"I give you a day for a year."

The daily sacrifices were suspended three times during the history of the Jewish people. Once before Daniel’s time, during the Babylonian captivity, and when the Greek king Antiochus Epiphanies desecrated the temple.

The Davidic kingdom fell to the Babylonians in 606 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar. Under his reign Judah became a vassal state until Babylon was conquered by the Medo-Persians in 536 B.C. Jeremiah prophesied that the Jews would be captives for 70 years.

Jeremiah 25:12 “And when the seventy years are accomplished, I will visit the king of Babel and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquities, even the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it a perpetual desolation.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts, that I have thought towards you, saith the Lord, even the thoughts of peace, and not of trouble, to give you and end, and your hope.”

The Persian king Cyrus would permit the Jewish people to return to the Holy Land after the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon. Daniel understood that the captivity would last 70 years from reading the prophesies of Jeremiah.

Daniel 9:2 “Even in the first year of his reign, I Daniel understood by the books the number of years, whereof the Lord had spoken unto Jeremiah the Prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem.

The temple of Solomon was destroyed in 586 B.C. but we understand that temple sacrifices continued for at least 8 months after the destruction of the temple.

Jeremiah records: “There came men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even forescore men having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent and cut, with offerings and incense in their hands to offer in the house of the Lord.” Jeremiah 41:5

Jeremiah 52:30 reveals to us that a final deportation of captives occurred three years after the temple was burned. Scripture tells us the final deportation took place in the 23rd year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in 583 B.C.

“In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzarradan the chief steward carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons were four hundred thousand and six hundred.” Jeremiah 52:30

Consequently, 583 B.C. is the date for the abolition of sacrifices which is supported by Scripture.

Jewish authorities believe the captivity of the Jews by the Babylonians began in 586 BC when the temple was destroyed. The captivity ended in 516 BC during the restoration under Ezra. The first deportation of captives happened in 606-605 B.C. Consequently, the generally accepted date (GAD) of 606 B.C-536 B.C. for the captivity is most likely correct.

Daniel’s prophesy of 1290 days was received 50 years after the abolition of the daily sacrifice.

Daniel 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifices shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

Prophetic Days = years

Numbers 14:34 “After the number of days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.”

Ezekiel 4:5 “For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.”

Ezekiel 4:6 “And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee a day for a year.”

In the 17th Century Matthew Henry in the Commentary on the Whole Bible” wrote:

“Par II …time of their (the two witnesses) prophesying, or bearing witness for Christ. A thousand two hundred and three score days …and if the beginning of that interval could be ascertained, this number of prophetic days, taking a day for a year, would give us a prospect of when the end should be.” Vol VI, p1157, col 1, par II.

When “days” are spoken of in a prophetic sense they are Hebrew lunar years or New Testament solar years. This is valid unless the context of the Scriptures clearly indicates otherwise.

The Old Testament prophesies utilize a lunar year of 360 days.

The New Testament prophecies utilize solar years of 365.24 solar days. This is used for interpreting New Testament prophesies only. The Roman Empire which existed while John was in exile utilized a 365.24 day solar calendar.

The conversion factor is obtained by dividing 360 by 365.24 days.

360 / 365.24 = 0.9857

Hence, a Hebrew lunar year = 360 days or .9857 solar years.

How did Daniel understand?
I want to address the first two segments of weeks in the vision. Babylon was conquered in 536 B.C. by the Medo-Persians.

Seven 7s of years = seven shavuim
62 sevens of years = sixty-two shavuim
One unique multiple of seven (the seventieth seven)

7 x 7 = 49; 62 x 7 = 434; 434 + 49 = 483

Daniel 10:1 “In the third year of Cyrus King of Persia, a thing was revealed unto Daniel (whose name was called Belteshazzar) and the word was true, but the time appointed was long, and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.”

1.Daniel received the vision of 70 weeks in 536 B.C. In the vision of 70 weeks, if the 483 “days” (the first two segments of sevens in the vision) were literal days (beginning from his time) they would be fulfilled 1 ½ years after he declares he understood the vision. Consequently, Daniel understood they would be fulfilled in the future.

2.The daily sacrifices at Solomon’s temple had been abolished 50 years earlier. They ended in 586 B.C. Daniel received the vision of 1290 days in 533 B.C. three years after receiving the 70 weeks prophesy. If they had been literal days fulfilled after the cessation of the daily sacrifice; they would have been fulfilled 46 1/2 years before God gave the prophecy. Hence, Daniel could see that they were not fulfilled.

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” Daniel 12:11

Hence, Daniel could historically look back in time at the visions that should have been fulfilled if the “days” had been literal days. He saw they were unfulfilled within literal days. So he understood the visions were utilizing the Biblical measure of prophetic time – a day = a year. Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:5-6; 1 day = 1 year.

The Abomination of Desolation

Daniel 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination of desolation set up, there shall be a thousand, two hundred and ninety days.”

Matthew 24:15 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, set in the holy place (let him that readeth consider it.)"

Mark 13:14 “Moreover, when ye shall see the abomination of desolation (spoken of by Daniel the Prophet) set where it ought not, (let him that readeth, consider it) then let them that be in Judea, flee into the mountains.”

We have established that a prophetic day is equal to a year. The Hebrews in Babylon utilized a 360 day lunar year.

