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Our Mission: Revelation 14:6-12
If I Were Told the Future - Lesson 55
God's
Prophetic Calendar
Screen 1
Let's pray together:
Lord God,
In our last lessons, we have discovered Your wonderful prophetic calendar, and the periods
which are contained in it.
We heartily thank You for giving us this calendar, and allowing us to understand it.
Please guide us in this lesson, through the presence of Your Holy Spirit, as we put
together all these periods and dates, to have a global picture of Your prophetic calendar.
In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Screen 2
Acts 17:26
[God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.
----------------------------------------------------
Yes indeed, God has «determined the preappointed times».
In this lesson, we will quickly review each one of the great periods contained in God's
prophetic calendar.
Then, we will draw a table putting together all these prophetic periods.
Screen 3
Daniel 9:24
Seventy weeks are determined for your people.
----------------------------------------------------
First, we studied the prophetic period of the seventy weeks, announcing the first coming of Jesus.
Screen 4
In this period of 70 weeks, we placed the following milestones:
«From the going | ° Starting
point of the 70 weeks prophecy:
forth of the | Artaxerxes' decree.
command to re- | Year: 457 B.C.
store and build |
Jerusalem un- | ° 7 weeks later, that is, 49 years (7 x 7 = 49 years):
til Messiah the | Restoration of Jerusalem is
completed.
Prince, there | Year: 408 B.C. (-457 + 49
= -408)
shall be seven |
weeks and six- | ° 62 weeks later, that is, 434 years (62x7=434 years):
ty-two weeks.» | The coming of Messiah the
Prince
(Daniel 9:25) | Year: A.D. 27 (-408 + 434 = 27)
Screen 5
Let's remember the impact of the absence of a year 0 (zero):
Some may point out that -408 + 434 =
26, not 27. But we must note that there is no year 0 (zero). To illustrate this, let's
look at the following example:
================================= You
might think that between
Year |-4 |-3 |-2 |-1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -4 and 4, there are 8
years.
================================= But
year 0 does not exist,
Length |-1-|-2-|-3-|-4-|-5-|-6-|-7-| so there are only
7 years.
So to the addition (-408 + 434 = 26), we must add a year since there is no year 0 (26 + 1
= 27). For the example above, we get: -4 + 7 = 3, and then 3 + 1 = 4.
Screen 6
Daniel 9:26,27
After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off. (...)
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he
shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
----------------------------------------------------
Then this prophecy indicated that, in the middle of the
seventieth week, the Messiah would be cut off, bringing an end to sacrifice and offering.
Exactly at the predicted time, in the spring of the year 31, Jesus, the Messiah, died on
the cross, thus bringing to an end the temple's sacrificial system and offerings.
Screen 7
Daniel 9:24
Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins.
----------------------------------------------------
After Jesus' death and resurrection, half a week (3½ years)
still remained before the end of the 490 years of probation, set aside exclusively for the
people of Israel, who had then to accept Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Unfortunately, the Jewish nation rejected the gospel.
By stoning Stephen, the first Christian martyr, in A.D 34, they put an end to the 70 weeks
(490 years) of probation, and Christians turned to the Gentiles.
Screen 8
Summary of the 70 weeks prophecy:
+--- «70 weeks are
determined for your people.» (DANIEL 9:24) ---+
|
|
Decree Restoration
Baptism
Crucifixion Stoning
of king of
of
of
of
Artaxerxes Jerusalem
Jesus
Jesus
Stephen
|----------------|-----------------|--------------|--------------|
Autumn Autumn
Autumn
Spring
Autumn
457 B.C. 408 B.C.
A.D. 27
A.D. 31 A.D. 34
|---- 7 weeks ---|---- 62 weeks ---|--- ½ week ---|--- ½ week ---|
|--- 49 years ---|--- 434 years ---|-- 3½ years --|-- 3½ years --|
|
|
+------------ 70 prophetic weeks, that is, 490 years ------------+
Screen 9
Daniel 8:13,14
I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that
certain one who was speaking,
«How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of
desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?»
And he said to me,
«For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.»
----------------------------------------------------
Then, we studied the prophecy of the 2300 days.
Screen 10
Daniel 8:14,26
For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be
cleansed. (...)
The vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the
vision, for it refers to many days in the future.
----------------------------------------------------
The 2300 days have the same starting point as the 70 weeks, that
is, 457 B.C., and thus lead to A.D. 1844.
So we can understand why the angel said to Daniel that his vision referred «to many days
in the future».
Screen 11
Hebrews 9:23,24
Therefore is was necessary that the copies of the things in the
heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better
sacrifices than these.
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true,
but into heaven itself.
