13.5.4. Events of the 70th Week of Daniel

The parallels between Revelation and Daniel’s 70th week have not gone unnoticed.¹ Although it is impossible to know with certainty the absolute sequence among all the events recorded by Scripture associated with the final week, the timing of some of the more significant events can be established.²

Events during the First Half of the 70^th Week

Event	Scriptures
Antichrist establishes covenant with many in Israel.	Dan. Dan. 9:27
144,000 Jews sealed for protection.	Rev. Rev. 7:1-8+
Jews sacrifice and worship at the temple in Jerusalem.	Dan. Dan. 9:27; Rev. Rev. 11:1+
Two witnesses prophesy and torment the earth dwellers.	Rev. Rev. 11:3-6+
Seven seals opened, six of seven trumpets sounded.3	Rev. Rev. 6:1-17+; Rev. Rev. 8:1+-Rev. 9:21+

Events during the Middle of the 70^th Week

Event4	Scriptures
Beast given authority.5	Dan. Dan. 7:25; Rev. Rev. 13:5+
Two witnesses killed and resurrected.6	Rev. Rev. 11:7-12+
Antichrist violates covenant.	Dan. Dan. 7:25; Dan. 9:27
Sacrifice halted at the temple in Jerusalem.	Dan. Dan. 9:27
Abomination of Desolation.	Dan. Dan. 9:27; Dan. 11:31; 7 12:11; Mtt. Mat. 24:15; Mark Mark 13:14; 2Th. 2Th. 2:4; Rev. Rev. 13:15+8 See commentary on Revelation 13:15.
Jews flee persecution.	Mtt. Mat. 24:15-20; Mark Mark 13:14-18 ; Rev. Rev. 12:6+, Rev. 12:14+

Events during the Last Half of the 70^th Week

Event	Scriptures
Seventh trumpet sounded.9	Rev. Rev. 11:15+
Beast and his image kill the saints.	Dan. Dan. 7:21, Dan. 7:25; Dan. 8:24; Rev. Rev. 7:9-16+; Rev. 12:11+; Rev. 13:7+, Rev. 13:15+; Rev. 20:4+
Seven bowls poured out.10	Rev. Rev. 16:1-21+
Jews recognize and call for Messiah Jesus.	Lev. Lev. 26:40-42; Hos. Hos. 5:15-Hos. 6:3; Zec. Zec. 13:9; Mtt. Mat. 23:39; Luke Luke 13:35
Campaign of Armageddon & Second Coming	Isa. Isa. 63:1-6; Joel Joel 3:9-16; Zec. Zec. 12:1-9; Zec. 14:1-5; Rev. Rev. 16:12-16+; Rev. 19:17-21+

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Notes

¹ “Textual correlations that develop the expansion and chronological framework of the Seventieth Week of Daniel [indicate that] Daniel Dan. 9:27 equals Rev. Rev. 6:12-17+.”—John A. McLean, “Structure of the Book of Revelation,” in Mal Couch, ed., Dictionary of Premillennial Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1996), 376.

² We have purposefully excluded events whose relative timing we view to be less certain. A more detailed list could be prepared, but would be more likely to contain errors. For a more detailed development, see [Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of Messiah, rev ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003), 204,240,276].

³ The difficulty of establishing with certainty the timing of the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments relative to other events of the Tribulation can be seen by the great amount of discussion concerning the subject. It is our belief that the judgments through the sixth trumpet could all occur within the first half of the week since the ascendancy of the beast is not seen in the judgments until the time of the first bowl under the seventh trumpet (Rev. Rev. 11:15+ cf. Rev. Rev. 16:2+). It seems the abomination of desolation must have occurred prior to the pouring out of the first bowl because it targets the Beast worshipers (Rev. Rev. 16:2+).

⁴ These events do not all transpire in one instant, but are initiated at the midpoint of the week.

⁵ The ascendancy and authority of the beast is strictly subject to God’s control.

⁶ Their witness is ended by the ascendancy of the beast (Rev. Rev. 11:7+) at the end of the first half of the week, whereas the last half of the week ends in the destruction of the beast (Rev. Rev. 19:20+). “During the first half of the week he is in his mortal stage. In the last half he is in his superhuman stage; . . . This eighth verse therefore refers to the mid-career of the Beast; and the point of the vision is the moment between the mortal and superhuman stages; i.e., between chapters 12 and 13.”—E. W. Bullinger, Commentary On Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1984, 1935), Rev. 17:8.

⁷ Although Daniel Dan. 11:31 was fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, it stands as an example of the future event which Jesus spoke of (Mtt. Mat. 24:15).

⁸ Although the man of sin will initially sit in the temple of God and present himself as God (2Th. 2Th. 2:4). Since he is not God, he lacks omnipresence. So it appears that an image is erected in the temple which then receives worship on his behalf (Rev. Rev. 13:15+). This allows him to conduct other activities associated with his conquest and rule.

⁹ The timing of the seventh trumpet is approximate and is difficult to establish with certainty. From the description of the first bowl (under the seventh trumpet), it would seem that the last trumpet would occur near the midpoint of the week, just as the beast has established global control and the false prophet is instituting his worship. No mention is made of the beast or his worshipers until after the sixth trumpet (Rev. Rev. 9:13+ cf. Rev. Rev. 11:7+). The prelude to the bowl judgments—which are under the seventh trumpet—includes “those who have victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name” (Rev. Rev. 15:2+). These are in heaven, having overcome the image of the beast by martyrdom. Since they overcame the image, the image must be in place prior to the seven bowls pouring forth. If the image is set up at the midpoint of the last week, then the bowl judgments must be in the last half. The seventh trumpet must occur prior to the first bowl.

¹⁰ It appears that the judgments of the seventh trumpet, which include the seven bowls, must occur after the midpoint of the week. For when the first bowl is poured forth, it targets those who have received the mark of the beast and worship his image (Rev. Rev. 16:2+). This would most naturally follow his proclamation as God (2Th. 2Th. 2:4) and the construction of an idol in his image which receives worship (Rev. Rev. 13:15+). Moreover, prior to the pouring forth of the bowls, John sees martyrs who refused to worship the image of the beast. Thus, the bowls must come after the setting up of the image which occurs at the midpoint of the last week.