LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE WEEK BEFORE JUDGEMENT A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY RICHARD LOTSPEICH 2531 OAKHAVEN DRIVE WEST HARRISON INDIANA - 4760 CONVOCATION MAY 2004 Copyright © 2004 Richard Lotspeich All Rights Reserved ii LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET ____________________________ GRADE ____________________________ MENTOR, Dr. Frederick C. Smith ____________________________ READER, Dr. Frank J. Schmitt iii ABSTRACT THE WEEK BEFORE JUDGEMENT Richard Lotspeich Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Mentor: Dr. Frederick C. Smith This dissertation study proposal is two-fold: (1) to present the basic principles, which underlie the methods of interpretation, and to demonstrate that these principles determine one’s eschatological position. This dissertation research will demonstrate that the grammatical-historical principles of hermeneutics are the only sensible methods to be used to comprehend the Scriptures, and (2) to research, investigate and analyze the events of the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven vials of Revelation, as they relate to the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy comparing them with the teachings of Jesus in the Olivet discourse. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The invaluable assistance of Mrs. Sondra Head and Robyne Johnson for their efforts in research and style. My mentor, Dr. Frederick C. Smith who gave me valuable advice and direction, and my reader, Dr. Frank J. Schmitt who also gave me valuable advice and direction. Their kind, knowledgeable input is deeply appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. v TABLE OF CONTENTS THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET ......................................................................... iii ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................v INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 The Need for the Topic ................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................3 PART I ESCHATOLOGY AND THE SYSTEMS OF HERMENEUTICS ....................12 CHAPTER I THE ALLEGORICAL SYSTEM ...............................................................13 CHAPTER II THE GRAMMATICAL HISTORICAL SYSTEM ...................................18 PART 2 THE TRIBULATION, DAY OF THE LORD, AND SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL .......................................................................................................................25 CHAPTER III THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIBULATION .............................................26 CHAPTER IV THE SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL ..................................................35 The Meaning of the Weeks ........................................................................................37 The Terminus a Quo (The date on which the seventy weeks begin.) ........................39 The Gap between the Sixty-Ninth and seventieth week ............................................41 The Covenant for One Week .....................................................................................43 CHAPTER V THE DAY OF THE LORD .......................................................................48 The Usage in the Old and New Testament ................................................................51 The Relationship of the Day of the Lord to the Tribulation ......................................56 The Evidence for the Oldest Manuscripts .................................................................57 PART THREE THE SEALS, THE TRUMPETS, AND THE VIALS OF REVELATION IN RELATION TO THE SEVENTIETH WEEK, AND THE DAY OF THE LORD, AND COMPARED TO THE OLIVET DISCOURSE ................................................60 vi vii CHAPTER VI THE SEVEN SEALED SCROLL (REVELATION 5:1-14) ...................61 CHAPTER VII SEALS ONE, TWO, AND THREE, IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE SEVENTIETH WEEK .................................................................................................69 CHAPTER VIII SEALS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX OF REVELATION IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE SEVENTIETH WEEK AND COMPARED WITH THE OLIVET DISCOURSE ................................................................................................74 The Fourth Seal .........................................................................................................74 The Fifth Seal - The Saints Under the Altar ..............................................................76 The Sixth Seal – The Day of Wrath ..........................................................................80 CHAPTER IX THE INTERLUDE BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH SEAL .82 CHAPTER X THE SEVENTH SEAL AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TRUMPETS .................................................................................................................88 The First Trumpet ......................................................................................................90 The Second Trumpet .................................................................................................91 The Third Trumpet ....................................................................................................92 The Fourth Trumpet ..................................................................................................94 The Three Woes ........................................................................................................95 The Fifth Angel – The First Woe ..............................................................................96 Satan Frees The Demons ...........................................................................................97 The Sixth Trumpet – The Second Woe .....................................................................99 The Two Hundred Million Man Army ....................................................................100 CHAPTER XI THE MEASURING OF THE TEMPLE AND THE TWO WITNESSES IN THEIR RELATION TO THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL ..................103 The Measuring of The Temple and The Two Witnesses ........................................103 The Identity of The Two Witnesses ........................................................................106 The Work and Power of the Two Witnesses ...........................................................108 The Death of The Two Witnesses ...........................................................................109 viii The Two Witnesses Resurrected .............................................................................112 The Announcement of The Third Woe ...................................................................113 CHAPTER XII THE SEVENTH TRUMPET AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE SEVENTIETH WEEK, AND THE DAY OF THE LORD .......................................114 The Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet ....................................................................114 The Seven Last Plagues – The Day of The Lord .....................................................116 The Song of Moses and the Song of The Lamb ......................................................117 The Temple in Heaven Opened ...............................................................................117 The Seven Vials – The Wrath of God Poured Out ..................................................119 The First Vial – The Grievous Sore ........................................................................120 The Second Vial – The Sea became as Blood .........................................................121 The Third Vial – The Fresh Water Polluted ............................................................122 The Fourth Vial – The Heat Wave From The Sun ..................................................123 The Fifth Vial – The Beast’s Kingdom Plunged into Darkness ..............................124 The Sixth Vial – The Euphrates River dried up ......................................................125 The Seventh Vial – It is Done .................................................................................127 AUTHOR NOTE .............................................................................................................131 APPENDIX A WORKS CITED .....................................................................................132 INTRODUCTION The Need for the Topic No other study of the Bible evokes the same allure as the study of eschatology. Attempts to explain the prophecies of the Scriptures are many, yet there continues to be the widest diversity of interpretation. Because the divergence is so wide, the expositor is faced with innumerable hermeneutical decisions before he can begin to grasp the meaning of the passages of Scripture, especially in the realm of prophecy. In discussions on eschatology, the author has been impressed with the tremendous scope of the prophecies in the area of the tribulation and the second coming of Christ. God has given great detail in prophecy of both comings of the Messiah, yet confusion reigns instead of harmony in understanding His coming. This confusion seems to exist because of the diversity in the methods of interpretation. In the author’s life, ever since he was exposed to the prophecy of the seventy weeks of Daniel,