BIBLE FACTS OF THE DAY

Bible Facts Of The Day, September 17, 2026 “Daniel The Prophet, Seventy Weeks Prophecy – Part III”

PART III — THE RAPTURE BEFORE THE 70TH WEEK

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

Daniel 9 never directly says, “The Church will be raptured before the 70th week.”

The pre-tribulation position reaches that conclusion by comparing Daniel’s prophecy with New Testament passages concerning the Church, God’s wrath, Israel, and Christ’s return.

Paul writes:

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:17

The Church is caught up to meet Christ.

Paul then says:

“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:9

Pre-tribulationists therefore understand the prophetic order as:

Church Age

↓
RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

↓
Daniel’s 70th Week Begins

↓
First 3½ Years

↓
Abomination of Desolation

↓
Great Tribulation — Final 3½ Years

↓
SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

↓
Messianic Kingdom

This also distinguishes the Rapture from the Second Coming.

At the Rapture, believers are:

“caught up… to meet the Lord in the air.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:17

At the Second Coming, Christ returns triumphantly in judgment and kingship, as pictured in Revelation 19:11–16.

Central Message

Daniel’s 70 weeks are important to the pre-tribulation position because they provide the prophetic framework.

Part I: The first 69 weeks lead to Messiah being cut off.

Part II: One final seven-year week remains, focused particularly upon Israel and Jerusalem.

Part III: Pre-tribulation theology places the Rapture of the Church before this final 70th week, followed ultimately by Christ’s visible return.

So Daniel’s prophecy presents a powerful picture:

God fulfilled the first 69 weeks.

God will fulfill the 70th week.

And because God has been faithful to His prophetic Word in the past, we can trust Him concerning everything He has promised for the future.

“Maranatha! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

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