This is also a lesson for all individual Christians as well. We become aware of many things through passages like this. First, the contents of Matthew chapters 1 and 2 come to mind. When Jesus was born on this earth, the nation of Israel was in a state of chaos and confusion. Then, this man by the name of Jesus was born, which in itself caused a commotion. Herod killed the young children, and as Jesus began His work, He clashed directly with the Jews.
Through conflicts such as this, we are able to reflect upon our own spirits. We, too, have a struggle within our spirits. If you think back to the time before you came to realize the truth of the gospel, you probably found that the more you tried to draw close to God’s word, the further away you strayed. Something was constantly in the way, and there were always issues that held you back. Also, if there is a certain task to be carried out within the fellowship, and even if you are eager to play the part that has been assigned to you, something in your mind holds you back.
Everyone has this same conflict, regardless of the kind of work that has been entrusted to them. The apostle Paul also expressed this conflict very well in the last chapter of Ephesians, where he said, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Let’s take this one step further and think about the things that will happen in the future. Based on the many prophecies to be found in the books of the prophets, we can see it has been ordained that Jesus will return to Israel. Whether they are aware of it or not, even now the Jews are preparing to receive the Messiah when He comes. There is a great conflict taking place within all this.
This is a matter that is actually being revealed in the world right before our eyes. In recent history, on May 14, 1948, Israel was declared an independent nation and reemerged in this world. What has been going on amongst the Israelites since then? Have they been living in peace and harmony since they returned to their land, as the Bible says? Not yet. That will happen in the distant future.
Even now, the Israelites are continually in conflict with the surrounding nations. Esau said of his younger brother, Jacob, “I will kill my brother Jacob” (Genesis 27:41). In the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah, we have a clear description of the punishments and blessings that would be received by the many nations surrounding Israel. Many of these incidents have, of course, already taken place, but there are still a great many passages that have yet to be fulfilled.
Within the passages of the Bible, there are hidden away a tremendous number of the events that are to take place in the future. The keys to unlocking many of the prophecies found in the New Testament, starting from Matthew, are to be found spread out in great numbers in the books of the prophets in the Old Testament. Through the plagues that took place in Egypt, we can see the conflicts that were to occur when Jesus came into this world—the conflict between Jesus and the Jews—but this also leads us to consider the many matters that are now germinating and will later come about, beginning with the coming of Jesus.
The books of the prophets tell us about the great tribulations that will occur before the Messiah comes to this earth once more. The Bible tells us about this terrible tribulation that will be such as has never been since the beginning of the world (see Matthew 24:21, Mark 13:19).
An image of this can be seen through the various plagues that passed through the land of Egypt. What were these plagues? In the first plague, all the water turned to blood. Then there was an abundance of frogs. The land was filled with lice, and then there were swarms of flies. After that, pestilence of the livestock, boils, heavy hail, locusts, and then darkness covered the land of Egypt.
There is something we need to consider when we go from Exodus chapter 5 to chapters 6 and 7. In chapter 6, there is a genealogy, and in chapter 7, we read about Aaron and his rod, and the confrontation between the sorcerers of the Egypt and Moses and Aaron. Throughout Old Testament, we can see in the Old Testament times, there were many false prophets.
Then, as we read about the nine plagues that swept through the land of Egypt, from time to time we come across something very peculiar. The words, “He made a difference” keep appearing. Let’s read Exodus chapter 8, from verse 21.
Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. Exodus 8:21-22
God made this same distinction in the case of the hail, the pestilence, and the darkness.
Daniel’s Prophecy
It is very helpful for us to know the sequence of the incidents that will happen to the nation of Israel and will take place in history, based on what it says in the Bible. As we have been studying the Bible, the relationship between the first-born son and the second-born son; the historical background of the time of the transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament; the words that God spoke through the Israelites in Old Testament times appearing as the Man by the name of Jesus in New Testament times; the Israelites crucifying Jesus, and the disciples forsaking Him; and the coming of the Holy Spirit. We read about the coming of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. That was on the day of Pentecost.
