The Rapture Window Visually
Nugget - 2
In the final chapter of my first book, God’s Final Week, I explained how some of the key end times prophecies with modern fulfillments could be used to triangulate the season of the rapture window as precisely as humanly possible. Please understand, there are many who seek for knowledge of the day and hour. But this has never been my desire. For I realize that it is, and always will be, beyond my grasp.
However, I was surprised to learn that when the information in Scripture was carefully examined and linked to the proper fulfillments, a short season of approximately seven months could be arrived at. Those months, as I wrote in Chapter 10, run from the middle of May 2028, to the middle of December 2028.
If we are willing to make one additional assumption, then we can narrow that seven-month window down to just over three months. As far as I can see, this roughly three-month season is the best that can be done from a human perspective. Only God knows the day and hour.
Here is the window shown visually (look for the yellow moed, meaning appointed time). As you can see, I believe the rapture window runs from September of 2028 to December of 2028. I will explain the logic behind this season below.
Great Tribulation
The first marker comes from the last seven years, or Daniel’s seventieth week. If you’re not familiar with my views on the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation, I prefer to use the Second Temple Jewish conception of these terms. For them, the Tribulation was an extended period of time, so I think it corresponds to the 2,000-year Church Age (inclusive of the last seven years). And then the last seven years themselves are the “Great Tribulation.”
As I showed in Nugget - 1, the final fulfillment of Daniel’s seventieth week began on December 14, 2020 (this beginning point is symbolized by the Dome of the Rock in the timeline above because this was also the day when the final abomination of desolation began, in fulfillment of Matthew 24:15). This means the 490th year, which is equivalent to the seventh year of the final or seventieth week, begins on December 14, 2027, as shown on the timeline above. This final year runs until December 14, 2028. And since the prophecies (Daniel 9:24-27, Ezekiel 39:1-10, and others) must be fulfilled, the seventh year of the Great Tribulation cannot come to an end. In other words, Christ must return during the seventh year.
Fig Tree Generation
Jesus Christ is not just a Priest, and he is not just a King. He is also a Prophet.
From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
— Matthew 24:32-34
The parable of the fig tree is often contemplated for its eschatological meaning, yet seldom is it properly understood.
In Scripture, there are three trees used to symbolize Israel. The vine and the olive tree are often used as symbols of Israel’s spiritual and religious privileges. And the fig tree is often used as a symbol of Israel’s national privileges (Hosea 9:10 and Jeremiah 24).
National Israel is a sign intended for our use. And as many others have identified, the budding of the fig tree symbolizes the rebirth of Israel after a long winter. The Apocalypse of Peter contains a scene with Yeshua helping the disciples to make this very connection, proving that the link has been well known since the birth of Christianity. Yet many seem to have forgotten.
However, when Christ said that this generation would not pass, was he providing a timing detail to be used along with this regathering of Israel?
I believe the answer can be found in the only piece of Scripture attributed to Moses outside of the Torah.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
— Psalm 90:10
It appears that 80 years is the outside length of time for a human lifespan; or, in other words, for a generation. As usual, God always gives mankind as much time as possible for repentance, within the structure of his plan. Therefore, I believe we should logically expect either the 79 or the 80 year mark from Israel’s rebirth to be quite significant.
Because of how the Ezekiel 4 prophecy was fulfilled in the 40th year itself, I believe we should expect the Fig Tree Generation to be fulfilled in the 80th year, but just shy of the 81st.
As show on the timeline, this provides us with yet another one-year window, running from May 2028 to May 2029.
Jacob’s Trouble
Lastly, there is Jeremiah’s prophecy regarding the time of Jacob’s trouble.
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
— Jeremiah 30:7
This passage has always bothered me because I know, based on the book of Genesis, that Jacob’s trouble was either 20 years (as stated by Jacob himself, Genesis 31:38 & 41) or 21 years (as stated by God through Moses, Genesis 29:20-30). Yet most modern Christians have decided that the time of Jacob’s trouble must necessarily be equivalent to Daniel’s seventieth week. This is troubling, no pun intended, as no one seems able to provide any scriptural basis whatsoever for making this assumption.
I would be far more comfortable with either a 20 or 21-year time of Jacob’s trouble.
Interestingly, the eclipse timeline, which creates the structure for what I call “God’s Final Week,” does allow for this. With a start point of 9/11/2007, the 21st year will begin on 9/11/2028. If we assume that 21 years is correct (God’s declaration), then this means the 21st year provides a third one-year window, running from 9/11/28 to 9/11/29.
Putting It All Together
When we look at the three windows provided by the biblical prophecies outlined above, we see that they all overlap for a period of just over 3 months in late 2028. God’s fulfillment of his prophecies will necessarily be precise. And so, if our data points are accurate, then it would appear that all of these windows must be honored. Therefore, the period of overlap between all three provides the time window for fulfillment.
It appears that Christ will return in power and glory sometime between early September and mid-December of 2028.
Maranatha.