COPYRIGHT WARNNG

The Prophecies of the Messiah: Prophecy 312

The Messiah will return to earth a second time—during the final Gentile kingdom of the antichrist, during a revived Roman Empire. The antichrist will commit “The Abomination of Desolation” in the Temple.

Old Testament Prediction:

Daniel 9:26c And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood,

New Testament Fulfillment:

Matthew 24:15-16 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Application:

In following Daniel’s prophecy, verse 25 speaks of the “seventy weeks” that are determined for the nation of Israel. Prophecy 309 describes in great detail how the first 49 years of this prophecy will be fulfilled in the rebuilding of the temple. The second 434 years will be fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah to Jerusalem.

Prophecy 310 and Prophecy 311 describes the Messiah as “cut off” or killed, but not due to any sin that He has committed. He will die for the sins of the world in order to make their redemption possible.

Continuing with verse 26 of Daniel 9, this 312th prophecy reveals that “the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…”

The government that was in power during the time of the Messiah’s first appearance on earth will destroy the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. This occurred exactly as Jesus predicted in 70 A.D., when the Roman army under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.

Luke 19:43-44 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.

Matthew 24:34 “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”

In Luke 19:29-21:24, Jesus is speaking directly to His disciples immediately after Palm Sunday, the 10th day of Nissan, 32 A.D. Jesus is describing the judgment that will come upon Israel for her rejection of Him as the Messiah. The fulfillment of this prophecy occurred within one 40-year generation, in 70 A.D., as Titus brought his army against Jerusalem, sacked the city, and destroyed the Temple—burning it to the ground. Literally, not one stone was left upon another, just as Jesus had predicted.

Matthew Chapter 24 is essentially the same account that Luke 19 records. As Jesus is seen at the Temple, He tells His disciples that not one stone (of the temple) shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Matthew 24:1-2 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

During the taking of Jerusalem, the Jews will be scattered over the face of the earth.

Luke 21:24 And they (those in Jerusalem and Judea, vs 20-21) will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Jewish historian, Josephus, describes the destruction of Jerusalem and the murder of 1.1 million Jews, as well as the 97,000 Jews who were taken as captives of war. Thousands of other citizens of Jerusalem were sold as slaves, with many more being dispersed throughout the world. This entire event is recorded by Josephus in the “Book of Wars,” Book 5, Chapter 22, Sections 1-3.*[1]

Authors note: The recording of events from 70 A.D., by a non-biblical source, those of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, is a substantial source of validation for the New Testament accounts concerning the predictions of Jesus.

The remaining part of Daniel Chapter 9:27 describes a future event that will take place during the final 70th “week” described by Daniel.

Daniel 9:27 Then he (the antichrist) shall confirm a covenant with many (nations) for one week (seven years); But in the middle of the week (3 1/2 years) He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (at the newly built Temple in Jerusalem). And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.

Jesus said that this world ruler will commit the “Abomination of Desolation” in the newly built temple at Jerusalem. The meaning here is straightforward in Daniel’s prophecy. This future ruler will come to power for a short seven-year period. The nations that formerly made up the Roman empire that was in existence at the time Jesus arrived, are the same nations that will be instrumental in bringing the antichrist to power in the last days.

The nations that were once a part of the former Roman empire are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Palestinian Territories, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine. (53 Nations)

There is a revival today of this former Roman empire in the form of the “European Union.” Many of the nations that were once a part of the old Roman empire at the time of Jesus’ first arrival on earth, have once again formed as a new union of states in Europe.

The current members of the European Union that were once a part of the former Roman Empire are shown above in Bold Type.

The six original founding members of the European Union are indicated as underlined: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.

The additional members of the current European Union that were not a part of the original Roman Empire are: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

Croatia became the newest addition to the European Union, as the 28th member, on July 1, 2013.

Out of the current 28 member states of the European Union, only 10 are listed as those with the largest populations, and therefore have the greatest power in the Union.[2] Three of the ten listed below are duplicate cities, indicated by lighter grey, leaving seven main countries with the greatest populations and power. This is of particular interest to us because Daniel said that the antichrist will rule from just seven nations as he takes power during the seven-year Tribulation.

