I've stated before that I have a few problems with the popular view on end-times prophecy. I decided to share them. But before I do, I want you to understand something. My purpose is not to establish a new interpretation. I only want to share my thoughts and add to the debate.

The fact is, I accept most of the popular view. When I say popular view, I'm talking about the view held by the majority of evangelical Christians today. According to this view, after the church is removed from the earth by what's called the rapture, there will be a seven-year period called the Tribulation. In the first half of this seven-year period, the Antichrist will rise to global power. In the middle of the period, the Antichrist will break a seven-year agreement with Israel, go into the rebuild Jewish temple, and declare himself to be God. The last part of this seven-year period is called the Great Tribulation. In this last 31/2 years, the Antichrist and his False Prophet will wage war against God's remaining people and prevail. But, only for a time. That's because God will respond from heaven by first pouring out His wrath, and then by Jesus Christ returning to earth physically to establish His 1000 year kingdom.

Like I said, I agree with most of this view. However, I believe there are passages in Daniel that bring parts of this view into question -- mainly, the seven-year Tribulation idea. I've come to believe the Tribulation may only be a 3 1/2 year period. I've also come to believe all the events beginning with the opening of the scroll in Revelation chapter six occur over this 3 1/2 year period. Let me share with you why I am beginning to believe this. In Daniel we read:

 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. 

Here we read about the fourth and last great Gentile empire. The commonly held view is this is the coming kingdom of the Antichrist. And if you've been following my commentaries, you know I believe we may be seeing these events unfolding as I write in the new, super European Union. But, it's what comes after these events I want you to notice -- how God responds to the appearing of the Antichrist. Daniel continues by saying:

 I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, and the books were opened. Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire (Daniel 7:7-11 New American Standard Bible). 

Here's my point: Here we find the same throne room scene in Daniel that we find in chapter four of the book of Revelation. When taken together, this places what happens after chapter four in the book of Revelation occurring after the Antichrist is revealed, not before. And if this is the case, it suggests the events in the scroll are the Great Tribulation. And, they all occur in a 3 1/2 year period.

How about the 70th week? Isn't that a seven-year period? Yes. However, I can't find anywhere in the Bible the entire 70th week is equated to the Tribulation period in the way the popular view teaches. In my opinion this concept may have been assumed, but not established.

Now this brings us to a very important verse I'd like to look at. I have come to believe the entire end-times scenario may be found in this one verse. This is the verse Jesus was thinking about when He directed our attention to the appearing of the Antichrist as being the sign of the end of the age and His return in Matthew chapter 24. Here's the verse Jesus was thinking about:

And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27).

Like I said, I think this one verse contains the entire end-times scenario. Let's break it up:

And he [the coming Antichrist] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week [seven-years agreement with Israel], but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering [the Antichrist goes into the rebuilt temple declaring himself God]; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate [the apostasy that comes before the Antichrist is revealed], even until a complete destruction [the Great Tribulation], one that is decreed [ the scroll with seven seals in the Father's hand], is poured out [the breaking of the seals] on the one who makes desolate [the Antichrist] (Daniel 9:27).

Where does this place the rapture of the church? Like I've said before, I really don't know. I think it could happen at any time. I do suspect, however, it doesn't have to happen before the 70th week, as the popular view teaches. But, it still could.

So, I've come to a little different understanding on end-times prophecy. And, I could end up being wrong. But, that's ok. I'm not going to be wrong about the most important thing -- Jesus is returning soon!

And no matter how it all comes down, I'm staying tuned.