The 70th Seven
Daniel 9:27
Message #14
Guys, God wants us to know (at least the high points) how the final history of this world is going to work out so that we can make a wise choice as to where we personally will end up when God wraps things up on this temporary earth. In Daniel Chapter 7, we switched over to the prophecy half of the book, and we have been in the deep end since then.
In Daniel Chapter 7, we taught a message called "Introducing the Antichrist," and that was a critically important message for today. Daniel's one verse summary of this final set of seven years focuses on the Antichrist. So, this final set of seven years, often called "The 70th Week of Daniel," is the same seven-year period we call "The Tribulation Period" just prior to the return of Jesus Christ. So, the 70th Week of Daniel and the seven-year tribulation period are talking about the same seven years. Today we are going to focus on Daniel's one verse summary of these last seven years of the earth's existence - in Daniel 9:27.
Last message we did the radical overview of the "70 Sets of Seven" ("The 70 Sevens Of Daniel") here in Daniel Chapter 9. It was so cool to do the math and see that God really does want us to know what is coming for this world. So much so that He gave the Jews the EXACT NUMBER OF DAYS to count so they could be ready for the Messiah's first coming.
(By the way, speaking of math, I wanted to clarify the smallest little detail from last week's message. Some scholars run the first 69 weeks of Daniel from 444 B.C. to 33 A.D., and some run it from 445 B.C. to 32 A.D. Either way you run it, you get from the command to rebuild the temple to the arrival and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.)
The arrival and (and crucifixion) of Jesus Christ ended 69 sets of seven years of Daniel's prophecy. Then, after those 69 sets of seven years, we hit a pause. It came in the last half of Daniel 9:26.
Daniel 9:26(b) (ESV)
26 . . . And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood (70 A.D. - after the end of the 69 sets of 7 yrs), and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
This is exactly where we are at today. Then, because we had gone through so much, we had to give just an honorable mention to the most important of ALL the "70 Sets of Seven" the LAST SET OF SEVEN. Daniel summarizes this in Daniel 9:27.
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him."
This final set of seven years we call The Tribulation Period.
The Tribulation period is:
1.) the final seven years before Jesus Christ RECLAIMS His rule of this earth
2.) the final seven years before we return to rule WITH Him
3.) the final seven years before God brings His JUDGEMENT on Satan
4.) The final seven years before God brings His GLORY to this earth
That is a big summary, and we just can't leave it alone. We can't just move on without saying, "Hey, tell me more about that final set of seven years 'cause they seem pretty important." So, let's explain and elaborate a bit.
Again, let's look at the beginning of the verse.
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven,
Remember, in Daniel verse 26, the ESV correctly translates this ruler as "the prince who is to come." This prince who is to come is the Antichrist, who is still to come - at any time. We learned about him in two messages in Daniel 7 - "The Future is Here" and "Introducing the Antichrist." We also have a message in Revelation called "The Antichrist" (Revelation 13.) Those three messages will give you a good overview of the Antichrist.
The Antichrist (listen carefully) is Satan's "Anti-Messiah." He is brought into this world by Satan, to do the exact opposite of what Jesus Christ came to this world to do as God.
The Antichrist is the ruler who will come out of the people who destroyed the temple. (Rome) More specifically, he will come out of a revived Roman empire, almost certainly some form of the current "European Union." At the very beginning of this final seven years, we read about in Daniel 9:27; the Antichrist will make a treaty with the people for seven years. "The people" (or The Many) is a reference to Israel. The only treaty that would fit with the next statement in this verse is a treaty that would allow Israel to rebuild the temple.
However... there is one little event we believe occurs BEFORE this treaty is made. In fact, it's very possible; the Antichrist is capitulated to world prominence by the way he handles this little event just prior to the beginning of these final seven years. This little event is what we call the RAPTURE. The Rapture (snatching up) of all Christians will throw this world into a panic! It could very easily give Satan the perfect platform to bring in his FAKE man of peace to power. We did a message called "Rapture" in the Revelation series. You can get that message and learn more about the Rapture.
Prior to (or at the very beginning) of these final seven years, is the Rapture. Let's just read about it, okay?
Thessalonians 4:16–18 (NLT)
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up (Latin – RAPTURO) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
18 So encourage each other with these words.
So, Rapture first. Then - the 70th week of Daniel (the Tribulation) gets started, and it starts with a treaty made by the Antichrist with Israel.
