End Time Prophecy Revealed

[Bronzesnake]

 The following is from Dr. Jack Van Impe

The Seventieth Week Is Rapidly Approaching

In Daniel 11:40 we read,

"And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over."

This king of the South is Egypt, combined with a federation of Arab nations that will unite with Egypt. These countries are listed in Ezekiel 38:5-6 as Persia (modern-day Iran and Iraq), Ethiopia, Libya, and Togarmah (Turkey). Syria is mentioned in Isaiah 17:1, and the listing continues in Psalm 8 3:4-8 as Edom, Moab, Ammon (Jordan), Gebal and Tyre (Lebanon), and the Philistines (Palestine).

The king of the North, Russia, also appears on the scene, coming from the north as prophesied in Ezekiel 38:15 and 39:2. Similar references to these northern military movements can be found in Jeremiah 1:13, 6:22, 10:22, and Joel 2:20. In fact, if one draws a line from Palestine of old-Israel today-to the North Pole, one must go through Russia, and actually intersect the city of Moscow. Furthermore, Gog, Magog, Meshech, and Tubal are all cities identifiable within Russia today.

Furthermore, if one took the name Meshech back to its origin, it would be Meshech, then Mosach, then Moscoti, then Moscovi, and finally, Moscow. The prophecies of Daniel's fourth revelation are now on the edge of fulfillment. The message of verse 40 is taking shape. Since God kept His promises 135 times in the first thirty-five verses of Daniel chapter eleven, there can be no argument that He will keep the promises He made in verses 40 to 45.

The Campaign of Armageddon Begins

As I mentioned earlier, Rabbi Shvili in his book Reckonings of Redemption, written in 1935, states: "We Jews can know everything about our future just from the Book of Daniel." How true! Other Jewish Rabbinical scholars clarify the depth of teaching discovered in verses 40-45 of the eleventh chapter of Daniel. Quoting the Midrash Tehillim they state: "There will be three different attacks against Jerusalem at the time of the end." The three military advances mentioned by these Jewish scholars will be observed and explained as we move ahead in our discussion of the forty-two-month Armageddon campaign.

When Russia heads south to do battle, she will be a mighty force as she comes against the Antichrist's army with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. This is the first military wave of the three-pronged Armageddon campaign mentioned in Daniel 11:40 when the king of the South (Egypt and her Arab federation) and the king of the North (Russia) begin their pincer movement. Ezekiel 3 8:16 says,

"And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes."

Once Russia has made her move, the Antichrist will be furious. He will enter the "glorious land," Israel.

Here is the upcoming scenario. The Antichrist will sit in Jerusalem-in the Jewish temple at the midpoint of the Tribulation hour-the second three and one-half years, calling himself God. Since he knows that he has only a short time to do his global mischief while incarnated by Satan, he spews forth wrath and hatred. When he hears that Russia and the Arab federation are invading the region, he moves at breakneck speed and puts an end to the militaristic activity of Russia, Egypt, and her hoards. The European Union has taken a position in the conflict and the Antichrist has subdued and driven back the first wave of Russian and Arab invaders. At this point Russia has fled to Siberia (Joel 2:20).

Now the second movement of troops is about to move into the Middle East for another invasion of Israel. Daniel 11:44 states:

"Tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy."

The Antichrist is now on a bloody rampage. He's heard that great oriental armies are moving down into the region to do battle accompanied by the leftover rag-tag army of Russia that had previously been pushed back to Siberia. This frustrates him as he wonders how he'll be able to fend off two hundred million troops who are out to destroy him (Revelation 9:16). He's now overwhelmed and fears he will be unable to maintain enough of a power base to defend himself. During this juncture, the Antichrist is killed by Gog of Russia (Daniel 11:45). But, as we learned earlier he suddenly comes back to life, duplicating the resurrection of Jesus Christ-something no one in history has ever done (Revelation 13:3). He flaunts this demonic miracle and uses it to again position himself as a god among men, reestablishing himself when he needs it most-when his reputation and strength are on the line. Because of his miraculous resurrection, all the world worships him (Revelation 13:.

Israel-a Nation Not at Rest

Verse 45 of this chapter says,

"And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him."

