Some Very Important Things that Will Take Place in the Middle of the Seven Years of Daniel 9:27            

Karl Kemp; November 2020

All quotations were taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 edition, unless otherwise noted. Sometimes I make comments in the middle of quotations using brackets [ ] or [[ ]] to make them more obvious. I am using straight quotation marks ("), hyphens (-) instead of dashes, and a few other things like this because an internet site where I post these articles requires it. Also they don't allow footnotes. Cf., e.g., means "compare, for example." 

This article is a follow-up article for my last article, "Definite Signs Will Precede the Return of Christ and the Rapture." ("Some Things - Most of them Could Be Called Definite End-Time Signs - that Will Take Place in Sequence before the Lord Jesus Returns and the Rapture Takes Place in the Middle of the Seven Years.") This present article, like the previous article, builds on the foundation of Revelation chapters 11-13, which are of crucial significance to understand the end times. The book of Revelation, and especially these three chapters, is packed with super-important prophetic information not included, or clearly included, anywhere else in the Bible. 

We learn about the "seven years" from Dan. 9:27, and the second half of the seven years is mentioned in Dan. 7:25 and 12:7. Both verses mention "a time [one year], times [two years], and half a time [half a year]," which equals three and one-half years. The cross-references to verses in the book of Revelation that mention 1,260 days, 42 months, and "a time and times and half a time" that I'll go on to mention confirm that "a time, times, and half a time" equals three and a half years. 

Daniel 12:11 mentions 1,290 days, which is three and a half years, 1,260 days plus 30 days. As discussed in my previous article and both of my end-time books, The Mid-Week Rapture and Introduction to the Mid-Week Rapture, it is very significant that Dan. 12:11 enables us to locate Antichrist's abomination of desolation a month, 30 days, before the rapture in the middle of the seven years. Significantly, this month leaves room for the short great tribulation to take place after the abomination of desolation and before the mid-week rapture. (I typically include the underlined word short before the words "great tribulation" because most Christians believe the "great tribulation" will cover seven years or the second three and a half years.) 

Daniel 9:27 prophesies of the abomination of desolation taking place "in the middle" of the seven years, but the Hebrew word, chatsi, translated "middle" is often used in very imprecise (approximate) ways: the middle of the night (Ex. 12;29; Jud. 16:3; Ruth 3:8) and the middle of a person's life (Psalm 102:24; Jer. 17:11). A month, 30 days, before the precise middle is 2.38 percent off of the precise middle of the seven years.

It is very significant that Revelation chapters 11-13 mention the equivalent of three and a half years five times and, especially, that the first two references refer to the first half of the seven years and the next three references refer to the second half of the seven years. What makes this so significant is that those three chapters prophesy of many very important things that will take place right in the middle of the seven years. First I'll list the verses: Rev. 11:2 (42 months); Rev. 11:3 (1,260 days); Rev. 12:6 (1,260 days); Rev. 12:14 (time, times, and half a time); and Rev. 13:5 (42 months). 

I believe that the connection of Rev. 11:2 with Rev. 11:1 makes it clear that the things spoken of in Rev. 11:2 refer to the first half of the seven years: I'll quote Revelation 11:1-3: Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it. (2) Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations, and they will tread underfoot the holy city [Jerusalem] for forty-two months. (3) And I will grant authority to my two witnesses and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." Revelation 11:1 confirms that the temple will be rebuilt with the sacrificial altar and that Israel will be worshiping in the temple. We know this has to be during the first half of the seven years because Israel will not be able to worship in the temple or offer sacrifices after Antichrist's abomination of desolation (cf., e.g., Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:3-4). And Rev. 11:2 deals with the same first half of the seven years in that it shows that while Israel is worshiping in the temple they will not even have control of "the court which is outside the temple." Here's how this will undoubtedly come to pass: In agreement with many, I believe the view of Asher Kaufman, an Israeli scholar who devoted much time and effort to demonstrating that the previous temple(s) (Solomon's and the temple built after the return from the exile to Babylon) were located far enough north of the Moslem Dome of the Rock, with its golden dome, to leave room to rebuild the temple without disturbing the Dome of the Rock. However, and this is significant, this scenario will not allow Israel to control the court which is outside the temple. Israel will probably gain the right to rebuild the temple through the seven-year treaty/covenant of Daniel 9:27. That same treaty/covenant will probably require Israel to give up their sovereign control of Jerusalem: "for it has been given to the nations, and they will tread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months" (Rev. 11:2). 

