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Why "88 Reasons" Was Mistaken



Remember Edgar Whisenant's 88 reasons Why The Rapture Will Be in 1988?  Whenever a Christian starts talking about signs and evidence for the nearness of the rapture you can be sure there is someone just aching to bring up this book as the be-all and end-all of the conversation.  "People have always tried to predict when Jesus will come back and every time they were wrong."  They have a good point and it would be foolish not to address it.  You would think that if Whisenant found 88 reasons for the rapture to occur in September 1988, and his prediction failed, then for anyone in any subsequent year to attempt to do the same would be utter foolishness.  Predictions for Y2K, 2012, and the Shemitah were coupled with far fewer than 88 reasons.

I finally decided to read Whisenant's book for myself, rather than rush to judgment and what I found was different than I expected.  What I would like to see in the Christian community, especially in the watching community, is far less rushing to judgment and more actual Bible study, research, and reliance on one another to learn what God is trying to communicate.

The first thing I noticed with Whisenant's list is that many of the 88 reasons were not even specifically tied to the year 1988.  For example, Reason 1 was that Jesus saying "no one knows the day or hour" did not necessarily prevent someone from identifying the year, month, or even week of the rapture or second coming.  At least here I think Whisenant makes a good point.  People have an emotional reaction against predictions because they feel like they're bound to fail or they feel like Jesus was trying to say you can never figure it out.  What does the text itself actually say?  It says "no one knows the day or hour."  Saying that no one knows the week, month, or year is adding to the text.

Continuing on through his book...

Reasons 2-6 are the same story - general evidence that the rapture could be near and we might be able to figure it out, but nothing specifically about 1988.

Reason 7 was the first actual evidence Whisenant presents for a rapture in 1988: the final generation will be 40 years long, he says, because of the 40-year desert wandering and the 40 years between Jesus' supposed crucifixion in 30 AD and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.  The rebirth of Israel was in 1948, which was the budding of the fig tree and 1948 + 40 = 1988.  We'll call this Actual Reason 1.  I think his logic here has very obvious holes in it.  For starters, there is near-unanimous scholarly consensus that Jesus died in 31 AD or later.  His whole theory falls apart if Jesus died in any year but 30 AD.  Also, the only time the length of a generation is explicitly defined is in Psalm 90:10 - 70 to 80 years.

Reason 8 is more of the same.  Whisenant quotes a single Jewish rabbi who said that 40 years after Israel's rebirth would be a significant year because 40 is a common biblical number.  We'll call this Actual Reason 1b.

Reasons 9-11 are not specific to 1988 either, but at one point Whisenant argues that the Tribulation day counts given in Daniel and Revelation fit perfectly between the Day of Atonement in 1988 and the Day of Atonement in 1995.  First of all, the assumption is made that the Tribulation would begin and end on Yom Kippur.  That's a faulty assumption at best.  Second, the assumption is made that the years 1988 to 1995 are the only years this would happen.  I've seen Tribulation day counts fit in many other seven year ranges (including of course 2017 to 2024).  It certainly doesn't happen every time, but it isn't that uncommon.  This isn't sufficient evidence on its own.

Reasons 12 and 13: there was a worldwide peace movement in 1986 and 1987.  Thus 1 Thessalonians 5:3 would have to be fulfilled in 1988.  Here we have Actual Reason 2.  The problem is that there have been worldwide peace movements for decades.  Even larger ones occurred in the 1960s.  Also, the 1980s peace movement wasn't specifically known for chanting the exact phrase "peace and security" and it had little to nothing to do with Israel.

Reason 14 is a prime example of where Whisenant seems to be most misled.  Many of his reasons are similar to this one where they don't have anything to do with 1988.  They just describe some facet of biblical prophecy or some parable or the importance of this or that Scripture.  This reason, for example, is simply a description of Jewish wedding customs and the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Reason 15: 1995 was supposedly the end of a sabbatical cycle, as well as a Jubilee cycle.  He might have been right about it being the end of a sabbatical cycle if 1967 was also the end of a similar cycle, but that's not unique to those years.  2002, 2009, and 2016 were also the end of sabbatical cycles.  Also, there is no indisputable way to identify the exact date of Creation (at least as of now) in order to make 1995 the 6,000th year since Creation.  Using the Masoretic text, Creation occurred anytime between 4004 BC and the 3960s.  The Jewish calendar shows Creation occurring several hundred years later.  I personally lean towards a Creation date in the 3980s or 3970s BC, but I could be wrong.  Actual Reason 3.

Reasons 16-18 are just reasons why the second coming could not happen in 1988 and therefore the rapture could.  Strangely, we see an example here where Whisenant just bundles reasons together.  He labels this section as Reasons 16, 17, and 18, but only one reason is given: 1988 does not line up with the end of a Jubilee cycle.  Well the same is true for every 48 out of 49 years.

Reasons 19 and 20 are that the Israelites were promised a curse seven times worse if they disobeyed God.  I don't want to go into the fine details, but too many assumptions to list are made in this reason.  In short, if you take 490 years x 7 and add it to when the Israelites supposedly entered the Promised Land (1436 BC), you get 1995 AD.  For starters, there is little to no agreement on the exact year of Israel's entrance into the Promised Land, but the 1400s is generally regarded as the time.  Second, I've seen many people try to use the promise of a curse seven times worse in some pretty extraordinary ways, suffice to say there is little agreement on how this should be applied.  Some calculations put the terminal point at 1948 when Israel was reborn.  Actual Reason 4.

Reasons 21-23 were completely arbitrary.  The Bible likens the Tribulation to birth pains, so Whisenant takes the length of a gestation period (280 days), multiplies it by 7, converts it to years and adds it to when he thinks Jesus' ministry started and voila - 1988.  This reason simply doesn't belong in any list, but I'll give Whisenant credit for specifically talking about 1988.  Actual Reason 5.

