Articles

Daniel-Wayne Barber/Part 22

Written by Dr. Wayne Barber | Sep 10, 2013 4:00:00 AM
By: Dr. Wayne Barber; ©2006
Israel as a nation has rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. Jew and Gentile can still come in and Jews do come in as individuals, but as a nation they’ve still rejected Him. But isn’t it wonderful for His covenant faithfulness and His loving kindness that He has not forgotten them and He has a plan for them to be a part of His kingdom?

God's Faithfulness to Israel - Part 2 (Daniel 9:25)

Turn with me if you will to Daniel 9, and we’re talking about God’s faithfulness to Israel. Nobody can convince me that God is through with Israel. No way: it’s part of that everlasting covenant with Abram. He promised him a seed, He promised him a nation, He promised him a land, and that was an everlasting covenant. Israel as a nation has rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. Jew and Gentile can still come in and Jews do come in as individuals, but as a nation they’ve still rejected Him. But isn’t it wonderful for His covenant faithfulness and His loving kindness that He has not forgotten them and He has a plan for them to be a part of His kingdom? Well, what an incredible vision that Daniel has had in Daniel 9 of the 70 weeks. And I don’t think that there should be any doubt that our conclusion is correct that the 70 periods of seven, that’s literal there, 70 sevens could not refer to days. There’s no possible way. Four hundred and ninety days from the time of the decree that we looked at in verse 25 to rebuild and restore the city of Jerusalem could not have accomplished all the things mentioned in verse 24. No way! So we must ascribe to that 70 period of sevens years, not days. So 490 years have been decreed so that Israel’s self-sufficiency might be broken. Now I’ve said that several times and I wonder if you think I’m just saying it off the wall. Look in 12:7. And this is when the latter part of the tribulation, the three and a half years, that difficult day when Satan’s cast out of heaven finally and he incarnates the Antichrist and persecutes the woman of Israel. And this tribulation time is spoken to Daniel so that Daniel might understand. Verse 7, “And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever,” and what it is here is the question has been asked how long will this go on, and he said, “that it would be for a time [one year], times [two years], and half a time [half a year; three and a half years], and as soon as they finish,” now watch this, “shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.” Israel’s power, their self-sufficiency has got to be broken, and 490 years have been decreed in order that it might take place. And so as Daniel is praying for his people, God not only gives him an understanding of what will take place with Judah, but also Israel, all of God’s people; and not just then but all the way to the end of time. How his prayer will be completely answered one day, but it’s not during his time nor will he ever see it. Now in verses 25-26 it tells us that from a decree to rebuild Jerusalem, and last time we saw in verse 26 that after the 62 weeks, actually the 69, because there are seven included there, the 62 weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing. Now that refers to His crucifixion. Four hundred and eighty three years from the decree to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, something will take place. What will take place here: that the Lord Jesus will go to the cross. And again, hey, don’t you just thrill with this? If they would have just paid attention; and yet they rejected the very Messiah who came during that time period. If they would have just listened to the prophet Daniel they would have understood who He was and they would have realized that He was the Christ and the Son of God. But He was cut off after that period of time. Now the problem we’re dealing with is, as we build on last time, is what takes place in the 483 years. Is there a gap between the 483 years and the last seven year period of time? Remember in verses 25-27 there are three divisions: first of all there are seven periods of seven: 49 years. Then there are 62 periods of seven: 434 years. That sums up to be 483. And then there is one more week that is mentioned in verse 27, “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week.” Now is that week sequential to what we’ve talked about? Does it just add right on to it? Are the 490 years, have they already been completed? There’s no possible way, because verse 24 says that there are several things to happen.

