Pro and Con 89, Uploaded 4-18-98

Incoming Email

First of all, I very appreciate your website for rapture on pentecost for it is really informative. I would like to share with you my insight of your discovery. It is very interesting that the seven Jewish Feasts depict Christ's plan for us in His arrivals. The first four Feast has been fulfilled as recorded in the Gospels and Acts including the Feast of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit first poured down onto the Church. The remaining two Feasts excluding the Feast of Tabernacles depict events shortly preceding His return. The Feast of Tabernacles, by the way, as we all know has a double fulfilment depicting His birth and return. Then I ask myself why would any future event preceding His return be happening again on Pentecost. I think this is because Christ want to emphasize THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROMISE OF HIS RETURN. Remember that Pentecost is the last Feast fulfilled as recorded in the NT. Like the Feast of Tabernacles, we should interpret it to be of double fulfilments and construct a symmetric structure for the events of the Feasts sandwiching the long time gap between His birth and return. The first noticeable event preceding His return, the Rapture, should then be on Pentecost which is also the last Feast fulfilled shortly after His birth. Contrary to the FIRST Pentecost (LAST EVENT FULFILLED SHORTLY AFTER HIS BIRTH) in which Christ in the form of Holy Spirit DESCEND to meet His Church, the SECOND Pentecost (FIRST EVENT FULFILLED SHORTLY BEFORE HIS RETURN) in the Rapture the Church ASCEND to meet Christ. As in the real Jewish Feast of Pentecost, Israel celebrates the beginning of their encounter with the Almighty God. For after a long time gap, the day of Pentecost simply reminds us the same Christ who the world has crucified but risen is about to return and fulfil His promise to redeem His Church and judge the world. I hope you enjoy my insight and please tell me what you think.

My reply

Thanks for your kind comments. I appreciate your email more than you know for it made me think and put two and two together. It was the catalyst, as you will see.

> The Feast of Tabernacles, by the way, as we all know has a double fulfilment
> depicting His birth and return.

I am one that doesn't know this. Can you fill me in?

I think Christ was born on Tishri 1 as the former rain and will return as the latter rain on Nisan 1. Hosea 6:3 says, "he (the LORD) shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." This is because of his promise in De. 11:14: "I will give you the rain of your land in HIS DUE SEASON, the first rain, and the latter rain." The former rain begins on Tishri 1 (first day of the civil calendar) and the latter rain (first day of the sacred calendar) on Nisan 1 (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 163,165). Joel 2:23 agrees: "he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month."

Ezekiel 29:17 gives us the day: "in the first month, in the first day of the month." Then verse 21 says, "In that day (Nisan 1, Eze. 45:18,21) will I cause the horn (king) of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth (the Logos, the Word) in the midst of them (Israel); and they shall know that I am the LORD." I think Christ will return on the same day all the other Israelite kings officially took office. Nisan 1 is the first day of the Jewish Regnal Year. It is also the first day of their Sacred Year, Regnal because he is King of kings, Sacred because he is also Lord of lords.

> we should interpret it (Pentecost) to be of double fulfilments

I agree. The two wave loaves strongly suggest this.

> we should interpret it to be of double fulfilments and construct a symmetric
> structure for the events of the Feasts sandwiching the long time gap between His
> birth and return.

You know, you are triggering my thinking. Remember Daniel 9:26 has a gap in it. This whole church era fits into that gap. At Pentecost in 30 A.D., God's clock stopped for Israel, and the Lord started dealing with the church. They became the believer priests, so we might say the right to the priesthood was transferred to the church, but she was a babe, not old enough to assume the priesthood for another 30 years.

It would make sense then for the Lord to again pick up dealing with Israel and give her the right to the priesthood at the Pentecost Rapture of the Church. In other words, pick up where he left off--at Pentecost--except that Israel's priests have to be at least 30 years old.

In 30 A.D., Israel entered a 40-year probationary period. Jerusalem and the temple were burned in 70 A.D.

