John,
I heard recently from a sermon on the end times that Noah worked on building the ark for 120 years before it sailed. I searched the Internet for events that might be related to the rapture in 1887--120 years before 2007 to see if the analogy to "in the days of Noah"could be related to events in 1887, i.e., Noah's beginning to build the ark. What I discovered was quite interesting and confirms in another way that 2007 as the rapture year!
In 1887 and organization was started by William E. Blackstone, an evangelical minister and writer of a widely circulated book called JESUS IS COMING, to remind God's people of His eternal promises to His ancient people, Israel. The organization, AMF International still exists (motto is "Building Bridges of Understanding since 1887" see www.amfi.org). He was instrumental in getting national leaders in the US and Europe to support the idea of creating a state in Palestine for Jewish people to got to and live in peace. It is interesting that he got little support from Jewish religious leaders who thought such a state would become another Jewish ghetto.  He even petitioned the President of the US, Benjamin Harrison, to support his proposal, called the Blackstone Memorial dated March 5, 1891, to help the Jews expelled from Russia and to create a homeland for the Jews in Palestine--the signers included many ministers and industry leaders like J.P Morgan and J.D. Rockefeller. He is considered the father of the Zionist movement since his efforts preceed those of Hertzl.
In conclusion, in 1887 we see the publication of the first book to bring the rapture to the forefront of popular thinking, JESUS IS COMING by WEB (he didn't want to be boasting by having his name on the title) and the start of the movement to get the state of Israel created in Palestine (a misnomer for the land of Israel after the diaspora). And now, 120 years later in 2007, we have seen the results of his efforts in that Israel has become a state--a necessary precondition for the events he wrote about in his book JESUS IS COMING!
I am looking forward with all believers to April 5, 2007 when we may see JESUS COMING FOR HIS BRIDE!
Sincerely in Christ
Robert
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Thanks, Robert. You may be onto something here!
John