The Bible teaches that the Antichrist is going to plant himself between the seas-the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean. The holy mountain, which is Jerusalem, is where he will then live for three and one-half years after his resurrection, usurping the Jewish throne as he sets himself up as god in the Jewish temple. Second Thessalonians 2:4 declares,

"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

This is the midpoint of the Tribulation period. Russia now invades "the land of unwalled villages against them that are at rest" (Ezekiel 38:11). Israel became a nation in 1948 but has never been at rest since that memorable day. No nation on earth longs more for peace than Israel. Daily newspapers and periodicals constantly portray the restlessness and uneasiness Israel experiences. Soon a western leader out of the European Union will arise and "confirm the covenant" of peace for seven years (Daniel 9:27). However, even this final contract made between the Antichrist and Israel will be short-lived, lasting only forty-two months, after which Russia strikes, aligned with Egypt and her confederation of Arabs. This, I repeat, is that first wave of military force marching against Israel in the Armageddon campaign.

Then China and the remnants of Russia's fallen army join in the fray for the second wave of the Armageddon campaign, as two hundred million soldiers move against Israel-not a difficult assignment for a nation which, in the next decade, will boast a population of more than 1.4 billion people. They will march out of the Orient downward across the areas of Iraq and Syria. Revelation 16:12 says,

"The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared."

This second wave of gigantic military power eliminates one-third of earth's inhabitants (Revelation 9:18). In spite of this colossal power, China and Russia are also defeated.

Finally, in the third and closing scene of the Armageddon campaign, the Antichrist and his armies battle Christ in what becomes the war to end all wars. Armageddon, or HarMegeddo, is the gathering place (Revelation 16:16). From there the armies march to the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2). Then Zechariah 14:2 occurs as "all nations gather against Jerusalem to battle." The Antichrist has been doing everything in his power during his final forty-two months to pour out venom on his enemies, but now he speaks the ultimate blasphemy by saying, "I will stop the King of Kings from coming to power." Egotistically, he believes he will also be victorious against the Lord of hosts. Revelation 19:19 sets the stage for this apocalyptic event:

"I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Christ that sat on the horse, and against his army."

In Revelation 19:11, Christ appears on a white horse to rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But stubborn and rebellious to the end, the Antichrist insists he will never be defeated by any enemy, including Christ. But this time he's wrong because Christ destroys him with the brightness of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:. Christ then takes this beast-the global dictator-along with the false prophet who headed up the world church-and casts them both into a lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). A thousand years later, when Satan is thrown into that same lake of fire, the beast and the false prophet are still in existence, suffering the torment of hell forever and forever.

Again, this final reminder: If God proved himself 135 times in the earlier portion of Daniel chapter eleven, He will surely fulfill these remaining prophecies-and not just some day, but in our day. When will these events take place? At the time of the end (Daniel 11:4; 12:4). It's later than you think. Here's why. The ancient Jewish writing-Avodah Zara 3 B-states: "The war of Gog and Magog [Russia] will be one of the key events to usher in the Messianic Era." The revered Jerusalem Targum adds: "At the end of days, Gog and Magog shall march against Jerusalem, but perish by the hand of Messiah." Ezekiel 39:6 verifies this. The stage is now set for the Antichrist to appear. Then seven years after the evil one's dominion of the international scene, Jesus Christ returns to rule on earth in majesty and great glory for one thousand years-the explosive finale to this great Book of Daniel, and our focus in chapter twelve.

Bronzesnake

[Bronzesnake]

 JVI...

 Daniel 12:4-13

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Shut Up the Words ... Seal Up the Book

Daniel is told in no uncertain terms that his vision is not for today-and that his revelation will only be understood at the time of the end. For this reason many of the prophecies dealing with the revived Roman Empire, mentioned in Daniel chapter two in the form of the image, as well as the four beasts so accurately described in Daniel chapter seven, would not be understood until the time of the end when the book would be unsealed and revealed.

Historically, none of Daniel's vision made much sense to Bible scholars until 1890, when Dr. Gabaelein began to teach that a revived Roman Empire would come into play during the time of the end. Therefore, the terminology "shut up the words until the time of the end" only became operative in an unprecedented way at the beginning of the twentieth century.

This is when we also began to understand clearly that a great nation would march against Israel (Ezekiel 38 and 39) and that this enemy would come from the north. We've already seen in Daniel 11:40 how the king of the South (Egypt) and the king of the North (Russia) would unite to engage in a blitzkrieg, the likes of which the world has never seen previously. No one could make much sense of Daniel's vision until certain world events began to reveal themselves to God's servants.

