Pentecost has seemed to pass us by and the trumpet has yet to sound.  But God tells us not to say He has delayed His coming and surely not to fall back into sinful ways.  He has told us to watch and He has called us to be faithful and endure to the end.  His coming for the bride is so close, let us discuss some possibilities.  We surely want to be judged worthy.  Our faith and trust in His word is important.  In our patience we possess our souls.
 
The sign of the Fig tree (Matthew 24:32-34/Mark 13:28-30/Luke 21:29-32) was pointed out by Jesus as an event just prior to summer solstice.  This sign occurred June 6-11, a very late spring event.  Maybe this lateness is a clue.  Hold onto this while we review the signs.  There is hope here, even yet for a spring rapture.
 
The sign of the end of 400 years blessing on Ephraim (USA -- Jamestown settled May 1607) seems to go perfectly parallel with the sign of the Fig tree (June 67 war) + 40.  The land gained in this war is the very thing which brings the nations of the world against Israel and is the subject of the Oslo peace accords and the false peace treaty of the antichrist.  This war set in motion the peace shattering events which will shake the world.  The 40 (period of testing) is a perfect match for this key world event.  It is never shortened or lengthened in scripture, but just how do we count it?
 
The sign of the bush (Bush) found in Joseph's blessing in Deut 33:16 and mentioned with separation, fits with the above as well.  This can be further pinpointed (2nd Bush, 2nd term) by applying the secrets of wisdom are double to that which is (Job 11:6).  The sign of Joseph (father of Ephraim and Manasseh) and Joshua's (an Ephraimite who led the children across Jordan to the promised land) death at 110 matches up with the 110th Congress (our founding representatives) and parallels the bush sign.  These signs together seem to say that the rapture/separation event which precedes the seals of Revelations should take place before the 41st stripe (anniversary of the 67 war) in Jun 2008.  God's laws tells us 40 stripes is the maximum.
 
Could we have to wait until June 2008?  I think that is a possibility, though surely not the only one.  How do we count the 40?  The Israelites crossed the Jordan into the promised land on the 10th day of the 1st month (Joshua 4:19).  They had left Egypt on the morning after the Passover (Abib/Nisan 15) and crossed over the Red Sea to safety on the 18th.  Joshua 5:6 tells us they walked 40 years in the wilderness, but was this 40 years just 5 to 8 days shy of the 41st anniversary?
 
In Deut 1:3 it is recorded that Moses is speaking with the children of Isreal in the 40th year, in the eleventh month.  Is that in the 11th month after the 40th anniversary of the departure or the 11th month of the 40th year as we would say the 11th month of the 1st year in that there is no year zero.  I do not know and cannot say for sure.  My gut feeling is the latter, but.
 
How are the years counted in scripture?  Seems at times to be both ways, but let's look at the building of Solomon's temple.  1 Kings 6:1 tells us the temple was began in the 4th year of Solomon's reign in the second month (Zif).  This beginning year and month is further backed in verse 37, that the foundation was laid in the 4th year, second month.  In verse 38, the temple is stated as being completed in the 11th year, the 8th month (Bul).  That is a total of 7 years and 6 to 7 months the temple was in building.  Yet, verse 38 states that Solomon was in the building of the temple 7 years.  So we can see that the year count can extend beyond the anniversary date.  How far can it extend?  Maybe in our case all the way up to but not including the 41st anniversary on June 11, 2008.  The good news is we have a faithful promise from the Father, that He will not allow the 41st stripe.
 
Now, let us look at a happier possibility.   Personally, I still believe it is a spring event.  First fruits are identified in Lev 23:10 & 17 with the spring feasts.  Fruit is identified with the fall feasts in vs 39, but not first fruits.  This is consistent in scripture.  It is my contention that first fruits are those of the first resurrection (Rev 20:4-6) and those which attend the wedding events.  These would be the worthy old testament saints who were resurrected and ascended with Jesus as well as the pre-tribulation bride and the tribulation saints.  John the Baptist said he was a friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29), i.e. the groom's bridal party.  The worthy pre-tribulation bride who are around the throne in Rev 5:9-10 before the seals are broken attend the wedding (Mat 25:10)(Rev 19:7-8).  The tribulation saints of Rev 7:9-15 attend the wedding supper (Rev 19:9) held at the end of the 7 year honeymoon and just before Jesus returns in power and glory to reign on the earth.  All those of the first resurrection (first fruits) will reign with Christ as kings and priests in His global government over the nations and they will have immortal bodies. This is a reward.
 
