Saturday, August 18, 2012

First of Elul and Deliverance from Enemies


1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came on me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. . . . 6And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. . . . 11Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of my enemies. 12Deliver me not over to the will of my enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalm 27:1-14 edited)

Every day during the month of Elul, the Jews recite Psalm 27. They relate to the reality of enemies encamped against them as in the time of king David. The Jews living in Israel have supplied their bomb shelters with gas masks for everyone. The IDF is prepared for war, and their ambassadors have announced it will be soon, in a matter of weeks, not months, that they will attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
According to my understanding of King Yeshua's return on September 16th on Feast of Trumpets this year, there's less than four weeks left. Israel's government is not waiting for the US to okay their military actions, they are waiting upon the LORD and His perfect timing. Their worship of Elohim will give them confidence and strength to believe He will deliver them from their enemies all around them. After Israel's pre-emptive attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, President Obama will side with his Muslim buddies at the UN and agree to boots on the ground against Israel.
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:12-16)

The US and the world have seen numerous “acts of God” devastate their lands the last year as they've snubbed Israel, but it will get worse.

And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were on the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell on men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Rev. 16:16-21)

And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even to the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (Rev. 14:19-20)

The Valley of Megiddo is in the southwest of the Jezreel Valley. The Jezreel Valley covers an area of 380 sq. km or 236 sq. miles. 16,000 furlongs is about 200 square miles. Megiddo means “rendevous” from the root gadad which means “assembly of troops”.  Jezreel means “El sows,” and so El will harvest the heathen troops there, and their blood will cover the valley up to five feet in some places.

And I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. (Zechariah 12:10-11)

When Christ returns, heathen armies will be in the Jezreel Valley, and they will be crushed by large hail stones thus causing the valley to turn to a lake of blood. Then the glory of our LORD will rend the darkness of the skies, and everyone will see the sacrifcial Lamb, our Savior, return as Yeshua, the Lion of Judah. Yeshua will call to those who believe Him to join Him in the air. So be ready to say, “Yes, LORD,” when He calls, and don't look back to the things of this world like Lot's wife did. Be prepared.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

New Moons and Elul

New Moons
It takes the moon about 29.5 days to go through its phases as we observe from the earth. Today when the moon is between our line of sight on the earth to the sun, it looks like a black disc, and is called a 'new moon', but I will refer to it as a 'dark moon'. When just the tiniest sliver of the waxing (growing) moon appears, the Hebrews called it a 'new moon' establish after two eye-witnesses confirmed the sighting.
Babylonians and Egyptians and other ancient moon worshippers celebrated the full moon. In contrast the Hebrews were to celebrate the beginning of their months when the tiniest sliver of the moon was observed to be accompanied by the priests blowing silver trumpets.
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Make you two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shall you make them: that you may use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. . . . And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. And if you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you, then you shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and you shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God. (Numbers 10:1-2, 8-10) [verse 9 is underlined]

The Hebrew word for “trumpet” here is not a ram's horn, shofar, but khats-o-tser-aw' from the root khast-o-tsare' which means to blow or sound alarm, from khaw-tsar' meaning to surround with a stockade. Thus these silver trumpets have military roots and purposes.
The LORD gave Moses several instances in which these silver trumpets were to be blown, and I wonder if the order of the last two (verses 9-10) might be prophetic to these last days in which Israel might attack Iran on a dark or new moon. Israel's leaders have been saying for months that Iran's time is up. The next dark moon is August 17th, followed by the new moon on the 18th which begins the month of Elul (carried over to the day of the 19th as the official 1st of Elul on Jewish calendars). Verse 9 is about war against an oppressor on Israel's own land. Will Israel simultaneously attack Hamas and Hezbollah on their borders as they drop bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities?