If 490 years are taken in sequence, then verse 24 must have been fulfilled

So, I’m getting ahead of myself. First of all, if you want to stay with me in sort of an outline—and my outline can be improved—here’s the first thing I want to address: If the 490 years are to be taken in sequence, then verse 24 must have been fulfilled. Now let me slow down and just approach it that way, so I can stay with my notes. I remember the first time I ever preached, I got up and I had everything I thought together and I had all my notes down, about 20 pages because I had to write everything out. I was not brave enough to stand up here with just outlines like I have now. And I stood up and when I started preaching I got about midway through the first point and I knocked my notes off the pulpit. I was using hand motions and I’d been watching people preach and I was going to try to really get into it. And I knocked the paper off and when I picked it up they were all out of order and I had page 1 and page 2, and that was where I was, and then I had the invitational time. And when I got started again, I was in the invitation. I was thinking to myself, “This has been either the shortest time I can ever remember or something is really wrong.” What it was, I had left out points 2, 3, 4, and so for me to stay with my notes tonight, let me back up just a minute. The first thing I’m going to address is this: if the 490 years are to be taken in sequence, then verse 24 must already have been fulfilled. Let’s go back and review. Six things have got to take place. This is one of the foundational ways in which we can understand this passage. It says, first of all, “to finish the transgression,” to restrain or bring to an end the transgression as a whole, their rebellion against God. And not only just against God, but they’re going to reject the Messiah and that is the main transgression God is going to have to deal with them all about. That’s the first one. Secondly, “to make an end of sins,” and that’s in the plural: sins. And all the different ramifications that it has that must be brought to an end. That remind me of Zachariah when it says that in that day a fountain will be open for sin and for all impurity. Pointing to that day we’re talking about, pointing to what he’s speaking to Daniel. Thirdly, “to make an atonement for iniquity,” and of course we know that word “atonement” means to cover, there has to be an everlasting atonement made for Israel before these 70 weeks can be completed. Of course we know that that’s taken place. The Lord Jesus has come, died, resurrected, and ascended, already gone back to the Father. But they rejected Him. Remember, this concerns Israel, not you and me. I didn’t reject Him, you didn’t reject Him. They have rejected Him. So it’s not yet taken place in Israel’s life. Even though He died potentially for them, they have not yet received Him. Also it says, “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” to where it prevails on this earth. And this coincides with chapter 2, that when His kingdom comes that righteousness will spread to the ends of the earth. And that has never taken place. There are righteous people all over the earth, but righteousness has not prevailed all over the earth. Then it says, “to seal up vision and prophecy.” In other words it’s all fulfilled. It’s sealed up; it’s put on the shelf; it’s not necessary any longer. It’s already fulfilled. Prophecy has come to an end. That has not taken place. And then it says, “to anoint the most holy place” or holy One. And I’m not going to get into that argument over that theological debate of whether it’s “one” or “place” right there, but we know neither of those could have taken place. So anyone can answer whether or not these things have happened: no, they have not. So what does that lead us to conclude? I don’t see any other conclusion, and I’m open, folks, as we go through this: I am open. And I’ve already been shot at, so just keep shooting, but you’re not going to change me unless you can convince me. I had a guy tell me one time, “Stick with what you know until somebody proves to you that there’s something better to take its place.” Nobody has touched it yet. There are some good arguments, but I haven’t seen it yet. So to me and my conclusion—maybe you, maybe not—I see a parenthesis between the 69 th week and the 70 th week of Daniel. There almost has to be. We know the 490 years has not been completed. We know the 483 have, so therefore there must be that parenthesis, there must be a gap between the 69 th and 70 th weeks of Daniel.