They had signs warning them in 66 A.D. In the spring, a few months before the war with the Romans broke out, miraculous things started to happen. In War, VI.290, Josephus said, "on the eighth of the month Nisan, at the ninth hour of the night (3 A.M.), so brilliant a light shone around the altar and the inner temple that it seemed to be broad daylight; and this continued for the space of half an hour." After that, this brilliant light moved away from the temple.

In War, VI.293-295, Josephus noted, "At that same feast (Passover), the eastern gate of the inner court at the sixth hour of the night (midnight) opened of its own accord. This gate was of brass and very large and heavy...each evening it took twenty men to shut it. It had bolts sunk to a great depth into a threshold made of a solid block of stone."

On the following Pentecost, in War, VI. 299, Josephus said, "at the festival which is called Pentecost, the priests on entering the inner court of the temple at nightfall, as their custom was in the accomplishment of their ministrations, states that they first became aware of a commotion and a roar, and after that the voice of a great multitude saying 'We are departing hence'"

This was understood to be the Elohim, the Deity, the shekinah glory, leaving the earthly temple on Pentecost. In the Midrash Lam. 2:11, we find that the glory remained over the Mt. of Olives for another 3 1/2 years and a voice was heard from the mount asking for the Jews to repent. It left just before the Romans attacked Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

(Ezek. 9:3 added here.) Does that remind you of Ezekiel 9:3 and 11:23? They say, "And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house....And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city."

On the second Passover, Josephus recorded what he said might be called a fable except for the statements of eyewitnesses. In War, VI.297-299, he said, "On the twenty-first of the month Iyar, there appeared a miraculous occurrence...For before sunset throughout all areas of the country, there were seen in the air many chariots and armed battalions coursing through the clouds and encircling the cities."

As interesting as these other things are, what mainly catches my eye is that the shekinah glory left the temple on Pentecost in 66 A.D. and the city and temple were burned four years later. The city went through a tribulation period ending in destruction.

In our days, will the Holy Spirit leave when the church is Raptured as a sign that in three or four years the Tribulation (Seventieth Week of Daniel) will begin?

The church was a babe on Pentecost in 30 A.D. A priest could not serve until he was 30. After 60 A.D. then, the church was old enough to take over the priesthood. After that, the temple was burned, proof that the priesthood no longer belonged to the Jews. It will, however, be returned to her during that Seventieth Week of Daniel.

In our days, Israel took the rest of Jerusalem, including the temple area, on June 7, 1967. This is when the times of the Gentiles ended. Israel then entered another 40-year period of probation. Luke 21:24 says, "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." After that, what remains before Israel can take over the priesthood? Her priests need to be at least 30 years old. 1967 + 30 = 1997. She is now ready to officiate in the rebuilt temple during the Seventieth Week of Daniel, which will end after this 40-year probation is over.

Therefore, the church was born on Pentecost in 30 A.D. She had to wait until she was at least 30 (60 A.D.), then the priesthood was transferred to her in 70 A.D.

Today, the time of the Gentiles ended in 1967. Israel's priests then had to wait until they were at least 30 (1997). Now, she is eligible for priesthood again. But first comes another Pentecost sign to signal the end of the church era. In 1998, I expect the Rapture of the church on Pentecost to be a sign that the Jews are soon to finish out Daniel's seventy weeks that were determined upon her people. I expect the Seventieth Week of Daniel to begin on the Feast of Weeks in 2001.

The parallels are obvious:

Pentecost, 30 A.D. + 30 = 60 A.D., when the church could assume the priesthood. The shekinah glory left on Pentecost in 66 A.D. The temple was burned in 70 A.D.

In our days, Israel again got the temple area in 1967. 1967 + 30 = 1997, when Israel could again assume the priesthood. The Holy Spirit will, I believe, leave with the Rapture of the church on Pentecost in 1998. The temple will be restored in Jerusalem by 2001.

(Addition: The years between 1998 and 2001 are explained by the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree in Luke 13:6-9. The four Jewish years are 5758, 5759, 5760, and 5761, Pentecost to Pentecost/Feast of Weeks; our 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.)

