As I stated in my previous article, In the Midst, “If the Lord does return to the earth on a future Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah day, the timeframe of the seven-years preceding it now come into view. To begin the hypothetical dating process of the seven years of the Tribulation/Jacob’s Trouble, you must travel in time to a future (a minimum of seven years from now) Feast of Trumpets day and then work your way back through the past and into the present.” {1}
There will probably be a considerable gap of time between the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation. A short time after the Rapture, there will be the development of a one-world government which will then split up into ten kingdoms. Following the division of the world into ten kingdoms, the Antichrist will begin his rise to power. He will eventually kill three of the kings and take control of their kingdoms. “And another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings” (Daniel 7:24). Soon after, the remaining 7 kings will give control of their kingdoms to him.
“The Antichrist’s rise to power before the Tribulation is a biblical necessity. Since the Tribulation begins with the signing of the seven-year covenant between Israel and the Antichrist, it is necessary for the Antichrist to be in sufficient political power to sign such a covenant.” {2}
The following is an example with a four-year gap between the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation. I have added even more criteria (than the first article) that must come true in order for this example to be valid. These are the 6 conditions that must be met:
1) Jesus must return to the battle of Armageddon on a future Feast of Trumpets day (Tishri 1). This will happen 1,260 days after the Abomination of Desolation.
2) The Antichrist will confirm the covenant with Israel and thus start the Tribulation. This will happen on a Friday, for Jesus was killed on a Thursday in 33 A.D. For proof of this fact go to: https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/holidays-and-holy-days/solving-the-three-day-three-night-mystery/. Jesus’ crucifixion was on the last day of the 69th week (483rd year) of Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:25-26) when he was “cut off.” I think it is highly likely that the resumption of the long-delayed 484th year will be on the following day of Friday. The last day of the 490th year (2,520 days) will also be on a Friday.
3) 1,230 days later, the “in the midst” event known as the Abomination of Desolation will occur. It will take place on Nisan 10 on the Jewish calendar. The Antichrist will emulate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as the king of the Jews on this day. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey on Nisan 10 in the year A.D. 33. The Antichrist will ride into Jerusalem on the back of a white horse as a conquering king (Revelation 6:2) on this same day in the future.
4) The Gog/Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39 will occur 7 years before the A.O.D. Ezekiel prophesied that the Jews would burn the weapons of the armies of the nations that attacked Israel for a period of seven years (Ezekiel 39:9-10). In Matthew 24:15-17 Jesus warned the people when they see the A.O.D. spoken of by the prophet Daniel, they should flee to the mountains. He told the people to not waste time getting items out of their house, not even their clothes. If this is the case, the Jews that are fleeing will not be taking any of the weapons they confiscated with them as they are fleeing for their lives. The weapons will already have been burned up by this time.
5) The Gog/Magog war will start on Kislev 24 of the Jewish calendar. Haggai describes this war in a very similar way that Ezekiel does with the Gog/Magog war. Haggai even gives the date… the 24th day of the 9th month. Compare Haggai 2:18-22 with Ezekiel 38:18-22.
6) The Rapture will precede the Gog/Magog war. I believe it will only be a small gap of time of months and not years. Of course, this is just an educated guess as the Bible doesn’t speak on this issue. After the Rapture, the U.S. of America will no longer be militarily capable to protect Israel against Russia and her allies. They will only be able to give a mild protest to the U.N. regarding this invasion (Ezekiel 38:13).
Event Jewish calendar Gregorian calendar Day of the week
Israel’s 72rd Anniversary Lyyar 21, 5780 May 14, 2020 Thursday
Feast of Pentecost Sivan 16, 5780 May 31, 2020 Sunday
Feast of Trumpets Tishri 1, 5781 Sept. 18, 2020 Friday
Gog Magog war Kislev 24, 5781 Dec. 9, 2020 Wednesday
Start of Tribulation Heshvan 22, 5785 Nov. 24, 2024 Friday
In the midst Tribulation Nisan 10, 5789 Apr. 5, 2028 Wednesday
Jesus’ 2nd Coming Tishri 1, 5792 Sept. 17, 2031 Wednesday
End of Tribulation Heshvan 21, 5792 Oct. 17, 2031 Friday
In this example of possible timeframes of the pre-Tribulation and Tribulation world events, there are 7 years and 4 months between the Gog/Magog war and the A.O.D. This satisfies condition #4. The Gog/Magog war starts on Kislev 24, 5781.This would satisfy condition #5. The start of the Tribulation will begin on a Friday (Nov. 24, 2024), thus satisfying condition #2. The in the midst A.O.D. occurs on Nisan 10, 5789 (Apr. 5, 2028), which satisfies condition #3. Jesus’ 2nd Coming will occur (in this example) on Tishri 1, 5792 (Sept. 17, 2031). This satisfies condition #1. The end of the Tribulation will occur on Heshvan 21, 5792 (Oct. 17, 2031) on a Friday. This of course also satisfies condition #2.
The 7 years between 2024 and 2031 are the only 7-year timelines (between now and 2034) that meet all of the six criteria listed above. In this example, the Rapture would occur sooner rather than later.
Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Randy Nettles
Endnotes:
{1} https://www.raptureready.com/2019/11/25/midst-randy-nettles/.
{2} The Footsteps of the Messiah by Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum pg. 127