The False Doctrine of a 7-year Tribulation

[Hobie]

You didn't mention which calendar was used for the calculations. The Jewish calendar was different to our Gregorian calendar. This may make a difference. If the Jewish calendar was used, the calculations would be more accurate and consistent with the Biblical record. However you may know this already, so I was just sayin'. :)

Yes, in ancient times the year was held to be at 360 days. The fact that the prophets understood a year as 360 days is well attested, and can be seen in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation which are based on the 360 day Jewish year.

The fact that a day can signify a year is of crucial importance in the study of Bible Prophecy. This view was recognized by the Jews as seen in Daniel 9:24-27, and as seen in Jesus' use of the day-year principle in Luke 13 verses 31-33, and in the early church. The Reformers and many others, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, John Wycliffe, John Knox, William Tyndale, Phillip Melanchthon, Sir Isaac Newton, Jan Huss, John Foxe, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Finney, C. H. Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, E. B. Elliot, H. Grattan Guinness, and Bishop Thomas Newton understood this to name just a few.

Lets start with the prophecy in Daniel 9 in which seventy literal weeks would not be enough time to accomplish all the things mentioned as having to transpire within the scope of Daniel's "seventy-weeks" vision. For this reason, most Biblical scholars view the seventy weeks of Daniel as symbolic years:

Daniel 9:24-27 King James Version (KJV)
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Now if you look at the prophecy of seventy weeks in Daniel chapter 9, the 490 years is an uninterrupted period starting from "the time the word goes out to rebuild and restore Jerusalem," of Daniel 9:25 and ending 3½ years after Jesus' death. The starting point identified with a decree by Artaxerxes I in 458/7 BC to provide money to rebuild Jeruslaem and its temple. The appearance of "Messiah the Prince" at the end of the 69 weeks (483 years) is aligned with Jesus' baptism in 27 AD. The 'cutting off' of the "anointed one" is applied to the Jesus' execution 3½ years after the end of the 483 years, bringing "atonement for iniquity" and "everlasting righteousness". Jesus' death is said to 'confirm' the "covenant" between God and mankind by in 31 AD "in the midst of" the last seven years. The end of the 70th week is associated with 34 AD when the gospel was redirected from only the Jews to all peoples.

Christian historicism, which is what unveils these verses from scripture, interprets prophecy as an overview of the history of the Christian church, asserting connections between historical events and statements in the Bible, and distinguishing between prophecies considered already fulfilled and those still to come. The Jews of biblical times, had taught this view in the many prophecies to be fulfilled, which were pointing to the Messiah such as those by the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel. The early church and the precursors to the Reformation used it, Jerome in his 'Commentary on Daniel' went into the kingdoms that Daniel predicted. Many Protestant Reformers were interested in historicism and the day-year principle, and used it assigning prophecies in the Bible to past, present and future events. It was prevalent in Wycliffe's writings and taught by Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and Sir Isaac Newton and many others as we can see.

 

[Paul Christensen]

Yes, in ancient times the year was held to be at 360 days. The fact that the prophets understood a year as 360 days is well attested, and can be seen in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation which are based on the 360 day Jewish year.

The fact that a day can signify a year is of crucial importance in the study of Bible Prophecy. This view was recognized by the Jews as seen in Daniel 9:24-27, and as seen in Jesus' use of the day-year principle in Luke 13 verses 31-33, and in the early church. The Reformers and many others, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, John Wycliffe, John Knox, William Tyndale, Phillip Melanchthon, Sir Isaac Newton, Jan Huss, John Foxe, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Finney, C. H. Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, E. B. Elliot, H. Grattan Guinness, and Bishop Thomas Newton understood this to name just a few.