We just may have had a recent sign similar to the heavy temple gates opening of their own accord. A pair of heavy irreplaceable wrought iron gates, padlocked together and weighing maybe 400 lbs. apeice, have disappeared from the Episcopal Church in Philadelphia where George Washington and other men of importance in our early days attended. It is said that it would take a lift truck to raise them up off of their hinges. That is interesting in the light of Rev. 3:8, where Christ says to the Philadelphian church, "behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." We now have an open gateway at a Philadelphian church.

The 2520-day Tribulation will fulfill the Seventieth Week of Daniel. At its end, at the Judgment of the Nations, Israel will become the center of world government. Christ will be King of kings and Lord of lords and Satan will be chained for 1,000 years.

The events just AFTER the gap of Daniel 9:26 began in 30 A.D. seem to roughly parallel the time just BEFORE the clock again starts for Israel in 2001 A.D. There seems to be almost a mirror image--the symmetry that you mentioned. God works in orderly ways. It would be just like him to plan it this way.

Incoming Email

I came across Isaiah ch. 18 and wondered if this is another sign as to when to rapture would take place. It states with regard to Ethiopia (the messengers) that when a signal is raised on the mountains to take notice, and when a "trumpet" is blown to listen, and then goes on to talk about the harvest.

It is believed that the ark of the covenant is in Ethiopia. This may portend that when this sign or signal (ark shown?) is revealed that the rapture --harvest-- is to happen soon thereafter. What do you think?

My reply

This preceding chapter starts out with Damascus "taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap." Isa. 18:4 speaks of the Lord saying, "I will take MY REST." I think this is all talking about the first day of the Millennium, the seventh great day.

Isa. 17:11 speaks of "the day of grief and of desperate sorrow." That is the day the "Great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea" and "there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp" (Rev. 8:8,10).

The "last trump," the trump of God, sounds that day to catch away the Tribulation saints just before the catastrophe takes place. Immediately afterward, the seven angels sound the seven trumpets of judgment on unbelievers.

Incoming Email

We read something a few night ago that has stayed on our minds. I'm sending the URL of where it was found at the 5 Doves site, Latter Day Letters and written by Jim Bramlett. He mentioned that the Sacrifice to be made on April 10 might possibly the Abomination Of Desolation. and I first thought no it couldn't be. Because that would be the Anti Christ, but I decided to look at the two verses in the New Testament that mentioned it and here they are...

(Mat 24:15 KJV) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

(Mark 13:14 KJV) But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

I know that later the Antichrist is mentioned, but in these two verses he isn't and the Temple isn't mentioned either. The Holy Place and where it ought not. Antichrist certainly wouldn't be refereed to as "it".

Maybe this could really be the Abomination spoken of here.

I also sent an e/m to Jim to tell him how excited we were about his find, not sure he realized what he has found even yet...

What do you think...??? We are still enjoying your posts.

My reply

I think the abomination is an idol that will be placed at the temple Mid-Tribulation. That is when the believing Jews in Judaea must flee.

The man of sin is not to be revealed until we are gone. The Holy Spirit is restraining him now. We are too, as the salt of the Earth. Leaven is inhibited by salt, I mean literally, in bread making. No wonder Jesus used it as an example.

This sacrifice Apr. 10 is merely symbolic. I put a news article on my Pro and Con so you can see their own words.

Glad you enjoy my posts. Keeps me hopping.

Incoming Email

I am enjoying your webpage as usual and hope this email finds you well and at least somewhat rested. :)

I came across the answer in pro and con 82 where you had mentioned checking the references to "snow" in the scriptures. You mentioned one of my favorite scriptures but left out part of it! It is Proverbs 31:21.......I marked this passage years ago and have always loved it even though I did not understand it's full import! But in it's entirety it says "She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed in scarlet." I had underlined "clothed in scarlet" and written in my margin - 'the blood of Jesus'. Surely we will not be afraid of His appearing if we are covered by His blood! Hallelujah! just thought I would share my thoughts!

My reply

Just as soon as I sent that email out, I wished I had included a bit more there because, as you said, it represents the blood of Christ. I have so many emails to answer, I have not gone back to add it. Thanks for mentioning it. People will see it this way.

