Seventy weeks are decreed
about your people and
your holy city,
to finish the transgression,
to put an end to sin,
and to atone for iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness,
to seal both vision and prophet,
and to anoint
a most holy place”
In his vision of judgment upon the wicked,
the
apostle John
tells us that
Jesus is returning on a white horse:
“Then I saw
heaven opened, and behold,
a white horse!
The one sitting on it is called
Faithful and True,
and in righteousness
he judges and makes war”
(Revelation 19:11; see Psalm 45).
Most Bible scholars are of the opinion that this passage
is not referring to the Rapture, but rather to
Jesus’ coming to earth with His saints at the end of the Tribulation.
The horse’s white color
represents purity or victory
(cf. Revelation 7:14-15),
for this rider is holy
and goes forth to be
the triumphant conqueror.
During ancient times, victorious Roman generals entered their conquered cities in chariots drawn by white horses. The entire setting of this verse implies victory over Christ’s enemies. As such, the word white indicates triumph, a successful war.
What a vivid contrast we see in Jesus’ return with all His angels
(Matthew 25:31),
as compared to His entry to Jerusalem upon a donkey
(Matthew 21:7-9)! He is no longer riding a humble donkey.
Jesus will return
on a fiery white charger,
bringing judgment,
just as
He had promised
(Matthew 25:31-33).
Also by way of contrast, when
He was on earth,
Jesus was abandoned by His followers
(Mark 14:50). Revelation 19
reveals the armies of heaven following Him in conquest.
He is not returning to speak “gracious words” (Luke 4:22)
but the words of righteous judgment
(Isaiah 11:4).
Jesus comes to rule with a rod of iron
(Psalm 2:9).
He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
(Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16).
(Daniel 9:24).
Chapter 9 of Daniel begins with Daniel making a calculation of how long his people are supposed to be in exile based on the prophecy of Jeremiah.
This leads Daniel to pray.
“Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes”
(Daniel 9:3).
The prayer Daniel prayed was one of repentance to God for the sins of his people of Israel and Judah. As Daniel was praying, God sends the angel Gabriel to deliver a message to Daniel. It is here where Daniel receives the prophecy regarding the 70 weeks.
How Long Is 70 weeks?
The term weeks refers to seven years or seven sevens. So for those who love math, and especially for those who don’t, the 70 weeks is a period that totals 490 years or seventy times seven. It is important to note that the ancient Jewish calendar was a 360-day calendar, not the 365 day one which we use today. I will highlight why this is important in a moment.
What Will Happen During the 70 Weeks in Daniel?
The 70 weeks of Daniel
highlights six critical things that
will happen by the end of this period.
1. To finish the transgression
2. To put an end to sin
3. To atone for iniquity
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness
5. To seal both vision and prophet
6. To anoint a most holy place
While all these things will occur during this period of 490 years,
this 490-year period is not consecutive, but broken up
Daniel 9:24-27.
7 Weeks + 62 weeks = 483 years. After the 69 weeks, there will be a gap
before we arrive at the 70thweek.
If you use a literal interpretation of the prophecy of the 70 weeks,
then it begins with the declaration to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes gave this decree in 444 BC. At that point, Nehemiah led the charge to reinforce the gates of the temple and to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which took 49 years and equates to the first 7-week period.
From this point forward, there would be another 434 years as Israel waited for the coming of the Messiah. Again, if you use a literal translation of the 434 years and consider the 360-day calendar, we mentioned earlier, this would bring us into the time of Jesus in 33 A.D. This part of Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled in 33 A.D. when Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Where Do We Find Ourselves at the End of 69 Weeks?“
And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed” (Daniel 9:26).
By the time you get to the end of the 69 weeks, sin has been atoned for because of the sacrifice of Jesus, which is also a reference to him being cutoff, mentioned in Daniel. What we also see in verse 26 is the rejection of the Messiah by Israel and a mention of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, which happened in 70 A.D. With these things complete, it opens that span of time before we get to the 70th and final week.
What Do We Know about the 70th Week of Daniel?
The 70th week of Daniel
brings us to the period
known as the tribulation and brings
a new character into the picture,
namely the antichrist.
The tribulation is the 7-year period which begins after the rapture of the church and ends when Jesus returns to earth again.
During this time, the antichrist will rise to power and this will be a period of judgment on the earth.
