Joel Richardson

The Antichrist’s false peace treaty

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Most premillennialists hold that the beginning of the final seven years before the return of Jesus will be marked by some form of deceptively made “peace treaty” or covenant between the Antichrist and the leadership of Israel. Opponents of this view argue that this belief is only found in Daniel 9:27 and no where else. This claim, as we will see, is simply false.

The notion of Israel entering into a deceptive covenant with the Antichrist is inferred in several other passages, but is directly referred to by Isaiah. A bit of background is necessary. In the 8th century BC the Hebrew people were divided between (1) the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often referred to as as Samaria, or Ephraim, and (2) the Southern Kingdom of Judah, whose capital was Jerusalem. In Isaiah 28, the chapter is broken up into two sections. The first section (vv. 1-13) is a rebuke directed toward “Ephraim” or the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The second section (vv. 14-29) is a rebuke and a prophetic warning directed against the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The looming threat of the day for both Kingdoms was the ever expanding Assyrian Empire to the east. To protect themselves from Assyria, Ephraim had entered into agreements with Aram-Damascus as well as Assyria itself, while Judah had entered into a security-alliance with Egypt. So this is where we pick up Isaiah’s prophetic warning and rebuke. Here, Isaiah is warning Judah that though they boast that they have achieved peace and security, their security covenant will be broken and the invasion which they sought to avoid will overwhelm them. While this is all well known information concerning the history of Jewish people, for those who recognize the Day-of-the-Lord emphasis of the Bible, the eschatological implications must not be ignored.

Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, for we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.’ … Your covenant with death will be canceled, and your pact with Sheol will not stand; When the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you become its trampling place.(Isaiah 28:14-16, 18)

It is important to highlight several realities established by the text. The “covenant of death,” or the “pact with Sheol” is (1) made by the rulers of Judah, (2) made with “death”, (3) instead of trusting in Messiah, the “tested stone” they rely on the covenant, (4) they enter into the covenant specifically for the purpose of avoiding “the overwhelming (flooding) scourge”, yet (5) the covenant “will be cancelled” or broken. And so, (6) instead of providing Judah with deliverance from the flooding scourge, they will be “trampled” by it.

This passage in Isaiah literally contains every element of the view that Israel will the Antichrist will enter into a “covenant” or security alliance with the Antichrist (death). The result will be a broken covenant and the overwhelming military “flood” of the Antichrist will sweep into the land. The specific element of the covenant being seven years of course is not found in this passage, but is seen in Daniel 9 and in Jesus’ exposition of that passage in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24).

Elsewhere, Isaiah prophesies that in the Messianic Kingdom, after having been scourged and trampled, Israel will repent of their misplaced trust. No longer will they trust or rely on the Antichrist (which this passage in Isaiah refers to as “the Assyrian”) for their security. Instead “in that day” they will rely solely on the Lord:

Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 10:20)

This passage is crucial. Any imagined scenario of the future that is informed by Scripture must include the reality that Israel will come to “rely on the one who struck them.”

It is also important to note that the motif of the flooding scourge of Isaiah 28 is alluded to in Revelation 12, where the military rage of Satan and the Antichrist is specifically referred to as “The Flood”:

And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. (Revelation 12:15)

Remember that everything in the Book of Revelation is build on allusions to images, symbols, and prophecies found throughout the Old Testament. We must ask ourselves then, where does this passage in Revelation find the motif of “The Flood”? Not surprisingly then, the allusion to the rage of the Antichrist as “the flood” is found specifically in Daniel 9:26, where the angel Gabriel also directly alludes to the scourging flood when he describes the destruction of Jerusalem by the Antichrist who is here called, “the prince to come”:

“[T]he people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.” (Daniel 9:26b-c)

Clearly, the reference to the attack of the Antichrist in Revelation 12 as “The Flood” finds its basis in both Isaiah 28 and Daniel 9:27.

