A reader recently asked me something along the lines of “how shall we know when the “tribulation” has definitely begun”. This is an important question to address because there is a lot of speculation about when the seventieth week of Daniel (the seven year time period that most people refer to as the “tribulation”) might begin or what people are going to see before it begins. It would be useful for us to have some definitive signposts that we look for so we do not get caught off guard when the seventieth week of Daniel does begin or get caught up in premature proclamations that the seventieth week of Daniel has already begun.
Today I’ll attempt to provide a few definitive signposts that the seventieth week of Daniel has begun or is about ready to begin.
Signpost 1: The Fall of Three of Countries By A Very Charismatic Leader
The Book of Daniel tells us that Antichrist will begin his ascent as a “little horn” who will “humble”/overthrow three kings.
- Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
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- Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
- Eze 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
- Rosh: Russia (who absorbed the land of Magog in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War)
- Meshech: Armenia
- Tubal: The Republic of Georgia
The individual taking over these countries is not going to be your ordinary political leader. The Bible emphasizes that this leader is going to be extremely charismatic; he’ll speak “very great things”.
- Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
I believe this leader will possess extraordinary levels of charisma. I think it’s quite possible that Antichrist’s charisma may be on par with or even exceed the charisma of Adolf Hitler, who was so charismatic that many people-including his generals-described him as having a hypnotic effect on them.
Signpost 2: The Covenant with Many
Perhaps the most apparent signpost that'll alert people that the seventieth week of Daniel has begun is the confirmation of the covenant. Daniel 9:27 indicates that the confirmation of the covenant will come at the beginning of the seventieth week:
- Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
I believe it’s highly likely that people on Earth at that time will hear about the covenant because the Middle East does attract a significant amount of media attention. News about Middle East peace negotiations is almost always reported on the radio, Internet, and newspaper, etc. I imagine the confirmation of this covenant will be a big event, so it probably will be reported like it is a big event.
The Bible gives us clues about the characteristics of the covenant. The following four characteristics might enable a person to distinguish/identify the covenant specifically spoken about in Daniel 9:27 versus a relatively unimportant covenant.
- The Length of the Covenant
- The Signee
- The Nature of the Covenant
- When the Covenant is Signed
The Length of the Covenant
Daniel 9:27 suggests that the covenant is intended to last for “one week” (or “one seven” in Hebrew). A prophetic week is seven years long, so a person should look for an agreement that is legally in effect for seven years.
The Signee
Daniel 9:27 mentions that an individual “he” will confirm a covenant with many. This implies that one of the sides participating in the agreement may consist of a single individual rather than a political organization.
- One could argue that the individual might represent a political organization like the U.N. However, Daniel 9:27 later goes on to say that the same “he” will cause the temple sacrifice to cease and will be responsible for the establishment of the abomination that causes desolation. This would suggest that “he” is working on his own behalf rather than working on behalf of a political organization. It is difficult for me to imagine a political organization ordering their chief representative to stop temple sacrifice and to establish an abomination that causes desolation.
- I think “he” is most likely the Antichrist, who may have control of the three territories I mentioned earlier at the time the covenant is signed.
Therefore, a person should look to see if one of the agreeing parties is an individual working on their own behalf instead of working for a political organization. By working on his own behalf I mean that “he” is the main reason or driving force why his side agreed to the terms of the covenant.
The Nature of the Covenant
There is a lot of speculation about might be some of the terms and conditions that might be included in the covenant. I believe Isaiah 28 most accurately describes the nature of the covenant. The covenant is given an ominous name in Isaiah 28: the “covenant with death”.
- Isa 28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
- Isa 28:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
The covenant with death may include the Antichrist guarantying the security of Israel. Isaiah 28:15 indicates that Israelis leaders will be so overconfident that they will be protected by this covenant that they will believe they will not be harmed even if the world is collapsing around them.
- Isa 28:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
The Book of Ezekiel indicates that the covenant of death will create peace and stability in Israel to the point that Israel will be a land without any protective barriers. The lack of protective barriers in Israel would be the complete opposite of what the situation is like today where walls are constructed to keep Palestinians separated from Jews in many locations. Ezekiel also provides a very interesting detail about the West Bank, which is home to the biblical “mountains of Israel”. The population of the West Bank will be home to many Jews who were gathered back to Israel from around the world.
- Eze 38:8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
- Eze 38:9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
- Eze 38:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
- Eze 38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
This detail implies that the Jews and Palestinians will live in very close quarters in the West Bank peacefully. A peaceful coexistence between Jews and Palestinians would give Antichrist tremendous political clout as he will be heralded as the one who solved all the problems in the Mideast. The last thing Israel’s leaders will suspect is an attack by an influential leader.
Therefore, a person should look for a covenant that is heralded as bringer of peace in the Middle East, especially by Israel’s leaders. Any peace created from an agreement is a false one because the peace will only be temporary.
The Timing of the Covenant
Last week I argued that the seventieth week of Daniel most likely going to begin between late October and middle November of a given year. Consequently, I believe the covenant-itself-would most likely be confirmed during this timeframe, so a person should be particularly alarmed if a covenant is confirmed during this timeframe and meets the other criteria mentioned above.
Signpost 3: A War Leader Dominates His Opposition
A person may be able to identify whether they are living in the seventieth week of Daniel by checking to see if one major trend that will be prevalent as the Antichrist ascends is taking place. The Book of Daniel depicts the Antichrist as a war leader who will dominate anyone who crosses his path, including the strongest of opponents.
- Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
- Dan 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
- Dan 11:38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
- Dan 11:39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
A person living at that time can probably identify that the Antichrist is ascending by seeing the quality of opponents he’s battling/defeating.
A Potential Signpost: The Third Temple
The Antichrist cannot establish an abomination that causes desolation unless a Third Temple is built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Some speculate that the building of the Third Temple could be a term of agreement in the covenant. However, the Third Temple could be theoretically built before the seventieth week of Daniel begins…
- I’m currently analyzing Daniel 8 to see whether the first half of the chapter could potentially have future implications. The study may impact whether I think the Third Temple could be built before the seventieth week of Daniel begins if I conclude the first half of Daniel 8 has future implications. Thus, this statement is subject to change…
The Third Temple’s construction and completion would be a major indication that major events may soon unfold because there hasn’t been a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount since the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans. It would signal that the Lord is readying to proceed with His plan.
We’re Not There Yet
I do not believe we currently are living in the seventieth week of Daniel because we have not yet seen the signposts I’ve listed. There is not yet a “solution” to the problems in the Middle East nor is there yet a very charismatic leader who has overthrown three countries. In addition, there has not been a war leader who has dominated the strongest military opponents on Earth recently.
However, we’ll get there eventually…
