Bridegroom Delays His Return

“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 12:11-12)

677 + 1290 = 1967 677 + 1335 = 2012

The Al-Aqsa Mosque was completed between 675 and 679 AD; an “abomination” “set up” on the Temple Mount and banned Jews from the city, making them “desolate”. In 1967 during the 6-day War the Jews regained the Temple Mount with the hope of removing the Muslim desecrations upon it. “The deity” (al-illah or allah in Arabic) who placed His Name upon the Temple Mount is Yahweh (YHWH), the Creator of heaven and earth who gives eternal life through His Son Yahshua; not the moon-god of the Arabs who has three daughters but no son. 

Wise Servant and Virgins 

“When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoever reads, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: . . .and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. . . . Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes. Who then is a faithful and wise [phronimos] servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? . . . But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays [chronizo] his coming; . . . But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried [chronizo], they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet [apentesis] him.” (Matthew 24:15-16, 30c-31, 44-45, 48; 25:4-6)

I've noticed that the Lord's “tarrying” was apparent to both “evil” and “wise” servants,

The evil servants turned back to evil lifestyles (violence and drunkenness) in Matthew 24, and in Matthew 25 the “foolish” virgins were unprepared for Christ's delay and turned back because they were only religious and didn't have a personal relationship with Yahshua/Jesus. Sadly, there are many “evil” and “foolish” people in American churches today who will not be “taken” or “caught up” and received into Christ's fellowship when He returns.

The “wise” [phronimos] are cautious in thought and deed. The “wise” faithfully continue to serve in their God-given station. The “wise” prepare for the Bridegroom's delay, and prepare to “go out” to “meet” Him. “Meet” [apentesis] means to officially welcome a newly arriving dignitary which is also in I Thess. 4:17 in which we are “caught up” to meet Him in the air. Though King Jesus is returning on a white horse, He will also have the amazing New Jerusalem to transport His Bride to the wedding; much as King Solomon made a lavish palaquin lovingly built and embroidered for his bride.

“King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the middle thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. Go forth, O you daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.” (Song of Solomon 3:9-11)

Muslim attempt to annihilate Israel with be thwarted by the real God

It was clear to me that King Jesus should return in 2012 on the Feast of Trumpets, and though I knew my interpretation could be incorrect, I should have been better prepared for the Bridegroom's delay.

The Muslims have lost every war they've fought against the new nation of Israel because Yahweh is on their side doing miracles to deliver them. Muslims don't want to recognize Israel or Israel's God, but Yahweh will prove He alone is God and kick Allah into the ash heap of idols. As Israel defends itself against the world, it might look pretty bleak until King Yahshua/Jesus intervenes to fight for them.

Solstice or Christmas return of Christ?

Signs in the Heaven

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31)

Solar and lunar eclipses occur quite frequently. Recently there was a total solar eclipse on Nov. 13^th was viewed from Australia. There will be a partial lunar eclipse on Nov. 27^th viewed from most of Africa and Asia. Meteor showers are named according to the constellation they appear to be coming from. The 2012 meteor showers: Perseids were August 11, Orionids were October 20, Taurids were November 9, Leonids will be November 17, and Geminids will be December 13. Usually the Perseids and Geminids provide the best display.

The “powers” (dunamis) with be “shaken” (saleuo). Dunamis could be translated forces or wonderful work. Saleuo come from a root meaning to vibrate, and could be translated waver, agitated, disturbed, or destroyed. Since the sun, moon, and stars were already mentioned in the passage; these “forces” might be gravity, radiation, or something like dark energy.

Winter Solstice: December 21^st

December 21, 2012 is the winter solstice and the end of the age for the Mayan long count calendar. The winter solstice has been important to humans since Noah's flood as evidenced by Stonehenge [picture by Mark Grant] and other similar monuments oriented to it. Most cultures worshipped the sun at some time. The Roman festival of Divalia was held on December 21st, in honor of the goddess Angerona, in which sacrifices were made in the temple to the goddess of joy and pleasure.

