False Rapture Prophecy
A few different people have predicted that the Rapture of the Church will take place on April 23, 2018. One individual continually predicts dates for end time events. His predictions have been wrong every time. The Bible warns about being a false prophet or listening to one.
Another individual is falsely predicting that the Rapture will take place for sure in April of 2018. Among other things, his guarantee for the Rapture taking place is based on the number of Jewish Biblical Jubilees that have passed.
Bible Believing View of the Prophesied “Generation”
As Bible Believing Baptists, we teach that the Rapture of the Church may happen before all the people of a certain generation pass away. It appears that the Scriptures are talking about the generation that existed when Israel became a nation on May 14th, 1948. This would be consistent with a Biblical prophetic interpretation of the Fig Tree parable/prophecy regarding that “generation” mentioned in the Matthew 24.
The lesson to be learned is that the Rapture of the Church is closer than we think, and there is an urgency of lost sinners needing salvation. We should be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” This includes winning souls to Christ and living godly lives; Though the “times” of the latter days are abounding before our eyes, we are strictly warned by the Lord Jesus not to speculate on the “day nor the hour” of His 2nd Coming.
Mat 25:13 “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
“This generation” mentioned in Mat 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” is the generation that is alive when certain prophesied Biblical end time events begin to happen. These events will include: certain events prior and after the prophesied Rapture of the Church, the seven-year Tribulation, and the Second Coming of Jesus back to the Mount of Olives. When these events take place, the majority of the Jews will be unsaved, at first. But, at the conclusion of these events every Jew still alive in that generation will receive Jesus as their Messiah, Lord and Saviour, Romans 11:24-29; Zechariah 12:9-14.
Misinterpretation About Rapture Based On Revelation 12
Many people, including Christians, fall for the end time predictions of false prophets because they do not know the Scriptures. We wrote about one of these false prophets predicting end time events before. He based his teaching on the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. This article is called: “Star Alignment Of September 23, 2017 Is Not A Fulfillment Of Revelation 12:1-2 Prophecy!” This article can be read at the following short link on the Hope of Israel Baptist Mission web site: https://wp.me/p35lgT-1ha When studying the Scriptures, it is apparent that this false prophet misinterprets the Bible to form his false predictions about end time events.
God’s View of False Prophecy and False Prophets
Jeremiah 23:30-32 “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words [false prophecy] every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He [God] saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them [false prophets] not, nor commanded them [false prophets]: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.”
Test for False Prophecy
In Jeremiah and other places in the Scriptures, it is clear that there are many false prophets. God is against a person teaching things that dilute and defile His pure Word. These false prophets deceive many uninformed, immature Christians and unsaved individuals. They deceitfully claim that God is teaching something in His Word or that they had a dream/vision about an end time event. If a dream or vision is contrary to the written Word in the King James Bible, it is a false prophecy.
It is amazing that people keep falling for the same lies on a different date in a different package. If an individual teaches a Bible prophecy that fails to take place, even one time, they are a false prophet. Study the Scriptures to discover the true doctrine about end time events. Since God did not send these false prophets, Christians should not fall for their false teachings.
False Prophets Set Dates for End Time Events, Such as the Rapture
When a prophet starts naming unscriptural dates for when end time events will happen, we can be sure that they are a false prophet. The individual who keeps naming dates based on the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and stars has proven that he is a liar. Even though the teaching about the number of Jubilees, that has taken place, is interesting, it is false teaching to even name a year or month when the Rapture will take place. The Rapture could happen on April 23, 2018, but it will not happen based on these false predictions. The Rapture of the Church is imminent. Jesus’ Second Coming to the Mount of Olives will happen seven years after the Rapture. Only God knows the date of the Rapture and the Second Coming.
Parable of the Fig Tree — Israel
The generation that will be present at end time events is explained in the Parable of the Fig tree. As stated, the generation described in the parable of Matthew 24 appears to be the same generation that was alive at the time of Israel’s rebirth.