Dark Moon and a Covenant of Love and Mercy

And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and you shall be missed, because your seat will be empty. (I Samuel 20:17-18)

Prince Jonathan understood he would not become king, but that David had been anointed as the LORD's choice. Jonathan agreed with God's choice, and had come to love David as his best friend. Jonathan asked David to vow to show kindness to remaining family members when he came to power.
Before we see the “son of David” rule and reign from Jerusalem, we also have to relinquish our rights to rule our own lives, and ask Jesus to be our Savior and have mercy on us; not out of fear, but from our love for Him.

Elul, Month of Preparation

At Mt. Sinai, on what would later be called the Feast of Weeks and the day of Pentecost, YHWH spoke His ten commands, and Moses went up and tarried with the LORD for 40 days. Moses returned with the ten commands written by God on two stone tablets, but broke the tablets at the sight of Israel's idolatry. After about six weeks, Moses spent another 40 days and nights fasting on the mountain and returned with a glowing face (Exodus 34:28-29). According to Jewish tradition, the second time Moses went up was on the 1st of Elul and he returned on the 10th of Tishri, which is Yom Kippur; thus establishing a precedent. I believe Jesus was baptized on the 1st of Elul and began His 40 days and nights fast on a mountain as a prophet like unto Moses (Deut. 18:15).
Most people are unable to fast for forty days, and so most do a symbolic fast by giving up a particular food or pleasure (I am giving up TV) so they can devote more time in prayer. The Catholics called such a period “lent” and placed it in Spring to correspond with Christ's passion week. But our LORD established the Hebrews' calendar and feast days according to His purposes.
The Jews practice several traditions during Elul. Elul is a month of introspection, repentance and forgiveness in preparation for the Days of Awe, Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. Every morning the shofar is blown (except on Shabbats and the last day) to call believers in Messiah to repentance. Psalm 27 and penitent prayers are read daily. They greet each other with “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.” The Jews expect God's judgment to occur during the Days of Awe with the only escape being your name inscribed in His Book of Life, and they're right.

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, . . . and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. . . . I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. . . . one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:9-14)
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)

Assurance of being written in the LORD's “Book of Life” is through your faith in Jesus Christ being the Son of God and your trust in His righteousness and His gift of eternal life.
And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. (I John 5:11-13)
Bride of Christ, prepare for your Groom by being without spot or blemish (Eph. 5:27) when He comes. Take the month of Elul, from the evening of August 18th to the morning of September 16th, to make sure you are in right relationship with Jesus and the brethren and unbelievers. Be loving and bold enough to ask whether your friends and family members are prepared to meet King Jesus.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Four Passovers to Fulfill Messiah being “Cut Off” in the Middle of the 70th Week

The traditional understanding of the “seventy weeks” prophecy in Daniel was that it foretold when Messiah would begin His ministry, and that He was “cut off” in the “middle of the week” causing the Temple “sacrifice and the oblation to cease”. The prophetic “week” is seven years, and half of seven years is three and one half years. Then there was a gap of close to forty years being one “generation” before the Temple was made “desolate” in 70 AD; thus completely fulfilling the “seventy weeks” prophecy. In the 1800's the validity of the book of Daniel and all it contained was challenged, and a new view of the “seventy weeks” called the pre-tribulation rapture theory began to take hold in England and America in which the 70th week became seven years of tribulation which believers would be raptured from in which an “antichrist” broke a covenant after 3.5 years starting 3.5 years of great tribulation. In order to attribute the 3.5 year period to an “antichrist” some now even challenge Christ's 3.5 years of ministry. I provide an outline of Messiah's 3.5 year ministry given in John's gospel, which I place from Fall 29 AD to Spring 33 AD. 
Overview of Seventy Weeks

The 1st of Tishri is the “memorial of blowing” called Feast of Trumpets and Rosh haShanah. Regnal years in the Bible are from Tishri to Tishri, like a school year which begins in fall, but our modern years are from January to January; hence the need to represent biblical years as two modern years. Artaxerxes Longimanus had a 9-year coreign with his father Xerxes beginning in 475/474 BC. In the 20th year of Artaxerxes' reign (455/454 BC), he made a decree to rebuild Jerusalem which began the 70 Weeks clock in Daniel 9 until “Messiah the Prince”.

Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and three score and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured on the desolate.” (Daniel 9:24-27)
Though Nehemiah and Ezra saw Jerusalem's wall rebuilt in 52 days, I assume that it took 7 “weeks” (49 years) to fully restore the “streets” and to return to business as usual by 406/405 BC. After another 62 “weeks” (434 years) the Messiah was introduced as the “Prince” or “Son of God” at His baptism when He was about 30 years old. 434 – 406 = 28, but since there is no year zero, you must add one year to make 29 AD the year of Christ's baptism. Evidence points to Jesus being born on the 1st of Tishri in 3 BC. I believe Jesus was baptized on the 1st of Elul, a month before His 31st birthday. Jesus was 1 year old in Tishri of 2 BC when the magi began their travels to see “he that is born King of the Jews” and encountered king Herod (who died in Spring of 1 BC when there was a full lunar eclipse, not in 4 BC). Jesus was 2 in 1 BC, and He was 3 in 1 AD. 29 – 1 = 28. 28 + 3 = 31, but since Jesus was baptized a month before His birthday, He was thirty years old; and Jesus began His ministry of 3.5 years when He was aged 31. The first half year of ministry was from Fall 29 AD to Spring 30 AD.
Outline of Four Passovers

1st Passover was after the miracle of changing the Water into WINE at Wedding in Cana.
Our Bridegroom, Jesus, was in Jerusalem at Passover in Spring 30 AD.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brothers, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a whip of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said to them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. . . . Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. ” (John 2:11-16, 23)

In the winter of 31 AD, Jesus spoke with the woman at the well in Samaria, and His disciples returned and begged Him to eat.
Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:34-35)
And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. 43Now after two days he departed there, and went into Galilee. . . . Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went to the feast. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went to him, . . . Jesus said to him, Go your way; your son lives. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him, and he went his way. . . . So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said to him, Your son lives: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.” (John 4:42-54 edited) [ v54 is the last in chapter 4]
The feast” here refers to Messiah's first passover. The barley harvest is celebrated after Passover during First Fruits in the month of Nisan. The wheat harvest is celebrated two months later in Sivan. So Jesus must have spent about six months in Judea before returning to Cana of Galilee.

2nd Passover after making a paralyzed man whole
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. . . . And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. . . . The weak man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me. Jesus said to him, Rise, take up your bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” (John 5:1-9 edited) [In other manuscripts “a feast” is translated “the feast” or “passover”.]

3rd Passover after the miracle of feeding BREAD to over 5,000 who wanted to force Jesus, the “Bread of Life”, to be king near the Sea of Galilee in Spring 32 AD
And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. . . . There is a lad here, which has five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples . . . he said to his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves . . .When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. And when even was now come, his disciples went down to the sea . . . and went over the sea toward Capernaum. . . . And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst. . . . I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. ” (John 6:3-17, 35, 51 edited)

John 7:2 is the Feast of the Tabernacles which occurs in the Fall.
John l0:22 mentions the Feast of Dedication which is in Winter.

4th Passover after Jesus, “the resurrection and the life”, called Lazarus back from the dead
in Bethany prior to Christ's passion week in Spring 33 AD.
Then said Jesus to them plainly, Lazarus is dead. . . . Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: . . . Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this? She said to him, Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. . . . Jesus said, Take you away the stone. . . . Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, . . . he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them, Loose him, and let him go. . . . Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, . . . And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said to them, You know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went there to a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. And the Jews' passover was near at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.” (John 11:14-55 edited)
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.” (John 12:1)

Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”, died on Nisan 14th before sunset in 33 AD.  I think He is returning as the "Lion of Judah" on His birthday this year, September 16th.



