their harlotry and the corpses of their kings far from Me; and I will dwell among them forever. 43,10 "As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan. 43,11 "If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them. 43,12 " This is the law of the house: its entire area on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. Ez 43, 9-12;

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isa 60,1 "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 60,2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. 60,3 "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isa 60, 1- 3;

The 70^th week of seven years.

As we have seen above, Dan 9,24 refers to the time after the seventy weeks of seven years. On account of the concrete prophecies for this time, such as "eternal righteousness will be brought in, vision and prophecy will be sealed up, the most holy place will be anointed", we could realize that the beginning of the Millennium was meant here.

Now we have in Dan 9,27 a hint at the time before, at the last of the seventy weeks of seven years.

And he will make hard the covenant with the many for one week

Dan 9,27 "And he will make hard the 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 in the temple there will be the abomination of desolation, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Dan 9,27;

Now some exegetes want to relate this 70^th week of seven years also (or only) to the time of Jesus. Therefore, they translate the Hebrew word for "hard" here in Dan 9,27 with "strong" – which is quite a possible translation – and read, "But he will strengthen the covenant for many for one week" or "He will consolidate the covenant with the many". As the Lord had started his appearance in public approximately three years before his death, and as with his sacrifice on the cross for our sins no further offering for our sins (Heb 10,18) is necessary any more, they see the second sentence in verse Dan 9,27 fulfilled: "But in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering". Finally, they see the "abomination of desolation in the temple" in the third sentence of this verse fulfilled in 70 A.D., at the capture of Jerusalem by the Roman troops under Titus.

Although this interpretation is quite appealing at the first glance, on closer examination it nevertheless leads to some problems with the text:

"But he will strengthen/consolidate the covenant of the many for one week".

There is no explanation why the covenant should have been "strengthened" or "consolidated" for a week of seven years – that is to say for seven years. During the Lord’s lifetime there were only about three years – the time of his work in public – and not seven years, in which he might have strengthened the covenant of the many. However, if the "strengthening" is interpreted as the work of the Holy Spirit after the death of Jesus, this would be now almost two thousand years.

"But in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering".

What is meant here is that sacrifice and meal offerings are not necessary any more because of the New Covenant. Reference is made here to the Epistle to the Hebrews where it says:

When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete.

Hbr 8,13 When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hbr 8,13;

And in the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 10 it even becomes more concrete:

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Hbr 10,11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 10,12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of god, 10,13 waiting from that time onward until his enemies be made a footstool for his feet. 10,14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Heb 10,11-14;

If we now take a look at the commandments for offering of the Israelites (3 Mose chapter 1-7), we see the following five offering acts:

The sacrifices:

-  Burnt offering: Let go up cattle, sheep or goat in the fire to produce a pleasant smell for the Lord.

-  Thank offering: Let go up cattle in the fire to produce a pleasant smell for the Lord.

-  Offering for the sins: Let go up a bull in the smoke for atonement.

-  Offering for iniquity: Let go up a ram in the fire for atonement (for the entire congregation).

The meal offering:

-  Meal offering: Let go up flour, oil, salt in the fire to produce a pleasant smell for the Lord.

Out of these five offerings only one offering is explicitly meant for the "sins", a second one for "iniquity". The other offerings, however, are destined for the thanks to and for the glory of God. And when it says in Heb 10,12 that the Lord Jesus "has offered a sacrifice for the sins", this refers unequivocally and exclusively to the "offering for sins" – at best maybe also the "offering for iniquity" – which cannot be offered afterward, but this does not mean at all that the other sacrifices (burnt offering, thank offering) and not in the least the meal offering are "abolished".

This is also confirmed by the fact that later, in the Millennium, in the newly erected temple, sacrifices – namely thank offerings – are very well offered again.

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old.

Mal 3,2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3,3 "He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. 3,4 " Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. Mal 3, 2- 4;

They will bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD.

Jer 33,10 "Thus says the LORD, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, "It is a waste, without man and without beast," that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 33,11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, "Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His loving kindness is everlasting"; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD. Jer 33,10-11;

They offer burnt offerings, burn grain offerings and prepare sacrifices continually.

Jer 33,16 ‘In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.’ 33,17 "For thus says the LORD, ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 33,18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.’" Jer 33,16-18;

Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.

Isa 56,6 "Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant; 56,7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples." 56,8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, "Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered." Isa 56, 6- 8;

So, we have to proceed from the assumption that the statement "But in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering" does   n o t  mean the offering of the Lord Jesus, through which further offerings for sins have become obsolete – which is true, but this passage must really refer to the abolition of all kinds of acts of offering in the temple.

"And in the temple there will be the abomination of desolation, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate".

Also the last statement of this verse does not make much sense in connection with the time of Jesus. Also here attempts are made to interpret this passage as referring to the time of Titus, 70 A.D., where the city and the temple were destroyed by the Romans. But this would mean that here the one part of the 70^th week of seven years would have been the appearance in public of the Lord, whereas a second part found its continuation only about 37 years later.

