GETTING BACK TO BASICS

Doctrines in the Bible

DOCTRINE IN SCRIPTURECLASSIFICATION MEANING

BIBLIOLOGY DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE

THEOLOGY PROPER DOCTRINE OF GOD

CHRISTOLOGY DOCTRINE OF JESUS CHRIST

PNEUMATOLOGY DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

ANGELOLOGY DOCTRINE OF ANGELS

ANTHROPOLOGY DOCTRINE OF MAN OR HUMANITY

HAMARTIOLOGY DOCTRINE OF SIN

SOTERIOLOGY DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

ECCLESIOLOGY DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

ESCHATOLOGY DOCTRINE OF LAST THINGS

Doctrine in Scripture

• We practice a literal approach to the interpretation all Scripture, including prophetic Scripture.

• Scripture must be interpreted and understood in its literal, normal and natural sense.

• Succinctly and simply stated:– if the plain sense makes good sense, then refrain

from trying to make some other sense out of the passage or you may end up with nonsense!

ESCHATOLOGY - RELEVANCE• Eschatology helps us to understand the Bible's prophetic

passages and how to live our lives in response to what God is going to do in the end times.

• There is a great deal of controversy in Eschatology, but that does not relieve us of our responsibility to study and understand what the Bible teaches about the end times.

• An understanding of Eschatology will eliminate many of the fears we have about the future.

• Our God is sovereign, He has a plan, and it will all unfold according to His perfect will and timing. This is a great encouragement to those who are in Christ!

• A key verse on Eschatology is Titus 2:13: "we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ."

ESCHATOLOGY: TERMINOLOGY• Eschatology is the study of what the Bible says is going to

happen in the end times.• Some important issues in Eschatology are these:

– What is the Rapture? The word "rapture" does not occur in the Bible. The concept of the Rapture, though, is clearly taught in Scripture.

– When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation? Will the Rapture occur before the Tribulation, at the middle of the Tribulation, or at the end of the Tribulation?

– What is the Second Coming and why is it important? Why is it so important for Jesus Christ to return? When is Christ going to return? What will be the signs of Christ's return?

– The Millennium : the fulfilment of many of God’s covenants and promises rest on a literal, physical, future kingdom.

ESCHATOLOGY: TERMINOLOGY In eschatology, it is important to remember that almost all Christians agree on these three things: • 1) there is coming a time of great tribulation such as

the world has never seen, • 2) after the Tribulation, Christ will return to establish

His Millennial kingdom on earth, and, • 3) there will be a Rapture—a translation from mortality

to immortality—for believers (John 14:1-3;1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The question is when does the Rapture occur in relation to the Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ? What is the correct order?

What do we believe?• We believe that, according to the Word of God, the next great event of

prophecy will be the coming of the Lord in the air to receive unto Himself all the “Church saints” (from Pentecost 1 Thess.4:13-18)…..RAPTURE

• We believe that the translation (RAPTURE) of the Church will be followed by “Daniel’s seventieth week” (Dan.9:27 ) We believe that this will be a time of judgment on the whole earth, described as the TRIBULATION and a “time of Jacob’s trouble”.

• We believe that this period will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth with His saints (THE SECOND COMING), to defeat His enemies, to bind Satan, and to establish the dispensation of the fullness of Times or the Kingdom during which He will rule and reign for a thousand years, lift the curse and restore Israel to her own land.

• WE BELIEVE IN THE PRETRIBULATIONAL AND PREMILLENNIAL RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

SECOND COMING

The Tribulation - Timing

• Pretribulationism teaches that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation starts.

• At that time, the church will meet Christ in the air, and then sometime after that the Antichrist is revealed and the Tribulation begins.

• In other words, the Rapture and Christ’s Second Coming (to set up His kingdom) are separated by at least seven years.

• The church does not experience any of the Tribulation.