Now in Revelation Chapter 6, there are four horsemen who come upon the earth during the Tribulation. The first horseman is on a white horse, and he looks a lot like Jesus Christ. Let's turn to Revelation 6:2 - John is in heaven, and he is about to see four horsemen come upon the earth. We read about the first horseman in the following verse:
Revelation 6:2 (NLT)
2 I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.
A white horse, a bow (but no arrows), a crown on his head, winning battles, and gaining victory... sounds like Jesus Christ. But it is actually the Antichrist who comes conquering in a false peace (white horse.) This is most probably when the Antichrist will make his seven-year treaty with Israel, most probably involving the rebuilding of the temple (which Israel is actively preparing for right now.)
As I have mentioned, we had the incredible "privilege" of being on the Temple Mount at the same time as the head Rabbi in charge of the preparations for the third temple. There were Muslims who began screaming out death threats - they were more for the Rabbi than for us. (It still messed up our time on the Temple Mount.)
Israel is looking today for a world leader who will orchestrate a treaty that will allow them to rebuild their temple, and that world leader is coming. However, God's Word makes it clear, Israel will be sorry because the Antichrist will have duped them worse than any world leader in history.
The next event on the prophetic calendar is the Rapture, then Daniel's "70th Week" begins. It begins with the Antichrist bringing false peace with a treaty, most probably allowing Israel to rebuild the temple. But then, the second thing that happens in Daniel's 70th week changes everything.
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings . . .
Halfway through the seven-year tribulation period, the Antichrist will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. That is how we know the temple is going to be rebuilt. There can't be any sacrifices and offerings without a temple. This "halfway" point is super critical. It separates the seven-year tribulation period into two halves, with the second half being immensely worse than the first. The second half of the Tribulation (three and a half years) is called in the Bible "The Great Tribulation" or the time of "Jacob's Trouble." This is because, literally, all hell is going to be poured out on Israel and on the world.
Jesus spoke about this turn from bad to worse that Daniel is referring to here. In Matthew 24, in the middle of the chapter, Jesus describes the second half of the seven-year Tribulation.
Matthew 24:15–22 (NLT)
15 "The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place." (Reader, pay attention!)
16 "Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.
17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack.
18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.
19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.
20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.
22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones.
There is so much terrible stuff that occurs during the second half of this final 70th set of seven years that we can't even begin to scratch the surface here. A large part of our 43 message study of the book of Revelation has to do with the second half of this final seven years. Jesus sums it all up in Matthew 24:21 - a time of greater anguish than at any time since the world began.
So first, the Antichrist makes a false seven-year treaty with Israel, allowing them to rebuild the temple. Second, at the halfway point, he puts an end to the sacrifices that he himself had originally made a way for. I want you to understand why. Why does the Antichrist both make a way for Israel to rebuild the temple and then stop the sacrifices after three and a half years? Let's understand why the Antichrist is doing all this. We need to go to Revelation 13:2(b).
Revelation 13:2 (NLT)
2 . . . And the dragon (Satan) gave the beast (Antichrist) his own (meaning Satan's own) power and throne and great authority.
Satan came to earth in a mocking fashion, similar to how God came to earth in Jesus Christ, and so the Antichrist is the "embodiment" of Satan on earth. Let's look at Revelation 13.
Revelation 13:5–8 (NLT)
5 Then the beast was allowed (God still in control) to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months (three and a half years).
6 And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7 And the beast was allowed to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.
8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast (there's the reason). They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
Verse 8 tells us why Satan does all this through the Antichrist. Because Satan wants to be worshipped as God. Just for emphasis, let's turn over to 2 Thessalonians.
First, see HOW the Antichrist comes to power.
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 (NLT)
9 This man (Antichrist) will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.
Second, see his ultimate goal.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)
4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
That is why the Antichrist brokers a deal for the Jews to rebuild the temple. He is going to force the world to worship him AS GOD IN God's own temple. That has always been Satan's goal (see Isaiah 14:12-15.) That is Satan's goal today - as he embodies the things of this world that people worship, and that is his goal in the final seven-year Tribulation when he is fully embodied as the Antichrist. In order to do this right (in his eyes), he must first desecrate all things holy unto God - inside the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. This is Satan's grand finale in his epic battle against God.
Let's go back to Daniel 9:27, where we will read three-fourths of the verse.
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven (we saw that), but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings (saw that). And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration . . .
This is most commonly called "The Abomination of Desolation." This is the event Jesus was referring to as the beginning of the second half of the Tribulation. As Daniel 9:27 says, it will be a climax to all his terrible deeds. The Antichrist (as the embodiment of Satan) will demand to be worshipped by the world, inside God's temple. But the end of Daniel 9:27 says:
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 [This will only continue . . .] until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him."
Do you think it would be nice to know FOR SURE the final score in today's Super Bowl so you could call up your friend in Vegas and have him put everything you've got on the winning team? Forget about it - that's all worthless kindling for the fire.
What if you could know FOR SURE the final score between God and Satan? The final score between Heaven and Hell? What if you could, FOR SURE, pick the winning side of this eternal battle today? If you could, would you? Would you pick the winning side? I hope so - because the side you pick is the side where you will spend ETERNITY!
Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist will be allowed to wreak havoc - until the fate decreed for him is finally poured out on him. Let's get an idea of what that fate is. After his time is up, we read in 2 Thessalonians:
2 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)
8 . . . but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth (a sword, not bad breath) and destroy him by the splendor of His coming.
When the Antichrist gets what's coming to him, it's going to be the END of this world, and the BEGINNING of Eternity!
Starting in Revelation 16, Satan begins gathering the armies of the world to a place called Armageddon. In Revelation 19, the second coming of Jesus Christ is described with us (as the Armies of Heaven) with HIM!!! From the mouth of Jesus comes a sharp sword, and He releases the fierce wrath of God like juice flowing from a winepress. (Revelation 19:15) Turn back to Revelation 19. Here we pick it up in verses 19-21.
Revelation 19:19–21 (NLT)
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.
20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.
Let me tell you something, singing "I'm on a Highway to Hell" might be fun... until you actually get there.
Listen carefully. Just as Jesus Christ was the first in of those who are resurrected to eternal life, in a similar (but opposite) way, the Antichrist is first in of those who enter the eternal lake of fire. Look closely at the end of Revelation 19:20, where it says... both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The end that is decreed by God, for the Antichrist is to be FIRST to be thrown alive into the eternal lake of fire.
Daniel 9:27 is one verse, with one summary and one message. Be on the right side of this eternal conflict before you enter eternity. I promise you do not know your appointed time. But there is a moment when you are going to leave this temporary world and enter one of those two eternal worlds.
In Daniel Chapter 7, we taught a message called "Introducing the Antichrist," and that was a critically important message for today. Daniel's one verse summary of this final set of seven years focuses on the Antichrist. So, this final set of seven years, often called "The 70th Week of Daniel," is the same seven-year period we call "The Tribulation Period" just prior to the return of Jesus Christ. So, the 70th Week of Daniel and the seven-year tribulation period are talking about the same seven years. Today we are going to focus on Daniel's one verse summary of these last seven years of the earth's existence - in Daniel 9:27.
Last message we did the radical overview of the "70 Sets of Seven" ("The 70 Sevens Of Daniel") here in Daniel Chapter 9. It was so cool to do the math and see that God really does want us to know what is coming for this world. So much so that He gave the Jews the EXACT NUMBER OF DAYS to count so they could be ready for the Messiah's first coming.
(By the way, speaking of math, I wanted to clarify the smallest little detail from last week's message. Some scholars run the first 69 weeks of Daniel from 444 B.C. to 33 A.D., and some run it from 445 B.C. to 32 A.D. Either way you run it, you get from the command to rebuild the temple to the arrival and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.)
The arrival and (and crucifixion) of Jesus Christ ended 69 sets of seven years of Daniel's prophecy. Then, after those 69 sets of seven years, we hit a pause. It came in the last half of Daniel 9:26.
Daniel 9:26(b) (ESV)
26 . . . And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood (70 A.D. - after the end of the 69 sets of 7 yrs), and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
This is exactly where we are at today. Then, because we had gone through so much, we had to give just an honorable mention to the most important of ALL the "70 Sets of Seven" the LAST SET OF SEVEN. Daniel summarizes this in Daniel 9:27.
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him."
This final set of seven years we call The Tribulation Period.
The Tribulation period is:
1.) the final seven years before Jesus Christ RECLAIMS His rule of this earth
2.) the final seven years before we return to rule WITH Him
3.) the final seven years before God brings His JUDGEMENT on Satan
4.) The final seven years before God brings His GLORY to this earth
That is a big summary, and we just can't leave it alone. We can't just move on without saying, "Hey, tell me more about that final set of seven years 'cause they seem pretty important." So, let's explain and elaborate a bit.