The promise "until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate" does not find a proper explanation in those days either. At best one could consider the decline of the Roman Empire some centuries later to be meant here. So, as we see, all these things do not fit together in the way it would be expected.

Therefore, we have to return to the beginning of verse 27 and ask ourselves, who is really meant by "he" at the beginning of this verse: "And he will make hard the covenant with the many". Of course, this is a reflexive pronoun and we, therefore, have to look for the subject that was last mentioned in the preceding statements.

Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off.

Dan 9,26 "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. 9,27 "And he will make hard the 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 in the temple there will be the abomination of desolation, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Dan 9,26-27;

If we – as many other exegetes, too – proceed from the assumption that by the "Messiah" who will be cut off, the Lord Jesus and his death on the cross are meant, we realize here that the time of the Lord’s work in public is not at all an integral part of the seventy weeks of seven years. For in verse Dan 9,26 it says expressly, "Then after the sixty-two weeks" – so, with the 7 weeks from verse 25 this means altogether after the 69^th week – whereas verse 27 already refers to the time afterward, namely the 70^th week of seven years. Thus, the work and death of the Lord fall within the time between the sixty-ninth and the seventieth week of seven years.

And now the advocates of the Christ-related interpretation of this text think that they see God as the "subject of action" in Dan 9,26. They equate the "Messiah" who will be cut off with Christ – which is correct – but then they are of the opinion that "he" in verse 27 referred to Christ as well. This is, however, unambiguously wrong. For the last subject that was mentioned before verse 26 is, without any doubt, the "prince", whose people is to come to destroy the city and the sanctuary.

This can be seen particularly clearly in the translation by Martin Buber which comes very close to the original text, where it says:

Consequently, it is not the Lord Jesus who is meant by this "prince" – or "duke", as Buber calls him – in Dan 9,26, but Titus. However, the events in the year 70 were only a prefulfillment, just as for instance the time of Antiochus had been a pre fulfillment of the Antichrist. The prophecy of the final fulfillment can then be found, among others, two chapters later, in Dan 11,31 and 12,1, where the angel Gabriel reveals the last days to Daniel from the Book of Truth.

They will do away with the regular sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.

Dan 11,31 "Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. 11,32 "By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.

11,33 "Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. 11,34 "Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. 11,35 "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.

11,36 "Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. Dan 11,31-36;

And it is also this prince of the last days, the "king of the North", to whom this "he" at the beginning of Dan 9,27 refers to.

By the way, it is also here that we get the confirmation of the fact that the text in Dan 9,27 says very well that the covenant will be made "hard" for many and not that it will be "strengthened".

By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant.

Dan 11,32 "By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Dan 11,32;

For in Dan 11,32 there is talk about the same person as in Dan 9,27, and we realize why "he" in Dan 9,27 will make the covenant "hard" for many: He will make all those fall away from the covenant who have not provided themselves with a firm hold in the covenant with their God and who act wickedly toward the covenant, so to speak, by intrigues (NAS95: "smooth words").

At the end of this vision from the Book of Truth the angel Gabriel now confirms to Daniel once more the abominations, which this ruler from the North will commit in the temple of Jerusalem.

The regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up.

Dan 12,10 "Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. 12,11 "From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Dan 12,10-11;

Also in Dan 7,25 reference is made to this king, and also here it says that he will intend to make alterations in times and in law – namely in divine service and sacrificial law of the Jews.

He will intend to make alterations in times and in law.

Dan 7,25 ‘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 Dan 7,25;

Moreover, we also see both in Dan 11,36: "…he will exalt and magnify himself against every god …", and in Dan 7,25: "He will speak out against the Most High …", the identity with the description of the Antichrist in Rev 13,6: "And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is those who dwell in heaven".

If we now compare the above text from Dan 7,25 with the text in Dan 9,27:

He will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering.

Dan 9,27 "And he will make hard the 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 in the temple there will be the abomination of desolation, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Dan 9,27;

it can be easily discovered that the one who abolishes the daily offering, and the one who sets up the abomination of desolation at the sanctuary, is one and the same person. It is the one who "will make the covenant (with God) hard for many" (Dan 9,27), and who "will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant by smooth words" (Dan 11,32). It is the Antichrist and he will have his image worshiped in the temple by men. But from that time on he has not left more than three and a half years to rule. This is also told to us by the Revelation.

And cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Rev 13,15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 13,16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 13,17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Rev 13,15-17;

And authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.

Rev 13,5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 13,6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Rev 13, 5- 6;

And the time of the set up of the abomination of desolation in the temple is now also the time when the distress of the faithful in Jesus, the Lord warns us of in the Gospels, reaches its climax.

When you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place.

