On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly of the United Nations endorsed a plan to create separate Jewish and Arab states in Palestine. The British mandate over Palestine was scheduled to end on May 15, 1948, at which time the British troops would be evacuating the area. It had been in effect since 1920. See Mandate for Palestine – Wikipedia for more information.

“In anticipation of the end of the British presence in Palestine, David Ben Gurion (Israel’s first Prime Minister) called to order a historic meeting on May 14, 1948. After the assembled body sang the “Hatikvah,” the Jewish national anthem, Ben Gurion read Israel’s Declaration of Independence. For the first time in more than two thousand years, there was an independent Jewish state of Israel.” ^{1} When & Where In The Bible and Throughout History by E. Michael & Sharon Rusten

The next day, on May 15, 1948, Israel was attacked by five Arab nations: Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Though greatly outnumbered and outgunned, Israel miraculously defeated this Arab coalition by the end of the year and even gained more territory.

So, as you can see, the May 14, 1948, signing of Israel’s Declaration of Independence was not arbitrary. It was just the day before the British mandate over Palestine was scheduled to end. I believe God orchestrated this particular date to become the anniversary of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.

The Jews do not commemorate this important anniversary by the Gregorian calendar date. They reckon it by their ‘fixed’ Jewish lunisolar calendar. I have written many articles regarding this calendar and its many flaws. According to this outdated calendar, May 14, 1948, was the fifth day of Iyyar, the eighth month of the civil calendar in the Jewish year 5708 AM (from creation) by Jewish reckoning.

However, on the ecclesiastical calendar, Iyyar is the second month of the year. The anniversary of this important date on the Jewish calendar is known as Yom Ha’atzmaut and usually falls in April or May on the Gregorian Calendar. Yom Ha’atzmaut is always reckoned from the Jewish lunisolar calendar and is celebrated on Iyyar 5, not on the Gregorian calendar date of May 14.

What the Jews, and the world at large, do not understand is that Iyyar 5 is not the correct lunisolar Jewish date for May 14, 1948. As I wrote about in Revising the Fixed Jewish Lunisolar Calendar :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready, “An essential factor to consider regarding the ecclesiastical Jewish calendar is that the determination of the new moon, which establishes the critical first month of each year, is based on the fixed application of the 19-year Metonic cycle.

In this system, the required periodic leap month is added by a fixed schedule of intercalation, completely ignoring the real moon! This sometimes leads to the incorrect identification of the spring new moon as the ‘first month’ (Nisan). This error, when it happens, establishes all commanded Feast days following Nisan to be observed in the wrong lunar month!

Today’s Hebrew lunisolar calendar (the same fixed calendar as the 10th century) assumes the vernal equinox falls on March 25 (instead of March 19-21) due to discrepancies between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Thus, the ‘modern’ Hebrew calendar ignores the actual vernal equinox (March 19-21) and still observes the March 25th vernal equinox date for the deadline of Passover (Nisan 15), which contributes to the incorrect month reckoned for Nisan in certain years.

When observing the ecclesiastical calendar, the Jews still follow the fixed lunisolar calendar, with embolismic months (leap months) added every 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 19 years, even when an extra month is not needed.” This is the case in 1948, as their calendar added an intercalary month when it wasn’t needed. The ‘fixed’ Jewish lunisolar calendar has March 25, 1948, as Veadar 15 (the 13^th month) instead of Nisan 15 (the first month). March 25, 1948, is 5 days past the vernal equinox, so it should have been Nisan 15, which is Passover for the Jews.

When you don’t add the extra intercalary month, May 14, 1948, falls on Sivan 6 on the Jewish lunisolar calendar. Sivan 6 is the Jewish date for Shavuot. It is considered the 50^th day of the counting of the Omer (waving of the Barley sheaves) from Nisan 16 (the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread). From March 26, 1948, to May 14, 1948, is 50 days.

Although it can’t be proven by Scripture (IMO), Shavuot is the day Jews believe God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses and the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai. Of course, as Christians, we believe Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ disciples) is the same Feast of the Lord as Shavuot, but they have been effectively separated and are now two distinct events with different dates. See Easter, First Fruits, or the Counting of the Omer?.

