General Articles

September 23: Hype or Hope? :: By Jonathan Brentner

Published on: by RR10

It’s with a bit of trepidation that I address the buildup of excitement regarding the possibility of the Rapture occurring on September 23 or 24, 2025, during the Feast of Trumpets. I recognize it’s a sensitive subject for many, and sadly, it has caused controversy and even division within the body of Christ.

Let me begin by saying that, based on what I have read or seen on social media, most of us who are excited about the possibility of a September Rapture are not saying it will happen during this year’s Feast of Trumpets. We avoid date-setting and agree that it’s wrong to do so. We recognize that such failed predictions in the past have placed an unwelcome stigma on those of us who yearn for Jesus’ soon appearing.

On the other hand, this month’s UN activities have unmistakable implications in terms of Bible prophecy. There’s already been a vote with the wide majority of nations favoring the recognition of a Palestinian state, which would divide the Land that God gave to the descendants of Jacob. The Bible long ago said that such a mindset would mark the last days as well as spark the Lord’s anger (Joel 3:1-3; Zechariah 12:1-3). A year or two ago, I thought that the current determined and widespread clamoring among the nations to divide Israel and Jerusalem would not happen until after the Rapture, but it’s already here.

Besides that, the words “peace and security” will repeatedly reverberate through the chambers of the UN building during its September 2025 assembly. In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Paul wrote that the “sudden destruction” of the Day of the Lord would fall on the unbelieving world while people are saying “peace and security.”

Is it possible that the Lord might visibly respond to this year’s rancor at the UN, which will reach its peak next week, beginning on September 22? Could the Rapture happen during this year’s celebration of the Feast of Trumpets?

The Rapture and Rosh Hashanah

Jesus fulfilled the first four “feasts of the Lord,” recorded in Leviticus 23:4-22, during His first appearing. As such, many students of Bible prophecy believe He will fulfill the remaining three festivals during His future return to the earth. Rosh Hashanah, or the Feast of Trumpets, is next in line awaiting fulfillment.

Several prophecy experts believe that the Rapture will fulfill Rosh Hashanah. Bible prophecy scholar and author, Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, wrote the following in his comprehensive work, The Footsteps of the Messiah, concerning the “last trump” of 1 Corinthians 15:52:

“The last trump refers to the Feast of Trumpets and the Jewish practice of blowing shofars during the feast. There is a series of short trumpet sounds followed by one long trumpet blast, which is called the tekiah gedolah, “the great trumpet blast.” As such, it says nothing concerning the timing of the rapture; only that the rapture, whenever it occurs, will fulfill the Feast of Trumpets.”

I agree with Dr. Fruchtenbaum. It’s my belief that whether or not the Rapture occurs during God’s set time of this feast, Jesus will fulfill Rosh Hashanah when He comes to take us home. As such, I understand the excitement and anticipation that Jesus might come for His Church during Israel’s celebration of it. There’s also a precedent for such an anticipation.

Jesus fulfilled the previous feasts during the appointed time God set for them. And since the Day of Atonement and Feasts of Booths await a future fulfillment, we do not yet know if the Lord will fulfill them at the time set for them in Leviticus 23:26-43.

I believe Zechariah 12:10-13:1 records what will happen during the future fulfillment of the Day of Atonement when the Jewish people see Jesus for who He is, their Messiah, and repent. Could this happen, or perhaps begin, on the day set for this observance in the Old Testament? I think so.

For those who agree that the Rapture fulfills the Feast of Trumpets but tell us it’s unlikely to happen this month, please understand the perspective that says it just might happen during the Feast of Trumpets. There is a precedent for Jesus fulfilling the feasts during the time God set for them.

If you expect to meet Jesus in the air later this month, please do not conclude that it must occur on September 23 or 24. Even if it’s the Lord’s intention for the Rapture to happen on Rosh Hashanah, we do not know if it will be this year or even if the current Jewish calendar matches God’s.

Even so, is it not a time for heightened watchfulness?

A Time for Heightened Watchfulness?

Regardless of whether the Rapture happens later this month or not, we live in the season of Jesus’ appearing. Based on all that’s happened in the world during the past several years, I thought we would’ve been in Heaven watching Jesus open the seal judgments long before now. The only explanation for the delay, from our perspective, is the restraining force of the Holy Spirit and God’s patience as He continues to warn of the devastation that’s already at our doorstep.

Along with the Lord instructing His followers to always watch and be ready for His return (Matthew 24:36-25:13), He also spoke of a future time of heightened anticipation in Luke 21:28, “But when these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

In the context of instructing His disciples about the many signs that would mark the days leading up to His return, Jesus referred to a time when these signs would become so pronounced that believers would recognize the nearness of their “redemption” and watch for it all the more intently by lifting up their heads in anticipation of Jesus’ appearing. Without a doubt, we live during that time.

There has never been such a convergence of signs pointing to the nearness of the Tribulation such as we see today. The multitude of signs, all happening at once, signifies that we are ever so close to the time we will meet Jesus in the air. We may not even have tomorrow, let alone the remainder of September. It is a time for added vigilance in watching for our Lord’s return, just as He said in Luke 21:26.