Next, though many interpret Daniel 11:21-35 as speaking exclusively of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, many others such as myself, understand Antiochus to be merely a shadow, with Antichrist as the ultimate subject of this passage. There Daniel specifically mentions two key elements: (1) An alliance, (2) made in conjunction with deception. The Scriptures show that this is the repeated method employed by the Antichrist:

“After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small force of people. (Daniel 11:23)

Elsewhere, both Daniel and Ezekiel also speak of the Antichrist’s purposeful deception in conjunction with invading those who have been lulled into a false sense of security:

“And through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; and he will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many while they are at ease (or feel secure). (Daniel 8:25)

When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time. (Daniel 11:24

You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. (Ezekiel 38:11)

Notice that When Israel is invaded, she is described as not only experiencing a false sense of security, but she is also unsuspecting. Can it be said of Israel today that they are not “suspect” concerning the motives of the surrounding nations? Something would seem by necessity to take place whereby Israel will be lulled into a false state of security and unsuspectingness. When we see that the Antichrist will use deceit for the purpose of prospering, then we have a very strong suggestion that we are dealing with some form of deceptive peace agreement or security alliance as has been foreshadowed through Israel’s history in the prophecies of Isaiah.

In conclusion, the idea that the Antichrist will confirm or forcefully make a covenant with Israel does not depend on Daniel 9:27, but is in fact well established in other portions of Scripture.

Note:

After posting this article, the blogger MidnightWatcher, whom I had banned a few days earlier from any future involvement on this site, posted a fairly extended critique of my position on his own site. My reason for banning MW was because I felt he was using this blog to promote his own personal agenda. This included pasting several of his own rather extended articles in the comments section despite being aware that I very strongly disagreed with his views. Although this is no doubt, entirely acceptable in some forums, it is not something that I allow on this site for several reasons. After reading his critique however, I in turn wrote a response, to which this blogger then responded again, and so forth. Further examination of MidnightWatcher’s rather extensive “responses” prove to use significant portions of plagiarized material simply cut-and-pasted from other sources on the internet. These segments are not “cited” as if they are someone else’s work, but passed off as his own words. After prayerful consideration, I’ve decided to remove my response entirely. After banning this individual from my site specifically because of what I felt was a spirit of contention, self-promotion, and dishonesty, I absolutely should not have responded at all. And so I confess my own immaturity and genuinely repent for not modeling a more Christ-like behavior in this matter.

Thanks for your understanding,
Joel

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46 Responses

  1. In Hebrew is the terms covenant and peace treaty synonymous?
    Who is it now who is guaranteeing Israel’s security? Are there any nations who have guaranteed Israel’s security? Are not these things in place?
    Can parts of these verses already be accomplished? The sanctuary was destroyed in 70 AD correct? Isn’t the third Temple built by Messiah, (according to Zechariah and Ezekiel)?
    Doesn’t Paul speak of the body of believers as the temple of the Holy Spirit? Could not the Anti Christ declare himself God in the flesh, Jesus said destroy this temple and I will raise it in 3 days. Of course speaking of His body…
    Israel has a Pact of Security with one nation and that was guaranteed by its president March 22, 2013 the same day Israel apologized to Turkey. The US has in the past and will again be a signatory in the upcoming Israel Palestinian Peace Agreement. This is very possibly Mystery Babylon

  2. I’m a futurist. But I see Isaiah 28 as being about the first coming of Christ.

    This sounds like the Gospel going to the Gentiles:

    Isaiah 28:9-11 ESV “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? (10) For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” (11) For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the LORD will speak to this people.

    This sounds like Christ, the stone the builder rejected:

    Isaiah 28:16 ESV therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

    This sounds like what Christ did on the cross:

    Isaiah 28:18-19 ESV Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it. (19) As often as it passes through it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.

    The overwhelming scourge and the message that brings sheer terror to understand it sounds like the world’s reaction to the Good News (Gospel).

    Thanks,
    Philip

  3. Thank you Joel for your post. I’ve read read your three books. I am a life long Catholic and your books have rekindled my faith in Christ. I am closer to Him now. I aspire to stay awake and keep my oil lamp trimmed!

    In the wake of Obama’s “Peace for our time” boondoggle with Iran, I’ve had the 7 year false peace treaty on my mind. As an aside, thank you Clark for reminding me of the Israel/Turkey March 22nd 2013 “reconciliation”. Interestingly, Israeli Eviromental Minister Amir Peretz is currently in Turkey offerring an olive branch.

    Recognizing that your learned opinion is that the anti-Christ arises from Turkey and that Israel presumably enters into a false peace accord with Turkey, as well as the Goat/Ram relationship, is your reading of scripture such that the false peace accord is limited to direct Israeli action or can the false accord arise through actions of a proxy e.g., the US and Iran “accord”? Thank you again for bringing me closer to Christ and opening my eyes to the signs of the times. God bless you and yours.

