An article by Evan Necklen from the Te Puke Baptist Church in your November edition caught my attention. He related his age to the biblical 70 years in the Book of Daniel and it was stimulating to read some eschatology as it is almost a taboo subject in many churches and denominations.

Daniel’s 70 weeks in Chapter 9 is an interesting and relevant subject. I certainly agree that the “weeks”represent seven one year periods, but I certainly don’t agree with his interpretation of parts of Chapter 9 leading to his conclusion that Jesus died for our sins in the middle of Week 70 and that is where we are all living now.

Daniel’s 70 weeks is not a seamless stream of time. There are distinct breaks, much like commas in a sentence – 7 weeks, 62 weeks and 1 week. The prophetic words of Daniel were for Israel and the Jewish people: 70 weeks of years are decreed concerning your people and your Holy City. The Christian Church was unknown then and was a mystery to be revealed later at the end of 69 weeks. Paul writes in Ephesians 3:4, “When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles by the Spirit, that is, how the gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”

Daniel’s 70th week is in the future and is explained in much detail in the Book of Revelation with the final seven years split into two periods of three and one half years – 42 months or 1260 days.

These are tribulation days after Jesus first comes for his church in the rapture (or snatching away) just as God took Noah and his family away from the great flood. This rapture can occur at any time now.

I would be very concerned if I believed I was living in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week because all true Christians would be gone, we would be under the control of a one world government and leader (the Antichrist), we would be allowed to buy and sell only if we had marks on our hands or foreheads, the world-wide ecumencial body of all faiths would be operating under the control of the False Prophet and the Antichrist would have just broken the strong covenant he made with Israel (Daniel 9:26-27).

But don’t believe what I say. Take the Berean route and examine closely the scriptures to see if these things are true.

– Barry Weston
Manukau