Sunday, November 20, 2016

More about 2017, 17 and others

Last few posts, I wrote a lot about rapture, second coming and end times. Hope that would have given more clarity about end times with respect to old testament foreshadowing events.
I had been contacted by a brother from Sweden named Bo Stark and he gave few more points about 2017, number 17 and Hebrew year 5777. I would just like to post few of them here. You may read my previous article "Why 2017 could be the beginning of end times" to get a complete context.

1. 2017 marks 500 years from reformation since it was started in 1517.

2. The sign of sun clothed woman with moon under her feet and twelve crowns on her head appears in stars on 23-Sep-2017.

3. After Noah was born, he lived for 595 years and at Noah's 600th year was the great floods. So, Lamech died 5 years before the floods at the age of 777 (Gen 5:28-31) pointing a direct reference to hebrew year 5777.

4. Jesus left His parents in temple when He was 12 years of age Luke 2:42 and after that we don't have record for 17 years. But, around 30 years, Jesus Himself began to be about 30 years (not 30 years completed but during 30 years which make the difference as 17 and not 18) when he took baptism. Luke 3:23. Jesus rose from dead on the 17th day of the month. (Will do a separate chapter on this one).

5. Jacob lived his last 17 years in Egypt and died at the age of 147. Gen 47:28 Wondered why Jacob didn't reach the age nearer to Abraham who lived 175 and Isaac who lived for 180 years and now I believe just to leave the sign of final 17 years in Egypt his age was shrunk to 147 and he was a sign himself.

6. There were 17 judges in Israel's History from Othniel to Samuel.

7. People from 17 nations were present during Penticost. Acts 2:7-11

8. The ten commandments were given in 17 verses in 20th chapter of Exodus.

9. Psalms 83:6-11 mentions 17 enemies of Israel.

10. Beast specified in Daniel 7 and Rev 13 has 7 heads and 10 horns making a total of 17.

11. Romans 8:35 - 39 speaks about 17 different things that cannot separate us from the love of Christ.

12. UN Agenda 2030 has 17 sustainable development goals. (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld)

13. Pope appointed 17 cardinals in a recent ceremony on 20-Nov. (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38038501)

14. In a bizarre accident in China on 22-Nov, 56 vehicles crashed on to each other and 17 people were killed. I think 56 (7 x 8 - Completion x Salvation) marks completion of salvation and 17 could be 2017. (http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pile-up-on-chinese-motorway-kills-17-xinhua-1628565), Israel planning to buy 17 fighter jets from US. (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611281047906269-israel-17-f35/).

The number 17 pops out everywhere to me. I may sound silly but it looks like there are more and more concrete signs and evidences.

There are few more reasons to believe why we are near. There were two numbers of dates (1290 and 1335) given at Daniel chapter for the range of days during great tribulation period. The difference is 45. Psalms 45 is the messianic psalm which refers to bride, groom and bride maids pointing to anointing of Christ and the rapture event and Donald Trump has been selected as the 45th president of United States. His name is Trumps and may indicate feast of Trumpets (which is directly pointing to rapture). India has demonetized the higher value denomination notes of 500 and 1000 as of Nov 8, 2016 to fight the black money, money laundering and terrorism (The date is exactly as that of US election date). You may google and check wiki to know more details. But, the entire country is in difficulty where people are really finding it difficult to get their own cash. People are standing in long queues at tellers and banks to withdraw and exchange money respectively everyday. It would take another 50 days to get back to normalcy. As written in Luke 21:25, "Upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity", it looks more and more near. One more sign which I saw as start of new era was the death and funeral of Shimon Perez, former Israeli president just before the eve of 5777 year and leaders from 70 nations participated in the funeral service. I believe indeed the Hebrew year 5777 marks the start of beginning of end times.

With all the above points, one would strongly believe that rapture would occur in 2017. But, it could happen any time. One of the important verses with respect to rapture in Old testament is Hosea 6:2 where the prophet says "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." Jesus rose up on third day to fulfill this prophecy but it will be completely fulfilled when Jesus comes back and revive His church (dead and alive) after 2 days (2000 years). Jesus was dead, buried and rose up somewhere around 27 - 33 AD. So, I too believe the longest time frame would be 2033 but really won't think that long. My point is Jesus could come to rapture His church any time from now to next 15 - 20 years or I could be wrong and it could take another 30 - 40 years. All I am saying with all these things and specific signs happening throughout the world, it looks near. A truthful and sincere Christian would wait His lifetime for Jesus to come.

Many people through internet, forums and youtube just try predicting the rapture date and keeps failing over and over again. This is inappropriate and not correct. Because, setting a particular date or a small range say 3 days or a week makes Jesus a liar as He said "No one knows the day or the hour". What he exactly meant is the rapture date no one knows or cannot find based on past occurrences, old testament timelines or derived through some calculation or arbitration. Our Lord does everything in order but no human can find that as the word of God says "Who hath known the mind of the Lord?" Rom 11:34 and I Cor 2:16. Ecc 3:11 says "so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." But these date setters help in fulfilling the word of God that whenever they fail, other people would mock and say "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as  they were from the beginning of the creation." 2 Pet 3:4. Let us wait and not astrayed by following date setters.

It is important to expect the rapture of the bride every day with eagerness from here on. But, we should have the patience and should hold on to our faith while watching and praying. More important is to bear spiritual fruits for glorification of the name of Lord Jesus. I am planning to close the end time events discussion with this post. At a later point of time, God willing I would write more about end time events with the perspective of Book of Revelation. Please pray for me that may God give more revelations concerning end times through His Holy Word. As I said bearing fruits through our day to day Christian life and being living witnesses for Jesus is more important and I hope to make subsequent articles in such areas. By living and abiding in Christ, we know we will not be ashamed during His coming. I John 2:28

Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Rev 7:12

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