Why the Church Won't Go Through the Tribulation, Part 2

Let's pray together. Father, we are so grateful that we have the opportunity to study your word and to understand, Lord Jesus, what it is your plan is for this world. And how, Lord, as we study scripture, we can begin to understand how that plan unfolds. That, Father, we are able to see what you're going to do in the future, and therefore, Lord, we are more energized in preaching the gospel to those who might not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Tonight, Father, help us to understand once again how it is you're going to protect the church and take us home to be with you before the great and terrible day of the Lord. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Bible says that there is coming a day. There's coming a day in which it is called the great and terrible day of the Lord. It's a day of judgment that's going to come upon the world. The time of that judgment is seven years. The question is, how do we know how long it is? We'll explain that to you this evening. But the Bible speaks a lot about that coming terrible time. The Old Testament prophets were well-versed in speaking about the coming judgment. In fact, as you recall, the very first prophecy given to man by a man was a prophecy about the coming judgment upon the world.

That, of course, is Jude 14 and 15: "And about these also Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment upon all and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.'" So the very first prophecy by a man to man was a prophecy about the coming King who would judge all the ungodly.

And yet way back in the book of Zephaniah, if you've got your Bible, you might want to turn there for just a moment. For those of you who do not know where it is, it's in the Old Testament and you can always find the person next to you. I'm sure they know where Zephaniah is. But in Zephaniah chapter 1, verse number 14, these words are recorded: "Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming very quickly. Listen, the day of the Lord, in it the warrior cries out bitterly." Remember over in Revelation chapter 6, it talks about the kings and the commanders and the slaves and the free man and how they are desperate for the rocks to fall upon them because they fear the great day of wrath has come and they feared the Lamb of God.

It says in verse 15: "A day of wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and the high corner towers. And I will bring distress on men so that they will walk like blind or like the blind because they have sinned against the Lord and their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung."

Now we know that the Bible says in Revelation 14 that the blood will flow in the battle of what most commentators call the Battle of Armageddon, will run for 200 miles and that blood flow will run up to the horse's bridle. The question comes whether or not that's actual blood flow up four and a half or five feet up to the horse's bridle or is it the splattering of blood? There's great debate over how that blood is portrayed but we know that it runs for 200 miles. That 200 miles is very significant when it comes to understanding the return of the king and we'll explain that to you as our time goes on.

But the Bible says in verse number 18: "Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord's wrath and all the earth will be devoured in the fire of his jealousy for he will make a complete end indeed a terrifying one of all the inhabitants of the earth." So the Lord would use Zephaniah the prophet to speak about that great and terrible day, that day of wrath, the day of distress, the day of gloom that will come upon mankind.

Peter in 2 Peter chapter 2 would say these words, 2 Peter chapter 2 verse number 4: "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness reserved for judgment and did not spare the ancient world but preserved Noah a preacher of righteousness with seven others when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly and if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter." In other words Peter says that God is serious about judging sin. He judged the world spared Noah and his family. He judged the angels that sinned. He judged Sodom and Gomorrah because they were engulfed in sin, to let you know that God is in the business of judging the ungodly and judging sinners.

In fact over in chapter 3 of 2 Peter these words are recorded. It says the present heavens verse 7 and earth by his word are being reserved for fire kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. So there again Peter emphasizes that there is going to be a day of destruction upon the ungodly and then it says in verse number 10: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief." In other words that day is going to come. You need to be ready for it.

Now the question comes for people like you and people like me will we be a part of that day? Will we be a part of that day of wrath and distress and gloom where blood will flow like dust? Will we be a part of that time when God pours out his judgment upon the ungodly that great and terrible day of the Lord? That day that will come like a thief? The question comes will we be a part of that time? Well the answer to that I believe is no.

And the reason is because number one we gave you last week the location of the church in the book of Revelation. We told you last week that in Revelation chapter 2 and chapter 3 there are seven letters written to seven churches. They are real churches and they received real letters. And yet those churches are representative of all churches of all the church age to some degree or another. And at the end of each letter there is an exhortation to the overcomer the true believer in Jesus Christ. And at the end of each letter it says "he who has ears to hear let him hear what the spirit says to those churches." And so we know that there are churches and we know that from Revelation chapter 1 that it's the Lord God who walks in and among those churches. He is the one who walks in and among the lampstand which is representative of the churches. And he is the one who purifies and purges, protects and preserves the church.

