antichrist

An investigation into the “42 months” of Revelation 11-13

POST OVERVIEW. (3rd post) A continuing investigation (see post #616, 1/29/2023) into the “42 months” of Revelation 11-13 (and Daniel 7:25 and 12:7). OBJECTIVE. To discover the meaning of the “42 months” and to interpret these passages occurring during the “42 months” so that we have a clearer picture of the events of Revelation.

PREVIOUS STUDY IN THIS SERIES

We began this study (post #615, 1/27/2023) by comparing Daniel 7:21 with Revelation 11:7 and 13:7, making some observations about these verses, and then drawing some conclusions about what we saw (see #615 for details). In our last post (#616, 1/29/2023) we expanded our portions for investigation to include the passages around the original three verses. In that portion of our study, we observed that all three of our study passages (Dan. 7:21-22, 25-27; Rev. 11:3-12; 13:1-10) mentioned a period of time which we have called the “42 months.” We noted that this time period, the “42 months,” appeared significant as an end-times concept. We then found four other occurrences of that same time period, one more in Daniel and three in Revelation 11-13, and are digging deeper into those verses to see where they lead.

The four other passages are:

  • In Dan. 12:7 “a time, times, and half a time”
  • In Rev. 11:2 “forty-two months”
  • In Rev. 12:6 “1,260 days”
  • In Rev. 12:14 “a time and times and half a time”

A CAREFUL LOOK AT FOUR NEW PASSAGES ABOUT THE “42 MONTHS”

In our last post (#616), we made some general comments about the “42 months” and now we want to look carefully at each of these new passages (see above). Our plan is to look at the context of each “42 months” passage and try to identify interpretive clues from each.

DANIEL 12:7. In Daniel 12:7, we encounter the phrase “a time, times, and half a time,” which we have already identified as “42 months” (see Dan. 7:25). So, even before we begin to investigate this verse, we can see that it links directly to Dan. 7:25 and also to Rev. 12:14, because those two verses use the identical expression for the “42 months.”

The immediate context of the “42 months” phrase is an answer to the question, “How long until the end of wonders?” “For a time, times, and half a time.” But the answer goes on. “And as soon as to finish (literal translation) shattering the power of the holy people, all these will be completed.” My interpretation of this immediate context is that the holy people (i.e., the church) will be shattered for “42 months,” and then the end will come (“be completed”). This interpretation is strengthened by its agreement with the events of Dan. 7:25. If this interpretation is correct, it says that the church will be severely persecuted for “42 months” near the end of the age and then the end will come.

We just looked at the very narrow context of the verse where this occurrence of the “42 months” appears but looking at a larger context of Daniel 11-12 tells us more. In Daniel 11, we read of the activity of the “despicable person” (11:21; the antichrist), who meets his end after “he pitches his tent between the sea and the beautiful Holy Mountain” (Dan. 11:45). This phrase is figurative language for Armageddon (see Ezek. 38:14-18; Rev. 16:14, 16; 20:8-9). Then in Dan. 12:1, we see the great tribulation of the church (Matt. 24:21), then Dan. 12:2 tells of the Resurrection, and finally Dan. 12:7 places all these events in or around the “42 months” at the end of the age.

SUMMARY. This occurrence of the “42 months” includes a manifestation of the antichrist who subjects the church to persecution, which culminates in Armageddon when the church is rescued by Resurrection. Then the antichrist comes to his end (11:45).

REVELATION 11:2. This is the most spartan of the “42 months” occurrences, and the context is difficult to determine. After giving a picture (Rev. 11:1) that reminds us of the measuring of the temple scene from Ezekiel 40-42, we discover that “the nations will tread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months” (Rev. 11:2). My interpretation of this scene is consistent with others like it in the “42 months,” namely that the nations (under the leadership of the antichrist; Rev. 13:7-8) will oppress and persecute (“tread under foot”) the church (“the holy city”) for (or during) the “42 months.”

We should also note that this verse links directly to Rev. 13:5, because these two verses use the identical expression for the “42 months,” namely, “forty-two months.” This direct link confirms that the events surrounding Rev. 11:2 are related to the events surrounding Rev. 13:5.

