"Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, at what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory... "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Luke 21:29-33

In Conclusion

I would be last to say that I know for sure the day of the rapture or the day Jesus will return to the earth to rule, and nothing in this Bible study should be construed as a prediction of a certain date. However; I do believe that christians, who are praying and led by the Holy spirit, will know with greater certainty as the season of His return approaches. I know that many people will continue to believe that the Bible teaches that we can not know the day or the hour of the rapture, and that is fine with me. I am not attempting to force change on anyone. However, I believe that the scriptures I have quoted, conclusivly show that christians who are "living in the Light" will not be surprised by the rapture. Because they are praying and alert, that day will not surprise them like it will surprise the rest of the world. Furthermore, when Jesus said "no one knows the day or the hour", I believe the scriptures show He was talking about His physical return to rule after the seven year Tribulation.

I also believe that Rosh Hashanah and fifty days before and after are very significant each year. At Christ's first coming, God chose to fulfill the first four feasts. Therefore, I believe that the last three feasts will be paramount in Jesus' return to set up the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus might not come during the feasts, but I choose to believe, with the Apostle paul, that these feasts were put in scripture as pictures or shadows that God is using to teach us about His plan.

God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins, having canceled the written code, nailing it to the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Colossians 2:17

Christians should take note of these celebrations that God commanded. We should study them to see what God is teaching us through them, because they are pictures for us of things yet to come.

THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGN TO WATCH FOR IS WHEN ISRAEL ACCEPTS A TREATY CONCERNING THE "STATUS OF JERUSALEM"

these days surrounding the feasts seem especially significant in the years 1998 - 2005, and overwhelmingly significant as the time approaches when Israel will sign the peace treaty that was foretold long ago by Daniel.

He (the Anti-Christ) will confirm a covenant with many for one `seven' (seven years) In the middle of the `seven' (three and one half years later) he will put an end to sacrifice and offering (he will break the agreement). And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination (an idol) that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. Daniel 9:27 (emphasis mine)

I believe this "covenant" spoken of by Daniel, will be the treaty that settles who will rule Jerusalem. Will Jerusalem be governed by Jewish people, will it become the capital of a new Palestinian state, or will it become a divided city similar to the former East and West Berlin? I personally believe, from scripture and history, that this treaty will be a "land for peace deal" and Jerusalem will likely be divided by the "Man of Sin"

and he... shall divide the land for gain." Daniel 11:39

Most people will accept the anti-christ as a great leader who will bring peace to the world, but God tells us before hand, that he will be the most evil person to ever exist.

The most important sign

At this writing, the "peace" talks with Israel are stalled, but I believe that international pressure will drive Israel to negotiate even if it is against their national interests. I also believe that the treaty talks, might be very similar to the events leading up to the Munich Pact agreement as discussed earlier. Just as Hitler threatened war, the future threat of war might be the driving force against Israel to negotiate this treaty. Also, as in the case of the Munich Pact, I believe that the treaty will be agreed to on a future Rosh Hashanah and signed a few days later. Since these are my own conclusions, I believe it is important to leave a fifty day window on each side of Rosh Hashanah as noted earlier.

Many news commentators believe that Israel will never continue with the peace process, but the Bible says that one day Israel will agree to this treaty or possibly have it forced upon them. They might even agree to the dividing of Jerusalem, since the agreement will be guaranteed by powerful world rulers. In the end, it turns out to be a false peace brokered by the anti-christ himself. I believe this based on the Bible versus I have quoted. I also believe the conclusions based on how we have seen that God has worked in human history, and especially how we have seen that God allows some of the most spectacular events to take place during the Feasts of Israel.

The conclusions above are my own thoughts, I being human might have misinterpreted any of the the facts, so only go to God when you need the absolute truth in any matter.

UPDATE SUMMER, 2000

At present the talks concerning the status of Jerusalem are being conducted at Camp David USA. I will write more comments when I learn the details

UPDATE FALL, 2000

The camp David talks broke down because Arafat was not willing to accept 95% of everything he asked for.

EXACTLY ON THE BEGINNING OF ROSH HASHANAH 2000, VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN ISRAEL CENTERING ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT AND THEN SPREADING. I do not know if this present violence is significant, but we should watch the situation for the occurance of prophetical themes. The attention of the world is on Israel, and I believe that these events did not coincide with the feast of Rosh HaShanah by chance.

UPDATE MAY 27, 2001

During this Bible study I have focused on Rosh HaShana as the biblical feast that most seemed to picture the rapture or translation of the church into heaven. I have recently come accross some information that seems to support the belief that pentacost or "Shavuot" may actually be the feast of the catching away of the church. I personally do not yet have an firm opinion, however, I present the following information for my readers.

There have been three raptures that have already taken place.

