Prophecy Sign 2: A seven year covenant signed with Israel
Daniel 9:27 (NIV)
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
Anyone who takes Bible prophecy literally understands that a time of tribulation awaits the inhabitants of this earth. Our Lord spoke of it in Matthew 24:21, "There will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now." This time of tribulation is to be seven years (Daniel's 70th week) and is based on his prophetic vision in Daniel 9:24-27. This passage explains that the coming antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel and the many for one 'seven' year period and in the middle of the 'seven' he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. For this reason, most prophecy teachers also are looking for the future Antichrist to begin Daniel's 70th week by signing a covenant with Israel and the many nations for seven years.
Every day we hear something about Middle East Peace talks, or lack thereof. Regardless, at some point they will be completed and this will be the first sign that we will see indicating the end times have begun. Daniel 9:27 tells us it will be a seven year covenant between the Antichrist and Israel. It may include the permission to rebuild the third temple in Israel. Here’s the problem; the 7 year covenant may not be as conspicuous as we might like. In other words, it may not be revealed to the world, until well after the fact. To say it another way, the covenant could have already been signed, but we have not yet been informed.
The sequence of events in Daniel 9:24-27, then, provides a step-by-step outline of God's prophetic timetable. The seventieth week - the seven years remaining - will transpire in the end times. But before this last "week" could take place, Israel needed to regain control of her Promised Land (which she did in 1948) and then the entire city of Jerusalem (which she did in 1967). When will the seventieth week begin? In His Olivet Discourse, Christ tells His disciples that "when you see all these things (things associated with the seventieth week), recognize that He (Christ) is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass until all these things take place. (Matthew 24:33,34). 'These things' referred to by Christ are the events that will occur during the seventieth week, not before, and they must take place before we can look for the return of Christ. Therefore, the seventieth week has tremendous significance to all who are 'looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus' (Titus 2:13).
The covenant between Antichrist and Israel (Dan. 9:27). The terms of this covenant are not listed, but it is clear it will be a non-aggression pact, perhaps even a military alliance that will enable the Antichrist to gain power over the 10 kingdoms during the first 3 1/2 years of the 70th week (Dan. 7:23-24; 8:23-25; Rev. 17:8-17). It will include the protection of Israel in their national establishment and restoration and assure them at least temporary peace (Dan. 8:25; 9:27; 11:36-45). The length of the covenant is to be 7 years (Dan. 9:27). -Dake's Study Notes
A Covenant of Death
Isaiah 28:14-19
Every day we hear something about Middle East Peace talks, or lack thereof. Regardless, at some point they will be completed and this will be a sign (that we may or may not see) indicating the end times have begun. Daniel 9:27 tells us it will be a seven year covenant between the Antichrist and Israel. It may include the permission to rebuild the third temple in Israel.
Here’s the problem; the 7 year covenant may not be as conspicuous as we might like. In other words, it may not be revealed to the world, until well after the fact. To say it another way, the covenant could have already been signed, but we have not yet been informed.
THE SEVEN-YEAR COVENANT OF DEATH
The Bible also calls this seven-year covenant, a Covenant of Death. Isaiah, in a prophetic context of the end time, tells of Israel’s final apostasy and the pattern it will take.
Isaiah 28:15-16 You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. (We mistakenly believe) When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place." 16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
Isaiah 28:18-19 Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave (a pact with sheol) will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it. 19 As often as it comes it will carry you away; morning after morning, by day and by night, it will sweep through." The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.
When the true identity of the Antichrist is revealed when the Abomination of Desolation occurs, they will understand what it means and it will bring sheer terror to the people. The signing of the covenant could occur almost overnight. The Jewish nation will think the covenant will be one of peace, safety and protection from the surrounding nations, but she will discover to her horror that the covenant of safety will be in fact a “Covenant of Death,” a “Pact with Sheol.”
The signing of the 7-year covenant may, or may not be, a conspicuous event which clearly identifies the Antichrist or when Daniel’s 70th week begins. So, in the beginning, his identity may not be as obvious as we would like. It may well occur behind the scene. But if we see a world leader signing a seven-year covenant regarding Israel’s safety, we should be alert to see if the birth pangs of the 70th week follow shortly. These birth pangs will be mild in comparison to what will follow during the second half of the week, the hard labor of the Great Tribulation.
•Daniel 9:27 (NIV)
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".
•Daniel 11:23 (NIV)
23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power.
•Daniel 11:30 (NIV)
30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
•Daniel 11:31-32 (NIV)
31 "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
•Daniel 11:33-35 reveals that the wise, the people who know their God, (called the “maskilim”) will be strong and resist the Antichrist. They will know the truth and will instruct many. Many in the Church and a remnant in Israel will be martyred and refined and made pure until the time of the end, when Jesus Christ returns, setting up his kingdom on earth and all Israel will be saved!
•Isaiah 34:2 (KJV)
2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Why is God fury upon His enemies? “For the Controversy of Zion!!!
•Isaiah 34:8 (KJV)
8 For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of Redemption for the controversy of Zion. It seems everyone has a controversy with Zion because of God’s covenant promises to them. Israel has a problem with God’s promises. The Muslim nations have problems with God’s promises to Israel, Jerusalem and the Jews. Many of the nations have a problems with God’s land promises to Israel. Many in the Church have problems with God’s promises to Israel, thinking they have been set aside forever and we have inherited their promises. The Church is steeped in replacement theology.
•Revelation 6:8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. (The Birth Pains begin Satan’s final attempt to prevent the rebirth of the nation Israel and the fulfillment of all her eternal promises of God.) They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth (The Antichrist and the False Prophet).