The Gentiles fill the gap between the 69th and 70th week

Alright, secondly, and we alluded to it last time, some of this overlaps a little bit with it but that’s all right. So what is it then that fills this gap? What is it that takes place during the period of this time from the 483 years when Jesus was crucified, what happens from that point until this last seven years begins and only God knows when that will be? All I can conclude is that has got to be the Gentiles, that has got to be the church of the New Testament. Look in Romans 11. I wish I could just take 9, 10, and 11 and preach it like I really understand it fully. I don’t. I’m sure most of you do, you’re further than I am, but I’m telling you, these are some difficult passages of Scripture. You know, one of the problems we have I think in America is God always has to be understood or it must not be God. Friend, we’re dealing with some things where everything is not going to be there for us as easily as we think it’s going to be there. Some questions are never going to be answered until we see Him. Then we’ll know as we’re known. Romans 11:25, Paul has had quite a stern word to say to some of these Gentiles. He says, “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation,” now here’s what he says: “that a partial hardening has happened to Israel.” In other words, when the gospel is preached they can’t even hear. They still turn back to the Law of Moses. They still turn back to the Old Testament and so therefore they can’t hear, their eyes are shut, they cannot understand. There’s a “partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’” Now how clear do you have to be? There has got to be that provision there for the body of Christ, the church, during that parenthesis between the 69 th and the 70 th week of Daniel. Now, I began to think about this—and now again this is worth 65 cents and you can get you a cup of coffee, but this has been on my mind—“until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.” You know, only God knows when that is. I don’t know when that is; you don’t know when that is. We’re talking about having our mission conference this fall and we’ve been praying about having a mission’s burden. Man, if anything in the world should motivate us to get out is because we don’t know when that time is going to be. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be witnessing to somebody and he comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ and God says, “That’s it! Let’s go!” Boom! Take the church right on out. What an experience. You see, this ought to motivate every one of us. We don’t know when the fullness of the Gentiles is. We don’t know when that period is going to come. We don’t know when the last one is going to come up and God says, “Okay, the numbers are complete.” Now, He would will that no one should parish, but that all would have everlasting life. But the fact is that man has his choice and man is going to reject Him. This is your balance line between God’s selection and man’s responsibility. And it hangs there like a plumb bob and you don’t move it to the left or to the right. You just understand that both are there. Now when that time comes, when that day comes, buddy, that’s when the door slams shut and we begin to see that last seven years come forward. That’s the time, I believe in my personal understanding of Daniel, that’s the time that God’s going to say, “Now, for My people Israel. Now I have something to do in their lives.” Now we know that Israel will repent. Look in Zechariah. I was sharing with one of our elders before we got started. I just wish I knew more about prophecy. I got into Zechariah today just preparing a little bit for this message, and got before myself and over and beyond myself and got so engrossed in it I almost was late getting here. It’s just amazing what’s in this thing. I just don’t know enough about it. And I apologize to you. I’ve never studied Zechariah. How many of you here have studied very carefully and studiously the book of Zechariah? Anybody? Okay, thank you; we’re all here together. But in chapter 13:1 we know that there’s going to come a day that Israel will repent, that Israel will come back to the Lord. It says in verse 1, “In that day a fountain,” not a laver, not a laver that has to be consistently replenished, but a fountain overflowing “will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.” That’s when it’s going to take place. That’s when that sin is going to be dealt with, that’s when the transgressions will come to an end. Look in verse 7. He says, “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man, My Associate,” the word for associate is like a kinsman, near kinsman speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, “declares the Lord of hosts. ‘Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; and I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it will come about in all the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘That two parts in it will be cut off and perish.’” This is what is going to happen during that awful time, that latter time. Two-thirds of all Jerusalem will not make it, “But the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” Boy, you go to chapter 14, you go