I can see you think I am mixed up concerning both the 40 stripes and the period of the seals (smile).  Well, I think I am on solid ground and have a genuine peace about it (smile).  There is no doubt in my mind about the events described in either.  Let's wade through this and see if we can reach any common ground and understanding.  At least we agree it is this spring (I think likely late spring) and that Jesus will return in the fall of 2018.  I am sure of both.  If we meet no mutual understanding that is OK.  It is my job as a watcher to inform the people of what the Holy Spirit has shown me.  It is His job to open eyes to whomsoever He chooses.  God says His people perish for a lack of understanding.  Hopefully, some people will read what has been posted and be prepared when the events kick off.  As doves, we are watchers.  As watchers we have a responsibility to warn the people.
 
Let me set this straight will all the doves.  I personally do not care who guesses the date of the rapture.  Even the actual date is not all that important to me.  I only hope I and others are ready and worthy.   When the resurrection of the dead takes place, there won't be a single soul looking around to see who guessed the day (grin).  I think the clues point to late spring, possibly as close as 5 days to the sign of the Fig Tree.  But, I will show you why I believe the events will take place over a two week period of time.  My best guess is from mid May up to the first week in June, but I concede we need to be ready as early as mid April.  I feel sure the Biblical clues do tell us the day of the week on which each of the 3 events of the rapture will occur, i.e. the midnight cry (resurrection of the dead), the changing to immortal (in the twinkling of an eye) and the ascension.
 
When you can see all the things clearly, then you will see why Ecclesiasties 1:9 says, "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be: and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."  I will add that God established that 1-4-7 pattern in the first chapter of Genesis and the # 4 is preeminent in signs of the calendar, in dividing and in the right to rule (groom and bride).  It is clearly seen in the seals of Revelations and it is seen clearly in the spring feasts.  The ascension of the living wise bride will fall exactly as it did in Jesus day and also the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the left behind tribulation saints.
 
If you had a chance to read the letter concerning Creation Week and the Menorah, the golden key, you see the pattern of 7 in which the 1 -4 - 7 are prominent, but the 4 is preeminent.  The day 4 is not only associated with signs in the calendar, but a key number in dividing and the right to rule.  Further the two lights, sun and moon, are spiritually representing the Son and bride, and both divide and receive the right to rule.  Jesus received this right from the Father when He died on the cross.  He said it was finished, i.e. the battle was won and the foe defeated.  When He ascended He was going to His Father to get Himself a Kingdom.  You can see the cross in the 4.  There is no way whatsoever, that God missed a Wednesday, day 4 crucifixion.  There is no way whatsoever, that God let the First Passover Preparation day be any other than a Wednesday, day 4.  John 19:14 & 31 confirms the day following Jesus' death as a Passover Preparation day and the day following was a High Sabbath feast day, not a regular 7th day Sabbath.  The accounts in the other gospels are less detailed than John and leave room for interpretation.
 
As for 3 days and 3 nights in the grave I would say that Saturday night would not be counted as it was not a full night.  It would appear that it was about midnight that the grave door was opened by the angels and Jesus was resurrected.  Mary Magdalene arrived while it was still dark and the grave was empty.  Looking it at this way, gives us 3 full days and 3 full nights beginning Wednesday night. This full day/night principle would be the same as the fully complete 40 years, before the ascribed event takes place, i.e. between the 40 and 41st birthdays.  As for Jesus death in 30 AD, you may well be correct, but there is no way to be sure.  As for Passover being held on a Friday, there is no record that verifies that.  You are surmising the events based on lunar projections.  I absolutely do not believe Jesus missed a day 4 crucifixion.  I do not believe God would break His pattern that He established in Creation Week and in the Menorah.  This Menorah is surely the pattern God showed Moses which was the 7 candles before the throne in Revelations chapter 1.  You notice Jesus stands in the midst (middle) of the 7 candles (vs 13).
 