Mt 24,15 "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), 24,16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 24,17 "Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 24,18 "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. Mt 24,15-18;

So, it is the Antichrist who is meant in all those passages from the Scriptures. He will rule this "week", these seven years and he will dominate them. During the first three and a half years – the first half of this week of seven years – he will succeed in setting up and expanding his rule all over the world. As we can infer from the texts of the Revelation, he will be an absolute ruler of the world and authority will be given to him over "every tribe and people and tongue and nation" (Rev 13,7). As we will see then below, he will then drive his obsession with power to its climax in the middle of the seven years and will make himself proclaim God in Jerusalem and make himself worship by men otherwise they will be punished by death penalty.

But we are not that far at the moment. At the beginning of the seventieth week of seven years the "ground" has not been prepared yet for that. We know from history that quite particular sociological and economic preconditions are always required, in order that dictators can get into power. Just as Hitler once founded his "Third Reich" on the collapse of the German economy, with unemployment, hunger, and misery, also the Antichrist needs a scenario of misery and hopelessness in order to appear on the world scene as the great "rescuer".

The beginning of birth pangs.

We have in Mt 24 and parallel texts and Rev 6 a partial parallelism of the statements, which must not be overlooked in the exegesis. Although the rider on the white horse – in Rev 6,1-2 – does not find a direct parallel in the Gospels, the plagues of the seals 2 to 4 and also and in particular the contents of the sixth plague of the seals are also subject of the Lord’s eschatological discourses.

The first seal.

A white horse, and he who sat on it went out conquering and to conquer.

Rev 6,1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." 6,2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Rev 6, 1- 2;

Many false Messiahs and tempters will appear.

For many false Christs will mislead many.

Mt 24,3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 24,4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. 24,5 "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. Mt 24, 3- 5;

The second seal.

Men would slay one another.

Rev 6,3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come." 6,4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. Rev 6, 3- 4;

Wars and rumors of wars, nation will rise against nation.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Mt 24,6 "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 24,7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. Mt 24, 6- 7;

The third seal.

A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius.

Rev 6,5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6,6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine." Rev 6, 5- 6;

Famines, earthquakes, and epidemics.

And in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Mt 24,7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 24,8 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Mt 24, 7- 8;

As it says in Mt 24,8, this is, however, only the "beginning of birth pangs". The climax of the plagues of the seals and also the great Judgments of God – the trumpets and judgments of the bowls – are still to come.

The distress of the faithful in Jesus.

As the attempt to defeat the two witnesses is not successful, the whole rage now turns against their brothers in faith. All people, who profess God and His Son Jesus Christ, will be persecuted, arrested, and killed. They will be hated by all nations because of the name of Jesus.

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you.

Mt 24,9 "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 24,10 "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Mt 24, 9-10;

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, and they will put some of you to death.

Lk 21,16 "But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 21,17 and you will be hated by all because of My name. 21,18 "Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 21,19 "By your endurance you will gain your lives. Lk 21,16-19;

The hatred for the faithful will be that great that even friends, or even relatives, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers will betray them and bring them up before the court. But the Lord promises these despised persons that they do not need to worry about what they are to say before their earthly judges. The Holy Spirit will seize them and inspire them with the appropriate words. And at the end of days, when judgment is pronounced upon all dead, their judges will be condemned on account of these words, because they heard these words and did not want to understand them.

For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Mt 10,17 "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 10,18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 10,19 "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.

10,20 "For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 10,21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

10,22 "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 10,23 "But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. Mt 10,17-23;

During that time many martyrs will lose their lives because of their faith. But also those Christians who will miraculously be able to survive this time, will be able to do so only at very much distress, at great sacrifices, and at indescribable fear. But just for the sake of these elect the Lord promises to cut short the time of their distress in order to avoid that maybe also they yield to the pressure and are seduced.

For the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Mt 24,22 "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. 24,23 "Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. 24,24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 24,25 "Behold, I have told you in advance. Mt 24,22-25;.

The Great Tribulation.

A fourth of the earth will be killed with sword, famine, and pestilence.

As described in Mt 24,21-22 and Dan 12,1-2 the tribulation of that time will be unprecedented. And it will not be restricted either to one country or people – for instance Israel – , but it will have worldwide consequences.

Already at the time of the beginning of "birth pangs", with the first three plagues of the seals, the world was struck by wars, famines, and other catastrophes. Here now, with the fourth seal, mankind really experiences a tribulation, as there had never been one before and as there will never be one again in future either.

They kill a fourth of the earth with sword and with famine and with pestilence.

Rev 6,7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come." 6,8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. Rev 6, 7- 8;

Death and Hades bring in the harvest. By this "fourth of the earth" it is obviously not the fourth part of people that is meant, but rather the fourth part of the surface covered by land of this planet. And if by this fourth part the fourth part of the earth’s surface which has the highest population density – namely Europe, Asia, and all North Africa – is meant, even more than half of the world population will be affected by it. But also if by that only the fourth part of people were meant, it is today already one and half a billion of people, who will be carried off by wars, famine, thirst, and epidemics.

With the fourth seal the first phase of the judgments of God upon this world ends. And if the interpretation above is correct, – according to today’s level – almost two billion people will have perished in these worldwide catastrophes.

