Signs For The End of The Age | Revelation 12:1-6 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 12:1–6

About this sermon

In the book of Daniel, the 9th chapter, we read of a great intercessory prayer that Daniel was moved to pray on behalf of his people Israel. You can’t read that prayer, in any normal sense, without recognizing that his prayer and his concern had to do with the Jewish people, with the nation of Israel, with the city of Jerusalem, and with the hope of God’s mercy based upon God’s covenant faithfulness. In that prayer Daniel offers an open confession of sin. There is a plea for forgiveness and compassion. There is an acknowledgment of the fact that they have suffered is just and what they have suffered has completely confirmed the warnings of God. There is a request for God to turn again to the people of Israel and to the city of Jerusalem for GOD’S OWN SAKE (vs.17). None of Daniel’s prayer made an appeal based on Israel’s righteousness. All of Daniel’s prayer made an appeal based on God’s commitment to His own name (vs.18-19). GOD ANSWERED THAT PRAYER. An angel, named Gabriel, came to Daniel to give him insight and understanding. Daniel was told of 70 weeks. 70 units of 7 years. He was told in VERY SPECIFIC TERMS that these 70 weeks were decreed concerning HIS PEOPLE, HIS HOLY CITY. That is, the Jewish people, and the city of Jerusalem. He was also told what would be accomplished because of those 70 weeks. ESV Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. When you hear that verse, standing where we stand today, we recognize a NEAR and a FAR. Things that were accomplished with the first coming of Messiah, things that will be accomplished when Jesus returns from heaven. 69 of those weeks ended with the death of Messiah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. ESV Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. BUT A FINAL WEEK REMAINS. ESV Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." A FINAL 7 YEARS THAT REPRESENT GOD TURNING AGAIN TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND FULFILLING HIS PLANS FOR THAT NATION. A time when the man of sin will make a 7-year covenant with Israel — a covenant that will be broken in the middle of those 7 years. An abomination that makes desolate will take place. The desolator who arises will be finally destroyed. Daniel is given a message that focuses on two different periods of time, BOTH having to do with Israel and the Messiah. The first 69 weeks leading to His first coming. The final week preceding His second coming. IN OUR CHAPTER THIS MORNING WE FIND SOMETHING VERY MUCH THE SAME. AFTER THE SOUNDING OF THE 7TH TRUMPET, AND THE CELEBRATION OF THE COMING KINGDOM OF CHRIST, AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE RESISTANCE TO THAT KINGDOM ON THE EARTH, JOHN IS GIVEN TWO SIGNS. EACH OF THOSE SIGNS RELATE TO THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST AND THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. THE DIFFERENCE, WHEN COMPARED WITH DANIEL, IS THAT NOW THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST IS A RETROSPECTIVE. HE HAS COME. HE HAS DIED. HE HAS BEEN RAISED. HE HAS BEEN EXALTED.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Prophecy & End Times