I think there is a distinct possibility that the lateness of the sign of the Fig tree in relation to spring contains a clue from Jesus.  Maybe this lateness is a clue that we have to wait until almost the 41st stripe.  God does seem to have a predilection to move at the last possible moment.  However, it may be pointing to something yet still this year, before spring is over, before summer solstice.
 
I have no scripture to back this up except the sign of the Fig tree itself.  I just have a personal feeling this is a real possibility.  I think man may have jumped early for the month of Abib/Nisan, making Passover, Easter (Resurrection), the Ascension and Pentecost show on our calendars one moon cycle or month ahead of God's timetable.  Donna Danna posted an article a few days ago on how the Hebrew calendar may be as much as 17 days ahead.  Would this throw the annual forecast for the beginning of Abib/Nisan off?  I do not know.  Man's calendars have been greatly manipulated and the only constants we have are the moon and sun.
 
I do know that calendars are printed months, even years in advance based on NASA moon projections.  This is done without regard to God's requirement that the barley crops be Abib (a certain ripeness).  I had read on the internet that the crops were abib this year, but have no way of verifying such.  Were we duped?  As to the solar year, it was an early Passover and Easter celebration.
 
I would assume there are two church groups who through time have influenced the dating of Passover/Easter (Resurrection)/Ascension and Pentecost and they are those of the Jewish Synagogue and those of the Catholic hierarchy.  Neither has shown much interest in prophecy and the coming of our Lord and especially not the rapture.  Their dating (celebration) of these Passover and Easter periods tell me they were not all that interested in being accurate either.  Both were solely interested in making a pretense of leading the masses through the celebrations at whatever time was convenient.  Both have casually disregarded God's rules and are guilty at a minimum of being passive concerning God's laws and maybe purposely deceptive.  I am not interested in attacking the churches of any religion except to say with a broad brush that God's word has often been misrepresented.  I am saying it is entirely possible that our early Abib Passover which influences the dates of all the following spring events may have been too early.
 
If we are a moon cycle or 30 days early, then this week takes us to the time of the Second Passover.  Like the bush, the secrets (pl) of wisdom are double to that which is, seems applicable here as well.  The calendars show a full moon on Friday, June 1.  Monday, May 28 may be the day the lamb is to be brought into the home and corresponding to the beginning of the loading of the ark on the 10th day of the second month.  It would seem that Friday/Saturday, June 1-2 would be key dates for this Passover midnight cry and as well the 14 days inclusive from Zif 14 to Zif 27 (ascension day).  Many might say this is wild speculation and I have no scripture from which I can argue otherwise.  But, should things begin to happen in this time period, I think this is what has happened.
 
Mainly, I encourage the watchers to not give up on a spring rapture and jump their watch to July and Av, not just yet, not before the solstice.  The lateness of this springtime Fig tree sign may be Jesus' way of telling the churches they have not been fully faithful in His word and in the watch.  It may be another piece to Jesus' warning about the surprise nature of the timing.
 
Should these events happen as we see it 30 days late, then the real Pentecost would be a summer event (after summer solstice).  If there is a Holy Spirit outpouring here on the left behind, it may be the meaning behind summer fruits.  The tribulation saints may be the summer fruits.
 
Should nothing happen in the month of June, I will personally prepare myself for the likelyhood I will have to wait until next spring.  I will and encourage others not to give up.  Continue the watch through the month of Av and summer and on into the Feast of Trumpets and Feast of Weeks, even until the almond harvest.   I believe God's word tells us we will not see the summer solstice of 2008 and endure the anniversary of the 41st stripe.
 
Hang in there doves.  Even enduring some restless nights with dreams that seem depressing or meaningless, I have awakened almost each morning for the last 2 weeks with "I'll fly away" or other "it's time to depart" song.  Something seems up.
 
Your friend in Christ,
Steve