Israel´s 70 weeks prophecy was given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel "under the law" (Old Testament economy), and therefore it must be completed and fulfilled back under the Law since this prophecy was given at that time. It must be fulfilled "Outside" of the dispensation of grace. This prophecy of the 70 weeks (or 490 days) was not given to the church, but to Israel only. Gabriel tells Daniel in Dan. 9:24 the following: "70 weeks have been decreed for thy people (Daniel´s people Israel), and thy holy city (Daniel´s city Jerusalem).........etc. The 70 weeks prophecy (490 days) concerns only "Israel´s sin" and her restoration (Dan.9:24-27).


God´s prophetic program for Israel is designed to be kept "separate" from the prophetic program for the "church." In the Old Testament Israel was chosen by God out from among all the nations of the earth (Deut 4:37,38, 7:7-8, 10:15). They were "one nationally." Israel today is still God´s "chosen people", but they are in unbelief (Rom.11:25,26). The church is not made up of a "one nationality of people" like Israel.


The body of Christ, unlike Israel, is made up of many peoples from many nationalities, Jews as well as Gentiles alike, though the majority of the body of Christ is predominantly made up of Gentiles. Therefore God cannot combine nor fulfill both programs of "Israel and the church" together in the same "dispensation of time." In the Old Testament God was only working with, and calling out from among the nations "His people Israel", and no other nation (Deut 4:37,38, 7:7-8, 10:15).


Those of "Grace" (the church) who have believed the gospel have been set free from eternal condemnation through Christ (Rom. 5:1, 9, 10; 8:1,2). The other group is of the Law (unbelieving Israel) who rejected the gospel of grace, and therefore will experience the "physical judgment and chastisement" of the hand of God along with the rest of the unbelieving Gentiles during the tribulation period.


All the earthly kingdom blessings which were promised to Israel through Abraham (Abrahams seed / Gen. chapters 15-17) will be given to the "believing remnant" of Israel when Christ returns at the end of the tribulation period in order to establish His kingdom (Matt. 24:24,31). Israel is an "earthly people" to whom the covenants belonged (Rom. 9:4 Eph. 2:12), and the church is a "Heavenly people" who have inherited all the "spiritual blessings in Christ in the heavenlies" (Eph. 1:3). Israel and the church must be kept separate in order to understand much of God´s word correctly.


Grace and Law do not mix. It is either one or the other. Trying to mix Law and Grace would be like trying to mix "oil with water." The nature of the two substances will not allow you to mix them. They will always remain separate due to their natural properties. Likewise trying to mix the two different dispensations of Law and Grace is also scripturally and theologically impossible to do. You can see on the chart above that I have displayed, that the dispensation of the Law ended at the cross and the dispensation of grace began. Grace will END at the time of the resurrection/Rapture. Then the Old Testament economy of the Law returns at the opening of the Day of the Lord which follows the Rapture.


The apostle Paul makes very clear in scripture that the body of Christ is NOT under the Law, and neither can the church ever return back under the Law since Christ has fulfilled the just demands of it. This new administration (Eph. 3:8-11), which is by grace through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-10) has given the believer in Christ "eternally forgiveness" for all sin, for all time (Rom.6:10; Col.2:13,14; Heb.9:12, 28 Heb.10:10-14).


The dispensation of the Law and the dispensation of grace "have never", and "can never" operate at the same time, since they are two different dispensations of time which effect two different groups. The Law was not given to the Gentiles, but it was given to Israel. Both Law and Grace are like the "oil" and "Water" example. They will never mix!


Israel´s prophetic time


During the first 3-1/2 years half of the tribulation God is dealing with "national Israel" and her prophetic program by "calling out His remnant of Jewish people" according to Daniel´s 70 weeks prophecy, which God will be completing. These judgments called the "The Birth pangs" (Matt. 24:8) are for the purpose of preparing a remnant out of the nation of Israel who will inherit the promised kingdom, and to "fulfill the times of the Gentiles" spoken of by Jesus in Luke 21:24. Therefore the church can never be a partaker of Israel´s prophetic program during the tribulation period called "Jacob´s trouble." God makes clear in (Jer.30:3-11) that this period is for Israel.


The apostle Paul says this "Give no offense either to the Jews or to Greeks, or to the church of God (1Cor. 10:32). Here you can see that Paul teaches that there are 3 different distinct groups of people in the world today. Israel is not saved nationally at this time. The faithful remnant of Israel who will be purchased and saved during the tribulation will make up the "true nation" of Israel who will possess the kingdom when Christ returns.


The church is comprised of many peoples from many nations. The church is also pictured in the New Testament epistles as a "heavenly people" by the apostle Paul in (Eph. 1:3), and not an earthly people as Israel is. Notice that Paul the apostle differentiates the Church from the Gentiles even though the church is predominantly Gentile. The bible says that those who make up the body of Christ are "all one" in Christ (For by one Spirit you were all baptized into one body /1Cor. 12:13). Those who make up the body of Christ have already been made "perfect in spirit" through the blood of Christ, and therefore judgment is not needed nor required to purchase the church (Rom. 8:1,2).


The Gentiles make up the third group. This group is unregenerated and is still dead in their sins. They are in unbelief just like the nation of Israel. These Gentile nations will also be recipients of God´s physical judgment and wrath during the tribulation period. These unregenerated (spiritually dead) Gentiles are the ones who will be left behind along with unbelieving Israel at the time of the resurrection/Rapture. The Laodicean church, which is the last church mentioned in Revelation 3:14-22 is NOT made up of those who are "in Christ" (the true body of Christ).

This church of Laodicea is made up of those who "profess Christ" (They have a form of Godliness, although they have denied its power 2Tim 3:1-7) but who do NOT possess Christ (They Don´t have the Holy Spirit, and therefore they do not belong to Christ Rom. 8:9). For this reason God is going to "spit them out of His mouth" and expose them to the severe judgments of the tribulation period in order to judge them. Jesus says in Revelation 3:10 "..................to test "THOSE" (the wicked) who dwell upon the earth."


The last 3-1/2 years of the tribulation period which encompasses mainly the 7th trump, and the seven bowl judgments is reserved for the wicked Gentile nations. God will be in the process of overthrowing and destroying the Gentile powers. The remnant of Israel during this time will be protected by God for 3-1/2 years (Jer. 31:1,2; Rev. 12:14). During this last 3-1/2 years of the tribulation period God will be fulfilling the prophecy made by Jesus in Luke 21:24 "And Jerusalem shall be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the "Times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."

The "middle of the tribulation" is seen in Rev. 11:2 ( 42 months / 1260 days / 3-1/2 years). God at this time takes His "great power" and begin to reign from heaven (Rev. 11:17). This means that from this point onward, all the way to the end of the tribulation period, God begins the "eviction process" of Satan and His wicked evil emissaries from the earth, and renders the Gentile powers destroyed. These events will climax with the second advent of Christ to the earth (Armageddon).