1. Jesus

2. Elijah

3.Enoch

1. Jesus rose in heaven approximately seven days before Pentacost. It was at that pentacost (Shavuot) that the Holy spirit was poured out and this marks the official Birthday of the Church.

2.Last fall I took two weeks vacation, and I was able to spend much time in prayer. One morning about 3:00 AM, during heart felt prayer, I asked our Father to reveal His truth to me by His Holy Spirit. I felt impressed to read about the translation of Elijah into Heaven. I did not know exactly where to begin, so I backed up to the beginning of Second Kings. There I read about how the King of Israel was angry with Elijah and the King sent an army officer and fifty men to capture Elijah. The story is worth reading, but I was just seeing what hapened before elijah was translated. The story uses the word "FIFTY" around eighteen times. It finally dawned on me that just MAYBE this is a is a "strong hint" from God that Elijah was raptured near the time of Pentacost. Remember Pentacost means to count fifty. Other than this possible referance to "fifty" I have not found other referances to the time of year that Elijah was taken to Heaven

3. Just a few days ago I learned from a book that according to Jewish tradition, Enoch was translated to heaven on pentacost ( Shavuot ). The book is called "living in the final chapter" by Perry stone and bill cloud; page 68(1999) www.perrystone.org

M.J. Agee writes: "Enoch was a type of the first Rapture. He is said to have been born and raptured on Sivan 6. If I remember right, that is found in the Book of Enoch. Also, H.L. Ginzberg, wrote in "The Legends of the Jews", that according to Israels's oral tradition, Enoch was raptured--taken to heaven on the very day of Pentecost. Gen. 5:24 says, "And Enoch walked with God: and WAS NOT; for God TOOK him." In Talmudic tradition, not only was Enoch raptured on Pentecost, he was also BORN on Pentecost. The church was born on Pentecost, and Enoch is a type of the Rapture of the Church. This suggests that the Rapture will also be on Pentecost." M.J. Agee

UPDATE JUNE 16, 2001

Will Jerusalem and the Temple mount will be shared?

On the radio program Politics and religion with host Irvin Baxter, the view has been stated that the Temple mount may end up being shared between the Jews and the Muslims.

Revelation 11:1

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months".

John is told to measure the Temple, but not the outer court or the city, because it has been given to the gentiles for three and one half years. In the video "The coming last days Temple" by Randall Price, I have also seen prelimenary sketches, by Jewish architechs,Of the Temple mount showing a rebuilt Temple stand side by side with the Dome of the Rock muslim shrine. If this were to become reality, that may answer why John was told not to measure the outer court because the muslim shrine would take up the traditional space of the outer court. Also, we are told that the gentiles will trample Jerusalem for three and one half years. Some reports say that the present peace talks are favoring making Jerusalem an international city for all faiths governed by the United Nations.

Moreover, some believe that the "Jerusalem Covenant" might be the covenant mentioned in the book of Daniel that the Antichrist confirms.

UPDATE OCTOBER 5, 2001

As Rosh HaShanah approached this year, I remember thinking that everything seemed calm in the world. Nothing seemed to be happening to spur on the "peace" talks in Isreal. And, then all of a sudden, the situation changed when terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center in New York. This all happened, seven days before Rosh HaShanah, and on the day of Rosh HaShanah, September 18, 2001, a new U.S. brokered cease fire accelerated by the new "war on terrorism" Now these events seem to be a catylist to a wide range of events in the Middle East. As these events occur I'll give more updates.

UPDATE OCTOBER 2001

ARIEL SHARON COMPARES ISRAEL TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA

In response to efforts by the United States to gain support from Arab nations for a world-wide coalition against terrorism, Israeli Premier Arial Sharon expressed the concern of his people that abandonment of Israel might be the price the U.S. might pay for Moslem support. Recalling how England and France sacrificed Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany in the 1930s in a futile attempt to appease Hitler, Sharon declared that Israel "will not be Czechoslovakia". He further warned President Bush, "Do not try to appease the Arabs at our expense." As should be expected, President Bush took exception to Sharon's comments. Unfortunately, the metaphor is quite apt. Many others believe that appeasement of the Arabs is indeed in Bush's agenda. [Los Angeles Times] 7 October 2001

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2003

UPDATE JULY 2005

I HAVE WRITTEN A MAJOR ADDITION TO THIS ORIGINAL BIBLE STUDY. IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN DISCOVERED THAT THE GENERATION OF MOSES DID WANDER IN THE DESERT EXACTLY 14,000 DAYS. THIS CONFIRMS THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES A 14000 DAY GENERATION. WATCH FOR OCTOBER 4, 2005 AS A VERY SPECIAL DAY ON GOD'S CALENDAR. THERE IS A EASY TO SEE LINK AT THE TOP OF PAGE ONE.

Are you part of the "Bride of Christ?