Reasons 24-29 are all basically the same thing: taking the number of days Ezekiel was told to lie on his side (which represented years), subtracting the years Israel was in captivity, multiplying by 7 (for a punishment seven times worse that was promised if Israel didn't repent), and arbitrarily adding the result to different periods of time at the beginning and end of Israel's captivity, results in 1988 (according to Whisenant).  There is definitely something significant about the year count suggested in Ezekiel 4, but Whisenant does not present a scholarly case and makes a lot of faulty assumptions.  This will be Actual Reason 6.  If you want to see a bit more scholarly calculation, check out Chuck Missler's take on this, which puts the terminal point (indicating Israel's restoration) in either 1948 or 1967.

Reason 30: Whisenant just repeats Actual Reason 5 again.

Reasons 31 and 32 are just a repeat of Actual Reason 6.

Reasons 33 and 34: Whisenant arbitrarily adds 490 and 540 sabbatical cycles to when he thinks the Abrahamic covenant and Abraham's death occurred (respectively) and gets 1988.  Actual Reason 7.  Problem is, no one knows the exact year for either event and there is not a single Scripture that says adding those particular year counts to those two events will achieve anything.

Reason 35 is basically the same as Actual Reason 6, but it has even less biblical basis (at least in my opinion).  More unknowable assumptions are made.

Reason 36 was difficult for me to decipher.  I couldn't understand the gist of what Whisenant's point was - it seemed to just be a rehash of a few of the reasons already given about sabbath and Jubilee cycles and most of his dates are built on faulty assumptions.

Reason 37: a rabbi said that the Hebrew year for 1988 (5749) meant "Shemitah".  This was probably a very good case of subjective judgment on the rabbi's part and no clear reason is given why having the numerological equivalent of "Sabbath year" meant the rapture had to happen in 1988, since Sabbath years happen every seven years, but there we have Actual Reason 7.

Reason 38: the same rabbi said Hebrew year 5756 (1995) meant that "customs would change", which in Whisenant's mind meant the second coming would occur.  Actual Reason 8.

Reason 39: a Christian archaeologist spoke at a conference in early 1988 and said he might have found where the Ark of the Covenant was stored.  Yep - that's the only reason given here.  Actual Reason 9.

Reason 40 is actually no reason at all.  It's just an explanation of why the Temple could be built quickly once the Tribulation starts.

Reason 41 is also not a reason.  Whisenant just speculates when the Temple will be built after the rapture occurs.

Reason 42: there was a solar eclipse on the Feast of Trumpets in 1988.  Actual Reason 10.  The problem is that the Bible says the sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood before the Day of the LORD.  Not on the Day of the LORD, but before.  Plus, this was only a typical annular solar eclipse and could only be seen over the Indian Ocean.

Reason 43: Mars was apparently the closest it had ever been to earth on the Day of Atonement in 1988.  Interesting, but the Bible never mentions this particular astronomical event, so there was no real reason to look for it.  Actual Reason 11.

Reason 44 was basically another rehashing of the Ezekiel day/year count reasons he had already given, but he starts taking his year counts and Jubilees and arbitrarily adding them to the dates of other significant events in the Bible that were unrelated to the Ezekiel and Jubilee prophecies.

Reason 45: Whisenant believed Jesus' ministry started in 28 AD and 40 Jubilees later would be 1988.  40 represents a period of testing.  Actual Reason 12.  This one actually makes sense and might be close to the truth.  The problem is, there is a lot of disagreement regarding what year Jesus' ministry began.  28 AD is a good guesstimate.  I personally think the evidence favors 29 AD.  In any case, we are never told 40 jubilees later the rapture would occur.  It's still subjective.  There is also disagreement surrounding how to count Jubilees over a long period of time.  Should they be counted in 50s or 49s?  Should we use 365.25 or 360 day years?

Reason 46 was the suggestion that 50 Jubilees transpired between when Noah was told to build the Ark until Jesus' ministry began.  Many problematic questions arise: how could Whisenant know the exact year Noah was told to build the Ark?  Why does it matter that 50 Jubilees transpired between that time?  How does this relate to 1988?

Reason 47 was that 70 Jubilees supposedly transpired between the Abrahamic covenant and 1988, less 430 years of Israelite captivity.  This reason runs into the same problems as Reasons 45 and 46: how could Whisenant know the exact year the Abrahamic covenant was given?  Was his starting point correct (1872 BC)?  How should the Jubilees be counted?  More subjectivity.

Reason 48: Whisenant repeats Reason 46.

Reason 49: a rabbi said the Messiah would come at the end of a sabbatical cycle.  That would make 2002, 2009, 2016, or about a hundred other dates equally applicable.

Reason 50 has no reason.  Whisenant just says that the Tribulation martyrs will be resurrected and raptured in 1995.

Reason 51: if 35 AD was a Jubilee then 1995 would be 40 Jubilees later.  Dozens of Whisenant's reasons rely on the assumption that 28 AD was a Jubilee, so it's strange he suddenly switches here.  It's also strange he uses a year of no specific significance as his starting point, but here is Actual Reason 13.

Reason 52 was about arbitrary year counts leading up to 35 AD and doesn't have anything to do with 1988.  I think Whisenant is starting to go down a rabbit trail.

Reason 53 is a rehash of Reason 52 and other reasons.  Arbitrary numbers and faulty starting points.

Reasons 54 and 55 are more subjective date counts using a subjective source, the Chronological Bible - and is basically a rehash of previous reasons.  If any dates in his source are off, basically the entirety of Whisenant's book falls to pieces.

Reason 56: a psychic said a leader was born in the Middle East in 1962.  Yes, you read that correctly, a psychic.  Actual Reason 14.

Reason 57: no reason for 1988 is given, but Whisenant changes on us and now says Jesus' ministry began in 26 AD.  Hmm.

Reason 58: Whisenant repeats Reason 56.  The psychic said.