That’s enough for one post. We will continue to explore other occurrences of the “42 months” by looking at Rev. 12:6 and Rev. 12:14 in our next post.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 1/30/2023                   #617

Interpretive clues in Dan. 7, Rev. 11, Rev. 13 – “42 months”

POST OVERVIEW. (2nd post) A detailed examination and comparison of three portions of end-times Scripture. OBJECTIVE. To discover interpretive clues for better understanding end-times literature in general and understanding these passages in particular. The passages under consideration are Daniel 7:21-27, Revelation 11:3-12, and Revelation 13:1-10. This study also begins to explore the “42 months” of Revelation 11-13.

In our previous post (#615, 1/27/2023), we began by examining and comparing three verses, Daniel 7:21, Rev. 11:7, and Rev. 13:7, in order to discover interpretive clues for better understanding other end-times passages. We made some interesting discoveries.

PREVIOUS DISCOVERIES

The fact that these three verses describe, in almost identical words, the actions of the little horn (Dan. 7) and the beast (Rev. 11; 13) leads to the logical conclusion that the little horn and the beast are symbols for the same person (i.e., the antichrist).

Not only this, but we can also conclude that, because the events are described almost identically, the events of Daniel 7:21 are the same events described in Revelation 11:7 and 13:7 and thus occur at the same time in history. This yields the interpretive principle that, when different scenes in eschatological literature are written with very similar or identical words, the Scripture is marking these scenes as either closely linked or identical.

Finally, since the beast will make war with the two witnesses (Rev. 11:7) and the beast will make war with the saints (13:7), it can be deduced that the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11:3-12 is a figurative expression for “the saints” (Dan. 7:21 and Rev. 13:7), which is the church. In these three scenes, then, we see three depictions of the antichrist’s war against the church (“the saints”) at the end of the age (confirm Dan. 7:22, 26-27). But what else can we learn about these encounters?

WHEN DO THESE EVENTS TAKE PLACE?

Let’s ask the question, “When in history do these events take place?” Notice that, from Daniel 7:22, 26-27, these events occur shortly before the end of the age, but we can learn more than that. A key observation is that “the little horn” wars against the saints (the church) and speaks against the Most High (i.e., blasphemes) for “a time, times, and half a time” (Dan. 7:25), or forty-two months. We will call this time period the “42 months.”

As we look at the events in Rev. 11:3-7, we observe that “the two witnesses” (which is an expression for “the saints” or the church – see above) prophesy for 1,260 days (11:3), which is also a period of “42 months.”

Looking finally at Rev. 13:1-10 as the beast “makes war with the saints” (13:7) and as he “speaks arrogant words and blasphemies” (13:5) and “opens his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle” (13:6), we read that “authority to act for forty-two months is given to him” (13:5). Again, we find the “42 months.”

THE “42 MONTHS”

Thus, from one scene in Daniel 7 and two scenes in Revelation 11 and 13, we see that, near the end of the age, the antichrist arises and persecutes the church during the period of the “42 months.” But are there other occurrences of the “42 months” in end-times prophecy? It turns out there are four more places where end-times passages mention this time period.

  • In Dan. 12:7 “a time, times, and half a time”
  • In Rev. 11:2 “forty-two months”
  • In Rev. 12:6 “1,260 days”
  • In Rev. 12:14 “a time and times and half a time”

What we are seeing is that there are seven separate occurrences of this time period of “42 months” in end-times passages of Scripture. This is definitely significant and deserves some further investigation. Here is our plan for investigating the “42 months.”

  • Make some general statements about this period (“42 months”) from observations and quick deductions.
  • Look carefully at these four new passages to observe their features.
  • Draw a conclusion about when in history this time period the “42 months” takes place.
  • Make a concluding statement about the “42 months” to guide our interpretation of the book of Revelation.

