jasperdale
Numbers' Donkey
not even slightly dead
Posts: 136 
Favourite Verse: John 4:14
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Post by jasperdale on May 18, 2014 7:15:17 GMT
i know that a lot of people who are looking for our Lord to come pretty much are either of the "Pentecost" camp or the " Feast Of Trumpets" camp. plus, there is this whole thing with the "sign of Virgo" with the 12 stars on her head which is supposed to be a sign of the start of the second half of the tribulation.
i believe we should all be praying that as the days grow closer to these events, that all of our fellow believers try to keep things in perspective. i, for one, would LOVE for Jesus to come back in three weeks. my pain meds are not working hardly at all anymore, it is very hard to sleep, and we are down to one car and so it is impossible for me to look for a job during the day when my wife has the car for work. i feel sometimes like a caged animal in our small apartment.
and yes, i DO daydream of what it will be like when the Lord calls me home. however, there have been two times in the past 30 years that i got way overly "excited" about a particular "rapture date" in which all the signs pointed to a specific date. i just KNEW that all my problems were going to be solved on "such and such" a date. in fact, on one of the dates, i had the option to take an unpaid time off of work, and i did it, because i was SURE that i was not going to need the money at the end of the month for my car payment. (guess how that turned out.....  )
anyway, i truly do hope that the Lord Jesus will come and take us home this Pentecost. On the other hand, the Scriptures seem to indicate that the rapture is not so much date specific as it is "soul specific". when the last person in the world that is going to be in the body comes in, then up we go.
but there are a lot of truly sincere believers right now who are pinning all their hopes on some mighty big things happening in the next month. i've been where they are, and i know how exciting it is to think that all of our problems could just go away "poof".......and then we would be in the arms of Jesus.
but if we are called here for a bit longer, let's all say an extra prayer for our brethren who are putting all their hopes on 2014 as "the year".
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Post by Benjamin on May 18, 2014 8:25:50 GMT
I'm with you.
I'd be totally okay with a Pentecost Rapture (that's right, Lord, you have my permission. Ha.), though at the same time, I'm well aware that God neither operates on my schedule, nor will He call us home until every last piece is in place.
I feel that time is very short, and that the Rapture is quite literally 'just around the corner', but...
...at the same time, I'm well aware that feelings are subjective.
So, where does that leave us?
The same place we started when Jesus was here, I suppose. "Be ready".
The real difference is that we have the onrushing events of the Tribulation ahead, and the reformation of Israel behind... and those two crushing forces compel me to believe that time is rapidly running out. Any moment now...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2014 13:45:30 GMT
Well said Jasperdale. I think it is a good wake up message. I stopped believing in dates after being very disappointed twice. I know think that each day we could be raptured and live that way instead of setting a date in mind. I would love to go in the next second but at the same time you have to realistic. That said, I am still in the process of writing my left behind letter to my son which I am finding difficult to finish.
Like Benjamin, I too feel it is close. Every time I start naming what is happening now in the world in my mind, I get giddy and laugh. This is really it and it will be soon just maybe not on Pentecost.
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Post by lily on May 18, 2014 15:30:07 GMT
This is a very important thread for me, jasperdale. One of the things I struggle against is setting dates.
I've done it before, and I've been very disappointed. I know that the disappointment is my own fault, I know that I need to wait on God's perfect timing.
Like the others here, I do believe that time is short. I need to use my time wisely by helping those who are not saved learn the truth. This will be a better use of my time rather than trying to figure out the exact date of the rapture, and hopefully I'll be more successful at it as well.
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jasperdale
Numbers' Donkey
not even slightly dead
Posts: 136
Favourite Verse: John 4:14
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Post by jasperdale on May 18, 2014 22:30:51 GMT
lily, i can understand how you feel. from my personal perspective, we ARE living in the last of the last days. and yet, i remember over 25 years ago, thinking the very same thing. i remember going to a "prophecy revival" and a guy had all sorts of charts and was adamant that we would be way in the 1,000 year reign by the year 2000. i mean, i seriously would have laughed at someone in the face if they told me that we would still be here in 2014. 2014? that's a lifetime away from 1985..............and yet, for Jesus, it is but a breath of time. so, yes, i too am hopeful that we will see our Lord very very soon. one of the main reasons i find the times today so compelling has to do with how people are all connected now through technology and how a world leader could literally speak to everyone via their cell phone. plus, we ARE the generation that has seen Israel become a nation, so the clock can only tick for so long before the antichrist appears on the scene. in times like these, i have to remind myself how blessed i am to have the Holy Spirit to lean on. He is our Comforter during our time on this earth. one day soon, Jesus WILL come and take us home.  |
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Post by morningstar on May 18, 2014 23:03:41 GMT
Total agreement with you all, like you Jasperdale, I too would have laughed at anyone if they even suggested that we would be here in 2014, but I stop and think.....Here we are and the years seem to be but drops in a bucket, time has flown by and we are witnessing things now that I never would have dreamed of seeing 20 years ago, one day it will all end, and now more than ever I believe His coming is right at the door.
I have no doubt, that we ARE the generation that will be alive for His Return, and that is more of a conviction than just a feeling..for some reason I know this deep in my spirit, and I don't believe anyone or anything could shake that belief.
