Dear Ron,

          I must disagree with your interpretation of the timing of the Rapture based upon the Joseph narrative.  I too enjoy Biblical typology and have looked into the possible types connected to Joseph. 

          Please check out my post on this from June 24, 2009: http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/june2009/lisat624.htm

          Please note that Joseph already had a Gentile bride in the narrative.  Therefore, it is unlikely that his brothers also represent the Church.  If you read my post, you will see that I believe that the brothers are types for the 144,000 Jews, since they are the patriarchs of the 12 Tribes of Israel.  Their father Jacob is a type of Israel – which makes sense because God changed his name to Israel.

          Logistically, the 144,000 Jews must come to the Lord prior to the nation Israel – to whom they will be witnessing.  Thus, the 2 and 5 year division of the 7 famine years could represent the point in the Tribulation when the they are sealed. 

          For reasons I will not get into here, I believe that there is a 10 year timeframe from the time of the Rapture to the Second Coming.  Consequently, I do not think we have to squeeze everything prior to a 2015 deadline.

          Look, even if 2015 is a Jubilee year, you must remember that the fulfillment of the Year of Jubilee must be, by definition, one year long.  Therefore, the Second Coming cannot be the fulfillment of Jubilee.  At most, it could be an event that wraps up the Year. 

          I personally put Jubilee earlier in the Tribulation.  The Bible clearly states that Jesus begins to reign at the blowing of the Seventh Trumpet.  See Revelation 11:15-17.  This is at the mid-point of the Tribulation and prior to the Second Coming.  We are also given this statement in Revelation 10:7:  "But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets." 

          Jesus beginning His reign?  The mystery of God being accomplished?  This sure sounds like a good candidate for the start of the Year of Jubilee to me.

          Please check out my post on this subject from July 27, 2009: http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2009/lisat727.htm

          Ron, I do not doubt your sincerity and personal sacrifice.  I fear, however, that you have gotten yourself so married to a 2015 Second Coming that you are jamming a square peg into a round hole.  You have officially started the Tribulation and talked yourself out of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture just to keep your position alive.  The events of the book of Revelation are not even remotely chronological to you.  And now you seem to be playing fast and loose with Biblical types.

          If you need to do all of these things to make your position work, then maybe you need to reassess your position.  None of us are 100 percent correct.  And you are among friends here.  It is okay to admit that some things may need to be tweaked. 

          I do not intend to be harsh or to offend you.  But I believe you know that you have an impact on the opinions of many people – not just on this forum.  That is a grave responsibility.  Sure, a stopped watch could be a sign from God.  But I find that a position's consistency with the Biblical text to be the ultimate proof that the position is of God.

          God bless you.

                     – Lisa Taylor