----------------------------------------------------
We also saw that the cleansing of the sanctuary, which began in
1844, concerns the heavenly sanctuary, where Jesus, our High Priest, is now performing a
work of judgment.
In fact, this cleansing of the sanctuary symbolizes the beginning of the judgment.
Screen 12
Daniel 7:9-11
I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days
was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came
forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated, and the books were opened.
I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking.
----------------------------------------------------
The prophecy of Daniel chapter 7 already indicated that the
judgment would begin before the return of Jesus.
In fact, this vision of the judgment takes place as the little horn is still committing
its misdeeds.
Screen 13
Summary of the 70 weeks prophecy and the 2300 days prophecy:
+----- «For 2300 days; then the
sanctuary shall be cleansed.» -----+
|
|
+---- «70 weeks are determined for your people.»
----+ |
|
| |
Arta- Restora- Baptism
Cruci- Stoning
Cleansing
xerxes' tion of
of fixion
of
of the
decree Jerusalem Jesus
of Jesus Stephen
sanctuary
|------------|-------------|------------|------------|-------------|
Autumn Autumn
Autumn Spring Autumn
Autumn
457 B.C. 408 B.C. A.D. 27
A.D. 31 A.D. 34
1844
|-- 7 weeks -|-- 62 weeks -|-- ½ week --|-- ½ week --|
|
|- 49 years -|- 434 years -|- 3½ years -|- 3½ years -|--1810 years-|
Screen 14
Daniel 7:25
The saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.
---------------------
Revelation 13:5,7
And he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
(...)
And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.
----------------------------------------------------
Then, we studied the 1260 days, also described with the words «a
time and times and half a time», or «forty-two months» (42 x 30 = 1260).
This period of persecution for God's people took place from 538 to 1798 A.D.
Screen 15
Daniel 7:25
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall
persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.
---------------------
Revelation 13:5,6
He was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God.
----------------------------------------------------
These 1260 years, which were a time of persecution, apostasy, and deep spiritual darkness, correspond to the reign of the Church of Rome.
Screen 16
Revelation 13:3
I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and
his deadly wound was healed.
And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
----------------------------------------------------
When the pope was taken prisoner by France, in 1798, the Church
of Rome lost its political power, putting an end to the 1260 days.
But the papacy recovered this political power in 1929 when Mussolini, through the Lateran
treaty, restored temporal power to the pope, who was then given rulership over Vatican.
Thus was healed its «deadly wound».
And, as foretold, its influence over the nations has grown amazingly since the end of
World War II.
Screen 17
Daniel 7:25,26
The saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and
half a time.
But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and
destroy it forever.
----------------------------------------------------
Here is an interesting point. Daniel chapter 7 confirms this
chronology:
- First, the papacy reigned for 1260 years, from 538 to 1798;
- Then, God's judgment began in 1844 («the court shall be seated»), at the
end of the 2300 days;
- Finally, after its temporary healing in 1929, the papacy's dominion will be
«consumed and destroyed forever».
Screen 18
Daniel 12:11-13
From the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the
abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety
days.
Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance
at the end of the days.
----------------------------------------------------
We then studied the 1290 days and the 1335 days, two prophetic periods given at the very end of the book of Daniel, to provide additional information about the reign of the Church of Rome.
Screen 19
Daniel 12:7
[The man clothed in linen] swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
----------------------------------------------------
Since the 1290 years concern the reign of the Roman Church, the
course of the 1290 years takes place during this reign, which has two distinct stages:
- A first reign of 1260 years (3½ times), from A.D. 538 to 1798.
- Then, a second and last reign: «when the power of the holy people has been
completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.»
Screen 20
Daniel 12:11
From the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.
---------------------
Revelation 17:1,2,4
«Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits
on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the
inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.» (...)
[She had] in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her
fornication.
----------------------------------------------------
So the 1290 days end during the Church's second reign, when «the abomination of desolation is set up», that is, an event linked with the alliance between the apostate Church and the nations made drunk with her wine.
Screen 21
Daniel 12:12
Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
----------------------------------------------------
We also saw that the 1335 days (which end 45 years after the 1290
days) lead to the days of Jesus' return.
So, to discover when the 1335 days end, we must first determine when the second reign of
the Roman Church began.
Then we must find the event corresponding to «the abomination of desolation» (which
marks the end of the 1290 days).
We proposed two hypotheses about this. But we must always remember that other hypotheses
are possible: this is why every serious student must remain open-minded, and continue his
research.