Wednesday, August 8, 2012

War of Missiles coming

Lately strange storms have knocked out electricity, but have also lit up the night sky.
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, . . ." (Rev. 18:1-2a)
"Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. (Rev. 18:20-21)
I have thought the millstone into the sea would be a literal asteroid hit near Jeddah-Mecca, but it is clearly a simile.  It could allude to a nuclear missile strike which sends up a mushroom cloud of "smoke".

"And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall mourn her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is your judgment come." (Rev. 18:9-10)
"Burning" is purosis in Greek (used twice in Rev. 18 and once in I Peter 4:12) meaning a "burning by which metals are roasted and reduced" (Thayer).
"Torment" is basanismos in Greek (only used in Revelation) meaning "to torture, a testing by the touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal" (Thayer).
"And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled."  (Rev. 17:16-17)
I know everyone is waiting for Israel to attack Iran in an air-raid, and Israel has passed out more gas masks to its population.  But I think as Syria implodes, it will sell it's chemical and nuclear missiles to Iran and Saudi Arabia. Then the Sunni confederation of nations ("beast of the sea") will pre-emptively attack Saudi Arabia ("the whore"), and then make an alliance with the Shia of Iran and Iraq (the "beast of the earth") in order to wipe out Israel.

Possibly the LORD is graciously waiting until after the Olympics in which several of the winning athletes are giving Him the glory.  Come quickly King Jesus!

Here is a good video with pictures to accompany descriptions of nuclear missiles.nuclear missile video






Saturday, August 4, 2012

Two Witnesses Establish a Matter


. . . at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15b)
At the birth of Messiah Yeshua, the angels declared it to some shepherds who went into Bethlehem to verify their message. The planets and stars also declared a mighty deliver was born (Ps. 19:1-3), and the magi of the east traveled to pay homage to the “king of the Jews” (Mat. 2:2). The astronomers knew the year, but not the day of His birth; whereas the Hebrews had blown the trumpet of the new moon and declared it “was consecrated” and celebrated Rosh HaShanah on the 1st of Tishri in the evening of Christ's birth on September 11 in 3 BC. Yahweh provided two witnesses for Messiah's birth with full disclosure to the Hebrew witnesses and partial understanding to the Gentile witnesses.

On the 9th of Tishri, Yeshua's parents circumcised him in accordance with the Law, and officially named Emmanuel (El with us) to be Yeshua/Yahshua (Yah saves); and then the Day of Atonement followed in which no work could be done.

The next month two Hebrew witnesses, Simeon and Anna, foretold Messiah's purpose to his parents in the Temple.  Yeshua would be the atoning salvation of the world (Luke 2:30-32) and their “redemption” (Luke 2:38).

Daniel was carried off to Babylon as a teenager in 606 BC, and Jeremiah prophesied that the nations would serve Babylon for 70 years (Jer, 25:11-12), and afterwards Yahweh would return His people to Israel (Jeremiah 29:10). In 538 BC Cyrus placed Darius as king over Babylon, and Daniel understood that Jeremiah's 70 years were almost over and so he repented for the sins of his people (Daniel 9:1-20). [We should heed his example.] While fasting and repenting for his countrymen, Gabriel appeared to Daniel and gave him the 70 weeks prophecy (Daniel 9:21-27). The traditional view is that Messiah the Prince was declared to be so by His Father at Yeshua's baptism on Elul 1, 29 AD, with the second witness being the Holy Spirit descending upon Christ as a dove. This is based upon 7 X 69 = 483 years elapsing from the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in his 20th year of 455/454 BC. Thus Yeshua began His 3 ½ year ministry in Daniel's 70th week and was “cut off” for our transgressions on Passover, and within a generation another 3 ½ years of war transpired until the temple was made “desolate” in 70 AD by Titus. So two Hebrews prophesied regarding 70 and all was fulfilled by 70 AD (as a third witness). Our Creator is LORD of time, and He established His feasts as historic and prophetic markers.