Revelation 11:3, which prophesies of the forty-two month ministry of the two witnesses/prophets, is rather strongly connected to verses 1-2, and I believe it is clear that their ministry will take place throughout the first half of the seven years. They will be warning the world, and especially Israel, of the need to repent because the Day of Judgment, which will begin when the Lord Jesus returns to save and to judge in the middle of the seven years, is very close at hand. The sackcloth worn by the two witnesses/prophets goes with their calling Israel to repent. We know that they will be killed in Jerusalem, or, at least, that their dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days (Rev. 11:7-9).   

I won't quote Rev. 12:6, 14, or 13:5 here, but I believe it is clear that the equivalent of three and one-half years that is mentioned in each of these verses refers to the second half of the seven years of Dan. 9:27. As we continue we'll get into some details, and for a more detailed discussion of Revelation chapters 11-13 see my end-time books ("The Mid-Week Rapture" and "Introduction to the Mid-Week Rapture.") 

A FEW KEY THINGS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE THE LAST FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVEN YEARS AND THE RAPTURE:

Antichrist will be killed, and he will come back from the dead (Rev. 11:7; 13:3, 12, 14; 17:8; cf. Zech. 11:17). We are not informed when Antichrist will be killed, but it will undoubtedly take place during the warfare of the short great tribulation. He will be directly involved in the warfare of the short great tribulation. I discussed the short great tribulation in the preceding article.

Matthew 24:29-31 and other verses show that the sun and moon will have been darkened before the seventh and last trumpet sounds. This darkening of the sun and moon will undoubtedly be caused by the smoke (cf. Rev. 9:17, 18; Joel 2:30) and dust generated during the warfare of the short great tribulation.

When the two witnesses/prophets have completed their assigned three and a half year ministry, they will be killed by Antichrist three and a half days before the return of Christ and the resurrection and rapture in the middle of the seven years (Rev. 11:3-10). We aren't informed how long Antichrist will be dead, but it probably won't be very long, probably a few days. Revelation 11:7 informs us that Antichrist will kill the two witnesses/prophets after he comes back from the dead ("comes up out of the abyss"). We aren't informed how long after Antichrist comes back that he will kill the two witnesses/prophets, but it probably won't be very long, probably not more than a few days. Their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days because the world that hates them will not allow them to be buried. The world will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days (using modern technology that did not exist until recently) and rejoice because these trouble-makers had the ridiculous, self-righteous, wicked nerve to call them to repent (Rev. 11:8-10). This looks like a great negative, but it will turn into a great positive when the three and a half days have ended. 

SOME KEY THINGS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVEN YEARS THAT ARE ALL MENTIONED IN REVELATION CHAPTERS 11-13. 

The Lord Jesus will return at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet of the book of Revelation (Rev. 11:15. We also read of this same trumpet sounding in Matt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52 ["last trumpet]; and 1 Thess. 4:16). Something important that you don't hear much about is that Rev. 11:15-17 show that God the Father, who has a preeminent role in the Trinity, will be present there too, but I don't believe He will be visible to the world. I'll quote Revelation 11:15-17: Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet, the seventh and last trumpet of the book of Revelation]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord [referring to God the Father here, which is confirmed by the words that follow] and of His Christ [the Lord Jesus Christ]; and He will reign forever and ever." (16) And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God [See Rev. 4:4. I believe these twenty-four elders, who are frequently mentioned in the book of Revelation, are high-level angelic beings who reign with God and obviously under God (cf., e.g., Job 38:4-7; Psalm 89:5-7; cf. Gen. 1:26; 3:22).], fell on  their faces and worshiped God, (17) saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were [[(This double bracket continues for two paragraphs.) These words that refer to God the Father are quite interesting and important. I'll quote Revelation 1:4-5: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia [the Roman province of Asia Minor]: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come [referring to God the Father as in Rev. 11:17 and Rev. 1:8; 4:8], and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne [which is a symbolic way to refer to the Holy Spirit (Rev. 3:1; 4:5; 5:6)] (5) and from Jesus Christ The three Persons of the Trinity are mentioned here. 