Lets start with the prophecy in Daniel 9 in which seventy literal weeks would not be enough time to accomplish all the things mentioned as having to transpire within the scope of Daniel's "seventy-weeks" vision. For this reason, most Biblical scholars view the seventy weeks of Daniel as symbolic years

Now if you look at the prophecy of seventy weeks in Daniel chapter 9, the 490 years is an uninterrupted period starting from "the time the word goes out to rebuild and restore Jerusalem," of Daniel 9:25 and ending 3½ years after Jesus' death. The starting point identified with a decree by Artaxerxes I in 458/7 BC to provide money to rebuild Jeruslaem and its temple. The appearance of "Messiah the Prince" at the end of the 69 weeks (483 years) is aligned with Jesus' baptism in 27 AD. The 'cutting off' of the "anointed one" is applied to the Jesus' execution 3½ years after the end of the 483 years, bringing "atonement for iniquity" and "everlasting righteousness". Jesus' death is said to 'confirm' the "covenant" between God and mankind by in 31 AD "in the midst of" the last seven years. The end of the 70th week is associated with 34 AD when the gospel was redirected from only the Jews to all peoples.

Christian historicism, which is what unveils these verses from scripture, interprets prophecy as an overview of the history of the Christian church, asserting connections between historical events and statements in the Bible, and distinguishing between prophecies considered already fulfilled and those still to come. The Jews of biblical times, had taught this view in the many prophecies to be fulfilled, which were pointing to the Messiah such as those by the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel. The early church and the precursors to the Reformation used it, Jerome in his 'Commentary on Daniel' went into the kingdoms that Daniel predicted. Many Protestant Reformers were interested in historicism and the day-year principle, and used it assigning prophecies in the Bible to past, present and future events. It was prevalent in Wycliffe's writings and taught by Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and Sir Isaac Newton and many others as we can see.

You have certainly gone into this quite deeply, and I have enjoyed reading your post.

 

[Bobby Jo]

... the 490 years is ...

... NOT what the literal text allows -- the Unusual INCONCISE Masculine Gender text is found ONLY in the 9th Chapter of Daniel, and nowhere else in Scripture. But maybe if you cut the toes off the step-sisters, the glass slipper will fit.

... And maybe surgically carve some off the "heel". And maybe carve the "little toe" off the side of the foot, and surgically add a "bridge" to the bottom of the foot. -- Well hell, just cut off her foot and transplant a different foot.


That should solve it ...
Bobby Jo

 

[Hobie]

You have certainly gone into this quite deeply, and I have enjoyed reading your post.

Well it was all about Christ, and it has been twisted to hide the prophecy and make it unrecognizable. So the 70 weeks, when interpreted correctly using the day-year principle as 490 years, Antiochus IV Epiphanes is considered irrelevant, and the period is instead applied to the Jewish nation from about the middle of the 5th century BC until not long after the death of Jesus in the 1st century. The seven and sixty-two-week periods are generally understood as consecutive, non-overlapping periods starting with an event during the reign of Artaxerxes I and ending with Jesus' baptism. The references to "most holy", "anointed" and "prince" and Messiah are interpreted as speaking of Jesus, and the reference to an anointed one being "cut off" at Daniel 9:26 is identified with the death of Christ, marking the midpoint of the seventieth week.

Now the "abomination of desolation" that Jesus refers to in the Gospel of Matthew adds a direct reference to this prophecy as being from the Book of Daniel, "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet…" (Matt 24:15). Jesus predicted that at this time spoken of by Daniel, every stone of the Jewish Temple would be “thrown down” (Matt 24:2), and it was fulfilled when the temple was destroyed by the Romans during “The First Jewish War”. So it all connects together and we see how the prophecy of Daniel 9 of the 70 weeks, pointed to Jesus.

 

[Stranger]