So we can certainly proceed from the assumption – and rightly so – that this will be the biggest catastrophe of all times until then. Although at the Flood also all people – except for Noah and his family – perished, the world population in those days made up hardly more than some million people and therefore it is hardly comparable to these orders of magnitude here.

The two witnesses.

The 1260 days of prophecy of the two witnesses in Jerusalem.

In the first part of the seventieth week of seven years God sends his two witnesses to Jerusalem in order to move the sagacious people to change their ways and to penance, to prophesy to the godless and the impenitent, however, their damnation, and to announce the judgment on the following Day of the Lord to the world.

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days.

Rev 11,1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 11,2 "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

11,3 "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." 11,4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 11,5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.

11,6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. Rev 11, 1- 6;

The invincibleness of the two witnesses.

During the days of their prophecy in Jerusalem the two witnesses are invincible. If anyone wants to attack them, fire flows out of their mouth and kills their enemies. At the first glance, one could ask oneself who would try to kill two men who only "prophesy" anyway and ask men to convert to God.

Fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies.

Rev 11,4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 11,5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. Rev 11, 4- 5;

However, as we will see below, in the commentary to Rev 11,6, not only the inhabitants of Jerusalem have every reason to be afraid of them, but the whole world is looking at Jerusalem full of expectation, and is waiting, who will finally succeed in eliminating these two saints of God, who brought about drought, famine, and water shortage all over the world.

The power of the two witnesses over nature.

These two prophets of God will shut up the sky during the time of their prophesying - this is to say for 1260 days or 3 ½ years – so that it will not rain. The consequence of that is a catastrophe of drought with shortage of food, famine, thirst, and epidemic diseases. They also have the power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the world with epidemics and other plagues.

Rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they turn the waters into blood.

Rev 11,6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fallduring the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. Rev 11,6;

The global dimension of this climatic catastrophe.

The fact that this climatic catastrophe will not be a locally restricted one, but will have worldwide effect, also follows from Rev 11,6 above "… have the power … to strike the earth…", in particular, however, from Rev 11,10:

Because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Rev 11,9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 11,10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Rev 11, 9-10;

On account of the statements above it is to be assumed that the whole world is informed of the activities of the two prophets in Jerusalem, and that therefore also the causers of this global climatic catastrophe are known to all people. Therefore, attempts will be made to eliminate the two prophets in Jerusalem in a joint effort. But to the dismay of everyone it will be discovered that these two men are invulnerable. No guns, no revolvers, and no other weapons either will be able to harm them. Well, even on the contrary, every commando that marches out in order to eliminate them, will be destroyed up to the very last man. And with every attack the extent of the plagues will be increased.

The Antichrist.

The dragon gives him his power and his throne and great authority.

Now, as the world is on the verge of sinking into a chaos by worldwide catastrophes, the time has come. Satan plays his supposed "trump". He lets him rise from the depths of the sea. And he vests the beast with his own, quite considerable power and authority.

(See also Table 06: "The Antichrist, the ’queen’ in the devil’s chess game.")

A beast came up out of the sea and the dragon gave him his power, his throne and great authority

Rev 13,1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beastcoming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.

13,2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. Rev 13, 1- 2;

He has authority over every people and tongue and nation.

And he will convince the godless and unfaithful of his power and authority by signs and miracles. The faithful, however, who – as we will see below – refuse to worship him and his image, will be killed all without exception. So, he will acquire absolute power also in his sphere of control. This is also corroborated by the statements of Rev 13,7-8:

Authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.

Rev 13,7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 13,8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Rev 13, 7- 8;

But his power is not only a purely political one. As we will see below, he will give himself out to be the Savior, the "Messiah" of this world and will give Satan out as the "god" who sent him. And the people will follow him with enthusiasm and worship him and his "god".

One of the first actions of this new "Messiah" will be to free the world from the saints, the two witnesses of God, the two prophets in Jerusalem. He will take into his hands what already many have tried in the past three and a half years, but what nobody has succeeded in yet, and show his authority to the world.

The Antichrist kills the two witnesses in Jerusalem.

The Antichrist goes to war with his Gentile armies against Jerusalem and fights there himself against the two men of God with the power that Satan gave to him. As the service of the two Anointed ones as witnesses is over now, it is given to the Antichrist to defeat and to kill them. It is no doubt just this victory then which evokes the admiration of the whole world for this false "Messiah" and which finds its expression in Rev 13,4: "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?".

The beast will make war with the two witnesses, and overcome them and kill them.

Rev 11,7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 11,8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 11,9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 11,10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Rev 11, 7-10;

The beast will make war with the saints and overcome them.

Rev 13,7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. Rev 13, 7;

After the dead bodies of these two saints of the Most High had laid on the market place of Jerusalem for three and a half days, they came to life again and were caught up to God into heaven.

After the three and a half days, the two prophets will arise.