And yet it also tells us that in chapter 4 something changes. And that is the church is no longer on earth but the church is in heaven. In fact from Revelation 6 when the tribulation begins through Revelation chapter 19 the church is nowhere mentioned. There is no exhortation to the church. In Revelation 2 and 3 there are plenty of exhortations to the church. But when you come to chapter 6 there are no longer any exhortations because the church is not there. Where is the church? The church is in heaven.

How do you know that? Because of the identification of the 24 elders in the book of Revelation. That's very important. In fact that becomes a key aspect in interpreting not only the book of Revelation but understanding the time the church will be translated from this place earth to heaven. We noted that in chapter 4 verse number 4 of Revelation it says these words: "And around the throne were 24 thrones and upon the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting clothed in white garments and golden crowns on their heads."

Now the question comes who are these 24 elders? Well we know they are not angels and we know they are not the four living creatures. We know that from Revelation chapter 7 because they are all three mentioned in the same verse all distinguished groups. So we know that they are not angels. We know that they are not the four living creatures. They are distinct from them. We also know that they are not Old Testament saints. Some believers or some people believe that they are Old Testament saints. How do we know that the 24 elders are not the Old Testament saints? Answer, Revelation 5 verse number 9. It says "and they sang a new song." So whoever these 24 elders are they are singing a new song. "Worthy art thou to take the book and to break its seals for thou wast slain and it is purchased for God with thy blood." Listen carefully. "Men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." That's not Israel. That's every tribe, every nation and every tongue. That's everybody not just Israel.

So it can't be the 24 elders because it goes on to say then in verse 10: "And thou hast made us to be a kingdom and priest to our God and we will reign upon the earth." That promise is given to the church age believers. We know that we as believers are a kingdom of priests. We know that in the Old Testament they had a priesthood. In the New Testament we are the priesthood. Big difference. And so these 24 elders, whoever they are, are in heaven. They are not the angels. They are not Old Testament saints. They are not the four living creatures. It can't be Israel because Israel is all throughout the tribulation. There are 144,000 Jews that are chosen, 12,000 from every tribe. And we know that God has a plan for Israel. Particularly that's why there is a seven year tribulation which we will see in a minute.

But the question comes who are these people? The answer is very simple. We know in Revelation 1 verse number 5 and 6, it's the same phraseology as Revelation 5 verse number 10. So we know that that is given to church age believers. And they say the same thing when they get to heaven. We also know there is a promise given to church age believers and that is that they would be clothed in white raiment. You can read about that in the letters to the seven churches. That believers will be clothed in white raiment. Believers will also wear crowns, not diadem but Stephanos, the victor's crown. And it's promised to believers that they will sit on thrones and they will rule and reign with Christ. We talked about all that last week.

So the question comes, well why is 24 not a literal number? And why is it symbolic? Well it is a literal number, 24. But it's a number of representation. It's a number from 1 Chronicles 24 and 25 where there is a Levitical priesthood, 24 priests who are representative of the Levitical priesthood who in turn represent the nation of Israel. So we already have precedence in the Bible where the number 24 is a number of representation. So therefore the 24 elders are representative of the church in its entirety. And that's why there's the number 24. It's a number of representation. And so because there is no mention of the church in Revelation 6 through 19, our conclusion is that the church is already in heaven in Revelation 4 and 5, no longer on the earth.

So those two points we covered with you last week. The location of the church in the book of Revelation. The identification of the 24 elders in the book of Revelation. Point number 3, this is where we pick up our outline this evening. The prevention of the church from going through the hour of tribulation that will come upon the whole world. The prevention of the church from going through the hour of tribulation that is to come upon the whole world. Revelation chapter 3 verse number 10. So if you have your Bible, turn to Revelation 3 verse number 10. This is what it says. Revelation 3 verse number 10. It's given to the church of Philadelphia. But it's representative to all believers. Listen to what it says: "Because you have kept the word of my perseverance." That's what believers do. They keep the word of God's perseverance. They persevere because of the word of God. "I also will keep you from the hour of testing. That hour which is about to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell upon the earth."

