Jim's Eschatological Info

As I write this post, it’s early December, the start of the Christmas “advent” season. Christmas is, of course, a celebration of Jesus’ first coming. But it also should be a reminder that Jesus is coming soon in a second “advent”, not as a suffering servant, but a conquering King.

Prior to Jesus’ first coming 2000 years ago, God’s chosen nation of Israel had ample evidence that their Messiah’s appearing was at hand. Angels appearing to shepherds, Zacharias, Anna, and Simeon in the temple, the star of Jacob, slaughter of the innocents, Magi from the east, and of course, John the Baptist. Note that these include fulfilled prophecy, personal testimony, ministry of a bonafide prophet, as well as cosmic signs. Of course, we can’t leave out the signs worked by Jesus Himself during His 3+ years of ministry. “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” (John 14:11). However, only a small percentage of Jews interpreted the signs accurately. The so-called lawyers (Sadducees, Pharisees, and Scribes) should have known better. In addition to ignoring the above, they ignored the direct statement in Daniel that after 69 weeks of years from Cyrus’s order to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, Messiah would be cut off. (Daniel 9:25). This was a simple countdown to their Messiah, fulfilled to the exact date by Jesus.

Because of their abject failure to recognize Jesus when He came, severe judgement came on them. It came just as Jesus prophesied concerning Jerusalem: “For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground, and they will not leave one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:43-44). The result of that judgment is still in effect for Jews today.

The obvious conclusion from the above is that just as Jesus expected those that were His to determine the time of His first coming, He will expect us to discern the time of His second coming. And this time, the signs are and will be much more obvious, wide-spread, and pronounced, so we shouldn’t miss them. Just as the Jewish leaders should have trusted the prophecies of Daniel, so should we. In fact, Jesus instructed us to read the prophet Daniel so we could understand the timing of the AOD (abomination of desolation) in relation to its position in the 70th week. (Matthew 24:15). The appearance of this AOD is a specific time marker no Christian should miss. Also, like His first coming we will have the ministry of bonafide prophets, but two of them this time. (Revelation chapter 11). Of course, we have the witness of the entire bible with all the prophecies of the coming Messiah at our fingertips. Specifically, we have the teaching of Jesus Himself at the Mount of Olives where He laid out the whole sequence of events just prior to His coming beginning with events leading up to Daniel’s 70th week right up to the cosmic signs just before His arrival.

Jesus was very specific in His direction to us to watch for these signs so that we are prepared for His coming and the horrific events that precede it. After teaching His disciples He said this: “What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37). This is a direct command to all who would follow Him, a command we all need to take seriously. He gave us this warning In Revelation; “Be watchful…. if you will not watch, I will come to you as a thief in the night, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” (Revelation 3:2-3).

Yes, just as in His first coming, Jesus expects those that are His to discern the time of His coming. If we don’t, we can expect judgment that may result in a closed door for entry into His kingdom. Let’s not make the same mistakes most of Israel made 2000 years ago. Study your bibles. Learn of all the prophecies concerning the second coming. Pay attention to all that’s happening in our world, particularly what is happening in Israel and the Middle East. Most importantly, let’s not ignore Jesus’s command to ‘Watch’!

The purpose of this website is to provide you with the help you need to keep abreast of prophetic events as they are fulfilled. Included here are many previous posts, articles and even a link to a comprehensive book detailing the sequence and synchrony of last days events. Simply scroll down to find them. Subscribe to this blog and I’ll try my best to keep you informed as we watch these end-time events unfold.

Maranatha, Jim

The prophet Isaiah in chapter 28:1-22 gives a blunt warning to Israel and the leaders in Jerusalem about entering into agreements for peace and security with foreign entities rather than simple reliance on their God.

“Hear the word of the Lord you scornful men who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, because you have said, ‘we have made a covenant with death‘, and with sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.” (Isaiah 28: 14-15).