Reason 59: the New Age Movement thinks their hero will appear in 1992 or thereabouts.  No source is given.  1992 would be kind of, roughly, maybe, possibly around the Abomination of Desolation, give or take six months.  Actual Reason 15.

Reasons 60 and 61 are that communism was born in 1917 and 70 years later brings you to 1987/88.  Interesting that Whisenant strangely applies Psalm 90:10 to this situation.  Why would a biblical generation have anything to do with the birth of communism?  Jesus said the fig tree generation would not pass away (Israeli Jews), not the Mother Russia generation.  Actual Reason 16.

Reason 62: an unidentified source in Washington says the Soviets are going to nuke the U.S. sometime between 1987 and 1993.  Actual Reason 17.

Reason 63 is basically some subjective gematria leading Whisenant to believe Psalms 88, 91, and 94 correspond to 1988, 1991, and 1994.  The smoking gun?  In Hebrew, the number 88 means "pit".  Or so says Whisenant.

Reason 64 was that the U.S. had become the world's largest debtor nation.  While this was current news, I can't in good conscience consider this an actual reason.  It doesn't have anything to do with Israel or the rapture or Bible prophecy.

Reason 65: Whisenant thought World War III would begin in October 1988.  No reasons are given.

Reason 66: Israel is important in prophecy.  Indeed, it is.

Reason 67: the United States is like a Gentile Israel.

Reason 68 is a repeat of Actual Reason 1.

Reason 69 is a repeat of Reason 67.

Reason 70: from when the British conquered Jerusalem in 1917 to 1987 is 70 years.  Add in a 280 day gestation period and you get 1988.  Voila.  Actual Reason 18.

Reason 71: Whisenant repeats Reasons 9-11.

Reason 72 is an exact repeat of Actual Reason 18, but with a chart.

Reason 73: if the Babylonian captivity ended in 532 BC and you add 2520 years you get 1987/88, but no reason is given why you would do that or why Whisenant's various assumptions were used.  And should we use 365.25 or 360 day years?

Reason 74 is a repeat of Actual Reason 12.

Reason 75: Psalms 81-87 are joyful, but Psalms 88-94 are gloomy.  Actual Reason 19.

Reason 76 is a partial repeat of Actual Reason 3 plus an explanation of the six days = six thousand years theory.  I agree with him about the 6,000 + 1,000 years plan.

Reason 77: knowledge will increase in the last days and we see knowledge increasing.

Reason 78: there have been an unprecedented number of wars, famines, and earthquakes in the 20th century.  He mentioned 40 wars happening all at once - more that at any point before.  If only Whisenant could see our day!  We now have nearly 60 simultaneous armed conflicts and have witnessed major, world-altering earthquakes in the Indian Ocean, Haiti, Japan, China, Iran, Nepal, and Chile.  The first three killed a quarter million, 150,000, and 18,000 respectively.  It was also announced a few months ago that East Africa and Yemen are experiencing the world's worst famine since World War II.

Reason 79: earthquakes have been increasing.  Definitely!

Reason 80: more famines than ever before.  Yep!  And even worse in 2017.

Reason 81: false christs and false prophets appearing left and right.  Well, there are ten-fold more here in 2017 and the Tribulation hasn't even started yet.

Reason 82: Benny Hinn said several hundred million people had AIDS.

Reason 83: Abortion is off the charts.  And so much worse in 2017!

Reason 84 is a repeat of Reasons 9-11.

Reason 85: astronomers discovered a void in the constellation of Orion.  Whisenant thinks Christians might be taken to that area after the rapture.

Reasons 86-88: the Bible teaches a pre-trib rapture.  Whisenant and I agree!

So there you have it.  88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be in 1988 - or more precisely 19 Reasons Why Someone Thought The Rapture Would Happen In 1988.  You have to remember that people sold cars and homes over this.  People left their jobs.  We need to study diligently and be ready when we see the signs converging (as I think we see this year), but we also need to be wise and prudent and occupy until He comes.

In summary, the infamous Edgar Whisenant book and pamphlet that pegged the date of the rapture to September 1988, actually contained only 19 unique reasons for a 1988 rapture:

1. A biblical generation is 40 years in length because the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years and 40 years transpired between Jesus' death in 30 AD and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.  See any problems with this?  Here's three: first, the assumption that the length of Israel's wandering defines a generation; second, the assumption that Jesus died in 30 AD; and third, the disregard of the only explicit definition of a generation given in the Bible: Psalm 90:10.

2. There was a peace movement in 1986 and 1987.

3. 1995 was the possible end of a sabbatical cycle.

4. If Ezekiel 4 pertains to the end times and you take 490 years x 7 and add it to a possible entrance into the Promised Land of 1436 BC, you get 1995 AD.  What happened to excluding the Babylonian captivity?  How could he know 1436 BC was the starting point?  Should this be calculated using 365.25 or 360 day years?  Many assumptions were made.

5. If you take the length of a gestation (280 days), multiply it by 7, and add it to a supposed start date for Jesus' ministry of 28 AD you get 1988.

6. Arbitrarily adding some solar year calculations from Ezekiel 4 to assumed dates for the beginning and end of Israel's captivity, results in 1988 - sort of.

7. A rabbi said that the meaning of Hebrew year 5749 (1988) was "Shemitah".

8. That same rabbi said that the meaning of Hebrew year 5756 (1995) was that "customs would change".

9. Ron Wyatt spoke at a conference in 1988 and said he might have found the Ark of the Covenant.

10. There was an annular solar eclipse only visible over the Indian Ocean on the Feast of Trumpets in 1988.

11. Mars was at its closest approach to earth on the Day of Atonement in 1988.

12. The completion of 40 solar Julian/Gregorian Jubilees after Jesus' ministry supposedly started in 28 AD landed on 1988.

13. If 35 AD was a Jubilee year than 40 solar Jubilees later would be 1995.  Why does Whisenant suddenly switch when the Jubilees start since at least a third of his book is based on a 28 AD starting point?  Also, why does he pick an arbitrary year like 35 AD to start counting?  Many questions.