Roman Festivals during Jesus' time

Caesar Augustus, who ruled from (33 BC while Antony remained triumvir) 28 BC to 14 AD during time Christ was born, established an obelisk and pulvinar at Circus Maximus in Rome. He brought the obelisk, which honored Egyptian Sun-gods, from Heliopolis and erected it along the dividing barrier. The obelisk reminded everyone of his victory as general Octavian over Egypt's Cleopatra and Mark Antony, which gave him the name Augustus in 30 BC. The pulvinar was a bench from which Roman idols could watch the chariot races. On August 28^th races and games were held at the Circus Maximus in honor of Sol and Luna. Since Julius Caesar name a summer month July after himself, around 8 BC Caesar Augustus renamed the next month as August after himself. Hence I suggest Augustus required the census to coincide with August 28, 3 BC to honor his name and reign as caesar for 25 (or 30) years, and the 750^th year of Rome. Then Messiah was born a few days later on September 11, 3 BC on Tishri 1, the Feast of Trumpets; and then his family resided at a home for the rest of the fall holidays until the magi came in December the next year.

Under Augustus, Saturnalia was celebrated (and businesses were closed) from December 17th to 19^th, and Larentalia was held on December 23^rd. Since Larentia was the nurse of Romulus and Remus, Augustus ordered Larentalia, which included gift giving, to be observed twice a year. I suggest the second observance was on August 28^th when he received the “gifts”/taxes of the people.

Brumalia was an ancient Roman celebration of merriment for thirty days from November 24th to December 25th. This is akin to US holidays lasting from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Christmas: December 25^th

Some folks are getting dreams and visions of King Jesus returning this Christmas. I think it would be the greatest gift the Father could give us since the first time He sent His Son.

Because of the amazing astrological signs which occurred during one and a half years prior to Christ's birth, the magi followed the "star" to “the house” to offer King Jesus gifts of worship sometime between December 4^th and 30^th in 2 BC when Jupiter would have been visible. Hanukkah in 2 BC was December 22-30, and I'd like to think the wise men were at the house of Mary and Joseph during that season of dedicating the Temple which originated on Kislev 25 in 165 BC during the Maccabees.

Hanukkah this year begins the evening of Dec. 8^th (Kislev 24), and lasts until sunset on Dec. 16^th.

“As it was in the days of Noah . . .”

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Luke 17:26-30)

Tishri was the first month of the year; then Yahweh established the spiritual calendar which began in Nisan at the exodus. Prior to Noah's flood, a year was 360 days, and a month was 30 days.

Yahweh sent the animals to enter the ark on the 10^th of the second month of Mareheshvan which is close to our October (as Tishri usually falls in September), and gave the people seven last days to repent.

The deep burst open and the rains fell on the 17^th of Mareheshvan and the rains lasted 40 days until the 27^th of Kislev (which is Dec. 11^th this year). Hanukkah this year begins the evening of Dec. 8^th, and lasts until sunset on Dec. 16^th.

I think we are living in “. . . in the days of the Son of man” when most people are living life oblivious to the season of the Lord and His merciful judgments trying to get us to turn (repent) towards Him before He returns with total destruction.

“Therefore wait you on me, said the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.” (Zephaniah 3:8-9)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Why, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (II Peter 3:10-14)

I am “looking” forward to Christ Jesus' return at any time: Hanukkah, the winter solstice, or Christmas; any day would be just fine with me. I feel like one of the maidens who fell asleep awaiting the Bridegroom while He "tarried".  Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Presidential Debates and Psalm 12

Last night I read this psalm and thought it quite appropriate regarding the presidential debates tonight.

Psalm 12

Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, said the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffs at him. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. You shall keep them, O LORD, you shall preserve them from this generation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

My interpretation in light of upcoming debates:

v1 Help [yasha = save], LORD; for the godly man ceases; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Satan is not very creative in his religious deceptions of Islam and Mormonism. Both religions say they accept the Bible but that their holy book (Koran and Book of Mormon) supersedes the Bible. Both religions say they believe in Jesus Christ, but the Muslims don't believe Allah had a son or that Jesus died on the cross, and Mormons believe in a Jesus who was married and had children.

I think since 2008 the number of real “godly” Christians in America is less than 50%. And we are crying out for Yashua to return and to rule as King of the Earth.

v2 They speak vanity [shav = destructive evil, lies, and empty words] every one with his neighbor: with flattering [chelqah = smooth] lips and with a double heart do they speak.

David Limbaugh calls Obama “The Great Destroyer” (his book title). Obama's smooth speeches and executive orders set America on the slippery slope to bankruptcy. In today's lingo we wouldn't say “double heart” but two-faced.

v3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud [gadol, from a root “to twist” = insolent or grandiose] things:

“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great [rabrab (Aramaic) = huge] things.” (Daniel 7:8)

Obama, the “little horn” was instrumental in taking out the horns/kings of Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.