This one verse is problematic for those who believe in a mid-tribulational rapture or a post-tribulational rapture. Simply because there was a promise given to the church. And because it says "he who has ears to hear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches." It's a promise given to the churches. That God will keep them out of the hour of testing.

Now, what is that hour? Is it a particular hour like one 60 minute time frame? No, it's a period of time. How do we know that? Well, we know that Jesus Christ was talking about his hour. He was on the cross for one hour. He was on the cross for six hours. But that hour began when they took him in the garden and they began to take him from there to Caiaphas' house was the beginning of that hour that would last until he said "it is finished" and he gave up the spirit on Calvary's cross. That was the hour. That was the hour he came for seven times in the Gospel of John. He refers to that particular hour. The hour of his crucifixion. The hour which he will give his life as a ransom for the sins of many. And so we need to understand that the hour is not just one hour but it's representative of a period of time. That's important.

And the Bible says these words. Revelation 3 verse number 10: "I also will keep you from." The phrase there is tereo-ech. Now, if God was going to keep you in the tribulation, protect you in the tribulation, it would read tereo-en. If he was going to take you through the tribulation and protect you as you went through it, it would be tereo-dia. But the phraseology is crucial. It's tereo-ech. That phrase means to keep oneself outside of a particular state.

The same phrase is used in John chapter 12. In John, who wrote the Gospel of John, who also wrote the book of Revelation, records these words of our Lord in verse number 27 of John 12: "Now my soul has become troubled and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour.'" In other words, save me out of this hour. "But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify thy name." Christ knew that the hour would be a time of great turmoil. Not because of his physical suffering, but because of his spiritual suffering and what would take place in his separation from the Father on that cross. And so that was what the anguish was for our Lord. And so he says, "what am I going to say? Save me out of, take me outside of that hour so that I don't experience it?" No. He came to glorify his Father. He came to fulfill the mission of his Father. He came to die.

So the Bible says in Revelation 3 verse number 10: "Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I also will keep you from or keep you out of the hour." It's a definite article, "the." It's a particular hour. It indicates a specific testing. Not general testing that comes upon all believers, but a specific hour at a specific time. That's important. He's not referring to anything generally, but something very specific. So the Lord promises that there will be a prevention from something. That he will take you out of something. That is a particular hour, a particular time of testing.

Now listen carefully. And the text says this: "Testing that which is about to come upon the whole world." Listen carefully. "To test those who dwell upon the earth." That little phrase, katoi keo, is a word used 10 times in the book of Revelation. It has nothing to do with geography. It has everything to do with a moral condition. It has everything to do with a permanent state of mind. Those who dwell upon the earth. Whatever the hour of testing that's going to come upon the whole world, is coming to test those, listen carefully, who have a moral condition that permanently states that "my life is wrapped up in this world." That's very important.

Let me show you how that phrase is used in the book of Revelation. Turn over with me if you would to Revelation chapter 6, verse number 10. He had the fifth seal broken. Verse number 9: "And when he broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained." Now these are tribulational saints. They died in the tribulation. "And they cried out with a loud voice saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood,'" listen carefully, "on those who dwell on the earth." Same phrase. So they are looking at those whose permanent residence, whose moral condition is a worldly condition, based on their desire to live and dwell upon the earth.

Look at chapter 8, verse number 13. It says: "And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, 'Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound.'" So in other words, what is happening is, John is showing to us how it is, this hour of testing is specifically designed for those who dwell upon the earth.

Then again over in Revelation chapter 11, verse number 10. It says this, Revelation chapter 10. Remember in Revelation 11 you had the two witnesses? One like Moses, one like Elijah. And they are the ones who go about, that when somebody tries to capture them, a fire comes out of their mouth, and they incinerate everybody who tries to capture them. So the Antichrist, the beast, overcomes them, and kills them, and they lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days. Three days. And the text says in verse number 9: "And those from the peoples, and tribes, and tongues, and nations, will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb." Here is our phrase again, "And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and make merry," listen to this, "and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth." There is the phrase again. You see these prophets are those who torment earth dwellers.

