Hello, John and Doves,As regards trying to figure out anything that's hidden in the Bible, first consider this verse."[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2Next, we want to know whether the Jews should have known the time of Christ's first coming.We read:" 'They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.' " Luke 19:44 NIVWhat in the world did Jesus mean, "should have known?" Let us look at the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel."Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined." Daniel 9:24-26If we are diligent to work out the dates, using the 360 day prophetic year (the same one used by the Babylonians--where Daniel wrote from), we find that Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem happened exactly when prophecied by Daniel the prophet, on Sunday, March 29, 33 AD.Should we, then watch for Jesus' Second Coming? Yes, indeed! Look at Daniel 9:27."And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:27There has been "a covenant with many" made at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. The reason is that Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, must come to Earth at Yom Kippur, 5776, in order to announce the Jubilee, which begins on Sukkot, 5776--Feast of Tabernacles, September 28, 2015. The next Jubilee is in 2064, which is way beyond one generation from the Super sign of the end of this age--the birth of the modern state [nation, really] of Israel on May 14, 1948 [5 Iyar 5708]. Thus, the 70th week of Daniel must have started on October 29, 2008. On that date, candidate for the President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama, made a covenant for "change" with the "many," whose nation's motto is "E Pluribus Unum." Our nation's motto [that of the USA] is a Masonic prophecy declaring that out of the "Many" shall come the "One." [This "One" is, of course, the Antichrist.]Seeing that, as I write this, today is Friday, November 25, 2011, the day after Thanksgiving [5:33 pm, San Diego, CA, USA], we have just a few months before April 11, 2012, the midpoint of the 70th week of Daniel. According to many teachers, the Church must be out of here before the Great Tribulation strikes the Earth. Thus, we need to 'fess up, pray up, stay up, and watch, "lest that day come upon you as a thief." [Jesus is speaking here, refering to both parts of His Second Coming--Luke 21:34.]Conclusion: The same passage that provides the clues to Christ's first coming [Daniel 9:24-26] also provides the clue for the Rapture date [a squeeze play, if you will].Baruch HaShem Adonai Roi [Blessed be the Name, "The LORD is my Shepherd."],Mike C._________________________________________________________________________________Garry Boggs (14 Nov 2011)
"Questions for the Doves"
I am not a Bible expert by any stretch of the imagination. I have read Bible verses that tell us we are to be watching and praying, but I have not found any verse that tell us we are to spend time trying to figure out the date of the rapture(s) or the start and end dates of the tribulation. Can someone provide me with scriptures that tell us we should spend time trying to figure out these dates?
Thanks,
Garry