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IS JESUS COMING??
Daniel 9:24-27
Matthew 24:29-39
I. The Great Return.
March 11, 1942, was a dark and desperate
day at Corregidor, an
island
fortress in the Philippines.
American had been at war with Japan
for four months and it was not
going
well.
One island after another in the
Pacific was falling to the Japanese
onslaught.
The enemy was now marching into the
Philippines as confident and
methodical
as the star band in the Rose Bowl parade.
Every American soldier knew that
surrender was inevitable.
The Army commander, Douglas MacArthur,
had only three words for his
comrades as he stepped into the
escape boat destined for
Australia.
"I SHALL RETURN."
Upon arriving 9 days later in the port
of Adelaide, the 62-year-old
military statesman closed his
remarks with this sentence:
I CAME THROUGH AND I SHALL RETURN.
A little over 2 « years later--
October, 1944, to be exact-- he stood
once again
on Philippine soil after landing safely at Leyte Island.
This is what he said:
"This is the voice of freedom,
General MacArthur speaking.
People of the Philippines: I HAVE
RETURNED!"
MacArthur is not the only one in
history who has made promises.
When Jesus walked on this earth he
predicted his own death, then
added,
"I will come again."
It has taken him longer than 2« years.
Quite a bit longer!
But if he is who he claimed to be, it
must be true.
He is coming back.
But when?
A. Those who reject the Bible as
authoritative have an easy answer:
Never.
1) Such a belief is simplistic
and embarrassing to liberals.
2) They "spiritualize"
it, or even say Jesus was mistaken.
B. Bible believers are more positive.
1) Second Coming is emphasized in
the Bible
a) One of key doctrines.
b) Very important to Jesus.
2) Evangelicals: only God can straighten world out.
3) Some are exact
II. The first coming of Jesus was exactly
predicted.
A. Seventy weeks of Daniel 9:24f.
1) Prophet was dejected,
questioned God's plan for Israel.
a) God gives him a timetable
for world history.
2) Literally, seventy sevens, or
490 years, in three sections.
B. Six achievements this period will
bring about. Daniel 9:24
1) Finish transgression.
a) Conclusion of man's
rebellion against God's authority.
b) Requires God's Kingdom on earth,
accomplished in the
Millennium.
2) Put an end to sins.
a) More general than
transgression, involves missing
the
mark.
b) Suggests a new society
where righteousness prevails.
3) Atone for wickedness.
a) Points to the crucifixion.
4) Bring in everlasting
righteousness.
a) Universal righteousness,
not just periods of good
government.
5) Fulfillment of vision and
prophecy.
a) Jesus fulfilled many
prophecies in the Old Testament.
b) But this would go beyond
Jesus' earthly ministry to his
rule
over the whole earth.
6) Anointing of Most Holy.
a) Not a reference of
anointing of Jesus, since term
is
not used of people.
b) Most likely refers to
consecration of temple, perhaps
the
millennial temple in Ezekiel 40-44.
7) Most of these goals are as yet
unfulfilled, so seventieth
week
must refer to last seven years before Jesus returns.
III. God's first
timetable.
A. Broken into two periods.
1) Rebuilding of Jerusalem.
2) Cutting off of Messiah. (either death or abandonment)
B. Command to rebuild Jerusalem.
1) First decree of Cyrus the
Great. 538 BC
2
Chronicles 36:23; Ezr 1:2-4
a) Rebuilding of temple only
in view.
b) Since temple requires
worshippers, a rebuilt city
may
be implied, but maybe not.
c) Does not seem to fulfill
requirements of Dan 9:25f.
2) Commission granted to Nehemiah by Artaxerxes I in 446 B.C.
a) Main goal is rebuilding of
Jerusalem. Neh
2:5-8
b) But requires 360 day years
to work out.
1> Jews did not use
this type of calendar.
c) 483 solar years come out to
A.D. 38 or 39.
3) Decree issued to Ezra in
seventh year of Artaxerxes I in
457 BC. Ezra
7:12-26
a) Chief emphasis is
strengthening the temple and
enforcing
the Jewish Law.
b) Yet in Ezra's prayer, he
refers to rebuilding of
temple
and WALL of protection. Ezra 9:9
c) Resulting dates:
1> 457 to 408, Jerusalem
rebuilt. (7x7, 49 yrs)
2> 408 to A.D. 27,
Messiah comes. (62x7, 434 yrs)
A> Most likely the
year Jesus was baptized, or
anointed.
d) "Afterwards"
Messiah is cut off. (=killed)
1> "Anointed
One" is a code word for the Messiah.
