Confirmation of the Covenant – How Will We Recognize It?

The confirmation of the covenant marks the beginning of the final seven years to Armageddon. But what will this event called the “confirmation of the covenant” be? How will it be recognized?

Confirmation of the Covenant

The prophecy of Daniel 9:27 states that “he” will confirm the covenant with many for a week of years (seven years). It also states that, in the middle of the seven years, “he” will cause the sacrifice to cease, and “he” will place the abomination of desolation.

 

If we can know who “he” is, and what causing the sacrifice to cease means, and understand what the “abomination of desolation” will be, then we can understand the “confirmation of the covenant.”

Who is “he”?

It is very clear in Daniel 9:27 that the same “he” that confirms the covenant,also causes the sacrifice to cease and places the abomination that makes desolate. If we can discover who causes the sacrifice to cease, and who places the  abomination of desolation, we can know for certain who confirms the covenant.

 

In Daniel 11:30-32, the Antichrist is described as having indignation against the holy covenant. In verse 31, it tells us that the Antichrist and his followers, “…shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination  that maketh desolate.”

 

The “he” that confirms the covenant is the Antichrist.

 

Stopping the sacrifices

The Jewish people have not offered sacrifices since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD. They believe they must have a temple in order to sacrifice. Revelation 11:1-2 teaches that a temple will stand on the Temple Mount at least 42 months before Armageddon. Once the Third Temple is completed, sacrifices will be resumed. This will trigger worldwide opposition to this daily slaughter of animals. Consequently, the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices and commit the abomination of desolation.

 

What is the abomination of desolation?

In Matthew 24:15, Jesus said that the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel would “stand in the holy place.” The holy place is located in the temple. II Thessalonians 2:3-4 gives the most detailed description of the abomination of desolation. It states that the man of sin (the Antichrist) will exalt himself above all that is called God, and will sit in the temple, claiming to actually be God.

 

It should be noted that the abomination of desolation marks the beginning of the final three and one-half year period called the great tribulation (Matthew 24:15-21).

 

There’s one more important insight that we gain from the discourse of Jesus in Matthew 24. In verse 16, we are told that the area of Judea will be the location of horrible slaughter immediately following the abomination of desolation. This is important because the area of Judea is the area in Israel called the West Bank or the occupied territories. Other than the Temple Mount itself, the area of Judea is the most hotly contested territory in the Middle East conflict.

 

What will the confirmation of the covenant be?

So what is this event called the confirmationof the covenant?

 

It apparently will affect the status of the Temple Mount since a temple will be completed and in use within three and one half years after the confirmation. It also pertains to the status of the land of Israel. We know this because the area of Judea will be the center of great conflict during the final seven years.

 

Is there a covenant in the Bible that deals with the status of the Holy Land and the status of Jerusalem? Absolutely!

 

In Genesis 15:18, God made a covenant with Abraham, saying, “Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”

 

The confirmation of the covenant is when the Antichrist and his world government system confirm Israel’s right to a homeland in the Middle East. It will be very similar to what is happening right now with the presentation of the Roadmap for Peace to Israelis and Palestinians by the international community.

 

By Irvin Baxter

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