|
Zechariah describes for us the history of the
nation of Israel subsequent to AD 70 as a history of refinement and testing
which will culminate with them "calling on my name" -
Zechariah 13:9,
And it will come about in all the
land, declares Yahweh,
that two thirds in it will be cut off and perish;
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 examine them as gold is examined.
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.
In view of this scenario Daniel provides us with some very
interesting details.
At Daniel 11:21-32, we have the prophesied history of Antiochus and the
Maccabean revival which took place between 171-165 BC.
That revival is indicated by verse 32b, "but the people who know their God will
display strength and take action."
And then verse 11:33a, indicates a leap
beyond the Maccabeans by introducing a NEW and different group of people.
"And those who have insight among the people, will give understanding to the
many."
The narrative jumps to a time of evangelistic outreach
just prior to the destruction and captivity of Jerusalem in AD 70. This can be
affirmed because of the ease of progress from "those who have insight" to the
fall of "the many."
Daniel 11:33
"And the wise ones among the people -
-
(Messiah believers -the church- between AD 30-70)
will give understanding to the many (Israel);"
This is fulfilled by the ministry of the church which is
summarized at Acts 1:8. "Giving understanding," is the proclamation
of the gospel which results in a large group of Jewish converts during the
years between 30 and 70 AD.
Continuing at Daniel 11:33, we see a smooth
progression and a clear reference
to the fall of the nation in 70 AD.
"and they (Israel) will fall by sword
and by flame,
by captivity and by plunder, for days."
(Just as Jesus taught at Luke 21:24 - -
"And Jerusalem shall be trampled under
foot by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled").
An important point for proper interpretation here, is to
determine whether the "destruction" language at verse 33 can properly
refer to the condition of Israel during and/or after the Maccabean revival,
or must look to a more complete destruction by the Romans in 70 AD.
There is nothing in 1 or 2 Maccabees that indicates anything even close to
sword, flame, captivity and plunder that happened in the years of 171 to 164 BC.
Also, there is no flame, captivity and plunder done by the beast during the
great tribulation.
He CONTROLS Jerusalem; he does not plunder it.
But in 70 AD, there is exactly sword, flame, CAPTIVITY and plunder - FOR MANY
DAYS.
Luke 21:24, "and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive
into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles
UNTIL the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled."
Hosea 5:14, "I even I will tear to pieces and
go away.
I will carry away and there will be none to deliver.
I will go away and return to My place."
This then, is a MAJOR time factor and break in the flow of the narrative.
Since the language at verse 33 refers to
70 AD, then verses 34-35 must refer to events after 70 AD and which culminate
in the purification of Israel at the time of the end, that is, during the
great tribulation and just prior to the Day of the LORD.
So according to a very common practice in the OT prophets,
the writer jumps the centuries of history after 70 AD and picks up at "the end time,"
after an unknown amount of time between 70 AD and the beginning of the 70th
week.
-----
Recap and amplification:
At the end of verse 32, in response to the activity of the desecrator, the
Maccabean revolt is described.
"but the people who know their God will display strength and take action."
At verse 33, a different group of people is mentioned.
"and those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the
many.
The group at the end of verse 32 accomplishes a MILITARY action.
The group at verse 33a accomplishes a spiritual ministry of giving
"understanding to the many."
This refers to the activity of the disciples/apostles BEFORE 70 AD.
After this strong success of proclaiming God's truth, there is a time stamp that
must be observed.
"Yet, they will fall by sword, and by flame, and by captivity and by plunder for
many days."
The only place this can find fulfillment is in 70 AD when the people were killed
by sword; the city was burned by flame; the survivors were captured and
scattered throughout the Roman empire; and the nation of Israel was plundered by
the Romans.
Dan. 11:34-35 then refers to events AFTER 70 AD.
Events during the church age which will occur "until the end time." (v. 35).
Then the events after verse 35 refer to the rise and activity of the beast and
his final demise at Armageddon in verse 45.
The abomination of desolation at verse 31 is simply a common point of contact
between the desolation of the temple by Antiochus and what the beast will do.
However, in the LXX, the Greek construction at 11:31 is not the same as at Dan.
9:27 and 12:11.
The mention of the abomination by Jesus does not go back directly to Dan. 11:31,
but it goes back to the prophecy of Dan. 9:27, which then has a reference at
Dan. 12:11.
9:27 LXX, "and on the temple will be the abomination of desolations."
12:11, LXX "and the abomination of desolation is set up."
In the LXX, the AOD at 12:11 is different from the one mentioned at 11:31
because:
The translators of the LXX understood that the AOD by the forces of Antiochus
was different from a yet future AOD. They understood it to be a prototype of a
yet future AOD.