Jesus was born of Judah, the 4th born of Jacob and He came at the end of the 4th day (4000 years).  He died on a day 4, at the end of the day.  In Revelations 6:8, we see the right to rule (and division) continuing over the number 4.  The two beasts, Death and Hell, come to power at the end of the 4th seal following the 4th horse.  The Second Beast comes to power at the end of the 4th trumpet.  Throughout scripture you will also see the bride who will serve as kings and priests with Christ associated with the number 4.  John who was given a preview of the bride rapture was the 4th disciple chosen.  It goes on and on.  What makes anyone think God missed it in the death of Jesus.  It is a prophetic symbol of the right to rule and right to divide.
 
In creation week, God establishes the 7 day week as preeminent in the calendar and each day had a specific plan.  It is obvious God also created the lunar and solar calendars without them containing periods of equal (even) weeks.  Yet, man seems to have never lost track of the day of the week.  Jesus recognized the celebrated 7th day as the Sabbath.  These things are not so with the solar and lunar calendars.  This speaks to the importance of the day of the week.  God's word gives us few hints how to reconcile the difference for the feast days.  Second Passover depends on First Passover and First Passover is in accordance with the set calendar days of Abib/Nisan.  That makes me wonder just what was the deciding factor in establishing the first day of the year.  Personally, I will go with the creation week and Menorah pattern which puts a great emphasis on the day of week and very specifically a Wednesday, day 4, Passover Preparation day and Crucifixion day.
 
I am only a little familiar with Jewish tradition.  But, by the same token I do not take much stock in our Jewish religious leaders accounts of tradition.  Jesus plainly reprimanded their religious leaders for not recognizing Him while standing face to face.  They had no understanding and wisdom in their interpretation of scripture.  They stumbled all over the signs.  Even when they killed Him, they still didn't understand the sign of Jonah which Jesus made a point to remind them of.  The Jewish leaders which we are falsely leaning on for wisdom and understanding rejected Christ.  They sure have no allegiance to His return and Lordship.  If the religious leaders in Christ' day were messed up in the interpretation of scripture, then why do we think the modern leaders have it straight.  I think something has gone missing in the requirements for establishing Abib 1.  If it is true, God knows this and yet He has not seen fit to make correction.  Maybe it is through error, but I would also suspect deception.  The Jewish religious leaders have their own agenda and it concerns their temple.  It is best to just leave their traditions be and stick with whatever can be discerned from scripture.
 
There is nothing wrong in searching deeper things and looking at more complex patterns, but do not get distracted off the simple patterns and threads.  Jesus came as a common man, chose common men for His disciples, even for His OT prophets.  He talked in a plain manner.  Hang on to the simple for a foundational guide.  This is wisdom.
 
I will also tell you I have about the same faith in our Christian church leaders and for the same reason.  The Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ was established by the Pope as was the falsely held accounts of His death.  Anybody who would call Resurrection Day Easter has to be suspect.  The same should be said about the establishment of Christmas as a version of a holy day.  The Pope and much of the Christian church are concerning themselves with a revival (growth) which they think is necessary to usher in Jesus Christ.  I sure have nothing against revival, but their reasoning is contrary to scripture and speaks to the promotion of their own religious kingdom.  These guys have their own agenda.  Like the Jewish community, it is about self promotion to religious world leadership.  They are in no hurry for the return of Jesus Christ.  To deceive Christians concerning the calendar should be expected.  Both the Vatican and Jewish have every reason to deceive us about the day 4 and right to rule because both these houses desire to rule themselves.  Again, this is wisdom, maybe discernment.
 
It is for these very reasons that I think Jesus kept warning us we might be surprised at the date.  The problems associated with reconciling the lunar calendar with the appropriate and appointed days of the week for these holy feast days, leave us guessing at the actual date of First Passover.  The problem then continues through the spring feasts all way to Passover.  Establishing the actual date may not be possible.  But I will leave it to you and others to see if that is so.  You and others like to search the complex matters.  Me, old simple stupid, is satisfied just to know within a few weeks.  I will show you though, that I think we can tell the day of the week in which the 3 events of the rapture will occur.  The date on which they begin I am not so sure.
 
I am getting ahead of the series of letters that I desire to write, which lay things out in a more orderly fashion with more scriptural references and patterns.  Trying to answer questions ahead of planned schedule may lead to some confusion.  There is an order and fit for everything which makes perfect sense.  But, maybe it is the Lord which is prompting the questions and debate.  Maybe He will make all things come out for the good.
 
