IF that is someone's goal - to "make something fit" - of course I don't think that is the right way to come to the Bible. We need to read it for what it says.
What I find in the Revelation is primarily a defined midpoint, perhaps most easily expressed here:
Revelation 11:3-7
3) And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4) These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5) And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6) These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Revelation 13:4-7
4) And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5) And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6) And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7) And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
When I look at these passages, I find within them times given, and those times show a relationship with each other. Do you see this also? That the witnesses have 42 months while they cannot be stopped, then they are killed. And the beast is given 42 months over everyone, and this time also will come to an end.
We know the end is when Jesus returns.
So these passages, or so it seems to me, express a 7 year period of time, divided into two 3.5 year periods, ending when Jesus returns. Do you agree?
Much love!
Not at all. I have a unique way of deciding how to interpret Bible Prophecy, and it may or may not help you. I don't know if God just gave this approach to me? What I do is let the Scriptures speak for themselves, and then find the origins of doctrines that set precedents for what comes later. I will explain this in regard to the supposed 7 year tribulation.
I have held to something like your view before, and have changed my view, based on this method of interpretation. I used to think half of Daniel's week was fulfilled in the 3.5 years of Christ's ministry, leaving 3.5 years to be fulfilled in the Great Tribulation. I no longer think this way. Please don't be shocked--most Christians are turned off by my view because it does not fit the popular approach today!
I looked up the precedent for every one of the doctrines of biblical eschatology. I found that the 3.5 years of Antichristian Rule began with Dan 7, and became the source for the 3.5 years of Antichristian Rule mentioned in the Revelation.
In the Revelation, this period is described in various ways, as a time, times and half a time, as 42 months, and as 1260 days. I think this is the time of Antichrist's uncontested rule, and that on the 1260 days he commits the atrocious crime of murdering the 2 Witnesses, which leads to the beginning of a challenge to his power.
Time continues after the 1260 days, but Antichrist's power is waning. The world marches to Armageddon to challenge him, and a world war takes place in a single hour. How many days, weeks, or month it takes for the nations to march to Armageddon to challenge Antichrist I don't know? 1260 plus _____ days?
But I can't correlate Dan 9 and Daniel's 70th Week with the 3.5 year time period mentioned in Dan 7. I think Daniel's 70th Week was fulfilled, as the Church Fathers thought, with the 3.5 years of Christ's earthly ministry. He was cut off in the midst of the 70th Week so that a complete 7 year period was never even fulfilled. The prophecy only said something would happen in the 70th Week--not that a complete Week would be fulfilled.
So if Daniel's 70th Week has nothing to do with the 3.5 years of Antichrist's Rule, mentioned in Dan 7, then we have no basis for 7 years of Antichristian Rule in the Revelation either. It is strictly a 3.5 year Rule!
Even more, I wouldn't call this the "Great Tribulation," as if often done. Jesus defined the "Great Tribulation" as the NT Jewish Diaspora in Luke 21. That is beyond question, in my thinking. However, the fact people wish to call the period of Antichristian Rule the "Great Tribulation" indicates their thinking that this period of time involves not just the persecution of Christians, but also God's punishment coming down upon the world throughout this time.
I don't believe that. Although the wicked, including Antichrist, are always somewhat under Divine judgment, their punishment will largely come towards the end of the 3.5 year period, if not at the very end, at the Battle of Armageddon.
This is how I interpret things with confidence, by tracing the origins of the doctrine. In this case, we can go to Daniel for help. We just need to interpret him accurately! But thanks for asking.