Again, let's look at the beginning of the verse.
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven,
Remember, in Daniel verse 26, the ESV correctly translates this ruler as "the prince who is to come." This prince who is to come is the Antichrist, who is still to come - at any time. We learned about him in two messages in Daniel 7 - "The Future is Here" and "Introducing the Antichrist." We also have a message in Revelation called "The Antichrist" (Revelation 13.) Those three messages will give you a good overview of the Antichrist.
The Antichrist (listen carefully) is Satan's "Anti-Messiah." He is brought into this world by Satan, to do the exact opposite of what Jesus Christ came to this world to do as God.
The Antichrist is the ruler who will come out of the people who destroyed the temple. (Rome) More specifically, he will come out of a revived Roman empire, almost certainly some form of the current "European Union." At the very beginning of this final seven years, we read about in Daniel 9:27; the Antichrist will make a treaty with the people for seven years. "The people" (or The Many) is a reference to Israel. The only treaty that would fit with the next statement in this verse is a treaty that would allow Israel to rebuild the temple.
However... there is one little event we believe occurs BEFORE this treaty is made. In fact, it's very possible; the Antichrist is capitulated to world prominence by the way he handles this little event just prior to the beginning of these final seven years. This little event is what we call the RAPTURE. The Rapture (snatching up) of all Christians will throw this world into a panic! It could very easily give Satan the perfect platform to bring in his FAKE man of peace to power. We did a message called "Rapture" in the Revelation series. You can get that message and learn more about the Rapture.
Prior to (or at the very beginning) of these final seven years, is the Rapture. Let's just read about it, okay?
Thessalonians 4:16–18 (NLT)
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up (Latin – RAPTURO) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
18 So encourage each other with these words.
So, Rapture first. Then - the 70th week of Daniel (the Tribulation) gets started, and it starts with a treaty made by the Antichrist with Israel.
Now in Revelation Chapter 6, there are four horsemen who come upon the earth during the Tribulation. The first horseman is on a white horse, and he looks a lot like Jesus Christ. Let's turn to Revelation 6:2 - John is in heaven, and he is about to see four horsemen come upon the earth. We read about the first horseman in the following verse:
Revelation 6:2 (NLT)
2 I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.
A white horse, a bow (but no arrows), a crown on his head, winning battles, and gaining victory... sounds like Jesus Christ. But it is actually the Antichrist who comes conquering in a false peace (white horse.) This is most probably when the Antichrist will make his seven-year treaty with Israel, most probably involving the rebuilding of the temple (which Israel is actively preparing for right now.)
As I have mentioned, we had the incredible "privilege" of being on the Temple Mount at the same time as the head Rabbi in charge of the preparations for the third temple. There were Muslims who began screaming out death threats - they were more for the Rabbi than for us. (It still messed up our time on the Temple Mount.)
Israel is looking today for a world leader who will orchestrate a treaty that will allow them to rebuild their temple, and that world leader is coming. However, God's Word makes it clear, Israel will be sorry because the Antichrist will have duped them worse than any world leader in history.
The next event on the prophetic calendar is the Rapture, then Daniel's "70th Week" begins. It begins with the Antichrist bringing false peace with a treaty, most probably allowing Israel to rebuild the temple. But then, the second thing that happens in Daniel's 70th week changes everything.
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings . . .
Halfway through the seven-year tribulation period, the Antichrist will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. That is how we know the temple is going to be rebuilt. There can't be any sacrifices and offerings without a temple. This "halfway" point is super critical. It separates the seven-year tribulation period into two halves, with the second half being immensely worse than the first. The second half of the Tribulation (three and a half years) is called in the Bible "The Great Tribulation" or the time of "Jacob's Trouble." This is because, literally, all hell is going to be poured out on Israel and on the world.
Jesus spoke about this turn from bad to worse that Daniel is referring to here. In Matthew 24, in the middle of the chapter, Jesus describes the second half of the seven-year Tribulation.
Matthew 24:15–22 (NLT)
15 "The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place." (Reader, pay attention!)
16 "Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.
17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack.
18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.
19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.
20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.
22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones.
