Today, we started to unpack part 3 of the first resurrection, known as the Gleanings. This is the harvest of the tribulation saints, who were killed, and as we will see next week, they are in paradise / under the altar waiting for the call “Come up hither!” to come to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
We dug into Daniel, and the 70 weeks prophecy in Daniel 9:23-27. The 70th week is known as the 7 years of the tribulation, with the final 3 1/2 years known as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” Jesus calls it the “great tribulation.”
Matthew 24:21-22: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Daniel 12:1-2: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
We saw a critical part of understanding when the 2 witnesses arrive on the scene to start prophesying against the “prince that shall come” and how it is important to see the connection to the peace treaty with Israel, the cessation of the sacrifices, and his declaration of himself as God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
Daniel 9:23-27: At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 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.
Daniel 12:11: 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.
The 1,290 days gives an extra 30 days before the middle of the tribulation, when the Abomination of Desolation is revealed in the Holy Place in the Temple, and the believing Jews flee to the wilderness of Judaea.
Matthew 24:15-16: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
It is going to be quite a great study next week, as we walk through Revelation 6 & 7, seeing how the resurrection of the tribulation saints is connected to the death of the 2 witnesses! Do not miss it!