Have you ever heard that a Jewish Rabbi Judah ben Samuel who lived from 1140 to 1217 predicted the future? They asked him where he received his information and he said the Prophet Elijah, who will precede the return of the Messiah gave it to him. (Don’t stop here, read a little further!)

He predicted that the Ottoman’s (Turks) would take control of Jerusalem in 1517 and control it for 400 years. Afterwards, Jerusalem for fifty years would become a desolate area. After those fifty years it would go back to the Jews which would be 1967. Both of these prophecies happened as predicted. If you will remember in 1967 Israel was attacked by Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the United Arab Republic and a Six Day War allowed Israel to take over all of Jerusalem as foretold. They also increased their land by four times. He then says fifty years later, the year of Jubilee, the Messiah will return and fifty years is another year of Jubilee and 2017.

Leviticus 25:8–12 – “‘Count off seven Sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven Sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.”

I have previously written that the four blood moons could be the discovery of oil in Israel just two weeks after the last blood moon. According to Fox News, the quantity could be enough to last Israel for centuries. Isaiah 45:3 – “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

I have been writing about the four blood moons with number four occurred on September 28, 2015 which was the Jewish religious holiday. This could also be a sign, to get ready, that the rapture is coming, it could be a sign that the disastrous Tribulation is nearing. The Tribulation will be a seven year peace made with Israel by a man-of-peace, known as the Antichrist. You can tell our present administration in Washington hasn’t read the Bible or they would realize they will not be able to make a peace treaty with Israel and Palestine, unless the one who does is the Antichrist, which I doubt.

The Bible tells us in the end times there will be scoffers and unbelievers. No matter what the signs tell us and what the conditions might be, most will not be able to believe that the end is nearing. Old Testament history tells us that the people of Israel were often warned and would not believe that God would do as He said He would do. False prophets were continually telling the people that things were only going to get better. But they didn’t!!!

John 14:1–3 – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

If we believe in Jesus we can accept things that we cannot understand and the storms of life can become calm. Jesus is telling us, in Heaven there are many rooms and enough for everyone. Early Christians believed that the room one receives will be dependent on ones deeds and their holiness while on earth. Jesus completes the verse by saying He will come back and take us with Him to Heaven.

John 14:4–6 – “You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus had repeatedly told His disciples where He was going but they did not understand. He was returning to His Father who had sent Him. If we want to follow Jesus we must believe He is the only way. Jesus says if you want eternal life with God and me, there is no other way. No one else can get you there.

WE NEVER KNOW WHEN CHRIST RETURNS BUT WE MUST ALWAYS BE READY. Luke 12:40 – “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

II Thessalonians 2:3–5 – “ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?”

There are those who believe the Lord will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed. The rebellion will be a massive rebellion against God. Some interpret this to mean at the time of the rapture. Most believe it means abandoning God or giving up one’s faith. During the rebellion a person will appear having considerably power from Satan and will personify evil. He will oppose all laws. He will promote immorality and anarchy. Revelation 13:5–8 describes him.

Whether the rapture takes place by 2017 or later makes no difference to those that have accepted Christ as their Savior. My belief is all the signs and world conditions that the Bible prophesies are to happen for the rapture to occur have been met. It is a time that spreading the gospel could not be more necessary. People who want to live with God and Christ in eternity must be ready. I fear there are still too many who call themselves Christians who may not qualify because of how they are living and their hearts are still hard.

When the rapture occurs, we believe children under the age of accountability will be raptured. Will they go to Heaven as orphans? Will their grandparents be there to care for them?

This is what I am looking forward to: Micah 4:1–5 – “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!” Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever.” NLT – Christ will rule on earth for 1000 years.

I write this blog, not because I believe the rapture will occur by 2017, but to encourage anyone that has not accepted Christ as their Savior to make that commitment. Scripture tells us to read the signs and be prepared because there will be a rapture. God does not want anyone to perish.