It is significant and interesting that God the Father's name has changed from what it was in Rev. 1:4 (and Rev. 1:8; 4:8 [slightly different wording but the same meaning]): "from Him who is and who was and who is to come" to "who are and who were" in Rev. 11:17, which, significantly dropped the words "and who is to come" because at Rev. 11:15-17 He has come and begun to reign, which includes saving and judging. (I should point out that the words of Rev. 1:4 are in the third person singular and the words of Rev. 11:17 are in the second person singular, but that doesn't change the meaning of the words.) The KJV and NKJV include the words "and who is to come" (NKJV), but there is widespread agreement that the words were not included in the original Greek version as written by the apostle John. Also see Rev. 16:5 where this name of God the Father does not include the words "who is to come" because He has come.]], because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.[God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, will begin to reign at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet of the book of Revelation. The all-important book of Revelation contains much new information and details that we were not expecting. God has all authority and power now, but He clearly isn't reigning on the earth now in any full sense. For one thing, sin is increasing.   

The two witnesses/prophets will come back to life and go up to heaven in the cloud while their enemies watch them (Rev. 11:11-12). THIS WILL BE A GREAT POSITIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! Their resurrection and rapture will be part of the resurrection and rapture of all the believers who will be resurrected and raptured at that time. However, it is quite possible that they will be taken a short while (maybe a few hours) before the rest of us while the world is watching them. 

Revelation 11:13 says, And in that hour [right in the middle of the seven years] there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city [of Jerusalem] fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake [The seven thousand people killed will be enemies of God, probably including enemy occupation troops. "Seven thousand" could be a literal number or a symbolic number for many more than seven thousand.], and the rest [or "the remnant" with the KJV] were terrified [or "were afraid" with the NKJV] and gave glory to the God of heaven [on fearing God and giving glory to Him, see Rev. 14:6-7]. These words prophesy of the often-mentioned salvation - when they become Christians - of the elect end-time remnant of Israel ((cf., e.g., Zech. 12:10-14 [I'll quote Zechariah 12:10: "I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced [crucified]; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."]; Joel 2:32; Rom. 9:27-29 [with Isa. 10:20-23]; Rom. 11:25-27 [with Isa. 59:20-21])).  

I believe this "great earthquake" of Rev. 11:13 is also pictured in Zech.14:4. I'll quote Zechariah 14:3-5, which is a very important cross-reference: Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations [see Zech. 14:1-2], as when He fights on a day of battle. [God's beginning to fight for the end-time remnant of Israel will be based, for one thing, on their repentance.] (4) In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east [The Mount of Olives is across the Kidron valley east of the Temple Mount. The Lord Jesus will come to the Mount of Olives right after the rapture, and the just-raptured saints will be with Him when He comes. He left from the Mount of Olives when He ascended to heaven with a cloud, and the disciples were told that He "will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11). The "holy ones" (saints) are mentioned in Zech. 14:5, "and all the holy one with Him." The holy angels will be with the Lord Jesus too when He comes.] (5) You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel [Apparently Azel was a village out to the east. They would flee from Jerusalem - you don't want to be in a city during an earthquake - through the valley that had been created by the earthquake through the Mount of Olives.]; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah. Then [And] the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him. The coming of Zech. 14:5 is not a later coming than in 14:3-4, but 14:5 adds the important information that the saints (the just-raptured holy ones) will be with the Lord Jesus when He comes to the Mount of Olives. He comes to initiate the salvation of the elect end-time remnant of Israel, but this will be right after the rapture and too late for these newly converted Christians to be taken in the rapture. They will be living on the earth throughout the second three and a half years, except for the large number who will be martyred during that three-and-a-half-year period (cf. Rev. 20:4), but God limits those who will be martyred (Rev. 12:6, 14-16; 13:10).       

Satan and his angels will be cast down to the earth in the middle of the seven years (Rev. 12:4, 7-9). This is a significant aspect of the Day of Judgment. Based on Matt. 24:29-31, Satan and his angels might be cast down slightly before the Lord Jesus returns at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet and the resurrection and rapture take place, but it probably is fair to say that these things will all take place essentially at the same time, simultaneously.

The resurrection of all the true Christians who will have died before that time will take place (I Thess. 4:13-16; 1 Cor. 15:52; Dan. 12:2 [[This verse certainly includes all the believers from the days before the new covenant; I believe all of those believers will be resurrected together with the Christians who will have died before that time when the resurrection takes place at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet in the middle of the seven years. They are all part of God's true Israel. Christians have been grafted into God's true Israel (Rom. 11:17-18)]]; Rev. 12:5 (I believe Rev. 12:5 is the most important verse in the Bible to show when the resurrection and rapture will take place. I'll discuss this super-important verse as we continue.]; cf. Rom. 8:23 and there are other verses that speak of the resurrection of the body. 

