1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

 

Study and figure it out for yourself, but I’m giving you my “Reader’s Digest” version of what I believe is happening in these “crazy and bizarre” times, and why. The Lord has already given to us everything, and more, concerning the clear signs of when He's coming back. But I'll start with a simple “Jim parable”.

 

A Tale of a Gentile Wedding

 

Let’s suppose there was a father and mother who knew their son’s love for his fiancé was tested and tried, therefore helping them to give their blessing of approval. The parents could see the actions and emotions between their son and his fiancé were going in the right direction, and it brought them great joy.

 

They began preparations for the wedding and the celebration to follow, with all of the fun in getting ready. Then finally, on that wonderful day after the invited crowd watched the bride get escorted by her father to the central scene for the ceremony, the father acknowledged the surrender of his daughter to his soon to be son-in-law. The couple turned then faced the preacher.

 

          “If anyone here objects to this wedding, speak now or forever hold your peace,” the preacher said.

 

During the silence, the preacher scanned the church for any hints or clues of response. Then, he displayed a confused look as he watched the bridegrooms father and mother stand and approach their son.

 

          “We need to step outside for a brief moment,” the father said as he grabbed his son’s arm.

 

          “Dad, Mom, what’s going on?”

 

          The mother stood between their son and the bride. “Please, it’s important.”

 

The bridegroom looked at his bride then at the preacher, who lifted his head towards the gathered.

 

          “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll take a short break and begin the ceremony briefly,” the preacher said.

 

The bridegroom and his parents walked into a room off to the side at the front of the church and closed the door. The father stepped to his son and placed his hands on his arms with a sincere gaze.

 

“We’re not sure she’s ready for you. We insist she be tested again, just to make doubly sure what you did to ensure she's worthy enough to join the family is obvious."

 

“Wait…what?” the son asked.

 

The End

 

Does the tale of the Gentile wedding sound familiar? I hope not, because I’m certain, you’re fairly certain, it’s never happened. But some may believe that it will – soon. But to whom?

 

Ask yourself: Would God the Father allow His Son’s chosen bride, who has been saved by grace through faith, tested and tried, go through the most horrendous events in world history, full of God’s wrath, known as the Tribulation?

 

Let’s look at something for a moment. Revelation 3:10 (NASB) says, “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world (the 7 year Tribulation beginning in Revelation 6), to test those who dwell on the earth.” 

 

Will the bride have to endure the punishment for the unrepentant, which we’ve been warned about for 2,000 years? Or would the Father protect His Son’s Bride by taking them away for protection, as He did with Noah (Genesis 6) and Lot (Genesis 19:1-25)?

 

According to the Bible, those that have believed in Jesus (Romans 10:8-13) before the Tribulation begins will not suffer wrath: John 3:36; Romans 1:18; Romans 2:8; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 16:1-2; Revelation 16:19

 

Doesn’t the “Tale of a Gentile Wedding” sound like something God wouldn’t do?

 

If you’re confused, or your jaw is tensed so tight that you know where this is going but are still curious for a little more in-depth look, please humor me!

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The best place to start, is with Israel. If you leave Israel out of eschatology (study of the end-times)– then don’t bother studying end-times prophecy at all. So let’s begin.

 

Matthew 24:32-34

32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

 

1. Jesus told us in Matthew 24:32 about “the parable from the fig tree”.

 

2. The “fig tree” is a reference to Israel (Hosea 9:10; Jeremiah 8:13; Jeremiah 24; Micah 4:4).

 

3. Israel (Matthew 24:32 – “…become tender and puts forth its leaves…”) became a nation on May 14, 1948.

 

4. The “generation” (Matthew 24:34) to see the fig tree put forth its leaves (blossom), should still be alive today.

 

    a.  A generation for man was determined by the Lord in Psalm 90:10 – 70 to 80 years of age for an individual.

 

    b.  Therefore, the generation of individual Jews who were alive in 1948, would see the Messiah (but for context here, it ultimately means the Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation).

 

5. 80 years after May 14, 1948 = May 14, 2028 (farthest extent of the Second Coming occurring, according to the 70 to 80 years variable).

 

6. If 2028 is the year for the Second Coming, then the 7-year Tribulation would have to begin no later than 2021. But – please stay with me for a minute!

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Through the minds of the Apostles, they obviously had knowledge of the 7 Feasts

 

Leviticus 23:1-2

The Lord spoke again to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations - My appointed times are these:”

 

These “appointed times” for The Lord have been celebrated as 7 feasts since the time of Moses, on the appointed Jewish calendar dates (which is generally recognized as a 360-day calendar as an average. Their calendar is the most accurate according to scientists because it’s based on the cycles of the moon). Even to this day, Jew's that don't know Jesus don’t realize yet that the feasts are sign-post markers in history of major events pointing to Him, but one day soon, and very soon, they will!

 

First of all, Jewish months fall on or between the Gentile months. For the purposes of this article, the feast months are given:

 

Nisan = March/April

Sivan = May/June

Tishri = September/October

 

The years you’ll see later in this article are different as well. The Jewish “year” signifies the age of the earth. For example, the current Gentile calendar year is 2020, but the Jewish calendar indicates 5780 (and in the Jewish world the years are not 100% agreed on, some think there is a 165-year discrepancy, and that’s another interesting lesson itself).

 

Spring Feasts

1. Passover – Nisan 14-15

2. Unleavened Bread – Nisan 15-22

3. First Fruits – Nisan 16-17

4. Pentecost – Sivan 6-7

 

Fall Feasts

5. Trumpets – Tishri 1

6. Atonement – Tishri 10

7. Tabernacles – Tishri 15-22

 

7. Jesus’ prophesied major events were fulfilled on the first 4 of 7 Jewish Feasts -  precisely on the appointed Jewish calendar dates:

 

Feast of Passover  Fulfilled!  His crucifixion on Nisan 14 in the spring of 32 A.D.