14. A psychic said an important world leader was born in the Middle East in 1962.

15. Some folks in the New Age Movement thought their hero would appear in 1992 or thereabouts.

16. If you add the Psalm 90:10 definition of a generation to 1917 when communism was born you get 1988.

17. An unidentified person said the Soviets were planning to nuke the U.S. between 1987 and 1993.

18. If you add Psalm 90:10's "70 years" to when the British captured Jerusalem in 1917 you get 1987.  Throw in a 280 gestation period for good measure and you get 1988.

19. Psalms 81-87 are joyful, but Psalms 88-94 are gloomy.

So let me get this straight: you've got Not Really 88 Reasons in 1988, the supposed computer glitch apocalypse on Y2K, Mayan Calendar mania in 2012, and Shemitah shenanigans in 2015, and those things somehow compare with what we're watching transpire in 2017?  I must be missing something here.

In commemoration of Whisenant's 19 reasons, here are my [drum roll please]...



19 Reasons Why The Rapture Could Be Before 2021


1. There's a huge, undeniable sign in the sky right on, or one day after the Feast of Trumpets (see here, here, and here).  This sign is complicated and has lots of moving parts, yet fits together perfectly to fulfill a literal word-for-word reading of Revelation 12:1-2.

2. Three separate studies clearly demonstrate that this sign, at least to this level of precision, has never occurred before and will never occur again.

3. This sign appears to be directly connected to the rapture event (Revelation 12:5).

4. The Bible says the sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood before the Day of the LORD.  There was a total solar eclipse during a supermoon exactly on the first day of the biblical calendar (Nisan 1) in 2015.  Then several months later there was a total lunar eclipse during a supermoon on the Feast of Tabernacles.  They were significant, historically unusual, in the proper biblical order, and preceding the Day of the LORD.

5. If #4 doesn't satisfy you, there will be a very rare total solar eclipse that traverses the entire United States just 33 days before the Revelation 12 Sign.  The United States is the world's most powerful, influential, and prominent Gentile nation on earth.  It's also the Gentile "melting pot" of ethnicities and cultures and host to the Gentile world body - the United Nations.  What better way to signify to the Gentiles that their revelry is coming to an abrupt end.  That leaves four or five weeks for a surprise blood moon to show up.

6. Then in 2024, seven years later (i.e. the length of the Tribulation), there is another total solar eclipse traversing the entire United States from the opposite direction.

7. The only explicit biblical definition of a generic "generation" is Psalm 90:10, which defines it as 70 or 80 years.  When Jesus delivered The Parable of the Fig Tree and discussed the various signs of the end of the age He very clearly said this generation would not pass away until all of it would be fulfilled.  That would seemingly include His physical return - not only the rapture.  There is a general consensus among futurists and dispensationalists that the rebirth of Israel in 1948 constituted the budding of the fig tree (the fig tree being the symbol of the nation of Israel).  If that is indeed the case, then everything Jesus prophesied would need to be completed by 2028 at the very latest.  With Israel now in its 70th solar year since rebirth and having completed exactly 70 biblical/prophetic years on May 12, 2017, a Tribulation running from 2017 to 2024 would constitute 70 to 77 years since the fig tree budded - perfectly within the range and satisfying the generational requirement.  In 2012 Charisma News reported on the same thing: the President of the World Bible Society believes 2028 is the upper limit with a rapture no later than 2021.

8. Jesus likened His return to the days of Noah.  In Genesis 6:3 God set a final probationary period on mankind of 120 years.  At the end of that time the Flood came and destroyed them all.  The modern prophetic scenario began in 1897 with the founding of the Zionist movement and a universal Jewish declaration of desire for a return to their God-given land.  Exactly 120 years later is 2017.

9. The Revelation 12 Sign portrays the birth of a male child - a son of promise.  We believe this son of promise is probably the Church.  The first son of promise was Isaac who was born to Abraham when he was 100 years old.  Jerusalem fell to the British in 1917 and the British promised the Jews a future homeland.  Exactly 100 years later is 2017.

10. While Israel was reborn in 1948, the mandate for its statehood came from the United Nations in November 1947.  Exactly 70 years later is 2017.  The Jews were in captivity for 70 years and as stated before, 70 years is the length of a biblically-defined generation.

11. There were many Scriptures that prophesied the restoration of Jerusalem, which occurred in June 1967 when Israel recaptured their ancient capital.  The 50th year in the Bible is called a Jubilee - it is a year in which the land is restored to its rightful owners and 1967 appeared to be just such a year.  A Jubilee is also a year in which the captives go free.  However, a lot of Israel's land is still missing and the Body of Christ is still in bondage to mortality on the earth.  Exactly 50 years after 1967 brings you to 2017 when Christians may escape captivity and return to their rightful home.  It may also be the year that Israel begins the painful and arduous process of reclaiming the rest of its land.

12. In 1977 the modern peace process began, followed shortly by the Camp David Accords and the subsequent "Two-State Solution".  Exactly 40 years later brings you to 2017.  "40" represents a time of trial and testing in the Bible.  The Israelites remained in the wilderness for 40 years because of their disobedience.  Jesus was tested for 40 days in the wilderness.  For the past 40 years the Jews have had to endure nearly complete international and political isolation, intifada after intifada, bombings, knife attacks, and countless threats of annihilation from Iran and other Muslim countries.  They've had multiple wars in Lebanon and Gaza and military campaigns in Syria and Iraq.

13. In 1987 The Temple Institute was founded in Jerusalem with the express purpose of rebuilding the Temple and restoring the Temple service.  They have since identified actual Levitical priests, rebuilt every necessary artifact, cut the Temple's cornerstone, built the main altar, and even built a priestly school in Jerusalem for training the priests.  All they need is the go ahead and the Temple will get built.  Exactly 30 years later lands on 2017.  Priests had to be at least 30 years of age to serve in the Temple according to Numbers 4 and Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His own priestly service (Luke 3:23).