There is not one verse in the entire Bible says their a 7-year Tribulation. Some try to claim Daniel 9:24-27 as teaching this, but unless one comes to this passage already having a predisposed bias, they will not find it there. This false idea is not scriptural and no biblical commentator, no theologian, no church in Christendom had ever taught such a doctrine. The doctrine basically did not exist before John Darby, and was promoted through the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible in the early 20th century. The idea or doctrine of a 7-year Tribulation is simply not mentioned in Daniel 9. Here is a great explanation by my buddy palehorse..'There are many theories out there in regards to the 70th Week of the Daniel 9 prophecy. The most prevalent one talks about a 7-year tribulation just prior to Christ's second coming. Many believers in the 7-year Tribulation don't know that this belief is rooted in the Daniel 9 prophecy. In fact, one of the most important verses used to support this idea is Dan 9:27, which we will look at along with the entire prophecy. Also, it is from Dan 9:27 that the belief in "The Antichrist" and the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple on the temple mount comes from. The series of events outlined in this theory is that 1) there will be a secret rapture that takes all true Christians away leaving others behind, 2) then a 7-year tribulation occurs where those who were not taken in the secret rapture will get a chance to "clean up their act" so that when Christ's public appearance happens they can be judged worthy, 3) during the course of the 7-year tribulation the Antichrist will appear, make a covenant with the Jewish nation, then break that covenant in the middle of the 7 years, then he’ll walk inside the Jewish temple and declare himself to be God. But is this theory biblically accurate? That is just what my essay explores.

The 'doctrine' of the Seven Year Tribulation period is established through the use of all the Scripture. Not just one particular verse. John Darby was indeed the main player in forming the entire Dispensational doctrine. And Scofield certainly furthered it with the Scofield Reference Bible. But, that is a good thing.

In other words, just because the Dispensational doctrine which includes the Tribulation Period, did not exist till Darby, does not mean it is a false doctrine. It is Scriptural. You don't agree with it, but that doesn't make it a false doctrine.

Stranger

 

[Bobby Jo]

Well it was all about Christ, ...

...and apparently Jesus had a brother:

RSV Dan. 9:25 Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off, and shall have nothing;​

Yep, -- one brother after the seven, and the second after the sixty-two.


Good Call,
Bobby Jo

 

[Bobby Jo]

... It is Scriptural. You don't agree with it, but that doesn't make it a false doctrine. ...

Numbers from one instance don't necessarily apply to a different instance. I.e., the 153 fish, does not necessarily conclude that there are 153 disciples though out history. There are NO 153 of ANYTHING, except fish.

And so too the number seven. It's not UNIVERSAL, but neither the 153 or the 7 can stop people from abusing Scripture and abusing numbers.
Bobby Jo

 

[marks]

The false 7-year tribulation theory undermines the precept of living by faith for even a non-believer would suddenly change his ways after witnessing millions of people all over the world suddenly vanishing in one day.

Do you think they would? What if it happened during a worldwide cataclysmic earthquake, with millions dead and missing? And so many "Christians" still here?

It in no wise undermines living by faith, and if it's a true doctrine, that's the doctrine that will most enhance living by faith.

Much love!

 

[Stranger]

Numbers from one instance don't necessarily apply to a different instance. I.e., the 153 fish, does not necessarily conclude that there are 153 disciples though out history. There are NO 153 of ANYTHING, except fish.

And so too the number seven. It's not UNIVERSAL, but neither the 153 or the 7 can stop people from abusing Scripture and abusing numbers.
Bobby Jo

So? Is that supposed to mean something?

Stranger

 

[Paul Christensen]

The 'doctrine' of the Seven Year Tribulation period is established through the use of all the Scripture. Not just one particular verse. John Darby was indeed the main player in forming the entire Dispensational doctrine. And Scofield certainly furthered it with the Scofield Reference Bible. But, that is a good thing.

In other words, just because the Dispensational doctrine which includes the Tribulation Period, did not exist till Darby, does not mean it is a false doctrine. It is Scriptural. You don't agree with it, but that doesn't make it a false doctrine.

Stranger

Seeing that our friend has gone to great lengths in his posts, perhaps you could provide the Scriptural references that support your opposition to it.

 

[Dcopymope]

@Hobie

Hmmm, so lets see here:

(Daniel 9:24) "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

In other words, 490 years have been determined for the whole of all prophecy to be fulfilled, the death and resurrection of Jesus, which brings in everlasting righteousness in the world to come.

(2 Peter 3:9-13) "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. {11} Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, {12} Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? {13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Obviously, for the last week to be the last days, there has to be a break in this 490 year period, continuing on.

(Daniel 9:25-26) "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. {26} And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined."

So at this point, the Messiah gets "cut off", with the temple destroyed, 483 years into this prophecy. Onto the last week.