  4. I think I was too hasty on my interpretation of the overwhelming scourge in verses 18b-22. Verse 22 says:

    Isaiah 28:22 ESV Now therefore do not scoff, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD of hosts against the whole land.

    I think the overwhelming scourge would be the events leading up to 70 AD and the destruction of the whole land would be 70 AD, after Israel rejects the Messiah. The “bonds” in this verse would be the Jewish prisoners dispersed to the nations.

    Thanks,
    Philip

  5. Hi Philip,

    Obviously, the calamitous events of 70 AD were but a foretaste of that which is to come. The flood of Assyria, Babylon and Rome were all but a foretaste of the ultimate flood that Satan will level against Israel in the last days. I think we agree on this.

    In order to properly understand the future prophetic elements of Isaiah 28 and 10, one must take into consideration the historical and original context of Isaiah as a whole. The northern kingdom of Israel had entered into a security alliance with Egypt with the hope of avoiding the overwhelming invading scourge from “the Assyrian”. Isaiah’s repeated plea is to the southern kingdom of Judah not to do commit the same mistakes as the northern kingdom. While the southern kingdom did avoid this error historically, they were eventually overrun by Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah’s warnings concerning the Assyrian are clearly antichristic in their ultimate prophetic warning. The same theme of the Assyrian as a shadow of the Antichrist is seen in Micah 5 as well. Of course, the first coming has much to do with the last days, and often references to the first coming are deeply intermingled in prophecies concerning the last days, but it would be a significant mistake not to see the prophetic warning concerning of the covenant with death as having nothing to do with the future.

    Blessings brother!

  6. Jose,

    The specific nature of the covenant is yet to be seen. I think we would do well to prayerfully watch.

    Blessings

  7. To add to what I stated Philip, I would also point out that chapter 29 as a continuation of the prophecy of 28 makes it clear what is the ultimate context. There, we are not dealing merely with the events of 70 AD. Rather we are dealing with a multinational coalition: “the multitude of all the nations who wage war against Ariel, even all who wage war against her and her stronghold, and who distress her”. Those who will come against Jerusalem and will be destroyed personally by the Lord. The conclusion is one of the day of redemption for Israel.

  8. Clark,

    The word for covenant (bĕriyth) in Daniel 9:27 is identical to the covenants referred to in Isaiah 28:15 as well as Daniel 11:22.

    The things described in Isaiah 28 are by no means in place. Israel’s leaders have not made a covenant with another nation in order to guarantee their regional security. To equate the covenant with death whereby they come to “rely” on the Antichrist with the various regional agreements that Israel and virtually every other nation of the earth participates in is to thoroughly misread Isaiah’s prophecy.

    More importantly, various references in the New Testament to the body of Christ being the Temple of God in no way shape or form gives us the right to retroactively reinterpret literal references to the Temple in the Old Testament anymore than various references in the New Testament to those of faith being the true children of Abraham gives anyone the right to retroactively reinterpret thousands of Old Testament verses that speak of the Jews as referring to the predominately gentile Church.

    Yet you are suggesting that we use precisely the same supercessionist hermeneutic that has led to millions of Christians holding to a damnable theology that disenfranchises Israel of her ongoing election.

    When references are made in the NT to the Church being the spiritual Temple of God it clear when the context is metaphoric. But to use such references as support to interpret every literal reference to the Temple as representing the Church is an extremely serious hermeneutical error.

  9. Dear Joel,

    It “is an extremely serious hermeneutical error” to presume Jews are all Israel. Not because the rest of Israel deserve any part in the future of His workings, but because of the nature and character of the El of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob. So much scripture is darkened when the rift and healing of Jacob’s family are ignored.

    The new pharaoh will do as he pleases for a short time. How far his power reaches has yet to be seen. But I think it will be mainly in the regions covered by the previous (Babylon, MedoPersia, Greece & Rome).

    In His mercy,
    Yochanan

  10. Yochanan,

    To a degree, this is true. However, it is also true that far too much has been read into such passages, as is the case of the “Two-House” aberration now so common within the Hebrew Roots Movement that seeks to see a Hebrew in every Gentile.