I can tell you the Ascension will be on a Thursday and the Holy Spirit outpouring exactly 10 days later on a Sunday Pentecost.  In fact the Ascension will likely be in the evening per the Isaac Rebekah example (Gen 24:63).   I can tell you that the midnight cry resurrection of the dead will likely fall on a Friday evening/Saturday Sabbath day.  It will therefore be a regular 7th day Sabbath and a High Sabbath feast day.  Keep the Sabbath Holy?  This will set in motion Hezekiah's 7 + 7 day pattern (2 Chron 30) which will lead to the "changing" 7 days later after the feast of Unleavened Bread and a bridal ascension on the following Thursday evening.
 
If you will hang with me, I will show you how this all works when you set First Passover Preparation day on a day 4 Wednesday and then take a look at Second Passover which falls exactly then on the 4th Sabbath Omer of the Feast of Weeks.
 
These things are based on the preeminence of the week and day of the week established in Genesis chapter one.  I am saying Passover Preparation day must fall on it's appointed day of the week, the day 4.  This is very important in the right to rule shown throughout the seals in the battle of the two beasts with Jesus over right to rule.  You will even note the two witnesses lay dead in the streets of Jerusalem 3.5 days.  I know they are resurrected on a Pentecost Sunday and therefore they died as well on a Wednesday afternoon, day 4, same as did Jesus.  This number 4 and right to rule is obvious throughout scripture.  The right to rule was established by the Father for the Son when He met His conditions by dying on the cross.  4...can't you see the cross?  Don't overlook the simple and obvious because it is plain.  So is the pearl.
 
My next letter to the doves will be about the spring feasts, those associated with first fruits.  Then I will get to why Second Passover.  We will discuss the clues contained in those defiled by the touching of the dead and how they relate to the Lord's Supper established by Jesus with His disciples (NT church) at the last supper (a Passover meal).  The Lord's Supper is a symbolic rite of passage for all believers of the NT church.  Notice in Numbers 9:10 the Lord adds (was not asked) the man on a far journey, i.e. Himself.  This feast is specifically for the bride and groom.  This feast is an exact duplicate of First Passover (Num 9:12).   It starts with bringing a lamb into the home on the 10th day of the Second Month, the same day Noah began loading the ark.  It is followed by 7 days Unleavened Bread.
 
The spring feasts are about first fruits, i.e. those of the first resurrection.  The spring feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and Pentecost are overlaid by the 7 week Feast of Weeks (counted from Sabbath to Sabbath).  Passover starts it and Pentecost ends it.  Leviticus 23 discusses this feast.  It concludes in verse 17 with two loaves made of fine meal and oil presented to the Lord on Pentecost.  These are the Holy Spirit filled bride and tribulation saints.  When the tribulation saints are in the barn, the work of the Holy Spirit is concluded.   When you add Second Passover (Num 9) to the equation, then the 1-4-7 pattern is evident.
 
When you set First Passover Preparation day on a day 4 Wednesday as it should be....then the puzzle magically falls into place.  Second Passover Preparation day then must fall on a Friday, the midnight cry that evening and Second Passover celebration day on a Saturday, Sabbath.  In fact, Second Passover falls exactly on the 4th Sabbath Omer of the Feast of Weeks (the exact cardinal midpoint).  Oh, that number 4 and right to rule!   This day will be both a regular 7th day Sabbath and a High Sabbath Feast day.  Remember to keep the Sabbath holy?  This will be a most holy day.
 
This is not the end of this "what has been shall be, there is nothing new under the sun".  Look at two counts.  The period from Resurrection day (Sunday) to Ascension day (Thursday) is inclusively 40 days.  If Passover Preparation day is a Wednesday, day 4 and Jesus died that day (and He did) then the count from that day to Ascension day (inclusively) is 44.  The time period from that Passover Preparation day to Second Passover Preparation day is 30 days.  This establishes Second Passover Preparation day as a Friday.  The Passover meal is that evening and the midnight cry that midnight.  Second Passover celebration day is then a Saturday Sabbath day.  In this count, this leaves us 13 days (inclusively) from this Saturday to Ascension day.  There are two possible ways to get the 7 + 7 pattern seen in Hezekiah's Second Passover of 2 Chron 30.  The first is a Thursday evening ascension, technically the next day.  Isaac met Rebekah coming on the camels at even tide (Gen 24:63).  The other is contained in the events of Hezekiah's celebration.  At day 7 they voted (for joy) to extend the feast 7 days.  This day could be counted as both the last day of the first 7 days and the first day of the last 7.
 
