Does Jesus Indicate When Daniel's 70th Week Begins?
When Jesus speaks of the end times, several events take place before He returns:
They questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign
when these things are about to take place?" And He said, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying,
'I am He,' and, 'The time is near ' Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these
things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately." Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise
against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and
there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute
you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. It will lead to an
opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance
and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and
relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of
your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. 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. There will be
signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory." (Luke 21:7-27)
Consider Jesus' above account and observe carefully whether they correspond to events in Revelation:
"When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but
the end does not follow immediately." Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against
kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs
from heaven." (Luke 21:9-11)
Seals 1 and 2 cause people and nations to conquer each other by murder and death, and Seals 3 and 4 cause famine
and the result of ending 25% of the world's population by murder, starvation, disease and wild animals
(Rev 6:1-8). Seal 7 causes a large earthquake, and Trumpets 1-4 cause 1/3 of the earth to burn
up, 1/3 of the world's seas to turn to blood, 1/3 of the world's fresh water to become bitter and poisonous, and 1/3 of the day and
night without the sun and moon (Rev 8:1-12).
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the
synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.
So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your
opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they
will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your
endurance you will gain your lives. (Luke 21:12-19)
Jesus indicates that those Believers who stand and testify of Him will be persecuted; they will experience
tribulation. Note here that Jesus is telling Believers not to defend themselves with arms and provides a specific reason why!
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. (Luke 21:20-24)
The prophet Daniel speaks of "desolation" in the following manner: And he will make a firm covenant with the many
for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will
come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes
desolate (Dan 9:27). It appears very likely that Jesus is referring to this midpoint of Daniel's
70th week.
There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the
roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the
powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory."
(Luke 21:25-28)
According to Revelation, Jesus comes in the clouds to rapture Believers
(Rev 14:14-16), which is what Jesus appears to be referring here. Later, after the dispensation
of bowl judgments, He arrives with His angelic army to Armageddon (Rev 19:11-19).