Today, we understand how it will all happen. But when does it occur? "When many run to and fro and knowledge is increased." There is a dual interpretation in this text. First, travel is reaching unparalleled proportions and knowledge is doubling every twenty-two months.

The secondary meaning is that during the time of the end an inordinate fascination for knowledge about latter-day predictions would increase, with people running "to and fro" to learn everything possible concerning the prophecies about the returning King. This is where we are today in this sequence of end-time events. Soon, the Savior will call His Church away to be with Him, after which He returns seven years later, with His people, to rule and reign. It's all beginning to take shape-just as the Holy Spirit, through Daniel, said it would.

Time, Times, and a Half Time

Again, Daniel is joined by two angels who come to give him further insight into historical matters concerning the time of the end. Daniel remains inquisitive. He wants to know what is going to take place in the long run-and he is especially curious as to what will happen to his people, the Jews, during the latter days before the Messiah appears. The one angel responds by saying that time, times, and a half time will bring all these things to a conclusion. What things, and what is meant by this expression? The angel is referring to the terrible battle that takes place in Daniel chapter eleven when the king of the South (Egypt) ultimately invades Israel, leading an Arab federation and joined by the king of the North (Russia).

This first wave of troops was discussed in chapter eleven. Next, China enters the fray with her two hundred million soldiers, accompanied by the remnants of Russia's previously defeated army, for the second wave of the Armageddon campaign (Daniel 11:44). This is the information Daniel received, but it was not necessarily the message he wanted to hear.

But what about the seemingly cryptic phrase that time, times, and a half time will bring all these things to a conclusion? Remember that Russia begins her move into the area during the middle of the Tribulation hour-just after the Antichrist breaks his peace treaty with Israel. Time=one year; times=two more years; and a half time=half a year, the total of which is three and one-half years-precisely the concluding portion of the Tribulation period. The forty-two months of Revelation 13:5 are translated as 1,260 days in Revelation 11:3 and 12:6. These terrible battles will occur for forty-two months, right up to the exact moment that the beast and his armies battle Jesus Christ as recorded in Revelation 19:11-21.

This is the third and final portion of the Armageddon campaign as thoroughly explained in the previous chapter. Then as Christ appears, the words of Isaiah 2:4 become a reality: "He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." But it is going to take the real Prince-the Lord Jesus Christ-to bring history to this final, tranquil conclusion, the one whose name is the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Tribulation Works Patience

At this time, because of the mayhem and terror that's taking place in the Holy Land, the people will flee and be scattered. Matthew 24:16-21 says,

"Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."

Imagine how Daniel must have felt as he once again heard the prophecies of gloom and doom coming from the mouths of two angels who informed him that everything he now heard was for the time of the end.

Continued on next post...

[Bronzesnake]

Continuation...

The angel said one more thing. It was about many being purified, or made white, people who would have understanding and also about those who were wicked, and who, in their wickedness, would not be able to understand the things of God. First Corinthians 2:14 says that the natural man, the one who is unsaved, does not understand the things of God. To such people they are foolishness. They can't understand them because they have no spiritual discernment. On the other hand, God's people-especially those who've gone through the mill- will have divine insight into these things because they, as God's faithful servants, have experienced such trials and have been purified through these times of testing.

The apostle Paul said that tribulation works patience within us. It makes us into something. Therefore, those who have been through pain and suffering-but who, in the process, have remained close to the Lord, and have read His Word, and have prayed in faith, believing, and have understood the things of God through the Holy Spirit's enlightenment-will have all these predictions revealed to them. But those who have hardened their hearts through wickedness will go to the time of the end totally ignorant of and carelessly indifferent to the latter-day predictions.

1,260 days... 1,290 days

If you've done the arithmetic found in this text, you may be wondering how the angels come up with 1,260, then 1,290, and then 1,335 days. Again, the Word of God is always meticulously correct and on schedule. With this in mind, an announcement is made that soon the millennial Kingdom will be established, but that a time of consecration is first necessary. To help us understand why this is so necessary, let's take a quick side-trip to 2 Chronicles 30:2-4 where we read,

"The king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation."