back into chapter 12, it’s all through there. And it refers to that day when God’s purposes for Israel will come about and also for Judah, all of His people. And they’ll be brought their day of atonement and it will be all concerning that latter period of time, that last seven year period of time. Now this brings up a question: is the church going to be in that time? Well, right at this point, and I’m not going to try to get outside of Daniel—I tell you what, one of the things I have understood in studying Daniel and you better stay with it, is where you get confused is to try to answer questions about Daniel outside of Daniel. That’s where you get confused. When you jump to Matthew 24, when you jump to Revelation, when you jump to Thessalonians, when you begin to try to put this all together, look out; if you don’t know what you’re doing you’re going to be much confused. That’s throwing into the wind like we talked about last time. You’re going to get a backlash bigger than you ever thought you were going to get. But from Daniel now, understand what I’m saying, I don’t know why people don’t listen to what I’m saying, understand what I’m saying: from Daniel I see no place in that last seven year period of time that the church can fit. Why? Because this whole time period was decreed for Daniel’s people and Daniel’s holy city. So what must that conclude in your mind where my theological stance is to what is going to happen to the church? I believe we’re going to be out of here, friends. I believe that’s the rapture of the church. We go out of here before God now, the Father, deals with this nation that has rebelled against Him. We go to our bridegroom the Lord Jesus Christ. Now the Father deals with Israel as He has told them He would deal with them. Boy, the rapture of the church just thrills me. I tell you, we’re going to do Revelation next, just write that down. I doubt that we’ll finish it before the Lord comes back from what I’m getting out of this stuff. Maybe, I know the first thing He’s going to do, He’s going to set me down and say, “Now look, dummy. Let Me fill in some blanks for you. Boy, have you been off base.” But I really believe that is when we go out of here, raptured. Somebody says, “There’s no rapture of the church. There’s no noun in the whole Scripture that talks about the rapture.” I know it. It’s always in the verb form. I’d rather it be in the verb form. That’s when we go out of here, friend. That’s when He snatches us out. What do we want to talk about a noun for? Let’s get the verb going. We’re going to get out of here. He’s just going to take us right out of here. He’s going to do that and then the seven year tribulation takes place on this earth. From Daniel, just from Daniel, that’s when I understand at this point. Now, we may get into Revelation—and I don’t know what will happen—but right now, in Daniel, that’s where I am. I will not write a book next week. That’s where I am. I don’t know where you are, we’ll not fight about it, but like you’re going to have to show me something better than what I’ve got so far to prove different. Those time periods were decreed for Israel. Why would you force the church into a time that was meant for God’s people of Israel? Alright, so first of all, if 490 years had been sequential, verse 24 would have had to have been fulfilled. It’s not, so therefore there must be a gap; there has to be. What fills in the gap? It must be the fullness of the Gentiles. That’s where we fit in. Aren’t you glad by God’s grace we do fit in that particular period of time? Now we’re in that third thing I’d like to share with you.

When will Israel repent?

When will Israel repent? I’m doing this as slow as I can and I’m trying to do it as simply as I can so we can all understand. When I was doing this at Precept and we had people studying five, to eight, to ten hours a week, and when we’d come together it was different. But when you come like we’re doing now, if you’re not putting that much time into it, I don’t want to confuse you. So if I tend to overlap, I’m doing that on purpose. I’m just going to overlap and keep right on overlapping. When will Israel repent? Look in verse 26. I think it begins to give us that picture of during the last seven years. That’s when Daniel’s prayer will be completely fulfilled that he’s praying for his people. Verse 26, “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing,” we know that, “and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” Did that not take place? The people of the prince. But who is the prince? That’s the key. “And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.” Now we’ve got to decide who this prince is: “People of the prince who is to come.” Some people say since the city is destroyed and the sanctuary, that that has to be Titus. Well, I’m sure he’s involved in all of this but that can’t be who he’s talking about as we’ll see in just a second. If it was Titus it doesn’t fit. First of all, if all these things had taken place, Titus had already come and done these things, verse 24 would have to be fulfilled. See how that thing keeps coming back to haunt you? You can’t get away from it. There are six things, buddy, that better take place before you draw your conclusions as to who these