Rev 11,11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.

11,12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.

11,13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 11,14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly. Rev 11,11-14;

The conquest and the dispersion of Jerusalem.

The big earthquake that occurs at that Rapture of the two witnesses in Jerusalem, will claim seven thousand casualties. The remaining survivors of the population of the city will convert to God and repent. So, at this time all the people in Jerusalem are faithful and worship the right God. And this is now perhaps one reason more for the Antichrist for persecuting these people, for killing and for driving them out of their city.

He occupies the whole city with his troops, they plunder the houses, the women are raped and half of the population of the city is deported by them.

They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations.

Lk 21,20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21,21 "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; 21,22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.

21,23 "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; 21,24 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. Lk 21,20-24;

(See also Chapter 02: "The conquest and the dispersion of Jerusalem.")

The reign of the Antichrist.

The Antichrist will rule in Jerusalem for 42 months and will blaspheme God.

The Antichrist has now made it. He has defeated the two prophets, who struck the earth with famine and epidemics and has conquered the city of God – Jerusalem. He is now the absolute ruler of the world, he is the "God" of this world.

But appearances are deceptive. Also this power of his is only tolerated by the true God. And he has only little time to exercise it. Three and a half years, that is to say 42 months are given to him. Then also his rule will be brought to an end.

The nations will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

Rev 11,1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 11,2 "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. Rev 11, 1- 2;

He rules for three and a half years, when the dispersion of the holy people is brought to an end.

Dan 12,6 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?" 12,7 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 when the dispersion of the holy people is brought to an end, all these events will be completed. Dan 12, 6- 7;

The false prophet.

After Satan had made the first beast, the Antichrist, come up out of the sea, he even made a second beast rise. This time out of the earth. It is the false prophet, and he acts on behalf of and with the power of the first beast. Also he performs great signs and finally achieves that the whole world worships the first beast.

The second makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast.

Rev 13,11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 13,12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. Rev 13,11-12;

And they worshiped the beast and the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast.

Rev 13,3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 13,4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" Rev 13, 3- 4;

Many years before John received the Revelation from the Lord, already Paul had warned of this development in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians, and had pointed out with emphasis that before the return of the Lord first this man of malice, the Fiend and Antichrist would have to come and that they therefore should not let themselves be seduced.

He takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

2The 2,1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2,2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 2,3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 2,4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 2The 2, 1- 4;

So, people will consider the Antichrist to be the Messiah, the Son of God, and his "father", Satan, who gives him the power and authority, to be God. The power of this deceit can be presaged if one bears in mind that even the elect will be in danger of being misled. It can be hardly assumed that these men, these elect of God, could be dissuaded from their faith by primitive and false teachings. That means, however, that this will be actually quite a subtle and fiendish copy of the "manifestation of Christ", so that even these servants of God could be deceived.

The abomination of desolation standing in the holy place.

The false prophet will now get the people make an image to the first beast – the Antichrist – and also to worship this. Everyone who is not ready to worship this image, is a "blasphemer" and will be killed.

And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast.

Rev 13,13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 13,14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

13,15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 13,16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 13,17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 13,18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. Rev 13,13-18;

The abomination of desolation standing in the holy place.

Mt 24,15 "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). Mt 24,15;

We can find this blasphemous image in the temple of Jerusalem also in the Old Testament, with the prophet Daniel. Daniel calls it the "abomination of desolation".

And in the temple there will be abomination of desolation.

Dan 9,26 "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.

9,27 "And he will make hard the 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 in the temple there will be abomination of desolation, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Dan 9,26-27;

They do away with the regular sacrifice and they will set up the abomination of desolation.

Dan 11,31 "Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. 11,32 "By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Dan 11,31-32;

The text above, from Mt 24,15, is the basis for the interpretation of all events which take place round the erection of the image of abomination in the temple. In Mt 24,15 there is also an explicit hint at the parallelism with the prophecy of the prophet Daniel.

In the book of Daniel we have, however, two hints at the erection of an abomination of desolation. The first one can be found in Dan 9,27, the second one in Dan 11,31. Although there is agreement among nearly all exegetes that the Antichrist is meant by the seventh king of the North, starting from Dan 11,40, some, however, do not want to accept Dan 11,31 as a parallel passage because the verses 21-39 of this chapter hint at Antiochus Epiphanes and can also be unequivocally assigned to him from history that has been handed down to us.

(See also Table 04: "What is written in the Book of Truth.")

But these prophecies of the last days find their continuation in Dan 12, where the time of the Great Tribulation is described. And here we find in verse Dan 12,11 once more a hint at the abomination of desolation:

From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up.

Dan 12,11 "From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

12,12 "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!

12,13 "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 12,11-13;

So the angel Gabriel refers here unambiguously to Dan 11,31 and gives us to understand that there will be 1290 and/or 1335 days from the time, when the abomination of desolation is erected, to the end.