So now, instead of commemorating Yom Ha’atzmaut on Shavuot, they do so on a date with little significance, Iyyar 5. This is due to the Jews’ refusal to upgrade their outdated calendar. I believe this is one of the Jews’ greatest mistakes since becoming a modern nation. They missed out on celebrating their Independence Day on Shavuot, which they claim is the date God gave Moses and the children of Israel the 10 Commandments. What a missed opportunity!

Regarding the upcoming years on the Jewish fixed lunisolar calendar, an unnecessary intercalary month is added again in 2027, 2035, 2038, and 2043.

THE CHRISTIAN TEN DAYS OF AWE IN 2026

The ‘Christian’ Ten Days of Awe occur every year from Ascension Day (when Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection) to Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ disciples). Ascension Day occurs 40 days after Easter (Resurrection Sunday), and then Pentecost occurs 10 days after Ascension Day (or 50 days from Easter).

May 14 appears to be a very significant date in biblical history. Jesus ascended into heaven on Thursday, Iyyar 27 on the Jewish calendar, forty days after Resurrection Sunday, which occurred on Nisan 17 that year. The date on the Julian calendar (the calendar used by the Romans at the time) was Thursday, May 14, 33 AD.

The Julian calendar for 33 AD appears almost identical to the 2026 Gregorian calendar, with the new- and full-moon conjunctions (which determine the 1st and 15th days of the Jewish months) aligning very closely as well.

The date for Resurrection Sunday (renamed Easter by the Catholic Church) in 2026 was April 5, which corresponds to Nisan 17 on the (Biblical) Jewish calendar. Ascension Day occurs 40 days later on Thursday, May 14, 2026, or Iyyar 27 on the Jewish calendar. Of course, we (Gentiles) recognize May 14, 1948, as Israel’s Independence Day on the Gregorian calendar

The following day, Friday, May 15, 2026 (Iyyar 28), the Jews will celebrate Jerusalem Day. Jerusalem Day is an Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City in June 1967 (on Iyyar 28).

May 2026 is a busy and perhaps prophetic year for Israel and the world. May 20, 2026, is Sivan 3 on the Jewish calendar. I believe that Sivan 3, 1446 BC, is the date on the Jewish calendar when Yahweh came down Mt. Sinai (with the trumpet of God sounding) as recorded in Exodus 19. “On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.” (Exodus 19:1, 11 – ESV). See The First and Last Trumpet Call of God :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready

In 2026, the Jewish Feast of Shavuot begins on the evening of Friday, May 22 (Shavuot usually begins on Sivan 6 on the ‘fixed’ Jewish calendar). The Church’s commemoration of Pentecost occurs on Sunday, May 24, 2026, which is Sivan 7 on the ‘biblical’ Jewish calendar. These Jewish and Gregorian dates for Pentecost in 2026 align with the calendar dates for Shavuot/Pentecost in 33 AD, which also occurred on Sivan 7 and May 24 (Julian calendar). The ‘Christian’ Ten Days of Awe in 2026 occur from May 14 to May 24. These Ten Days of Awe are high watch days for the Rapture (IMO). See Shavuot, Pentecost, and the Rapture :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Randy Nettles

rgeanie55@gmail.com

You searched for randy nettles – Rapture Ready– archived articles

 

 

 

I have included a Special Message at the end of this article. I hope you will read it and take it to heart.

Although we often hear accusations that Christians want the “end of the world” judgments to come about because we don’t care about people who “don’t believe what we believe,” I have yet to meet one.

In my 30+ years of following Jesus Christ, I have only found the same sadness and regret on the part of my sisters and brothers that is mirrored in my own heart when the discussion turns to Eschatology (end-times teachings), the Book of Revelation in particular.

I think it is because there is no good news for those who continue to reject the Mercy, Grace and Sacrifice of God’s One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, and we who take God at His Word know it because His Word makes it clear.