It will also be the time where God will turn his attention towards the nation of Israel. As Daniel mentions in this prophecy,
the antichrist will make a treaty with Israel that will last for three and a half years and then he will break this treaty.
“And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator”
(Daniel 9:27).
Though the antichrist will come to power during this time,
his reign will be short-lived. His end has already been
decreed and will occur at the end of the tribulation.
The event that will bring this 7-year period of tribulation
to an end will be
the return of
Jesus
at his
second coming.
When he returns, he will
immediately judge
the antichrist and after that,
he will establish his
millennial reign on the earth.
When he does this, he will bring in an
everlasting righteousness
and anoint a most holy place,
which will complete
the
70-week prophecy in Daniel.
In Revelation 6,
the apostle John
records the Lamb’s opening
of a scroll and six of the seven seals.
When the fourth seal is broken,
John says,
“I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!
Its rider was named Death, and Hades
was following close behind him”
(Revelation 6:8).
The scroll the Lamb opens is
introduced in Revelation 5.
Only the Lamb
who was slain is worthy
to open it
(Revelation 5:1–5).
As the Lamb opens the scroll,
He breaks seven seals in succession.
Each seal unleashes
a new judgment on the earth.
The first four judgments
are
known as the
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:
• The first seal: a rider on white horse. The rider has a bow and a crown and goes out to conquer
(Revelation 6:1–2).
• The second seal: a rider on a red horse bringing division and war
(Revelation 6:3–4).
• The third seal: a rider on a black horse.
The rider has scales for measuring, and he brings famine to the earth
(Revelation 6:5–6)
• The fourth seal: a rider on a pale or ashen horse.
The rider is named Death.
Hades follows with Death.
These two are given authority to kill a fourth of
the earth
with famine, pestilence, and wild animals
(Revelation 6:8).
In the Bible, death (Greek, thanatos) refers to either the
physical separation of the body from the spirit or the
separation in relationship of the human being from God.
In the scene that John records, he sees a horse rider who is called Death, perhaps because this rider is given authority to bring death to a fourth of the earth’s population. Hades (an English transliteration of the Greek word hades) refers to the grave, where people await resurrection for judgment (Revelation 20:13). The riders named Death and Hades are riding together to bring death and send people to the grave (Revelation 6:8). John does not say that Death and Hades were both riding on a pale or ashen horse, but rather that Death was riding on a pale horse and that Hades was following with him. John doesn’t describe what Hades rides, so it has been assumed by some that Hades was also riding a pale horse. Others see Death and Hades sharing the same pale horse. Either way, the fourth seal brings about the demise of many during the tribulation.
The pale horse that Death rides is of a sickly, corpse-like color. Some translations of Revelation 6:8 describe
Death riding “an ashen (pale greenish gray) horse” (AMP) or “a pale green horse” (CSB).
In this chilling scene, slaughter is personified
as the earth experiences unparalleled, terrifying calamities.
It is the Day of the Lord, and “
who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?”
(Malachi 3:2).
To the eternal praise of Jesus, believers will triumph
even over the rider of the pale horse:
“‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’”
(1 Corinthians 15:54–55).
The state of our world was
prophesied
and
written in advance
About 2,000 years ago, the greatest “newscaster” the world has ever known foretold today’s chaotic world conditions. He foresaw today’s scientific discoveries and technological advancements, and the radical changes they would effect on humanity. He foretold the wars, famines, disease epidemics and natural disasters now increasingly occurring before our very eyes.
This famous newscaster knew that men would produce the destructive forces that now threaten cosmocide!
He warned:
“For that will be a time of greater horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed”
(Matthew 24:21-22; New Living Translation).
This great newscaster was
Jesus Christ
of
Nazareth--
the same Jesus who is coming again to intervene at the last moment to save
humanity from extinction and establish world peace!
But before He intervenes, a number of catastrophic events that will
impact all humanity must first occur.
These events are outlined in the book of Revelation. In the last two installments, we have learned that this last book of the Bible details “seven seals” that reveal events to occur in the years leading up the return of Christ (Revelation 5:9). The seventh seal contains seven symbolic trumpets (Revelation 8:1-6) that represent consecutive punishments from God on a rebellious mankind. And, as we saw last month, the fifth and sixth trumpets are also known as the first and second woes, signaling warfare between military powers in Europe and Asia.