So the biggest party in the history of the world happens in Revelation 11. The world is so glad that these two witnesses are dead, they give gifts to one another. You know the world is always looking for another avenue to give gifts. That's why we have so many holidays. We're looking for another way to give gifts to somebody else. Well they can't wait to give gifts because these two witnesses are dead.

And then over in Revelation 13 verse number 8, it says this, speaking of the Antichrist: "And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him." So you see those who dwell upon the earth is a phrase used throughout the book of Revelation to describe specifically those people who will receive the hour of testing. Because they are earth dwellers.

It says in verse number 12: "And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast." And then it says over in verse number 6 of Revelation 14: "And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth." And then lastly over in Revelation 17 verse number 2 and verse number 8: "It speaks of that great harlot with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality. And those who dwell on the earth." Verse number 8: "The beast that you saw was and is not and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder whose name has not been written in the book of life."

So it's very clear that those who dwell upon the earth their names are not written in the book of life. They are satisfied with being earth dwellers. And the hour of testing that's going to come is coming upon those who dwell upon the earth, the ungodly. And those who keep the word of God and persevere because they know God and His word, they will be kept out of that hour of testing that will come upon the whole world. Never has there been an hour of testing that has come upon the whole world. There's only one time for that. And that is the tribulation of Revelation chapter 6 through chapter 19.

So the first three reasons why we believe the church will not go through the tribulation. Number one, the location of the church in the book of Revelation. Number two, the identification of the 24 elders in the book of Revelation. Number three, the prevention of the church from the hour of testing that will come upon the whole world.

Number four, the fourth reason we believe the church will not go through the tribulation is the intention of the tribulation for not only those who dwell upon the earth, but for the nation of Israel. In Jeremiah chapter 30 verse number 6, it tells us that the tribulation has a name. It's called the time of Jacob's trouble or Jacob's distress. We forget that the tribulation is focused on two groups of people. All the ungodly, those who dwell upon the earth and the nation of Israel. And we're going to prove that to you this evening. That's important to understand.

We know that Jesus, when he came the first time, came to present himself as Israel's Messiah. He demonstrated all the credentials of the king. He came to set up his kingdom. That's why when he came to preach, he said, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." When John the Baptist, the forerunner to the Messiah said, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus preached that same message because it was. But Israel rejected their Messiah. They believed the party line of the Pharisees and the Sadducees that Jesus Christ was demon possessed. That's why he did the powers or accomplished with miraculous power the things that he did. They believed that party line. They bought into a hook, line, and sinker. And they came with these words, "we will not have this king rule over us." That was their final statement on the Messiah.

Well, they rejected their Messiah. And the results were grave for that nation. The Bible says in Matthew chapter 23: "Behold, your house has left you desolate, Israel. For I say to you, you shall not see me again until you say, 'blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" And we told you earlier that that phrase "until" is very important. He doesn't say, "you will not see me again unless you say, 'blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" He says "until" you say. In other words, you will say it. It's going to come. There will be a restoration of Israel. It's inevitable because of what Jesus has said.

In Zechariah chapter 13, verse number 8, it tells us that two-thirds of Israel will perish in the tribulation. Two-thirds of them. We know Romans 11 says "all Israel will be saved." The "all" of Romans 11 is the only third that's left in the tribulation. So the "all" truly is all of Israel. But it's all that's left in the tribulation. The one-third that's left based on Zechariah chapter 13, verse number 8. Why? Because the tribulation is the time of Jacob's trouble.

Over in Ezekiel chapter 20, it's our Lord who said these words in verse number 33. Now we know that's true. Don't we? We know that Israel has gathered together back into the land. And the nation of Israel from their perspective are ecstatic about the fact that they are going back to their homeland. And they are anticipating the arrival of the Messiah. But little do they know that the reason they are going back is because God is going to judge them. That's why they are going back. That's what he says. He says in verse 35: "And I shall bring you into the wilderness of the peoples and there I shall enter into judgment with you face to face." Verse 37: "And I shall make you pass under the rod. And I shall bring you into the bond of the covenant. And I shall purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against me. I shall bring them out of the land where they sojourn. But they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the Lord."