people are. So it may involve Titus and certainly it did: in 70 AD he destroyed the city and destroyed the sanctuary, but that doesn’t mean that’s who he’s talking about there. Who is that little prince? And since it’s not Titus, and these things have not happened, there’s only one conclusion I can draw: that has got to be the little horn in chapter 7. That has got to be the Antichrist. It has to be. And so what he’s doing here is showing him that in that last seven year period of time, buddy, there’s going to be some difficult days and there’s going to be a man to come on the scene. We’ve already seen him previewed in chapter 8 as Antiochus Epiphanes. We’ve seen him; we’ve seen a preview of what he’s going to be like. He’s going to do terrible things to Israel, and Revelation 12 has told us that Satan will incarnate him, and they will attack the woman which is Israel and drive her into the wilderness. That will be for three and a half years: a time, times, and half a time. Alright, now what’s going to happen here? Look in verse 27. It says “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week,” and I believe what he’s saying here is that the first part of the seven year period of time there’s going to be a peace treaty by the Antichrist and Israel. I don’t understand that, but that has to be. It says, “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week.” Now at this particular point we know the temple has been destroyed and yet we find in other places in the New Testament when the Antichrist comes he will go into the temple and proclaim himself to be God. So when will Israel rebuild the temple? And I believe this will lead us to another conclusion if we’re fitting this correctly. I believe what he’s saying here is that the beginning, the first three and a half years when he makes peace with Israel, that’s when Israel will either complete it or build that temple and they’ll go back to their regular sacrifices just like it was in the Old Testament. Everything will be set up just like it was then. Do you know what’s going on over in Israel right now? Have you been reading anything? Are you opening your eyes? I’m not talking about Christian magazines, I’m talking about Newsweek, Time. They’ve got a whole article, several months ago, about how the priests are learning everything about the priestly sacrifice now. And they’re going back and they’re trying to get the ephods and the different garments for the priests to wear and how they’re setting themselves up to get ready to go back to the regular sacrifice. Somehow they’re getting ready to get back into that temple. We don’t have it now, but it must come on the scene because we know that the Antichrist will go into that temple and he’ll proclaim himself to be God. So the first part of the seven years will be marked by the fact that the Antichrist will make a peace treaty with Israel. Now it goes on in verse 27, “but in the middle of the week.” Now if you take half of seven, what do you get? Three and a half. How many times have we seen it? Twelve hundred and sixty days; a time, times, and half a time; three and a half years. Boy, that thing is just ringing in your mind if you study Daniel. It’s all over the place. In the middle of the seven year period of time evidently he’s going to break his peace treaty with Israel. And look out: that’s when it all starts. Now this correlates to Revelation 12. That’s when the dragon is finally cast out of heaven. And you say, “Well, I thought he was already cast out? He goes before the Lord and confuses us day and night.” That’s when he’s finally cast out, that’s when he comes down to this earth, that’s when he incarnates the Antichrist and that’s when for three and a half years they’re going to persecute the woman. And the woman is Israel on this earth. That’s Revelation 12. So we see that “he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate.” Boy, I tell you, this is going to be a difficult time, that abomination of desolation begins in that last three and a half year period of time. And so many of these pieces of the puzzle that I want to just rush ahead and share with you are coming up in Daniel. Don’t get frustrated in one message if we don’t answer all the questions. Hang on, because we’ve got several more chapters to go. We’ve got some beautiful this that are going to come out in the last portion of chapter 12 of Daniel when God helps him to understand the tribulation and help him understand why it’s so necessary for Him to do what He does. So we see a time line then. We see a seven year period of time, sometime in the future and has not taken place yet. Sometime around when the ten nations come together. Is that not correct? The ten horns of chapter 7 of the beast, when the United States of Europe is created. Out among those will come a little horn who will gradually grow stronger than all the rest. He becomes the Antichrist backed by the ten nations, incarnated by Satan himself for the last three and a half years. First three and a half, Israel is doing swell. Then he makes a peace treaty with them. Right in the middle he breaks that peace treaty, and that’s when he makes his move on God’s people. That’s when two thirds are going to be lost, but one third will be saved as we saw in