Will the Great Tribulation Start in 2011?

Beware of Date-Setters

 

 

There are some date-setters out there proclaiming that 2011 is the Year of the Rapture and the start of the Great Tribulation. I know of one individual, Harold Camping, who has set a date in May of this year as being the date for Jesus coming to Rapture away the Church. I’ve not bothered to learn Camping’s reasoning for such a date, in part because he has a notorious track record of previous prediction proven to be wrong. He’s not alone. There are others out there, proverbial date setters who periodically find reasons to set a date. Some of them do so almost annually and have a string of failures exposing them as frauds.

 

There are however those of us out there who are NOT date setters but we do consider various, potential theories for considering a given year as being perhaps more or less likely for the Rapture or the Great Tribulation to begin.

In past years at The Alpha-Omega Report we’ve made note of some of the more logical theories for consideration but never as predictions or as being dogmatic. We have found some timing theories to be logically compelling enough to merit mindful consideration but nothing more than consideration. We’ve never set dates and we are scornful of those who do try to set dates.

Some A-O readers may be weary of such theories, but please bear in mind, with each passing year, compelling theories are dwindling down to a handful. As of now, I find two or three major timing theories to be worthy of consideration and only one involves the present year, 2011. The remaining theories are far out by 13 to 26 years into the future. We are now upon what I consider to be the last of the valid theories left for consideration.

To understand this last of the valid theories we want to look at the background for this last of the valid theories. This theory revolves around the prophecies of Jeremiah and Daniel and the number 70/

The Prophet Jeremiah prophesied that God had decreed to Israel a coming judgment involving a 70 year period of captivity because of Israel's sins of idolatry; namely, the worship of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar and the god Baal. Jeremiah warned that Israel would be conquered by Babylon and taken into captivity for 70 years. It happened just as he foretold in the year 586 B.C.

This 70 years prophecy would also be what is sometimes called a "foreshadowing" prophecy of a future 70 years period for Israel, namely for the last days. The Prophet Daniel understood Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer. 25:11-12) to be a time of 70 years of captivity and after 66 years of captivity, Daniel petitioned God for mercy and a reminder to honor His promise to Israel that the captivity would be for 70 years and no longer.

In like manner, we theorize that the 70 years of captivity to Babylon was a foreshadowing of a future time – at the time of the “end of the gentiles” or at the end of the gentile era. The end of the gentile era comes at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The “Gentile Era” began with Israel/Judah being taken captive by Babylon in 586 B.C.

In 2011, we are still living in the “Age of the Gentiles.” However, in May of 1948, Israel was reborn as a nation although the Jews didn’t have total control over Jerusalem until June 8, 1967. On June 8, 1967 Israeli troops recaptured the Arab Quarter of Jerusalem that had been under Jordanian control.

What is important to note about either of these two dates is relative to the prophecy given by Jesus Christ to his disciples in the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24: 32-34

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

“So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Let’s look at the context of these verses. From Matthew 24: 1-31, Jesus tells His disciples of events that would unfold – just before – His Return to Earth to set up the Millennial Kingdom. In verse 32, he shifts gears to explain the parable of the fig tree to give the Disciples a sense of when all of the events previously described in verses 1 through 31 would unfold.

Jesus speaks of Israel’s prophetic symbol of being a fig tree, much like Canada’s symbol is the maple tree, signified by the maple leaf.

In verse 32, Jesus indicates that in the parable of the fig tree, when the branch of the fig tree is tender and putting forth leaves you know that summer is near. This is a reference to the coming “harvest” – a reference to His Return to harvest the wheat from the chaff as indicated by a previous parable given to in Matthew 13: 24-30.

So verse 32 indicates that just before His Return, Israel has been restored as a nation and is a young fig tree putting forth a tender branch with leaves. When you see Israel restored as a nation understand that the time of His Return – His Second Coming is near or “nigh” “even at the doors.” He makes this clear in verse 33.