When you examine the rapture events of 1 Thes 4:13-17, you note first the dead and then the living.  The clouds (plural) are two.  They are far enough apart to be separate clouds.  The clouds are saints dressed in white.  Jesus ascended into a cloud (the OT saints, Acts 1:9).  There are these 2 clouds, the resurrected dead, then living bride.  The two witnesses ascend into a cloud (the tribulation saints, Rev 11:12).  Jesus comes again with clouds (plural) in Rev 1:7.  The other part of the events described in this Thessalonians passage is found in 1 Cor 15:51-52.  It concerns the changing into immortal.  The dead are raised immortal (1 Cor 15:42), but the living must needs be changed.  This is the event that is in the twinkling of an eye.  But these 3 events are separated over a time period.  The two ascensions are seen as two separate clouds.
 
This view of these events is seen in the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25.  It is the midnight cry (resurrection of the dead) which alerts them.  They have time to talk to each other throughout events all way to the departure of the living wise bride.  Let's compare the 3 events of the rapture mentioned above to the parable of the 10 virgins and the events of Second Passover.  Then, let's look at Hezekiah's celebration and see how this pattern fits the events.
 
 After the midnight cry, the virgins begin to trim their lamps.  Trimming a wick is an act to get the lamp to burn more efficiently and more brightly.  One would want their light to shine brightly at a time like this.  This would involve confessing, repenting and even fasting.  The Feast of  Unleavened Bread last 7 days.  During this time one was supposed to get all the leaven (sin) out of the house.  Getting sin out of your body/mind, the temple of the Holy Ghost (through confessing/repenting) would be the same.  The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the virgins trimming their lamps are one in the same.  It will last 7 days.
 
The living wise will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.  The unwise will notice and ask questions.  Both wait with joy and anticipation, the living wise for departure and the unwise still in hopes of their change.  This is what happened on the 7th day in Hezekiah's celebration, when they voted for joy (and anticipation) to extend the feast another 7 days.  You will note in the feast there was both the clean and sanctified and those not.  These are the wise and unwise virgins.  The feast concludes as the most joyous feast ever held in Jerusalem since Solomon's feast of Tabernacles.  This one ends better.  The voice of the priests and their prayers came all way to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.  (a little note:  when Hezekiah sent out the messengers to notify the people of the feast, many in Ephraim and Manasseh laughed them to scorn and mocked....and so it is.)
 
We should now see the picture.  If we start First Passover Preparation day on a day 4 Wednesday as it was established in day 4 creation (containing the attributes of signs in the calendar, dividing and right to rule), then the patterns which took place at the time of Jesus will fall into place.  We will see Second Passover as the appointed Feast in the middle of the Spring Feast of Weeks which is applicable to the groom and bride.  They will rule together.  You will see a Friday evening/Saturday Sabbath midnight cry.  7 days later you will see the changing of the living wise virgins.  The following Thursday at even tide will be the ascension of the living bride on ascension day.  Exactly 10 days later there will be a Holy Spirit outpouring on the left behind tribulation saints on a Pentecost Sunday (iaw the apostles and the foreshadow event of Gen 24:55 when Rebekah's family asked her to remain 10 days and Abraham's servant refused.)  The more I look at this, the more I believe it is God's perfect, to the day, plan.
 
I just don't know which Friday evening/Saturday to look for.  Maybe we will get a sign on the day the lamb is brought into the house, i.e. the 10th day of the Second month, the same day Noah began loading the ark.  I do believe that it will be somewhat close to the 41st stripe of the sign of the Fig Tree.  The Israelites crossed into the Promised Land 5 days short of the 41st stripe of their departure from Egypt.
 