Paul taught Gentile believers about Messiah's feast fulfillments, how that Jesus was crucified on Passover and buried during Unleavened Bread (I Cor. 5:7-8) and rose from the dead on the third day which was First Fruits (I Cor. 15:20-23). Jesus walked among His disciples for 40 days, then after a week of prayer, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit on Feast of Weeks which we call Pentecost for being the 50th day. (more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UXaQYDYr6A)

In Spring of 33 AD during Yeshua's last days before His crucifixion, He told His disciples, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take you heed, watch and pray: for you know not when the time is. (Mark 13:31-33)
Most likely Saul became Christian Paul in Fall of 36 AD when Messiah Yeshua encountered him on the road to Damascus. Paul wrote of receiving revelations of the LORD fourteen years later in 50 AD (Gal. 2:1-2 and II Cor. 12:1-3 written in 53 and 57 AD respectively). I propose that in 50 AD Yeshua told Paul the “day of the LORD” in His glorious return and judgment would be on His birthday, Rosh haShanah, the Feast of Trumpets, the day of reckoning a king's reign, as a memorial of blowing trumpets to celebrate when Joseph received a bride upon becoming vizir to Ahmose I.

Paul's first letter was written to the Thessalonians in 52 AD. In his short time with them, I propose Paul taught them the “feasts of the LORD” and explained the ones Messiah already fulfilled. I suggest Paul also told them his revelation that Messiah would return on Feast of Trumpets and gather believers to Himself and then bring judgment on the wicked. The second Hebrew witness was John who received his revelation of Messiah “on the Lord's day” (Rev. 1:10 referring to Yeshua's birthday, not Sunday) regarding all the signs prior to Yeshua's return.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Why comfort one another with these words. But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail on a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (I Thess. 4:16 – 5:6)
Traditionally, Hebrew grooms come after dusk to steal away their bride like a thief, though she and her family are fully aware of the custom and would go with him to his father's house to perform the marriage ceremony.

The LORD provided two different witnesses through Daniel to the special year of 1967 when the Jews regained Jerusalem. The first being 2300 years after Alexander the Great conquered Darius III in 334/333 BC (2300 – 333 = 1967; or 2300 – 334 + 1 for no year zero = 1967) according to Daniel 8:13-14, and the more difficult one to which Jesus alluded (Mat. 24:15).
And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” (Daniel 12:9-12)
The abomination “set up” on the temple mount was the Al-Aqsa mosque which was originally made of wood. Construction on the Al-Aqsa Mosque began between 670 and 674 AD. Bishop Arculf from Gaul visited Jerusalem for nine months in 678-679 AD, and described the completed mosque as able to hold 3,000 worshippers. Thus I surmise the Al-Aqsa mosque was completed in 677 AD. 1290 + 677 = 1967 But those who wait until 1335 + 677 = 2012 will be even more blessed.
The Jews had to regain Jerusalem before the following scripture could be fulfilled.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . For I say to you, You shall not see me from now on, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.” (Mat. 23:37-39) 
Now there are many Messianic congregations proclaiming that phrase with expectation of the Messiah's return, which I expect to occur at midnight (Mat. 25:6) on September 16, 2012; about six weeks away.
Just like Messiah's birth, Yahweh provided Gentile astronomers with knowledge of the year, but not the day. The Maya ascertained correctly that 2012 would be the return of a god and a fiery destruction and transition.
Jesus commanded us to “watch”, and I have faithfully observed and proclaimed how all the signs in Revelation have occurred, though several were in ways I hadn't imagined. Jesus chided the Jews for not knowing the day of His visitation (Luke 19:44). We are not in darkness, but we know the day and should not be surprised. Elohim has provided Himself two witnesses throughout time who believe in Him: Hebrews/Jews and Gentiles. I believe their testimony. See you in the air with Christ.