King Hezekiah said that there could be no Passover because there was a need to consecrate the priests- something that would take thirty days. This is a beautiful picture of why an additional thirty-day period will be necessary for God's people to prepare themselves spiritually to rule and reign with Christ for the greatest event in history.

So, as we look at the additional number, 1,290 days, instead of seeing a discrepancy, we simply need to investigate other portions of Scripture, as we just did, to see the reason. But there's another forty-five-day period mentioned in our text. Here's why: When Christ returns, He judges the nations and their people, and His decree decides whether or not they're qualified to enter His glorious kingdom for a thousand years (Matthew 25:31-46). This judgment undoubtedly takes an additional forty-five days! Thus, we end up with a total of seventy-five days in addition to the 1,260 days. There is no contradiction. Here's why-forty-five days are needed to determine who enters the millennial period, and thirty days are needed to train God's people for Kingdom service for administering the laws of the Kingdom, as described in Matthew chapters five through seven.

Now as we come to the final verse of the Book of Daniel, this great saint and man of God is in his nineties. The angel tells him to "go his way till the end be: for he shall rest, and stand in his lot at the end of his days." The angel is simply saying that there will be a soon-approaching moment when Daniel will die and rest from his labors. But the angel adds that a glorious day is coming when Daniel and all believing Jews shall stand up and be raised from the dead to rule and reign with Christ.

One group of saints, who lived through the Tribulation period, are selected in Matthew 25:31-45 and enter the Kingdom in their natural bodies. Then there's the group of believers who died during the Tribulation hour and are resurrected at approximately the time the Jewish Old Testament saints are raised. These resurrected Old Testament saints and Tribulation believers will dwell in the Holy City in glorified bodies and will, together, rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years along with the raptured believers who return with the Lord.

That's why the names of the twelve Jewish patriarchs and the twelve apostles are mentioned upon the gates and the foundations of the Holy City. They represent all resurrected believers from among both Jews and Christians. May I reiterate what I've just stated so that no one can misinterpret or misunderstand the portion of Scripture just analyzed. There will be four groups sharing Christ's kingdom for one thousand years.

The believers who were raptured and who return with Christ seven years later in their glorified bodies (Jude 14; Revelation 19:14).

The believers who are selected at Christ's return and are invited to enter the kingdom in their physical bodies (Matthew 25:34).

The Old Testament Jewish believers covering a period of four thousand years who are raised from the dead at Christ's return to enter the kingdom in glorified bodies similar to the raptured of group one (Daniel 12:2).

The believers, both Jews and Gentiles, who died for Christ during the Tribulation period and are raised from the dead upon the Savior's second coming (Revelation 20:4).

At this point, the angel is saying to Daniel: "Hallelujah! You will be there among them! You've been through tough times, Daniel, and have been faithful to the end. Daniel, you will be greatly rewarded."

Personally, I believe that Daniel will be one of the rulers during that thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Daniel certainly had great administrative experience serving under six kings.

However, the greatest moment for this man who prayed fearlessly in front of an open window, who slept serenely one night in a den of some two hundred lions, who was lied about and set up to be killed by his palace "friends," will be the moment when he serves the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, for a thousand years-a time when you and I shall also share in God's blessings.

And thus we come to the close of the Book of Daniel, and a look at the final end-time mysteries that have now been unsealed. We have seen how the Book of Daniel clearly demonstrates the sovereign rule of almighty God over the affairs of men. We have seen prophecy after prophecy fulfilled, all verifiable and documented by secular and religious history. We have observed that God remains in control and will until the time of the end, giving the Gentile world dominance until Christ returns.

He Is Coming Soon

If you are a follower of this One who is coming soon, you can be assured that you will not have to endure the pain and suffering of the Great Tribulation hour. Such cannot be said for those who continue to turn their backs on God, and who choose to live out their own agendas. Now is the time of salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon. Will you be caught up to meet Christ-to later return with Him as he establishes His millennial Kingdom? There are simply too many signs pointing to the time of the end not to take this message to heart. The Book of Daniel has finally been unsealed and revealed for those who have eyes to see. The time for Christ's return is near.

It is my prayer that you have not read this book just as so much interesting ancient history. It is much more than that. It is a carefully crafted blueprint for the time of the end. But the key to understanding this book is not in being able to understand every nuance, each beast, the little horn, or any other veiled prophecy contained in this work. Instead, it is in knowing the living Word-the Lord Jesus Christ-the One who is coming soon.