  11. The region relevant to scriptural prophecy is known for burning flags. (try a google image search of “burning flags”) There, in plain sight, we see where the hatred will be focused. So perhaps I am wrong with my previous comment about the reach of his power? The assyrian is but an Axe in Most High’s hand.

    Blessings

  12. Joel thank you for your response,
    If I said I was going to see you the day after tomorrow that would be Monday because it is Saturday night as I write to you.
    So if after 69 weeks Messiah is cut off then it would be in the 70 th week. This word is like we see in Matthew 24 After the Tribulation of those days. After is after.
    Dan Juster and Asher Intrater employ a similar understanding in their book Israel the Church and the Last Days.
    I do not seek to spiritualize anything the Apostles also did not see as spiritual. My question is if this is a possibility those looking for this sign of Antiochus Epiphanies in a physical temple may miss it.
    You never responded to what the scripture says regarding the true Messiah YESHUA building the temple in Zechariah and Ezekiel.
    Your assertion that disagreeing with you and others somehow disenfranchises the Jewish people is a reach and quite frankly sad that you would defend yourself and viewpoint in this manner is troubling. Messianic Jews in the land of Israel hold this opinion, are they disenfranchising themselves?
    Jeremiah 3:15-18 “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding. It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,” declares the Lord, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again. At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the Lord,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance.

    Joel I look at Daniel 12 and Rev 12 to be read together, they are about the end with Dan 7. Daniel 9 specifically about YESHUA in his first coming and destruction of Jerusalem. You don’t have to agree but you should consider something you haven’t without hastily labeling someone as replacement theology.

  13. Clark,

    First, re-read my comments. I did not “hastily label [you] as replacement theology”. What I said is that if you or anyone else are using examples in the New Testament where Paul or Jesus speak metaphorically referring to the body of Messiah as the temple, to then retroactively reinterpret passages that speak of the Temple elsewhere that are clearly literal, such as in Daniel, then you are employing precisely the same hermeneutic (method of interpretation) used by replacement theologians to disenfranchise Israel. Replacement theologians read the few verses in the New Testament that say for example that “a Jew is not a Jew who is one outwardly” or “if you are of faith then you are Abraham’s seed”, and they then go back and retroactively reinterpret all of the future promises for Israel as applying to the Church. They read literal passages about Israel spiritually. To read the literal prophecies of the Antichrist desecrating the Temple in a spiritual sense, is to employ the same flawed hermeneutic of replacement theologians. Do you understand my point? I am simply cautioning you about using a flawed method of interpretation that neither Jesus nor Paul would ever condone. Paul says that the Antichrist will sit in the Temple. He gives no indication of speaking allegorically. Jesus also warns of the AC standing in the Temple. He gives no indication that he is speaking allegorically.

    With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples. Mark 4:33-34

    Jesus may have spoken in parables or in figurative language when addressing the pharisees etc., but to His disciples, he spoke clearly. If he was using a metaphor, then he or the text would say so.

    Concerning the wording of Daniel 9, again, I think you’ve missed the point I was making. Of course “after” means “after”, but in the context of Daniel, this would be a very strange way to say it. If Daniel had intended to say that the Messiah would be cut off specifically during the 70th week, as you claim, the natural way to say that would have been to say the Messiah would be cut off during the 70th week. This is after all, exactly how he says that the offerings would cease, in the middle of the 70th week. To simply say that it would be after the 69th week is far too vague. This would be very strange if the whole point of the prophecy is to lay out a very detailed timeline.

    I’m friends with Juster. I visited with him at his place in Jerusalem this year. But I’m not familiar with the reference you are making in his book with Intrater. Are you saying that they place the first half of the 3.5 years in the past and the last half in the future?

    Concerning the Temple in the Millennium, I’m not following your question.