14. The number 7 is the biblical number for completion and perfection and is used all throughout the final book.  7 stars, 7 angels, 7 lampstands, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 vials, 7 hills, 7 kings, and a 7-headed dragon.  Like 1897, 1917, 1947, 1967, 1977, and 1987, 2017 also ends in a 7.  It also just happens to be Hebrew year 5777.  And that's just where the craziness begins.  The Daily Crow and others have uncovered literally hundreds of extremely improbable alignments of the number 7 with 2017 - so much so that coincidence simply can't account for it anymore.  You can read about some of those here and here.

15. The prophetic setting described in the Bible that will occur at the end of the age is in place this year - seemingly every detail.

16. The prophecies all leading up to the rapture of the Church and the beginning of the Tribulation seem to have all been fulfilled - even the minute details like the first crops of priests having finished training in 2017 and the reconstitution of the Jewish Sanhedrin.

17. An oracle in stone mentioned in Isaiah 19:19 points to the possible appearing of Christ in 2017.

18. Popular culture is unwittingly screaming God's sovereignty and pointing to major prophetic fulfillment in 2017 (see here, here, here, herehere, and here).

19. The general expectation of the Church is supposed to be imminency, which means that as far as I'm concerned on this principle alone we need to expect and prepare ourselves for going home in 2017.  If it doesn't pan out, well ok, we were mistaken somewhere along the line despite dozens and dozens of signs and we'll just move forward from there, but the Lord's appearing is indeed imminent.

Note: This list is not nearly exhaustive, I just picked some of the points that stand out to me the most.  What stands out to you?  Are there other signs I'm not considering here?

MARANATHA!

Post A Comment

59 comments:

  1. Awesome article. May I add the terminal generation: Psalm 102:16-18 & Jeremiah 16:15-16

    Thanks

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    1. Wow, I had never seen Psalm 102 in the light before. Awesome find!

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  2. The rapture is numbers oriented not date oriented. Once the last person who will believe in Christ and be born again is...then comes the rapture. And only God knows when that will happen. This is why we are commanded to "go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

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    1. Nowhere does the Bible say that the rapture will occur when the last of God's elect are regenerated. It says it will occur at the last trump.

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    2. Yes, I agree, the last trump.

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  3. Thanks so much. I'd always been intimidated by his 88 reasons, but I didn't know what they were. I see now he had no case. 2017 has so much more going for it.

    I had also been told the rapture was numbers oriented. But untold millions of gentiles will be saved in the tribulation. More will be saved in the millennium. The idea that the rapture happens after the last gentile is saved doesn't make sense to me. They keep on being saved afterward until the final judgment day.

    Thanks so much.

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    1. Let last Gentile during the church age, which ends with the Rapture!

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    2. Yup, and Scott Clarke makes a pretty good case that the "fullness of the Gentiles" may refer in full or part to the fullness of their sin the and the looming judgment during the Tribulation. Either way, nothing is left to wait as far as I know... except a big sign in the sky.

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    3. Gary,

      I remember the late Jack Kelley’s explanation for the “full numbers of the gentiles come in”. He said that it is an old nautical term. A ship needed a certain (determined) number of people for its crew. The ship was only fully operational when the needed number of its crew was reached, until then it wasn’t permitted to set to sail! When the intended number of the crew was reached aka “came in (!)”, the ship was permitted to begin its journey. That’s the reason why drunk and sleeping sailors were often abducted in their sleep (in seaports) to be added to the needed number of the crew and they woke up on ships that were already sailing. :) In this light the rapture is a number-determined event too. But I could imagine that God in His omniscience and omnipotence could orchestrate all the events so that the needed number will be reached before a certain Godly ordained date, probably before (or on) the Feast of Trumpets.

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    4. (p.s.: I mentioned the Feast of Trumpets as a possible example, in case the Rapture happens on a Jewish feast day.)

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    5. I agree, Nora. I remember Jack Kelly always stressing the Rapture was a number-oriented event and not a date-oriented event, but this is one of the few things he taught that I tended to disagree with. His thinking was that since the Rapture will occur when the last member of the Church gets saved and the Church reaches its predetermined number known only to God, we are essentially wasting our time trying to figure out the date. That last person will get saved on some random, unknowable date, and BOOM. Up we go.

      Now, I agree that we'll never know the date of the Rapture with 100 percent certainty before it happens, but not simply because it's a "number-oriented event" as opposed to a "date-oriented event."

      I've always had an extremely hard time accepting that teaching simply because it turns the date of the Rapture into a random event.

      Q. What do God and Jason Bourne have in common?
      A. Neither of them does random.

      Since when is *anything* about God "random"? In my opinion, the problem is assuming everything has to be either/or. Why would it not be both? Why wouldn't it be both a number-oriented event *AND* a date-oriented event?

      Does God know *how many* people will be saved? Yes.
      Does God know *when* each one of those people will be saved? Yes.
      Has God ordained every detail to work out according to His plan? Yes.

      I have no problem at all believing it's both. In fact, I can't see how it could be otherwise.

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    6. That's been my thought as well, Greg. It is a surprise event for those not watching. A "gotcha" type of return doesn't fit into the pattern of scripture. It's a "gotcha" for those that were not watching or ignored the Holy spirits promptings to ask for salvation through Christ.
      The rapture is a "numbers" event, but that event does happen on a certain day (and that day has never changed). In my opinion, I think it is a semantics argument. In other words, the times of the gentiles has the same expiration date that it's always had....the church just happens to reach a specific number on that day as well, or the church reaches a specific number and it happens to occur on a certain day : )
      Anyway, I feel like we're in overtime waiting for the winning goal/point to be scored. I do not believe the Lord tarries...his plan has never changed. My impatience should not be confused with his "tarrying". His timing is perfect.