Incoming Email

this is the second or third time i've written. I stand amazed at your patient. Those who ask well before they read. Or have only repeated someone else quote.

I have read most all of ever post and pro and con, check your site daily. Thank you for all your research and long hours of work. Finding your site has truly made me live as close as i can to what the Lord wants all of us to. Looking forward to meeting you soon.

1.a lone thought about date setting, the first thing a Bride does in preparation for a wedding is?? Set a DATE.

My reply

I had not though of that, but that is true. Neat. Thanks.

Incoming Email

Thank you for your prompt response about any plans for 31 May 98; and for also sending the website for the Bible Code w/same date for Rapture.

Obviously (although I am remiss for not mentioning it before) I have read your book and have the one about where heaven is located to read next. I am really enlightened for having read it and believe you are "right on" in your thoughts. I believe I was God-lead to your book. I have always studied prophecy, end-time and Revelation and I believe God has blessed this as He said He would in Revelation. Thank you so much for writing the book!!!

My reply

Thanks for your kind comments.

I don't know which book you have read, but Rev. 1:3 means more than many realize. It says, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, AND KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN THEREIN: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND."

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is written as if the Rapture is "at hand." Those words in the first chapter and the last (Rev. 22:10) sandwich the prophecies of the whole book, and Jesus signs off with "Surely I come quickly."

The first thing in the schedule of events that we could KEEP is the Rapture. Would we ever be BLESSED, BUT GOOD!!! We will be blessed with the "blessed hope."

In chapter one, there is a Preview of the Rapture. John becomes in the Spirit and finds himself in Heaven. Turning to see where the voice like a trumpet came from, he sees Christ standing with the seven churches all around him and the seven star performers still in his hand for he has just snatched them up.

Then Christ tells John to "write the things which thou hast seen (before the Rapture), and the things which are (at the Rapture), and the things which shall be hereafter (after the Rapture, as in Rev. 4:1).

Incoming Email

I was just reading the posts from yesterday about the Zola Levitt letters and about how the festival days all falling on the same weekend as our Easter. I was discussing this same matter with a Messianic Jewish friend of mine today and he says he thought this may have happened 31 years ago in 1967. Is this true? Obviously this year (1998) has some significance to it with everything happening on the same weekend. Do you know of any other significant years this has happened, besides AD 30? With the rapture on or about 31May98, is there a possibility of the Dead in Christ rising and walking the earth 40 days prior? Thanks! Your Page has been an absolute blessing to me and I have used it as a catalyst for getting my relationship back where it should be with the Lord. God Bless You Greatly!

My reply

I don't know. Somehow, I have ended up with two 1968 Jewish Talmudic calendar pages and none for 1967. I do know that June 7 that year was Iyar 28. I think Bob Wadsworth might be able to help you. I would appreciate knowing if they do line up.

(Note: Through the help of a friend who got me a copy of the 1967 calendar, I was able to determine that the days do not line up like they do this year (in 1998). In 1967, Nisan 13 was on Sunday, 14 on Monday, 15 on Tuesday, and 16 on Wednesday.)

I don't think the dead will rise up 40 days before the Rapture. Jesus says, "Surely I come quickly." It doesn't say the shout or the trump of God will sound more than once in I Thess. 4:16. A shout is quick. I can't see it happening twice for the Rapture or being sustained for 40 days, can you?

In the first century, some saints came out of their graves and appeared in Jerusalem. That was on Resurrection day. Jesus took them, plus the rest in Paradise, to Heaven that same day and returned. He would not let himself be touched at first because he had not yet ascended. Later that day, he allowed himself to be touched. I do not believe those resurrected saints stayed here for 40 days.

Incoming Email

From: Abraham Forum:
> From: RUSSELL RANKIN Dated: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 03:43:30 -0500

> Anne, Please read Luke's account of Cleopas and friend [disciples of Yeshua] in
> chapter 24. They refer Yeshua to "how the chief priests and our rulers
> delivered him up to be condemned to death and have crucified him" [v.20].
> They state that "today is the third day since these things were done"
> [v.21]. The "third day" is then "the first of the week" including after
> sunrise. But notice Matthew says "as it began to dawn toward the first of
> the week...there was an earthquake" = resurrection [28:1]. And Mark says
> "very early in the morning...at the rising of the sun" the stone was already
> rolled away [16:2-4]. This places Yeshua's resurrection before the sunshine
> part of the third day, before the 'day' portion of the third day.