Adolph Hitler said, “Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.” Hitler's propaganda man was Joseph Goebbels.

Joseph Goebbels stated: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

The truth of using Fast and Furious to undermine the 2^nd Amendment might only be trumped by using a film trailer to undermine the 1^st Amendment and to cover up Obama's refusal to provide adequate security in the country he “liberated”.

v4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail [gabar = valiant, insolent]; our lips are our own: who is lord [adon = master] over us?

Obama is a masterful liar because his master is Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44).

The Jews do not speak the Name of the LORD (YHWH) but say Adonai instead.

v5 For the oppression [shod = destruction, robbery] of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, said the LORD; I will set him in safety [yesha = deliverance, liberty, prosperity] from him that puffs [puach = scoffs] at him.

Yeshua came to deliver us from sin and its effects 2000 years ago in fulfillment of this prophecy.

v6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Stern's “Complete Jewish Bible” translates “furnace of earth” as “melting-pot” which first led me to think there might be a prophetic connection of this psalm with America in the last days.

v7 You shall keep [them/us], O LORD, you shall preserve [them/us] from this generation for ever.

Based upon translation Yahweh will keep His Words forever or He will preserve His chosen people for ever; both are true.

v8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest [zulluth, from a root “to shake” = most despicable] men are exalted.

Obama sat on his hands when the youth of Iran protested against their maniacally religious government and pleaded for true democracy, but when other countries sought to oust their dictators in order to establish Sharia law bent on destroying Israel, then Obama sprang into action.

I'm sure the debates will be interesting.

My Prophetic Outlook of 2012

The date of April 6, 2009 was found counting 1260 (3.5 X 360) days back from the Feast of Trumpets in 2012. Paul gave us Feast of Trumpets (I Thess. 4-5) for Christ's return, and Daniel (12:10-12) gave us the year which is 45 years after Jerusalem was retaken by Jews in 1967. All other dates are merely my conjecture. For how my post-trib view of the fulfillments of the seals, trumpets, and vials, read the 2011 booklet on my site at http://www.kneelingmedia.org/AwakeBride/.

On April 6, 2009, President Obama began his 3.5 years as the “little horn” by announcing in Turkey that “The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam.” In the first three months of 2011, President Obama systematically removed three of the ten horns of the Sunni beast: Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. President Obama has not attempted to remove the two horns of the Shia beast: Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi army in Iraq; and Ahmadenijad, the dictator of Iran (Persia). The Sunni and Shia hate the idolatrous Wahhabi of Saudi Arabia (whore of Babylon).

In October 2011, the US uncovered an Iranain plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador in DC. The Saudis are afraid the Iranians will attack them on their own soil. Al-Qaeda's attempts to blow-up the Kaaba in Mecca failed, but the Sunni beast will destroy the Jeddah-Mecca area (possibly with a little help from Shia Iran). The port of Jeddah sends out oil tankers throughout the world. The Saudis have had the US and other countries wrapped around their little oily fingers for generations.

“And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he said to me, The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 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. And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Rev. 17:12-18)

This destruction will be quick and devastating, and the smoke will be visible for miles.

“Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her. 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. 18:8-10)

That sounds like a conventional bomb. This is “mystery Babylon” not the city in Iraq. Babylon was the religious center of its time, today all Muslims pray facing Mecca.

The book of Esther is read during Israel's holiday of Purim. Purim is March 8, 2012 this year. In Persia, Haman cast lots (purim) for the best day to annihilate the Jews, and arrived with the 13th of Adar (Esther 3:13), which is the twelfth month of the Hebrew calendar. Because Esther fasted and prayed and boldly pleaded to the king for her people, the Jews were granted authrority to kill their persecutors on that day instead. Though Leon Panetta suggested Israel may attack Iran in April, May or June, I think March 8th would be poetic justice for the modern-day Haman.

Today on The 700 Club, Erick Stakelbeck stated that war against Israel would occur this year. He also suggested Isaiah 17:1 might be fulfilled soon.

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” (Isaiah 17:1)

For more of Stakelbeck's amazing indepth reporting, check out his “Stakelbeck on Terror” at
http://blogs.cbn.com/stakelbeckonterror and don't be alarmed if his site is under attack and difficult to view. Though Tiglath-Pileser beseiged Damascus for three years, the Assyrians did not leave it as a heap of ruins.

