Rev 13:5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
So this just confirms ALL we have just learned. The person above, we know is the AOD. And we just learned that power will be given to him for forty-two months. And just how long is forty-two month? You guessed it; 3.5 years. Let’s go back in the book of Daniel to see if he gives us any other time reference that is close to 3.5 years.
Dan 7:8. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9. And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety
days.
Now we are given a time frame of 1,290 days, which is 30 days longer than the other events. But let’s read the 11th verse again:
11. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up,
So in this instance, the reference also includes the time that the AOD is, ‘set up’ or ‘placed‘. So we are still looking at a 3.5 year time frame. But where will he be set up? Let’s re-read a verse in II Thes;
II Thes 2:4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God.
So just where is the temple of God? It is in the same place where the daily sacrifices will be started and then stopped. And the only place to perform the daily sacrifices is in the temple, that is yet to be built in Jerusalem. Yet another sign; the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. So is it all starting to come together?
OK….we have just compiled a lot if information. Time for a review.
Earlier we identified the AOD by the signs given to us in the scriptures, which are the following: he will, (1) exalt himself above all that is called God, (2) make war with the saints and prevail against them, (3) do according to his will, (4) have power over ALL kindreds, tongues and nations, and (5) stop the daily sacrifice which will have been started in the temple in Jerusalem. II Thes 2:3, Dan 7:21, Dan 11:36, Rev 13:7 and Dan 8:11.
Jesus and Daniel both described a time of trouble that would happen on this earth that has never happened before and would never happen again. A onetime event! Matt 24:21 & Dan 12:1
In the book of Rev. we learned from the (2) descriptions of the woman fleeing to the wilderness that the phrase, ‘time, times and half a time.’ is equal to 3.5 years.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 3.5
years. Rev 12:6.
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a
time, from the face of the serpent. 3.5 years. Rev 12:14.
Daniel was told in a dream that the time of trouble would last for, ‘…for a time, times, and an half;’ 3.5 years. Dan 12:7.
Daniel was told in a dream that the AOD would speak great words against the most High and wear out and prevail over the saints for, ‘…a time and times and the dividing of time.’ 3.5 years. Dan 7:25.
It was revealed to John that the AOD would speak great things and blasphemies and that, ’… power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” Forty-two months equals, 3.5 years. Rev 13:5.
It was revealed to Daniel that the AOD would, ‘…speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 3.5 years. Dan 7:25
Daniel also tells us that the total time from the setting up of the AOD, until the time he take away the daily sacrifice, ‘…there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.’ Remember this time also includes the time needed to set up the AOD. 3.5 years. Dan 7:11.
Conclusion
Now is it a coincident that each of the above events lasts 3.5 years? Of course not! After all, the reason Jesus tells us to go to the book of Daniel in the first place is for us to know the signs of His second coming. And as we all know, the vision John was having in the book of Rev. was about the events that would take place at the second coming of Christ.
So yes!!! All of the events we have been reading about are all one time events taking place at the same time. The AOD is revealed and set up in the temple in Jerusalem. He will make war with the saints and win. He will speak great words against the most High. He will have full control over, ‘…all kindreds, tongues and nations.’ All of this he will do this for a period of; 1,260 - 1,290 days, or forty and two months, or 3.5 years. And at the end of 3.5 years he will stop the daily sacrifice and the ’time of trouble’ or ’great tribulation’ will be over. According to doctrine, isn’t Jesus to take the saints before all of this?
So I ask you, must these things come to pass in the order God said they would? Well, If you believe the word of God, these events must happen exactly as the scriptures states. They must! Why? Because it is, “…impossible for God to lie…”, Heb 6:18.
Still not convinced? Well let’s read a few more verses that should leave no doubt in your mind that Jesus cannot, make that, WILL NOT, return any sooner than the signs given to us in the scriptures. Let’s continue in the book of Matt.
Now we know Jesus tells us that there will be times of great tribulation;
Matt 24:21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
But look at what he tells us next;
29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers
of the heavens shall be shaken:
30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory.
31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
And at which trump will all of these things spoken of take place?
I Cor 15:52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
And what is the number of the last trumpet that will sound, at which time all will be complete?
Rev 8:17. 2. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
6. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
Rev 11:15. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his
Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Please take note of ALL that is being said here, especially when the gathering of the elect takes place. Jesus tells us with His own mouth that it will be, ‘Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days…’, and, ‘…then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven…’ and ‘…gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.’, ’… In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump…’ Need more proof? Let’s go to II Thes;
II Thes 2:1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
So here we have Paul, writing to the Thessalonians about the coming of the Lord, warning them not to let any man deceive them by any means. He then goes on to tell them that the day of the Lords coming SHALL NOT COME, until the AOD is revealed. He also let’s us know it will be at that time we are gathered unto him. Let’s read quickly about this gathering of saints!
In the book of Zechariah we are given glimpse of end time events;
Zech 14:1. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
4. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof ..
5. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; …and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
And now in the NT;
Acts 1:11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
12. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
Would you not say that this too is a one time event? Just how many one time events can there be? How many times can Jesus return to the mount of Olives? And who will be with Him when He returns? I wonder how many gatherings of the saints will there be? My guess is (1)!!!
Col 3:4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
I Thes 4:14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
So, putting this all into perspective, we have the following;
The ‘great tribulation will begin when the AOD comes on the scene and is revealed. Dan 7:25.
Jesus CANNOT return before the time of ‘great tribulation’. Matt 24:29.
The ‘great tribulation’ or ‘times of trouble’ will last for 3.5 years. Dan 12:7.
Jesus states himself that He will return, AFTER the great tribulation. Matt 24:30.
When Jesus returns, it will be at that time He gathers the saints. Matt 24:31, Zach 14:5 & II Thes 2:1.
The gathering of the saints does not happen until the last trumpet sounds. I Cor15:52.
The 7th trumpet is the last one. Which means (6) will sound prior to Christ 2nd coming. Rev 11:15
When Jesus does return, it will be to the mount of Olives. Zach 14:11 & Acts 1:11-12.
Jesus warns His disciples to, ’…Take heed that no man deceive you.’. Paul warns the Thessalonians, ‘…Let no man deceive you by any means‘. My question to you is, have you been deceived? Is it really possible for Christ to come back at a moments notice? Tomorrow? Today? At this very moment? Without any warnings or signs what so ever? And how about the ‘rapture’ of the saints before the ‘time of trouble’ and ‘great tribulation‘? Is this still your belief? Well, if you do not know the answer to these questions by now, I guess what the scriptures says is true; for some, Jesus will come as a thief in the night.
I Thes 5:2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Rev 3:3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. IF THEREFORE THOU SHALT NOT WATCH, I WILL COME ON THEE AS A
THIEF, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
But let’s read what the scriptures has to say for those that did what Jesus said, ‘…whoso readeth, let him understand),;
I Thes 5:4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
So, will you heed the warnings of Christ and Paul and not let any man deceive you by any means? Will you be a child of the light? One that watches, so that day does not overtake you as a thief. Do you know the signs of the second coming of Christ? If you do, answer me this;
Can it really happen tomorrow?