So we know that God says "I'm going to enter into judgment with you face to face. I will have you pass under the rod. And I'm going to purge out the rebels." We know that from Zechariah 13a. That two thirds of them will perish in the tribulation. One third of them will enter the kingdom. That one third is the "all Israel" that will be saved in Romans chapter 11. So we know that the time of Jacob's trouble is designed for Israel, based on what the prophets have said.

But not only is the tribulation a time for Israel's judgment. It's also a time for Israel's salvation. This is how Israel, the "all of Israel," is going to be saved. We know that based on what God has promised to Israel. Even as far back as 1 Samuel chapter 12 verse number 22. The Lord says "for the Lord will not abandon his people on account of his great name. Because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for himself." God will not abandon his people.

Psalm 89 verse number 30: "If his sons forsake my law and do not walk in my judgments. If they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments. Then I will visit their transgression with the rod. And their iniquity with stripes. But I will not break off my loving kindness from him. Nor deal falsely in my faithfulness. My covenant I will not violate. Nor will I alter the utterance of my lips. Once I have sworn by my holiness. I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever. And his throne as a sun before me. It shall be established forever like the moon. And the witness in the sky is faithful." God made a promise to Israel. God will not abandon his inheritance. God has made a promise to save them. That's his promise.

So why the time of Jacob's trouble is a time of distress. And a time of gloom. And a time of warfare. And a time of great tragedy. We can read about it all through Revelation 6 down through Revelation 19. All through Matthew 24 and understand the Olivet Discourse. And the great and terrible day of the Lord. Also in Mark chapter 13 and in Luke 21. We can read about it all throughout the Old Testament and their prophets as they explained about that great and terrible day that's going to come upon Israel. But because it comes. God will save his people. He made a promise to them.

The greatest example of that though is in Daniel chapter 9. I want you to turn with me in your Bible to Daniel chapter 9. And we want to look at a very unique prophecy. That at this time of the year in which we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, it will become a very special time of year for you as you understand the prophecy of Daniel's 70 weeks. Okay. Daniel chapter 9. Now you're going to have to put your thinking caps on. You're going to have to really sit and soak it all in. Because it might be kind of overwhelming for some of you. But that's okay. You can always buy the CD and go over it time and time and time again. Until you get it. You will get it. It's not that difficult.

Daniel 9 verse 24: "70 weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city." We'll stop right there. Gabriel says to Daniel, "70 weeks have been decreed for your people." That's Israel. "And your holy city." That's Jerusalem. That's pretty easy to understand, right? Then he says this: "To finish the transgression. To make an end of sin. To make atonement for iniquity. To bring in everlasting righteousness. To seal up vision and prophecy. And to anoint the most holy."

So, Daniel receives from Gabriel a guarantee. A decree. There are 70 weeks. That have been specifically designed for your people Israel. And the city of Jerusalem. When they are completed. There will be an end to transgression. An end to sin. There will be an atonement for iniquity. To bring in everlasting righteousness. In other words, at the end of the 70 weeks. The kingdom will be yours. Are you with me so far? It's not that difficult.

Then it says. So, verse 25: "You are to know. And discern. That from the issuing of a decree. To restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Until Messiah the Prince. There will be 7 weeks. And 62 weeks. It will be built again. With plaza and moat. Even in times of distress." The prophecy given to Daniel tells us Israel's remaining history. That's important. It says. There are 70 weeks decreed. Question comes. What are the weeks? Well. There are 70 sevens. Or 70 weeks. Of sevens. How do we know that? Well. We know that if it was just 70 weeks. All that was just said was going to happen. Didn't happen. What was going to happen. Would take more than 490 days. It would take more than 490 weeks. So we know that the context. Proves that the weeks. Have to be longer than just 70 weeks. As we know weeks. Instead. The Hebrew word Shabuwa. Is translated 77s. But we already have a pattern for that in Leviticus 25. Don't we? That at the end of. Seven sevens. That is at the end of 49 years. There is a year of Jubilee. And so after seven weeks of sevens. There was a year of Jubilee. Where everything was returned back to its rightful owner. Everybody was forgiven. And things would move on from there. So there's a precedent in Israel's history. That the weeks are representative of years.

