General Articles

Promise of His Coming :: By Terry James

Published on: by RR10

Author’s note: The article for this week was first posted Monday, September 20, 2010. My reason for reposting it this week might seem rather unusual–perhaps even odd.

Let me explain.

Upon awakening early the other day, as is my usual way, the first moments of clarity came to me out of nowhere and wouldn’t leave.

The thought was that I had been saved at the age of six. Since I was born in 1942, that made the year I was born again 1948.

The thought wouldn’t leave. I was “born again” the same year–1948—Israel was “reborn” as a nation into modernity.

Somehow, that all congealed into the need to write or find an article I had written on the importance of the rebirth of God’s chosen people, Israel, to the nearness of the Rapture.

Researching my personal article archives led me to the following.

Promise of His Coming

A biblically prophetic reality that perfectly fits our present day, and that has been looked at a number of times, is the warning given by the Apostle Peter, especially to the generation alive at the end of the Church Age:

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation’” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

In almost every case of looking at this prophecy, the point has been exclusively dwelt upon that both the religious and nonreligious of the world mockingly chide those of us who believe Jesus Christ will return to the earth. This prophecy has observably come to pass in our time.

However, it is the phrase “promise of his coming” I would like to consider here.

Like the 2 Peter 3:3-4 prophecy, so many other things developing in these troubling although exciting times testify mightily to the evidence that God absolutely keeps His Word. Scripture promises, for example, that ultimately, no matter how scattered and oppressed the Jewish people have been throughout history, Israel will be a nation forever.

“Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking my covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God. But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 26:44-45).

Israel was restored to the land after centuries of the people being removed from their own land and being persecuted unmercifully in the nations to which they were scattered. They were regathered and established again as a nation in a single day, just as foretold.

“Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. ‘Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?’ saith the LORD: ‘shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb?’ saith thy God. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her” (Isaiah 66:8-10).

That miracle rebirth took place May 14, 1948, following perhaps the house of Israel’s most horrendous persecution, which it suffered under the Nazis. No other nation has been so torn apart and scattered to the winds of history, then regathered, having its original language restored. The Lord proved He alone is God. His promise to Israel goes into the future for His chosen people:

“’Also I will restore the captivity of my people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit. I will also plant them on their land, and they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them,’ says the Lord your God” (Amos 9:14-15).

Israel’s God is God! There is no other God. He continues to prove who He is through Israel. This, doubtless, is one extremely important reason He chose that people: to demonstrate the absolute veracity of His Holy Word. That same Word—who is the very Person of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1)—has made a promise of staggering importance to His other chosen people.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

His coming again for God’s other chosen people–the Church (every born-again member of Christ’s body during this Age of Grace)—is assured. It is 100 percent certain because He continues to prove His faithfulness through the nation Israel and by keeping every prophetic promise He has made.

Jesus tells us who constitutes His chosen Bride:

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

He promises:

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

Jesus is coming. It could be the very next moment!

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!