A> In Greek, the
word is "Christ."
2> According to Gospel
of John, Jesus had a public
ministry
that lasted 3 years.
3> Jesus was crucified
on 14 Abib (Nisan) A.D. 30.
e) Other events following the
Messiah.
1> The city of the
Messiah is destroyed.
A> Jerusalem was
destroyed in AD 70, as Jesus
himself predicted.
B> Jesus is the
only Jew to be seriously viewed as
the Messiah
between Daniel and the destruction
of Jerusalem.
2> There will be wars and
desolation.
A> Characterizes
last 2,000 years.
C. Daniel predicted Jesus' time, his
mission and his death 587 years
before
the events.
IV. Can the date of the Second Coming be
predicted exactly?
A. Many schemes have been devised.
1) Week of Millenniums in world's
history.
a) "One day is as a
thousand years."
b) Popular designation for
Creation is 4004 BC.
c) AD 2000 would bring us to
dawn of final Millennium,
God's reign on earth.
d) However, a 4004 BC
Creation does not fit the Biblical
data,
which requires an ancient earth.
2) Counting one generation after
fig tree (Israel).
a) 1948 to
???
3) Anything that fits.
a) I find many theories are
contrived, some are bizarre.
B. Jesus says no one knows day or
hour. Matt 24:36
1) Several pastors are coming up
with month and week, however.
a) Edgar Wisenant,
88 reasons why he would come in 1988.
1> Then 89 reasons he
would come in 89...
b) A group of Korean
Christians predicted Oct 1992.
2) History has been a severe
judge of predictors.
C. Nearness, but not exactness. Matt 24:33
1) Main signs. "When you see all these
things...."
a) Apostasy in church. Matt 24:10-12
b) Antichrist. Matt 24:15,24; 2 Thess 2
c) Great Tribulation. Matt 24:21
2) Daniel's final climactic
week. Dan 9:27
a) The "week" is a
seven year treaty with, literally,
"the many."
1> Probably a
designation for Israel.
2> Note that
sacrifices are halted halfway through.
b) "He" is probably
related to the ruler to come, the
Antichrist.
1> Jesus says as much
in Matthew 24.
2> He also says this
person is still in the future.
24:15
c) Many believe this final
seven years is the period Jesus
called
the Great Tribulation.
Matt 24:21
d) By the time these signs
appear, it may be TOO LATE.
The May 1984
National Geographic showed color photos and drawings
of the swift and terrible
destruction that wiped out the Roman
cities
of Pompeii and Herculaneum in A.D. 79.
The explosion of Mount Vesuvius
was so sudden, the residents were
killed while in their routines:
men and women were at the
market,
the rich in their luxurious baths, slaves at toil.
They died amid volcanic ash and super heated gases.
Even family pets suffered the
same quick and final fate.
It takes little imagination to
picture the panic of that terrible
day.
The saddest part is that these
people did not have to die.
Scientists confirm what ancient
Roman writers record - weeks of
rumblings
and shakings preceded the actual explosion.
Even an ominous plume of smoke was
clearly visible from the
mountain
days before the eruption.
If only they had been able to read
and respond to Vesuvius's
warning!
There are similar
"rumblings" in our world:
warfare, earthquakes,
nuclear threat, economic woes,
breakdown of the family and
moral
standards.
While not exactly new, these
things do point to a coming Day of
Judgment.
People who are caught unprepared
have no excuse.
God warns and provides an escape
to those who will heed the
rumblings.
V. Are you ready?
A. For those unprepared, he will come
like a thief. Matt 24:43
1) "Days of Noah"
doesn't refer to debauchery, but obliviousness.
a) They gave no thought to
eternity. Matt 24:37
2) Committed Christians will not
be unaware. 1 Thess 5:4
a) Moral dimension -
"servants" must be obedient.
During his 1960 presidential
campaign, John F. Kennedy often
closed his speeches with
the story of Colonel Davenport,
the
Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives.
One day in 1789, the sky of
Hartford darkened ominously, and
some of the
representatives, glancing out the windows,
feared
the end of the world was at hand.
When many of them called for
an immediate adjournment,
Davenport rose and said,
"The Day of Judgment is
either approaching or it is not.
If it is not, there is no
cause for adjournment.
If it is, I choose to be found
doing my duty.
Therefore, I wish that
candles be brought in."
Rather than fearing what is
to come, we are to be faithful
till
Christ returns.
Instead of fearing the dark,
we're to be lights as we watch
and
wait.
B. If Jesus came today,
would he claim you as one of his own?
1) (Gospel laid
out....)
2) When the signs finally come
together, it may be too late.