So they used different Greek words to indicate that difference.
The abomination that Antiochus did at Dn. 11:31, is bdelugma ephanismenon;
bdelugma is the word for abomination. The verb is aphanidzō which means to make
unrecognizable; thus, to ruin, destroy, disfigure.
The abomination that the beast will set up at the midpoint of the week is a
different construction.
It is used at both 9:27 & 12:11.
The LXX at Dn. 9:27 has bdelugma tōn eremōseōn. noun eremōsis; desolation.
At Dn. 12:11, the LXX has bdelugma eremōseos
The abomination of eremōsis. Same construction as at 9:27.
Now, granted the translators of the LXX are not inspired of God.
However, Jesus, who is the final arbiter, refers to it at Mt. 24:15, and uses
the Greek of the LXX which occurs at Dn. 9:27 and Dan. 12:11, and NOT 11:31.
Mt. 24:15 (Mark 13:14), bdelugma tās eremōseos
So, It is clear that Jesus had in mind the abomination that refers to the
midpoint of the week and not the prototype abomination done by Antiochus.
So, in Daniel, when the AOD is mentioned at 12:11, it refers to the previous one
with the same Greek construction, which is at 9:27 and not 11:31.
Furthermore, the time frame of Dan. 12 is from the midpoint forward as is
indicated by the 3 1/2 years - identical to the 2 halves of the 70th wk of
9:24-27.
Thus two primary reasons why the verses prior to Dan. 11:33 are not prophetic of
end times, but of Antiochus and the Maccabeans.
1. The TIME STAMP of 70 AD at Dan. 11:33.
2. The LXX and gospel use of the Greek.
--------
Daniel 11:34-35
"And when they (Israel) fall (world-wide
dispersion)
they will be given a little help,"
The Jews are dispersed (under the disciplinary
wrath of Luke 21:23) to this very day.
There has been no help given to them - and even the success of zionism does not
fulfill the idea of a national "hypocrisy." Israel remains "fallen" until the end of the
great tribulation when the period of time known as the Day of the LORD arrives.
It is during this time that she shall look on Him whom she pierced (Zechariah
12:10), acknowledge her national guilt (Hosea 5:15) and proclaim, Blessed
is He who comes in the name of the LORD (Matthew 23:39).
The 144k Jewish bond servants who are converted immediately after the return of
Jesus at the 6th seal of Rev. 6, as representatives of the nation of Israel,
indicate a "national" acceptance of Jesus as the Savior.
In her fallen condition, since the Roman dispersion,
the Jewish people have come under many and varied attacks without much reprieve. But there
will come a time when she shall be given a little help.
It seems there is no situation in history that could fulfill this idea of "a
little help" except the covenant that is made by the
world ruler of the ten-nation confederacy which will give Israel the religious
freedom she needs to build a temple (or at least, a functional sanctuary)
and reinstitute its sacrificial system.
This is the covenant of Daniel 9:27, "and he will establish a covenant with the
many for 7 years (one week)."
However, this acceptance of "a little help"
seems to be described as hypocrisy. "and many will join with them in hypocrisy."
For Israel to enter into such a covenant will
amount to serious compromise on her part and should be viewed as "hypocrisy"
since it undermines their devotion to God and their ancient heritage.
It is called "a little help" because the Middle
East Peace and Tolerance Accord (M.E.P.T.A.) of Dan. 9:27 is only a temporary covenant
that provides only a temporary peace and security, since it will be broken
just 3 1/2 years after its confirmation. The reason this can be identified
with the "peace" covenant mentioned at Daniel 9:27 is because
of the phrase, "and many will join with them in hypocrisy." In
order for their to be religious toleration in the Middle East, all parties
involved must compromise and share "the Holy Place" of Mount Moriah
where presently rests the Muslim temple, the Mosque of Omar, and where the
Jewish temple must reside. The compromise will consist of allowing the two
structures to exist side by side and worship to be expressed without interference
or censor.
But this joining of "many" (national Israel)
in the hypocrisy of the covenant with the beast is a great national apostasy
or falling away, for it is a covenant that compromises age old values and
traditions in order to have what they think to be God's will for them.
For them to recover from this national apostasy, they need to return to the old
values and traditions of looking for the Messianic promise. It will be the
ministry of the church and of the two witnesses that will "return the hearts of
the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers" (Mal.
4:6).
Once the covenant is broken and the man of lawlessness
is revealed, the severity of their compromise will be exposed. The beast
will take his stand in the sanctuary and institute "beast worship."