Zechariah. Well, he’ll be an abominable person, but only for three and a half years. But in the end it is decreed that he will be destroyed. Look at verse 27. He says, “even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed.” Friend, listen, I told you last time like that alarm clock; that thing is set and is going to go off, and God says you’ve got a certain time on this earth that I’ll give you free reign among My people. However, it says that Israel will be nourished during that time. God’s going to provide for His people. But during that period of time he only has three and a half years and at the end of it it’s stopped, boy, and that the end, that’s when it’s all over with. That’s when God makes His move now to bring His kingdom to this earth. In the end it is decreed that he will be destroyed. Remember this: persecution is the wrath of the world poured out on Christians; tribulation is the wrath of God poured out on the world. By the way, we’re in that right now. That’s been happening for a long time now. But never like it’s going to happen in the last three and a half years before the end of this age. So what have we seen in Daniel’s vision? Maybe I can completely get you confused right before we go home. First of all, the focus: what is the focus of Daniel’s vision? Israel and the Holy City. And isn’t it interesting how so many people say that God is through with Israel? Baloney: He’s not through with Israel. Secondly, the time period: 70 weeks. Are they days? No, they have to be years; 483 years after they came to rebuild the city of Jerusalem what was to take place? The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah will be cut off. However, there are seven years left. What do you do with it? Do you add it to the 483 years? You can’t, because there are six things that have got to happen if you do that. Therefore there has got to be a gap. What fills in the gap? The church. So when the fullness of the Gentiles happens, who knows when that’s going to be, it could be tomorrow, folks, it could be any day now. When that happens, books are sealed, that’s when the church goes out of here and that’s when you start seeing the Antichrist make his move. Do you know what I’m prone to believe—and here again, this will also get you a cup of coffee—I believe he’s living today folks: the Antichrist. I believe it as much as I’m standing here and I believe in 1992 when that United States of Europe begins to be created we’re going to see things happen so quickly. You know, one of the things that is interesting to me is all these stories that are circulating around. Have you heard any of them? They’re coming to me from all over the United States so evidently something must be going on. About a man who has been walking along, well dressed, and how the people are stopping and picking him up and how he’s asking them if they are believers and whether or not they believe the Lord is coming and then they look in the back seat and he’s gone. You know, that has to be either outright, absolute made-up lies or there’s got to be something to that. Now, if they had let him out and couldn’t find him anymore, that’s suspect. Disappeared! I had a guy call me from another state and tell me the exact same thing. I’ve had them call me from all over the United States. I’ve had them tell me right here it’s going on right here. Wonder if that’s really real? You know, I love to play the advocate. I wonder if that’s really real. Somebody says, “Oh, I don’t believe all that stuff.” Well, you can’t disprove it, can you? What if that’s really going on? I wonder if He’s beginning to plant His people all over the world now, His angels or whatever, to be able to come and give us that little message. I wonder how many of you here are ready to meet the Lord Jesus Christ? Friend, I believe we’re living right on the edge. The clock is ready to strike midnight and the second hand is just right there at it. I believe that’s the time that we’re living in right now. I get to thinking about it sometimes and I think, “Dear God, what a wonderful time to be alive and what a wonderful time to be preaching and what a wonderful time to study the book of Daniel.” Boy, just as we understand it. Well, my challenge to you is, when you go home ask yourself if you’re excited about His coming. One of the things I’m learning as I go from church to church over our country is there are a lot of churches that are so doctrinally straight, that if they lean they’re going to break. But they’re dry as toast. There is no life in them. Buddy, they’ve got the doctrine, they’ve got the discernment, they’ve got all that stuff, but there’s no life at all because people have left their first love. Remember Revelation, you have left, not lost, you have left, buddy, you have walked away from your first love. And one of the things that makes you look forward to somebody coming is the fact that you love them. I fly a lot and I love to fly and I get overwhelmed every time I get on a plane. I can’t believe this thing actually does fly. I still feel that way. But I love to be in an airport and watch loved ones greet when somebody is coming in on a flight. That’s the most fun. Just right before you take off
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