Yet, verse 34 is the most tantalizing portion of His prophecy, for he states:

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Please note that the phrase “Verily I say unto you” is a unique phrase which always acts like a “flag.” It functions to warn the reader or in this case the listener that what is about to be stated is an absolute statement of certitude or a “decree.” So what is Jesus about to decree?

“This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Jesus is speaking of a temporal time span of a generation of people. He states that the generation which witnesses these things at the time of Israel’s rebirth and shooting forth its leaves will not pass away until the events He has just previously described are fulfilled.

So what does this mean?

It means that the generation which witnesses a reborn Israel will not pass away until He Returns – until His Second Coming.

Now the question to be asked is:

What does Jesus mean when he says “this generation?”

The answer is undefined within the text and the question raises additional questions.

What is the length of time of a “generation?”

Which “generation” does Jesus reference?

There are several possible answers to that question. In modern society, sociologists generally consider a generation to be 20 years in duration. In the time of Moses, a generation was 40 years as the children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years until the unbelieving/rebellious generation died out allowing the succeeding generation to march in Canaan to conquer the land under Joshua, Moses’ successor. Other possible answers could be 50 years, which is the time length of a Jubilee period. Still other possible answers might be 60, 70 or even 80 or 100 years, because these might be considered as the average life-span of a generation. Very few people live past the age of 100 years.

In 1948, the life expectancy rate for someone born in the United States was 67.3 years.

See link http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005148.html

Of course the expectancy rate was lower for the entire global population, but this gives us something of an idea. Keep in mind this an “average” and does not indicate the end of a generation, but rather an “average.” Jesus speaks of an entire generation not passing away until “all these things (His stated prophecies) be fulfilled.”

Now the question becomes, “which generation” because there are several generations living at any given moment of time. Should we calculate a time based upon those born in 1948 who at the time had no inkling of an idea about what was happening in the world around them? Should we consider the generation to be the generation just becoming of age – at say age 20 or so? Should we instead consider the generation which was “in power” politically and controlling events, say those of age 40 to 60?

Of course, there is another factor to consider. Should we consider the year, 1948, the year Israel was reborn as a nation to be the starting point? Remember, the Jews did not have all of Jerusalem in 1948. They did not regain all of Jerusalem until 1967. So which year should be the starting point for a generational countdown?

Keep in mind that Jesus simply stated that the “generation” would not pass away before His Second Coming, meaning an unknown quantity of people alive at one or the other time point would not pass away until His Return.

In looking back at history, we can rule out some of the previous theories which gauged the time length of a generation. We can safely say that, at least for now the generation which was politically in charge in 1948 has passed away. Yet, the generation coming of age in 1948 was politically in control by 1967 and has yet to pass away, although those remaining from that generation – the World War 2 generation are rapidly dying off as they are now in the 80s and 90s. By 2030 they will be totally gone.

This leaves us with the generation born in 1948 but coming of age in 1967 as perhaps “the” generation Jesus referenced. This generation would be known in America as “the baby-boomer” generation.  Their expectancy rate hits an average life span in the year 2015.

We consider this argument to be an interesting one but perhaps the number of years of a generation is not what we should be considering in terms of a timeline. Perhaps there is something in scripture that also is predictive in a “foreshadowing” sense that gives us a better number with which to work.

Keep in mind that we are at the end of the Gentile Era.

Perhaps we should remember what started the Gentile Era? The answer is the captivity of Judah by Babylon for a 70 year period of time. The Gentile Era ends with the Second Coming of Christ and the start of the Millennial Kingdom. Yet, Jesus tells us that before the end of the Gentile Era, Israel would be restored as a nation after having been taken captive and expelled again from the Land in 70 A.D. just as Jesus prophesied. Could it be that the reverse unfolds at the end of the Gentile Era from its beginning?

In other words, Israel was taken captive by Babylon and expelled from the land for 70 years which kicked off the Gentile Era. And from the time of Christ’s birth until Israel was again evicted from the land was 70 years. Could it possibly be that Israel will be restored to the land 70 years prior to Christ’s Second Coming? Could it be that a future Babylon (America) played the critical role in re-establishing the nation of Israel in 1948?