A Hebrew lunar year = 360 days or .9857 solar years. 360 / 365.24 = 0.9857 (rounded off)

Hence, 1290 prophetic days (years) = 1271.49 solar years.

1290 x .98565326 = 1271.49

Temple sacrifices were abolished in 583 B.C. so 1290 day = years brings us to 688 A.D.

In 688 A.D. the Dome of the Rock was constructed between 685 A.D. and 705 A.D.

Consequently, the Dome of the Rock is the abomination of desolation!

Hence, Mohammed is the false prophet of whom Revelation speaks.

Revelation 19:20 “But the beast was taken, and with him that false prophet that wrought miracles before him, whereby he deceived them that received the beast’s mark, and them that worshipped his image. These both were alive cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."

Revelation 11:2 “”But the Court which is without the Temple cast out, and mete it not, for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot, two and forty Months.”

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

“…let the reader understand.” In this generation the two passages of Revelation 11:2; 12:6 were fulfilled. Consequently, the verses surrounding those passages are to the church of the 21st century.

Antichrist - You have heard?

Antichrist?

What does the Scriptures state concerning antichrist? What is mere speculation concerning antichrist? Theories of what antichrist is supposed to do.

1. Appear during the final seven years of the Christian era.
2. Rule for 3 ½ years as a one who brings peace.
3. After 3 ½ year of peace; he will rule for 3 ½ years as a corrupt evil leader.
4. He will help the Jewish people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
5. He will reinstate the Mosaic sacrificial system in the temple.
6. He will destroy the temple in the last 3 ½ years of his corrupt reign.
7. He will stop the temple sacrifices in Jerusalem in the middle of the 7 years.
8. He will cause everyone to worship him as God.
9. He will betray the Jewish people turning from them.
10. He will begin the battle of Armageddon.
11. He will persecute the “saints” during a seven year tribulation
12. He will be Satan in human form.
13. Miscellaneous other legends including 666.

None of the ideas which I have listed above can be directly supported from Scripture. Most of those ideas came from a misinterpretation of Daniel’s seventieth week as a seven year tribulation period.

There are only four actual verses in Scripture which speak directly of antichrist.

I John 2:18-19 “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. (19) They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” (NASB)

I John 2:22-23 “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. (23) Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.”(NASB)

I John 4:2-3 “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (3) and ever spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” (NASB)

2 John 7 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (NASB)

I John 2:22 and 2 John 7: The definite article (te) appears in the Greek text and is translated in the NASB. Consequently, this is “THE” (te) antichrist. The New American Standard is a little clearer than the King James Version. In the NASB, the definite article (te) is translated “THE”. All those persons who deny Jesus are not merely “an” antichrist but are “THE” antichrist!

Furthermore, “you have heard” is not a declaration of a fact.

Who is THE (te) antichrist?

It is the last hour (John is making this declaration of HIS time.) You have heard that antichrist is coming (addressed to the believers in John’s time.) Even now (John’s time) many antichrists have appeared. They went out from us (John’s time). John used the plural pronoun “they” five times in I John 2:19

1. They went out from us, but
2. they were not really of us;
3. for if they had been of us,
4. they would have remained with us;
5. but they went out, so that it would be shown that
6. they all are not of us.

A. Antichrist is the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ.
B. The one who denies the Son does not have the Father.
C. Consequently, antichrist denies the Father and the Son.
D. Every “spirit” that does not confess Jesus is not from God and is antichrist.
E. Every "spirit" who does not confess Jesus is the spirit of antichrist.
F. You have heard that antichrist is coming but is already in the world.
G. Hence the "spirit" of antichrist existed in John’s time!
H. Many deceivers have gone out into the world.
I. Those deceivers who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh are THE deceivers and THE antichrist.

THE antichrist is anyone who denies that Jesus has come in the flesh and is the Christ.

I John 2:18 and I John 4:3 both declare ‘you have heard’. The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle John does not state that a specific antichrist is coming. He is declaring that “You have heard” that one is coming! Nor is the Holy Spirit declaring that “the antichrist” is coming in the future! Actually, he is using the same figure of speech, “You have heard,” to deny it.

Consequently, He is declaring, “Church you have a false doctrine. Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ or that He has come in the flesh is THE antichrist." Hence, “The antichrist” is already in the world during John’s time!

Pseudo-prophets utilizing numerology of Greek and Roman calendars have attempted to decode “666” found in Revelation 13:14. They announce a pope, potentate, king, conqueror or guru as “The antichrist.” The Christian’s battle is a spiritual battle! Satan is a spirit and is fighting spiritual warfare for the souls of men and women. Revelation 18:8-13.

Satan’s real officers are: Nero, Kant, Hume, Spinoza, Freud, Darwin, Voltaire, Paine, Jung, Sagan, Moon and the adherents to the New Age are antichrist. The Bible speaks of “the antichrist” because God sees each person individually. Every person who rejects God’s son Jesus and turning from him is “the” person who has rejected Jesus. Consequently, he or she is “the antichrist.”

Daniel's Prayer - A True Confession

Daniel 9:16-19 (Geneva Bible 1599)

"O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy wrath be turned away from thy city Jerusalem thine holy Mountain; because of our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are a reproach to all that are about us. Now, therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary that lieth waste for the Lord's sake."

"O my God, incline thine ear and hear: open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city whereupon thy Name is called: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our own righteousness, but for thy great tender mercies."

"O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord consider, and do it: defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy Name is called upon thy city, and thy people."