Screen 22
The 1290 days and the 1335 days, according to our first hypothesis:
Start
of End of
Start
of Announce- The
the Roman the Roman
the Roman
ment of Last
Church's Church's
Church's
Second Vati- Count-
first reign first reign
second reign can
Council down
+----------------+---------------------+--------------+------------|
538
1798 Reign inter- 1929
1959
2004
|
|
rupted, stopping |
|
|
+- First reign --| the course of the +------- Second reign
------|
+-- 1260 years --+ 1290 and 1335 days. +-- 30 years --+- 45 years -|
+-- The prophetic period of the 1290 years (1260+30)
-+ |
| (Interruption of the count between 1798 and 1929)
|
+------- The prophetic period of the 1335 years (1260+30+45) ------+
(Interruption of
the count between 1798 and 1929)
Screen 23
The 1290 days and the 1335 days, according to our second hypothesis:
Start
of End of
Start
of Election The
the Roman the Roman
the Roman
of Pope Last
Church's Church's
Church's
John Paul Count-
first reign first reign
second reign
II
down
+----------------+---------------------+--------------+------------|
538
1798 Reign inter- 1948
1978
2023
|
|
rupted, stopping |
|
|
+- First reign --| the course of the +------- Second reign
------|
+-- 1260 years --+ 1290 and 1335 days. +-- 30 years --+- 45 years -|
+-- The prophetic period of the 1290 years (1260+30)
-+ |
+------- The prophetic period of the 1335 years (1260+30+45) ------+
[The course of the 1290 and the 1335 days is stopped between 1798 and
1948, that is, during the 150 years of torment of the fifth trumpet.]
Screen 24
The 1290 days and the 1335 days, according to your hypothesis:
Start
of End of
Event marking
Abomina- The
the Roman the Roman
the start
tion of de- Last
Church's Church's
of
the solation
Count-
first reign first reign
second reign is
set up down
+----------------+---------------------+--------------+------------|
538
1798 Reign inter- ?
?
?
|
|
rupted, stopping |
|
|
+- First reign --| the course of the +------- Second reign
------|
+-- 1260 years --+ 1290 and 1335 days. +-- 30 years --+- 45 years -|
+-- The prophetic period of the 1290 years (1260+30)
-+ |
| (Count stopped between 1798 and start of the 2nd reign)
|
+------- The prophetic period of the 1335 years (1260+30+45) ------+
(Count stopped between 1798
and start of the 2nd reign)
Screen 25
Luke 21:28-31
«Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption draws near.»
And He spoke to them a parable:
«Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know
for yourselves that summer is now near.
So you, likewise, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is
near.»
----------------------------------------------------
Finally, we saw that, without being able to know the day and
hour, we can note the imminence of Jesus' return through the presence of the signs of the
times.
Now, let's draw a global table of God's prophetic calendar.
Screen 26
Dates and events marking out God's prophetic calendar:
457 B.C.: Artaxerxes' decree announcing
the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
A.D. 27 : Baptism of Jesus and beginning of His ministry.
A.D. 31 : Crucifixion of Jesus; new covenant sealed with His blood.
A.D. 34 : Stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, by the Jews.
538 : Beginning of the first political reign of the Church of Rome.
1798 : End of the first political reign of the Church of Rome.
1844 : Beginning of the judgment (cleansing of heavenly sanctuary).
1929 : Beginning of the second political reign of the Church of Rome,
through the Lateran Treaty
which created the state of Vatican.
1948 : Beginning of the second reign of influence of the Church of
Rome, with the creation of
the World Council of Churches.
End : The last countdown, leading to the return of Jesus Christ.
Screen 27
Major periods specified in God's prophetic calendar:
A B C
D E
F G H
I J K L
+-------+---+---+------+--------+------+------+-----+-----+-----+----|
457BC AD27 31 34 538
1798 1844 1929 1948
1959 1978 End
=========================================================================
- From A to D: the 70 weeks (DANIEL 9:24-27).
- From B to C: the first half of the 70th week (DANIEL 9:26,27).
- From C to D: the second half of the 70th week (DANIEL 9:26,27).
- From A to G: the 2300 days (DANIEL 8:13,14).
- From E to F: the 1260 days [that is, 42 months, or 3½ times]
(DANIEL 7:25; 12:7; REVELATION 11:2,3; 12:6,14; 13:5).
- From E to F, then from H to J: the 1290 days (DANIEL 12:11), according
to our first hypothesis. Let's note that other hypotheses are possible.
- From E to F, then from H to L: the 1335 days (DANIEL 12:12), according
to our first hypothesis. Let's note that other hypotheses are possible.
- From E to F, then from I to K: the 1290 days (DANIEL 12:11), according
to our 2nd hypothesis. Let's note that other hypotheses are possible.
- From E to F, then from I to L: the 1335 days (DANIEL 12:12), according
to our 2nd hypothesis. Let's note that other hypotheses are possible.