(Daniel 9:26-27) "and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. {27} And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

Now, according to you, this last week refers to Jesus. But the problem is that Jesus says the last week is in fact NOT about him, but is about the "abomination of desolation", the Antichrist, sitting in the temple, or the "holy place", declaring himself God, at which point he tells the Jews to flee to the hills.

(Matthew 24:3-21) "¶ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? {4} And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. {5} For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. {6} And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. {8} All these are the beginning of sorrows. {9} Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. {10} And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. {11} And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. {12} And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. {13} But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. {14} And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. {15} When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand {16} Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: {17} Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: {18} Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. {19} And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! {20} But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: {21} For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."

So here we have Jesus clearly referencing Daniel's "abomination of desolation", the last week, as end times prophecy. Now if this is really about himself, then for one, he wouldn't be telling them to make a break for the hills, to get away from himself, calling himself an "abomination". For two, he wouldn't be speaking of a "holy place", since according to Daniel, the "holy place", or the temple was already destroyed long beforehand, 70 A.D to be exact. This strongly implies there will be another temple built, for the "man of sin", as Paul also states, as well as John.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-4) "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, {2} That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. {3} Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; {4} Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

(Revelation 11:1-2) "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. {2} But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."

"Forty and two months", which equals exactly three and a half years, the last three years of the tribulation period in the "midst of the week" Daniel wrote about. Now Obviously, Paul is sort of quoting Jesus here, both referencing what happens in the last days. In conclusion, you are directly contradicting what Jesus himself had to say about Daniel's 70 week prophecy. This really isn't that difficult to understand, since Jesus already cleared up the confusion for us well in advance. Its as if he knew there was going to be a lot of bickering about it. So who should people believe, your personal interpretation of the last week, or the direct interpretation given by the "word made flesh" himself? I'll keep it simple for myself and choose the latter.

 

[Bobby Jo]

So? Is that supposed to mean something?

Yep! People are BAD AT USING NUMBERS.

But that's OK, we can always find excuses/rationalizations/justifications for doing what Scripture DOESN'T SUPPORT if we simply CONTRIVE/CONTORT/DISTORT SCRIPTURE.


Whew,
Bobby Jo

 

[Enoch111]

Informative.

Actually it is all misleading. The 70 weeks cannot be fulfilled until ALL these conditions have been met, and they were not met 2,000 years ago:

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [the Jews] and upon thy holy city [Jerusalem]

1. to finish the transgression, [the trangression of the Antichrist (the desecration of the temple) is in the future]

2. and to make an end of sins,[the sinfulness of Jerusalem and Israel (the nation-state) is a fact]

3. and to make reconciliation for iniquity, [the Jews have not been reconciled to God through Christ as yet -- a fact]

4. and to bring in everlasting righteousness, [there is nothing but unrighteousness on earth, and it will get worse -- a fact]

5. and to seal up the vision and prophecy,[many prophecies remain to be fulfilled -- a fact]

6. and to anoint the most Holy.[the most holy temple in Jerusalem will be built after the Second Coming of Christ, and then be anointed by God's presence]

 

[Paul Christensen]

Actually it is all misleading. The 70 weeks cannot be fulfilled until ALL these conditions have been met, and they were not met 2,000 years ago:

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [the Jews] and upon thy holy city [Jerusalem]

1. to finish the transgression, [the trangression of the Antichrist (the desecration of the temple) is in the future]

2. and to make an end of sins,[the sinfulness of Jerusalem and Israel (the nation-state) is a fact]

3. and to make reconciliation for iniquity, [the Jews have not been reconciled to God through Christ as yet -- a fact]

4. and to bring in everlasting righteousness, [there is nothing but unrighteousness on earth, and it will get worse -- a fact]

5. and to seal up the vision and prophecy,[many prophecies remain to be fulfilled -- a fact]

6. and to anoint the most Holy.[the most holy temple in Jerusalem will be built after the Second Coming of Christ, and then be anointed by God's presence]

I have no real argument about what you have said, because we are still in the church age, which is a transitional period and we don't know how long it will take until the next prophetic event will take place.

