1. Return of Israel and budding of the fig tree -- this generation
Luke 21:29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
This prophecy sets a time frame of a generation which can be as long as 80 years for all things to be fulfilled. May 14th, 1948 to May 13th, 2028 for those who are strong, and for those who aren’t May 13th 2021. According to Moses a generation is 70 years, 80 if you are strong. But the rapture that takes place prior to the tribulation will then show up at least 7 years before that, so it would be by May 13th 2021. This is not “setting a date” rather making a logical conclusion based on a literal interpretation of this prophecy.
Great sign in Heaven -- Revelation 12:1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.,
Luke 21:25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.
This sign appeared September 23, 2017 which was also the Festival of Trumpets. The last time this sign appeared it was around 4,000 BC and is thought to be the sign for the prophecy that the woman’s seed would crush the serpent’s head and he would bruise His heel.
The festivals are a shadow of things to come --
Colossians 2:16 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. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Jesus was crucified on Passover as the Passover lamb. That week including the days Jesus was in the tomb celebrated the feast of unleavened bread. Jesus was raised from the dead as a celebration of the firstfruits. Then the church was born on the festival of Pentecost. So far every festival has been critical in the timing of these very significant events in God’s economy. It is quite reasonable that the next three festivals are also a shadow of things to come. Festival of Trumpets is the next major festival. People celebrate this by sounding the trumpet 100 times as an alert that the king is coming. This starts the ten days of awe concluded with the Day of Atonement -- God’s judgement. After this we have the Feast of tabernacles signifying the thousand year reign.
No one knows the day nor the hour -- This is idiom for the Festival of trumpets just as Turkey day would be understood by everyone in the US as the fourth thursday of November. The Festival of trumpets signifies the “birthday” of the human race. Israel’s year starts based on when they left Egypt, but this day is a day that applies to all creation, not just Israel. This word is in Mark but not in Luke. It appears that Luke is the gospel for those who are raptured in the first rapture and Mark refers to those who are left behind and are raptured in the middle of the tribulation. So this term is not referring to the first rapture but the second.
Mark 13:32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Luke 21:34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.
Again, just like the word to the church in Sardis, this warning does not make sense if we cannot know when that day is. You should see it coming and not allow yourself to be caught in the “trap”.
35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.36 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.”
The word of God is the light to my path. The way I watch every day is to get into the Bible every day and go to the Lord to see what He would say just as the priests would seek the Lord by having him shine a light on the ephod. The day that no one knows the day nor the hour refers to the festival of trumpets. On that day it begins when the two witnesses see and report that they have witnessed the new moon. Many thought the first rapture would occur on the festival of trumpets for this reason but then learned that Mark refers to those who are raptured mid tribulation while Luke refers to those taken in the first rapture and does not say this. If you have not seen this I have posted the discourse on this in a blog on this site called “Luke versus Mark -- Comparison and contrast of the two gospels”.
