Posted 1-11-02
I'm not very good at this. Maybe I didn't do it right, but here are my figures. Please check them to be sure. I tried to send you one picture, where Mercury, Venus and Saturn were clumped together on May 8, but it came up different, with a white grid. Anyway, we went to the same site:
http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/uncgi/Yoursky
I worked backwards, starting with May 18, 2002, Sivan 7, 5762. Sky above Jerusalem - 31°46'48"N 35°13'12"E.
May 18 - 4:00 - Saturn now in view, Mercury ahead of it - Sivan 7 - Pentecost
May 17 - 4:04 - same - Sivan 6 - Pentecost
May 16 - 4:08 - same
May 15 - 4:12 - same
May 14 - 4:16 - same, but Saturn eclipsed by the Moon
May 13 - 4:20 - same, no eclipse
May 12 - 4:24 - same
May 11 - 4:28 - same
May 10 - 4:32 - same, but Mars is appearing near Saturn
May 09 - 4:36 - same, including Mars
May 08 - 4:40 - Mars, Venus, Saturn in overlapping conjunction, Mercury ahead of them
May 07 - 4:44 - all the same
May 06 - 4:48 - all the same
May 05 - 4:52 - all the same
May 04 - 4:56 - about the same, but Venus is almost in front of the others
May 03 - 5:00 - about the same, but Venus is just about separated from the others
Blessings and agape
How about that snow? Years ago, when I was researching the time of Jesus' birth and Crucifixion, I ran across a picture of snow at Bethlehem. Once since that, I saw snow at Jerusalem. This time, I didn't see a picture, but I read about it. It snarled Jerusalem traffic good.
I think the close shaves we have with asteroids is so we can understand what is going to happen as the Millennium begins. Jer. 23:19,20 says, "Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider (biyn, understand) it perfectly." The whirlwind will probably cause the asteroid to hit Earth an oblique blow on an earlier pass, rather than let it hit us squarely later and cause a mass extinction event.
Those massive hits Jupiter took woke a lot of people up to the possibility that the same thing could happen to us. At least one dark spot was the size of our Earth. A blast like that would have split Earth apart.
Thanks for the URL. I am amazed at the speed this rock is travelling. I might have guessed 39,000 miles per hour, but this beat that by a lot. The article said, "Asteroid 2001 YB5, estimated to be 1,000 feet (300 meters) across, was traveling about 68,000 mph (108,000 kilometers per hour) relative to the Earth when it zipped past.
"It’s a fairly substantial rock. If it had hit us at that sort of speed, you would be taking out a medium-size country, France, I suppose, or Texas, or something of that order,"
Or Babylon. Besides that, the Earth is flying through space at a dizzying speed per second. It wouldn't take long to make up the distance between 2 rocks flying in space. If a rock crosses our orbit just 6 hours from when we arrive at that point, what could happen the next time around? Besides that, the rock gets 2 chances per orbit to hit us, once on the way to go around the Sun and once on the way back out to the other end of its cometary orbit. The diameter would be something like 3.3 football fields too. That's not one we want to tangle with. I'm sure glad the Lord has planned to get all the saints off this planet in time. Agape
Jasher 88:63 And when they were smiting, the day was declining toward evening, and Joshua said in the sight of all the people, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou moon in the valley of Ajalon, until the nation shall have revenged itself upon its enemies.
64 And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Joshua, and the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens, and it stood still six and thirty moments, and the moon also stood still and hastened not to go down a whole day.
65 And there was no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened to the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
May the Lord bless you and your family. Love
> > (Jasher) 64 And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Joshua, and the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens, and it stood still six and thirty moments, and the moon also stood still and hastened not to go down a whole day.
If the Sun only stood still 36 moments, I don't see how anyone would even notice that.
Joshua 10:13's "So the SUN stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day" makes more sense. Agape
It is mind-boggling to think that our generation alone is uniquely standing on the precipice of time and where no generation has ever stood. We are living in the days spoken of by the ancient prophets.
