"Jerusalem Post" - August. 15, 1997

In the 10th chapter of Matthew, Jesus gives instructions to His disciples before sending them out with the Message of the Kingdom. They must have been thrilled when He gave them authority over all sickness and disease, and over all demonic forces. But He also gave them a somber warning, tempered by a promise in verse 22: "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Jesus warns them that they will be hated and that they must be prepared to endure the hatred in order to stand firm to the end and be saved. Then in Matthew 10:23, there is a curious prophecy:

"When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

Jesus tells them very clearly that they will face persecution as a result of the hatred they will encounter for His Name's sake. He then gives them a prophecy that they will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

From the disciples perspective, it would appear that this prophecy was in error. The disciples are long gone and Jesus has not returned. Furthermore, this prophecy's fulfillment has remained an impossibility since the year 70 A.D when Jerusalem was destroyed. The Jews were then scattered to the four corners of the earth, and evangelism stopped when Israel ceased being a nation for almost 2,000 years.

But God promised, through Jeramiah the Prophet, that He would once again gather the children of Israel to the land of their forefathers.

``However, the days are coming,'' declares the LORD, ``when men will no longer say, `As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,' but they will say, `As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers. But now I will send for many fishermen,'' declares the LORD, ``and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks." (Jer 16:14-17)

On May 14, 1948 David Ben Gurion, citing the book of Ezekiel as his authority, proclaimed ``Israel'' as the new Jewish homeland, and the nation of Israel was re-established exactly as prophesied by Jeremiah. However, Jerusalem was still not under complete Israeli control. Then another incredible event took place. As a consequence of the "Six-Day War" (which Israel won against overwhelming odds), the Old City of Jerusalem fell under Israeli control for the first time since the diaspora. The fig tree (Israel) not only blossomed, but it did so on the exact dates predicted by the Holy Scriptures (See "Peace in the Middle East - A Prelude to War, Part 2 for additional information on this prediction).

The Jews had returned home and their return was accelerated by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Hundreds of thousands of Jews came home from the "country of the North" (Moscow is due north of Jerusalem). God continues to call them home from all the other countries of the world, as well. Due to war, persecution, and political unrest they are returning from Albania, Ethiopia, Poland, Holland, Tadjikistan, Uzbekhistan, Khazakhstan, the U.S., Sarajevo, Yugoslavia and Syria.

God was faithful to His Word in Jeremiah. He sent in the fishermen. And the Jews, in spite of much pressure and opposition, began to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. After they were saved and discipled, God began to call them out to evangelize world-wide. Even in Israel, where it is most difficult to be a "Messianic" believer in Yeshua Jesus, the fig tree was bringing forth green figs (fruit).

The September, 1997 "MOAZ" newsletter (published by a Messianic group in Israel), carried an exciting report. They documented that there are 50 cities in Israel with populations of 20,000 or more, and of the 50, 38 cities now have at least one congregation or home group of Messianic Jewish believers.

Messianic Jews have begun to evangelize, just as the early disciples did. Jesus' words, "...you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes," are being fulfilled. This is one more of the many "signs of the times" that indicate that we are very, very close to the Lord's return.

But Jeremiah warns that after the ``fishermen", the ``hunters'' will come. (Jer 16:14-17) Is religious persecution a probability? Remember that Jesus also warned of persecution in the first part of Matthew 10:23: "When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes [again]."

On October 27, the Israeli Knesset reopens. A law to outlaw religious freedom in Israel is on the docket. This proposed law is clearly aimed at believers in Yeshua Jesus. Although protests have been pouring in from around the world, a recent pool of Knesset members yielded disturbing results: 67 said that they would vote for outlawing religious expression. Only 61 votes are required for passage. Satan wants Israel to remain in darkness so they will never come to that place of crying out: "Blessed is He [Jesus] that comes in the name of the Lord" (Matt 23:39) -- a prerequisite for Jesus' return. However, if this law is passed, Jesus' words warning of persecution for those disciples going through the cities of Israel may also come to pass. Yet in spite of the current difficult situation in Israel, Messianic Jews and Christians alike continue to proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, and 38 of 50 cities now have Messianic congregations which means that Jesus is coming soon. Evangelism will continue and, ultimately, all Israel will be saved.

