Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away, But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.These words are recorded in three places, Mat 24, Mk 13 and Lk 21. These two verses are back to back in all three passages and are part of a dialogue between the disciples and Jesus that begins with them asking Jesus two questions (or one question with two parts). Examine Mat 24:3. The questions are when/what are the signs of your coming and when/what are the signs of the end of the world?
They did not realize that these are two separate events to occur more than 1000 years apart. After Jesus' second coming, there must be the 1000 year kingdom of Christ, then Satan must be loosed a little season and then there must be a 2nd resurrection of the last day and the White Throne Judgement. Then at some unknown time after these events heaven and earth shall pass away. This date is outside the confines of the 7 day week (7000 years) that God establishes in the opening chapter of His word.
Jesus is telling the disciples that when the earth shall end and heaven and earth pass away is no concern of theirs, not even the angels. However, concerning events that will happen in the context of the 7 days of creation week (7000 years) Jesus is saying that is pertinent to man and He is giving them the details they need to know.
"But take ye heed: behold, I have told you all things", Mk 12:23. Mk 12 is the same passage as Mt 24 and Lk 21, except Mark adds this as one of Jesus' comments. It helps clear up some of the misunderstandings that are often preached concerning the signs of Jesus' coming found in Mt 24, i.e that we cannot know the day.
It does concern man when Jesus shall return. In fact, anything that happens in the 7000 year design layed out in Gen 1 is man's business. The foundation of the house of God's word is layed on the bedrock of the earth in Gen 1. Every thing man need's to know during this figurative week is the subject of God's prophetic word. Jesus tells us plainly that He has told us all things. Be careful how you hear and be careful how you read. God's grammer is just as solid as His word.
Concerning Jesus' return, throughout scripture He simply says we cannot know the hour (Mt 24:44) or time (Mk 12:33). He never mentions we cannot know the day. Indeed, there are 24 time zones. Concerning the day, it surely must be a God ordained feast day, a holy convocation set aside by the Lord, even one of the 3 feasts set aside in Deut 16:16 in which all the males must appear before the Lord.
These holy feast days are markers for future spiritual events. The pattern is so humble and plain that everyone misses it. Creation week is the pattern and the menorah candle a physical example which lit the tabernacle.The feasts are divided into spring and fall. The spring feasts concern firstfruits, Lev 23:17 and numerous other scripture in the Torah. The fall feasts mention fruits of the ingathering, but not firstfruits. This is consistent throughout the Torah. Rev 20: 4-6 tells us that all who get to participate as kings and priests in the kingdom (1000 years of Christ) are part of the first resurrection. Those of the first resurrection are firstfruits. It is a reward of worthiness and overcoming. It is a three part event.
The first part was the resurrection of Jesus Christ and many (the wise) of the old testament saints. They ascended together in a cloud. John the Baptist was part of this group and he said he would be a friend of the groom (at the wedding).
The next group of the first resurrection will be the pre-tribulation bride. You must be worthy and you must be an overcomer. Notice in the parable of the 10 virgins in Mat 25, there is a division in the believers. Many are left behind. In Jesus' letter to the 7 churches in Rev 2 & 3, you will notice this division as well. The church at Philadelphia is a particular example of those worthy and the church at Laodecia is a lukewarm bunch who is spewed out of Jesus mouth and out of the kingdom. The bride group is found around the throne before the seals break in Rev 5:9-10. They are the bride at the wedding, Rev 19:7-8. The supper is at the end of the 7 day (yr) honeymoon.
The pre-tribulation bride will likely depart 40 years from the sign of the Fig tree, i.e. the June 67 war of Israel. The 40 is a period of generational testing and is the most prominent pattern in the Bible other than the 7. It is also an amplification of the preimminent 4. There is not one example of it being shortened or lengthened. It is always right on time.
The sign of the bush (Mk 12:26-27, Lk 20:37-38) is a confirmation to this date. The bush is found in Ephraim (USA) in Deut 33:16 right along with the separation. Two bushes is a sign from God. Job 11:6 tells us that the Secrets to wisdom are double to that which is. Bush # 2, Second term fits nicely with the Fig tree sign + 40.
The last group will be the tribulation saints. There will be a Holy Spirit outpouring on the left behind believers like the original, i.e. with great power, signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit. See Lk 11:5-13. This will likely take place at Pentecost. They are the white horse of the first seal. The tribulation saints will all die during the period leading up to the midpoint of the tribulation, Rev 6:9-11. They will be resurrected with the two witnesses, Rev 11:12. This is 7 years after the resurrection/rapture of the pre-trib bride. They are guests at the wedding supper, Rev 19:9. They are a number too great to number, Rev 7:9-14. They also reign with Christ a 1000 years, Rev 20:4. But, they had to overcome their initial unworthiness by trying in the fires of the tribulation.
The free gift of salvation (eternal life) is the subject of the resurrection at the last day (2nd resurrection). It is found in many places, but a quick read can be found in St John 5:25-29 and 6:39,40,44,54. Those of the second resurrection (endtime ingathering of fruit) face the White Throne judgment. Those found written in the book of life receive eternal life and those who did evil receive eternal damnation, St John 5:29.The first group of the first resurrection (Jesus and many of the Old Testament saints) are associated with the very first of the spring feasts, First Passover.