The Tribulation - Timing

• The Scriptural basis for the Pretribulational view:– The church is not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians

1:9-10, 5:9), – and believers will not be overtaken by the Day of the

Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-9). – The church of Philadelphia was promised to be kept

from “the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world” (Revelation 3:10). Note that the promise is not preservation through the trial but deliverance from the hour, that is, from the time period of the trial.

The Tribulation -Timing

• Pretribulationism also finds support in what is not found in Scripture. – The word “church” appears nineteen times in the

first three chapters of Revelation, but, significantly, the word is not used again until chapter 22.

– In other words, in the entire lengthy description of the Tribulation in Revelation, the word church is noticeably absent.

– In fact, the Bible never uses the word "church" in a passage relating to the Tribulation.

The Tribulation - Timing

• Pretribulationism clearly maintains the distinction between Israel and the church and God’s separate plans for each.

• The seventy “sevens” of Daniel 9:24 are decreed upon Daniel’s people (the Jews) and Daniel’s holy city (Jerusalem).

• This prophecy makes it plain that the seventieth week (the Tribulation) is a time of purging and restoration for Israel and Jerusalem, not for the church.

THE TRIBULATION

So what exactly is the Tribulation and how do we know it will last 7 years?

The Tribulation• The Tribulation is a future seven-year period of time when God

will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world.

• The church will not be present during the Tribulation. • Throughout Scripture, the Tribulation is referred to by other

names such as – the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; 2:1-31; 3:14; 1

Thessalonians 5:2); – trouble or tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1); – the Great Tribulation, which refers to the more intense second half of

the seven-year period (Matthew 24:21); – time or day of trouble (Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15); – time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).

Overview of Daniel 9

• Daniel 9 gives rich instruction regarding prayer.• True prayer is...

– in response to the Word and grounded in God's will (Da 9:2)– characterized by fervency (Da 9:3)– characterized by self-denial (Da 9:4)– identified unselfishly with God’s people (Da 9:5)– strengthened by confession (Da 9:5-15)– dependent on God’s character (Da 9:4,7,9,15)– and has as its goal, God’s glory (Da 9:16, 17, 18, 19).

(Adapted from John MacArthur's Study Bible).

Overview of Daniel 9• In many ways verse 18 is the theme of the whole prayer: “We

do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”

• What a crucial insight that is: So many times we pray because we secretly think we have “earned” the right by our good behaviour to ask God to bless us.

• Daniel chose the opposite tack. “Lord, we don’t deserve to be heard by you because we have sinned greatly against you. The only reason we come to you is because you are a God of love and grace.”

• When we approach God with that attitude, we will discover that He welcomes us into His presence and listens graciously to every word we say.

Overview of Daniel 9• V20 and 21: “WHILE I WAS SPEAKING”• Observe how the answer comes before he is even

finished!• Daniel did not even get to say "Amen"! • Daniel 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”.

• True prayer always leads to new insight and deeper understanding. Since prayer in its deepest sense is a kind of “conversation” with God, when we talk with the Lord, we always end up learning things we didn’t know before.

Daniel 9:24

• Rebellion was the root sin which prompted all of Israel’s other sins.

• Gabriel was saying that Israel would not stop its rebellion against God’s rule until these 490 years would run their course.

• Scriptures indicate that Israel will not repent, will not turn to God and be saved until the Second Coming of the Messiah at the end of these 490 years

Daniel 9:24-27• Represents one of the key verses regarding "end times" prophecy -

holds the key to all prophetic interpretation and as such is the backbone of biblical prophecy. MISS THIS AND REVELATION WILL BE A MYSTERY TO YOU.

• Outlines the future history of Israel - there is no reference whatsoever to "the church" in this passage– The Jews could have known the time of the Messiah's arrival.– The Jews will be able to know the time of the Anti-christ’s arrival

• Provides clear evidence that the Bible is inspired by God - the accuracy of the prediction of the coming of Messiah is indisputable evidence of that the Bible is not a book inspired by man but could only have been inspired by God Who Alone knows the future.

