REVISED VERSION FOR 2010
TRIBULATION PERIOD TO BEGIN SOON?
HEBREW CALENDAR POINTS TOWARDS A POSSIBLE SEPTEMBER START DATE
Is it proper for Christians to speculate on a timeline for the beginning of the tribulation period? For --
“No one knows the day or the hour” Matthew 25:13
But let's read carefully the passage in Mark chapter 13 which reads;
Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the time will come. It will be like a man who goes away from home on a trip and leaves his servants in charge, after giving to each one his own work to do and after telling the doorkeeper to keep watch. Watch, then, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming---it might be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or at sunrise. If he comes suddenly, he must not find you asleep. What I say to you, then, I say to all: Watch! Mark 13:33-37
This then is a command not a suggestion. We are all duty-bound to be watching for the Lord's return. Matthew Henry in his commentary says:
“Our great care must be, that, whenever our Lord comes, he does not find us sleeping, secure in ourselves, off our guard, indulging ourselves in ease and sloth, mindless of our work and duty, and thoughtless of our Lord's coming; ready to say, He will not come, and unready to meet him. His coming will indeed be coming suddenly; it will be a great surprise and terror to those that are careless, and asleep, it will come upon them as a thief in the night. It is therefore the indispensable duty of all Christ's disciples, to watch, to be awake, and keep awake;”
The Christian world view is that everything that happens in the world, happens by divine plan. The secular attitude or world view is that: “I don't have to worry about what is going to happen tomorrow, next week or even next year. Que sera, sera, what will be will be” This is a life without godliness.
There is great significance to Sir Robert Anderson's book, "The Coming Prince" (written in 1895). It should not be underestimated by modern students of Bible prophecy, in that Anderson not only ably defended Daniel's authorship of the Book of Daniel from the "scholarship" of unbelief of the Higher Criticism of his day, but he clearly established the historical accuracy of the fulfillment of the time oriented prophecy for the First Advent of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city--to bring the rebellion to an end, to put a stop to sin, to wipe away injustice, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place. Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince will be seven weeks and 62 weeks. It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat, but in difficult times. After those 62 weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the coming prince will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come with a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations are decreed. He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator." -- Daniel 9:24-27
Sir Robert Anderson wrote in The Coming Prince:
- "The Julian date of that 10th Nisan was Sunday the 6th April, A.D. 32. What then was the length of the period intervening between the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the public advent of 'Messiah the Prince,' -- between the 14th March, B.C. 445, and the 6th April, A.D. 32? THE INTERVAL CONTAINED EXACTLY AND TO THE VERY DAY 173,880 DAYS, OR SEVEN TIMES SIXTY-NINE PROPHETIC YEARS OF 360 DAYS, the first sixty-nine weeks of Gabriel's prophecy."
The very fact that Anderson was able to demonstrate with mathematical accuracy the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy for the First Advent of the LORD Jesus Christ, indicates that the Father is completely pleased and willing that Believers spend time occupied with the study of and in anticipation for the Second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.
First of all then, does the Scripture give credence to those who believe a time frame may be calculated for prophetic events such as the Rapture of the Church, the beginning of the tribulation and the Re-birth & Restoration of Israel to true faith in the Lord Yahweh?
Historically, the prophet Daniel calculated the length of the Babylonian Captivity from Jeremiah's prophecy.
"In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the Word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem" -- Daniel 9:2
There are two very important keys to unlocking the prophecies in the Bible?
1. The first and most important key to unlocking Bible prophecy is to recognize that almost all prophecy directly relates to the intervention of human affairs of one key player: Jesus the Messiah.
2. The other significant key to unlocking Bible prophecy is recognizing that the Hebrew calendar and Jewish festivals are central in understanding final day prophecies.
To help us understand the importance of these two keys to unlocking Bible prophecy, were going to look at the Hebrew calender and it's relationship to the different holy days, Sabbaths and festivals of the Lord.
I believe that much evidence has been available to the Church, through the prophecies of Daniel and other such prophecies that we can come up with a credible time frame for the momentous events of prophecy that will close out this Church Age.
"And when these things begin to happen, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your Redemption draws near" -- Luke 21:28
Before we start looking at possible dates for the beginning of the tribulation and the coming of the Lord let's discuss the Hebrew calender and it's relationship to the seven feasts or festivals of the Lord. What is the importance of the feasts to Christians? First of all, we know from the study of scripture that when Christ came the first time He literrally fulfilled the first three feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread & Firstfruits) to the very day.
