Update on Comets Hale-Bopp and McNaughtComet Hale-Bopp has always been fascinating. Personally its timing is easy to remember since our first child was born at this time and I remember the evening walks clearly seeing Hale-Bopp in the north. I also remember watching the lunar eclipse on Purim of 1997 and seeing Mars right next to the moon with Hale-Bopp ever present. Something seemed significant, but that would come later.
It would not be until 2003 when the research into the comets would continue. Up until that time, the only Christian researcher who had touched the issue (that I saw) was Avi Ben Mordechai. In his book, Signs in the Heavens, He mentioned the peculiarities of Comet Shoemaker-Levy that hit Jupiter on the 9th of Av with 21 pieces in 1994. Since the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av is the 21 days of mourning, there seemed to be a connection. In 2003 while working on Signs of the End, it was noted how the 9th of Av 2014 seemed to be a key time according to the layout of Daniel 8 with the vision of 2300 evenings and mornings. This put Shoemaker-Levy at 20 years prior to 2014. This also seemed to parallel the conclusion that Hale-Bopp in 1997 preceded the end of Daniel's 70th Week by 20 years as well.
Further research in 2003 led to the peculiarity of Comets Hyakutake (1996) and Hale-Bopp (1997). A map of their paths showed an intersection at the star of Algol. Algol is considered the unluckiest star and is found in the decapitated head of Medusa (it means trodden underfoot--the head of Satan) held by Peres (meaning the breaker of the imprisoned--Christ). The comets crossed this star at right angles on April 11th one year apart. According to the research put into Signs of the End, April 11th was a very significant day. Passover will sometimes land on this day and it did in the 20th Century only on these dates: 1914 (WW1), 1933 (Hitler's anti-Semitic laws passed this very day), and 1998 (Israel's 50th). The next occurrence is 2017. Also, if Christ died in 32 AD according to the model of Sir Robert Anderson, then the most significant Passover was also on April 11th. Incidentally, Hyakutake, the Japanese discoverer of the comet named after him, died on April 10th.
This then brings us to 2007. At the beginning of July, an article from Jim Harman was sent showing how Noah likely saw Hale-Bopp 120 years before the Flood. By doing the math, the scientists figured out that it was 4,465 years prior to 1997 that Hale-Bopp also appeared to those on Earth (please see his pdf file). This puts it at 2469 BC and exactly where a biblical chronology would place the 120 year warning before the Flood in 2349 BC. This was very striking and immediately it was wondered if Hale-Bopp being ten years ago, might have a similar warning using 120. Years were ruled out since the generation principle requires fulfillment by 2017 (100 years from 1917 and within 70 years from 1948). However, with a year having twelve months, it meant that 2007 had seen 120 months since 1997. However, our Roman months are incorrect since the lunar month is 29.5 days.
Looking for a common sense measuring point, it was found that Hale-Bopp crossed the plane of the earth's orbit on May 6, 1997. To therefore continue 120 lunar months (120 x 29.5) from that point would mean a total of 3,540 days. This would bring us to January 14, 2007. Interestingly, a comet was also crossing the plane of the earth's orbit on January 14, 2007--Comet McNaught. Comet McNaught was even seen during daylight at this very time. So then, what does Comet McNaught now warn us? What about 120 days?
One hundred and twenty days from January 14, 2007 is May 14, 2007. This was Israel's 59th anniversary and the day more attacks began on the tiny nation. Interestingly enough, if one adds another 120 days from May 14th, one will come to September 11th. However, there may be even more to this. A lunar month is more accurately represented by 29.5306 days. This adds a completed three days to the calculation of 3,540 days. This correction would bring the 120 months to January 17, 2007 and about the time tail could last be seen in the Northern Hemisphere. From this time it is 120 days to Ascension Day--May 17, 2007. This is of course day 40 after Resurrection Sunday. Going another 120 days from Ascension Day 2007 will come to September 14, 2007. This appears to be the likely day witnesses in Israel will be able to see the New Moon to usher in the Feast of Trumpets. And according to 1 Corinthians 15, the Rapture occurs at "The Last Trumpet"--a Jewish reference to the Feast of Trumpets.
The Feast of Trumpets until the Day of Atonement is known as the Days of Awe, a period of ten days. It is at this time that the mighty works of God will be seen according to Jewish understanding. If the Rapture is this year with the Second Coming in 2017, then from Trumpets 2007 to Atonement 2017 would result in a year for each day. This then would still have the 70th Week beginning in 2010. Is there any significance then to the Fast of Gedaliah occurring on day three of the ten? Will Israel at this time seek God's protection or the "peace of Egypt"? Unfortunately the answer is known, but God will be victorious in the end with His people.
In all of the research and moving on with the numbers and coincidences, it does appear that Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah 2007 may be a key day to watch. Will it be the Rapture of the Church? Surely it is a day to be ready for with all fear. It cannot hurt to do this in the least. Why is it deemed wrong to prepare and seek to serve the Lord better and anticipate His return for His Bride? There must be something to all of this, and if the day does pass, surely God's plan will in the end make complete sense.
Daniel Matson
July 8, 2007