Speaking of the Rapture to His disciples, Jesus made it plainly clear when He said, “But of that day and hour no man knows, no, not the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36; (Mark 13:32).
In these same chapters of Matthew, Mark, and Luke 21 as well, Jesus gave numerous signs to look for so that those alive in the days just preceding the Rapture would realize that the very time was at hand. Jesus had chastised the Pharisees and Sadducees for being blind to the signs of His first Advent.
“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:1-4).
On the other hand, Jesus blessed all who, in the future, would be reading the words of prophecy and watching so as to be able to discern the signs of the times and the approaching of His second Advent.
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:3).
What does it mean to say that the Rapture is imminent? The meaning of the word imminent can be expressed in a number of ways that all mean basically the same thing, such as: about to occur, soon to happen, ready to take place, just around the corner, just up around the bend, sooner than you might think, and nearer than you can possibly imagine, just to name a few. And yet, we must remember, the Father alone knows the day and the hour.
Ever since the first century and up to the present times, individuals have incorrectly predicted the day and hour in utter defiance of the words of Jesus. The false prophecy Hall of Shame is packed with wannabe prophets who tried and failed to predict the day and the hour. An interesting side note is that the current ongoing record for false predictions is ten. This Hall of Shame dubious honor goes to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
God Almighty, who declares the end from the beginning, gives us many scriptural signs and clues and commands us to watch and to discern and to pay attention to these clues, and these signs, and all of the historical events recorded in the Bible, as well as the Hebrew festivals and marriage protocols that are much like shadows (previews if you will) of things to come.
All of the signs are converging right this very minute, and other clues are being revealed also, from both Old and New Testament scriptures.
In Luke 12:2, Jesus says, “There is nothing concealed that will not be made known.”
Without predicting a day or an hour, here are some biblical clues to consider regarding the nearness to the day the Apostle Paul describes in the passages of 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 when he says, “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall be ever with the Lord.”
One of the most familiar signs of the end times is the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948, which many regard to be the starting date for the fulfillment of the words spoken by Jesus when He said, “I tell you the truth, this generation shall not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32).
There are debates as to how many years comprise a generation according to Hebrew traditions, but modern-day Israel just celebrated its 75th anniversary. Many scholars believe that 75 years represents one full generation.
The rebirth of Israel, the formation of the end-times geo-political alliances prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39, the staggering level of international moral decay, the vile satanically inspired globalist assault on humanity and on everything decent, the assembly of the monetary systems that will allow the antichrist to control buying and selling along with the now in place technology to administer the mark of the beast – together with all of the other signs given by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21 converging for the first time here in the year 2023 — are alone strong evidence of where we are on the prophetic timescale. In Matthew 24:33, Jesus says, “When you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”
Those of us who are obeying the command of Jesus to watch and are watching closely and with a passion and a longing for His return can see by the converging signs and also sense by the groanings of the Holy Spirit within us as we witness the worldwide acceleration of mind-numbing wickedness, that not only are we in the very closing stages of the church age but actually right at the very door of the fulfillment of 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Will the Rapture happen this year in the year 2023?
No human can guarantee it happening in 2023, but there are reasons to believe that it could happen, and for some watchers, even considered to be probable.
Besides so many signs of the end times converging all at the same time, some of the clues appear to be mathematical.
I say “appear” to be mathematical because that is where things can get tricky. That is where sincere and well-meaning sincere seekers of biblical truth can get tripped up. It is possible to get tripped up mainly because of the various types of calendars and time-measuring methods that have been employed over the centuries by different cultures and groups, many of which do not line up with one another. This has caused confusion and much disagreement.
Even many an actual mathematical genius has burned the midnight oil in efforts to come up with the correct numbers. Yet, it is scriptural that numbers play a big part in the revelations God has given to us.
It is revealed in 2nd Peter 3:8 and Psalm 90:4 that with the Lord, “a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” This declaration simplifies things for a non-math genius like me.
A thousand years as a day to the Lord has been discussed in many wonderful articles. The Lord’s Week of Creation. Seven millenniums. Seven is the Lord’s number of completion.