I do have a question about your last comment about the new Temple. All I can see in Scripture is the reference about the New Jerusalem coming from heaven. Perhaps you could clarify, which I am sure you can! :)

 

[Bobby Jo]

Actually it is all misleading. The 70 weeks cannot be fulfilled until ALL these conditions have been met, and they were not met 2,000 years ago ...

The angel is not someone to be trifled with. He said:

Dan. 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.​

... and the "time of the end" is approximate to 1948. So until people evaluate the LITERAL TEXT, -- as cited per Young, Keil, Kliefoth, Montgomery, Newton, etc., -- we'll have blind men describing the elephant. And we'll KNOW when the time of the end is upon us because people will be traveling some 60 to 600mph, and we'll have instant knowledge LITERALLY at our fingertips.

So I'd suggest any solution to the Book of Daniel, including the 9th Chapter, BEGINS in the 1900's, and not a moment sooner. Unless you're a blind man, -- then all bets are off.


Bobby Jo

 

[Stranger]

So what are the ramifications....This means that there will be no second chance for salvation as many seem to be counting on. The false 7-year tribulation theory undermines the precept of living by faith for even a non-believer would suddenly change his ways after witnessing millions of people all over the world suddenly vanishing in one day.

Here is a good history of this false doctrine and the reasons behind it...
https://secretsunsealed.org/content/PDF_downloads/futurismsincrediblejourney.pdf

Neither Dispensationalism or the belief that there is a Seven Year Tribulation Period teaches that there is any second chance for salvation. That is a false accusation.

First of all, you assume much in saying a non-believer would become a believer if he witnessed the Rapture. What did Abraham tell the rich man? (Luke 16:31) "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

And what of those witnessing Christ's wrath during the Tribulation. (Rev. 6:15-17) "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

These understood and knew that all that was taking place was from God and Christ. Yet, no repentance. No faith. Instead they would rather hide from God and Christ.

Second of all, though there will be many all over the world that take part in the Rapture, it won't be many percentage wise in relation to the population of the earth. Only the Christians are going. When I say Christian I speak of those who are born-again. Thus after the Rapture there will still be church services. Odd isn't it? Church services but the true Church is gone. In other words, I doubt it will have the impact over the world that you think it will.

Stranger

 

[Hobie]

I have no real argument about what you have said, because we are still in the church age, which is a transitional period and we don't know how long it will take until the next prophetic event will take place.

I do have a question about your last comment about the new Temple. All I can see in Scripture is the reference about the New Jerusalem coming from heaven. Perhaps you could clarify, which I am sure you can! :)

This is correct, as we see in the following verses:
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Revelation 21:1-3 King James Version (KJV)
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Peter confirms what happens to the earth and the heavens above it:
2 Peter 3:10-12 King James Version (KJV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

As for the prophecy of the 70 weeks, here is a good explanation: "Prophecies are couched in symbolic language that needs to be unraveled before the meaning of the words can be understood. Prophetic time is used as a symbol to be interpreted in the light of Scripture.

According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years (Numbers 14:34 NKJV).

I have appointed thee each day for a year (Ezekiel 4:6).

These two texts provide the key—the day-year principle. This principle takes prophetic days and converts them to actual years. Applying this principle to the 70-week prophecy will show that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.

Six Messianic Tasks
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy (Daniel 9:24).

“Thy people” were God’s chosen people Israel. Seventy weeks resolves into 490 days. Applying the day-year principle, 490 days become 490 years.

The 490 years were appointed to the Jewish nation for these six reasons found in Daniel 9:24:
1. to finish the transgression
2. to make an end of sins
3. to make reconciliation for iniquity
4. to bring in everlasting righteousness
5. to seal up vision and prophecy
6. to anoint the most Holy

These six issues could only be fulfilled in and through the Messiah. Who else could make reconciliation for iniquity or bring in everlasting righteousness?

Jesus Fulfills the Prophecy
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Daniel 9:25-27).

The angel gives a breakdown of the 70 weeks as follows:

7 weeks of years for rebuilding of Jerusalem (verse 25)

62 weeks of years to the Messiah (verses 25-26)

1 week of years to the close of the period (verse 27)...