GENERAL STATEMENTS ABOUT THE “42 MONTHS”

First, in each occurrence of the “42 months” in the text of Scripture, the same time period is in view. So, in Revelation 11-13, there is a single period of time which is called the “42 months,” but there are five different scenes depicting the activities which take place during the “42 months.” An analogy might be to think of the year 2022. A person presents five top news stories from all over the world which occurred in 2022. Each news story is separate from the others but they all occurred during 2022. The point is there is only one period of the “42 months,” but there are many events going on during that single time period.

Second, the “42 months” is presented in three different forms (“a time and times and half a time,” “forty-two months,” and “1,260 days”), none of which fits any symbolic or figurative pattern. Numbers in Revelation often have a figurative or symbolic meaning (like 3, 7, 12, 1000, etc.), but the expressions for the “42 months” do not point in any figurative direction. Since there can be discerned no figurative meaning for “42 months,” this expression is probably to be understood as “relatively literal.” This suggests that the “42 months” lasts something like forty-two calendar months. That means that, in contrast to the thousand years (Rev. 20:2-7), which represents a very long period of time, the events of the “42 months” take place in a span of a very few years.

Finally, it is helpful to understand each of these separate scenes or visions as taking place DURING the “42 months,” rather than FOR the “42 months.” Thus, each of these separate events occurs for some portion of time during the period called the “42 months,” and do not occur simultaneously throughout the duration of the “42 months.”

A CAREFUL LOOK AT FOUR NEW PASSAGES ABOUT THE “42 MONTHS”

Having made some general comments, we now want to look carefully at the four new passages (see above) which also describe events of the “42 months.” That careful look will be the topic of our next post.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 1/29/2023                   #616

Waging war with the saints (Dan. 7:21; Rev. 11:7; 13:7)

POST OVERVIEW. (1st post) A detailed examination and comparison of three portions of end-times Scripture. OBJECTIVE. To discover interpretive clues for better understanding end-times literature in general and understanding these passages in particular. The passages under consideration are Daniel 7:21-27, Revelation 11:3-12, and Revelation 13:1-10.

In this season, I am spending a lot of time reading Revelation and studying how this fascinating final book of the Bible relates and connects to other Scripture. That is partly because I am preparing for a short teaching on Revelation on February 9, but mostly because, the more I study the book of Revelation, the more amazing and interesting the book becomes. This fascination with the beauty of Revelation is further heightened by the state of our world and by the collapsing and disintegration and destruction that we see happening all around us. As we see the chaos ever-accelerating, I cannot help but think that the last trumpet is getting ready to sound and soon we will see the Rider on the white horse (Rev. 19:11).

As I was again reading through Daniel and Revelation earlier this week, I discovered some fascinating connections.

In chapter 7 of his prophecy, Daniel relates to us visions that he saw about four beasts, but also in this chapter there is “a little horn” that appears, and it is this horn that I want to consider. Daniel 7:21 says, “I kept looking and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them.” The little horn here is a manifestation of the antichrist.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ANTICHRIST

Let’s pause here for a second to give some background about the antichrist. (see “Antichrist” section for further information) The antichrist appears at the end of the age as the human embodiment of all wickedness. He is manifested at least seven times in the Scriptures, first in Ezekiel 38, 39 as Gog prince of Magog, but then again here in Daniel 7 as the little horn, in Daniel 8 (the small horn), in Daniel 9:26 (the prince who is to come), in Daniel 11:21ff (the despicable person), in 2 Thess. 2:3 (the man of lawlessness), and then finally as the beast in Revelation.

COMPARING DANIEL 7:21 WITH REVELATION 11:7 AND 13:7

Daniel 7:21 – “The (little) horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them.”

Rev. 11:7 – “The beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them (two witnesses) and will overcome them and kill them.”

Rev. 13:7 – “It was given to him (the beast) to make war with the saints and to overcome them.”

The fact that these three verses describe, in almost identical words, the actions of the little horn and the beast leads to the logical conclusion that the little horn and the beast are the same person. Not only this, but we can also conclude that, because they are described almost identically, the events of Daniel 7:21 are the same events described in Revelation 11:7 and 13:7 and that they occur at the same time in history. Finally, since the beast will make war with the two witnesses (11:7) and the beast will make war with the saints (13:7), it can be determined that the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11:3-12 is a figurative expression for “the saints” (Dan. 7:21 and Rev. 13:7).

