My recent article, “What is Agenda 2030,” has generated many questions and comments, even some hysteria!   Therefore, I feel compelled to write this follow-up story.

What is significant about this date? On May 14, 1948, in Tel Aviv, Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel, thus establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years. Ben-Gurion became Israel’s first premier.

Between 1922 and 1948, the land was legally and officially under the rule of the British. It was officially called “Palestine.” In Hebrew it was officially called “Palestina.”

Biblically, May 14, 1948, has enormous significance today for those of us who believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church. As I stated in the Agenda 2030 article, Jesus and His disciples were sitting on the Mt. of Olives just outside Jerusalem when He was asked, “When shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” That’s recorded in Matt. 24:3.

Jesus then went on to tell them all the things that would come upon the World before He would return again.   He concluded with telling them in vs. 34, “Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

In verses 32 and 33 He stated, “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.” The fig tree was a common symbol for Israel in those days.

Now let us look again at the term “generation.” Psalm 90:10 tells us, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years.” A score of years is 20. Therefore, threescore years would be 60. Add 10 to that and we have 70. And “fourscore years” likewise would be 80 years. In other words, Jesus was saying that the average lifetime of a generation is 70 years, but if he has some added strength, he could live to 80. So, in summary, Jesus was saying that some of the generation of people who would be alive and on the Earth during the blooming of the Fig Tree, the re-birth of Israel, would live to see His Second Coming.

The entire discourse of Jesus’s explanation to His disciples was concerning His Second Coming. When He does return, He will come in power and glory to claim the Earth as His Kingdom, and it will mark the beginning of the millennium.

The Second Coming will follow the 7-year tribulation period, a time of such horror that if God, in His mercy, had not shortened those days, no living thing would have survived it! “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matt. 24:22).

Those of us who hold to a pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church believe that true born-again Christians will be “raptured” before the 7-year tribulation begins. The word “rapture” is taken from the Latin word “rapio” which means “caught up” or “lifted up” in love. We Christians believe that we will be spared from that horrible 7-year period: “because they have kept the word of His patience, they will be kept from that hour of trial” (Rev. 3:10).

Applying all of this to a potential time parameter for the Rapture, we must start with the date May 14, 1948.   From 1948 to 2020, we have 72 years. We must add 7 years to that in allowing for the tribulation period. That brings us up to 79 years. On the exact date of May 14, 2028, 80 years will have passed regarding “this generation” of which Jesus spoke in Matt. 24, the generation alive to see the blooming of “the fig tree” – Israel’s rebirth as a nation. In other words, the Second Coming has to occur by May 14, 2028, but the rapture HAS to occur 7 years BEFORE that! However, the Rapture could occur today, this very minute!

My dear fellow Christians, we are in over-time for the rapture. There is less than one year left before May 14, 2021!

May God Richly Bless You All,

YBIC,

Bill Cruce

Please share this if you wish. I may be reached at deadshot77@hotmail.com for questions or comments.

“Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

As I reflect on the advice given by the Lord through the above-mentioned verse, it somehow brings me back to my early adulthood. Not so much because I was quite a hothead then, but somehow I candidly look back at something I grew out of. One of my favorite television shows then was The Incredible Hulk – the infamous catch phrases, “Don’t make me angry; you won’t like me when I’m angry.” Ugly scenes of rampage and wanton destruction followed when the beast in the man imploded. When he came to his senses, the man with torn clothes plus disheveled appearance sat on a bench by the beach – accompanied by the setting sun!

I can safely say that this a palatable downplay where the true nature and extent of anger is concerned. However, this is not just anger but red-hot anger, far from the salsa we occasionally savor. When something is red hot, it has the propensity to cause a large number of third-degree burns – moreover a lengthy timeframe is needed for the cooling-down process, if ever that was reachable.

Red-hot anger is truly counterproductive on a macro level. Misunderstandings and disputes between groups of individuals can be not just long-standing. It can result in not just collateral damage where those directly involved matter, but innocent parties caught in the crossfire also suffer immensely. Opportunities are thrown into the scrapheap alongside a myriad of hopes, dreams and aspirations. Resources are inadvertently misallocated in such an unwholesome climate; more law enforcement personnel, more soldiers, and social workers alongside the increased need for the likes of penitentiaries plus mental health facilities. It could translate into less resources available for schools, art museums, civic facilities, parks and a host of quality-of-life enhancement programs.

Even at a micro or a personal level, letting anger of an unbridled kind dominate your life truly devalues the joy of living. The obvious by-product of deep-seated angst is that of a fiery temper. From this we see foul language, rash decisions and quite a string of unwarranted altercations. Potential friends end up being on a hate list amidst an atmosphere of distrust and hostility. It can become an obsession which manifests itself in nightmares that could intersperse bouts of sleeplessness, and otherwise joyous meals end up as tasteless affairs! Do people ever sit down and wonder whether it is worthwhile letting all that unabated fury clutter the avenues that could allow for peace of mind? Pointless to live with everything in the material sense yet being manacled with unhappiness that stems from all that uncalled-for rage!

It is alright to display angst that does not allow sin to occupy the driver’s seat. It is healthy to denounce and show displeasure if injustice stares us in the face or if there is a blatant instance of unrighteousness. Not to do so by being indifferent amounts to lukewarm tendencies. In short, everything must be done in the spirit of self-control with love being the overriding factor. Prayer then becomes a pivotal element in any endeavor that is love-driven. 1 Peter 4:8 makes it very clear. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

So love will have control over the steering wheel. If there is another case for righteous anger, it must be bridled and consigned to the back seat. We can allow for a bountiful harvest to flourish when the bonds of love with one another are strengthened each day by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

All for His Coming Kingdom and Glory,

Edwin

edwinuk13@gmail.com