I am going to address the Spring Feasts tomorrow in a letter to the doves.  Suffice to say First Passover is associated with Jesus and the OT saints.  Second Passover is associated with Jesus (the groom) and the bride.  Pentecost is associated with the Holy Spirit and the tribulation saints.  The two loaves are waived at Pentecost because it represents the completion of His work.  He will then rest.  All three are feasts to honor both God and the first fruits.
 
You have struggled somewhat with this 41st stripe and the law of stripes.  I know Paul received 39 stripes 3 times.  That is part of why I got excited last year.  But, the fact is God's law says you may receive 40, but not 41.  Now, I am sure Paul was glad to not receive that extra stripe, but the fact is the Jew's, as stated above, had invented their own versions of God's laws, to suit their own righteousness.  39 stripes was not God's law.   Isaac is no doubt the foreshadow groom and Rebekah the bride.  Isaac married Rebekah at age 40 (Gen 25:20), i.e. between his 40 and 41st birthdays.  Acts 7 clearly breaks Moses' life into 3 sets of 40, stressing that each set of 40 had to be fully complete or expired before the announced event took place.  He visited the children of Israel between the ages 40 and 41.  The angel appeared in the flame in the bush between the ages of 80 and 81.  He died at age 120, i.e. between the ages of 120 and 121 and it after this Joshua led the children into the Promised Land.  Applying these rules to their walking in the wilderness 40 years means they could only have crossed over Jordan 5 days short of the 41st anniversary of departure, else the 40 was not complete (expired).
 
Let me try one more example.  You seemed to relate to the 70 years of the nation of Israel from May 48 until Jesus returns in the fall of 2018.  We looked at the 3 sets of ages (stages in life) in Leviticus 27:3-7.  They were childhood from one month up to 20, adulthood from 20 up to 60 and senior citizen from 60 and up.  We discussed the sign of the Fig Tree as a divider in the ages from childhood to adult and how the rapture of the bride was a divider from adult to senior citizen.  The period of generational testing always falls in the prime adult years of 20 up to 60.  But, notice that the Sign of the Fig Tree in June 67 fell when Israel was one month into her 19th birthday.  There was 11 more months until she would turn 20.  I had often wondered why God did not hit this dividing point exactly on the 20.  I now see.  By placing the divider here it points to a period of generational testing and prime adulthood that is longer than 40 years, but short of 41.
 
The groups of men found in Revelations:
 
The only glory that I seek is to be the bride.  Glory and recognition here don't matter much.   It appears though, this may be a very select group, possibly as few as 144,000 from the time of Christ.  That is the number of the bride (Rev 14:1 & 3) and backed by the evidence described in her home (Rev 21).  If so, then I reckon I'll be seeing the tribulation.  Maybe this is a symbolic or figurative number and the actual number is greater.  144,000,000 would be nice.  There is always hope.  But, I think it might just be 144,000.  That is a number of perfection in government as an amplified multiple of 12.  Rev 14:1-5 describe her as redeemed among men, virgins and first fruits. She sings a new song before the throne.  How many hints does one need?  The bride gathered around the throne in Revelations 5: 9-10 before the seals are opened also sing a new song and also are redeemed among men by the blood of the lamb.  We know these are not the OT saints because they are of every kindred, tongue, people and nation.
 
I believe the 24 elders John sees around the throne are the OT saints which were resurrected with Jesus (Rev 4:4 & 9-10).  That John identifies them as elders makes sense.  They have on white raiment and have on their heads crowns of gold.  Remember Joseph's blessing in Genesis 49:26?  He was to have a crown on his head because he lived separate.  The actual number could be more, but this is what is recorded.  It is 2 X 12, so also related to perfection in government.
 
That other 144,000 (12 tribes of Israel) of Revelations 7: 2-8 are mortal men sealed to protect them from the demons of the 5th and 6th trumpets (Rev 9:4).  These trumpets fall in the time period of the Second Beast during His reign in the last 3.5 years.  They are mortal men who will be the perfection in government over the mortal nation of Israel when God gathers the remnants of the 12 tribes and gives them the Promised Land.  Israel will then be chief of nations.  But, she is still underneath the global government of Jesus Christ over all nations.  This global government is made up of Jesus and His immortal saints.  Both groups are 144,000, one immortal in the global government of Jesus and the other mortal of the chief of mortal nations, Israel.  I believe this 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel are the work of the two witnesses.  This group of mortal men sealed are the remnant which is affrighted when the two witnesses are killed, then resurrected with the tribulation saints and ascend.  This is followed by a great quake.  The events frighten the remnant though they give glory to God (Rev 11:13) .  As well, their leaders, the two witnesses, are gone.
 