    Blessings

  14. Joel,
    I do not in any way see the ” Church” as fulfillment of the promises to National Israel and yet it is included as part of the Mystery that Paul speaks of throughout his letters.
    I believe Dan and Asher put forth an understanding of Daniel chapter 9 as being fulfilled. I’m not sure they go as far as saying that 69.5 weeks have transpired or that a full week remains.
    I believe the Holy Spirit does give insight to us if we ask. The Spirit of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesy, for example I was recently praying about Jacob’s trouble, Jeremiah 30:7 ‘Alas! for that day is great,There is none like it;And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,But he will be saved from it.
    I felt The Lord said what began 7-30 of this year? The forced ” peace negotiations ” between Israel the PA and US. This week we see that The US is submitting their plans for the “Security” concerns and look to press the next substantive issues regarding Jerusalem and refugees. Planning for a signed Peace and Security pact, to be signed 9 months after it’s conception ( birth pangs getting closer). Notice the change from bringing the two sides together to now telling the two sides what to do?
    I believe this to be the covenant of death you speak about.
    I believe The Lord showed me the connection between July 30 and Jeremiah 30:7. Because I asked.
    I asked Him another question a ways back, (over a year ago)what will be the sign that I should be watching? Should it be when the AC stands in the temple or some other? I heard Luke 21:20-24 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
    Jerusalem is Holy to The Lord it is His city, if it is divided it will bring armies to it, if it is not divided it will also bring armies surrounding it.
    Either way this is the sign I look for and watch happening right before my eyes.
    As for the ease of saying 70th week compared to after 69, you know The Lord doesn’t always say things plainly, some things have to be searched out. You have done this very well yourself. You questioned prevailing Evangelical Last Days thought concerning Gog of Magog, why stop there? Maybe there are other misinformed positions that we take for granted that also need questioning. Disagreeing on Dan 9, is not the same as disagreeing.
    You also disagree with Psalm 83 being a future separate war, and probably do not hold to a pre trib rapture either. The last days began 2000 years ago at Pentecost, one day is as a thousand. We are in the final seconds of that last hour I believe. May God continue to bless your efforts in reaching the world for the King.

    My point about the temple, if Jesus is the builder/ designer of the Temple as Ezekiel and Zechariah and Jeremiah attest to then how will AC sit in it. Is it not more likely that Jerusalem itself is the location of this blasphemy and rebellion.

    Jeremiah 31:38-40 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the city will be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it will turn to Goah. And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the Lord; it will not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.”

    Jerusalem is Holy to The Lord, AC will seek to defile it yet further. I believe the last temple will be built during the millennial reign, is not what the scriptures teach?

  15. Clark,

    I understand your comment about the millennial temple. The coming third temple and the millennial temple are two entirely different temples. The temple of Ezekiel is massive. So if we are faithful to what the Scriptures teach, I believe that we must see two future temples. Our only other option as I said is to see the references to the third temple that the Antichrist will set himself in as spiritual. But as I said, there is no basis in Scripture to do that anymore than there is to see literal references to Israel or Jews and say that this is us. If you disagree, no problem. We would just leave it at that.

    Blessings.

  16. Clark and Joel:

    Clark, thank you for pointing out the important word “after” in Daniel 9 (after the 69 weeks Messiah is cut off). This however does not necessarily change any of the interpretation presented by Joel. Let me explain. Please excuse the necessary complexity of this calculation in determining the end of the 69 weeks.

    It is likely that the starting date for the prophecy is Artaxerxes’ decree to Nehemiah to rebuild the city as detailed by Joel in his notes. The scriptures give the month of this decree in Neh 2:1-4

    “In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, … I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” Neh 2:1-4
    It just so happens that the twentieth year of Artaxerxes is a well-known date that secular historians and scholars agree on: 444 BC. Based on new moon obvservances in 444 BC we can determine the start of Nissan and by adding 69 360 day prophetic years to this date brings us to mid-Nissan 33AD. Nissan 14, 33AD is one of two possible dates for the death of Yeshua based on when Sabbaths fall in relation to Passover (the other date is 30AD). Because a blood moon occurred on Nissan 14, 33 AD this adds further credence to this date (see Acts 2 where Peter quotes the prophet Joel about the darkening of the sun and a blood moon having occurred. It was quote that cut the listeners to the heart. Why would this be if they hadn’t just observed these signs?). So by this lengthy discussion we come to the conclusion that the 69 weeks ended mid-Nissan 33AD. A date the Jews could have figured out BTW.

    The scriptures don’t give the exact date in Nissan when the Artaxerxes decree went out so the exact end date of the 69 weeks is unknown. But I imagine it ended with the rejection of Messiah as King. That is when Israel went “off the clock”. In Matthew 26:1-4 scriptures say it was 2 days before Passover or Nissan 12, 33AD when the “chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.” IMHO that marks the date of the end of the 69 weeks.

    It then makes perfect sense that “after” the sixty nine weeks Messiah is cut off. It appears it’s two days after. Israel is now off the clock and forty years later the temple is destroyed. This is all outside of the 69 weeks. It is all the “time of the gentiles” which we are still part of.

