THE END TIMES

Intro:

1. The events surrounding Christ's second coming and the time-table of these events are a big part of premillennial theory.

2. We want to look at two key passages used by premillennialists to describe events surrounding the second coming.

I. Daniel 9:20-27 - "The Seventy Weeks"

A. The premillennialist makes the following claims concerning this passage:

1. That the seventy weeks have yet to be fulfilled because events in verse 24 have yet to come to pass.

2. That according to verse 25, there were 490 literal years from the decree to rebuild the temple till the coming of Christ.

3. Before Christ could fulfill the final week and build His kingdom, He was cut off and rejected. Therefore, He had to wait until He could come a second time.

4. The seventieth week is delayed until the Antichrist is able to establish a "covenant for a week" (v. 27) - thus the seven year tribulation.

5. The Antichrist breaks the covenant in the middle of the week and great tribulation follows which culminates in the binding of Satan and the final coming of Christ to set up His kingdom.

B. What does this passage really teach?

1. We propose to show that all of this prophecy has been fulfilled. Therefore, there is no need to look for further fulfillment in the form that the premillennialist does.

2. The events described in verse 24 have all been fulfilled:

a. To finish transgression. (Matt. 23:29-39; Heb. 9:15)

b. To make an end of sins. (Heb. 10:11-18)

c. To make reconciliation for iniquity. (Col. 1:12-22)

d. To bring in everlasting righteousness. (Rom. 5:17-21; Matt. 6:33; Rom. 14:17; 2 Cor. 3:7-9)

e. To seal up vision and prophecy. (Matt. 5:17-18; Luke 24:44-48)

f. To anoint the Most Holy. (Matt. 3:16-17; Acts 10:38)

3. A period of seventy weeks is given in this passage. The number 70 just refers to a complete cycle of time. The 69 weeks mean that when Christ comes that the prophecy is not quite fulfilled yet. There is still one period of time left - one week (a short period of time in contrast to the 69 weeks that preceded it) to finish the fulfillment of the prophesied events. (To come up with their literal 490 years, the premillennialist equates one day to one year. Since there are 490 days in 70 weeks, he gets 490 years. But if he is to take it really literal, there would only be 70 literal weeks, not 490 figurative years.)

4. What happens during the last period of time -- the last week? Has it been fulfilled? (v. 27)

a. A covenant was confirmed with many. (Rom. 9:30-33; 1 Pet. 2:9,10) - Gentiles included in this covenant - "many" or all nations as opposed to "few" or Jews only. ("for one week" does not refer to duration of covenant, but pin-points when the covenant is established - during the seventieth week)

b. Sacrifices ceased during the last week. (Matt. 27:50-51; Heb. 10:11-18) - Christ's death ended sacrifices of the old covenant - no longer necessary.

c. Overspreading of abomination and desolation poured out. (Matt. 23::38; Matt. 24:15) - This accomplished in the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus ("the prince who is to come" - v. 26) in A.D. 70.

5. The destruction of Jerusalem marked the end of Daniel's 70th week. All has been fulfilled.

II. Matthew 24 - "The End of the Age"

A. The premillennialist takes all of this chapter to describe the events leading up to the coming of Christ at the end of time and the coming of the tribulation.

B. What does this passage really teach?

1. The 23rd chapter ends with Christ weeping over Jerusalem and her refusal to repent. (v. 37-39)

2. Chapter 24 opens with Christ telling his disciples of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. (v. 1-2)

3. Christ's disciples now come wanting to know just when this destruction would take place. (v. 3)

4. Christ then assures them that certain events would have to occur before Jerusalem would be destroyed. There would be signs that would occur before this destruction. All these indeed took place before A.D. 70.

a. False teachers would come. (v. 5,11,23-26) - (Acts 20:29-30; 2 John 7)

b. Great troubles, persecution, sorrow comes upon God's people. (v. 6-13) - (Acts 8:1-4; etc.)

c. The gospel would be preached to all the world. (v. 14) - (Col. 1:23)

d. Signal of the event would be the Roman army surrounding the city. (v. 15-16; Luke 21:20-21) - (Secular history tells of this event in A.D. 70.)

e. They were warned to flee to escape destruction. (v. 17-22)

f. The signs would be clear. They would know when it came. (v. 27-33)

g. Destruction would happen in the lifetime of those Christ talked to then. (v. 34-35)

5. After answering the question about the destruction of the city, Christ then turned to the second question that was raised in verse 3 concerning the end of the world and goes on beginning in verse 36 to describe what will happen "when heaven and earth passes away."

Concl:

1. These passages talk of things that were fulfilled in the first century A.D.

2. We, therefore, need not look for their fulfillment now or in the future.