This April 6, 2012 will be the evening prior to Passover commemorating Yahweh's deliverance of the Jews from Egypt. Egyptians might seek some poetic justice of their own in attacking Israel that day or during the following week of Unleavened Bread.

On the day of Messiah's return, September 16, 2012, some country is going to use chemical and/or nuclear bombs according to Zechariah, or the LORD will simulate something like it.

“And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.” (Zechariah 14:12-15)

Stay close to the LORD Jesus in prayer, and obey what His Holy Spirit tells you to do, because the coming days will be very perilous. 2011 saw the most earthquakes of any single year, and had ten different billion dollar disasters in the US alone. Jesus told us of the increase of quakes and signs in the sky (Matthew 24). I pray you are prepared.

The Prophetic Timing of Jerusalem's Destruction

Creator God has consistently given Isreal the exact timing of their judgment, and has given prophets forewarning of that exact timing. Bible teachers have been lax in their duty in this regard, and so many believers will be unprepared for the return of King Jesus to judge the world.

Destruction of Jerusalem (summer, 9th of Av, 586 BC and 70 AD)
According to Eusibius, Nebuchadnezzar II reigned 607-562 BC (20 months viceroy, 43 years sole king). In Jehoiakim's third year (607-606 BC), Nebuchadnezzar II, as viceroy, took thousands of people back to Babylon with him, including the brightest young men, like Daniel. Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon along with Ezekiel and others in 599 BC. In the fifth year of Jehoiakim's captivity (594 BC), the LORD told Ezekiel to build a model of a siege of Jerusalem and to lay before it in chains on his left side for 390 days for the iniquity of Israel, and then on right his side for 40 days for the iniquity of Judah; with each day representing a year of siege (Ez. 4:1-17). Ezekiel (35:5) later explained the end of their time of iniquity would be the time of their calamity when Edom (Seir) shed the blood of Israelites, which is verified by Obadiah 1:12-14 and Psalm 137:7 to be the time of Jerusalem's destruction when Edomites cheered and killed refugees who were escaping in 586 BC.
The 390 days equalled the 390 years of Israel's idolatry from the golden calves which Jeroboam established in the beginning of his reign in summer 975 BC (which was his first Tishri regnal year of 976-975 BC) until the destruction of Jerusalem in summer of 586 BC. Now 976 - 586 = 390 years. This included Jeremiah's seventy year prophecy (Jer. 25:11 and 29:10) which began with the first transportation into exile by Nebuchadnezzar in 606 BC and ended in 536 BC when the first exiles returned to Jerusalem with Ezra under the decree of Cyrus. (Ezra 1:1-3:1 The decree was in the first year of Cyrus as emperor, and they left in the 7th month.) The remaining 40 years, a generation, of judgment upon Judah was the 40 year period from 30-70 AD of which Jesus declared their guilt and prophesied their punishment. (Matthew 21:31-38; Luke 11:47-51; 21:20-32) The destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 AD completed the punishment for their sins according to Daniel's 70 week prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27). The destructions of both the first and second temples occurred on the 9th of Av (II Kings 25:8-10 plus two days to round up captives and loot the Temple); God getting the point of the exact timing of His prophecies across.

Peter and Paul were martyred in 67 AD, but they saw the growing persecution, and were aware of Christ's “generation” prophecy soon to be fulfilled. By this time many priests had come to faith in Messiah (Acts 6:7). So the “house of God” could rightly be referring to the Temple (Mat. 23:38) and the body of believers (I Peter 2:5).

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Why let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.” (I Peter 4:16-19)

time is kairos
judgment is krinos

The final 3.5 years of Daniel's 70th week and “Jacob's trouble” occurred from 66-70 AD, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and over one million Jews. Similarly we will soon culminate the 3.5 years of Revelation and God's judgment of the world which will center on their hatred for Jews and Jerusalem. When Jesus was in the process of fulfilling Daniel's 70th week, Jews had a hard time accepting a man from Nazareth, and He chided them for not knowing the day of their visitation (Luke 19:45); and King Jesus will return on an exactly prophesied day and year again.

“. . . they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (I Peter 2:12)

“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. . . . But of the times and the seasons [kairos], 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.” (I Thess. 4:16 - 5:4)

From Paul's teaching, the 'day' of Christ's visitation is Feast of Trumpets, just like it was in 3 BC when Messiah was born. From Daniel 12:10-12, the year is 2012 based upon the pivotal year of 1967 when the Jews retook Jerusalem. Please prepare yourselves for LORD Yeshua's return and His judgment upon the world as He fights from Jerusalem.