• Substantiates the truth that God is completely sovereign -the prophecy is so accurate, that it leaves no doubt that God is sovereign and in full control over time and the affairs of men.

• Stimulates a heightened expectation of the imminent return of the Messiah

Daniel 9:24-27 – Understanding the numbers

• Assuming a literal interpretation, seventy weeks or seventy sevens (490 years) can be divided as follows...–Daniel 9:24 - a comprehensive picture of

the entire prophecy– Daniel 9:25 - the first 69 sevens (483 years)– Daniel 9:26 - the events between the 69th and

70th sevens– Daniel 9:27 - conclusion punctuated by the 70th

seven of 7 years (The Tribulation)

Daniel 9:24

• Seventy weeks is literally “seventy sevens”, or seventy periods of 7 years

70 x 7 = 490 years• “THY people and upon THY holy city”– Gabriel is talking to Daniel– Daniel’s people are nation of Israel– Daniel’s holy city is Jerusalem– not the church and the "new Jerusalem”– Gabriel has been sent by God to reveal the startling news that

490 years will complete the history of Israel and Jerusalem

Daniel 9:24• Six things will be accomplished in those 490 years:

1. Transgression will be finished2. Sin will be ended3. Reconciliation for iniquity (a sacrifice that would atone for

sin, i.e. the Cross of Christ) 4. Everlasting righteousness will be brought in5. Vision and prophecy will be sealed up (laid aside)6. The most Holy will be anointed (Millennial Temple)

• The first 3 have to do with SIN• The last 3 have to do with RIGHTEOUSNESS and the

future kingdom of Messiah

Daniel 9:24• MacArthur adds that of the 6 purposes for the

"seventy weeks"...– the first 3 are fulfilled in principle at Christ’s first

coming, in full at His return – The last 3 complete the plan at His Second Advent.

• These six purposes can be reduced to one negative and one positive.

• God has dealt with man's greatest negative: sin.• And He has provided men and women with a

great positive: righteousness.

Daniel 9:24-27 – Understanding the numbers

• Assuming a literal interpretation, seventy weeks or seventy sevens (490 years) can be divided as follows...– Daniel 9:24 - a comprehensive picture of the

entire prophecy–Daniel 9:25 - the first 69 sevens (483 years)– Daniel 9:26 - the events between the 69th and

70th sevens– Daniel 9:27 - conclusion punctuated by the 70th

seven of 7 years (The Tribulation)

Daniel 9:25 – Understanding the numbers• Seventy weeks is literally “seventy sevens”, or seventy periods of 7 years

70 x 7 = 490 years• A Bible year has 360 days• This period has a beginning and an end (v25):

– from the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (14th March 445BC – Neh 2:1-8)

– Up to Messiah the Prince (Triumphal Entry in Luke 19:36-42 on 6th April 32AD)– 476 years and 24 days (14/03 – 06/04) = 173,764 days– Factor in 116 Leap year days for 476 years = 116 days– Total: 173,764 + 116 = 173,880 days– 173,880 days ÷ 360 days in a year = 483 years

• V25: there shall be 7 weeks and 62 weeks = 69 weeks or 69 sevens = 69 x 7 = 483 years!!

• When Christ rode into Jerusalem and presented Himself as the Prince (Lk 19), He fulfilled Daniel’s 69 weeks prophecy TO THE VERY DAY!!

Daniel 9:25 – Understanding the numbers

"GOD'S CLOCK"69 weeks = 483 years x 360 days/year = 173,880 days

"MAN'S CLOCK"476 years and 24 days + 116 days = 173,880 days

RESULT?The Same number of days!

GOD'S SURE WORD OF PROPHECY

IS WORTHY OF OUR TRUST!