There are other prophetic insights that might be gleaned from this report. It is probably just a coincidence that there are currently 50 cities of 20,000 or more people in Israel today. But the number 50 is of prophetically significant. In Scripture, seven is God's perfect number, and 7x7, or 49 is an ultimate expression of that perfection. But when you go to 50, one number above 49, this number is said to be a transcendant number that represents a Jubilee. It was on the year of Jubilee (every 50 years) that the land was redeemed, the slaves were set free, all debts were cancelled, and each person would return to his own clan.

"Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan." (LEV 25:10)

Christian believers in Messiah Jesus are also waiting for Jubilee when they will be redeemed and returned to their own clan:

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory." (EPH 1:13-14)

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." (PHI 3:20)

When might this redemption take place? As early as the next Jubilee? The next year of Jubilee starts in the Jewish year 5758 on the evening of Rosh Ha'Shanah, October 1, 1997! Is it possible that our redemption is that close?

However, there are those who point out that we cannot know for sure that this is a Jubilee, since Israel was out of the land in the diaspora for so many centuries. They certainly might be correct. If they are, then October 1, 1997 may not be the correct date for the Jubilee.

On the other hand, it was in 1948 when Israel reclaimed the land. Some say that you can't have a Jubilee without the land. In other words, the ancient cycle of Jubilees is irrelevant; you start counting from the year the land was reclaimed. In this instance, the Year of Jubilee will start on October 1, 1997 (the Jewish New Year, the Feast of Trumpets, also known as the "last trump").

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1CO 15:51-52)

Will the rapture occur on Rosh Ha'Shanah in October? Will it occur sometime during the 1997-1998 year of Jubilee? No man knows the day or hour, but we can know the season, and it is not wrong to look into these things!

As Christians, we should be intensely interested in the time and circumstances of the Lord's return, so we are not surprised (1 Thes 5:4) or unprepared. (Math 25:1-13) After all, it is a subject that has interested some very credible groups:

1) The Prophets. In 1 Peter 1:1-10. text:

``Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow."

2) The Angels. The same passage in First Peter concludes:

``It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.''

3) The Disciples. In Matthew 24:1-3, we see that Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. ``Do you see all these things?'' he asked. ``I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.'' As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ``Tell us,'' they said, ``when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?''

It is not wrong to look into the time and circumstances of the return of Jesus Christ! Even Angels long to look into these things.

Let's also not forget that Jesus commanded us to watch and pray -- it was not a request:

"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (LUK 21:36)

Are you watching and praying? And are you longing, as Paul did, for the Lord's return so you also can say:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2TI 4:7-8)

Whether or not the rapture occurs this year, next year, or in the next Millenium, is not as important as your spiritual readiness for His return.

Are you ready?

In conclusion:

"Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." (AMOS 3:7)

This Scripture is all-inclusive. It verifies that God will do nothing without first revealing his plan to his prophets.

There has been more then one prophetic word this year that indicated that Jesus was coming for His church on this Rosh Ha'Shanah. They were incorrect. And, although I cannot endorse date setting, it was with anticipation, great hope and expectation, that I looked forward to Rosh Ha'Shanah recognizing that if it is not this year, it will be someday.

For your information, I will include the links to a couple of these predictions (below) that indicated that the rapture might occur on Rosh Ha'Shanah in 1997. These individuals recognized that "we see through a glass darkly," and that they might not have discerned correctly. To their credit, they were being faithful to speak out their convictions, in spite of the risk to reputation, for our consideration and judgment as all prophecy needs to be judged. In the final analysis, although they were wrong, if the end result was to cause repentance before that day, then all things will have worked together for the good of God.

Keep watching, praying, and looking up. And if the rapture does occur sometime during this year of Jubilee, I'll meet you in the air.

Maranatha, and may the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Christ, grant you His peace which transcends all human understanding.

God Bless you all!

Prophetic Links:

Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 2 Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 3
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