He declared with no ambiguity that He is the Way to be saved from the consequences of sin and rebellion against God, but all people who will must do so while they are still in their living years, and we know that as well.

In Jesus’ own Words:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Emphasis added.

Humans, human governments, agencies, and organizations are not going to solve or fix the problems that exist in this world because of sin and rebellion. The Word of God, which He has provided out of the abundance of His Mercy, indicates what the “end from the beginning” actually will be. It is graphic, and it will happen just as He said it will.

We know it because the prophecies that have already been fulfilled have been fulfilled with 100% accuracy. It is simply folly to think the balance of them will not also occur in the same way.

The genuine follower of Christ is blessed to have the heart of God in that we want what He wants:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Emphasis added.

But we also know this heart-rending Truth: According to God’s own Word, there is no reversing of the sentence of eternal separation from God for those who reject Christ even unto their death. It is a burden of sadness, even though we know that the Lord has done all He could possibly do to save every person who has ears to hear and eyes to see.

The Lord laments that so many will choose to reject His Mercy and Grace:

“What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it?” (Isaiah 5:4).

“Will the workers of iniquity never learn?” (Psalm 14:4).

The Gospel message and the abundance of fulfilled prophecies provide all the proof one needs in order to understand that they must be spiritually “born again.” Jesus made it perfectly clear that this condition is not optional:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Emphasis added.

Maybe this understanding of the destiny of the unsaved partially explains why Bible prophecy sermons and teachings are so rare in regular church services. I don’t support that as a valid reason to avoid the topic (and I am sure the Lord does not either), especially in these days where so many of the Prophetic Words of God are piling up like ice jams in spring rivers.

However, it is incumbent on the Church to do that very thing, and the Word of God is the entire Word of God. You might say that He expects those entrusted with it to preach both the “easy and the hard” parts of it.

We are seeing the manifestation of the below verse as it becomes more obvious by the day in this present world.

“The fool says in his heart: there is no God” (Psalm 14:1/53:1).

By calling unbelievers fools in (Psalm 14:1/53:1), David is saying those who reject God will eventually become hardened of heart, evil, and worthless due to that separation.

But you do not have to be one of them. (Please see the Special message at the end of this article.)

No one enjoys being persecuted or mocked or rejected, yet we know the ultimate end as God has proclaimed in the Book of Revelation, and we pray that, if our message is rejected, perhaps someone else’s will not be, so the end result may be that the “wicked person” might become a spiritually “born again” person as Jesus requires.

“Though the wicked person is shown compassion, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, and does not perceive the majesty of the LORD” (Isaiah 26:10).

To be clear, we are all in the same canoe.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

The difference is Jesus Christ. We who have received Him are “saved” from the consequences of our sins, and you can be also.

Yes, we who are saved eagerly anticipate the return of the Lord, especially as we see the undeniably growing depravity and debauchery so obvious in this world, but we also trust the Lord when he declares His desire for no one to be lost; yet, it is a choice that each person must consciously make: to reject or receive Jesus Christ as Savior.

That is the plumb-line God has established, and it is not negotiable.

We also know that God will not reject anyone who truly seeks Him, as He clearly states:

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

If you have thus far rejected (or are unaware of) God’s Mercy and Grace, and someone offers a Gospel message or some other part of God’s Word to you, please understand that we have nothing monetary to gain in this world by your response. It is all done out of love. The love of Christ conveyed to you, out of love for you.

As He always has, God most often works through His people.

Right now, God’s plea is ringing out more urgently than ever through His believing Church, as the signs are clear that the end of the age is very near:

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b).

Jesus Himself waits for you to “open the door” of your heart and spirit to Him:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

I hope, and I pray that you will choose life.

The special message I promised you:

For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.

You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.

It requires that you come before God on His terms and that you do so in your living years.

And, what are His terms according to His Word?

• Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
• Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
• That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
• To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
• Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross and rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, just as He promised.
• To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.

God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.

• No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
• No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
• Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.

If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.

“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).

There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.

The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Pro Salvator Vigilans                      

To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com