These prophets spoke of the Israelites being gathered back into their own land, in passages such as Ezekiel 37:21, "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land." This began in 1948. The "dry bones" of Ezekiel 37 have come alive.
As also prophesied, we are seeing the world turn against Israel. "On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations" (Zechariah 12:3). The catalyst for this is oil, or petro-dollars, causing the world to sell out tiny, democratic Israel to despotic Muslim nations for purposes of greed.
For these and many other reasons, is it any wonder that millions believe the return of Christ is so near? Polls show that even non-believers think the world is at such a point. This is the most exciting time in all history to be alive!
But when is He coming?
Just the question -- when? -- causes some Christians to cringe, protest, or even scoff! They quickly point out that Jesus said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man" (Matthew 24:36 KJV).
Some believers viciously condemn other believers who are seeking God's clues, either from the Scriptures or by personal revelation. It is interesting that it was apparently by personal revelation, not Scripture, that many people knew the exact day of Elijah's rapture (2 Kings 2)! Are there types in the Old Testament? Do God's principles repeat themselves?
The doubters may mention Paul's words that the day of the Lord will come like "a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). But many believers have so misunderstood these verses that they are oblivious to the times, not watching for the Lord as He commanded, and are often absorbed by the cares of this world and their own agendas.
As to Matthew 24:36, some scholars point out that Jesus' words here are in the present tense, addressed to His hearers at the time, and not to those alive at the end of the age when Daniel's vision would be unsealed (Daniel 12:9). This would be similar to Matthew 16:20: "Then he warned His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ." As evidence, many other Scriptures reveal to us that God will reveal at least the approximately time. (Even if the "day and hour" restriction is literally valid today, it may be because the Earth is in 24 time zones and always in two different days.)
GOD'S PROMISES OF REVELATION
1. It is clear that Jesus will not come as a "thief in the night" for watchful believers, because in the very same passage, verse 4, Paul tells us, "But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief." If we are trusting in Christ and looking for His coming, Paul said that even the very day does not have to surprise us!
2. Also, Jesus exhorted, "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief" (Revelation 3:3, KJV), saying He will come as a thief only to those not watching! It is obvious that for those watching, he will NOT come as a thief.
3. Jesus rebuked those who did not understand the signs of the times in His day: "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3).
4. Of the end of the age, Jesus said, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh"(Luke 21:28). He said we would know when it is near!
5. God said, "Surely the sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing it to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7, NIV). God said "nothing," and He did not exclude Christ's return. I take Him at His word.
6. God not only knows the end from the beginning, He tells us that He makes it known! "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come." (Isaiah 46:10). He has already made it known! I personally believe it has been hidden in His Word all along, to be unlocked in His timing. There is nothing wrong with seeking! No doubt, it pleases God.
7. God said, "I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee" (Isaiah 48:5, KJV).
8. Jesus said the Holy Spirit "will teach you all things" (John 14:26). He said "all things." Did Jesus make a mistake, forgetting to exclude when He will return? I don't think so.
There are other such passages. God clearly promised that we would know at least approximately when Christ will return, and even "the day" will not surprise us, as the Holy Spirit reveals through Paul!
In addition, there is ample precedent for God revealing specific times in advance.
1. He gave Noah advance notice of when the flood would be (Genesis 6,7).
2. He told Abraham how long the Israelites would be in Egypt (Genesis 15:13).
3. As mentioned, He revealed to many the very day of Elijah's rapture (2 Kings 2).
4. He told Jeremiah how long the Babylonian exile would be (Jeremiah 29:10).
5. He told Daniel exactly when Messiah would come the first time (Daniel 9:25-26).
6. Some, including the brilliant Sir Isaac Newton, believe this same passage holds the key to the timing of His return.
7. There is evidence that the Bible reveals the exact number of years of "the times of the Gentiles" and the exact span of time to Israel's rebirth in 1948 and the recapture of Jerusalem in 1967.
Obviously, leaving us clueless now would violate God's own established pattern as revealed in His Word!
