God's Prophetic Calendar

1. The Bible tells us that God is orderly, and that the order God established also affects the dimension of time. The Acts of the Apostles says: «[God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has their preappointed and the boundaries of their habitation.» So the chronology of events is not the result of chance: God intervenes at precise moments in history, so that His prophetic calendar may be fulfilled.

2. In the prophecy of the 70 weeks, found in Daniel chapter 9, the angel Gabriel says that during the 70th and last week, «Messiah shall be cut off.» And Gabriel adds: «In the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.» Which event perfectly fulfilled this prophecy?
   The baptism of Jesus Christ.
   The murder of John the Baptist.
   The death of Jesus on the cross.
   The destruction of Jerusalem's temple.

3. In the heart of the prophecy of Daniel 8, as the disastrous work of the little horn is described, a question is asked: «How long?» The answer to this question presents a new prophetic period: «For days; then the shall be .» This prophetic period began in 457 B.C., and ended in A.D. 1844, the year when God's judgment began in the heavenly sanctuary.

4. The prophetic period of the 1260 days is presented several times in the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation. Among the following prophetic periods, please indicate all those which describe the 1260 days (check off all the right answers) :
   «A time and times and half a time».
   «Seventy weeks».
   «Forty-two months».
   «Half an hour».

5. When did the prophetic period of the 1260 days begin?
   In A.D. 313.
   In A.D. 331.
   In A.D. 476.
   In A.D. 538.

6. Which event put an end to the prophetic period of the 1260 days?
   The great Lisbon earthquake.
   The darkening of the sun and the moon.
   The dismissal of the pope by France.
   The appearance of Bible societies.

7. After having lost its political power at the end of the 1260 years, the papacy recovered it in 1929 when Mussolini, by the Lateran treaty, restored temporal power to the pope, who was given rulership over Vatican. The book of Revelation had foretold this amazing return: «I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was . And all the marveled and the beast.» Once again, the prophecy was very precisely fulfilled.

8. In the book of Daniel, chapter 12, the angel announces that the Church of Rome will have two reigns. The first reign lasted «a time, times, and half a time», that is, years, and came to an end in the year . The second reign will come to an end «when the power of the holy people has been completely », which announces very difficult times for God's people in the last days.

9. At the end of our lesson on the 1335 days of Daniel chapter 12, we have seen that thinking to know the year when the last countdown leading to Jesus' return begins may be dangerous. Which important warnings must we always remember? (Check off all the right answers.)
   Setting the year too early may discourage, once the mistake noticed.
   Setting the year too late may prevent a serious preparation.
   Difficult days will precede the return of Jesus.
   Let's maintain our relationship with Jesus, so as to be always ready.

10. Finally, though we cannot know the precise date of Jesus' return, the signs of the times tell us that this great event cannot delay much longer. In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus clearly shows the importance of recognizing these signs: «So you, likewise, when you see these things happening, know that ...»
    «worldwide peace is near.»
    «rebellious men will at last admit their error.»
    «all the Churches will be united before God.»
    «the kingdom of God is near.»

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