Next in the sequence of events described in Revelation is the seventh trumpet.
1. What will happen when the seventh trumpet sounds and the third woe begins? Revelation 11:14-15. Who will then be given the kingdoms, or governments, of this world? Verse 15.
Comment: On the climactic day of Christ’s return, a myriad of events will take place at whirlwind speed. The very first event that occurs at this time is the coronation of Jesus Christ (Daniel 7:13-14), followed by the announcement at the trumpet blast that His government will finally replace those of Satan and man. Other events will take place at the moment of the seventh trumpet’s blast as well, as we will see later. But first, let’s notice what happens as Christ’s return to claim the Earth is noticed by the people of the world.
2. What will be the reaction of the nations of this world? Revelation 11:18.
Comment: Jesus Christ, the new world Ruler, will not be automatically accepted by the warring nations as the King of the Earth. The nations will actually gather their armies to challenge Christ. They will consider Him their common enemy, and will rage against Him for coming to take control of all earthly governments. They know that with Jesus Christ ruling, their human schemes can never be completed.
It is this climactic battle that will determine the outcome of World War iii, and who will rule the world!
Seven Final Punishments1. Is this time of God’s intervention the time of His righteous wrath on rebellious mankind? Revelation 11:18. What more is revealed about this time of God’s wrath? Revelation 15:1.
Comment: Just as the seventh seal is divided into the seven last trumpets, so the seventh trumpet is divided into seven last plagues. These plagues will finally crush all rebellion.
2. Are the seven last plagues—likened to vials of God’s wrath—about to be poured out? Verse 7. How are the seven last plagues described?
Read Revelation 16 for a summary of all seven plagues.
3. Because men refuse to repent, will God continue to send each plague in sequence? Revelation 16:9, 11.
Comment: Despite the plagues, the majority of mankind will not turn to God in repentance right away.
4. How long will it take for all seven plagues to be administered?
Revelation 18:8.
Comment: All seven vials against the disobedient will begin in one 24-hour day—the day ushered in by the blowing of the last trumpet. Some of these vials of wrath will continue to be administered beyond this 24-hour period. The combined power of these plagues will devastate the disobedient.
5. With the sixth plague, will God prepare the way for the kings of the east and their armies to cross the Euphrates into the Holy Land? Revelation 16:12. Is this part of God’s plan to gather the armies of all nations that remain rebellious to His government into one place for the final battle of World War iii? Verses 13-14. See also Zephaniah 3:8 and Joel 3:9-14.
Comment: Recall that the fifth and sixth trumpets are also called the first woe and second woe. In the first two woes, the beast power will attack, then be devastated by a counterattack from the kings of the east. But on the day of the seventh trumpet, when Christ returns to Jerusalem, both armies will unite to fight Him!
6. Will Christ make war in righteousness against those nations that fight Him and His armies? Revelation 19:11; Isaiah 11:4-5. Is Christ going to smite the nations with His sharp sword, symbolic of His divine power, and rule them with a rod of iron? Revelation 19:15.
7. Who will be defeated in this climactic battle of World War iii? Verses 19-20.
8. After all organized military resistance to the Kingdom of God has been crushed, will Christ then punish the leaders of this world’s political and religious system that warred against Him? Verse 20.
Why God Sends Punishment1. Are God’s angels who will pour out the seven last plagues upon Earth clothed in white linen, a symbol of righteous judgment? Revelation 15:6.
2. Does God have to punish mankind because their sins would eventually lead to the destruction of life on Earth? Zephaniah 1:17; Revelation 11:18.
Comment: God is love (1 John 4:16). God and Christ love all of humanity (John 3:16). But Christ will be angry at the sins of mankind when He returns. He is coming to punish—in love! Otherwise, man would destroy all life upon the planet! Power-mad politicians at the helm of human governments will have already destroyed much of the Earth, and unless God intervenes with force to stop warfare, no human would be left alive (Matthew 24:22).
3. Will the nations finally accept God and repent, and seek to learn His way? Isaiah 2:1-4.
Comment: The glorified Christ is coming in all the splendor, power and glory of God to stop escalating wars, nuclear mass destruction, human pain and suffering. He is coming to usher in a radically different, utterly transformed global order. God’s laws will be taught, embraced and enforced worldwide, which will result in peace, abundant prosperity, happiness and joy for all mankind.