The context itself proves. That it can't be just. Weeks as we know them seven days. Or 490 days or 490 weeks. It has to be. 490 years. So. Gabriel says to Daniel. There are 490 years left in Israel's history. Well. Now. If you know when the 490 years begin. Right. Then you can determine. The end. Of the 490 years. Right. But you got to know when they begin. How do you know when they begin? Well. Let me help you understand this. In the Jewish calendar. A year. Was not 365 days. It was 360 days. How do we know that? The book of Genesis and the book of Revelation proves that. We know that in the flood. In Genesis chapter 7. Genesis chapter 8. The flood lasted five months. The Bible says five months. It says 150 days. Meaning. There were five months. With 30 days in them. We also know. From Revelation chapter 12 and Revelation chapter 13. That in the middle of the tribulation. When the antichrist desecrates the temple. There are three and a half years left. It also says there are 42 months left. Or 1260 days left. Which means that. That each month has 30 days in it. So from Genesis to Revelation. We know. The Jewish calendar only had 30 day months. 360 days in one year.

So. Knowing that. And coming to grips with what takes place. With the 490 years. You can then begin to understand when it's all going to end. If you know when it begins. But we know exactly. When the 490 years begin. How do we know that? Nehemiah chapter 2 verses 1 to 8 tells us. It says in verse 25 of Daniel 9: "You ought to know and discern. That from the issuing of a decree. To restore and rebuild Jerusalem." When is that? Hadn't come yet. It was going to come. It came on March 14th. 445 B.C. King Artaxerxes. Gave the decree. We know exactly when the 490 years begins. It tells us. It tells us because. Daniel 9.25. Tells us that when the decree is given. To go and rebuild and restore. The wall around Jerusalem. And the streets that are there. That's when the 490 years begins. You with me so far? That's great.

So all you got to do. Is determine. 490 years. From March 14th. 445 B.C. But you got to add the days. Of the year. As 360 days. When you do that. You can't add 1 A.D. plus 1 B.C. Because it's the same year. And you must add all the leap years. There's 116 of them. And when you do. You come up with 173,880 days. Meaning. That at the end of that time. Not the 490 years. But really it says this. Listen carefully. For the time the decree is given. To restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Until Messiah the Prince. There will be 7 weeks and 62 weeks. In other words. There will be 69 weeks. In other words. There will be 483 years. So 483 years. 7 weeks. Plus the 62 weeks. That's when it says. Messiah. The Prince. Will come. And that is exactly. 173,880 days. How do we know that? Well I just told you. But there was a man. By the name of Sir Robert Anderson. Tremendous historian. Who wrote a book on the coming Prince. Who did all the calculations. To realize. That on April the 6th. A.D. 32. Jesus. Wrote in to Jerusalem. On the backside of a donkey. Now that's important. Why? Turn to Luke chapter 19. Luke chapter 19. You stood with me? Some of you are like. I'm lost man. I'll come together for you.

Now we know the prophecy. Christ sent his men in. To get a donkey. Tell him the master has need of it. He comes. He mounts the donkey. He makes his way into Jerusalem. Okay. It says. "And they brought it to Jesus. And they threw their garments on the colt. And put Jesus on it. And as he was going. They were spreading their garments in the road." Who were? The people. Now remember it's Passover. Okay. It's Passover. And they begin to spread their garments in the road. Spreading of garments means. A relinquishing of all that I am. And all that I have. And so when the people were spreading their garments. On the road. When Jesus was coming into Jerusalem. They were relinquishing everything to him. As their king.

"And as he was now approaching. Near the descent of the Mount of Olives. The whole multitude of the disciples. Began to praise God. Joyfully with a loud voice. For all the miracles which they had seen. Saying blessed is the king who comes. In the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. And so the Pharisees and the multitude said to him. Teacher rebuke your disciples. And he answered and said. I tell you if these become silent. The stones will cry out."

Now why were the Pharisees so upset? The Pharisees were upset. Because as the people. Began to wave their palm branches. And lay their garments down. What they were doing. You don't do at Passover. You do at the Feast of Tabernacles. And the Feast of Tabernacles. Is a celebration. Of Israel. Israel's restoration. And submission. To the king. Because at the Feast of Booths. The Feast of Tabernacles. It's a reminder. How God in a supernatural way. Provided for his people. As he tabernacled among them. So it's called the Feast of Tabernacles. Looking forward to the day. The king will come. And actually dwell among them. Tabernacle among them. And they will reap the benefits. Of him taking care of them. On a daily basis. That's why the Pharisees were so upset. Because you don't do this at Passover. You do this at the Feast of Tabernacles. And for them to do this. Solidifies the fact. That this is their king. That this is the Messiah. When Jesus said. Well. If these don't cry out. The stones will cry out.