    Jim

  17. BTW, the starting and stopping of the 69 “7’s” occur mid month according to my last post. This gives evidence that it is a specific number of days not calendar years. It also gives one pause to consider that the 70th “7” may start and end mid month as well. Daniel clearly delineates the final “week” in terms of 2 1260 day periods. Another 30 day period and an additional 45 day period also are listed. This makes perfect sense and is consistent with the first period of 69 “7’s”. We may never know the exact starting and ending date until the peace treaty is signed and Abomination of Desolation occurs.

    I had long thought the final week would naturally follow a Shmittah year, but not necessarily so. If all the above is correct, the final “7” is not a year but a set number of days.

    Jim

  18. Joel,

    A well known evangelist has said that he does not believe the anti-Christ will be a Muslim because “the Jews will never accept a Muslim Messiah.” Your article seems to refute this, and I would add that the anti-Christ will be a great deceiver. Can you comment on this? Thanks.

  19. Jeanne,

    Which evangelist are you referring to? I agree that the Jewish people would not accept a Muslim leader as their messiah, but the Bible no where says that the Jews will accept the Antichrist as their messiah. JEsus said, “if another comes in his own name, him will you receive.” But this could simply be referring to false Messiah’s and not the Antichrist. Which has been the case. The Jews received Bar Kochba as Messiah in the 2nd century and many today have received Rabbi Schneerson as Messiah. So this is sufficient to explain Jesus’ reference. The Scriptures teach that the Jews will enter into a covenant with the AC for the purpose of peace and security. What must be acknowledged is that every example in the Scriptures where the AC is foreshadowed, it is through a gentile regional leader. Pharaoh, the Assyrian, Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus, etc. So also will the AC be a gentile regional leader. If we stick to the Scriptures, then I think the case is quite significant for a Muslim Antichrist. But as always, God knows best.

    Blessings

  20. Jim,
    Thanks for your explanation yet it doesn’t answer my issue of introducing AC to a portion of scripture that is not specifically speaking of him. It is talking about Messiah. There is nothing that I am aware of that says we are to hold the clock as you say, where? This time continued ticking and the Sanhedrin continued to hear the Gospel for the next several decades. Yet they chose intrigue and alliance with Rome over submission to YESHUA, yet many individuals probably did place faith in His Atonement, Acts 21:17-20 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;
    So most likely there was a split over YESHUA.
    Why would God so plainly tell us the length of great Tribulation that was coming upon the whole earth? He says it 3 different ways, time, a times and a half time, 42 months and 1260 days, where do you get 7 years? It doesn’t line up with all that is plainly spoken. When we read James 5, we see that Elijah shut up heaven for 3.5 years, it is in the context of James teaching on the last days.
    Daniel and John both agree on this time table, I believe it began March 22, 2013, the blood moons that are upcoming seem to coincide to some degree with this time table as well. I believe YESHuA will return Yom Kippur- 9/11/ 2016, the year of Jubilee, His birthday.
    Blessings to you.

  21. Clark,

    The repeated emphasis on the 3.5 years throughout Scripture comes directly from what is said in Daniel 9:27. After the mid-point or middle of the week, then the Abomination that Causes Desolation begins the final 3.5 years. Every other reference to the duration of the Great Tribulation comes directly from this reference. This alone would lead us to see it as referring to the Antichrist and not Jesus. But more than that, everyone who takes the numbers literally agrees that the 69 weeks is followed by a gap. Most place the final week as a single unit at the end of the age. Some premillennilists now see it as being more reasonable to place the first 3.5 years after the 69th week and then the second half 2000 years later. They claim that the first 3.5 years aligns with Jesus ministry. In order for this to work, they need Jesus public ministry to be exactly 3.5 years. But virtually all modern evangelical scholars reject this view, seeing Jesus ministry as closer to 2.5 or 3 years max. Interestingly, the idea that Jesus ministry was 3.5 years began with the heretic Origen and the Roman apologist Eusebius, who saw the need to fit Jesus mini try into Daniel’s prophecy. The second problem is that Jesus did not confirm covenant with many for one week. His covenant is for eternity. In order for the final period not to be 7 years, virtually every modern translation must be rejected on this passage. The third problem is that the purpose of the prophecy relates not to the Church but to Israel and Jerusalem specifically. While the cross accomplished the atonement, the atonement is not complete without the response of repentance required to appropriate this. And as Gabriel says (12:7) this will happen through the crushing of the Jewish people. While God is sovereign and will allow this to happen for His ultimate purposes of bringing in everlasting righteousness to His people, one must never confuse the axe with the one who wields the axe.