Great Tribulation Begins April 6, 2009

In your spirit you know something big is about to happen. The earth has begun its death spiral: more floods, more tornadoes, more hurricanes, more earthquakes, and more volcanic eruptions. Though there are still pockets of peace and sanity, most human institutions have disintegrated. You thought you'd be raptured before the Great Tribulation, but now you find yourself in the midst of it.
John, the apostle, taught believers in Jesus would go through the Great Tribulation and many would be martyred in Revelation. Jesus, Paul and Peter all taught believers would have to persevere through great trial and that the dead are resurrected prior to the living being raptured at Christ's one and only return to earth. They all warned us not to be deceived. Keep believing in Jesus even though you have to stop believing in a pre-trib rapture.

3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:3-7)

Principles of Geology was written by Charles Lyell in 1830 espousing the new idea that the great canyons around the world were not the after effects of a world-wide flood (cataclysmic), but the constant erosion over hundreds of thousands of years (uniformitarian; "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation"). Until that time, the Bible's description of creation and the cataclysm of Noah's flood were accepted facts. Charles Darwin took a copy of the Lyell's book with him on the S.S. Beagle to the Galapagos Islands, leading to his harmful theories of evolution and the superiority of the white race. Uniformitarianism and evolution eroded people's faith in the historical truth of the Bible. This has led to much false teaching in the church (1 Timothy 6:20) including the pre-tribulation rapture theory, which has led to a lack of holiness, love and power in the church, and a resistance to the truth (2 Timothy 3:1-8).

Deriving the Day of the LORD and the Start of Great Tribulation
Astronomers from the east ascertained the correct year of Christ's first coming, and astronomers from the west (Mayans) have predicted the correct year of Christ's second coming. But the Mayans worshiped the heavens, and so decreed the world's end on the winter solstice of December 21, 2012. God has appointed seven feasts for His people. Jesus fulfilled Unleavened Bread (sinless life), Passover (Lamb that was slain for the sin of the world), First Fruits (He rose from the dead), and Pentecost (He sent His Holy Spirit) during His first coming. The Fall feasts are Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Booths which Jesus will fulfill during His second coming. September 16th, 2012 is the new moon of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, the Feast of Trumpets. Trumpets are prominent in the resurrection and rapture and return of Jesus Christ (Psalm 47:5-6; Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Joel 2:1-16; Revelation 11:15-19).
John describes the duration of the Great Tribulation as 42 months, 3 1/2 years, and 1,260 days. Counting backwards 1,260 days from September 16th, 2012 brings us to April 6, 2012. Hebrew days begin and end at sunset. Sunset in Jerusalem will be at 7:02 pm that day.

What Event Starts the 3 1/2 Year Clock?
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.(Rev. 11:2-3)

Two groups who will be involved throughout the Great Tribulation. The Muslims ("Gentiles") continue to occupy the Temple Mount, so doing so for another 42 months will not seem unusual. The Two Witnesses (Jewish and Gentile believers) are already present and proclaiming the gospel, though not to the point of withholding rain or praying plagues upon our enemies to demonstrate God's power. Counting backwards 1,260 days from September 16, 2012, the Great Tribulation clock begins on April 6, 2009.
All Great Tribulation days and times are according to Hebrew days and Jerusalem time. Dusk in Jerusalem on April 6, 2009, the first day of the Great Tribulation, might not have anything occur physically at all, or it may be very apparent. The war between Israel and Iran might see a major attack. China could stop buying US bonds. Any number of global "natural" disasters could hit.
God starts the Great Tribulation clock. It may be when He tells Michael to release Satan, and Satan "knows that his time is short". Satan's possession of the Antichrist and his deity declaration ("abomination of desolation") may follow shortly thereafter. It may be when God tells the four angels to start sealing the 144,000 (which must occur prior to the first trumpet), or when he tells an angel to announce the everlasting gospel with a loud voice to the world (Rev. 14:6-7).
The more important question is whether your faith can endure until Christ's coming. Jesus has waited to get His Bride for two thousand years. King Jesus is worth waiting for.
For a booklet describing the timing of the events in the Great Tribulation, go to http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/seals-trumpets-and-vials/6668840.