GETTING BACK TO BASICS
Doctrines in the Bible
DOCTRINE IN SCRIPTURE
CLASSIFICATION
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.4:1318)…..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.
So what exactly is the Tribulation and how do we know it will last 7
years?
THE TRIBULATION
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 finished
2. Sin will be ended
3. Reconciliation for iniquity (a sacrifice that would
atone for sin, i.e. the Cross of Christ)
4. Everlasting righteousness will be brought in
5. 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
RAPTURE
SECOND
COMING
After 69th Week
"Time Gap"
2000 + "x" Years
Daniel's 70th Week
7 Years
1000 Years
Cross
The Church Age
Tribulation
Millennium
Daniel 9:27
Rev 6-19
Rev 20
Daniel 9:25, 26
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).