The believers who will still be living on the earth at that time will be glorified (1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 3:21; cf. 1 Thess. 4:17; Rom. 8:11, 23; Col. 1:5, 27). THANK YOU FATHER FOR YOUR GLORIOUS PLAN OF SALVATION! 

All these believers will be raptured in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air at that time, right in the middle of the seven years (Matt. 24:31, 40-41; 1 Thess. 4:17; 2 Thess. 2:1; Rev. 12:5 [This verse uses the same Greek verb, harpazo, for the rapture/catching up as 1 Thess. 4:17]). 

Antichrist will begin his super-evil three and a half year reign right in the middle of the seven years. This is part of God's plan (Zech. 11:16; Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:19; 11:36; Rev. 13:5-8 [Antichrist's authority spoken of in Rev. 13:5-8 ultimately comes from God]. Two significant things have to happen to Antichrist before he can become Antichrist in the fullest sense and begin his super-evil three and a half year reign: He has to be killed and come back from the dead, and he has to meet with the devil, who has just been cast down to the earth in the middle of the seven years, so the devil can give him "his power and his throne and great authority" (Rev. 13:2). Again, this is all part of God's plan. Things are not getting out of His control! 

God will use Antichrist TO TEST those dwelling on the earth during the second three and a half years. ((See Rev. 3:10. This verse is a very important verse to show that God will rapture out the true Christians living on the earth in the middle of the seven years right before the "hour of testing" of the second half of the seven years begins. I have an email on the interpretation of Rev. 3:10 which I'll send to you if you request it.)) The "test" will involve whether those living on the earth during the second half of the seven years when Antichrist is powerfully and with miracles demanding that everyone worship him (Rev. 13:1-18; 2 Thess. 2:8-14), but, much more importantly, God is demanding that all repent and submit to Him (and His Son) in faith (cf. Rev. 14:6-7) and worship Him. God clearly and powerfully warns mankind what will happen to those who do worship Antichrist (Rev. 14:9-12). 

God will also use Antichrist during the second three and a half years to destroy Babylon the great harlot, which is a symbol for all of the things the devil uses to seduce people from the worship of God, very much including all false religion, including false Christianity. This judgment and removal of Babylon the great harlot is a major feature of the Day of Judgment. Some three chapters of the book of Revelation are devoted to this topic (Rev. 14:8, 14-16; and most of Rev. 17:1-19:6). I'll quote Revelation 17:16-17, and the ten horns [the ten rulers of the revived Roman Kingdom, who give their "power and authority to the beast (Antichrist)" and reign with him throughout the second three and a half years (Rev. 17:12-13).] which you saw, and the beast [Antichrist], these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. (17) For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. 

Revelation 13:11-19 introduces the "false prophet" who will powerfully promote the worship of Antichrist throughout the second half of the seven years. He is the one behind making the image to the beast [Antichrist] who "had the wound of the sword and has come to life" (Rev. 13:14). This image will commemorate the fact that Antichrist was killed and came back to life and he must be worshiped. The image will have miraculous, demonic powers and will speak and "cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed" (Rev. 13:15). These verses also prophesy of the fact that those who don't take the mark of the beast - either the name of Antichrist or the number of his name: 666 - will not be able to buy or sell (Rev. 13:16-17). With our modern computerized financial systems, it is easy to see how this can happen. One last comment: Many Christians speak of the "image of the beast" being a major part of the abomination of desolation, but I'm confident that the image won't be made until after the abomination of desolation.

Revelation 12:5 is a verse of key importance. As I mentioned, I believe it is the most important verse in the Bible to show when the resurrection, glorification, and rapture will take place, right in the middle of the seven years (the "week" of years) of Dan. 9:27. This verse is discussed in substantial detail in both of my end-time books (The Mid-Week Rapture and Introduction to the Mid-Week Rapture. Since this verse is so important and not well understood, I'll somewhat briefly discuss this verse here. 