Consider Israel’s current situation. They have recently concluded or are in the process of concluding several wars with an Islamic “ring of fire” including Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and other entities in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Their victories can easily fill them with a pride of military power that Isaiah describes as “drunkenness” through which they err. (verses 7&8). (In reality, their results are not from their own perceived power, but power given by God). They are now signatories of a 20- point peace plan concerning Gaza that was unanimously approved by the UN security council. Several more Islamic neighbors are leaning toward shortly signing peace agreements with Israel, joining the so-called Abraham Accords. Their victories and peace accords are potentially leading to a false sense of security.

Even though they have God’s word concerning these types of covenants, Isaiah says they are like children in learning, not yet mature in knowledge “that they might fall backward and be broken and snared and caught.” (verse 13).

If they continue down this road, Isaiah says they will have “hidden themselves under falsehood” (verse 15). “Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with sheol will not stand; when the overflowing scourge passes through, you will be trampled down by it.” (verse 18). Several other places in the scriptures warn Israel about making covenants with other nations such as: “You shall make no covenant with them….” (Exodus 23:32), “You shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them.” (Deuteronomy 7:2), “And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land.” (Judges 2:2).

Although most bible commentators point to a fulfillment of these Isaiah prophecies in his day involving Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon, a modern-day fulfillment is more likely. This is due to the Messianic verses 16 & 21. The “scourge that passes through” will likely be the antichrist and his allies and any covenants Israel may have with their neighbors will be empty and void. Their “covenant with death” will be truly annulled. Their eventual deliverance will be from the hand of God-see Micah 5:5-6.

Israel is approaching a time in their modern history when peace and safety will be oft-spoken bywords. (See my post: “When They Say,’Peace and Safety!’Then Suddenly…” – Jim’s Eschatological Info“) However, Israeli leaders need to cease reliance on peace treaties or alliances with other countries to provide for their security and continued existence. Instead, they need to rely soley on the God of their patriarchs. Any covenants with their Islamic neighbors, because of Islamic law and doctrine, can only result in eventual hostility to their very existence and abject failure. In making these covenants they are, perhaps unknowingly, as Isaiah prophesied, making covenants with death.

Maranatha, Jim

Jesus’s parable of the ten virgins gives us a mirror of what the church will look like just before His return. That is now, at the present time! I recently wrote an article detailing this parable. Following is a link to this article for your perusal. Let me know what you think. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QWFSnOLMCoJusK-4-Zsf6dkqjgFwnjJE8TjwYi3sZl0/edit?usp=sharing

Maranatha, Jim

Another term being bandied about in the news these days is “Christian Zionism”. We need to know what this is all about so that we can solidify our position based on the bible, not journalistic anti-Israel posturing. To simplify, Zion represents Jerusalem and a Zionist is one who recognizes the Israeli right to retain Jerusalem as their eternal capital. That, of course is biblical. Because I believe the bible that makes me a Zionist, and as I am a Christian, that makes me a “Christian Zionist”.

The publication Israel 365 News recently featured two articles that discuss this issue of Christian Zionism. Together, they do a good job of presenting why we should be aware and concerned. You can read them here: No, Tucker, Christian Zionism is NOT Christian heresy! – Israel365 News; Uncovering the Lies in Christian Discourse on Israel – Israel365 News

The wide-ranging criticism of Christian Zionism exemplifies the eschatological status of modern Israel. The prophet Zechariah says this about the last days we are living in: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal.” (1:14). “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples.” (12:2-3). The main-stream criticism of Christian Zionism is clear fulfillment of prophecy coming to pass increasingly as the time of our Lord’s return draws near.

Maranatha, Jim

After schooling His apostles about all the events surrounding His return to set up His kingdom, Jesus said in parabolic form “But know this; that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.“ (Luke 12:39). The idea here is that from what Jesus told them they were to get ready for His coming by determining what “watch” of the night (season) He was coming. Otherwise, their house would indeed be broken into by the “Thief”-not a good thing to happen. (For an analysis of Jesus coming as a Thief in the night see: A Thief in the Night – Jim’s Eschatological Info).

