Rapture and End Times

Lord, reveal to me the end of my life and the number of my days. (Psalm 39:4)

The Lord build all the numbers we need for the countdown into His Word – the Holy Bible:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)

Everyone knows this story.

Very few ask the question: why were these wise men expecting the Messiah at this time? What lead them to be seeking a sign at that moment?

These men read the Scriptures, and knew them very well. We know that, because of what happens next:

When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the leaders of Judah:
because out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Matthew 2:3-6)

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The chief priests and scribes quoted Micah 5:2. They were not pagan astrologers. They were wise in knowing their Scripture. They most likely also knew the Book of Daniel. They were probably basing their timing of the Messiah on these revelations that the angel Gabriel gave to Daniel:

He gave me this explanation: “Daniel, I’ve come now to give you understanding. At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God. So consider the message and understand the vision:

Seventy weeks are decreed
about your people and your holy city—
to bring the rebellion to an end,
to put a stop to sin,
to wipe away iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness,
to seal up vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the most holy place.
Know and understand this:
From the issuing of the decree
to restore and rebuild Jerusalem
until Messiah the Prince
will be seven weeks and 62 weeks.
It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat,
but in difficult times.
After those 62 weeks
the Messiah will be cut off
and will have nothing…” (Daniel 9:22-26)

The wise men knew the Word of God. The prophecy stated that 69 weeks of years (173,880 days using the 360 day prophetic year) after the command went forth to restore and rebuild the city of Jerusalem the Messiah would come.

They counted forward 173,880 days from the decree of Artaxerxes in 445 B.C. and determined the Messiah would “cut off (killed) around 30 A.D.

They would have also known from the Hebrew Scriptures that service as a priest started at the age of 30 (Numbers 4:43).

Therefore, the Messiah would have been more than 30 years old and the Wise Men could have counted backward from the date of the Messiah’s death and determined an approximate time of His birth. Knowing the approximate time of the Messiah’s birth the Wise Men would have known to be watching for a sign…

Now, look at the rest of the Daniel 9 revelation:

“…The people of the coming prince
will destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end will come with a flood,
and until the end there will be war;
desolations are decreed.
He will make a firm covenant
with many for one week,
but in the middle of the week
he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering.
And the abomination of desolation
will be on a wing of the temple
until the decreed destruction
is poured out on the desolator.” (Daniel 9:26-27)

The scope of these revelations that the angel Gabriel gave to Daniel span from the decree to restore Jerusalem all the way to the Second Coming. The Lord had shown Daniel the entire history of the Church Age and the 7 year peace agreement (a firm covenant)  that the Beast will make.

The wise men knew their Scripture, and they knew how to count.

They had faith in the Lord. Note that they “arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1). No one else was expecting the Messiah at that time.

The anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ has been a cornerstone of Christian eschatology for millennia. From the days of the apostles to the present, believers have sought to discern the times, often guided by prophetic scriptures, historical events, and divine signs. By examining key biblical prophecies and applying mathematical interpretations, we can explore a timeline that spans from Christ’s birth to His promised return. This message synthesizes scriptural insights and historical context to illuminate the path from the First Coming to the Second.

Biblical Prophecies: Anchoring the Timeline

The foundation of the prophetic timeline is rooted in the birth, ministry, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Using the widely accepted estimate of Jesus’ birth in 5 BC, combined with His ministry beginning at approximately age 30 (Luke 3:23), we can place His death and resurrection around 28-30 AD. Central to this timeline is the prophecy from Daniel 9:24-27, which provides a framework for understanding both the First and Second Comings.

Daniel’s vision of “seventy weeks” delineates key periods of Jewish and Christian history. The prophecy states:

“Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.” (Daniel 9:24, ESV)

The first sixty-nine weeks (483 prophetic years, using the 360-day year) extend from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the arrival of the Messiah. Historians often associate this decree with Artaxerxes’ edict in 445 BC. Adding 483 years places the fulfillment near the ministry of Jesus. The “Messiah cut off” (Daniel 9:26) signifies His crucifixion.

The 2,000-Year Gap and the Church Age

Hosea’s prophecy offers further insight into the timeline leading to the Second Coming:

“After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.” (Hosea 6:2, NKJV)

In prophetic terms, “two days” often represents 2,000 years (“a day is like a thousand years,” 2 Peter 3:8). From the resurrection and ascension of Christ around 30 AD, this “Church Age” extends approximately 2,000 years, suggesting a culmination around 2028-2030 AD.

This aligns with Jesus’ teaching that His return would occur within a generation of significant end-time signs (Matthew 24:34).

Key Signs of the Times

Several signs indicate the nearing of the Second Coming. These include:

The Reestablishment of Israel: In 1948, the modern state of Israel was founded, fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy of the dry bones coming to life (Ezekiel 37:1-14).

The Fig Tree Parable: Jesus likened the blossoming of the fig tree to the rebirth of Israel, signaling that “this generation” would witness His return (Matthew 24:32-34).

The stage is set for a rebuilt temple, necessary to fulfill the prophecies of the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Since 1948 Israel is a nation again, and hopes of a rebuilt temple continue to rise.

Global Unrest and Apostasy: Widespread wars, natural disasters, and moral decline fulfill Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24:6-14.

Technological and Economic Developments: Revelation 13:16-17 describes a global economic system controlled by the mark of the beast, now conceivable with modern technology.

Mathematics and the Countdown

The prophetic timeline incorporates several overlapping countdowns:

6,000 Years from Creation: Many theologians believe human history is divided into six millennia of labor, followed by a seventh millennium of rest (Revelation 20:4-6). Using genealogical records, scholars estimate creation around 4,000 BC, suggesting the 6,000th year occurred near 2000 AD. Adjustments for calendar discrepancies extend this period to the present.

2,000 Years from Christ’s Ascension: Adding 2,000 years to 30 AD suggests 2030 AD as a pivotal year, with the Rapture and Tribulation occurring beforehand.

The Last Generation: If a generation lasts 70-80 years (Psalm 90:10), adding this span to Israel’s rebirth in 1948 yields 2018-2028 as a prophetic window.

Zechariah’s Vision and the Mount of Olives

Zechariah 14:4 prophesies Jesus’ physical return to the Mount of Olives, accompanied by a dramatic geological event. This aligns with Acts 1:11, where angels declared Jesus would return in the same manner as His ascension. The Mount of Olives holds historical and spiritual significance, being the site of Jesus’ teachings on the end times (Matthew 24-25) and His arrest (Luke 22:39-46).

The Tribulation and the Abomination of Desolation

The Tribulation, a seven-year period of unprecedented suffering, begins with a covenant made by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27). At its midpoint, the “abomination of desolation” occurs, desecrating a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15). These events are precursors to Christ’s triumphant return.

Practical Implications for Believers

As the prophetic timeline converges, Christians are called to readiness and faithfulness. Jesus admonished His followers to “watch” and discern the signs of the times (Matthew 24:42-44). The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) underscores the importance of spiritual preparedness.

From the birth of Christ to His promised return, the Bible provides a cohesive narrative punctuated by prophecies, signs, and divine timing. As we approach the year 2028, the convergence of biblical, historical, and mathematical evidence urges believers to reflect, repent, and remain vigilant. While “no one knows the day or hour” (Matthew 24:36), the unfolding of these events affirms the nearness of the Kingdom of God.

The journey from the First Coming to the Second is marked by God’s faithfulness and the assurance that His Word will be fulfilled. In the words of Revelation 22:20: “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

If you are not sure that you are saved, you can accept Christ into your life right now, by praying:

“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you into my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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