I. Daniel 9's seventy weeks.
A. From rebuilding of Jerusalem walls
to Messiah.
1) In 539 BC, Cyrus begins reign
over Babylon and commands Jews
to
rebuild temple.
2) In 445 BC, Nehemiah is given
permission to rebuild.
a) Daniel says walls to be
rebuilt.
b) Artaxerxes
gave permission to rebuild walls, but did not
command
it.
c) Computation which converts
365 1/4 day years into 360
day years is invalid,
even though it comes out to
AD 32.
3) In 458 BC, Ezra re-establishes
law in Israel. *******
a) "Seven sevens"
refers to a Jubilee period.
b) Jubilee year was 457.
c) Using this as starting
point, brings Messiah at AD 29.
d) The Messiah is cut off in
AD 33.
1> He is born in prior
Jubilee year, 7 BC.
B. Many significant Biblical events
are separated by 1000 years.
Archer, Expositor's.
I. The seventy weeks.
A. Literally, seventy sevens, or 490
years, in three sections.
B. Six achievements.
1) Finish transgression.
a) Conclusion of man's
rebellion against God's authority.
b) Requires God's Kingdom on
earth, accomplished in the
Millennium.
2) Put an end to sins.
a) More general than
transgression, involves missing
the mark.
b) Suggests a new society
where righteousness prevails.
3) Atone for wickedness.
a) Points to the crucifixion.
b) "Last days"
began at Pentecost.
4) Bring in everlasting
righteousness.
a) Universal righteousness,
not just periods of good
government.
5) Fulfillment of vision and
prophecy.
a) Goes beyond Jesus' earthly
ministry to his rule over
whole
earth.
6) Anointing of Most Holy.
a) Not a reference of
anointing of Jesus, since term
is
not used of people.
b) Most likely refers to
consecration of temple, perhaps
the millennial
temple in Ezekiel 40-44.
C. Most of these goals are as yet
unfulfilled, so seventieth
week
must refer to last seven years before Jesus returns.
II. The command to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem.
A. Broken into two periods.
1) Rebuilding of Jerusalem.
2) Cutting off of Messiah.
a) "Have nothing"
may mean "no one," referring to the
abandonment
by Jesus' disciples.
b) It could also mean he died
without material wealth.
B. Command to rebuild Jerusalem.
1) First decree of Cyrus the
Great. 538 BC 2 Chr 36:23; Ezr 1:2-4
a) Rebuilding of temple only
in view.
b) Since temple requires
worshippers, a rebuilt city
may
be implied, but maybe not.
c) Does not seem to fulfill
requirements of Dan 9:25f.
2) Decree issued to Ezra in
seventh year of Artaxerxes I
in
457 B.C.
Ezra 7:12-26
a) Chief emphasis is
strengthening the temple and
enforcing
the Jewish Law.
b) Yet in Ezra's prayer he
refers to rebuilding of
temple
and wall of protection. Ezra 9:9
1> He did not succeed and a 13 year
delay ensued.
c) Resulting dating:
1> 457 to 408,
Jerusalem rebuilt.
2> 408 to A.D. 27,
Messiah comes.
3>
"Afterwards" he is cut off.
A> Jesus crucified on 14 Abib (Nisan) A.D. 30, after
a public ministry of 3 years (gospel of John).
3) Commission granted to Nehemiah
by Artaxerxes I in 446 B.C.
a) Main goal is rebuilding of
Jerusalem. Neh
2:5-8
b) 483 solar years come out
to A.D. 38 or 39.
1> Robert Anderson
used "prophetic years" of 360 days.
2> No proof Jews (or
anyone else) used such years.
A> Rev 12:6,14 speaks of 1,260 days as 3« years.
B> Probably meant
as approximate figuring.
c) Even with 360 day years,
end result is A.D. 32 or 33.
1> Not generally
accepted date of crucifixion.
III. Prophesied destruction.
A. City destroyed in AD 70 by Titus,
40 years after crucifixion.
B. Following age is to be
characterized by war and bloodshed.
1) Note that it is referred to
before mention of the 70th week.
2) An interruption is implied.
C. Covenant confirmed for seven
years.
1) Who is in view?
a) Grammar would suggest
antecedent, the Roman ruler.
b) The "many" would
be Jewish believers in Christ.
1> Sacrifices would
then be memorials, like the Lord's
Supper.
2) Broken halfway through.
a) Perhaps like Nazi tyranny.
D. Abomination of desolation.
1) Jesus quoted it, and regarded
it as still future.
2) Most likely a work (or person)
of the Antichrist.
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