There is so much terrible stuff that occurs during the second half of this final 70th set of seven years that we can't even begin to scratch the surface here. A large part of our 43 message study of the book of Revelation has to do with the second half of this final seven years. Jesus sums it all up in Matthew 24:21 - a time of greater anguish than at any time since the world began.
So first, the Antichrist makes a false seven-year treaty with Israel, allowing them to rebuild the temple. Second, at the halfway point, he puts an end to the sacrifices that he himself had originally made a way for. I want you to understand why. Why does the Antichrist both make a way for Israel to rebuild the temple and then stop the sacrifices after three and a half years? Let's understand why the Antichrist is doing all this. We need to go to Revelation 13:2(b).
Revelation 13:2 (NLT)
2 . . . And the dragon (Satan) gave the beast (Antichrist) his own (meaning Satan's own) power and throne and great authority.
Satan came to earth in a mocking fashion, similar to how God came to earth in Jesus Christ, and so the Antichrist is the "embodiment" of Satan on earth. Let's look at Revelation 13.
Revelation 13:5–8 (NLT)
5 Then the beast was allowed (God still in control) to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months (three and a half years).
6 And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7 And the beast was allowed to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.
8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast (there's the reason). They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
Verse 8 tells us why Satan does all this through the Antichrist. Because Satan wants to be worshipped as God. Just for emphasis, let's turn over to 2 Thessalonians.
First, see HOW the Antichrist comes to power.
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 (NLT)
9 This man (Antichrist) will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.
Second, see his ultimate goal.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)
4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
That is why the Antichrist brokers a deal for the Jews to rebuild the temple. He is going to force the world to worship him AS GOD IN God's own temple. That has always been Satan's goal (see Isaiah 14:12-15.) That is Satan's goal today - as he embodies the things of this world that people worship, and that is his goal in the final seven-year Tribulation when he is fully embodied as the Antichrist. In order to do this right (in his eyes), he must first desecrate all things holy unto God - inside the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. This is Satan's grand finale in his epic battle against God.
Let's go back to Daniel 9:27, where we will read three-fourths of the verse.
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven (we saw that), but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings (saw that). And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration . . .
This is most commonly called "The Abomination of Desolation." This is the event Jesus was referring to as the beginning of the second half of the Tribulation. As Daniel 9:27 says, it will be a climax to all his terrible deeds. The Antichrist (as the embodiment of Satan) will demand to be worshipped by the world, inside God's temple. But the end of Daniel 9:27 says:
Daniel 9:27 (NLT)
27 [This will only continue . . .] until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him."
Do you think it would be nice to know FOR SURE the final score in today's Super Bowl so you could call up your friend in Vegas and have him put everything you've got on the winning team? Forget about it - that's all worthless kindling for the fire.
What if you could know FOR SURE the final score between God and Satan? The final score between Heaven and Hell? What if you could, FOR SURE, pick the winning side of this eternal battle today? If you could, would you? Would you pick the winning side? I hope so - because the side you pick is the side where you will spend ETERNITY!
Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist will be allowed to wreak havoc - until the fate decreed for him is finally poured out on him. Let's get an idea of what that fate is. After his time is up, we read in 2 Thessalonians:
2 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)
8 . . . but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth (a sword, not bad breath) and destroy him by the splendor of His coming.
When the Antichrist gets what's coming to him, it's going to be the END of this world, and the BEGINNING of Eternity!
Starting in Revelation 16, Satan begins gathering the armies of the world to a place called Armageddon. In Revelation 19, the second coming of Jesus Christ is described with us (as the Armies of Heaven) with HIM!!! From the mouth of Jesus comes a sharp sword, and He releases the fierce wrath of God like juice flowing from a winepress. (Revelation 19:15) Turn back to Revelation 19. Here we pick it up in verses 19-21.
Revelation 19:19–21 (NLT)
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.
20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.
Let me tell you something, singing "I'm on a Highway to Hell" might be fun... until you actually get there.
Listen carefully. Just as Jesus Christ was the first in of those who are resurrected to eternal life, in a similar (but opposite) way, the Antichrist is first in of those who enter the eternal lake of fire. Look closely at the end of Revelation 19:20, where it says... both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The end that is decreed by God, for the Antichrist is to be FIRST to be thrown alive into the eternal lake of fire.
Daniel 9:27 is one verse, with one summary and one message. Be on the right side of this eternal conflict before you enter eternity. I promise you do not know your appointed time. But there is a moment when you are going to leave this temporary world and enter one of those two eternal worlds.