MORE INFORMATION FROM THIS PASSAGE

We have just made three conclusions based on a careful study of these three verses (Dan. 7:21, Rev. 11:7; 13:7), but now we will apply these conclusions to the texts around these three verses to establish a more detailed framework for interpreting these passages. That work will be continued in the next blog post.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 1/27/2023                   #615

The man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10)

In any discussion of the end-times in the Bible, the conversation will eventually touch on the antichrist. The speculation about the antichrist is often wild and unbridled, conjuring up images and activities that are completely foreign to any biblical text, but in those situations where the speculation is sober and biblically based, attention will turn to 2 Thessalonians 2 and the passage about “the man of lawlessness.” The man of lawlessness represents the clearest and most explicit teaching about the antichrist in all of Paul’s writing, and therefore deserves serious consideration when discussing the antichrist at the end of the age.

In my upcoming book, The Last Act of the Drama, I cover 2 Thessalonians 2 in depth, along with other eschatological Scriptures that highlight biblical manifestations of the antichrist, so this article is not about my thoughts, because they are expressed there. Rather, this post is about the thoughts of Herman Ridderbos, a Dutch biblical scholar, and are taken from his magnificent work, Paul: An Outline of His Theology. Ridderbos carefully exegetes this passage in 2 Thessalonians 2 and gives clear and helpful guidelines for how to understand this evil person who will appear at the very end of the age. I have selected quotes from his writing below that I think are most insightful and helpful in any study of the man of lawlessness. A careful reading of these quotes will give you a solid understanding of the biblical antichrist.

“The most striking thing of course is that this power inimical to God is concentrated here in the figure of what Paul calls the man of lawlessness.” (RMB: It is noteworthy that Paul concentrates all this evil in a single man.) “Furthermore, it is certainly indicated in the denotation “the man of lawlessness” that this man is not merely a pre-eminently godless individual, but that in him the humanity hostile to God comes to a definitive, eschatological revelation.” (p. 514)

Also, “just as Paul places Adam and Christ over against one another as the first and second ‘man,’ as the great representatives of two orders of men, so the figure of ‘the man of lawlessness’ is clearly intended as the final, eschatological counterpart of the man Jesus Christ.” “The coming of ‘the man of lawlessness,’ just as that of Christ, is called a παρουσία. It is marked by all manner of power, signs, and wonders, like those of Christ in the past.” (p. 514) “The man of sin (lawlessness) is the last and highest revelation of man (humanity) inimical to God, the human adversary of the man Jesus Christ, in whom the divine kingdom and the divine work has become flesh and blood. The divine antithesis between God and Satan that dominates history is decided on the human plane in those (two individuals) who as ‘the man’ represent salvation and destruction.” (p. 515) (RMB: Consider the parallel in 1 Samuel 17 when David, the coming king of Israel, fights Goliath, the champion of the enemies of Israel. Each represents their people, such that, as the champion fares in the battle, so go the people. David, as a type of Christ, vanquishes Goliath, who is a type of the antichrist. At the end of the age, the ultimate representatives will face one another, and the man of lawlessness (antichrist) will be finally vanquished by the returning Jesus Christ. That’s Ridderbos’ picture here.)

“As Christ is a person, but at the same time one with all who believe in Him and are under His sovereignty, so the antichrist is not only a godless individual, but a concentration of godlessness that already goes forth before him and which joins all who follow at his appearance him into unity with him. (He is now restrained because at his appearance unbelief, lawlessness, and godlessness will attempt to set themselves as an organic unity over against God and Christ.” (p. 516) “Paul does not stop with an ‘it,’ with an idea, or with a force, but the organic and corporate unity of human life finds its bearer and representative, as in Adam and Christ, so also in the antichrist, in a specific person. The antichrist would be no antichrist if he were not the personal concentration point of lawlessness, if he were not the man of lawlessness.” (p. 516)