Screen 28
Events covered by the prophetic periods contained in God's calendar:
A B C
D E
F G H
I J K L
+-------+---+---+------+--------+------+------+-----+-----+-----+----|
457BC AD27 31 34 538
1798 1844 1929 1948 1959 1978 End
=========================================================================
- From A to D: Probation granted to the Jewish nation.
- From B to C: Jesus Christ's ministry on earth.
- From C to D: Call to repentance given to the Jewish nation.
- From D to L: The gospel preached to both Gentiles and Jews.
- From E to F: The Church of Rome's first political reign.
- From F to H: The Church of Rome without any political power.
- From F to I: The Church of Rome without any influence over the nations
(the 150 years of torment of the fifth trumpet).
- From H to L: The Church of Rome's second political reign.
- From I to L: The Church of Rome's second reign of influence.
- From J to K: Beginning of the Church of Rome's ecumenical effort.
- From K to L: Intensification of the Church of Rome's ecumenical effort.
Screen 29
Global table of God's prophetic calendar (first hypothesis):
|----------- The 2300 days
----------|-------- The End Times -------|
|
The Announcement of Second |
Arta- Jesus Start of the
judgment Vatican Council («abomi- |
xerxes' cru- Roman Church's begins
nation of desolation») |
decree cified first reign
| Start of the
| Last
| Baptism |Stephen | End of this | Roman
Church's | Count-
| of Jesus |stoned | first reign | second
reign | down
+------+---+---+----+-----------+----+----------+---------+---------+
457BC AD27 31 34 538
1798 1844 1929 1959
2004
|---70 Weeks---| |-1260 Days-|
|
| |
| The Church of | |
|
* 1290 Days --> |-1260 Days-| Rome's reign |-30
days-| |
* 1335 Days --> |-1260 Days-| interrupted
|-30 days-|-45 days-|
Screen 30
Global table of God's prophetic calendar (second hypothesis):
|----------- The 2300 days
----------|-------- The End Times -------|
|
| Ecumenical effort in- |
|
Start
of The
tensified since John |
Arta- Jesus the Roman
judgment Paul II
(«abomina- |
xerxes' cru- Church's
begins tion of
desolation») |
decree cified first reign
| Roman Church re- |
Last
| Baptism |Stephen | End of this | gains its
influ- | Count-
| of Jesus |stoned | first reign | ence (2nd
reign) | down
+------+---+---+----+-----------+----+----------+---------+---------+
457BC AD27 31 34 538
1798 1844 1948 1978
2023
|---70 Weeks---| |-1260 Days-|
|
| |
| The Church of | |
|
* 1290 Days --> |-1260 Days-| Rome's reign |-30
days-| |
* 1335 Days --> |-1260 Days-| interrupted
|-30 days-|-45 days-|
[From 1798 to 1948 ===> the 150 years of torment of the fifth trumpet.]
Screen 31
Global table of God's prophetic calendar (other hypothesis):
|----------- The 2300 days
------------|------- The End Times ------|
|
The The abomination |
Arta- Jesus Start of the
judgment of desolation
is |
xerxes' cru- Roman Church's
begins set up (event?) |
decree cified first reign
| Start of the Ro- |
Last
| Baptism |Stephen | End of this | man Church's
2nd | Count-
| of Jésus |stoned | first reign | reign
(event?) | down
+------+---+---+----+-----------+------+--------+---------+---------+
457BC AD27 31 34 538
1798 1844 ?
? ?
|---70 Weeks---| |-1260 Days-|
|
| |
| The Church of | |
|
* 1290 Days --> |-1260 Days-| Rome's reign |-30
days-| |
* 1335 Days --> |-1260 Days-| interrupted
|-30 days-|-45 days-|
Screen 32
Mark 13:37
What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
----------------------------------------------------
Finally, let's always remember the danger of thinking we know the
year when the last countdown leading to Jesus' return begins.
Some people, by setting the year too early, can be discouraged when they see that they
were mistaken.
Others, by setting the year too late, may not seriously prepare themselves, wrongly
believing that they still have much time before them.
The only wise attitude is to follow Jesus' advice: let's watch, in order to always be
ready, continuously having a strong personal relationship with our Savior.
Screen 33
Let's thank God:
Heavenly Father,
The first part of this Bible study guide has helped us «To Find Out Where We Come From»,
by searching the past and by observing the amazing fulfillment of Your prophetic Word
throughout history.
Please grant us now the great privilege of finding out «Where We Go Now», in order that
we may discover what the future holds for us, and be able to make the best decisions from
now on.
In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
The test of Lesson 55 is waiting for you!