What is Daniel talking about here? It is worth noting that there is a role that man himself has to play in the path of his restoration to righteousness; and from the time that the children of the Living God, hence the Church, returns to the set laws and decrees of God wholeheartedly to the coming of Lord of lords and King of kings Christ Jesus to reign over His people in person would take 490years.
Thus the act of putting an end to transgression of God's laws and statutes, and atoning for sin and wickedness is the prerogative of man; while the establishment of everlasting righteousness, sealing up vision and prophesy marks the beginning of Christ's reign in person on the earth. Apostle Paul acknowledges this role of Christ in his letter to the Corinthians when he concurs that, "But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled, where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears" (1Corinthians 13:8-10). It is only probable that everlasting righteousness and sealing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit will take place only when Christ, the Most Holy, returns to reign over His righteous people on the earth.
On the other hand, when did the church of Christ atone for her sins and wickedness? A brief examination of the history of the Church through the centuries will help us understand when this act of atonement for sin and wickedness did take place.
The early Church which Christ founded under Peter and the apostles was a victorious Church in every arena of life. As we read of the exploits of this Church in the Acts of the Apostles we realize that this Church did not contend with demonic harassment - the believers knew their power over the enemy. They spoke with authority, they rebuked demonic possession obsession and all forms of its oppression. This was the Church Christ had promised Peter that He would establish on the earth and the gates of hell would not prevail over (Mathew16:18). This Church knew how to utilize the keys she had been given in the Holy Spirit. It is as a result of this that the Almighty God said to Bishop Oyedepo: "_ and in the beginning it was not so."
We know from the scripture that Christ had earlier warned the apostles of the imminent danger of His departure from the earth, but He promised them the comforter who would come to them, and be with them and all would be well as though He were present on the earth in person (Luke 24:49). Christ had also said to them,"The Kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared "(Mathew 13:24-26).
Thus, by the time Christ came onto the scene again, and appeared to John at the isle of Patmos, the enemy had already planted the weeds in the LORD'S wheat field. We read in the book of Revelation chapter 2 and 3 that by A.D96 of the seven churches already established in Asia Minor, only one was still walking in righteousness. The church in Smyrna. And the abundant life for which Christ had come to the earth to grant to the desired of God, the enemy had already started stealing, killing and destroying (John 10:10). He had already made in roads into the church of God the Father and His Christ.
The worst came in A.D 335 when Emperor Constantine launched Catholicism on the phase of the earth. Man provoked God to anger by re-introducing the ancient pagan cult of the Queen of Heaven into the Body of Christ. And together with other numerous pagan practices of the ancient Roman religion, these were incorporated into the Church that Christ hand founded and had again given decree for restoration in A.D. 96.Hence, what was originally founded as the only way to the Most High God, and for which He had sent His only Begotten Son to the earth that through Him man may be reconciled and restored to Him for eternity had now been turned into a religion.
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