In the last four posts, I presented four scenarios where the bible predicts this season of Jesus’s return. While individually, they may seem somewhat circumstantial, taken together they present a strong case. God requires in judicial proceedings more than one witness: “by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15). Therefore, we should expect God to give us more than one way to calculate the general time of His arrival. And He has. The mathematical odds that four individual biblical scenarios would all arrive at the same general time frame are overwhelming.

I hope that reading this series of posts will make you aware of the apocalyptic time frame we are living in and will spur you on to more and deeper study of eschatological scripture as well as watching developing events in our world, particularly those concerning Israel. We need to be fully aware of what God is doing in our time. This is essential to fulfill Jesus’ command to “watch” (Mark 13:37). I’ve published a book to help you follow last days events. These four scenarios are presented in an epilogue at the end of the book. You can get a copy here: Last Days Events: Sequence and Synchrony: Weinert, J D: 9798858723684: Amazon.com: Books

Paul’s description of alert Christians is apt for us: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians: 4-6).

Maranatha, Jim

This will be the fourth consecutive post positing four scenarios that foretell the “season” of Jesus’s return. Taken together, they present a convincing chronological pattern for us to consider. This one concerns the Jubilee Calendar.

Jubilee Calendar

God’s proscribed timekeeping for the Jews includes the Jubilee Calendar, another internal biblical confirmation of a 6000- year period preceding the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ. In Genesis 6:3 Moses records: “And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years’.” Bible expositors typically connect this verse with God limiting man’s lifespan, or the time span to the flood. Neither suffice, however, as man’s life expectancy never settled on 120 years, and God’s statement was given between Noah’s 500th and 600th year, short of 120 (Genesis 5:32, 7:6). What, then, was God stating? The word “man” in this verse is Adam in Hebrew which means “mankind”- all the human race in general. It is clear, then, that the period of time God is referring to is the span of time He continues to “strive” (contend) with mankind. He was striving with man in Noah’s day and continues to strive with man to the present. And He will continue to contend with mankind until His Son sets up His Kingdom. Therefore, the “120 years (man’s days)” must refer to something other than 120-24hr days or 120- 1000-year days discussed previously. These would be unsupportable extremes. Yet, the 120 years must cover the period from the fall to the kingdom. To understand what timing mechanism God may be referring to, we need to look at the standard for timekeeping given to Moses and the Israelites. In Leviticus 25 God commanded Israel to farm their land for 6 years, then rest on the seventh (sabbath year) and repeat this for seven cycles. After seven cycles (49 years) they were to celebrate an additional sabbath, a 50th year, or as He called it, a Jubilee year. This Jubilee year was the longest time cycle (50 years) commanded by God to be kept. Knowing that, let’s assume that back in Genesis, even though it was before His Levitical command, God was speaking of His future Jubilee cycle when He spoke of 120 years. If that was the case, 120 x 50 equals 6000 years! Fits perfectly! In fact, it fits so perfectly that use of this chronology results in: Noah’s death and Abraham’s birth in the 2000th year (40th jubilee year), the exodus on the 50th (a jubilee of jubilees), Cyrus’ decree to release the Jews from Babylon on the 70th jubilee (beginning of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy), along with other “coincidences”.

This chronology predicts six millennia from Adam’s fall in the garden to Christ’s second coming-a perfect fit with the three other scenarios described in previous posts. Use of this calendar may just be the key that alerts us to the season of Jesus’s return. In my next post, I’ll look at the collective significance of these four scenarios and what it likely means for us.

Maranatha, Jim

The Jews experienced a second major exile from the promised land in 70 AD when Jerusalem including the temple was completely destroyed by the Romans. This destruction and desolation were prophesied by Jesus and resulted in the Jewish population being scattered among the gentile nations. The duration of this exile was enumerated in prophetic form in Leviticus chapter 26.