He will forbid the sacrifices permitted by M.E.P.T.A. and set himself up
as God (2 Thes. 2:4). This begins the GREAT TRIBULATION period (Mat. 24:15-21) and it is at this time
that those of the nation who are faithful to "orthodox Judaism"
will flee Jerusalem and be protected in the wilderness from the great oppression
by the beast that takes place at this time (Revelation 12:14-16). But there
will still be many Jews who will associate with the beast and perpetuate
the national apostasy further by acknowledging him as God.
Returning to Daniel 11:35,
"And some from among the wise ones
(the Messiah worshipers of the church)
will be overthrown, (martyrdom)
in order to refine, purge,
and make them pure,
(evangelistic outreach to Israel)
until the time period of the end; (Day of the LORD)
because {it is} still {to come} at the appointed time"
1. And some from among the wise ones
(the Messiah worshipers of the church).
Or, "those who have insight among the people."
This is the same group of people mentioned at verse 33 (those who have insight).
Not the same specific individuals but members of the same group - the church.
The church will still be on the earth teaching the world (unto the uttermost
parts of the earth, Acts 1:8) right up until Jesus actually returns, "You will
not finish with the cities of Judah until the Son of man comes." (Mat. 10:23).
This is exactly what Matthew 24:14 has in mind,
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall
be proclaimed in
the whole world
for a witness to all the nations,
and then the end shall come."
2. At the time of this false-covenant, the Jewish people need to be taught "in
order to refine, purge and make them pure (white)."
Refine: teaching that distinguishes between truth and error, focusing on the
true spiritual heritage of Abraham and Moses, and the Messianic promise.
Purge: teaching that separates the faithful ones to God's promises from the
unfaithful ones. The faithful ones will begin to "seek the Lord," and the
unfaithful ones will accept beast worship.
Make them white: purify them by giving the gospel so they can enter into a
salvation relationship with Jesus. Some of these will trust in Jesus BEFORE the
time of the end (Christ's return) and some of them will believe after (144k of
Rev. 7:1-8).
It is the testimony of the true Messiah worshipers (the
church), even in the midst of extreme persecution, (the 5th seal of Revelation
6:9-11) that will produce a conviction (refinement) that will move these people
to SEEK THE LORD.
Hosea 5:15, "I will go away and return to My place, until they acknowledge their
guilt
and seek My face. In their tribulation they will earnestly seek Me."
And those who heed the message of the church
and the two witnesses will recognize that Jesus is the promised Messiah and will
begin to seek His face.
And it is to THESE who are seeking the Lord according to the age old traditions
of Abraham and Moses and the prophets, that "the Lord whom you seek will
suddenly come to His temple." Mal. 3:1.
So it will be that when Jesus arrives in the
clouds of the sky, there will be a large group of Jews who have been seeking the
Lord, and will trust in Jesus as the Savior (make them white).
(Revelation 7:1-8)
At the midpoint of the 70th week, there will
also be an evangelistic outreach by the two witnesses of
Rev. 11:3-13. Elijah as one of these witnesses
will have the ministry of restoring "the hearts of the fathers to the children
and the hearts of the children to the fathers." Mal. 4:6.
This will bring many of the Jews to the point of recognizing Jesus as their
promised Messiah and prepare them to accept Him as SAVIOR when He arrives in the
clouds of the sky.
Recognizing Him as the Messiah does not "save" them, but it restores them to
hope and devotion to the Messianic promise given to their "fathers."
They will thus be prepared to accept Jesus as SAVIOR immediately upon His
arrival in the clouds of the sky in power and great glory. The first ones to
believe will be the 144k Jews of Rev. 7:1-8.
Details at Malachi 3:1-6.
3. Until the time period of the end (āth qāts): This is at the arrival of Jesus and the rapture of the church.
That is, the church will minister right up until the time they are removed at
the second coming of Jesus. That moment in time will be the starting point for
the period described in the New Testament as "the end of the age."
It is possible that these "wise ones" of the
church are seen at Dan. 12:3 as ones who "shine brightly" during the time of
distress of Dan. 12:1.
After the church is removed and the time period
"end of the age" begins, the purification ministry
will continue through the two witnesses (until the end of the week) and through
the evangelistic ministry of the newly converted 144k
Jewish bond servants.
It is possible that these are seen at Dan. 12:3b as the ones who lead the many
to righteousness, and who will shine brightly forever and ever after their
resurrection.
It is possible that these are the ones mentioned by Jesus as "then the righteous
ones will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Mat. 13:43.
The "purification" process will culminate after Armageddon with "all
Israel being saved (Romans 11:25-27)" and entering into Messiah's kingdom to
reign with Him.
All unbelieving Gentiles will be removed from the earth. Mat. 25:31-46.
All unbelieving Jews will be removed from the earth. Ezek. 34:17-22.
So that then only believers will remain alive t go into Christ's earthly
kingdom.
| 