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Post by Benjamin on May 18, 2014 23:09:04 GMT
I think Israel is the key.
I know we say that a lot, but if you had to point to a distinction between 1985 and 2014, what would it be? There are many distinctions, of course - gay marriage, continued decline in marriage and in marriages that stay together, violence, murder, and so on and on... but politically?
- Russian Imperialism pressing toward the Middle East
- Russia currently supplying key Ezekiel 38 nations with weapons (Iran, Lybia, Turkey, Ethiopia)
- Psalm 83 nations potentially aligned for a joint strike (this has not been the case previously)
- The rise of nuclear weapons (hinted at in Ezekiel 38/39)
- The rise of chemical weapons (hinted at in Isaiah 17)
- the push toward the construction of a third temple
- the rapid decline of the US
I could go on, and on, and on - but these are all key tribulation events. In 1985, the chess pieces weren't aligned for the Tribulation. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Rapture couldn't have occurred in 1985, of course, but what it DOES mean is that we can see a horizon rapidly approaching. The world, geopolitically, is in a state that mirrors that of the Tribulation. It's just waiting for two events to occur: the rapture, and the rise of the Antichrist.
Any moment now...
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Post by shiloh on May 19, 2014 0:33:19 GMT
I agree and I know I sound like a broken record but I don't believe we CAN know the date of the rapture. It could very well happen before a feast day, and happen a regular day. The feasts (in my opinion) have always been for Israel and will be fulfilled for Israel (save Pentecost). Even though, we can know we are in the season, which Benjamin pointed out in his post. Look at everything that is happening and so quickly lining up with the prophetic Word of God.
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jasperdale
Numbers' Donkey
not even slightly dead
Posts: 136
Favourite Verse: John 4:14
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Post by jasperdale on May 19, 2014 6:53:00 GMT
Benjamin, you are right, it is easy to look back in time and see how things were not ready yet. my concern sometimes is that we are all so anxious for Jesus to return, that we may be premature just like those who thought the time was at hand 30 years ago. however, we know that a generation can only be for so long. shiloh, right now i am probably leaning 60/40 in your direction. but is still can see why the rapture could occur on a feast day. you know what would solve this problem? for Jesus to come and take us away right now! maranatha, come Lord Jesus! |
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Post by shelayne on May 19, 2014 13:16:56 GMT
I think Israel is the key. I know we say that a lot, but if you had to point to a distinction between 1985 and 2014, what would it be? There are many distinctions, of course - gay marriage, continued decline in marriage and in marriages that stay together, violence, murder, and so on and on... but politically? - Russian Imperialism pressing toward the Middle East - Russia currently supplying key Ezekiel 38 nations with weapons (Iran, Lybia, Turkey, Ethiopia) - Psalm 83 nations potentially aligned for a joint strike (this has not been the case previously) - The rise of nuclear weapons (hinted at in Ezekiel 38/39) - The rise of chemical weapons (hinted at in Isaiah 17) - the push toward the construction of a third temple - the rapid decline of the US I could go on, and on, and on - but these are all key tribulation events. In 1985, the chess pieces weren't aligned for the Tribulation. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Rapture couldn't have occurred in 1985, of course, but what it DOES mean is that we can see a horizon rapidly approaching. The world, geopolitically, is in a state that mirrors that of the Tribulation. It's just waiting for two events to occur: the rapture, and the rise of the Antichrist. Any moment now... That is what I tell anyone that asks me why I believe we are really in the last, last days-- Israel is the key. Look to the Middle East to see how everything is lining up with Scripture. Boom. It really is breathtaking. On the other hand, I went to McDonald's the other morning, and my receipt was $11.11. Then I saw it again a few minutes later.  I kid, I kid. I just remember a few years ago everyone was talking about elevens everywhere and were certain that it meant something. Let's just say I wasn't holding my breath. I know that once you pick out a certain something as significant, your mind will pick up on it everywhere. It's the way our minds work. And they are extremely malleable. None of that matters anyway, as everyone is saying, this is in God's timing, not ours. Though, Father, we are ready ANY TIME You are!  |
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Post by Benjamin on May 19, 2014 22:51:39 GMT
On the other hand, I went to McDonald's the other morning, and my receipt was $11.11. Then I saw it again a few minutes later. Don't make me kick you under the table. |
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Post by shelayne on May 19, 2014 23:39:54 GMT
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Post by lavoietheway on May 19, 2014 23:49:46 GMT
I can't believe I posted aboutt the same topic! Sorry about that.
I believe that FoT is most likely, especially since Pentecost is fulfilled. On the other hand, whose to say how many times a Feast can be fulfilled.
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jasperdale
Numbers' Donkey
not even slightly dead
Posts: 136
Favourite Verse: John 4:14
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Post by jasperdale on May 20, 2014 12:28:59 GMT
I can't believe I posted aboutt the same topic! Sorry about that. I believe that FoT is most likely, especially since Pentecost is fulfilled. On the other hand, whose to say how many times a Feast can be fulfilled. |
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Post by shiloh on May 23, 2014 4:07:42 GMT
I always figured that since Jesus fulfilled the other Jewish feasts FOR the Jews that He would fulfill the remaining ones FOR the Jews. I can't see how even one of the Jewish feasts fits in with the church. We are seperate, neither Jew nor Gentile.
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