Dispensational Proof 12
12. Ezekiel and Daniel
Both Ezekiel and Daniel are strong proofs for the premillennial return of Christ. Many key passages from these two books promote a premillennial understanding of Christ’s return. They also promote a fulfillment of the Abrahamic, Davidic and new covenant promises.
For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lord God, “there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things. I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. Ezekiel 20:40-42 (NKJV)
Ezekiel 36-37 describe Israel in their spiritual revival and restoration to fellowship with God. They also describe in great detail the rule of King David along with Christ on the Davidic throne in Jerusalem. Ezekiel 40-48 give such a detailed view of the millennial temple and the physical land that amillennial commentators have very little to say when it comes to a detailed exegetical analysis of the entire nine chapters. These passages are a major problem for those who deny that Israel has a literal future beyond the church age. It is truly amazing the amount of Biblical material that is washed away by those who use a non-literal hermeneutic on prophetic passages.
Daniel 9:24-27 is the primary focus of much interpretative debate.
“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” Daniel 9:24-27 (NKJV)
A literal reading of the text along with the analogy of faith enables the expositor to properly place the events of this prophecy upon Israel. It was given to the house of Jacob and “your people” as it was revealed to Daniel. Not only does this passage give us the exact time schedule for the first advent of Christ, it also gives us the exact program in the 70th week of Daniel.