1. Christ was crucified on Passover (Nisan 14th)
2. His sinless body was buried on the first day of Unleavend bread (Nisan 15th - 21st)
3. He arose from the dead on Firstfruits (Nisan17th)
There is one other distinct day that the Jews themselves still recognize and celebrate today. Another day Christ Himself fulfilled literally. That day is known to Jews as Shabbat Hagadol or The Great Sabbath (Nisan 10th). That is the day known to Christians as Palm Sunday. This is the day that Christ was made known as Messiah when He rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. This was also the fulfillment of the 69 weeks of Daniel. The Messiah was put 'on display' for all to inspect beginning on the 10th of Nisan and ultimately ending at the cross. (Messiah will be cut off -- Dan. 9:26)
With that said, Bible scholars have asserted that the Church is the parenthesis between the 69th & 70th week of Daniel. So, for the last 2000+ years, the Lord Jesus Christ has been building His Church in this age of grace. (The Church that He has been building was absent from the first 69 weeks of Daniel and also, I believe, will be absent from the 70th week of Daniel).
We are, seemingly, very close to the end of the Church age and the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel. Will the rapture happen before the tribulation (pre-trib) or in the middle of the tribulation (mid-trib) or at the end of the tribulation (post-trib). I'm an advocate of the pre-tribulation rapture but I am not going to give my arguments, here, for why I believe that. My assumption here will be that the rapture of the Church will take place before the 70th week of Daniel.
I believe that following the rapture of the Church, the 70th week of Daniel will follow very close on its heels because the parenthesis (church age) will have been fulfilled and God can now focus back on the apple of His eye (Israel).
Let's look again at Daniel chapter 9, verse 27 or the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel.
"He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator."
Daniel breaks the 70th week up into two halves with a division point being the “Abomination of Desolation”. Scholars say that the first 3 ½ years is known as 'the tribulation', while the last 3 ½ years is known as 'the great tribulation' or 'the time of Jacobs trouble'. So that would be 1260 days followed by another 1260 days. This gives us some physical days that we can try to look for on the Hebrew calendar.
But how does one determine where to start. I have in the past tried, unsuccessfully, to see if the festivals of the Lord fit in with the 2520 days (seven years) of the tribulation period. Plus an additional 30 days (Dan. 12:11) & and then another 45 days (Dan. 12:12).
There are those that say that the 2520 days of the tribulation (or the seven biblical years) will start with the feast of Trumpets and end with the day of Atonement. Actually they need 2550 days to contain those two feasts in a seven year period (so they have to add the extra 30 days of Daniel 12:11).
They say: “do the math and you will find out it works” Well, I did the math and I'm here to tell you it doesn't work, period. There are always 8 to 12 days left over. This doesn't cut it for our God is a precise God!
When Christ fulfilled the first three feast days in His first coming he did not begin that particular week with the fulfillment of a major feast day. He began that week by fulfilling Shabbot Hagadol (Palm sunday). So, I have over the last two years or so spent some considerable time looking again at the Hebrew calendar and trying to discover a possible start date for the 70th week of Daniel and not necessarily starting with a major feast day.
I came up with a scenario for 2009 that seemed to fit together nicely, but since those days have come and gone I have revised the scenario to fit what could be a possible tribulation start time frame for 2010. Some might like to consider me a "date setter", but I really like to think of myself as a "date searcher" -- So here we go once again . . .
THE POSSIBLE START DATE FOR THE "COMFIRMATION OF COVENANT"
I had discovered a somewhat unknown day (by Christians anyway). It's a day known to Jews as Shemini Atzaret and it is a very interesting time of assembly for the Jews. It comes one day after the seven day celebration of Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles). Some say it is a continuation of the feast of Tabernacles but others say it is a day that also stands on its' own accord. Leviticus 23:34-36 God says:
Tell the Israelites: The Festival of Booths to the LORD begins on the fifteenth day of this seventh month and continues for seven days. There is to be a sacred assembly on the first day; you are not to do any daily work. You are to present a fire offering to the LORD for seven days. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present a fire offering to the LORD. It is a solemn gathering; you are not to do any daily work.
According to Eddie Chumney (founder of Hebraic Heritage Ministries and himself a Messianic Jew) who wrote “The Seven Festivals of Messiah”, he says in chapter 10 that:
“In the days of Yeshua, there was a seven year cycle of the reading of the Torah. In the years one through three, the people would read from the Torah, the Prophets and the writings. In years three through six, they would start over. In year seven, they would read from them all. This cycle started after Sukkot or on SHEMINI ATZERAT”
What really drew my attention to this particular day was that it started a seven year reading cycle (The question in my mind was why a seven year reading since this is also the length of the 70th week of Daniel).