> Now count backwards:
> 1st day [night only],
> 7th day [day and night],
> 6th day [day and night],
> 5th day [day only 3-6 pm].
> Conclusion: Yeshua died on the afternoon of the 5th day of the week
> [Thursday our time], Passover and according to Jonah three days and three nights....

> Russ

***From Marilyn: Bless you Russ, you did some good thinking here. I commend you and agree with you as to the day. I do think the Nisan 14 Passover Feast was the following day. I think Yeshua died as the passover lambs were being slain at the temple so as to be ready to be eaten after 6:00 P.M.

Incoming Email

> Just glanced over your wonderful site. WOW!

Incoming Email

I discovered your web site recently and its very interesting. I always thought the Lord would return at the Feast of Trumpets, but I see that Pentecost is a possibility.

BUT... Pentecost _might_ be June 7th this year!

Have you come across the attached information from a group who claims to use very accurate calculation methods for determining the "True" dates for the Jewish feasts.

The attached HTML page is from _within_ their downloadable software at http://chatlink.com/~clg/...

My reply

No. I had not heard of these tables. There is a site at the Stewarton School of the Bible in Scotland that says it is June 1.

I'll stick with the Hebrew and Jewish Talmudic calendars. They agree on the May 31 date this year. However, if it happens June 7, that will be fine with me.

Incoming Email

I found this news item on the "Weekend news today" website. Prime minister Netenyahu states he will have a peace treaty by the end of 2000! This lines up pretty good with your date for the tribulation starting in 2001! I wonder if Netenyahu is the antichrist or false prophet? Hmmmm.

> Netanyahu: "I aim to sign at least a peace treaty by the end of the year 2000"
> Weekend News Today, Source: I&G; NewsTue Apr 7 , 1998 -- Interview with Israeli
> Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu by Enrico Franceschini in Jerusalem;
> [Franceschini] Are you not afraid that if the peace process fails another intifadah
> will break out?
> [Netanyahu] It would not be in the Palestinians' interest. They cannot have more
> land and launch a revolt at the same time. But I think that at the end of the day
> we will have complete peace around Israel -- not only with the Palestinians, but
> also with Lebanon and Syria.
> [Franceschini] When will this day end?
> [Netanyahu] Before the end of my term of office. I aim to sign at least a peace
> treaty by the end of the year 2000. [Rome La Repubblica in Italian 1 Apr 98 ]

My reply

Yes, it seems to fit right in. I think it is to be confirmed on the Feast of Weeks in 2001.

Leaders can change quickly. I don't think we can be sure who the wicked one (False Prophet of Israel) will be before the Rapture. The Holy Spirit is restraining him right now. However, Daniel 5:28 is interesting. It says, "PERES; Thy kingdom is divided," and Perez is for giving land for peace. It may have nothing to do with it, but it is a strange correlation.

Incoming Email

Yours is the first site I look at each day. Two questions- How similar do you think life in the millenium will be to ours? I'm thinking about cars, airplanes, money, ect?

In Matt 27:52-53 "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." Do you think this might happen this being Holy Week? Also, do you think there could be a delay between the resurrection of the dead and the actual rapture into the heavens to meet Jesus, like maybe a 40 or 50 day period?

See you on the 31st I hope!

My reply

Life in the Millennium--I'm not sure. The world will be refreshed, made like the Garden of Eden again. Sounds like an agricultural society, but how much more, it is hard to tell.

I do not expect any saints to be raised from the dead until the Rapture. If they were to be raised ahead of time, Christ would be prolonging his descent, shout, trump of God, etc. I think it will all happen quickly.

Jesus told the churches he would come quickly and ends up the Bible with, "Surely I come quickly." How can anyone spread this out to cover 40 days?

Pro and Con 90 Or Return

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