Chapter 15: Covenant with Death and Hell
In this chapter, I want to explore some of the basic things that happen during the first three and a half years. It is true that we can come to many conclusions, and many times those conclusions are speculative, but there are also some very solid details given in the Biblical account. Just like when we looked at the seven year Tribulation, there are patterns established from the Scripture that give credence to a view of what will happen during the first half of the seven years.
Before we get into any of those, let’s find explanation for why I’ve divided the seven-year Tribulation into two halves. At the beginning of the last chapter I mentioned that some view the Tribulation to only be the last three and a half years. I don’t personally have anything to say for or against this. I’m in the habit of referring to the entire seven years as Tribulation, and I don’t think that there is any place where it is clearly stated one way or the other in Scripture. It truly seems like a non-issue.
In Daniel 9:27, we read, “He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of the seven, he will put and end to the sacrifice and offering.” We find in Daniel 9:27 that this seven year period is being divided into two halves. The first half is a confirmation of a covenant. Notice the word “confirm” as opposed to “establish.” The slight difference in these words might give us a hint as to what is being spoken of. I think that what should be said is that whether it is “confirming” or whether it is establishing a peace treaty, we are looking for Israel to be affirmed in their nation-state.
Covenant/treaty made
This is one of the most powerful, yet subtle, understandings. There simply are not very many Scriptures to indicate a covenant or treaty to be made. The point isn’t the treaty made with the Antichrist, but instead is that Israel trusts in the arm of the flesh. Instead of trusting in their God, they look to “Egypt” to protect them. This is a pattern that has been established throughout their history. The covenant, I don’t think, is anything new. I don’t think that we should be looking for peace treaties, even though that may very well happen. It is speculation to say with affirmation that there will be a peace treaty.
Here is what we do know: he will confirm a covenant. Is it possible that the ‘confirmation’ of the covenant as mentioned in Daniel 9:27 is actually a reference to the eternal covenant? Maybe what is being mentioned here isn’t so much about a peace treaty, which might or might not be established, but instead about a mutual recognition to Israel’s right to the Land. The language used in Daniel 11 is very suggestive and reminiscent of Daniel 9. In Daniel 11:22 we read of a “prince of the covenant.” Remember in Daniel 9:26-27 that there is a “prince” being spoken of that is not the Messiah, and that establishes a covenant?
Once again, the commentators have attributed Daniel 11:21-39 to Antiochus Epiphanes. I think that is a mistake. This “prince of the covenant” will at a later time “show favor to those who forsake the covenant”.{cdiv} What is the covenant being spoken of? It is obviously the same covenant mentioned in verse 22, but maybe it is also the same covenant being spoken of in Daniel 9:27. If that is the case, then we know for sure that this covenant can’t simply be a peace treaty. God doesn’t call trusting in the arm of the flesh “holy.”
Of this covenant that is confirmed, Isaiah wrote, “we have entered into a covenant with death and hell”.{cdv} Deuteronomy 23:6 prophetically warns Israel, “Do not seek a treaty of friendship with [the other nations] as long as you live.” Isaiah says again, “Woe to the obstinate children, to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin”.{cdvi} Ultimately, there is very little to suggest any kind of pact made with the nations, but there is actually a lot to say that Israel does not uphold the eternal covenant.
The confirmation of this covenant sets in motion the end. Israel is given the right to their Land (whether by peace treaty or otherwise), and therefore is able to build the Temple and offer sacrifices. They live peacefully in the Land for that first three and a half years. This is the first time since the time of David that there will be peace in that Land. It is significant to expect this. But it is a false peace. Though there might not be any war, or any known threat, the fact is that the Antichrist will invade the kingdom when it feels secure, and will seize the kingdom through intrigue.{cdvii}
Peace and Security
The statement that the Antichrist will enter the kingdom when the people feel secure is a reflection of something said earlier in Daniel: When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. The peace that we’re looking for is not necessarily a world peace. There is mention in Daniel 11:25-30 about the king of the north{cdviii} invading the king of the south. A kingdom divided cannot stand,{cdix} and ultimately this kingdom of the Antichrist is not successful in becoming a one-world government. There are at least two other peoples mentioned in these verses that are in opposition to the Antichrist.
The peace that we are looking for is distinctly a peace in the Land of Israel. When they are secure in their ways, and it seems like no trouble is coming, sudden calamity appears. As Jeremiah cried out in his generation, “They say, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3 indicates that when people are saying, “Peace and security,” sudden destruction comes. The context is about an unbelieving world at the time of Christ’s return. Yet, I see that there is a pattern. Judgment begins at the house of God. It comes suddenly to Israel first, and then sudden destruction upon the ungodly.
In Isaiah 30:2-5, the prophecy that condemns the covenant made with death and hell continues. “…who go does to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.” It might be that Israel will look to Egypt, the king of the south, and that is why the Antichrist attacks him. That is utter speculation, and cannot be proven Scripturally, but it would explain what is happening. However, one thing is certain: If Egypt’s help is Israel’s shame and disgrace, how much more the Antichrist’s?
I think that maybe the best thing to note is Jesus’ words to tell us to watch. Both Paul and Peter also talk about the Day of the Lord coming like a thief. To those that are not watching, they will be taken by surprise. Why? For those that are the people of God, they will not expect sudden calamity. Those that are not of the Lord will not find anything strange or ‘unnatural’ signs to clue them in. There won’t be any kind of spectacular things happening that people will come to their senses and realize that they are in the last days and that these are the first signs of the coming judgment.