[3]

The prophet Daniel predicted a fourth beast (Chapter 7) or a fourth kingdom after Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and Alexander, that had iron teeth, representing a return of the Roman Empire that will rule during the last days. This fourth kingdom will have ten horns. The horn is illustrated in the Bible as strength or power.[4]

Daniel 7:7-8 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

From within these ten horns, a “little horn” will emerge, who will be known as the “antichrist.”

Three of these ten horns will be “plucked out,” leaving seven that remain as a source of power for the antichrist to rule from. This will occur during the seven year Tribulation, before Jesus returns to the earth with His church. This little horn is described as—having the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

It is quite possible that this list of seven nations described above—the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Portugal—will be the “seven horns” that remain after three are “plucked out.” It will be from one of these nations that the antichrist—the beast—will emerge onto the world scene as the reputed “savior of the world.”

This man will unite the world under one government, one monetary system, one military, and one religion. Daniel describes the beast speaking pompous words. He will boast of his power and command the world to worship him at the midway point of the seven-year Tribulation.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 … the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

As Daniel observes the antichrist’s rise to power during this fourth kingdom on earth, he also sees the Ancient of Days—the Father seated on the throne of God, and Jesus the Son of God, the Son of Man (kebar enas),[5] the Messiah—coming from heaven with thousands, times ten thousand, standing before Him. These are the members of Jesus’ church who have been Raptured out of the earth before the seven-year Tribulation began. Jesus returns from heaven with His church to set up His kingdom—consisting of the nations that survived the seven-year Tribulation. These nations will be permitted to enter the Messiah’s one thousand-year reign on the earth. Daniel sees thrones put in place, symbolizing the members of Jesus church who will be installed by Him as rulers—during the kingdom that He will establish as the Messiah.

Daniel 7:26 But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion (antichrist), To consume and destroy it forever.

Daniel 7:9-10 I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; 10 A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.

The antichrist is described as speaking boastfully before the earth, as Jesus returns to kill him and cast him into the lake of fire—along with the false prophet. This physical death of the body of the beast, is similar to the physical death of Lucifer’s body when God “destroyed” him at his fall.[6]

Daniel 7:11 I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

Revelation 19:20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Jesus is depicted as coming with the clouds of heaven. The mass of believers descending from heaven, arriving on the earth, appeared to John as being like a great cloud approaching from a distance.

Daniel 7:12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

The Son of Man, is a term used by Daniel for the Messiah who, comes with the clouds, a term used to describe His redeemed church. They are returning to earth with great power and dominion to begin the one thousand year kingdom promised to David. The Son of Man is coming to earth to destroy the kingdom of the beast.

Daniel defines the ten horns that he saw as “ten kings” who arise from this fourth kingdom of the last days, who will give power to the little horn, the beast.

Daniel 7:20 and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.

Daniel 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.

This is the subject of this 312th prophecy that Jesus fulfilled, described by Daniel 9:26-27.

At Jesus’ first coming, He fulfilled more than 400 Old Testament prophecies, perfectly. Scholar Alfred Edersheim, who is also a Jewish believer in Jesus as the Messiah, described his list of prophecies that Jesus literally fulfilled, at 456.[7]

• 75 from the Pentateuch. (first 5 books of the Bible)
• 243 from the prophets
• 138 from the Hagiorgrapha*[8]

Dr. Edersheim stated that these 456 prophecies are supported by more than 558 separate quotations from the writings of the Jewish rabbis.

Let us take just eight of these Old Testament prophesies that Jesus literally fulfilled. To make certain that there is no possibility that Jesus manipulated the circumstances so that He could fid Himself into these prophecies, we will use predictions that He had absolutely no control over.