I close this volume with a quote from one of the most respected biblical scholars of our era, Dr. John F. Walvoord, who stated in his book Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation:

For Christians living in the age of grace and searching for understanding of these difficult days which may be bringing to a close God's purpose in His church, the book of Daniel, as never before, casts a broad light upon contemporary events foreshadowing the consummation which may not be far distant. If God is reviving His people Israel politically, allowing the church to drift into indifference and apostasy, and permitting the nations to move toward centralization of political power, it may not be long before the time of the end will overtake the world. Many who look for the coming of the Lord anticipate their removal from the earth's scene before the final days of the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

When the plan of God has run its full course, it will be evident then with even more clarity than at present that God has not allowed a word to fall to the ground. As Christ said while on earth, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18).'

To which I only add, Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Maranatha!

[Heidi]

Zecharaih, 14 talks about the Day of the Lord. 14:12, "This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are stille standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths." That sounds like the results of a nuclear bomb, to me.

[JudgeNot]

No one knows the day, hour, minute or second.

No one means no one.

We can pray the time is near (I do).  We can hope and imagine it could be tomorrow, but then… it could be another thousand years (or 2000 or 3000).

The best thing to do is live with Jesus one day at a time, as He told us to.  Don’t worry about or try to predict tomorrow.  Ask for forgiveness of yesterday’s sins and to not be led into sin tomorrow.  Don’t listen to the false hopes (or false damnations) of those who pretend to know – because nobody does.  Only God knows.  Second guessing God is…


pretentious.  

[twobombs]

Judgenot: you're plain wrong. You're voicing
an opinion based on one scripture, not facts.

Have a look at http://surf.to/twobombs
And look and read the rapture section that
proves 7x over that the rapture & second
coming are in fact imminent.

[ebia]

Judgenot: you're plain wrong. You're voicing
an opinion based on one scripture, not facts.

Have a look at http://surf.to/twobombs
And look and read the rapture section that
proves 7x over that the rapture & second
coming are in fact imminent.

This is one of those tricky English irregular verbs, isn't it:
I prove
He argues
You give your opinion

[twobombs]

Well, the post/pre/mid/inbetween camps are a mere 7 years away from each other. Judgenot completely oblitterates it by ignoring prophecies that have been given the past 5000 years or so.

His statement unfortunately is a sad testimony of the lack of  profetic scripture knowlegde.

(where is Hitch when you need him?)

[JudgeNot]

Whoa! I didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers, there, twobombs.

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' (Mark 13:32-37)

Judgenot: you're plain wrong.

"No one knows the day, hour, minute or second." Is that a wrong statement?  Why?

"We can pray the time is near (I do)." Is that a wrong statement? Why?

"The best thing to do is live with Jesus one day at a time, as He told us to.  Don’t worry about or try to predict tomorrow.  Ask for forgiveness of yesterday’s sins and to not be led into sin tomorrow.  Don’t listen to the false hopes (or false damnations) of those who pretend to know – because nobody does. Only God knows." Is that a wrong statement?  Why?

"...but then… it could be another thousand years (or 2000 or 3000)." Isn’t this the statement you really disagree with and got you so riled up? – or is everything I wrote “just plain wrong”?  

That’s OK – You feel strongly about the opinions of those whose teachings you consider fact.  That’s not a bad thing unless it is a bad teaching.  I’m not saying Van Impe is teaching fiction – he is teaching his interpretation of scripture.  Actually, I agree with much of it.  In fact, I believe he is teaching from the scripture I posted at the top of this post by telling us to "keep watch" and how to "keep watch" and what to "watch" for.

Do you stake your life on the teachings of a man’s interpretation of scripture, or on Jesus who said, "Take no thought for tomorrow."?

Or do you also believe Jesus is just plain wrong by making the statement.  

Final thought –

His statement unfortunately is a sad testimony of the lack of prophetic scripture knowledge.

Don’t pretend to know the depth of my biblical knowledge.  Talk about presumptuous.   You don’t know me from Adam.  Your statement is "sad testimony".  

[twobombs]

We can pray the time is near (I do).  We can hope and imagine it could be tomorrow, but then… it could be another thousand years (or 2000 or 3000).