    In claiming that the passage is about the Messiah, one must not only violate the normal rules of grammar, but must also take a passage that Jesus himself connects to the Antichrist and claim it is speaking of Jesus. My notes detail just a few of the problems with seeing the subject of verse 27 as Jesus. See for example the chart concerning the four cases of the abomination that causes desolation. If one reads the passage literally then it is simply an untenable position.

    Blessings

  22. Joel,

    I am referring to Jimmy Swaggart. He does not believe the anti-Christ will be a Muslim. (I would disagree with that.)

  23. Joel,

    “”Two House” aberration” or Heart of the story of scripture?

    When Israel came out of Egypt, many DNA descendants of Israel were left behind, while many non-DNA Israel came out and became Israel. To understand prophecy we must stick to the Micro-seed narrative to understand what is going on today. It is all about Israel today. The confusion comes from wandering from the main storyline (replacement theology again). The son of Joseph really did multiply like the sands on the sea shore and like the stars in the heavens. Yet only a remnant will return.

    A large part of what is needed to endure through the last (toes) Caliphate time is Hope. Sometimes people who are still in a “cut off” or rejected state of mind don’t dare to hope of being accept back into Israel as sons, rather they just cling to a ‘Platonic’/un-earthly future. Yet that is our Hope. The Hope that refines us. The Hope of the Kingdom.

    Blessings

    Yochanan

  24. What event (war or trauma)will take place just prior to the signing of this “peace treaty”?

  25. God’s judgement of the nations is couched in terms of violation of the “Everlasting Covenant” in Isaiah 24:1-6. Part of the “Everlasting Covenant” is described in Genesis 17 as the land of Canaan, all of it, given to Abraham and his descedents forever, and repeated word for word in the Psalms.

    The nations are again indicted in Joel 3 for “dividing His land”, with the result being their judgement. Ezekiel 35 and 36 describe how Edom appropriated Jacob’s land for himself, hence coming judgement. God has described in detail that He will vindicate His name by returning Jacob to the land of promise, therefore the world with the “two-state” solution is heading pell mell, unknowingly, into a collision with the Creator. The world is pushing Israel to yield Jacob’s land of Judea and Samaria and E.Jerusalem against the purposes of the Almighty to vindicate His name by returning Jacob to the land of promise, hence the coming day of the Lord.

    Joel, do you believe the covenant of Daniel 9:27 could be a forced (Hebrew word Gabar) treaty imposed by a stronger party onto a weaker party, and which specifically relates to “dividing My land”, and breaking the “everlasting covenant” spoken of in Joel and Isaiah? It is interesting to note that the current effort by the US, EU, UN to force Israel to give up the land of promise is being couched by our President in the language of “peace and security”

  26. If the above is true, then Daniel’s 70th week would begin with the culmination of an agreement leveraged upon Israel and it’s neighbors by the antimessiah which results in Israel yielding Jacob’s land to Esau, in the language of “peace and security”, highlighted by a false promise of protection, and possibly garnished by an agreement to allow Jews to construct a place of worship on the north plaza of Temple Mount

  27. Lancelot,

    Wrong. Maccabees is not Scripture. Jesus said the Abomination is yet future (Matthew 24).

  28. Jeanne and Joel, I was waiting for either of you to mention “The False Prophet”, who Israel WILL follow. Maybe Swaggart is up to speed now with Joel’s books….like Bakker is. Yay 🙂

  29. I very much appreciate your website and the spirit in which you have shared what the Holy Spirit has shared with you. For me, I was consumed with Hal Lindsey and others as a child and frankly the Holy Spirit hasn’t unfolded the prophecies clearly to me as he has to you and others but it’s clearly time to fast, pray, cry out for understanding to see that we’re in the last hour. That is clear to me.

    Blessings to you dear brother, come Lord Jesus!

  30. The Messianic Temple that Ezekiel saw requires the earthquake in Zechariah 14 in order to be built. It can’t fit on current mount Zion.

