Dear Sister:

You posed a question about watching for a long time, seeing days and times that look great come and go, and still we watch.  Let me answer your thoughtful letter.

Like you, I have watched a long, long time.  In my case, I was "called" to study the prophetic scriptures especially immediately after I was saved.  I was intrigued and I read everything and every author I could find.  By the Spirit's guidance, I rejected those that were not fully supported by Holy Writ and plunged on.  I found Clarence Larkin's book which at that time was titled "The Greatest Book on Dispensational Truth in the World".  It later became "Dispensational Truth".  Written in 1925, it was and is an amazing work.  I learned of the 7,000 years plan of God for humanity, the mighty millennial kingdom to come, and of course our own rapture event.

I kept looking, not for dates, but for signs and events occurring from about 1956 up until 1980.  I knew that Israel became a nation in 1947-1948 and that it was born in a day.  I traveled the holy land on tour in 1967 just before Jerusalem fell into the hands of the Jews.  I was enamored with what I describe as the "great obsession" in those years.

Beginning in 1977, the belief in immanency of rapture began to take hold as Israel was now 40 years old.  But, thankfully I was involved heavily with job and family and was not "eaten up" with the magnificent obsession.  But in early 1988, I was led by the Spirit to listen to a man named Edgar Whisenant who had published a little book called "88 Reasons why the Rapture will be in 1988".  He made sense to me and I told everyone to get ready.  My family did, but when the Sept 12/13 date of RHH did not yield the return, I was really ostracized by family and friends.  But the chase was on.  I could not quit then but kept on looking, even as I do now.

I have no credibility with family and friends any longer, as you can imagine.  I am like Harold Camping to them, just another wierdo.  But for the past 25 years now, I have kept on keeping on and I learned so much Bible and the meaning of prophecy
I attribute much to the Internet that linked me with you all at Five Doves and to some other sites as well.  I thank God for Van Impe and Lindsey, and the beloved J. R. Church, whose "Prophecy in the News" helped me so much.  Radio preachers, books, pamphlets, etc taught me very much as well.  And the Holy Spirit favored me with "bullets" in the brain as I know He revealed things to me along the way. So
today, I can truthfully say that I understand exactly how you feel.  For me it has been 60 years.

I believe that before the end of 2013, we will be with our Lord.  I posted today an article that I wish you to read.  I believe it to be spot on.

I am personally looking with high anticipation at Thanksgiving, but it could, of course go beyond.  Many watchers are now posted dreams/visions that Jesus will come in 2013 for His own.  May it be so.

Take courage sister, you are not at all alone.  And what you have written and the way you feel is the way it is, by the way.  I too, an thankful for John Tng and his wonderful web site.  God will bless him greatly for it, I know.  And God will bless you too for your faithfulness and your heart for Him.

Even so, come Lord Jesus