The Gospel Truth and Bible Prophecy

Chapter Eleven: WELCOME TO THE 70th WEEK

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:1-5  

It sounds like Paul, in his letter to Timothy, had today's culture in mind. More than ever before, these signs apply to our time and have become embedded in our society. In addition to these, we see other prophetic signs that the last days are upon us:

- The rise of Islam

- False prophets

- Wars and rumors of wars

- Earthquakes, famines, and pestilence

- Development of nuclear weapons

- The world will move toward a one-world government

- The world will move toward a one-world religion

- Jews will flock to Israel from all over the world

- Increase in travel

- Knowledge and technology will be greatly increased

- Images can be seen live all around the world

- Homosexuality is accepted as normal, and there is hatred of anyone who disagrees

- Christians will be persecuted

- Money will become extinct

- RFID chips are being implanted into people's hands

When you see what is really happening in the world today you realize that we cannot fix this. The time of the end is upon us.

THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

We already discussed the first 69 of Daniel's 70 weeks, and now it is time to discuss the final seven years in detail. Virtually all of the remaining biblical prophecies will occur just before, or within, that time frame. These prophetic events are found in the Olivet Discourse and Revelation.

The Olivet Discourse is one of the most important passages in all of scripture, giving us some of the details of the end time events by Jesus Himself. The primary passage associated with the Olivet Discourse is Matthew 24-25, but there are parallels in Mark 13 and Luke 21. In addition, there are a lot of similarities with events found within the book of Revelation. Viewed together, we get a very detailed picture of the 70th Week.

I will add the relevant verses to this section, but rather than putting all the verses of Matthew 24 and 25 here, I suggest that you read them as well as the companion chapters in Mark and Luke.

The Olivet Discourse takes place during the Passion Week, a few days after Jesus entered Jerusalem, and a couple days before His crucifixion. When Jesus entered Jerusalem it was a spiritual triumph, but He knew that tragedy was coming for the Jewish people, their temple, and their city.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens together under her wings, and ye would not! Matthew 23:37

Now, a few days later, the disciples talk about how beautiful the Temple buildings are and then Jesus gives them His prophecy of destruction:

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Matthew 24:2