Time From the Second Exile

The prophet Daniel said two things must happen after the 69 weeks (when Messiah comes) but before the final or 70th week. (Daniel 9:26) The Messiah would be cut off (crucified) and Jerusalem would be destroyed and desolated. Hence the “gap” or desolation of Jerusalem between the 69th and 70th weeks. This gap, then, constitutes the second exile of the Jews from their homeland, the first being the Babylonian exile. The Babylonian exile was for 70 years while the land enjoyed her sabbaths (2 Chron. 36:21). Since the 70th week is yet future, the question is: how long is this current exile to last? If we can determine that, we can determine when the last seven years prior to the coming Kingdom of Christ will start. Leviticus 26 gives us a clue. God, through Moses prophesied the first exile judgment if they would not obey Him (Lev. 26:14-17). This resulted in the first exile of 70 years. He then says in the next verse “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.” (Lev 26:18) This would mean 7 x 70 or 490 years. But God does not stop there. He adds a second “seven times more” in verse 21, a third in verse 24, and a fourth in verse 27. All this again so that the land could enjoy her sabbaths (verse 34). So, what does this add up to? 7 x 70 + 7 x 70 + 7 x 70 + 7 x 70 =1960 years total. The destruction and desolation of Jerusalem is well established to have occurred in 70 AD. Therefore adding 1960 to AD 70 comes to-you guessed it, 2030! However, note that under this calculation, the start of Jacob’s trouble (Daniel’s 70th week) begins in 2030. This would place the year of Jesus’ second coming in 2037. Of course, this assumes that the date for Jerusalem’s destruction of 70 AD is correct.

This scenario gives support to the previous two posts revealing a very similar “season” of Jesus’s return. My next post will give a fourth chronological clue confirming this timing.

Maranatha, Jim

Presented here is the second of four biblical constructs that predict a season when we can expect Jesus to return. All four are detailed in epilogue form in my book “Last Days Events-Sequence and Synchrony”. This one is found in the Old Testament Book of Hosea chapters 5 and 6.

Hosea Prophecy

This remarkable passage in Hosea is very concise and relevant. “For I (Jesus) will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to my place (ascension), till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek my face; in their affliction (tribulation) they will earnestly seek Me. Come and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up (resurrection), that we may live in His sight.” (Hosea 5:14 – 6:2)

Many bible commentators say that this refers to the Assyrian destruction of the northern kingdom (Israel) in Hosea’s day but notice that it concerns Judah as well. It clearly describes a time future to Hosea. In my analysis, God, through Hosea, is saying this: I’m going to destroy Israel and Judah (Judea and Jerusalem) and I am going away to my place. Total destruction came upon Jerusalem in 70 AD shortly after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven. He went back to His place (seated at the right hand of the Father). The Jews were carried off as slaves to the nations. There they still remain in significant numbers (the diaspora) till they acknowledge their offense and earnestly seek Him. Note that they will do this in their affliction (tribulation). God will revive them “after two days”. On the third day He will raise (resurrect) them to life in His sight (presence). This, of course, will happen on the day of the Lord, when He returns and resurrects all His saints. According to this text, note when it happens; After two days! Two days from His ascension. Two days here cannot mean 48 hours. We, again, must use the Lord’s reckoning of a day as a thousand years. The third day represents the seventh millennium, Christ’s kingdom on earth. The resurrection takes place on the last day of this age prior to the kingdom. So, it follows then, that 2000 years from the crucifixion is Jesus’ second coming. Again, with the assumption that the crucifixion took place in 30 AD 30 + 2000 = 2030. As I mentioned in the previous post, the seven-year tribulation may be an add-on.

Indeed, quite a detailed prophecy providing further confirmation of the general time period of Jesus’ second advent. This prophesied 2000- year period is most likely the “gap” between Daniel’s 69th and 70th week (Daniel 9:26). In the next post, we’ll look at another description of this gap which will help us discern the time of His coming.