  31. Hi Joel,

    I would like to give thanks to God for the work that he is doing through you! I have found some of your material fascinating and very thought provoking!

    I have been wondering about what form the agreement between Israel and the antichrist would take!

    I wondered if you had any thoughts on the reconciliation agreement that Erdogan signed on August 31st 2016. Please see attached Wiki link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel–Turkey_relations

    Again many thanks for all your work.

  32. I doubt this gets to you Joel, as the last comment was back in December. But Ill try. Ive read most of your work. Up until about 4 years ago, I had been an ardent Revived Roman Empire advocate. But only because its what I was taught, and what I saw and read in the movies and novels. Islamic Antichrist made me re-think most everything. Of course, learning from the past, I didn’t take one persons word for it anymore. So I really got into the scriptures and checked and rechecked everything you said. Mid-East Beast was a great read, and again I studied and researched. I felt the Lords anointing on your ministry, and have now begun teaching others using your work as a reference. (I charge nothing nor sell anything of yours…just for presentation purposes) But I do have something I would like to ask. Something Im having a hard time getting past. You teach that the battle of Gog and Magog is initially successful, and then they are destroyed. And its obvious from the scripture and prophets that indeed Israel does suffer. However, how do you see that actually playing out? Ezekial 39, if telling the same story as 38, reveals God causing them to basically turn on themselves, or lose the ability to make war. At this point, are they already occupying parts of Israel? Have they already defeated the IDF, pillared and plundered, and then are destroyed? Just having a slightly hard time envisioning and explaining how Israel is defeated, but then Gog is defeated after defeating Israel? Does that make sense? Its easy to see them being defeated during the battle, but less clear if they actually defeat Israel.
    Thanks for reading. God Bless.

  33. They invade, are successful, and are then destroyed by Jesus when He comes back to Israel as the conquering king.

  34. Rom 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

  35. Joel, Your book “A Jew Rules The World” is, in my opinion a classic argument against reformed theology and the views that the Church has replaced the Jewish claims to the Old Testament promises. I believe it should be must reading in many seminary classes. Thank you for your careful attention to Scripture in writing your books.

  36. But isn’t it possible that the AC will be a muslim presenting himself with Jewish roots? He will have forged documents to prove it. At that time the world will be so deceived they will believe him.

  37. Hi, Joel. Just a note that you have a typo on the page https://joelstrumpet.com/the-antichrists-false-peace-treaty/ that does create confusion:

    This passage in Isaiah literally contains every element of the view –> that Israel will the Antichrist will <– enter into a “covenant” or security alliance

    You likely mean one or the other, but not both.

    Thank you for all you do! Keep it up! Rick

  38. Dear Joel,
    I would like to share the following and if you can find the time, I would appreciate your thoughts.

    FEAST OF TRUMPETS

    “Blow the TRUMPET at the NEW MOON, at the full moon on our feast day.” (Ps. 81:3)

    “On the first day of the seventh month (new moon) hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to SOUND THE TRUMPETS. (Numbers 29:1)

    The trumpet is sounded on the first day of the seventh month when the new moon is sighted (Tishrei 1). If the feast of trumpets is the rapture, as some evangelicals believe, then the final and loudest trumpet blast of the feast (“yom teruah”) will sound. It normally falls sometime between mid-September and mid-Octo-ber on our calendar. Some believe it will sound before the tribulation, while others say after it. But one thing is for sure: If the feast of trumpets is the rapture, then it voids a pretrib imminency because yom teruah can sound only on Tishrei 1.

    If trumpets is the rapture, then Jesus can only come for His bride on that feast day, Tishrei 1. Also, it would mean that the antichrist’s covenant had to be confirmed seven years earlier on the same day (Tishrei 1). From the confirmation of the covenant to the end of the tribulation, there will be a series of six trumpet feasts all falling on Tishrei 1, followed by the last one on the same day at the Last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52). If the rapture is post trib, seven years from the treaty confirmation, then it obviously can’t happen on any other feast day except the seventh one on Tishrei 1.

    When “yom teruah” sounds (the last trumpet), death will be swallowed up as it says in 1 Cor. 15:51-54 and Isa. 25:8,9. This places the rapture on the feast of trumpets after the tribulation, because death obviously won’t be swallowed up during the tribulation. Even if trumpets is not the rapture, it is still post trib because that’s when the last trumpet sounds.

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