Daniel 9:24-27 – Understanding the numbers

• Assuming a literal interpretation, seventy weeks or seventy sevens (490 years) can be divided as follows...– Daniel 9:24 - a comprehensive picture of the

entire prophecy– Daniel 9:25 - the first 69 sevens (483 years)–Daniel 9:26 - the events between the 69th

and 70th sevens– Daniel 9:27 - conclusion punctuated by the 70th

seven of 7 years (The Tribulation)

Daniel 9:26

• “And after” (expression of time) - time phrase marks sequence.

• The events described in this passage are after the 69 Weeks or 483 years but NOT during the seventieth week. (GAP/INTERVAL)

• Remember the context of Gabriel's message - this decree is for Israel and Jerusalem - God is not finished with Israel

• “cut off”: refers to death, and rejection by the Jewish nation

Daniel 9:26• “And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy

the city and the sanctuary”– the prophecy continues with a description of the judgment that

would come on the generation that rejected the Messiah. – The city which contains the sanctuary, that is, Jerusalem, would

be destroyed by the people of the ruler who will come. – The ruler who will come is that final head of the Roman Empire,

the little horn of Dan_7:8. – It is significant that the people of the ruler, not the ruler himself,

will destroy Jerusalem. – Since he will be the final Roman ruler, the people of that ruler

must be the Romans themselves. – This, then, is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem about

which Christ spoke in His ministry (A.D.70)

Daniel 9:26• The first 483 years covers the 69 weeks• There is a final period of 7 years to be accounted for in this prophecy.• According to Dan_9:26 the Anointed One was not “cut off” in the 70th

“seven”; He was cut off after the 7 and 62 “sevens” had run their course. • This means that there is an interval (GAP) between the 69th and 70th

“sevens.” • Christ’s crucifixion, then, was in that interval, right after His Triumphal

Entry, which concluded the 69th “seven.” • This interval was anticipated by Christ when He prophesied the

establishing of the church (Mat_16:18). • This necessitated the setting aside of the nation Israel for a season in

order that His new program for the church might be instituted. Christ predicted the setting aside of the nation (Mat_21:42-43).

• The present Church Age is the interval between the 69th and 70th “sevens.”

Daniel 9:24-27 – Understanding the numbers

• Assuming a literal interpretation, seventy weeks or seventy sevens (490 years) can be divided as follows...– Daniel 9:24 - a comprehensive picture of the

entire prophecy– Daniel 9:25 - the first 69 sevens (483 years)– Daniel 9:26 - the events between the 69th and

70th sevens– Daniel 9:27 - conclusion punctuated by the 70th

seven of 7 years (The Tribulation)

Daniel 9:27 THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL

After 69th Week "Time Gap"2000 + "x" Years

Daniel's 70th Week7 Years

1000 Years

Cross The Church Age Tribulation MillenniumDaniel 9:25, 26 Daniel 9:27

Rev 6-19Rev 20

RAPTURE SECONDCOMING

Daniel 9:27 THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL

• Daniel’s 70th week (7 years) can be divided into 2 portions:– From the signing of the covenant between Israel

and the Anti-Christ to the breaking of the covenant = 3 and a half years

– From the breaking of the covenant to the Second Coming of Christ = 3 and a half years

• Ends with sin’s final judgement and Christ’s reign of righteousness, i.e. Millennial reign

Daniel 9:27 THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL

• He = the Anti-Christ• The Covenant the Antichrist makes with Israel marks the

onset of the Seven Year period referred to as "The Tribulation" (Daniel's Seventieth Week) and is evidently a covenant of protection and of religious freedom under which Israel is free to re-establish their system of sacrifices.

• In the middle of the 7 years, the prince, the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel. This event is associated with a number of other Scriptures describing several other dramatic "mid-tribulation" events.

• This latter 3 ½ years are known as The GREAT Tribulation, as God’s wrath intensifies. (Matt 24:15-21)

Daniel 9:27 THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL

• This verse unveils what will occur in the 70th seven years. This seven-year period will begin after the Rapture of the Church (which will consummate God’s programme in this present Age).

