03 - Last or Seventieth Seven
The Last or Seventieth Seven.
123. No account of the "Seventy Sevens” could be deemed in any way complete without some reference to the details of the Last, and infinitely the most important, of them all. A careful study of the accompanying chart, D, will assist the reader to understand its momentous events. We may mention, that the Book of Revelation is mainly a history of those same events; or, since it was written a long time before they were to happen, we should rather say a prophecy. Yet, after all, prophecy is merely history written in advance.
124. An examination of the Book of Revelation will show, that, from the commencement of the fourth chapter to the end of the nineteenth, the events described are those of the Last Seven of Years only.
125. For this awful crisis will be the great period of judgment on Jew and Gentile: it will be the special season of trouble referred to in Daniel 12:1. It will he the time of desolation of Daniel 9:27: it will be the Day of Visitation and Desolation referred to in Isaiah 10:3, and in many other places. Some of these events, such as those of Revelation 7:1-17, Revelation 8:1-13, Revelation 14:1-20, and part of Revelation 19:1-21, will take place in the heavens: the remainder on earth. But they will all happen during this tremendous period of Seven Years.
126. When the appalling time commences, a certain set of circumstances will be found to be existing. Many of the Jews will then be dwelling in their own Land (see paragraph 116), though what proportion of them will be there, we cannot tell. The Antichrist will have arisen, though as yet he may not be very prominent. The Ten Kingdoms (see paragraph 68) will either have been already formed or will very shortly be so, and the ready saints will have gone (see paragraph 62). The Antichrist will then arrange his treaty with the Jews for seven years (see "Preliminary Events" on Chart D); and this covenant will usher in the Seventieth Seven, and, doubtless, be the event which will, in the sight of God, and, probably, in that of man also, give back their nationality to the Jews.
I27. We are able to be certain on this point, because God will resume His dealings with the Jews as soon as He recognizes them once more as a nation, and we know, that the commencement of this final Seven is His actual resumption of dealings, in terrible judgment, with His Own stiff-necked people,* as well as with His Gentile foes.
[* That is, regenerate believers who will left to endure these terrible times of persecution, after the watchful are removed via rapture, (Luke 21:34-36).]
128. We may also remark, that there are three sets of events which claim our attention, and are indicated upon the diagram. First, the topmost of the three represents the historical and political events of the Seven Years. These all happen upon the earth, and include the great persecutions which God’s people will have to undergo at the hands of their fellow-men. The middle line represents events which will, also, happen on the earth. But these are terrible plagues, which will be sent upon mankind directly from God. All classes of men, Christian, Jew, and Gentile, will suffer from these plagues. But true Christians, if they remain "faithful unto death," will escape altogether the third series of woes, or the pouring out of the Vials. The third line of events comprises those which are to take place in heaven during the same period as that in which the others are to be fulfilled on earth.
129. It will be noticed, that certain things have been mentioned as happening during the first half of the "Seven," and others during its latter half. Between the two halves there is a division on the chart, and, at that juncture, several important events must take place, which are there enumerated. The preliminary events have been alluded to in paragraph 126.
130. It will also be noticed, that the Seventh Seal extends during the whole length of the Seven Trumpets and of the Vials, and the Seventh Trumpet, also, is prolonged during the period of the Vials. The reason is, that, when the Seventh Seal is broken, instead of one great plague resulting, seven new plagues, called Trumpets, are introduced; and in the same way, when the Seventh Trumpet is sounded, instead of one plague, seven new ones, which are caused by the outpouring of the Vials, are introduced. But all the judgments - Seals, Trumpets, and Vials - terminate on the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, marked on Chart D; on that day (a day, probably, of 24 hours) the events mentioned on the Chart will occur. This is the day on which the present Dispensation must finally close amid the most fearful catastrophes, calamities, and judgments. Then the glorious day which follows will usher in the Millennium, or the thousand years’ reign of the Lord Jesus.