(Updated Aug 7, 2014)
Just as the birth, death, and resurrection of the promised and prophesied Messiah and Savior occurred at the appointed time and in the fullness of time, so, too, will be His return as Lord of every man. (Gal 4:4; Eph 1:9-10)
On the human side, we are plainly told by the Lord Jesus that we can not know precisely when the time will be. (Acts 1:7; Mt 24:36; Mk 13:32)
On God’s part, there is a time which He has set, and which no one or any thing can alter or prevent. He is YHVH, the Lord God of history, and of its times and seasons. (Mk 13:32; Rev 9:15)
At the same time, the Lord Himself does give us, as does the Holy Spirit through the apostles, signs of the end, or signs of the time which will prepare those who are His to be watching, working, praying: birth pangs (labor pains) indicate nearness, and are more frequent and more intense and increasingly difficult to bear: Mt 24; Mk 13; Lk 21; 1Thes 2; 1Thes 5:4-5 A growing expectation of Christ/Messiah to come will see the appearance of many false messiahs and prophets, just as at His first coming. (Mt 24:21-18)
That day should not overtake believers as a thief in the night, for we are sons of light and of the day.
The Lord Yeshua also used parables towards preparing us, and the Holy Spirit gives life to His words, especially in their season: the fig tree blossoming (Mt 24:32; Mk 13:28; Lk 21:29)
He also states the necessary response of His people, which will correspond with His own sovereign grace which brings forth such a response:
–Israel: Mt 23:39 Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Yehovah! Blessed is Jesus/Yeshua!
–Church: Rev 22:20 Come, Lord Jesus!
His timing includes the salvation from among all peoples and nations:
—Rom 11:25-26 all Israel to be saved when the fullness of Gentiles are brought in to the Messianic olive tree
The question is always asked, “Why isn’t there peace if the Messiah has already come?” The Tenach (Old Testament) is clear that there would not be peace at/during this time: Ps 2:2,9; 110:1; Dan 9:26 In the New Testament, Yeshua confirms the Word of God about this present lack of peace: Mt 10:34
The prophet Daniel writes of 70 weeks (7’s) which YHVH has determined for Israel in order to bring to fulfillment His purposes, which are clearly stated. (9:24-27) We have already considered in our previous study (https://streamsinthenegev.com/school-of-fish/eclectic-course-menu/time-of-messiah-yeshuas-first-coming/) 7 plus 62 of these “weeks” of years = 483 years, which brought us to Yeshua’s crucifixion (His “cutting off”) after the 62 weeks (not 69 uninterrupted weeks!). When is the 70th week, and is this gap between the 69th week and the 70th biblically prophetic? Think of examples of sports clocks, penalty box, work week: real time vs playing or working time. “Time-out” is the present situation for Israel.
—Lev 23:9-24 The indeterminate specific starting date (not the day) between Passover/Unleavened Bread and the beginning for counting the sheaves; the prescribed days and weeks from First-Fruits (resurrection life/day after the Sabbath) up to Shavuot/Pentecost in the third month, and, consequently, the indeterminate yet seasonal length of time till the first day of the seventh month. Provision also made for the poor and stranger to benefit from the harvest (i.e., spiritually poor Israelis and also Gentiles in the prophetic application).
—Lk 21:24 Jerusalem to be trampled underfoot by Gentiles until the time of Gentiles fulfilled
—Eph 1:9-10 mystery of fullness of dispensation of times
—Rom 2:4; 2Pt 3:9 goodness and long-suffering of God lead to repentance unto life; that is, the time is not ‘fixed’ from a merely human standpoint: in setting the appointed time, God has built in an indeterminate flexibility, so that for us, the Lord’s return may seem either too soon, or else later than we want!
The 70th “week of Daniel” apparently begins with the confirming of a specific covenant by the antichrist with the nation of Israel. During this week of 7 years – midway, 3 1/2 yrs, 1260 days, ‘time, times, and a half’ (Dan 9:27; 7:25; 12:1,7; Rev 12:6,14) – the covenant is broken by the antichrist, and the abomination which brings desolation takes place.
—Dan 9:27, 11:31; 12:1,11-12 –70th week and the abomination in the middle of it; great tribulation
—Mt 24:15-16,21-22,29-31 Jesus, the Son of Man, coming on clouds of Heaven with power and great glory; after great tribulation
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly!’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all.” (Rev 22:20-21)