According to the Bamidbar Rabbah (a collection of ancient rabbinical homiletic interpretations of the book of Numbers) Shemini Atzerat can be:
Compared to a king who had held a festival for seven days and invited all of the country's inhabitants (the nations of the world) to the seven days of feasting. When the seven days of feasting were over, he said to his friend (Israel), 'Let us now have a small meal together, just you and I'
With this information in hand, it at least seemed to me like a good place to at least start looking at the possibility of the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel.
In my 2009 scenario I believed that Shemini Atzerat could possibly be the start date for the "confirmation of the covenant" or "Peace Treaty" (Israel's Covenant with death). In this revision, however, I believe that the confirmation of the covenant might take place the day before Shemini Atzerat or the Last day of Sukkot (Tabernacles) or September 29th, 2010. In the final analysis it worked best for the 2010 -- 2017 tribulation scenario
But let's move on . . .
THE "ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION"
If you count 1260 days (halfway point for the 7 biblical tribulation years) from the last day of Sukkot September 29th, 2010 you come to March 12, 2014, which is the eve of the "Fast of Esther" or the day known to the Jews as "Ta'anit Esther". I believe that the "abomination of desolation" could take place the day before the first day of this fast. How does the book of Esther fit into the last days scenario? Haman is a type of Antichrist who will rise up in the last days in order to destroy the Nation of Israel. He will declare himself to be God (Adar 10) and the Jewish people will again delare a fast (Adar 11 -- or Ta'anit Esther) and prepare for the eventual deliverance of God, although the deliverance will come through the unexpected person of the Lord Jesus Christ, their Messiah. Once again there will be great celebration following the destruction of the Antichrist (Haman).
Summarizing up to now, we see the possibility of the tribulation starting on “Sukkot 7 (September 29, 2010) and traversing to the beginning of the middle of the tribulation on the eve of “Ta'anit Esther"-- (March 12, 2014) which could be the start of “The Great Tribulation”
A mouth was given to him to speak boasts and blasphemies. He was also given authority to act for 42 months* He began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme His name and His dwelling--those who dwell in heaven. And he was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. He was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. -- Revelation 13:5-7
*1260 days or 3 1/2 years
THE "SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST"
Count out another 1260 days and you come once again to a Jewish day of celebration, Rosh Chodesh Elul or the first day of the month of Elul, August 23rd, 2017. What is the significance of this date?
According to www.nishmas.org
The days of Elul are called the days of “Divine forgiveness and kindness” These days of Elul are therefore the beginning of a special time of favor and conciliation. A time of mourning and repentance.
The days of Elul were also known as “the days when the king is in the field.” Normally, in order to gain an audience with the King, one must go through a lengthy procedure. He must travel to the capitol city, arrange an appointment, and then get permission to enter the palace. Even when permission is granted is may be days or weeks before he is finally allowed to enter. When he does finally get to see the King, the audience is likely to be short and very formal. But once a year, the king leaves his throne to visit the various regions of his Kingdom. Now a king can't just enter a city unannounced. When he reaches the outskirts of the city he is to visit, his entourage sets up a camp while a special delegation goes ahead to the city to make preparations, for the king's visit. In the meantime, the King is in the field; relaxed and enjoying the early fall weather. He doesn't stand on the same formality that he does when in the palace. The common folk are allowed to come out to greet the king and receive his blessing. Everyone is permitted and has the opportunity to approach the king.
According to www.ou.org orthodox union):
Rosh Chodesh Elul was the day Moses went back up Mt. Zion, the second time, to receive the 10 commandments once again. Today the Jews blow the shofar on this day to remind themselves "that the people of Israel in the desert had sinned with the Idol but had repented, had been forgiven by G-d and had been restored to their former level of holiness."
Read the last paragragh again! Could this be the day that Messiah comes back to earth and Israel mourns for He whom they crucified? Will they be restored to their former level of holiness at this time and will He now bring in "The Kingdom"?
