Note: this article is Part 2. If you haven’t read Part 1, titled The case for a 3½-year tribulation, please do so first, so you can come full-circle on this important matter. You may not have as much time as you think.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

Who confirms this covenant? Is it a seven-year peace treaty with the Antichrist? No. The scriptures never insinuated that out of the Daniel 9:27 text. The covenant that was confirmed is atonement for sins. Instead of a daily sacrifice and the oblation, Jesus offered a once-for-all atonement for sins in the evening on Passover. How was it confirmed? When Jesus was baptized He confirmed that He was going to die, be buried, and rise again, which is the New Covenant; and there were seven years (one week) left on the clock of the 70 weeks of Daniel.

for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28)

For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh. Else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by year. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me; (Hebrews 10:1-5)

By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)

Important note: if the Jews or anyone else goes back to sacrificing animals, it denies what Christ did. Satan doesn’t want to cease animal sacrifices. He wants to keep them for as long as he can, which would be an abomination.

Angel declares 3½ years left

And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:6-7)

Angel declares no time is left

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: (Revelation 10:5-6 KJV)

This angel never started the countdown with “seven years or last week.” If that pause was for seven years, then that angel would have started with that time. If there wasn’t a pause, there would be no need for the angel to start the countdown of 3½ years at the start of “scattering the power of the holy people.”

Why does “at that time shall Michael stand up” causes a “time of trouble”?

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)

The Hebrew word for “stand up” and “standeth” is the same; however, the way the word is used could take on one of a few biblical usages. We believe that “stand up” is “to cease” and “standeth” is “to continue.” At some point, Michael will cease from continuing to hold back, from protecting the Jews, probably because they start to sacrifice animals again, which sets up the abomination that causes desolation.

If this half-week (3½ years) paused at the Passover, we believe it will resume on Passover; thus, 3½ years later is the Feast of Tabernacles. We believe ALL feasts are appointed times and must happen before Jesus comes.

And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)

Satan has people confused over the time and laws; however, we are told again that the saints will have to endure for 3½ years. At the completion of the fullness of the Gentiles starts Israel’s (Jacob’s) trouble. Satan’s wrath will be on Israel and the saints.

The fig tree and all the trees

And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees: when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luke 21:29-33)

The fig tree is Israel. Israel and the Gentiles are all the trees.

Shoot forth

Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because ye have borne the shame of the nations: therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I have sworn, saying, Surely the nations that are round about you, they shall bear their shame. But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they are at hand to come. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown; (Ezekiel 36:6-9)

The seed was saved

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22)

All scripture is true, even if we lack the understanding. Let’s look at an example, if we take one verse and run with it:

And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach. (Matthew 27:44)

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him. (Mark 15:32)

But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? (Luke 23:40)

When they have two verses that state the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus mocked Him, Matthew and Mark don’t mention that one thief had a change of heart; however, Luke captures that and leaves out altogether that he even mocked Jesus to begin with. But all scripture is true: two witnesses to condemn, but one to change the crime.

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. (Deuteronomy 17:6)

We are almost certain that the case of 3½ years left won’t convince everyone; that’s just how it goes with the mysteries of God. But you have to ask yourself, why was Jesus’ ministry for 3½ years?

What starts the final 3½ years?

The final 3½ years will start when the Jews sacrifice a red heifer on Passover. This abomination denies what Jesus did and causes the desolation to come. When you see this, buckle up because Michael will cease (stand up) from restraining Satan, which causes the time of trouble. Once this happens, the man of sin will be revealed, the son of perdition.

In order for the Jews to sacrifice again, they need to appoint a high priest, which Jesus is our High Priest. We believe Satan will enter fully into that person that they call “High Priest” at the sacrifices on Passover, thus revealing the man of sin. For the Jews think that when Messiah comes, he comes as the king.

When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains: let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house: and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. (Matthew 24:15-18)

When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, (1 Thessalonians 5:3a)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

The parable of the weeds was explained

Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field. And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:36-43)

God our Father’s kingdom is coming soon.