Meanwhile, each of us can receive the blessings of God’s way of life and His protection now. But first we must come to see the catastrophic effects of sin as God does. Left unchecked, man’s sins would lead to the destruction of humanity. The events that occur at the seventh trumpet show how much God hates sin—and what He will do to finally eradicate it in the world. We must have this same attitude toward sin. That means coming to have a sincere willingness and earnest motivation to completely eliminate it from our own lives, just as Jesus Christ will utterly destroy the sin in the world at His return.
Those who turn to God and seek to do His will, instead of following the sinful ways of this world, will be given divine protection (Revelation 3:10; 12:14-16). You need not suffer any of the coming plagues!
Seventy Years of Captivity
The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of
Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakimson of Josiah king of Judah,
which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all
those living in Jerusalem:
For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.
They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever.
Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”
“But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.”
Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words,
I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy[a] them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin.
I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp.
This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and
these nations will
serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
But when the seventy years are fulfilled,
I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation,
the land of the Babylonians,
for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and
will make it desolate forever.
I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it,
all that are written in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah
against all the nations.
They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings;
I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”
The story of Elijah,
the
great prophet of Israel,
being taken to heaven is found in 2 Kings 2:1–18.
The chapter begins, “When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind . . .” (verse 1). The Bible doesn’t actually say that Elijah rode to heaven in a chariot of fire, but that is the assumption, since there was a flaming chariot and horses of fire at the scene, along with the whirlwind.
It would make sense that Elijah boarded
the vehicle that pulled up in front of him.
We don’t know whether Elijah was aware that he would ascend to heaven in such a spectacular manner, but he did know he was about to be taken from Elisha, his protégé. “Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ ‘
Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’
Elisha replied” (2 Kings 2:9).
Elijah realized the request was not his to grant. Therefore, he made the fulfillment of the request dependent on a condition that rested solely in the hands of God. Elijah responded, “You have asked a difficult thing, . . . yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not”
(2 Kings 2:10).
Asking for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit is an allusion to the rights of the firstborn described in Deuteronomy 21:17 and indicates that Elisha’s request was to be heir to Elijah’s prophetic office and gifts. In answer to that request, Elisha did indeed witness Elijah’s most amazing exit:
“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (verse 11).
The mode of transportation God chose for Elijah contains some important symbolism. The horses speak of power and speed; the chariot speaks of protection and triumph. The whole being “of fire” speaks of glory. God took His servant speedily, triumphantly into the glories of heaven, guarding his soul all the way. The prophet who had shown such fiery zeal for God—and who had literally called down fire from heaven several times
(1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 1)—was now taken to heaven in fire.
The manner in which Elijah was translated to heaven, with a chariot and horses of fire, may have been primarily for Elisha’s sake. God was granting Elisha’s request to receive a double portion of Elijah’s power, and God was making sure that Elisha knew the condition had been met. Elisha had to see Elijah being taken up, and there was no way he could miss the spectacle God displayed. In taking Elijah to heaven in such a fiery, stormy manner, God assured Elisha that he would succeed Elijah in the prophetic office with twice as much divine power. Seeing Elijah going to heaven with the flaming horses, the chariot of fire, and the whirlwind would have had a profound effect on Elisha throughout his ministry. If ever he doubted that he had been chosen by God, he could remember the glory he witnessed that night.
If ever he questioned the power of God,
he could recall
the chariot of fire and the horses of fire.
God’s awesome display of power to Elisha fitted him for service. Such a display is reminiscent of God’s revealing His power to Moses at the burning bush, fitting Moses for service (Exodus 3:1–10).
Heavenly fire is associated with angels in other places in Scripture. When God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant, he saw an angelic host, described as “horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). Angels are not mentioned at the translation of Elijah, but the heavenly fire—the heavenly glory—certainly is.
In taking Elijah to heaven, God foreshadowed Christ’s ascension. Perhaps those who saw Jesus taken up from the Mount of Olives and hidden in a cloud would have been reminded of Elijah’s departure (Acts 1:6–9).
Those disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension served
God with dedication the rest of their lives,
just as Elisha did.
Jeremiah 29:10 ESV / 19 helpful votes “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.