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    7. Greg L.,

      Yes, basically what I think too! :) Imo God has no problem to orchestrate the events of *the full number of the Church coming in* and that special day He pre-ordained for the rapture, together. I think of more and more that the "Feast of Trumpets" is probably a very fitting candidate of the day of the rapture because of "the last trumpet" mention and the FoT called the feast of which day and hour aren't known, it depends solely on the appearance of the new moon. Again, I could only say that we'll see what will happen. IF the Lord’s will is that the rapture should happen on a FoT, I hope it will happen this year and we won’t have to wait another (or a few more) year(s). The 2017-2024 Tribulation period theory gives me some hope concerning this (besides all the significant dates related to 2017).

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    8. p.s.: I’d like to add something. I need to mention Amir Tsarfati again (his ministry is http://beholdisrael.org/) I remember one of his videos I watched maybe 2 months ago, he gave a teaching to a big audience this year, and he said at the end of his teaching that he gets tons of emails from believers around the world from many-many countries who are saying to him that the Lord told them (in many cases in an audible voice) that He’ll come very soon! I think it is pretty encouraging!

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    9. Lance M.,

      "It's a "gotcha" for those that were not watching or ignored the Holy spirits promptings to ask for salvation through Christ." Agreeing with you.

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    10. Nora -- I enjoy Amir's input on things. I watched his facebook update today and he stressed that we are going home really, really, really soon. Everything is pointing to that fact.

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    11. Natalie,

      So exciting!!! :) I'm planning to watch his update. It's sad that he's dismissing the Rev 12 Sign too but he's not belligerent and condemning about it at least.

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  4. http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/june2017/carlw64.htm

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    1. Holy smokes! Good article. From Isaiah 13: "The Sun will be dark when it rises [in reference to the Day of the LORD]"

      The total solar eclipse on August 21 will be in full swing as soon as the sun rises on the West Coast.

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    2. The new moon is also on the Feast of Trumpets.

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  5. This is a huge reason... The key indicator of when Jesus Christ would refocus on Israel is a Woman in Labor giving birth to a son shown in Micah 5:3. The Revelation 12 Sign would fit this perfectly indicating an end to the partial hardening described in Romans 11:25. Micah 5:2-5 is a perfect timeline of this, with the Revelation 12 Sign smack dab in the middle of it indicating the change of dispensation. Here is the abbreviated timeline:

    1. Jesus Comes to Israel from Eternity Past (vs 2)
    2. Jesus is Crucified, therefore "gives up" his people for a specified period of time (vs 3)
    3. A woman in labor gives birth (vs 3)
    4. Then the Jews will return and recognized Jesus as their Messiah (vs 3)
    5. Jesus will rule them in the Millennium (vs 4)
    6. Jesus will be worshipped by the Jews (vs 4)
    7. They will remain for all time to the ends of the earth (vs 4)

    Thanks for all you do... Great work!
    Revelation 12 Daily Website
    Revelation 12 Daily Facebook Page

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    1. Yeah, Micah 5:3 is big! I could do a post just on that one verse.

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  6. Excellent Gary, Bravo!,...tony/vt Blessings,...Shalom

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  7. Wow Gary, this is indeed a Berean attitude: prove it all, hold fast which is good. Most negative judgement on Rev12-sign comes out of a) ignorance b) lack of knowledge c) unwillingness to be lectured or to learn more and d) prejudice attitude from teaching of men. Thank you very much for all your work here!

    Now that we MUST be convinced that rapture can certainly happen in fall 2024, you could easily turn over to fall 2024 and do a research on the final constellation which is not only called "great" in the bible but "great and marvellous" (= the later one of the LORDs names in Judges 13,18 + Isaiah 9,6; 28,29): the REVELATION-15,1-SIGN!

    http://raptureintheairnow.com/?topic=signs-in-the-heavens-second-advent

    Blessings to all of you!

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    1. The blood moon occurs in the face of the day of the Lord as it Dawn's, with worldwide earthquake, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. The ash in the atmosphere causes the blood moon. The seals are opened all at once, in one day, as the church is caught up and God ends his silence and unhides his face from Israel in seal 6 which has Stark parallels to Gog magog.

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  10. (Part. 1.)

    Gary,

    I think it’s a fitting place to share (with all of you) a discovery and with it the realization that hit me a few days ago. It’s also speculation but I couldn’t stop thinking about it in the past few days! It’s about the theory of the 2017-2024 Tribulation period. I’ve read about it first here at Unsealed, Daniel Matson’s article was mentioned on this subject. Then I’ve found two other studies on the possible 2017-2024 Tribulation period time-line by TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT authors! The first one was written by Randy Nettles many-many years ago, here is the study:

    http://www.raptureready.com/2013/03/19/sequel-rapture-part-3-randy-nettles/

    I’ve found the second study a few days ago, it was written by Joel Joseph. His study’s title is “Watch and Pray: The Lord is coming” it’s *Edition 330* (I link the study below; you have to scroll down a bit on the site to find it). Mr. Joel Joseph arrived at the same conclusions about the possible 2017-2024 Tribulation period as Mr. Randy Nettles many years ago.

    http://www.thepropheticscroll.org/home/50-editions/general/471-edition-330.html

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    1. Check this out...more confirmation! https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B54iIGNHFQCzbEJCVlRiZ3hUUEU/view?usp=sharing

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  11. (Part 2.)

    I’d like to copy here only a part of what he wrote on this subject, he used the same deduction as Mr. Randy Nettles. (he wrote it in 2016):

    (start of quote) “A powerful observation relating to 2017:

    If the time of the rapture / tribulation start is 2016, that would place the Second Advent seven years later in 2023. If it’s 2017, then the Second Advent is in 2024.

    The 360-day Hebrew year and calendar is what most people use for calculating anything biblically prophetic. But there is a flaw in this calendar. It’s quite an amazing flaw! If the calendar just went on and on with 360 days per year, it would get to a time when the fall feasts would be in the spring and vice versa.