Also obviously, we are not left clueless. There are many signs. Let us remain watchful and ready, and be found doing the Master's work.
Jim
Luke 8:16-18 says, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing (ou, absolute negative) is secret, that shall not be made manifest (phaneros, known); neither any thing hid, that shall not be known (ginosko, known absolutely) and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for WHOSOEVER HATH, TO HIM SHALL BE GIVEN; and WHOSOEVER HATH NOT, FROM HIM SHALL BE TAKEN EVEN THAT WHICH HE SEEMETH TO HAVE."
Luk 12:2 says, "For there is nothing covered (sugkalupto, concealed), that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known" (ginosko, known absolutely).
Mark 4:22-25 says, "For there is nothing (ou, absolute negative) hid, which shall not be manifested (phaneroo, RENDERED APPARENT); neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, TAKE HEED WHAT YE HEAR; WITH WHAT MEASURE YE METE, IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO YOU: and UNTO YOU THAT HEAR SHALL MORE BE GIVEN. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and HE THAT HATH NOT, FROM HIM SHALL BE TAKEN EVEN THAT WHICH HE HATH." Mar 13:23 say, "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you ALL THINGS."
All is foretold. All the clues we need are in the Bible, but who is able to figure it all out? Daniel 12:4 says, "shut up the words, and seal the book, even TO THE TIME OF THE END: many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED." Verses 9 and 10 say, "the words are closed up and SEALED TILL THE TIME OF THE END. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND."
We shouldn't take Mt. 24:36's "of that day and hour knoweth no man" as a shield to deflect these other scriptures, as some seem to do, even some ministers. These scriptures are too definite, the Lord's statements too repeated to ignore.
I John 2:18,20 says, "Little children, IT IS THE LAST TIME (maybe the last year, Rev. 12:6:14): and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that IT IS THE LAST TIME....But ye have an unction (chrisma, anointing) from the Holy One, and YE KNOW ALL THINGS."
Sometimes, to understand one passage of scripture, we need to look at similar accounts. Often there will be something mentioned in only one that we need to understand them all. The scriptures are here a little and there a little so that the unbelievers will not understand.
Isa 28:13 says, "the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."
Let's take a look at the different gospel accounts that mention the parable of the fig tree and see if anything new turns up.
Parable of the fig tree in Matthew
Mt. 24:32-37 says, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree (Israel, Joel 1:6,7; Hos. 9:10; Eze. 36:8; Jer. 24:5,6; 29:16,17); When his branch (klados, scion broken off for grafting, i.e., modern Israel grafted into her old rootstock) is yet tender (apalos, young, i.e., no more than 19, as when they came out of Egypt), and putteth forth leaves (Gaza Strip, Sinai, Golan Heights, West Bank, in the Six-Day War of 1967, when Israel was 19), ye know that summer is nigh (the war began June 5; summer began June 21): So likewise ye, when ye shall see all THESE THINGS (plural, summer, Israel growing leaves) , know that IT ('the kingdom of God,' Luke 21:31) IS NEAR, EVEN AT THE DOORS (symbol of the 2 Raptures, Rev. 3:8). Verily (amen, i.e., this is important) I say unto you, This generation (born in 1967) shall not pass, till all THESE THINGS (plural, 2 Raptures) be fulfilled."
When THESE THINGS (Israel growing leaves) happen, we should know that THESE THINGS (the Raptures) will take place within one generation. We also know that 1967 was the beginning of "this generation," because Israel could not be counted as young after she was 19 years old.
Continuing, "HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY, BUT my words shall not pass away."
