wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message February 14, 2019
Dear Ones,
There are great numbers of Christians who have accepted a false doctrine of the rapture of the saints based upon a misinterpretation of Daniel 9:27. They detach the 70th week of this wonderful prophecy and carry it forward and are still waiting for its fulfillment! There is nothing in this prophecy to indicate the time periods mentioned in it are not continuous. Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks was fulfilled nearly two thousand years ago.
Howard B. Rand wrote of those who chronologically detach week seventy from the preceding sixty nine weeks of Daniel’s prophecy: “There has never been a more hair-brained theorization of prophecy than that contained in the teachings of those who hold this “parenthesis” or “gap” theory (Rand.1948. Study in Daniel. Page 228).
“This error of detaching week seventy from the rest of Daniel’s prophecy of seventy weeks has given birth to a false theology accepted by millions of faithful Christians today who have been deceived. Those who have accepted this deception believe that at the beginning of the detached week of seven years before Jesus comes, the saints will be raptured. They believe the rapture of the righteous will be followed by seven years of tribulation punctuated at the three and one-half year point by the rise of the antichrist who will sign a peace treaty with Israel. Those who are waiting for these events to transpire before the Lord’s coming have been deceived. Beware of these false teachings.
Those who embrace any of the versions of the rapture theory believe they will be raptured before Jesus comes. Those who think they will be raptured at least 3 ½ years before the Lord comes have been deceived. The Lord will quite likely come while they are still waiting to be raptured! They will be numbered with the foolish virgins spoken of in the Parable of the Virgins (Matthew 25:1-12).
When Jesus was asked: “What is the sign of thy coming?” He answered: “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matthew 24:4-5). The truth is the Lord can come at any time, even today. “Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh” (Matthew 24:51 IV; 24:44 KJV).
My Love to All,
Francis Harper
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The Prophecy of Seventy Weeks
I have been asked, “Why don’t you believe in the rapture?” Although the word rapture is not used in the Scriptures, I do believe the saints who are alive when Jesus comes will be “caught up together into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This “catching up” at the time of the Lord’s second coming could be called a rapture but it is quite different than the rapture theory based upon a misinterpretation of Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks, which is recorded in Daniel 9:25-27. I will endeavor to give the correct interpretation of this prophecy.
The prophecy of 70 weeks delivered to Daniel by Gabriel is very important because it gives a bird’s-eye view of the future history of the nation of Israel and the coming and ministry of the Messiah.
We will begin with Daniel 9:25: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, . . .” Ezra, the priest and scribe of Israel was commissioned to go forth and lead the Israelites back to Jerusalem to restore and build it in 457 B.C. This marks the beginning of the 70 weeks of years.
Continuing with Daniel 9:25: “. . . unto Messiah the Prince shall be 7 weeks and three score and two weeks [69 weeks = 483 years], 457 B.C. + 483 years = 27 A.D. Jesus was born in 4 B.C. In 27 A.D. he would have been 30 years old. “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:30 IV; 3:23 KJV). This was his age at the time of his baptism and the beginning of his public ministry. The period beginning with year 457 B.C. and adding 70 weeks, or 490 years, ends in 34 A.D. Beginning with the Lord’s ministry in A.D. 27 and adding the 70th week [7 years] = A.D. 34. Jesus was crucified after 3 ½ years of ministry in 31 A.D. During the remaining 3 ½ years of the 70th week the Lord’s “other sheep” received his ministry, 31-34 A.D.
Gabriel continues as it is recorded in Daniel 9:26: “And after [the] three score and two weeks [7 + 62 = 69 weeks] shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself . . .” According to Strong’s Concordance the Hebrew word for cut-off means allotted, separated or decreed. It does not indicate the death of Jesus. It simply means that after 483 years the ministry of the Messiah would begin. The earthly ministry of Jesus was limited to the House of Israel. He said: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel” (Matthew 15:23 IV; 15:24 KJV). After the 70th week, the gospel was extended to the Gentiles.
Gabriel’s final words in Daniel 9:27 are a prophecy of the earthly ministry of Jesus and his servants in the 70th week: “And he [the Messiah] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week . . .”. Until the midst [middle] of the week [3 ½ years] Jesus personally ministered to the Jews [Judah] in the land of Jerusalem. During the last 3 ½ years of the 70th week, Jesus brought ministry to his “other sheep:” “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice . . . (John 10:16).
The Lord gave personal ministry to his “other sheep” in Meso-America, and in other places during the final 3 ½ years of the 70th week. Jesus certainly confirmed the covenant with many in the Western Hemisphere during that period. Jesus told the “other sheep” of Meso-America: “And verily, verily, I say unto you, that I have other sheep which are not of this land; neither of the land of Jerusalem . . . who have not heard my voice . . . I shall go unto them (3 Nephi 7:20, 24-26).
Continuing with Gabriel’s message, in Daniel 9:27: “. . . in the midst of the week [at the mid-point of the 70th week, or 3 ½ years after his public ministry began] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, . . .” At the time of the Feast of Passover in the spring of 31 A.D., the Lamb of God was slain. The veil of the temple was rent, signifying that the sacrificial system had ended. This was “the great and last sacrifice . . . an infinite and eternal sacrifice . . . there should be a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled . . . and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God” (Alma 16:210-215).
The final words of Gabriel recorded in Daniel 9:27 are these: . . . and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Gabriel did not paint a pretty picture for the House of Israel.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He, as Gabriel, used the word desolate in describing the Jews. “O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Ye who kill the prophets, and will stone them who are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate!” (Matthew 23:36-38).
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