• Place of birth (Micah 5:2) Prophecy 321
• Time of birth (Daniel 9:25) Prophecy 309
• Manner of birth (Isaiah 7:14) Prophecy 164
• Betrayal by a close friend (Psalms 55:12-14) Prophecy 110
• The manner of His death (Psalm 22:16) Prophecy 80
• The piercing of His side (Zechariah 12:10) Prophecy 354
• The manner of His Burial (Isaiah 53:9) Prophecy 255

Dr. Peter Stoner, in his book “Science Speaks,” determined the probability of one person fulfilling just eight of the prophecies from the Old Testament—as 1 in 10 to the 17th power.[9]

This number is so immense that it is difficult for most of us to get our mind around a 10 with 17 zeros behind it. Dr. Stoner uses the following illustration to help us understand just how large this computation is: If we took 10 to the 17th silver dollars (100,000,000,000,000,000) and laid them over the State of Texas, they would cover the state two feet deep.[10]

We mark one of the silver dollars, put it into the pile, and then stir the whole mass thoroughly. Next, blindfold a person and tell him that he can travel as far as he desires but he must pick up one silver dollar when he believes he has found the marked coin.[11]

What chance would anyone have of picking up the marked coin on the first attempt? 10 to the 17th power. This is the exact same odds that any person would have of fulfilling eight of the Messianic prophecies—by chance.

Peter Stoner then goes on to consider the possibility of any one person fulfilling 48 of the Old Testament prophecies by chance. Here, the odds jump to 1 in 10 to the 157th power. This number is inconceivable:[12]

1 chance in: 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,00,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000

This is just 48 of the 365 prophecies which Jesus fulfilled as the Messiah—documented by this book.[13]

Dr. Alfred Edersheim estimates that there may be close to 500 prophecies of the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled.

If we maintain that despite these astronomical odds that Jesus fulfilled these eight prophecies on purpose, we would have to explain how someone could “arrange” to be born in a specific family? How does one arrange to be born in a specified city in which his parents don’t actually live? How does one arrange his own death—and specifically by crucifixion with two others—and then how would you arrange to have your executioners gamble for your clothing (John 16:19; Psalms 22:18)? How does one arrange to be betrayed by a close friend? How does one “arrange” to have the executioners carry out the regular practice of breaking the legs of the two victims on either side, but not his own? Finally, how does one escape from the grave and appear to people after having been killed?[14]

This little exercise in logic gives us a simplistic idea of how immense the task would be for any one person in the history of the world to fulfill all 365 of these specific and detailed prophecies. Jesus accomplished every one, without a single error.

It is by the fulfillment of these hundreds of predictions as the Messiah, by Jesus Christ, that we are certain that He is the object of their prophecies.

The preceding is from the Book: “The Prophecies of the Messiah,” by Robert Clifton Robinson

NOTES:
[1] Josephus, the “Book of Wars”, Book 5, chapter 22, sections 1-3
[2] Total population as of 1 January”. Eurostat. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
[3] Chart by Rob Robinson
[4] 2 Samuel 22:3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation…
[5] “kebar,” Strong’s Hebrew number: 1247, and “Enas,” Strong’s number: 606. The reference by Daniel to the coming Messiah who is the object of His prophecies in chapter 7, and 9.
[6] Ezekiel 28:16 …Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub… By the word “destroyed,” we are to understand that satan today exists as a disembodied spirit, even as the beast will also exist in this form. Both will be cast into the Lake of Fire and exist there as disembodied spirits forever.
[7] The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (2 vols.,1883; condensation in one volume, 1890)
[8] Ketuvim or Kəṯûḇîm is the third and final section of the Tanakh, after Torah and Nevi’im. In English translations of the Hebrew Bible, this section is usually entitled “Writings” or “Hagiographa”, from wikipedia.
[9] Peter Stoner in Science Speaks (Chicago: Moody Press, 1963)
[10] Ibid, from Peter Stoner, Science Speaks.
[11] Ibid, from Peter Stoner, Science Speaks
[12] Ibid, Peter Stoner
[13] Bennett, C.L.; Larson, L.; Weiland, J.L.; Jarosk, N.; Hinshaw, N.; Odegard, N.; Smith, K.M.; Hill, R.S. et al. (December 20, 2012). Nine-Year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) Observations: Final Maps and Results. arXiv:1212.5225. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
[14] A paraphrase from a similar account by Dr. Chuck Missler.