Weymouth has, "Earth and SKY will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away." It is the heavens, the sky, that will pass away, not God's Heaven." 2Pe 3:7 (KJV) agrees. It says, "the HEAVENS and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment (Judgment Seat of Christ, 7 trumpet judgments) and perdition of ungodly men." 2Pe 3:10 says, "the DAY OF THE LORD will come (1st day) as a thief in the night; in the which the HEAVENS SHALL PASS AWAY with a great noise, and the ELEMENTS SHALL MELT with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
Continuing, "BUT of THAT DAY (singular, not the 2 Raptures, but when the heavens and earth shall pass away) and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, BUT my Father only. BUT as the days of Noe were, so shall also THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN be." In Noah's day, the Lord didn't come to Earth visibly. Noah was raised up by water, symbol of the Holy Spirit. Only water fell in Noah's day. This "coming of the Son of Man" is the Pre-Trib Rapture. The Pre-Wrath Rapture is as the days of Lot. Luke 17:29 tells us that it rained fire and brimstone the same day Lot was brought out of Sodom. The Pre-Wrath Rapture is just before the asteroids of Rev. 8:8,10 impact Earth. Fire and brimstone will rain down that day.
Parable of the fig tree in Mark
Mark 13:28-36 says, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see THESE THINGS (Israel growing leaves) come to pass, know that IT (the kingdom of God, Luke 21:31) is nigh, even at the doors (entrances, the 2 Raptures). Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all THESE THINGS (the 2 Raptures) be done."
According to Mt. 23:36, "this generation" referred to 40 years, 30 AD to 70 AD.
Continuing, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: BUT my words shall not pass away. BUT of THAT DAY and that hour knoweth (present tense) no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." No one knew that day, but I think we can probably know today.
Continuing, "Take ye (believers) heed, watch and pray: for ye (believers) know not when the TIME is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house (temple of the Holy Spirit, the church), and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. WATCH YE THEREFORE: FOR YE KNOW NOT WHEN THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE COMETH, AT EVEN, OR AT MIDNIGHT, OR AT THE COCKCROWING, OR IN THE MORNING: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." This doesn't say that we know not when the day is, only that we don't know what "TIME." The even is 6 PM. The cockcrowing is 3 PM. The morning is at 6 AM.
Parable of the fig tree in Luke
Luke 21:29-36 says, "Behold the fig tree (Israel), and all the trees (other nations); When they now shoot forth (proballo, push forward), ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see THESE THINGS come to pass, know ye that THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NIGH AT HAND. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." When the fig tree grows leaves, the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. When Jesus comes for his Bride, the kingdom of God is at hand.
Continuing, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: BUT my words shall not pass away. AND take heed to yourselves (believers), lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so THAT DAY (when 'the kingdom of God is at hand' at the Pre-Trib Rapture) COME UPON YOU UNAWARES. For as a snare shall IT (the Tribulation trial that shall come upon all the world, Rev. 3:10) come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. WATCH ye (believers) therefore, and PRAY ALWAYS, that ye may be ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS (of the Tribulation trial) that shall (after the Rapture) come to pass, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN" (at the Pre-Trib Rapture).
When will the kingdom of God be NIGH AT HAND? When Christ is revealed to his Bride. Notice that it doesn't say his kingdom has come on Earth. It doesn't say that his feet touch the Mount of Olives, either. The kingdom of God is truly NIGH AT HAND at the Pre-Trib Rapture. There is another Rapture and the Second Coming still to come after this age ends. The 2nd Rapture seems to be 7 months before the Second Advent (Eze. 39:12,13).
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ" is when the 1st Rapture is nigh at hand. It is "at hand" in both the 1st and last chapters of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:3; 22:10). Jesus signs off with "Surely I come quickly." He comes quickly to the Philadelphians. Rev. 3:8-11 says, "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an OPEN DOOR, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.... Because thou hast kept the word of my patience (hupomone, patient continuance, waiting), I also will keep thee from (ek, out of) the hour of temptation, which shall (after the Rapture) come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says, "Patience pa'-shens (hupomone, makrothumia): "Patience" implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. As such it is an essential Christian virtue to the exercise of which there are many exhortations. We need to "wait patiently" for God, to endure uncomplainingly the various forms of sufferings, wrongs and evils that we meet with, and to bear patiently injustices which we cannot remedy and provocations we cannot remove."