    Because of this non-alignment with the moon, over time, an extra “intercalary” (calendar insertion) month of 30 days is added to the calendar seven times in every nineteen years. This means that some years are not 360 days in length.

    Now, pay attention!

    The two halves of the seven-year tribulation period, mentioned in days in Daniel, should be 1260 x2 = 2520. But In Daniel 12:11 he says that the second half of the tribulation period is 1290 days and not 1260 days. That’s an extra 30 days or month for the second half of the tribulation.

    So, according to Daniel, the tribulation period is: First half = 1260 days. Second half = 1290 days. Total = 2550 days.

    Here’s the amazing thing: We need to look for the tribulation to end in one of these years with an added intercalary month.
    The year 2024 is such a year! It is an intercalary year with 30 days extra. I can see some people’s minds going into overdrive!

    Other combinations of years don’t work or fit, until we get too far out into the future for them to be candidates at all.

    The timeline, 2017 to 2024 for the tribulation fits perfectly, with the tribulation beginning and ending on a fall feast day. There are numerous other signs that dovetail into this timeline as well. I think all the other signs which are missing at this point in time, will appear and fit, as required by the time we get there.

    It is vitally important to understand that there are 1260 days for the first half of the tribulation and 1290 for the second half.
    2017 to 2024 is the only time period where the 2550-day tribulation begins and ends on a fall feast!

    Here are some of the verses referring to these numbers for those who want to study this subject:

    Daniel 12:11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1290 days.”

    Revelation 11:3 “I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophecy 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

    Revelation 12:6 “Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God that they should feed her there for 1260 days.”

    Revelation 13:5 “He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and he was given authority to continue for 42 months.” 42 months is three and a half years of 360 days each, or 1260 days in total. “(end of quote)

    I am wondering: is this case represents the Biblical case of TWO DIFFERENT WITNESSES CONFIRMING a (the same) true fact? Also, there’s Mr. Matson’s theory on the possible 2017-2024 Tribulation period, he uses different reasoning, mentioning a possible connection to Rev. 15, he is definitely another (a third) witness!

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    1. I can see this but I can also see the significance of there being 75 days between Yom Kippur and Hanukkah.

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  13. In 1893, E. W. Bullinger wrote "The Witness of the Stars" that describes God's plan represented in the heavens. It has been referenced by several proponents of the 2017/Revelation 12 rapture. Toward the end of his book, Bullinger provided a detailed analysis of a 2520-year "times of the Gentiles" occupation of Jerusalem beginning with Nebuchadnezzar in 625 BC. Long story short, in 1893, he came to the conclusion that "From this it appears that 1896-7 A.D. would mark an important year in connection with the “times of the Gentiles.” it is unlikely he was aware that in 1896 Teodor Herzl wrote "Der Judenstaat" and made plans for the first World Zionist Congress that took place in Basle (Basel), Switzerland in 1897. According to www.mideastweb.org/thejewishstate.htm, after the first meeting, "Herzl wrote in his diary, "Were I to sum up the Basle Congress in a word- which I shall guard against pronouncing publicly- it would be this: ‘At Basle, I founded the Jewish State. If I said this out loud today, I would be answered by universal laughter. If not in 5 years, certainly in 50, everyone will know it.’” Of course, 50 years later came UN Resolution 181 of November 1947 announcing the formation of the Jewish state in its historical homeland. To my knowledge, Bullinger is the only one in the last 150 years who has predicted in advance a date with Biblical significance. We in 2017 have much more clarity than he or even Whisenant had. There is much more alignment of indisputable facts pointing to the significance of 2017 in Bible prophecy. Thank you for this website. It's the best I've seen at accurately representing scripture and current events.

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  14. Another super article!

    A little more about the coming solar eclipse.

    The solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 comes 40 days before Yom Kippur. 40 day before Yom Kippur, traditionally calculated, (not by today's method) begins the "Season of Teshuvah." Teshuvah is a Hebrew word which means "repentance" and "return". It consists of 30 day of preparation for the first 10 day of Tishrei, know as the "High Holy Days". During the first 30 days, Jews (and us also) should be in a attitude of repentance awaiting the return of messiah (rapture). Each morning during the 40 days, Psalm 27 is read. Psalm 27 is a warning that the time of Jacob's Trouble is approaching, but those who have put their trust in God have nothing to fear.

    The eclipse occurs in the constellation Leo, next to the star Regulus. In the narrow band of totality, the brightest stars and planets will become visible. Venus - "The Bright Morning Star" (Jesus, Rev 22:16), The King planet Jupiter, and the King Star Regulus will all be visible. Now that's interesting! What could this mean: the King is soon coming for his bride to snatch her away on the Feast of Trumpets before he comes to pass judgement on the earth!

    The Feast of Trumpets is also known as "the opening of the Gates" when the righteous nation enters into the bridal chamber.

    The seven days between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur are known as the "Days of Awe" (Yomin Noraim) or the terrible days. These seven days represent the seven year tribulation. The rapture occurs on the Feast of Trumpets, then begins the seven year tribulation, and then the second coming, seven years later on Yom Kippur!

    The information on the feast days was taken from the book: "Ancient Messianic Festivals and the Prophecies they Reveal" by Ken Johnson Th.D.

    It's the best book I've read on the Feast Days. There is a ton of info in this book that confirms everything that is being revealed! I highly recommend it!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Pretty sure there are 10 days of awe, not 7... Tishrei 1 to Tishrei 10. Tishrei 15 marks the Feast of Tabernacles and THAT is 7 days long. It would seem that the days of awe should be 7 to mark 7 years and the Tabernacles should be 10 to mark 1000 years but that is not the case. Interesting conundrum isn't it?

