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MIDST OF THE WEEK

by Alan Yusko

This article will briefly look at a high level of what the antichrist will be doing in the days ahead. He will have 7 years to rule his demonic kingodm on earth. In this article we will focus on the below verse:

Daniel 9
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The above verse shows what the antichrist will do in the coming days. After he rises to power, he will sign a 7 year covenant with the nation of Israel. This will begin the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy.

"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week..."

Who is he? in the above verse 'he' is the antichrist. This Satan possessed man will be allowed to rule the earth for seven terrible years. During his reign the current population of over 6 billion will drop to a few million (if that!).

Above Daniel says the antichrist shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. Does this mean the antichrist will create a new peace deal or confirm an existing one? Many believe that it will be an existing one such as the Oslo Accords. Time will tell on that issue.

The 'Many' indicates that this treaty will involve many nations on earth. There is an indication that this treaty will be acknowledged on a world-wide level.

One Week is the time limit of this treaty. It will be a seven year covenant with the nation of Israel.

What will the covenant involve? Here are some possibilities. It will deal with any outstanding land issues. By the time the antichrist rises to power and this covenant is signed, the world probably will have gone through world war 3. Many current hostile nations that threaten Israel may be destroyed in those days. The ones that come to mind are all the Palestinians and Syria. There is also a strong possibility that in order for the devil to bring to power his antichrist, the world will have to go through world war 3. This war will be deadly for many nations. It will be a short war due to the powerful nuclear weapons that will be used. I've heard estimates that this next war will only be about 3 months or so. Out of the destructions of world war 3, the antichrist will come forth to a world that is ready and willing to accept such a man. So part of this covenant with the antichrist will deal with the actual land of Israel. I'm sure it will involve some 'land-splitting'.

Another issue that will be dealt with will be the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. After world war 3, the Muslim dome of the rock will be destroyed. The Muslims will also lose badly in this next war. So when Israel begins to rebuild their temple within the conditions of this covenant with the antichrist, there will not be any major opposition. Conditions will change as today there would be lots of opposition to a rebuilt temple.

Another condition that will be allowed in the covenant with the antichrist will be provision for the restoration of temple sacrifice. The Jews again will offer up sacrifices in their rebuilt temple. However, this provision will be short lived.

"and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease

After 3 1/2 years the antichrist will break his covenant with the nation of Israel. At that time he will enter into the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and cause the temple sacrifice to cease. This means for the first 3 1/2 years the Jews will again be doing their sacrifices as they did in the Old Testament days. There will be a restored Levite priesthood and the temple sacrificial rituals will again be performed. But at the 3 1/2 year mark the antichrist will enter the rebuilt temple and make the claim that he is God!

"and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

This act of entering the rebuilt temple and claiming to be God is known as the abomination of desolation. The antichrist will also demand worship from everyone on earth at this time. The mark of the beast will be issued and without that mark a person will not be able to do any economic transactions at all. In order for a person to receive the mark of the beast he must bow his knee and worship Satan who has full possession of the antichrist. All those who refuse to worship Satan and receive the mark of the beast will be hunted down and killed! Of course only those who accept the Lord Jesus will refuse the mark of the beast. These people will be hunted and killed with great rage by the antichrist and his people. All the people on earth who reject the Lord Jesus will accept the antichrist and they will receive the mark of the beast. In those days there will be no people sitting on the fence trying to make up their mind if they will receive the Lord Jesus or not! People will choose their eternal fate and that decision will seal their eternity.

Here is a little warning. There is a very popular book series out there that teaches a major heresy. That series is called 'Left Behind'. In this series the authors teach that a person can receive the mark of the beast and still be saved. This is not true at all! Here is why:

1) The mark of the beast is a voluntary choice. No one will be put to sleep and wake up with the mark of the beast. In order to receive the mark of the beast a person must bow his knee and worship the antichrist.

2) Once a person accepts the mark of the beast and worships Satan, he can never be saved. His eternal fate is forever sealed. That person is lost and there is no more chance for salvation.

Here is what the Bible says:

Rev 14
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

So don't be deceived by fictional books that claim a person can receive the mark of the beast and still be saved.

To continue, once the antichrist enters the rebuilt temple and claims to be God, there will be other things set in motion. This action will greatly anger God and He will begin to pour out upon the world some very deadly judgments. This time is also referred to as the Great Tribulation. During this time the seven trumpet judgments and seven vial judgments will be poured out on the earth.

Remember at the end of all the judgments of God the current population of over 6 billion will drop to something in the millions.

CONCLUSION

Luke 21
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

What more can be said but these things will shortly come to pass. We are now living in the days before the return of the Lord Jesus! In the not-too-distant future world war 3 will begin which will be used to reveal to the world the antichrist once this war finishes.

Of course this also means that the rapture of the Church is also coming quickly and could literally happen any day now!

It is very exciting to be alive in this time and to see all these prophecies line up for fulfillment! But for the lost all this means the day of their eternal doom in the lake of fire is quickly approaching.

I am amazed at how indifferent lost people are toward the Gospel. Many just do not want to be saved! I've heard many acknowledge the basics of the Gospel. They have said that the Lord Jesus lived and died on the cross. But that is all they want to think about it. Some are indifferent while others are hostile and want nothing to do with the Lord Jesus.

But remember the day of decision is coming fast. People will be forced to choose between God and Satan. After the rapture the antichrist will rise to power and then people must choose quickly. The good news is that many will choose to reject Satan and accept the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. The vast majority of those who accept the Lord Jesus in those days will be hunted down and killed.

Why be indifferent today? Are you sure death will not come upon you suddenly? Is it possible you could die before the end of today and be forever lost in your sins? Also remember that to do nothing with the Lord Jesus is the same as rejecting Him.

This means a politely indifferent person who is somewhat positive to the Gospel but does not really want the Lord Jesus as His Saviour is just as lost as the hardcore Satanist. Both will die in their sins without the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. As a result both people will perish in their sins and spend their eternity in the lake of fire!

Is such a fate what you want? Is such a fate an intelligent choice?

John 3
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.




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