THE ADDITIONAL "THIRTY DAYS" OF DANIEL 12:11
Interestingly enough, according to Daniel 12:11, there is 30 days added to the 1260 days of the second half of the tribulation period.
from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
So if we add an additional 30 days to our timeline, we move from Rosh Chodesh Elul (the end of the tribulation) to another great day for God's people and for the world. For when you count 30 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul you end up on September 22, 2017, or the 2nd day of a two day celebration of ROSH HASHANA. This is the celebration of the beginning of the Jewish New Year. But this is also the time that the Messiah will be proclaimed as King of the Universe.
The central observance of Rosh Hashana is the sounding of the shofar, the rams horn, which represents the trumpet blast of the peoples coronation of their king. The cry of the shofar is also the call to repentance; for Rosh Hashana is also the anniversary of man's first sin.
THE ADDITIONAL "FORTY FIVE DAYS" OF DANIEL 12:12
You would think if that if there is anything to what is being taught, then there must be some significance to this 1,335 day mentioned in Daniel 12:12.
Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days.
I know of no one who has ever come up with any real significance to the 1,335 day of Daniel. Is this beyond our finding out, afterall God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. Yet, there must be some significance to the 1,335 days or it wouldn't be in the Bible.
For 2009 the 1335th day came out to Cheshvan 16 (a not so significant day) and I had thought I might have reached an impasse, but for the year 2010, in counting out 45 more days from September 22, 2017 I ended up at November 6, 2017 or Cheshvan 17, which I believe to be a very significant day on the Hebrew calendar.
Interestingly enough, Cheshvan is the only month in the Hebrew Calendar that has no special holidays within it. This month, Cheshvan or the eighth month on the religious calendar (2nd month on the civil calendar) is a very interesting month. This month of Cheshvan, according to Jewish tradition, is reserved for the time of Messiah, who is said. will inaugurate the building of the third temple.
There are three historical events that took place on the 17 of Cheshvan:
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Read Genesis 7:11-13—This is the day that the flood began and Noah and his family entered into the ark. (a new beginning)
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This is the day that Solomon completed the first temple. (a new beginning)
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On the 17 of Cheshvan in 1917 “The Balfour Declaration” was made. “The Balfour Declaration” was the inauguration or establishment of a homeland for Israel in the middle east. (a new beginning)
What is so important about 1917 and the Balfour Declaration? According to many Christian sites, including Dr. David Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries, 1917 is when the first signs for the end of the age started appearing. (Matthew 24). Dr. Reagan stated:
"One hundred years ago in 1907 there was not one single, tangible, measurable sign that indicated we were living in the season of the Lord's return. The first Major sign to appear was the Balfour Declaration which was issued by the British government on November 2, 1917."
November 6, 2017 is 100 completed years from the Balfour Declaration. The length of a generation as Abraham would of understood it for . . .
Jesus said in Matthew 24:34-35;
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
ADDITIONAL SIGNS APPEARING IN THE SUN MOON AND THE STARS
All this is most interesting when you look at it in the light of what is going to take place in the years 2014 and 2015. Luke 21:25 says;
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Revelation 6:12 also says that the sun will be turned to black and the moon will be turned to blood (also look at Joel 2:31).
Thanks to Mark Biltz for the following discoveries! check out: http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/
The year 2015 will see two total solar eclipses and both of them will be on the two Jewish new years (Nisan 1 – civil new year & Rosh Hashana – religious new year).
Also, the years 2014 and 2015 will see four total lunar eclipses (known as Blood Red Moons). What's even more fascinating is that all four of these eclipses fall on Jewish Holy days (specifically major feast days. In both years they fall on the first day of Passover (spring) and the first day of Tabernacles (fall).
You can check this out at the NASA site: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/lunar.html
So let's summarize the possibilities. According to my scenario:
1. The 70th week of Daniel starts with the “confirmation of the covenant” on September 29, 2010 (Tishrei 21)
2. The “abomination of desolation” (middle tribulation) would then occur on March 12, 2014 (Adar 10)
3. The end of the tribulation being August 23, 2017 (Rosh Chodesh Elul -- Elul 1)
4. Followed by 30 days of Daniel 12:11 which ends on Rosh Hashana (Trumpets), September 22, 2017 (Tishri 2)
5. Then adding the extra 45 days of Daniel 12:12, we end up on November 6, 2017 (Cheshvan 17)
Cheshvan 17 -- the possible beginning of the millennial reign of Christ.
Is this scenario set in stone?
OBVIOUSLY NOT!
Since the 2009 dates didn't come to pass, it might not take place in 2010 but, still, isn't it an interesting possibility!
"Let God be true and every man a liar"
"But when you see these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption is near!" -- Luke 21:28
