OK, you're saying that we are in the "end times."
When did the "end times" start?
When do they end?
I've never gotten satisfactory answers from anyone who has said that we're in the "end times."
I am not sure we can fully define "end times" yet, when you look at scripture, there is a clear description of the people who would be alive during that time. There are some strong parallels between those biblical accounts and the times we live in. I understand that there have been many people living at other times that thought they were living in the end times, yet one scripture in Daniel talks about the increase of knowlege at an alarming rate, the ability to share it, etc--this is the time of the internet, computers, etc. Just interesting.
Many (including myself) use the phrase "end times" very loosely when referring to prophetic end of the age events. An eschatological analysis of the book of Daniel would indicate that the "End Times" is a fairly short period of time - 3.5 years - the last 3.5 years of the remaining 7 years of Daniel's 70 weeks (490 years) of trouble decreed upon the nation of Israel. The following is for your consideration in answer to your questions. Underlines and ALLCAPS are my emphasis. (Sorry for the length.)
Daniel’s Time of the End – 1260, 1290, and 1335 Days
Source: http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
“The Time of the End” of This Age
In Daniel 12:4 the words pertaining to “THE TIME OF THE END” were to be sealed until those times arrived, and that from the time the book was written until THE TIME OF THE END arrived, man’s knowledge of God’s creation would be increased. The increase of our knowledge since 600 B.C. has manifested a thousand fold over.
• Daniel 12:4 – But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to THE TIME OF THE END: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Daniel 11:40,41 states that, at this TIME OF THE END, the antichrist (King of the North) would push south through Israel.
• Daniel 11:40,41 – And at THE TIME OF THE END shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. [41] He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Daniel then asks, in 12:7, how long it was going to be to THE END of these wonders (From the time of the attack of the King of the North to the TIME OF THE END of this age which ends when the kingdom come in). Daniel is then told that from the time of the attack to THE END of the age there will be a time, times, and half of a time. He will scatter the power of the Jews into the Negev for a time, times, and half of a times, and, at the end of that time all the things of which he informed Daniel will be finished.
• Daniel 12:7 – And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon 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 AN HALF; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
TIME (1 YEAR) + TIMES (2 YEARS) + ½ OF A TIME (1/2 YEAR) = 3 AND ½ PROPHETIC YEARS OF 360 DAYS = 1260 DAYS = 42 PROPHETIC MONTHS
THE TIME OF THE END IS FINISHED WHEN JESUS RETURNS AT HIS SECOND ADVENT AFTER THE ANTICHRIST AND 10 (ISLAMIC) HORNS DRIVE ISRAEL INTO THE NEGEV FOR TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME. THE “SAINTS” AT THE TIME OF DANIEL’S WRITINGS WERE THOSE BELIEVERS AMONG THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL.
• Daniel 7:21-28 – I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [22] Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. [23] Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. [24] And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a TIME, AND TIMES, AND THE DIVIDING OF TIME. [26] But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. [27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. [28] Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
THE END OF THESE THINGS pertaining to THE TIME OF THE END, when the TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME are FINISHED, IS THE END OF THIS PRESENT AGE.
• Daniel 12:8-10 – And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? [9] And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till THE TIME OF THE END. [10] Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Daniel’s 70 weeks of years clock stopped when Christ took away the daily sacrifice by sacrificing himself. The daily sacrifice was only a picture of what Jesus would do to confirm the covenant in his blood. Once he confirmed the covenant eternally by his one-time sacrifice at the end of his 1185 day ministry, which began when he was baptized by John, animal sacrifice was replaced by what it had pictured Messiah would do.
• Daniel 9:27 – 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’s clock will begin to tick off the last 1335 days of his 70th week of 2520 days when Israel thinks they have made a peace by their own power, but God will scatter their power in the Negev for a period of 1260 days. The Abomination of Desolation, which is the person of the antichrist standing on the Temple Mount claiming to be God after his return from Egypt, occurs 1290 days after the 1335 days begin to be ticked off (Some 45 days before Christ’s Second Advent). Those Jews who survive this last 45 days, in which the vials of wrath are poured out, will indeed be blessed by being allowed to enter the 1000-year reign of Christ as believers. Daniel and all the other Old Testament will stand in their blessed allotment of reward in the great land grant God promised their father Abraham.
• Daniel 12:11-13 – And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. [12] Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. [13] But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
• Genesis 15:18 – In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
• Ezekiel 47:17,19 – And the border from the sea shall be Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side. [19] And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.
• Daniel 12:11-13 – And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. [12] Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. [13] But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.