13.5.4. Events of the 70th Week of Daniel

⁶ Their witness is ended by the ascendancy of the beast (Rev. Rev. 11:7+) at the end of the first half of the week, whereas the last half of the week ends in the destruction of the beast (Rev. Rev. 19:20+). “During the first half of the week he is in his mortal stage. In the last half he is in his superhuman stage; . . . This eighth verse therefore refers to the mid-career of the Beast; and the point of the vision is the moment between the mortal and superhuman stages; i.e., between chapters 12 and 13.”—E. W. Bullinger, Commentary On Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1984, 1935), Rev. 17:8.

⁷ Although Daniel Dan. 11:31 was fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, it stands as an example of the future event which Jesus spoke of (Mtt. Mat. 24:15).

⁸ Although the man of sin will initially sit in the temple of God and present himself as God (2Th. 2Th. 2:4). Since he is not God, he lacks omnipresence. So it appears that an image is erected in the temple which then receives worship on his behalf (Rev. Rev. 13:15+). This allows him to conduct other activities associated with his conquest and rule.

⁹ The timing of the seventh trumpet is approximate and is difficult to establish with certainty. From the description of the first bowl (under the seventh trumpet), it would seem that the last trumpet would occur near the midpoint of the week, just as the beast has established global control and the false prophet is instituting his worship. No mention is made of the beast or his worshipers until after the sixth trumpet (Rev. Rev. 9:13+ cf. Rev. Rev. 11:7+). The prelude to the bowl judgments—which are under the seventh trumpet—includes “those who have victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name” (Rev. Rev. 15:2+). These are in heaven, having overcome the image of the beast by martyrdom. Since they overcame the image, the image must be in place prior to the seven bowls pouring forth. If the image is set up at the midpoint of the last week, then the bowl judgments must be in the last half. The seventh trumpet must occur prior to the first bowl.

¹⁰ It appears that the judgments of the seventh trumpet, which include the seven bowls, must occur after the midpoint of the week. For when the first bowl is poured forth, it targets those who have received the mark of the beast and worship his image (Rev. Rev. 16:2+). This would most naturally follow his proclamation as God (2Th. 2Th. 2:4) and the construction of an idol in his image which receives worship (Rev. Rev. 13:15+). Moreover, prior to the pouring forth of the bowls, John sees martyrs who refused to worship the image of the beast. Thus, the bowls must come after the setting up of the image which occurs at the midpoint of the last week.