Greetings, fellow eschatologists! In this post, we’re going to be looking at the events that will trigger Daniel’s 70^th. If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you know that the events in the book of Revelation are the fulfillment of a prophetic word by the prophet Daniel. Daniel 9:24 tells us that in 70 weeks (that’s 70 weeks of years, not days) the will, plan, and purpose for Israel will be accomplished: “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.” Sixty-nine of the weeks have already been fulfilled. The last week, the 70^th week, is yet to be fulfilled! Now in this post, we’re going to find out the events that will trigger Daniel’s 70^th week coming to pass. So keep reading!

THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

First in a One-Part Series
By Karen Thompson

TRIGGERING DANIEL’S 70^TH WEEK

Thank God, through the words of the prophets, we know what the specific events will be that will trigger the start of Daniel’s 70^th week. Knowing what those events are will mean we can know at what point we can start the countdown clock on the 70^th week. We can then set the alarm for three- and one-half years; somewhere around that time, the resurrection of the dead will take place. The key is knowing what events will take place and the order in which they will unfold. Below is a skeletal listing of the events that will lead up to and then trigger the start of Daniel’s 70^th week.

Events That Trigger the Start of Daniel’s 70^th Week

1. The Little Horn Rises to Power

Everything starts when a personage the prophet Daniel calls the “little horn” becomes a king. He will come from the area in the world that was once called the Seleucid Empire. At its zenith, the Seleucid Empire stretched from Thrace (Greece) in the west all the way to the border of India in the east. Depending on the outcome of its many wars, its borders waxed and waned. But no matter how small the empire’s borders shrank, the one nation that was always a part of the empire was Syria. It was the heart of the empire. Ancient as well as modern historians refer to the Seleucid Empire as Syria. 

2. Egypt Pushes Against the Kingdom of Little Horn

Daniel tells us that after the little horn becomes king, the king of the south (Egypt) will “push at him” (Dan. 11:40), meaning he will wage war against the little horn. Daniel doesn’t tell us why Egypt makes a move against the little horn, just that he does. However, Isaiah 30 and 31 tells us that Israel, in the end times, will look to Egypt for help. This indicates there will be some kind of friction between little horn and Israel. Egypt will oblige Israel by pushing against the little horn but ultimately Egypt will fail. Isaiah 31:3 says, “Both he who helps [Egypt] will fall, and he who is helped [Israel] will fall down; they [Egypt and Israel] all will perish together.” The little horn will meet his aggressors in battle and win.

3. The Little Horn Uproots Three Horns

Daniel chapter seven tells us the little horn will uproot three horns. In Daniel, horns symbolize kings. That means he will wage war against three nations (7:24). We already know one of them is Egypt. Daniel chapter nine tells us those three nations will be to the south of him (Egypt) to the east of him (most likely Iraq) and the pleasant land (Israel). It is assumed little horn will “uproot” these three horns in that order: Egypt first, Iraq second, and Israel third.

4. The Little Horn Will Enter a Covenant With Many

Based on the known relationships and animosities among present-day Middle Eastern nations, we can assume that after the little horn uproots these three nations, the other Middle Eastern nations in that part of the world will erupt. Logic tells us other nations will protest the little horn’s actions and put great pressure on him. Daniel 8:23 says the little horn is a king that understands “dark trickery and craftiness…” (Amp.). The King James Bible translates that verse as he will understand “dark sentences.” Based on this verse, it’s believed the little horn is the one who will come up with the solution to calm everyone down. The end result will be some kind of ten-nation coalition (or confederacy), resulting in an agreed upon seven-year covenant of peace (Dan. 9:27). Entering into that covenant is the event that triggers the start of Daniel’s 70^th week!

At this point, the countdown clock can begin!

Converging the Prophesies of Daniel and the Apostle John

Now if we go to the book of Revelation, we’ll converge the apostle John’s prophesies with Daniel’s prophesies. That way, we’ll get a bigger, more complete picture.

1. The First Seal Is Broken

The events of the little horn and his uprooting three kings is symbolized in the opening of the seven seals in the book of Revelation. In chapter six, when the first seal was broken, a rider on a white horse came forth. The rider was given a crown and he went forth conquering and to conquer. This symbolizes the little horn becoming king of a nation. His going forth conquering symbolizes his warfare and the uprooting of the three horns to the south of him, to the east of him, and the pleasant land.

2. The Second Seal Is Broken

When the second seal was broken, a rider came forth on a red horse and power was given to him to take peace from the earth, and that the inhabitants of the earth should kill one another. This symbolizes how the warfare will result in many deaths, thus creating a constant state of anxiety and fear in the land.

3. The Third Seal Is Broken

When the third seal was broken, a rider with a pair of balances in his hand came forth riding a black horse. A voice said, “A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” This symbolizes the disruption to the economy, which is always a result of war.

4. The Fourth Seal Is Broken

When the fourth seal was broken, a pale horse came forth, and its rider was death and hell followed after. It says, “Power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (Rev. 6: 8). This verse is key in telling us that this war will be contained to a large and specific geographical area of the world. This war will involve “over the fourth part of the earth.” That tells us it will not involve all the nations of the earth. Due to Daniel’s prophecies, we know this one-fourth area of the world will be the Middle East. Unfortunately, the prophets didn’t tell us how long these events would take. That means the little horn uprooting the three horns could happen very quickly or be dragged out over a long period of time. I believe it will happen quickly.

6. The Fifth Seal Is Broken

When the fifth seal was broken, John saw under the altar of God souls that were slain for the Word of God and the testimony of faith. Those who worship the one true and only God will be killed because of their faith. The deaths of these martyrs confirm this war will have an emphasis on religion. John heard the martyrs cry out to God, asking when the Lord would avenge their deaths.

7. The Sixth Seal Is Broken

When the sixth seal was broken, there was a massive earthquake so powerful that the sun was darkened and the moon became red. The earthquake was so violent that islands and mountains were moved out of their places. It says the violence of the earthquake will cause men to be stricken with fear and hide in the dens and the rocks of mountains. They will know the “great day of His wrath is come” (Rev. 6:12–17). When Israel is invaded by the little horn, God begins to pour out His wrath with a mighty earthquake. But what is interesting is that after the earthquake, His wrath is suspended for three- and one-half years. Why? We find out in the seventh seal.

8. The Seventh Seal Is Broken

When the seventh seal was broken, John said there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour (Rev. 8:1). What does “silence in heaven” mean? Does it literally mean that nobody in heaven spoke for 30 minutes? No. Silence in heaven means that God’s “war machine” has been shut down. After the earthquake, God suspended the pouring out of His wrath. Why? It’s because the silence in heaven is a reflection of what is happening on the earth. No war on earth means no war in heaven… resulting in silence. From that, we can deduce that when the seventh seal was broken, the little horn and the other ten nations have entered into that seven-year covenant of peace.

And as for the symbolism of one-half hour… In the book of Revelation, the events that occur in it are symbolized as one hour, the equivalence of seven years. Revelation 17:12 says the ten horns “will receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.” The ten horns are the ten kings that will enter into the ten-nation alliance with “the beast.” In Revelation, the Antichrist is referred to as the beast. The ten kings will enter into an alliance with Antichrist for seven years. This verse is symbolizing their alliance of seven years as “one hour.” One-half hour is symbolism for the first half of the seven years, three- and one-half years. Thus, silence in heaven for one-half hour means there is peace on earth for the first half of Daniel’s 70^th week.

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