 

Feast of Unleavened Bread  Fulfilled!  His burial in the tomb on Nisan 15 in the spring of 32 A.D.

 

Feast of First Fruits  Fulfilled!  His resurrection on Nisan 17 in the spring of 32 A.D.

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Feast of Pentecost  Fulfilled!  He sent the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost on Sivan 7 in the summer of 32 A.D.

 

8. In order for the upcoming final 3 Feasts recorded in the Bible to be fulfilled, it’s safe to say they would continue the pattern of “exact dates” on the Jewish calendar. I assume you agree?!

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The Feast of Trumpets – unfulfilled on a Tishri 1 (so far)

 

It would take more than this article to explain the pre-Tribulation Rapture, but I'm using it here because it’s my personal belief – and has been from the first day I started studying and teaching eschatology in the late 90's. But please stay with me!

 

According to Jewish tradition, they use the idiom (figure of speech) “No man knows the day or hour” to refer to the Feast of Trumpets. The Apostles would have understood this from their Jewish culture when Jesus said this expression in Matthew 24:36.

 

Technically, in order to figure out the exact beginning date for this feast, the Sanhedrin (Jewish high court) waits for a report from 2 witnesses who viewed the rising of the new moon displaying a crescent “horn shape” (a sliver that looks like a smile). Once the time of the crescent is given, the Sanhedrin makes the date for the Feast of Trumpets official – and the feast begins with skilled individuals blowing a shofar (rams horns used as a trumpet) on the temple mount in Jerusalem.

 

Trumpets - Various practices were observed throughout Israel’s history regarding the type, nature and meaning of the trumpet sounds. Generally, trumpets announce a warning, a judgement, or an announcement of good news. http://www.cmdeaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/MessiahInTheHebrewFeasts.pdf

 

Keep in mind, that one of the passages in the Bible referring to the Rapture (the Son comes for His bride) is - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Below is verse 16:

 

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

 

Therefore, let’s take a look at 2 scenarios for the Rapture

 

Scenario 1

1. Feast of Trumpets - Tishri 1, 5781 = September 18-20, 2020

2. 7 years later, the Second Coming would happen on Tishri 10, 5788 = October 11, 2027

3. The latest generational age for a Jew would be 72 at the Rapture, and 79 at the Second Coming (end of the Tribulation)

 

Scenario 2

1. Feast of Trumpets - Tishri 1, 5782 = September 6-8, 2021

2. 7 years later, the Second Coming would happen on Tishri 10, 5789 = September 30, 2028

3. The latest generational age for a Jew would be 73 at the Rapture, and 80 (the final age) at the Second Coming (end of the Tribulation)

 

We know that the Father decides the exact moment when His Son will “reap a harvest” (Revelation 14:14-16), and therefore could modify the age limit beyond 80 for as many as He sees fit. As well, keep in mind that the Feast of Trumpets lasts 2-3 days - but which day could the Rapture occur? But let’s stick with what we know so far (or at least hope we know so far!)

 

So the only logical time for the Rapture to happen on the Feast of Trumpets, to keep the 7-year Tribulation to follow, under the 80 years, places it within the time frame of September 2020 and September 2021.

 

Yes I get - it looks like I'm setting a date of some sort. However, I've had to admit that as of late, my teaching should have always been through the minds of the Apostles, who Jesus was teaching everyday. So now I'm making my adjustments and sticking to the time-frame of events from the only correct perspective – a Jewish one.

 

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The Gog–Magog War (Russia and it's Arab allies attack Israel - Ezekiel 38 & 39) could begin and end during the 8-10 days after the Feast of Trumpets ends. Then, after the war ends, the Anti-Christ will sign the 7-year peace treaty (Daniel 9:27) – which would start the Tribulation. As a side note, Russia has been staging military forces at the border of Syria and Israel since September 2015.

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Feast of Atonement – unfulfilled on a Tishri 10 (so far)

 

Some believe the Feast of Atonement is the day for the Second Coming when Jesus will return at the end of the Tribulation for His covenant people, and when "all of Israel will look on Him whom they pierced and repent" (Zechariah 2:1).

http://www.cmdeaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/MessiahInTheHebrewFeasts.pdf

 

In the final moments of the Tribulation, at the battle of Armageddon, Jesus returns to the earth and ends the war. After some prophesied events have finished, we enter the Millennium with the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!

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The Second Coming and its events are told in Revelation 19 - check out a paraphrased poem of this chapter

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Feast of Tabernacles – unfulfilled for Tishri 15-22 (so far)

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The start of the Millennium (the "7th day" in history) seems to occur shortly after the Second Coming and after Satan is thrown into the abyss and locked up for a thousand years – Revelation 20:1-3. 

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The current final day of the Feast of Tabernacles is an especially festive event called the “Day of the Great Hosanna” - looking forward to the coming of the Messiah!

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After the Millennium, as the "8th day" begins, the Father brings the New Jerusalem to sit upon the new earth (Revelation 21:1-4) And since the Millennium is considered to be the "7th day" in history, it's amazing to see that the Jews have celebrated the day after the Feast of Tabernacles for centuries, as the "8th day of assembly" (From the Jewish Talmud - Sukkot 55b: On that great day, only one bull was offered - reflecting the Jewish people. It is a day of great closeness with our Creator, as He asks His Jewish children to remain with him for extra personal time together.)  

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Look to the sky – the day of your redemption will happen soon!

(a paraphrase of Luke 21:28)