As you may know, Israel just celebrated her seventieth year concerning her rebirth as a nation. Remember, even though an average generation of people may be seventy years, the prophesied generation does not end until the last person of that generation is dead. Just because we are at the seventieth year of the generation that was alive at the time of Israel’s rebirth, some of the generation must still be alive at the Second Coming of Jesus. If all of the generation alive on May 14, 1948 passes away before the Second Coming of Jesus, it is not the prophesied generation in the parable of the Fig Tree.
Matthew 24:32-37 “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. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Israel is often symbolized as a fig tree in the Scriptures, Jeremiah 24; Hosea 9:10; Mark 11:13-25. Gentile nations are included in the prophecy of the parable of the Fig Tree. But, Israel is the focus of God’s attention in these end time events mentioned in Matthew 24.
When Israel came back as a nation, desert terrain began to bloom like a paradise. The dry, parched ground was revived with life-giving water. Fig trees are included in the beautiful trees that make up the restored landscape of the Promised Land, Deuteronomy 8:8. The first Harvest of smaller figs called “Taksh,” become ripe in Israel in the month of May, this is amazing since Israel became a recognized Nation again in the month of May! The 2nd Harvest time known for bigger Figs is during the summer months, this prophetically refers to the 1000 year Kingdom. So it is truly exciting to see the similarities between the Fig Tree and the Nation of Israel with regards to the end time events.
Future Events That Must Take Place Before All the Prophesied Generation Dies
Like the big fig harvest, when certain Biblical end time events happen, we know that all Israel shall be saved is fast approaching in the Time Table of Biblical Prophecy. Though we cannot know the Day nor the Hour, we can discern the Times – Mat 24:3 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
Certain end time events, as noted in Matthew 24, are named pointing to the harvest of the Jewish people of Israel: Daniel’s seventieth week, known as the seven-year Tribulation, will take place; the Abomination of Desolation will happen in the Jewish Temple at the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week; Jews will flee from Judaea when the Temple is defiled; the buzzards/eagles will gather at the Battle of Armageddon; The heavenly bodies, such as the Sun and Moon and stars, will provide a sign to the Jews of the Second Coming of Jesus to the Mount of Olives; The Second Coming will happen in God’s timing; after the Second Coming, Jesus will harvest the Jews like ripened figs, as well as the Nations of the world, who both will enter the Millennial Kingdom.
The “generation” will not pass away until all of the end time events are fulfilled. A generation may be 70 or 80 years, according to the Bible.
Some Generations Are 70 or 80 Years
Psalms 90:10 “The days of our years are threescore years and ten [70 years]; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years [80 years], yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
Fig Tree Generation Length Not Stated
It is possible that the prophesied generation of the parable of the Fig Tree began at the rebirth of Israel in 1948. Even though a generation may sometimes be 70 years, the generation mentioned in Matthew 24 may be longer. Sometimes people in a particular generation live over 100 years. Until the last person who was alive at the rebirth of Israel dies, that generation has not passed away. The parable of the Fig Tree says that the last person of the generation will not pass away until all related events are fulfilled.
Some of Prophesied Generation Must Live Until the Second Coming of Jesus
Since the Tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus are included in the end time events that must take place before the generation passes away, the Rapture would be included in the time of this generation. But, some of the generation must survive on Earth until Jesus returns in His Second Coming to the Mount of Olives. Of course, if a person is saved before the time of the Rapture, they will be caught up to Heaven, missing the Tribulation on Earth. But, there will be many Jews and Gentiles who are left on Earth because they have not been saved. Some of this prophesied generation will survive the Tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon. This generation will not completely pass away until all of these end time events are completed. God knows about future events just like we know about history. He knows that the generation in Matthew 24 will continue until the end of the prophesied events.
Your Generation
Do not fall for the lies of the many false prophets. Even if your generation does not pass away, you are not guaranteed another breath. Before it is too late, repent (turn from) of your sins and trust Jesus as your personal Saviour. Call on the Lord Jesus today and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, save you from Hell, and give you Eternal life!
HIBM Editorial by Avi Goldstein * Rapture Predicted April 23, 2018? – Dr. K. Daniel Fried, Editor in Chief – copyright © 2018 hopeofisrael.net
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