Psalm 90:10 ESV / 15 helpful votes The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Luke 10:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
Numbers 11:16 ESV / 13 helpful votes Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.
Numbers 7:1-89 ESV / 13 helpful votes On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached and brought their offerings before the Lord, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.” ...
Genesis 46:27 ESV / 13 helpful votes And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.
Daniel 9:2 ESV / 12 helpful votes In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
2 Chronicles 36:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
Daniel 9:1-27 ESV / 11 helpful votes In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. ...
Daniel 9:24 ESV / 10 helpful votes “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.
Jeremiah 25:11 ESV / 10 helpful votes This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Numbers 10:1-36 ESV / 10 helpful votes The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. ...
Numbers 4:1-49 ESV / 10 helpful votes The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers' houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty, to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things. When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it. ...
Numbers 1:1-54 ESV / 10 helpful votes The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers. And these are the names of the men who shall assist you. From Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; ...
Exodus 15:27 ESV / 10 helpful votes Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.
Exodus 1:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.
Numbers 12:1-16 ESV / 9 helpful votes Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. And the Lordcame down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. ...
Exodus 24:1 ESV / 9 helpful votes Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.
Luke 10:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
Isaiah 7:1-25 ESV / 8 helpful votes In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, ...
Numbers 6:1-27 ESV / 8 helpful votes And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. “All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long. ...
Genesis 10:1-32 ESV / 8 helpful votes These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations. ...
Genesis 5:1-32 ESV / 8 helpful votes This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. ...
Zechariah 1:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’
Numbers 11:25 ESV / 7 helpful votes Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.
Numbers 3:1-51 ESV / 7 helpful votes These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests. But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ...
Exodus 1:1-22 ESV / 7 helpful votes These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. ...
Revelation 13:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
Revelation 13:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Revelation 12:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
Romans 5:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned--
Ezekiel 8:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up.
Deuteronomy 10:22 ESV / 6 helpful votes Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.
Genesis 12:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-20 ESV / 6 helpful votes Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, ...
Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 6 helpful votes Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ...
Luke 9:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
Mark 6:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Matthew 1:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Zechariah 7:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me:
Jonah 1:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Daniel 12:1-13 ESV / 5 helpful votes “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. ...
Psalm 90:1-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: ...
Numbers 14:1-45 ESV / 5 helpful votes Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. ...
Genesis 10:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.
Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 5 helpful votes In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...
Revelation 17:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
Revelation 4:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
Revelation 4:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
James 2:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
Luke 10:1-42 ESV / 4 helpful votes After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ ...
Matthew 24:35 ESV / 4 helpful votes Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 8:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,
Daniel 9:1-2 ESV / 4 helpful votes In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
Isaiah 23:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes At the end of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre, and she will return to her wages and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.
1 Kings 17:1-24 ESV / 4 helpful votes Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” And the word of the Lord came to him: “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. ...
Numbers 5:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead. You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the Lord said to Moses, so the people of Israel did. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ...
Genesis 37:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
Genesis 26:24 ESV / 4 helpful votes And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.”
Genesis 19:1-38 ESV / 4 helpful votes The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” ...
Genesis 6:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.
Genesis 6:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”
Genesis 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Revelation 19:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
Revelation 17:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire,
Revelation 17:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
Revelation 14:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes And they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
Revelation 13:1-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. ...
Revelation 11:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,
Revelation 11:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes But do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
Revelation 5:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 4:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 4:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes The first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.
Revelation 4:6-9 ESV / 3 helpful votes And before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Revelation 1:1-2 ESV / 3 helpful votes The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Jude 1:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,
2 Peter 3:15-16 ESV / 3 helpful votes And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
1 Peter 5:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.
Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
2 Corinthians 12:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
Acts 1:1-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ...
John 17:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Luke 24:25-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 21:1-38 ESV / 3 helpful votes Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, ...
Luke 6:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:
Matthew 26:44 ESV / 3 helpful votes So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.
Matthew 24:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Matthew 24:1-51 ESV / 3 helpful votes Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ...
Matthew 19:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:16-22 ESV / 3 helpful votes And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” ...
Matthew 18:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 12:48 ESV / 3 helpful votes But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
Matthew 10:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
Matthew 1:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
Matthew 1:1-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, ...
Matthew 1:1-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, ...
Zechariah 8:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”