Rom 15:4 says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through PATIENCE and COMFORT of the scriptures might have HOPE." Agape
I can't recommend this to others. I believe that there are two trumps of God, not necessarily a split trump.
The type is found in Nu. 10:1-4. It says, "the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee TWO TRUMPETS of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them (plural, i.e., both), ALL the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with ONE TRUMPET, then the princes (12 elders), which are heads (rosh, first rulers) of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee."
I believe that there are TWO TRUMPS OF GOD to call a group of saints up. These trumps of God call up to Heaven the two groups of saints at the two Raptures, the Pre-Trib Rapture and the Pre-Wrath Rapture.
The I Thess. 4:16,17 group is"caught up together with them (the dead in Christ) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." John is part of this group of the dead in Christ. He will be "caught up together" with us to meet the Lord in the air after he receives his resurrection body. Paul will be with John. In 2Ti 4:7, Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." In Rev. 4:1,2, John hears Christ's voice like a trumpet talking to him. This first trumpet voice of God says, "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter (meaning hereafter the Pre-Trib Rapture). And immediately I was in the spirit."
In the Preview of the Rapture in Rev. 1, John hears the trumpet voice of Christ and when in Heaven, sees Christ in his glory with all seven churches (candlesticks, v. 20) around him. In Christ's hand are the star performers that he has just snatched up.
In Rev. 4:4, we see 24 elders seated on their thrones in Heaven. They are the 12 patriarchs of Israel and the 12 apostles of Israel. The elders are our representatives in the government of God. The 12 patriarchs of Israel represent the Old Testament saints. The 12 apostles represent the New Testament saints.
Paul is one of the elders (II Tim. 4:7). So is Peter (I Pet. 5:1). So is John (II John 1:1). Paul and Peter are caught up when John is caught up, when they hear Christ say, "Come up hither."
After the Rapture, our Representatives present our prayers, the prayers of their constituents, to God. Then the saints (constituents) sing a new song, saying, "Thou (Christ) art worthy to take the book (Title Deed of the Earth), and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood OUT OF EVERY KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE, AND NATION; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on (epi, over) the earth" (Rev. 5:9,10).
The elders, all Israelites, represent the saints "OUT OF EVERY KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE, AND NATION" in the government of God in Heaven before the first seal is broken on the Title Deed of the Earth.
The I Cor. 15:51,52 group caught up at the "LAST TRUMP" completes the heavenly Body of Christ. They are caught up between the breaking of the 6th and 7th seals. Rev. 13:13-15 says, "one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, THESE ARE THEY WHICH CAME OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."
The wise virgins represent those that go with the Bridegroom before the 1st seal on the Title Deed of the Earth is broken. They are caught up on the day that is like the days of Noah, when rain fell, but no fire fell. The foolish virgins represent those believers that are not wearing white robes of righteousness at the first trump. They will need to wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb (i.e., confess their sins, I John 1:9). Then they will be caught up as in the days of Lot, when fire fell that same day (Luke 17:29). That will be the Pre-Wrath Rapture.
On that day, the Sign of the Son of Man will be seen in the sky (Mt. 24:30; Rev. 6:14f). Mark 13:27 tells us what else will happen when the Sign of the Son of Man is seen. It says, "then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the EARTH (the Pre-Wrath Rapture) to the uttermost part of HEAVEN," where the wise virgins were taken in the Pre-Trib Rapture.
The day the Sign of the Son of Man is seen is not the day of the Second Advent. The sign is seen on the Day of God's Wrath. The Second Advent is still 7 months future (Eze. 39:12,13). Rev. 6:14-17 says, "the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; and who shall be able to stand?"
The Day of God's Wrath is the day of thick darkness (Joel 2:1-3). The day of the Second Advent is not a dark day. Zech. 14:6,7 says, "it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, NOR DARK: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light." Agape
Pro and Con 857 Or Return
Contact me for more information at: mjagee@pe.net
8641 Sugar Gum Rd, Riverside, CA 92508, USA; (909) 653-4110
© 1996-2001, Marilyn J. Agee
Updated 1-11-02