Dear friends:

This morning I woke up thinking about the angel experiences of Singapore native Vincent Tan, born Tan Ban Soon, now living and working as a chemist in Tennessee.

Vincent had two encounters in 1993 where in both cases the angel's message about Jesus' return was, "He is coming very, very soon." I discovered this in 1994 and carefully, investigated, confirmed and documented them in that year, speaking with both Vincent and his pastor.  There seems no doubt that his experiences were genuine.  Then I shared the stories with others around the world.  They can be found at http://www.choicesforliving.com/spirit/part3/angels.htm.

At the time, I thought "very, very soon" meant "very, very soon," but it ain't been "very, very soon" in my way of thinking.  Most of us thought Jesus would have been back by now.  But I have often wondered what does "very, very soon" mean in God's frame of reference.  After all, even to an impatient American, 12 years is really not very long, especially on God's clock, or history's clock.

This morning, the possible answer may have come to me.  I do not know for sure, but I hope.

I was reminded that these past 12 years may have been the most significant 12 years in history.  The year 1993 -- 12 years ago -- was the year of the disastrous Oslo Accords, which some call the "Covenant with Death."

Pastor F.M. Riley has some interesting commentary on the past 12 years.  He points out that Lamentations 1:17 describes Jerusalem "as a menstrous woman among them."  He then mentioned Jesus healing the menstrous woman who had the "issue of blood" for 12 years (Matthew 9:18-20, etc.).  Riley says, "This woman had been menstruating nonstop for twelve years.  There is no question in my mind that this woman is a type of Jerusalem.  And how long has the controversy over Jerusalem been going on?  The real bloody controversy over who would control Jerusalem began just twelve years ago.  Remember?  That was 1993, the year that Rabin of Israel and Arafat of the PLO signed the rotten, deceitful Oslo Accords.  There has been nothing but bloodshed since that day."  For Riley's post on this, see http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/jan2005/fmriley127.htm.

If true, the 12 years and 2005 are also confluent with the end of the prophetic 14,000-day (38.8-year) generation since the Temple Mount was taken by Israel in 1967 (which ends on October 3/4).  This confluence seems very striking to me.

Hopefully, and finally, the return of Jesus will truly be "very, very soon."

Jim