It is an intriguing question to consider such an ironic hypothesis but it is definitely just a hypothetical theory.

Keep in mind that the number 70 is predominant in Daniel’s prophecies along with the number 7. The number 70 correlates to Israel’s original captivity and the length of time between Jesus birth – his First Coming or First Advent and the point of time in which Israel is once again expelled from the land. Could it be that the number 70 once again mirrors the past with the past being a foreshadowing of the future in terms of a timing perspective?

Of course, now we wrestle with the idea of a starting point for a 70 year period of time. Do we start with 1948 when Israel was reborn as a nation or 1967 when Israel retook control of all of Jerusalem? Both seem like equally valid starting points, but both cannot be the starting point. Instead, we have to look and consider both possible dates as starting points, which simply gives us a time range for consideration.

If we add 70 years to 1948 we arrive at the year, 2018. This might well be the year of Christ’s Second Coming. It would seemingly fall right into line with certain astronomical events (solar & lunar eclipses) which will unfold on the Jewish feasts of Rosh Hashanah and Passover in the years 2014 and 2015. Some prophecy watchers would consider such eclipses to be the “signs” spoken of by the prophets and Jesus. I personally do not wish to be dogmatic in asserting such eclipses would indeed be the “signs,” but I think they are worthy of theoretical consideration.

If indeed 2018 is the year of Christ’s Second Coming, and, IF, some prophecy interpretations are correct that the Great Tribulation is a 7 year event and not a 3 and a half year event, then the year 2011 – this year – would be the year in which the Great Tribulation starts. For those who believe in a Pre-tribulation Rapture event, then 2011 would be the year of the Rapture.

Do I believe that 2011 is indeed the year for the Rapture of the Church and the start of the Great Tribulation?

My answer is to remind you that this is all theoretical and hypothetical. With that reminder I answer the question by stating that I think it is entirely possible that 2011 will usher in the key prophecies that kick off the final years before Christ’s Return.

I also want to remind readers that there are alternate theories to consider.

What if the 70 years countdown is to commence with 1967 as the starting point when Israel regained control of all of Jerusalem?  If this is the valid theory, then we will arrive at the year 2037 for His Return and the year 2030 as being the start of the Great Tribulation or the year 2033 if you take a 3.5 year Tribulation period. Both years would be the 2,000^th year anniversaries since Jesus began His ministry (30 A.D) and his death and resurrection (33 A.D.) You could make a fairly strong case for this particular theory.

I do want to caution readers to understand that this is all just theory, although the theory has its justifications. Even so, it can only be theoretical until proven true or false by unfolding events in 2011 through 2018 or 2030-2037.

It is entirely possible that the 70 years theory is entirely invalid. Even so, unfolding events point to a soon coming global government within a short period of time. The proponents for a New World Order have a target date set for December of 2012 because of its occult nature. Whether or not they achieve their objective by that target date remains to be seen.

Of equal note, events in the Mideast are reaching a dramatic point with geo-political alignments clearly matching Biblical Prophecies. We’re also seeing a shocking level of geological events increasing almost exponentially in the past 50 years and also pointing to Biblical fulfillments. Weather events are also lining up to match the prophecies, as the sun heads into a “solar max” orientation which again potentially aligns with Prophetic fulfillments. We also are hearing warnings of global food shortages and experiencing global epidemics – also predicted in the scriptures.

We see indications of technology now being able to fulfill the 6-6-6 prophecies in ways no one could have previously dreamed. I speak of RFID computer chip technology embedded into the human hand.

For these reasons, it is not difficult to see 2011-2018 as being the time frame for all of these prophecies to be fulfilled. Even so, we should not run around and dogmatically proclaim the year 2011 as the year of Great Tribulation or of the Rapture. There is no reason nor is there room for being dogmatic. We can be hopeful and be encouraged by the various theories, but we must be mindful that they are only theories and not dogma.

 

 

 

 

 

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