Because of this connection the inevitable conclusion must be drawn that precisely this verse 31 and also the subsequent verses have a relation to the "end", that is to say to the Antichrist and to the time of the Great Tribulation. Therefore, the most appropriate interpretation seems to be the one which relates the verses Dan 11,31-39 both to Antiochus and the Antichrist. We find this peculiarity of prophecy, namely that prefulfillment and fulfillment overlap in some texts, relatively frequently and therefore this way of proceeding is not unusual.

The abomination of desolation in the temple as a sign that it is time to flee.

Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Mt 24,15 "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), 24,16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 24,17 " Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 24,18 "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 24,19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 24,20 "But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. Mt 24,15-20;

But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

Mk 13,14 "But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 13,15 "The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; 13,16 and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 13,17 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 13,18 "But pray that it may not happen in the winter. Mk 13,14-18;

Although the text here above, in Mt 24,17-18 and Mk 13,15-16, is documented in the oldest manuscripts, it nevertheless, at closer examination, arouses a peculiar impression when we compare it with the passage to the same effect in Lk 17,31:

The gathering of the chosen.

Lk 17,28 "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; 17,29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 17,30 "It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 17,31 "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.

17,32 "Remember Lot’s wife. 17,33 "Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 17,34 "I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 17,35 "There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. 17,36 "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left." 17,37 And answering they said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered." Lk 17,28-37;

We realize that this text is assigned to different events with Mt and Mk on the one hand and with Lk on the other hand. While Mt and Mk mention these statements in connection with the flight into the mountains at the erection of the abomination in the sanctuary, Luke makes these statements at the return of the Lord and the gathering of the elect by the angels. And whereas understanding these sentences with Mt and Mk in its context is somewhat difficult, with Lk the immediate connection can be seen quite clearly. The first sentence is here nearly word for word identical with the statements with Matthew and Mark. By the way, the fact that people could be on the roof, again and again aroused astonishment in our latitudes, where we know only pointed clay-tiled roofs, still in the last century, which even led to the assumption that a heavy hail fell down, which damaged all roofs so that the inhabitants were forced to climb up their roofs in order to mend them.

However, since the Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Turkey, Israel, but also Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco became the favorite destinations for vacation of the people of Central Europe, we know that the houses there have in most cases flat roofs, which form at the same time a roof garden, where linen, clothes, spices, and other things are exposed to the southern sun to dry and which serve as place to stay also in the cool evenings. From this roof a narrow stone staircase leads now down to the inner court at the outside of the house, from where one can get into the house itself, which in most cases consists of two little rooms, on the one side, whereas on the other side, which is faced toward the street, a loamy wall with a low entrance door is situated.

And now it is important to pay strict attention to the formulation of the text. It says, "The one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out.". So, in case of a strict adherence to this instruction, the people would have to stay on the roof. However, the situation, in which Matthew and Mark bring this text, namely with the appeal to flee into the mountains, requires just the opposite reaction, namely to climb down, in order to be able to flee from the house. Now it was argued that the point was to point out that the people should very well climb down from the roof, but should not go into the house any more in order to fetch their things, but that they should run out of the yard gate immediately. Others maintained on the other hand , the houses were equipped with two staircases, one leading into the yard and a second one outside, on the wall, leading down to the street. However, what is speaking against this theory, is not only that this second staircase would have been an unnecessary luxury at that time, it would also have been an invitation to thieves and other mob to enter from the street via this staircase.

But what does this appeal actually mean now? If we take a look at the context with Luke, we see that these sentences are mentioned there in quite a different context. We are there – Lk 17,30 – "on the day that the Son of Man is revealed". And a little bit later, in Lk 17,34 we read that this is the time of the gathering of the elect, of the Rapture. And here the matter at issue is not the flight any more. On the contrary, this here is the approach of the redemption by the Lord which people have longed for such a long time. They do not have to go anywhere any more, but they just shall stay where they are at the moment.

No matter whether the people are: in bed, in the field or at work, the angels of the Lord will come and take those who belong to the Lord and will leave the others behind. This is also confirmed by the subsequent answer of the Lord to the question of the Disciples in Lk 17,37 where this would happen. He said, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered" and gives them to understand also with that that they do not have to go to a special "place of gathering". The angels the Lord will send will be able to find them even without outward distinctive features at the places where they are at the moment. Just as the vultures are also instinctively able to find the carrion.

(See also Table 05: "Synopsis of the Lord’s eschatological discourses.")

So, whereas this text makes an unambiguous sense with Luke, it is even described in a misleading fashion with Matthew and Mark in the German translation by Luther. For in the original text it does not say in Mt 24,18 "Whoever is in the field must not return back to get his cloak" (Luther), which gives the impression that here there is a warning of a "return back home", but it says literally identical with Lk 17,31, "the one who is in the field must not turn back (to what is behind him)". So it is an order to come to a halt without looking back, which also finds its expression in Lk 17,32: "Remember Lot’s wife".

