In this episode, Gordon and Mark take a closer look at the true origin of the seven-year Tribulation. While many think of Revelation as its source, the foundation for this critical period is actually found in Daniel 9:24–27, in the prophecy known as the Seventy Weeks.
They begin by highlighting Daniel’s background and faithfulness. Though living in exile under Babylonian captivity, Daniel remained steadfast in prayer and devotion to God. While studying Jeremiah’s prophecy of Israel’s seventy years of exile, Daniel received a greater revelation about God’s long-term redemptive plan. Through a message delivered by the angel Gabriel, Daniel was given the Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks—a timeline of 490 years.
The prophecy is divided into three segments:
- 7 weeks (49 years): The rebuilding of Jerusalem after the decree.
- 62 weeks (434 years): Leading up to the arrival of the Messiah.
- 1 week (7 years): A still-future period, tied to the Antichrist.
Daniel 9:24 explains that by the completion of these seventy weeks, six divine purposes will be accomplished: the finishing of transgression, the end of sins, atonement for iniquity, the bringing of everlasting righteousness, the sealing of vision and prophecy, and the anointing of the Most Holy.
Together, the first 69 weeks (a total of 483 years) point directly to the arrival of Jesus as Messiah, fulfilled in His triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. But after this high point, the prophecy describes a heartbreaking turn: the Messiah would be “cut off” in crucifixion, and soon after, Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. This near-term fulfillment foreshadows the future rise of the Antichrist—the “prince who is to come.”
The 70th week remains unfulfilled and it is what Christians commonly call the Tribulation week. It will begin when the Antichrist confirms a covenant for seven years but then breaks it halfway through, halting sacrifices and committing the infamous “abomination of desolation.” This period will be marked by intense persecution and deception, but it will ultimately end with the Antichrist’s destruction and God’s ultimate restoration of Israel. At the conclusion of this final week, God’s promises will be brought to completion: righteousness established, prophecy fulfilled, and redemption secured.
Through this episode, Gordon and Mark show that understanding Daniel’s prophecy is essential for grasping the framework of End Times events and the hope of God’s final victory.
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