The 2300-day prophecy, of which the 70-week prophecy is a small part, was to begin at the command that effected the restoration of Jerusalem. This command went forth under King Artaxerxes Longimanus in the year 457 BC (Ezra 7:12-13).ii

From this starting point, we can determine all the other time markers of the prophecy. Seven weeks were allotted for the restoration of Jerusalem. True to the prophecy, Jerusalem was rebuilt 49 years after 457 BC, which was 408 BC.

Seven weeks (49 day-years) for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and another threescore and two weeks (62 weeks or 434 day-years) brings us to "the Messiah the Prince." Beginning in 457 BC and applying the day-year principle, we can determine the passing of 483 years from 457 BC which brings us to 27 AD (allowing for the conversion from BC to AD being one extra year).

In 27 AD, Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit on the occasion of His baptism which marked the beginning of His ministry (Luke 3:21-23). This baptism marked the event in Daniel’s prophecy “unto the Messiah the Prince.” When Christ proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled” (Mark 1:15), He was referring to this part of the prophecy.iii

The end of the prophecy is 34 AD, 7 day-years after the baptism:
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease (Daniel 9:27).

Christ would confirm the covenant made with Israel for one prophetic week (7 years), but oblation (offerings) would cease in the middle of the week (3 ½ years after 27 AD). This mid-point brings us to 31 AD—the year Christ was crucified. It was at His death that he put an end to the system of offerings practiced by Israel for so many years. "The 70-Week Prophecy | Daniel 70 Weeks Prophecy

 

[complete]

'For then shall be great tribulation,
such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time,
no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved:
but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.'
(Matthew 24:21-22)

'Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened,
.. and the moon shall not give her light,
.... and the stars shall fall from heaven,
...... and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
........ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven:
.......... and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
............ and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet,
and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds,
from one end of heaven to the other.'
(Matthew 24:29-31)

* Here the tribulation is followed, 'immediately' by what is described in the verses of Matthew 24:29-31. This has not yet occurred.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Hobie]

There is not one verse that says "Trinity" or "Rapture" in exactly those words. That does not make them false doctrines. So your fundamental premise is false, not the doctrine you claim to be false. Lack of comprehension does not make something false.

Yes, but if you twist it so that it distorts what is plain and put in a substitute that hides the truth, then you have a lie or falsehood covering scripture lays out. And if you create a false 'belief' or 'doctrine' out of this lie, then it is what it is...

 

[Hobie]

Here is a good study on this...
"Seventy weeks were “determined” for the Jews. These seventy prophetic weeks equal 490 literal years (70 x 7 = 490). God’s people would soon be returning from captivity in Medo-Persia, and God would allot 490 years from the 2,300 years to His chosen people as another opportunity to repent and serve Him....

The starting event was a decree from Persian King Artaxerxes authorizing God’s people (who were captive in Medo-Persia) to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. The decree, found in Ezra chapter 7, was issued in 457 bc—the seventh year of the king (verse 7)—and was implemented in the autumn. Artaxerxes began his reign in 464 bc....

The angel said that 69 prophetic weeks, or 483 literal years (69 x 7 = 483), added to 457 bc would reach to the Messiah (Daniel 9:25). Did it?

Answer: Yes! Mathematical calculations show that moving ahead 483 years from the fall of 457 bc reaches the fall of ad 27. (Note: There is no year 0.) The word “Messiah” includes the meaning of “anointed” (John 1:41, margin). Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38) at His baptism (Luke 3:21, 22). His anointing took place in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1), which was ad 27. And to think that the prediction was made more than 500 years before! Then Jesus began to preach that “the time is fulfilled.” He thus confirmed the prophecy (Mark 1:14, 15; Galatians 4:4). So Jesus actually began His ministry by clearly referring to the 2,300-year prophecy, stressing its importance and accuracy. This is awesome and thrilling evidence that:
A. The Bible is inspired.

B. Jesus is the Messiah.

C. All other dates in the 2,300-year/490-year prophecy are valid. What a firm foundation on which to build!".... Right on Time! Prophetic Appointments Revealed! | Bible Study Guides | Amazing Facts