Now it says this in verse number 41: "When he approached. He saw the city and wept over it. Saying. If you had known. In this day." What day? If you could count. 173,880 days. From Daniel 9.24. You would know that this was the day I was to arrive. If you could count. If you knew what the Old Testament said. "If you had known. In this day. Even you. The things which make for peace. If you had known that. But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the day shall come upon you. When your enemies will throw up a bank before you. And surround you and him you in on every side. And will level you to the ground. And your children within you. And they will not leave in you one stone upon another. Because you did not recognize. The day of your visitation." You didn't know the time. You didn't know the day. You didn't calculate exactly what was given to Daniel. By Gabriel. All you had to do was count it up. It's not that difficult. It's not rocket science. But you didn't do that. You missed the day of your visitation.

Instead. Of this being the time. In which transgression would be finished. Sin would be no more. Atonement would be made for iniquity. The everlasting kingdom would come with it's righteousness. All vision and all prophecy sealed up. And to anoint the most holy. You execute your Messiah. Daniel said. At the end of one week. At the end of 7 weeks. And 62 weeks. At the end of 49 years. At the end of 34 years. Which is exactly 483 years. Messiah the prince will come. And he came. April 6. 32 AD. Just like he promised. Specifically. And accurately. Just like it was said.

And then it says. Listen. "Then after the 62 weeks." Prophecy continues doesn't it. "The Messiah will be cut off." The Hebrew word. Karat is a word that speaks of. Dying as a criminal. The Messiah will be cut off. The Messiah will die as a criminal. It says. "And have nothing." Or in other words in Hebrew. "And it has nothing to do with himself." In other words he's going to die. Not for himself but for you. Then it says. "And the people of the prince. Who is to come." Who's that? That's the antichrist. It's not the Messiah. "The people of the prince who is to come. Will destroy the city and the sanctuary." That's exactly what Jesus said. In Luke chapter 19. "Because you did not recognize the day of your visitation. Then there will be destruction. Upon you." And that happened in 70 AD right?

And so what Daniel. Receives from Gabriel. Is the exact same prophecy. "The people of the prince who is to come. Will destroy the city and the sanctuary." In other words Jerusalem will be destroyed. The holy city. "And it's end will come. With a flood. Even to the end. There will be war. Desolations are determined." And Israel has been in war ever since. Right? But we only got 69 weeks. We don't have 70. So it says in verse 27. "And he." Who is he? Well he is the prince who is to come. Verse number 26. "And he will make a firm covenant. With the many for one week." Ah there is the 70th week. See that? How do you know the tribulation is 7 years? 77's. 70 years. Of 7's. That's how you know. "And the. Prince who is to come. The antichrist. The beast will make a covenant. With the many for one week. But in the middle of the week. He will put a stop to sacrifice. And grain offerings. And on the wing of abominations will come. One who makes desolate. Even until a complete destruction. One that is decreed is poured out. On the one who makes. Desolate."

In other words. The 70th week. Has yet to happen. But it will happen. It won't happen. Until a covenant is made. With the many. That is Israel. And when he makes that covenant. With them. It will be for one week. It will be for 7 years. But he will break that covenant in the middle. It's called the abomination of desolation. He will break that covenant. He will set himself up as king. You can read about it all throughout the book of Revelation. Revelation 13. It talks about how the beast sets himself up as king. And demands that the world worships him. He is the one that needs to be worshipped. And Israel will have nothing to do with that. And they will flee to the wilderness. Because the antichrist will want to destroy them. Once again. He won't be able to. Because God will protect them. Revelation 12. Says that God has prepared a place for them. In the wilderness. Which by the way becomes very significant. As to where Israel is. In the latter part of the tribulation. And where the king returns. At the end of those 7 years. The end of the tribulation.