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  15. Well, this may seem nothing to someone else, but God gave me a sign last week when driving to my Granddaughters wedding. He told me to "look over there". As I did, I saw the sign that said: Exit 17. During the ride, I had been praying about the truth of the Rev. 12 sign and when I saw that exit sign, I knew it meant 2017. But, among the many other confirming signs I have been given, the neatest one is the announcement of the birth of Eric and Lana Trump's baby BOY being born IN SEPTEMBER - reflecting the birth of the Manchild by the woman- and this being "the last TRUMP"?

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    1. Carol,

      "Well, this may seem nothing to someone else...I saw the sign that said: Exit 17. During the ride, I had been praying about the truth of the Rev. 12 sign..." On the contrary, this is awesome and very encouraging! Thanks for sharing it!

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  17. Generation Z, the final generation.

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  18. Regarding #12 and the 40 years since the start of the Peace Process, I think it is interesting that the talks started in 1977, but the Camp David Accords were not signed until 1978, and the final Egypt-Israel peace treaty was signed in 1979.

    Numbers 14:33 says Israel will wander in the wilderness for 40 years, but Deuteronomy 2:14 gives us the more specific time frame between Kadeshbarnea and the brook Zered as 38 years.

    So as pointed out, from the start of peace talks in 1977 to 2017 is 40 years, but from the conclusion of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979 to 2017 is 38 years.

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  19. All of the information I am reading here today from the articles, to the comments, to the other articles linked on other sites is incredible!!! In regards to the pyramids, have you read the speculation that the sphynx was possibly a lion head orginally as there is evidence it was carved out of something else. I forget where I read that now. Possibly at watchfortheday.org.

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  23. This is one of the best blog/ websites I have ever been too. Thank you to all who contribute. I really think we are getting close to the tribulation now. I don't want to be left behind, but in the back of my mind I felt like it is my purpose to help family and friends reach The Saving Grace of The Lord Jesus (yes I know He doesn't need any help). I try to reach them now, but I am too enthralled with worldly things to be a good light. I am conflicted.

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  24. Do any of you suppose that UFO activity should increase greatly leading up to the 23rd of Sept? Or what of those unearthly trumpet/scraping sounds in the sky so many have heard and recorded?
    It could have no bearing on the sign itself, or what happens after, but just maybe.

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    1. If haven't read these already, check out what Gary and I have written on the subject of the coming "strong delusion," which may involve a ramping up of UFO activity and future disclosure:

      Here: http://www.unsealed.org/2017/04/the-strong-delusion.html

      and

      Here: http://www.unsealed.org/2017/05/the-coming-ufo-disclosure-intergalactic.html

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  25. Henry Kissinger "quote" - Former US Secretary of State - May 21st 1992 at Evian Bilderberger meeting.
    "Today Americans would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order; tomorrow they will be grateful. This is especially true if they were told there was an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead with world leaders to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well being granted to them by their world government."

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  26. Hi Gary I had a vision or revelation : 9.22222222 Nine- point- and twos who are getting smaller and fading away .What could this mean ?

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  27. The parting of the Red Sea, the tearing of the veil in the temple, the tearing of the hymen on the wedding night, and the sign on Sept. 23rd. Note; for the virgin the hymen will be torn at birth. Is this the day when the veil between our world and the next is torn open?

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  28. The strong delusions I beleive are talking about the world's embrace of the lie called 'man-caused' climate change, and the world's acceptance of homosexuality, transgenderism and gender confusion as 'normal' The world is willingly and rapidly exchanging the truth for lies- and worse- they persecute anyone that doesn't agree- I believe that climate change regulation/taxes etc are goign to cripple the world's population so badly that they will be forced to rely on the government for relief- which will usher in the 'take the mark of the beast or starve and freeze to death' policy- California- on their own- has just today implemented a 'paris agreement' rise in gasoline taxes in a false effort to 'save the planet'- This will quickly spread across the states- and around the world- taxing everything in the name of 'saving the planet'-

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  29. I was wondering about the Jan - Feb 2016 sign of the planets alignment... Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury. (in doing some playing around, from the first date in Jan (1/20) to Sept. 21 is 610 days or 1 yr 8 m 1 d.... kind of interesting how the numbers work out...)  I find it very interesting that, that was also another 'rare' sign in the sky and it seems to almost be a 'John the Baptist' type thing... ? You know, kind of a message of what is to come??  I don't know... just asking... Do you have any thoughts on the matter? Here is where I came across this (quite accidentally... ... or not?) 

    Thanks so much for all your work, I am of a mind to keep watching and hoping....... 'even so, come Lord Jesus, come.'

    http://www.dailycrow.com/jupiter-mars-saturn-venus-and-mercury-the-meaning-of-this-alignment/

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  30. A short time before the solar eclipse my wife and I saw in the midst of a large gray cloud the very distinct number "23". I wonder if anyone else out there has seen anything like this. September 23, 2017 is definitely on our minds. If I am correct the 100th (last trump)of 100 trumpet blasts will occur on that day in Israel in celebration of the Feast of Trumpets. The United States will be in total darkness under a new moon at that time. Hmmmm.?!

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  31. Unfortunately we are still earthbound.

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  32. https://noahidenews.com/2017/10/13/trump-appeases-sanhedrin-bows-in-obeisance/

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  33. #20. Oct 31st, 2017 is 500 years since Martin Luther posted his 95 thesis, starting the Protestant reformation.

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  34. Hey!we are in 2018,nobody knows the day or hour..but we must be prepared for one day it will take place..
    Shalom

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  35. I recall having two pastors approach me with their concerns about this book back in 1988. I ended up teaching 3 lessons in a large church which had influential people and evangelists who had belief in the 88 reasons booklet. Of course the lessons were delivered after the date in September, so nobody could argue that it was incorrect. When asked "where did the book go wrong," here was my response: "A book that is wrong in its premise (the idea that anyone can predict the date of our Lord's return), wrong in its support (none of the 88 reasons made any sense Biblically), and wrong in its conclusion (the date had passed) was never right! www.eleutherosbooks.com

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