• The 70th “seven” will continue until the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. (Second Coming)

• A significant event that will mark the beginning of this seven-year period is the confirming of a covenant. This covenant will be made with many, that is, with Daniel’s people, the nation Israel.

• The covenant he will make will evidently be a peace covenant, in which he will guarantee Israel’s safety in the land.

• This suggests that Israel will be in her land but will be unable to defend herself for she will have lost any support she may have had previously. Therefore she will need and welcome the peace-making role of this ruler. In offering this covenant, this ruler will pose as a prince of peace, and Israel will accept his authority.

Daniel 9:27 THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL

• But then in the middle of that “seven,” after three and one-half years, he will break the covenant. According to Dan_11:45, he will then move from Europe into the land of Israel.

• This ruler will end… sacrifice and offering. After this ruler gains worldwide political power, he will assume power in the religious realm as well and will cause the world to worship him (2Th_2:4; Rev_13:8). This is the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.

• To receive such worship, he will terminate all organized religions. Posing as the world’s rightful king and god and as Israel’s prince of peace, he will then turn against Israel and become her destroyer and defiler.

• Daniel was told that “the ruler who will come” (Dan_9:26) will place abominations on a wing of the temple. He will reveal himself as a tool of Satan and a cruel world dictator.

• But then his end will come (the end that is decreed is poured out on him). Christ will defeat him and he will be cast into the lake of fire when Christ returns to the earth (Rev_19:20; cf. Dan_7:11, Dan_7:26).

Daniel 9:27 THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL

1. Period of 7 years which lies between the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ in glory

2. It provides the exact chronological framework for the great events in Rev 6-19

3. Begins with the making of a “firm covenant” between the Anti-Christ and the Jewish people.

4. In the middle of the 70th week, the Anti-Christ will suddenly reverse his friendly attitude toward the Jews and “cause the sacrifice and the oblation” to cease.

5. The breaking of this covenant will mark the beginning of a period of unparalleled “desolations” for the Jews

6. The end of this final seven year period will bring to its close the entire series of 70 weeks (490 years), and therefore usher in the great blessings promised to Israel in Daniel 9:24)

Daniel 9:24-27 Conclusion• It is an amazing thought that the future history of the world has been

revealed to us. We ought to be deeply grateful that God has given us the privilege of knowing His plans for the future.

• And so now go and make disciples. Go and tell the lost world about God's Plan for the Ages. Remember that most unbelievers are usually interested in hearing about prophecy and the future, but sadly so few prophecy teachers accurately divide the Word of Truth.

• Please consider engaging friends, relatives and acquaintances in conversations on prophecy, and as you do open your Bible and sketch out on a timeline the prophetic events so clearly laid in God's Word. They will either be amazed or dismayed. You are not responsible for their response, but you will be held accountable for "setting the table" before them!

• Christians ought to live lives that demonstrate an established hope and trust in God for the future

So how are we to live in the light of Christ’s IMMINENT return?

• Obedience: Jesus continually tells us to be ready for His coming, which could happen at any time (cf. Mark 13:33-37) and to live in such a way that we are not ashamed of our behaviour.

• Worship: God has provided a way to escape His end-time judgments—His free gift of salvation offered through Jesus. We must be sure we receive His salvation and live in gratitude before Him. Our worship on earth will one day become worship in heaven.

• Proclamation: The message of God’s salvation and the truth of His second coming need to be proclaimed for all to hear, especially to those who don’t yet believe. We must give everyone the chance to turn to God and be saved from His coming wrath.

• Service: All believers should be diligent about carrying out God’s will and performing good works. Part of Christ’s judgments will be of the works performed by believers. They do not determine a Christian’s acceptance into heaven, but they do show what each believer did with the gifts given him or her by God (2 Corinthians 5:10).