In how far now these two sentences actually mean something else with Matthew and Mark or if they were assigned to the wrong event already at the time of its record, cannot be ascertained today any more.

A great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world.

Mt 24,21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

24,22 "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. 24,23 "Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.

24,24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 24,25 "Behold, I have told you in advance.

24,26 "So 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. 24,27 "For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 24,28 "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Mt 24,21-28;

For the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

Mk 13,19 "For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. 13,20 "Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 13,21 "And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’ or, ‘Behold, He is there’ do not believe him; 13,22 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.13,23 "But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance. Mk 13,19-23;

There will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.

Dan 12,1 "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.

12,2 "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. 12,3 "Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

12,4 "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, 1- 4;

The fifth seal.

The souls of the martyrs in heaven.

The souls of the martyrs in heaven.

Rev 6,9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 6,10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 6,11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. Rev 6, 9-11;

At the time of the fifth seal at least a fourth of mankind has already been killed by the preceding plagues in the Great Tribulation. The large crowd of faithful among them is then in Rev 7,9-17 already seen in heaven, before the throne of God and dressed in white robes.

Consequently, the hint here above, in Rev 6,11: "until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also", does not mean this large crowd of already deceased faithful out of the Great Tribulation, before the throne, but on the one hand the martyrs of all times and in particular also the faithful in Christ who were killed during that time, who were betrayed, sentenced and killed because of their faith by the whole world – and even by their most immediate relatives – and still are to be killed for a short time.

(As the following events are dealt with in a separate chapter each, only the most important passages from the Scriptures shall be mentioned here.)

The great darkness.

With the next, the sixth seal, a new event starts: The great darkness. This is the last event in the period of the seventieth week of seven years and ends directly up in the next period of the last days, the Day of the Lord.

The sixth seal.

The sun became black, the moon became like blood and the stars of the sky fell to the earth.

Rev 6,12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 6,13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 6,14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Rev 6,12-14;

And also this event was announced to us by the Lord Jesus – almost literally identically – in his address concerning the last days. In Mt 24,29 there is also talk about the eclipse of the celestial bodies and – as the only passage in the Scriptures – here it also says that "the stars will fall from the sky".

The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give it’s light, and the stars will fall from the sky.

Mt 24,29 "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it’s light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Mt 24,29; Lk 21,25-26; Mk 13,24-25;

Also the hint in Mt 24,29 and Lk 21,26 that "the powers of the heavens will be shaken" has its equivalent in Rev 6,14: "The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up".

(See also Chapter 04: "The Great Darkness.")

The seventh seal.

And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Rev 8,1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 8,2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 8,3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

8,4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 8,5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Rev 8, 1- 5;

In the seventh seal we find something like a turning point, that is to say the conclusion of the previous happenings and the beginning of a new period. It is the calm before the storm, so to speak, which presents itself in the seventh seal.

The Day of the Lord.

The revelation of the Lord.

The period of the "Day of the Lord" starts in its first part with the revelation of the Son of Man in the sky. All people will see him coming with great power and glory. With that the rule of the Antichrist is finished – although he is not defeated yet. The remaining faithful in Jesus can now raise their heads, for their redemption is near. The godless, however, will now have to undergo the Judgment of the God they never wanted to believe in.

The coming of the Son of Man will be like a lightning.

Mt 24,27 "For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Mt 24,27;

Like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky.

Lk 17,24 "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. Lk 17,24;

The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky.

Mt 24,30 "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. Mt 24,30;

Then the kings of the earth hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.

Rev 6,15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 6,16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;

6,17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Rev 6,15-17;

The plagues of the trumpets.

And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet.

Mt 24,31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Mt 24,31;

The first trumpet: a third of the earth and a third of the trees and all the green grass was burned up.

Rev 8,6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. 8,7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. Rev 8, 6- 7;

The second trumpet: a third of the sea became blood and a third of the creatures in the sea died.

Rev 8,8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 8,9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. Rev 8, 8- 9;

The third trumpet: a third of the waters became wormwood and many men died.

Rev8,10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 8,11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. Rev 8,10-11;

The fourth trumpet: a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were darkened.

Rev 8,12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. 8,13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!" Rev 8,12-13;

Fifth trumpet: smoke went up out of the pit and out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth.

Rev 9,1 Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. 9,2 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. 9,3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Rev 9, 1- 3;

The men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads are tormented for five months.

Rev 9,4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 9,5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. Rev 9, 4- 5;

The sixth trumpet: A third of mankind was killed by fire and smoke and brimstone.

Rev 9,13 Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 9,14 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 9,15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.

9,16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 9,17 And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 9,18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 9,19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm. Rev 9,13-19;

If one wants to take the locusts coming out of the smoke at the fifth trumpet literally, this would mean that there was a longer period of drought without rain on the earth before. Usually such plagues of locusts occur about two years after a period of drought mainly in steppes and grain fields.