So what do you have? You have a prophecy. In Daniel chapter 9. About the history of Israel. Listen carefully. The history of Israel. Is 490 years. From the time. That king Artaxerxes. Made a decree. On March 14th. 445 B.C. To date in history. Every Jew knows it. 483 years. Because there is one week left. 7 years left. Messiah the prince will come into. Jerusalem the holy city. But. There won't be a time. Of righteousness. There won't be a fulfillment of all that is there. The kingdom will not come. Why? Because they did not recognize the day of their visitation. They couldn't count. They couldn't add. They couldn't understand. What was there. And Christ says. "If you had only known the day. You should have known the day. I told you I was coming. I told you what day I was coming. And you still missed it. And now. You will suffer greatly." And not only do they suffer greatly. In 70 A.D. They have been suffering ever since. And will suffer even more. Disturbingly. In the 7 year. Tribulational period.

But. There is a gap. Between the 69th week. And the 70th week. And that gap. Is the church. Because the church. Wasn't in the first 69 weeks. Right? So why would the church be in the 70th week. Of Israel's history. Right? It's decreed for Israel's history. This is Israel. 490 years have been decreed. For your people and Jerusalem. Not for the church. And we weren't in the first 69 weeks. We didn't even come on the scene. Until Acts 2. After the death of the Messiah. His ascension. Is set in the spirit of God. And that whole church age. Is the length of the gap. Between the 70th week. And the 69th week. And the 70th week.

Now think with me for a moment. If the 70th week. Followed the 69th week. Okay. That would mean. That in 39 AD. Would be the end of the 70th week. That would mean. That that's when the millennial kingdom began. That would mean. We missed it by a thousand years. That would mean. That the destruction of Jerusalem. That happened in 70 AD. Happened in the millennium. With the king ruling. If it happened in succession. And ended in 39 AD. The 70th week did. Then according to Matthew 24. When the king comes. And gathers the elect. From the four winds of the earth. What are we still doing here? So it couldn't have been in succession. There has to be a gap. Between the 69th week. And the 70th week. That's why he says. At the end of seven weeks. And the end. That he says. Of 62 weeks. Which is adding together 69 weeks. Beside the prince will come. But he will be cut off. He will be killed. He will die. And. The people of the prince. Will destroy the city.

There are three deliverances. In Daniel 9. The promise of deliverance. After the Babylonian captivity of 70 years. To go back to their home. The deliverance from iniquity. Because the death of the Messiah. And the final deliverance. Of Israel at the end of the 70th week. Where the kingdom will be restored. There are three deliverances. In Daniel 9. 24 to 27. But because of the intention. Of the tribulation. Not only for the end godly. But for Israel. We know that the church won't go through the tribulation. Why? Because it's the 70th week. Of Daniel's prophecy. And we're not there. If we weren't in the first 69. We won't be in the 70th week. Where will we be? We'll be in heaven. That's why the church. It's called a mystery. Isn't it called a mystery? Something concealed in the old. But revealed in the new. The old prophets. Do nothing of a church age. What is that? A special time where Christ will be in you. And dwell in you. A special time in which. Christ will gather Gentiles. Together with Jews. The church age. It couldn't have been talked about in the old testament. It was a mystery. But now revealed in the new testament. We understand the gap. And that's why we will be. Translated out of here. Before. The 70th week. The 70 years of tribulation. Upon this earth.

And so. That brings great consolation to us. For a couple of reasons. One. When God makes a statement about prophecy. It's literal. It will be fulfilled exactly as he said. In Daniel 9.24. Listen carefully. Is the most precise prophecy. In the bible. They're all precise. But nothing falls together. Quite like Daniel 9.24 to 27. To show you exactly. What's going to happen with the nation of Israel. When. Their messiah is killed. And the antichrist rises. And seeks to destroy Israel. But God will save them. Because that's his promise. The salvation. Of Israel.

Let me pray with you. Father God thank you Lord. For the opportunity we have to study your word. The promises that you give to us. Our prayer Lord. Is that we would become students of the scriptures. And come to understand the reality. Of your word. I pray father that we would. Understand that Lord you are so precise. In all that you say. That we should. Glop on to every word. Knowing that Lord it is truth. And we should follow you wholeheartedly. We love you. And praise you and thank you Jesus. For all that you have done. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.