Revelation 12:5. And she ["She" represents God's true Israel, which includes all true Christians (including the end-time remnant of Israel that will not become Christians until after the rapture) and all the believers from the days before the new covenant was founded on the all-important atoning death of the Lamb of God and on the promised outpouring of the Spirit of life, righteousness, and holiness.] gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron [[(This double bracket continues for three paragraphs.) Many/most wrongly think that the male child is Christ. These words about ruling with a rod of iron fit the Lord Jesus (Rev. 19:15), but the time setting of this verse, right in the middle of the seven years - for one thing, the next verse, Rev. 12:6, shows that there are three and a half years to go after this birth - doesn't fit the Lord Jesus in any way: He was born of the virgin Mary some two thousand years earlier, and He was born into the fullness of eternal life - resurrected and glorified - some two thousand years before the middle of the seven years. 

It is necessary to see that the "male child" represents all the believers who will be resurrected, glorified, and raptured if they have died before that time and the believers who will be glorified and raptured that are still living on the earth at that time: They will all be born into the fullness of eternal life and glory. Their Master, the Lord Jesus, was the "firstborn from the dead" (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5) and the One first born into the fullness of eternal life and glory. We will follow Him in that birth in the middle of the seven years. However, we must understand that after we are glorified, there will still be a gigantic difference between Him and us: He is deity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He will be worshiped, including being worshiped by us. 

But what about our ruling with a rod of iron? Is that biblical? It is very significant that in Rev. 2:26-27 (in the same book of Revelation), the Lord Jesus says that we will rule/reign with a rod of iron. That reference is all the more important because it builds on Psalm 2, which I will mention later in this article.]]; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. [[Significantly, this refers to the rapture/catching up of the saints that will take place in the middle of the seven years at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet. It is significant that the Greek verb translated "was caught up" here is harpazo, the same Greek verb translated "will be caught up" in 1 Thess. 4:17, which is probably the most important verse in the Bible on the rapture of the saints. But 1 Thess. 4:17 doesn't specify when the rapture will take place like Rev. 12:5 does.]] 

As I discuss in some detail in both of my end-time books, there are at least three passages in the Old Testament that prophesy of this same birth into the fullness of eternal life and glory of Rev. 12:5: Isa. 66:7-8; Psalm 2:7 (Psalm 2, which is a very important prophetic psalm, is discussed verse-by-verse in both of my end-time books. For one thing, it is significant that what Jesus said in Rev. 2:26-27 about our ruling/reigning with a rod of iron borrows from Psalm 2:8-9.); and Mic. 5:3. All three of these passages are discussed in both of my end-time books in separate chapters.  

I'll comment on Isaiah 66:7-8 here: Before she ["She," as in Rev. 12:5 represents true Israel, but in that Old-Testament context, there was no recognition of Christians.] travailed [Several passages refer to this three and a half year time of special travail that will take place for these believers who become Christians too late to be taken in the rapture throughout the second half of the seven years (cf. Dan. 7:21, 25; 12:7; Rev. 12:17; 13:5, 7).], she brought forth [That is: she gave birth, with the same birth as the one pictured in Rev. 12:5, of all the believers who will be born into the fullness of eternal life and glory and raptured right in the middle of the seven years.], Before her pain [This "pain" correlates with the "travailed" mentioned earlier in this verse, so the birth of Isa. 66:7 will take place right in the middle of the seven years. As I mentioned it is quite significant that Rev. 12:6 shows that this birth will take place right in the middle of the seven years in that there are three and a half years to go after this birth and rapture take place.] came, she gave birth to a boy ["Boy" here equals the "male child" of Rev. 12:5. We could stop here, but verse 8 is a very important prophetic verse too. It prophesies of the birth into the fullness of eternal life and glory of the end-time remnant of Israel at the end of the seven years]. (8) Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land [referring to Israel] be born in one day [right at the end of the seven years]? As soon as Zion [referring to true Israel] travailed [with the travail of the second half of the seven years that was mentioned in Isa. 66:7], she also brought forth her sons [with a birth like the one in Isa. 66:7 and Rev. 12:5 (cf. Rev. 15:2-4; 20:4].  

God bless you! May this article fully accomplish the will of God!  

http://www.karlkempteachingministries.com Karl Kemp worked as an engineer in the space field throughout the 60s. He became a born-again Christian in 1964. He received an MA in Biblical Studies in 1972. He has been a Bible teacher for 45 years. See the website for more info on his books, papers, etc.