That is equally as true for Israel. They that have the Scriptures I’ve been referencing should know the signs of the time. That was one of Jesus’ rebukes: You did not know the day of your visitation.{cdx} Jesus speaks these words while prophesying the coming destruction. The pattern is established through the history of Israel. They don’t trust in the Lord, but instead in the arm of the flesh. Yet, even though they have the prophecies before them and should know that their final establishment is twice{cdxi} – not only once – they will be blind to their coming despair. In the same way that the people Israel have rejected and scoffed at the notion of a messiah that comes twice, the people of Israel have also scoffed at two final returns. That is important to note.{cdxii}
Trusting in man/arm of the flesh
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord… But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit.”{cdxiii} It is always Egypt that Biblical Israel goes to for help. Egypt is a representation of system. For Israel to go to Egypt for help is to go to the principalities and powers that are manipulating the world as system. There is both a literal and symbolic aspect being communicated in these verses.
To trust in the arm of the flesh is to reject the Holy One of Israel. Who is that Holy One? I can’t help but think that this is not just a rejection of the Lord, but also a rejection of the Messiah. The one who came, that all of Israel has heard of, is the very one that can deliver them. Yet, they refuse to let this man to rule over them.{cdxiv} They would rather have Moses, who is contained to letters on a scroll, to lead them.{cdxv} Ultimately, for them to choose Moses over Christ is not really a fair comparison. They chose Caesar over Christ.{cdxvi} Moses made the Israelites drink their sin.{cdxvii} Caesar, however, only oppressed them.
Jeremiah proclaimed, “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”{cdxviii} These words might be a little more literal than we would hope. It is nice to symbolize things, and thus rob them of their significance. Israel, however, is truly called to endure a time in the wilderness. Is it possible that those who don’t put their confidence in God will have these curses placed upon them?
It is a dangerous thought to assume that these verses have symbolic meaning. With that being said, it is a dangerous thought to assume that these verses have literal meaning. Either way that we take such rebukes, there is a price to pay. In order to not be affected negatively by that choice we take in how to believe these words, we need to guard our hearts. We need to make sure that we are not choosing the one over the other because we refuse to consider it. We need to make sure that if we choose a literal interpretation that we are not finding joy in it, but instead allowing it to penetrate our own hearts that have many times not trusted in the Lord.
If we are to be to Israel what we must, we too must be stripped. As the Body of Christ, to take in the Jew in the last days is a costly risk. The redundancy of that statement is only intended to elevate the severity. If they are to survive, they will need hope. The people that survived the Holocaust were not necessarily the most physically fit, but instead were the ones who hoped. The hope of Israel needs to be in God. When we take them in and provide for them, we need to make sure to provide more than a change in clothing and a new pair of shoes. We need to make sure that we provide hope.
This requires that we ourselves have hope. This requires that we ourselves have a history in God that if God is not who He says He is, then we perish. We cannot survive without leaning upon Him and Him alone. Without a history in God of trusting in Him, and not trusting in the flesh, how are we to honestly give them the hope that is needed? If we are to be to them what they need in that hour, we need to be transformed from where we currently are to a place that we weep before we get bitter. We should extend mercy to those that need mercy. How else shall they obtain mercy? The world does not give it.
If we do not have mercy to extend, then our cheap words will work death instead of life. It takes more than a speaking to impart hope. It takes the Spirit of Almighty God. If our words are not His words, then we will miss it. The opportunity of life and death will have come, and we will give clichés in the place of heavenly reality. We will give truisms in the place of unhackneyed expressions. We will give death instead of life. And, in due course, we will blaspheme instead of honor the name of the Lord.
Isaiah spoke in his own generation a timeless oracle, which I think will be especially true for the last days, “Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me, and have neither remembered me nor pondered this in your hearts? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you. When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off; a mere breath will blow them away. But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the Land and posses my holy mountain”.{cdxix}
Temple and Sacrifices
In Daniel 8:11, it is mentioned that the Antichrist will cut off the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of the sanctuary will be brought low. In order for these things to happen, there must be a temple, and there must be a daily sacrifice at that temple. I wouldn’t doubt if the rebuilding of the Temple (to make the third Temple) would be a part of that first three and a half years. There is a mention in Daniel 8:14 about 2,300 evenings and mornings until the sanctuary will be re-consecrated. Some have taken this to mean that from the time of the casting down of the sanctuary to the rebuilding of it would be 2,300 days. I don’t necessarily have any problem with this, but for some reason people can’t leave a good observation alone.
Some people have taken this to then mean that there will be a period of wrath after the Tribulation that God will use to bring judgment upon the world. There is a big problem with this. Daniel 9:24-27 says that at the end of the Tribulation, the Messiah comes and destroys the Antichrist. He sets up everlasting righteousness. He puts an end to sin (which is worldwide, and not just a spiritual metaphor). These are things that we cannot say happen at the end of the seven years if there are another couple years of judgment beyond the Tribulation. I personally think that the 2,300 days is a reference to when the people begin to offer the sacrifice.
What does God think about the sacrifices that Israel will be offering during the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation? “They sacrificed to demons, which are not God”.{cdxx} “Your multitude of sacrifices – what are they to me? I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats”.{cdxxi} “But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man, and whoever offers a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense, like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations; so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring upon them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”{cdxxii}
We spoke earlier about how Jesus is the fulfillment of the sacrifices and offerings. Any other sacrifice or offering is a false sacrifice and offering. God does not accept it.{cdxxiii} When Israel starts to offer these things before the Lord, immediately it is considered that the sanctuary is defiled. The 2,300 days might indeed point to a restoration and rebuilding of the Temple that goes a couple years into the Millennial Kingdom. But what seems to fit the best in my heart is that to bring any sacrifice that is not the Lamb that God has provided is an abomination. “Even though you do bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.”{cdxxiv}