As can be induced then from Rev 9,18, at the sixth plague of the trumpets alone a third of mankind will be killed. Now, already at the fourth plague of the seals (Rev 6,7-8) a major part of the inhabitants of the fourth part of the earth had been killed. If we take here the fourth of the earth’s surface with the highest population density – Europe, Asia, and the whole of North Africa – , almost half of the world’s population died in that. Therefore, at the fourth trumpet, only about 50 % of the people are alive. Out of these 50 % now again a third, that is to say a further 17 % will be killed. This amounts to a decimation of the world population by about 70 % altogether or according to the present level by about four billion people.

The Rapture.

The seventh trumpet.

An infallible sign of the coming of the Lord for the Rapture of His people, is the sounding of the last trumpet. We have hints at that in the Revelation and with Paul.

When the seventh angel is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished.

Rev 10,5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 10,6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 10,7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets. Rev 10, 5- 7;

To bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy.

Dan 9,24 "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. Dan 9,24;

However, just as the seventh seal, also the seventh trumpet does not bring any direct plagues. This last trumpet announces that now there will not be any delay any more. The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ. Now the mystery of God is completed as he had announced it to His servants, the prophets. Vision and prophecy will be sealed up and everlasting righteousness will be brought in.

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 11,15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." 11,16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 11,17 saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

11,18 "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." Rev 11,15-18;

So it is the moment when God takes over the power on this world. It is the time when God intervenes in order to put an end to the irresponsible action of men among each other and with His Creation.

The last – the seventh – trumpet is the sign for the coming of the Lord in order to redeem His people in the raising of the dead in Christ and their joint Rapture with the living faithful.

Also Paul explains that to the Corinthians in his First Epistle:

At the last trumpet the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1Cor 15,50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 15,51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 15,52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1Cor 15,50-52;

The gathering of the elect.

The raising and the Rapture.

And also in his First Epistle to the Thessalonians Paul writes that when the trumpet of God sounds the Lord will descend from heaven and the dead in Christ will be raised first. Then those who are still alive at that time and who remain will be caught up into heaven together with them.

The dead in Christ will rise first and then we who are alive will be caught up together with them.

1The 4,15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 4,16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 4,17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1The 4,15-17;

His angels will gather together His elect from the four winds.

Mt 24,31 "And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Mt 24,31;

(See also Chapter 06: "The Return of the Lord.")

The day of the wrath of God.

The bowls of the wrath of God.

In the second part of the "Day of the Lord" we recognize the day of the wrath of God. It is the seven bowls of the wrath of God which lend its name to this time. One severe plague after the other one strikes mankind which has already been considerably decimated. Nevertheless they do not change their ways. On the contrary, people blaspheme God because of this plagues, but they do not repent.

The Battle of Armageddon.

The Antichrist calls the kings of the whole world.

For the Antichrist the situation is now growing more and more problematic. Hardly anyone noticed probably the disappearance of the elect, as they are probably a small group in terms of figures and on top of that all of them are still leading a secluded life somewhere in order to hide their "fault" of the missing mark of the beast. But all people saw the sign of the Son of Man in the sky. And also the Antichrist now knows what is to come now. But obviously he is not able to and does not want to back down any more. He is determined to fight also this last battle. And with the support of Satan and the false prophet he summons the kings of the whole world with their armies in Armageddon.

Unclean spirits go out to the kings of the whole world.

Rev 16,13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 16,14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 16,15 ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.") 16,16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. Rev 16,13-16;

The "Word of God" and the armies which are in heaven.

And also the Lord Jesus comes now with the army of heaven in order to take his place against these satanic powers.

The Word of God, and the armies which are in heaven, were following Him on white horses.

Rev 19,11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 19,12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 19,13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

19,14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 19,15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 19,16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "King of kings, and LORD of Lords" Rev 19,11-16;

The battle.

The beast and the kings of the earth make war against Him who sat on the horse.

Rev 19,17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 19,18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great." 19,19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Rev 19,17-19;

The beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

Rev 19,20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 19,21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. Rev 19,20-21

(See also Chapter 07: "The Battle of Armageddon.")

Satan in the abyss for a thousand years.

The dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, is bounded for a thousand years.

Rev 20,1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 20,2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 20,3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Rev 20, 1- 3;

The reorganization of heaven and earth.

A great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth.

Rev 16,17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done." 16,18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 16,19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. 16,20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 16,21 And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.. Rev 16,17-21;

To sum up it can be said that the seventieth week of seven years includes the two periods of the last days – the "Great Tribulation" and the "Day of the Lord" - with all their individual events. These seven years are the culmination point of world history. The rule of men over the world is finished. In the subsequent period of the Millennium God and the Lord Jesus Christ will reign over mankind for the last thousand years of this First Creation.

(See also Discourse 48: "An alternative view on the sequence of events in the Last Days.")

In conclusion a short glance at these events of the seventieth week of seven years in the order which results from the statements to this effect that can be found in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

Sequence and Duration of events in the Last Days.(PORTRAIT)

(See also Table 17: "The Chronology of the End-Time Events.")