Many, if not the majority of Bible scholars, agree that the most accurate calendar is the Hebrew calendar, also known as the Lunar-Solar Calendar. According to this, Jesus was born in 4BC and was crucified and rose from death in 30AD. If that is accurate, and I, along with many, believe that it is, then that means when 2,000 years, or two days from the Lord’s point of view, have passed from the year of the Resurrection, we come to the year 2030.
The next day (1,000 years) from that point would be the 7th millennium aka the 7th day of the Lord’s “Week of Creation.” If we allow for the 7-year tribulation period aka “the 70th week of Daniel” aka “the time of Jacobs Trouble,” which precedes the year 2030, we land on the year 2023 as the year that the “restrainer” is removed, the remnant church is taken up and the 7-year tribulation period begins soon thereafter. The “restrainer” being the Holy Spirit, who also resides within all true believers.
This is, if accurate, a huge mathematical clue. This combined with the first-time-ever convergence of all of the end times signs given especially by Jesus in the gospel books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the book of Revelation, as well as the revelations given to and through the Apostle Paul, and the Prophet Daniel, all together declare that the Rapture is indeed imminent.
There is another intriguing and quite amazing clue, and it can be found in the very first word in the book of Genesis. It is the Hebrew word “berisheet,” which, translated into English, literally means “in the beginning.” In this one word, God declares the end from the beginning. Literally from the beginning. Isaiah 46:9-10 says this: “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'”
The Hebrew language is written from right to left and contains words and word pictures, and each letter and each word contain numerical values. It is unique in this way, and as far as I know, it is the only language on earth that has these three combined characteristics.
In regard to this word “berisheet,” I would recommend a video on YouTube entitled “Berisheet Passover Prophecy,” where the narrator, who is well-versed in Hebrew, breaks down the very first word of the Bible in great detail. It lays out the “Week of Creation” in its’ entirety and also arrives at the year 2030 for the Second Coming and the year 2023 for the Rapture.
That one word, the very first word in the book of Genesis, is a brilliantly designed capsule containing the 7,000-year plan of our Creator and what will come to pass at the end of His “Week of Creation” when He creates a new heaven and a new earth that will be without a trace of wickedness — which means no more wickedness for all of eternity. For those of us who are sick and tired and just fed up with wickedness, we all say together with one voice to echo through the Halls of Heaven, Hallelujah and Praise the Lord.
In summing up, it is true that no one knows the day or the hour. Nowhere in scripture does it say, however, that the year could not be known. Especially, in light of the revelation that in the end times, the hidden things would be uncovered and made known to all. (Luke 12:2)
To this watcher, the years 2023 and 2030 ring true, but I am not predicting it, but rather taking a very long and strong look at this possibility because if it is true, then the Rapture is imminently imminent. If 2023 should pass and the Rapture does not happen, we then must continue watching, preparing, praying with great patience, and doing our all to share the Gospel of Salvation. Bottom line is always Thy Will be done, oh Lord. The Rapture will happen when the Lord decides it is time and then only. It is a very good thing, however, and to be like the five virgins whose lamps were full and fully prepared to stand before Lord Jesus.
I would encourage anyone who has not seen the video to watch it, and then decide for yourself.
There is one thing for certain: The Rapture is not getting farther and farther away. It is, for a fact, getting closer and closer, and the signs don’t lie. The signs don’t lie because they come from the Lord Himself, and the Lord not only does not lie; He is incapable of such a thing.
1st Thessalonians 4:15-18 says these amazing beautiful words: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort each other with these words.”
If you are someone who has read this article and have never given your life to Jesus, please consider doing so this very day. He loves you more than you can imagine. He willingly laid down His life for you and for me and for everyone so that we may live eternally with Him. Believe in Him and trust in Him. He will become your very best friend and will remain so for all eternity.
Romans 10:9-10 says this: “If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Lord, may your will be done,
Rick Segoine
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All are invited to visit ricksegoine.net where free e-book copies of my book From God to Eternity can be downloaded, as well as original gospel songs and story songs.