The second group, the pre-tribulation bride will be associated with Second Passover. This event is exactly 30 days after First Passover and falls on the 4th Sabbath Omer (cardinal midpoint) of the Feast of Weeks which connect First Passover to Pentecost. This is the pre-imminent 4 position of the 1, 4, 7 pattern in creation week and the menorah candle. The midnight cry (resurrection of the dead) will be on a Friday night (Saturday on God's clock), the 4th Sabbath Omer.
If Passover on my 2007 calendar turns out to be correct, then Second Passover should occur on May 5-6, 2007. Unfortunately, this is based on NASA moon projections and does not consider the status of the barley harvest. We will have to wait and see.
Unleavened bread is also part of the spring feasts. This represents Jesus, His dead body and His atoning blood for our sins. Unleavened bread is found in both the First and Second Passover feasts. Without it, the leavened bread would never get waved before the Father.
For those who want to read about the Second Passover, it can be found in Num 9 and in 2 Chron 30. It is absolutely about the bride and groom. The bride is defiled by the touching (eating) of the dead body and blood of Christ. Jesus adds the man on a far journey, i.e. himself, the groom.
The last group, the tribulation saints will be resurrected with the two witnesses on Pentecost Sunday. Notice the two witnesses are killed 3.5 days earlier on a Wednesday (4th day, midweek) just like Jesus. The reason the 2 loaves of leavened bread of Lev 23:17 are waved on Pentecost is because this is when the work of the Holy Spirit is completed. Both the bride and the trib saints (2 loaves) are His work. Like God in Gen 2: 1-3, The Holy Spirit can then say His work is good and He can rest during the 3.5 years of the great tribulation.
The fall feasts are associated with the Second coming of Jesus at the Feast of Trumpets. Jesus will come with His saints in the fall, some 10 + years after the initial rapture/resurrection of 1 Thes 4: 12-17. The time period of the seals of revelations is the difference between the 40 and 50 (Jubile). Jesus' Second coming is associated with the Jubile in which all property is returned to the original owner. Jesus owns the title deed to the earth. The fall feasts will also be associated with the ingathering of fruit at the resurrection of the last day.
The tribulation takes place over the last 7 years of this 10+ year period. It begins at the 4th seal, Rev 6:8, when the pale horse rides and Death (the antichrist) and Hell (the false prophet) come to power. The two witnesses come for 3.5 years beginning here as well. The trib saints all die by the mid trib when the two witnesses are killed by the 8th beast (false prophet) who usurps power from the antichrist. This is at the 4th trumpet. The trib saints are resurrected with the two witnesses and the woes of the 5th - 7th trumpets begin to sound. This is the great tribulation. Only the unrepentent are still on earth (save the 144,000 sealed and hidden, Rev 7 and 9:4).
If we are right about the Fig tree and the 40, it should unfold like this:
Spring 2007 is the resurrection/rapture of the bride at the time of the Second Passover. It will probably take place over 7 or 7+7 days and begins with the resurrection of the dead (midnight cry). A few days later at Pentecost, there will be a Pentecostal outpouring on the left behind. They are the white horse of the first seal and carry out a great worldwide revival. *[It is nowhere in scripture that 144K Jews accomplish this].
Fall 2010 is the beginning of the tribulation at the 4th seal when the antichrist and false prophet come to power. Take note that all the signings of the Oslo have been in the fall. Fits with the pattern that kings are coronated in the fall. The two witnesses arrive also about this time. Elijah likes to withhold rain. Remember his battles with Ahab? It will be similar with the antichrist. The antichrist established the mark and the trib saints are all hunted down.
Spring 2014 is the death and resurrection of the two witnesses. The trib saints will be resurrected with them and ascend together in a cloud. This is at the 4th trumpet. The 8th beast (false prophet) comes to power and the woes of the the great tribulation begin to sound. There are no repentant on the earth save the 144K sealed and hidden.
Fall 2017 is the return of Jesus Christ with His saints and the beginning of His reign.
Though you probably thought this was lengthy like everything I write, it is actually rather brief. There are many details left out which I hope to get to in due time. But, they all fit like a glove, in perfect order with the patterns I see in scripture. I've got to be out of the net for a few days. Hope this whets the appetite for those looking for Jesus.
For those looking for something more complicated, I want you to think about Jesus and those He chose as His followers, in both the old and new testaments. Jesus came as a humble carpenter, with plain clothes and simple speech. He chose similar as His followers. He spoke in simple parables (written symbols, examples), so simple that the educated leaders could not see the truth of them. Think about these parables and how when the Holy Spirit revealed their truth to you, they were so simple they were profound. Yet, He was God in the Highest, creator and author of all mankind knows and untold things we have yet to ascertain.
He established all creation with a pattern of 7 in Gen 1 and He still is talking about the same 7 in Rev 1. He gives us a light of 7 candles in the menorah and placed it prominent in the tabernacle. Rev 1 says there is a similar such candle in heaven representing the 7 churches. In these He further gives us a 1, 4, 7 pattern with the 4 or midpoint prominent. He establishes a 40 as a period of testing, both in days and years. He establishes a 50 as a Jubile of victory and rest. He establishes a spring feast period related to first fruits and which fall exactly on the pattern of the 7. It is so simple, only the simple can see it.