Maranatha, Jim

An epilogue in my book “End Time Events-Sequence and Synchrony” details four separate constructs that taken together present a strong case for predicting the season of Jesus’s return. It’s essential that we determine the time of His coming as closely as possible so we are wisely prepared with our lamps lit and are not surprised as will be the rest of the world when He comes as a “thief in the night.” (Matthew 24:43, 1 Thessalonians 5:4, Revelation 3:3). Over the next several posts, I’ll reproduce these four prophetic scenarios. All these are in addition to the “signs” Jesus gave us to watch for. The first scenario is commonly referred to as the “millennial sabbath theory”.

The first eschatological framework concerning the timing of Jesus’ 2nd advent I’m going to briefly discuss is called the “Millennial Sabbath”. Simply stated it is the idea that the period from creation to the eternal state is a span of seven thousand years, with the last one thousand years constituting Christ’s Kingdom here on the earth. The most reliable Bible chronologists (IMO) agree, noting creation to Abraham as 2000 years, Abraham to Christ’s crucifixion as 2000 years, the crucifixion to Christ’s return another 2000 years, followed by a Kingdom reign of 1000 years, a seventh or sabbath millennium. This millennial sabbath is based on the statements in Psalms and Peter that a day with the Lord is as a thousand years. This is confirmed in Genesis where Adam was warned that he would die in the “day” he ate of the forbidden fruit. Obviously, he didn’t die in that 24 -hour day but returned to dust just prior to 1000 years of life. It’s also based on Paul’s writing in Hebrews chapter 4 about entering God’s rest which is compared to God’s seventh day of creation where He rested. Paul states that there remains a sabbatical (rest) for God’s people where they will cease from their works. This rest is equated to Christ’s coming Kingdom in 2 Thess. 1:5. Revelation states clearly that His Kingdom is for 1000 years. (Revelation 20:2,3,4,5,6). If the seventh “day” rest is 1000 years in length, it follows that the first six were also 1000 years in duration. Early church Fathers had a near consensus on this issue. Here’s a quote from Hippolytus:

“And six thousand years must needs be accomplished in order that the Sabbath may come, the rest, the holy day on which God rested from all His works. For the sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the saints, when they shall reign with Christ, when He comes from heaven, as John says in his Apocalypse. ‘For a day with the Lord is as a thousand years.’ Since, then, in six days God made all things, it follows that six thousand years must be fulfilled.”

Based on the above, we can simply add 2000 years to the year of Jesus’ crucifixion to find the year of Jesus’ coming. It’s commonly believed that Jesus died between AD 27 and AD 33 with a probable date of AD 30. This would mean Jesus is returning in 2030. However, while the AD 30 date is reasonable, it is not certain, though it is likely plus or minus 3 years. There is also the caveat that Daniel’s 70th week might be an add-on, which would make it seven years later. Nonetheless, it should be sobering to note that 2030 is less than five years from this writing.

I’ll present the next three scenarios in subsequent posts. I think you’ll find these helpful in determining the season of our Lord’s return.

Maranatha, Jim

Almost everywhere in the news today, I’m reading about something called replacement theology. It’s the idea that Christians (the church) have replaced the Jews (Israel) on God’s timetable of events. Apparently, these “supersessionists” believe that since Israel was judged in AD 70, the church is now God’s sole focus. This has eschatological implications as well as this belief leads to a pre-trib rapture where the church will be taken to heaven while God again deals with Israel during a 7-year tribulation. In other words, God is currently only concerned with the church and will in finality deal with Israel during Daniel’s 70th week. This also leads to the conclusion that the modern state of Israel is not of God thereby fostering all sorts of antisemitism and Jew hatred.

If I may put it bluntly, this replacement theology is pure garbage and grossly unscriptural. A brief scripture analysis by Theologian Joel Richardson does a good job of debunking this eisegesis. Here is the link:

Debunking Replacement Theology’s Top Five Favorite Proof Texts

Unfortunately, many in media and in the church have bought into this fallacy. It’s sad when I see prominent Church leaders and media figures such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens promoting their form of antisemitism that at least partially stems from supersessionism. Please, read the linked article above, and don’t be swept up by this bunk. God’s covenants with Israel are irrevocable.

Maranatha, Jim