Was Daniel’s prophecy fulfilled with the coming of the Holy Spirit? What happened to Daniel’s prophecy regarding the “seventy weeks”? Let’s turn to Daniel chapter 9 verse 24.
Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, …
Here it says “seventy weeks.” Seventy weeks multiplied by seven days makes 490 days altogether. These 490 days actually represent 490 years.
… to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
This has not yet taken place for the nation of Israel.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem. Daniel 9:25
We do not know the exact year this is referring to, but it was probably around the time of Nehemiah.
Until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Daniel 9:25-26
These events have already taken place. Jerusalem, the place where Jesus was crucified, has already been completely destroyed. The temple, in particular, of which Jesus said,“not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2), has been completely torn down. The Roman soldiers tore the temple apart stone by stone because of a rumor that gold had been put between the stones when the temple was built. This happened some time between 69 AD and 70 AD, during the time of the Roman emperor, Titus. This is a shadow of the tribulation the Israelites will have to endure again in the future.
The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. Daniel 9:26-27
It says, “One week,” there is still one week remaining, a period of seven years.
But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. Daniel 9:27
This is going to take place for three and a half years, starting half way through those seven years.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. Daniel 9:27
In these verses, Daniel explained that after sixty-two weeks the Messiah would be cut off. The question remains as to whether or not the remaining one week has already passed. Even though the Jews had the Scriptures, they did not recognize Jesus. This is because it was not granted to them to know this truth. It is not for the Jews as individuals to find Jesus. When we look at this matter on the basis of the plan for the history of Israel, we can see that this has been concealed from them.
When it says that after sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off, this is referring to Jesus Christ’s coming to this earth and His crucifixion. When Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, the remaining “One week”-that is, the seven years, postponed. It is as if a section of this long history was divided off, and postponed until much later. We do not know when that time will be, but it is drawing near.
The period of time that has been slotted in before that we call the age of the Church. This is why the apostle Paul, as he recorded the Bible in New Testament times after the day of Pentecost, wrote of three groups of people living in this world: the Jews, the Greeks, and the church of God (see 1 Corinthians 10:32). The church of God refers to those people whose spirits have been born again. In the eternal past, before the foundation of this world, God predestined this period of time in which the church of God would be accomplished.
Some people who believe in the Bible misinterpret this as referring to the predestination of individuals. They evade all responsibility, claiming that a person who is predestined will be saved regardless of how he lives or how many sins he commits, while a person who is not predestined will go to hell no matter how hard he tries to avoid this. The predestination of which the Bible speaks, however, is clearly given to the Church, and cannot be applied to the individual.
We are still in the age of the Church. Impatient people make many speculations as to when this will come to an end; some say next year, and others in a couple of years. Some day, the age of the Church will come to an end. In the letter to the Romans, there is a verse that says, “that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” “The fullness of the Gentiles” refers to all the people who form the Church, right up to the last person to be born again. On the other hand, the verse in Luke’s Gospel that says, “Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” refers to Jerusalem, which will be trampled by the antichrist. We need to make clear distinctions when it comes to the verses in the Bible.
We are now living in the times when the number of the people whose spirits have been born again is gradually reaching its fullness. When the number, set by God, of those who are being born again is reached, the Church will be taken up to meet the Lord. This is explained clearly in Thessalonians and in First Corinthians chapter 15. After the Church has been taken up, the history of this world will return to the one week referred to in Daniel chapter 9—that is, the seven years.
Even though Joseph interpreted the cupbearer’s dream precisely, it was only after two years had passed that Joseph was released from prison. That period of time was inserted into human history.
The Bible says that on the sixth day of the creation, “He [God] created him [man]; male and female He created them” (see Genesis 1:27). The process of the creation of the man is recorded in Genesis chapter 2. Then, God said, “It is not good that man should be alone,” so He brought before Adam all the living creatures, and Adam gave them all names. “But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.” (see verse 20) Then God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, took one of his ribs, and from it He made the woman. When Adam awoke and saw the woman in front of him, he said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (verse 23).
Similarly,
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