This remnant of mortal men are then hidden in the wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God that she be fed 1,260 days (Rev 12:6).  This is the time period of the Second Beast. I assume angels lead them to this prepared place where they are guarded and fed.  These are here during the last 3.5 years and during God's wrath.  This prepared and guarded location protects them as does their seal.  When scripture speaks of no repentant men left (Rev 9:20), it speaks to all others who remain.  The tribulation saints (all killed, then resurrected ) left with the two witnesses.  They are not here for this last 3.5 year period of the Second Beast.  This mortal group of 144,000 will constitute the perfected government of the mortal nation of Israel when all the scattered remnants (both houses, all tribes) are gathered back into the promised land.
 
The only reason why I can see that you are having trouble seeing this 10.5 year period of the tribulation is that you are failing to see the 3.5 year period running from spring to fall which takes place before the 2 beasts come to power at the end of 4th seal, following the pale 4th horse.  The number 4 is again associated with dividing, a sign in the calendar and most importantly in the battle over right to rule.  The white horse of the first seal is absolutely not the antichrist coming in peaceably.  He does not come until the end of the 4th seal. This is the Holy Ghost filled tribulation saints carrying out a worldwide revival.  Everything about Jesus and His kingdom is described in white, i.e. white garments, white clouds, white stones, white horse, white throne etc.  They are very successful for the first 3.5 years and is why they are a multitude too great to number (Rev 7:9).
 
The horses which follow, the red, black and pale during this first 3.5 years are orchestrated by our future beasts and their 10 horns to set the stage for their coming to power.  God separated men at Babel by families and tongues and eventually into nations.  They do not want to give up their sovereignty.  World conditions have to be created that will make them listen to peaceable talk.  After these horses, a man talking peaceably will sound irresistible.
 
The false peace treaty is confirmed by the First Beast, not the False Prophet.  But, they operate as a team.  Both are likely there.  Yes, the time period is 7 years and this runs during the last two sets of 3.5 years.
Satan is thrown out of heaven in Revelations 10.  The exchange between the voice of 7 thunders (I believe that is Jesus himself) and Satan is a hot one (vs 1-4).  It is so hot that the words are sealed.  Men are not to know.  It is then in vs 6-7 that the angel announces time should be no more and the mystery of God should be finished.  It is the conclusion promised through day 7 and the end of the calendar of day 4.  Time has run out on Satan and the rebellion.  I do believe that it is right here that Satan is thrown out of heaven and he comes down in fury because he has but a short time.  He embodies the false prophet.  This second beast is known as Hell, because he ascends from the bottomless pit.  God lets Satan have his best and most powerful demons which have been chained in hell.  These are loosed in the 6th and 7th trumpets.  That is close as it will get to a fair fight.  The vials of wrath pour out at the 7th trumpet.  They end with Jesus and His angels defeating the foe.  I believe it is shortly after this Jesus returns with His saints to rule.  My guess would be the Feast of Trumpets.  Seems that would be sounded for a royal victor to enter.
 
There is one piece in this end time scenario we haven't discussed here.  It is the 7 year curse upon Ephraim.  It is in accordance with the laws of blessing and cursing in Leviticus 26.  These laws are specifically for the Hebrew Israelite children of the tribes.  The seals of Revelations are for the whole world.  They are two different sets of counts and two separate things, yet related.  Both start at the same time, but obviously, the seals last an extra 3.5 years.  The rapture of the bride and the death/resurrection of the tribulation saints can be clearly seen bracketing this 7 year curse.
My only goal is to let people know we are in the the very spring of this event.  As well I wish to show them scriptural evidence that this event may not take place as they have been taught for many years.  How we handle that 7 day period of Feast of Unleavened Bread (trimming the lamps) might be critical.
 
Hope I have addressed your questions.  Am a bit tired and groggy.  We'll figure this thing out.  Hang in there.
 
Your friend,
Steve