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk underscores the nature of the widespread lawlessness and violence in our world, which the Bible long ago predicted would mark the days leading up to Jesus’ appearing. The stunning news of Charlie’s murder shouts with the message that we live in the fleeting moments leading up to our sudden departure. In the hours and days after hearing about his death, I felt a deep sadness and what I might describe as a gnawing feeling deep in my soul.

Regardless of what we believe about Rosh Hashanah or its fulfillment in the Rapture, we all agree that the time is exceedingly short until Jesus takes us, His true Church, home to glory. We know that the Rapture will happen before the Tribulation period, and that day of wrath is approaching faster than few of us can even imagine. It’s not easy to fully grasp just how quickly our world will change in the twinkling of an eye.

If the calendar flips to October in a few weeks, I will continue to watch for Jesus’ appearing as though it could happen at any time. I hope and pray that the Rapture happens in 2025, but I have no guarantee that it will.

***

My book, Invitation to a Lavish Feast – Wisdom’s Path to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, is available on Amazon or on the SkyWatchTV website. In it, I take the reader on a journey showing how the words of Scripture verify our beliefs in not only the restoration of Israel, but also our hope in Jesus’ soon appearing to take us home to glory. My goal for writing this book was to provide believers with a solid biblical foundation for their anticipation of the Rapture before the Day of the Lord wrath overspreads the world.

Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on the home page of my website at https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/. It will greatly help me in reaching more people. Thanks!

CORRECTED VERSION: To the Weary Watchmen with PTSD :: By Jan Markell

Published on: by RR10

Amid the Unimaginable Violence and Atrocities, Be Assured That Our Rescue Is Coming

Have you had enough yet? Violence and lawlessness seem out of control. Senseless violence. Snipers unleashing bullets carved with evil messages on them! Who thinks this way?

The line-up of atrocities never ends. An innocent Ukrainian woman coming home from her pizza job, casually scrolling on her phone on a train in North Carolina, is stabbed to death by a demonized thug. She had left war-torn Ukraine for the supposed safety of America. Yet a monster lurked in the shadows and ended her young life. And it was all captured on camera.

Beyond Our Imagination

My hometown made notoriety again in a horrific manner—a school massacre. Children in a Catholic school five miles from where I grew up in south Minneapolis were mowed down by a lunatic. The shooter blocked the church doors so that the children could not escape before he began shooting through the church windows. Can you imagine? I can’t.

Sure, the Bible says that evil is to get worse in the end-times (II Timothy 3:13), but who can comprehend such barbarism?

They said that about 9/11, which we recently observed and remembered as well. Even our national leaders admitted they didn’t have the imagination to anticipate the evil of Islam flying planes into buildings. More PTSD as we reflected back on that fateful day a week ago.

Don’t forget earlier this year, two Jewish believers were gunned down in Washington, D.C., and in June, an Egyptian terrorist set Jews on fire in Colorado a few days later. If we dared look, the Colorado event was also filmed and aired.

Good-Bye Charlie

Then, on September 10, we had a flashback to July 13, 2024, when there was an assassination attempt on President Trump. This time, the target was Charlie Kirk, and this time, the shooter was successful.

What adds to the PTSD trauma is that 21st Century communications allow us to watch these horrors in real time—as it happens. Or, minutes later. We are viewing true horror show dramas that are unimaginable.

The assassination of conservative Christian Charlie Kirk was another shot heard around the world. But the bullet that killed Charlie didn’t kill a movement. It ignited many people to press on with truth-telling, love of country, and honoring God.

As one observer suggested, it is a reminder that speaking truth, particularly Biblical truth, is inherently dangerous in a world where truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth. When leftists rejoice at the death of godly people, as they are doing with Kirk’s death, it is a foreshadowing of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11. The world will rejoice over their demise as well.

Very often, the perpetrators of the carnage are deeply involved in alternative lifestyles, and so they view conservatives, Christians, and the biblical worldview as the enemy. We become their prime target just as the early martyrs of the church. Constantly accusing righteous or conservative people of being fascists and Nazis has deadly consequences.

Charlie has now finished his race, his earthly course, and we celebrate his graduation into the presence of Jesus Christ and the glories of eternity.

Demonic!

The New York Post, not known as a spiritual publication, had an appropriate one-word headline—“Demonic.” That accurately summarized the end-time fight we are in. Satan is making his last stand before the church is taken in the rapture, which removes believers from this sin-wracked, violent world.

But this is today’s progressive movement: twisted and evil. What a reminder that the last days will be as the days of Noah!

Romans One on Display

And to add to the lunacy, and what should convince us we are in a Romans one society, is that the deranged Left celebrates some of this. Again, this stretches credulity and is beyond our imagination. It is last days delusion. The prophet Isaiah told us that evil would be called good by some (Isaiah 5:20). So, watchmen suffering from PTSD is a pretty normal reaction!

Take these daily evil reminders with the assurance that they are a sign that Jesus is coming again. Our rescue is coming. Soon. Perhaps today.

www.olivetreeviews.org