No offense meant, but the above just ticks me off; even though we are to live "with no thought for tomorrow" we are also called "not to be ignorant regarding the coming of the Lord"

After many years of bible study regarding the rapture and the second coming you come to a point that you can't stomach the "oh, he'll be back in a thousand years or so"

[JudgeNot]

No offence taken, TB.
I just look at it this way:
The Lord doesn’t want us to know when He is returning for a very good reason.  He wants us to treat every minute as if it were our last.  He wants us to try to save as many souls today as we would try to save if we knew it were the last day.  How many people, if they knew He wasn’t coming until a specific time, would put off accepting Him until “the last minute”?
That’s my whole angle on the subject.  Yes!  I want Him to come RIGHT NOW!  

After many years of bible study regarding the rapture and the second coming you come to a point that you can't stomach the "oh, he'll be back in a thousand years or so"

I do know exactly how you feel - I really, really do.  I remember reading Hal Lindsey's books in the early 70's and being on fire for the Lord's return.  I'm still on fire - now it's just a patient fire.  

Your Brother in HIM!
JN

[ollie]

Very good thoughts JN.

We should watch and be ready.

ollie

[twobombs]

Judgenot, as you point out correctly it is just as dangerous to assume he won't be back in a thousand years as to know he'll be back next wednesday, knowing you don't need to repent before tuesday.

I also agree that every day should be lived as though it is your last day; in that you don't delay stuff that you want to do, tomorrow it may be too late.

But the argument I point out is one of "the tree wise men from the east" as you might know they used the mixture of isaiah and the position of stars and planetconjunctions to correctly predict the birth of the Messiah.

I won't go into the last one right now, as in this day it is "not done" as a christian to use the starcharts, yet the bible gives us too much hints as to when he will come back.

The first time He came on earth He fullfilled several Jewish feasts, and He will do that again when He comes back to pick up His own.

Also, Christ came into this world with exact precision, and He will come back the same way; in perfect alighnment with the will of the Father. On time, fullfilling prophecy and Jewish Feasts of wich the (jewish) date has been set for thousands of years.

He fullfilled Pascha unto the day, He fullfilled Firstfruits on the exact day, Pentacost has been fullfilled, and it might not surprise you anymore that Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippour will be fullfilled unto the exact day; the day of the Rapture & the day of the Second Coming.

As to what year is a different, yet similar, ballgame. I won't discuss it here right now, as I should've ruffled up some feathers already right now. (more info on this on my website)

FYI

[Bronzesnake]

 The exact day and hour are kept secret to protect the Raptured saints from being devoured by satan.

 We are given many clues in the scriptures that give us a very good idea of when the time draws near.

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:  

 The fig tree represents Israel. Israel was not a nation from 70 AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and drove the Jews out of their land. Israel did not become a nation until the United Nations, after the World War II voted 33 to 13 in favour of homeland for the Jewish people on November 29, 1947.

 The Jews didn't unify Jerulalem until 1967 after they were attacked by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan; Also, the Soviets were supplying massive amounts of arms to the Arabs. Simultaneously, the armies of Kuwait, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq were contributing troops and arms to the Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian fronts.

 After just six days of fighting, Israeli forces broke through the enemy lines and were in a position to march on Cairo, Damascus and Amman. A cease­fire was invoked on June 10

By the end of the war, Israel had conquered enough territory to more than triple the size of the area it controlled, from 8,000 to 26,000 square miles. The victory enabled Israel to unify Jerusalem. Israeli forces had also captured the Sinai, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and West Bank.

 Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.  


 Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  

 There is some debate as to how long a Biblical generation actually is. I've read in different places that it could be anywhere from 50 years to 100 years.
 In any case, the end is near.


 Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  


 Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  


 Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  


 Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  


 Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 Click this link for more prophetic signs of the Second Coming...

 http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/chaparm.htm

[twobombs]

Bronze: please do note the fact that Jesus says in Mat 24,

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.

'When ye see all these things come to pass' deals with a generation old enough to witness the expantion of Israel. And He goes on to say:

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  

This generation talks about the people who saw the expantion of the Israeli territories. The generation needs to be somewhere in the 18-21 years of age to be a witness to these things.

These people are none other then the baby-boomers, and might get as old as 70-90 years, yet biblically speaking a generation is 40 years.

FYI