Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
With the recompense of God;
He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4
I came across this verse the other day and it spoke to me! Actually, I believe it was God speaking to me. You see, I've been a little down lately, a little frustrated and discouraged. It's hard to be watching for the Lords return because that means keeping up with all the world events that are predicted by the Scripture and that means being aware of all the evil rising around me. Sometimes I wish I could be like many of my Christian friends and family who are making plans for 20 years in the future, believing that all will go on like it has for centuries. At least for a day or so... the peace would be lovely.
But it's not who I am. I want to know the truth even though it's hard to bear. But back to my topic. God created Time. He lives outside of it, yes, but He's very aware of the time here on Earth. Here's just a few examples of his excellent time-keeping
1. God gave Noah 120 years to preach about the coming flood and get people on the Ark.
Then the Lord said, My Spirit shall not forever dwell and strive with man, for he also is flesh; but his days shall yet be 120 years. Genesis 6:3
Exactly 120 years later, God told Noah to get on the Ark and He gave Noah another 7 days before it began to rain.
For in seven days I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living substance and thing that I have made I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away from the face of the earth. Genesis 7:4
2. From the above, we see that God ordained for it to rain for 40 days and 40 nights, and so it did!
The flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased and bore up the ark, and it was lifted high above the land. Genesis 7:17
3. God told Abraham that his descendants would be forced to live in a foreign land as slaves for 400 years
And God said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs and they will be slaves there and will be afflicted and oppressed for 400 years. Genesis 15:13
And so they did!
Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. Exodus 12:40
Yes, there's an extra 30 years mentioned. I did some research and there are varying reasons for this, including textual interpretations....But suffice it to say God's timing is always perfect. I tend to believe, though I haven't researched this, that the extra 30 comes from Joseph's time there alone or perhaps from a difference of when the Israelites started their time there. But I'll let you do your own research. Here's a very basic Biblical Timeline
4 God tells the Israelites they will wander in wilderness 40 years
And your children shall be wanderers and shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and shall suffer for your whoredoms (your infidelity to your espoused God), until your corpses are consumed in the wilderness. Numbers 14:33
In Joshua we see the fulfillment when they crossed the Jordan after everyone over the age of 20 had died in the wilderness
Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness—of all who were numbered of you, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against Me, Numbers 14:29
5. God tells Jeremiah that the Hebrews would be held captive in Babylon for 70 years. All the Jews were taken to Babylon and the temple destroyed in 586 BC
For thus says the Lord, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place. Jeremiah 29:10
Daniel, whose been in Babylon for most of his life, reads this and appeals to God to keep His Word. Which He does! King Cyrus of Persia issues the first decree that allows the Jews to return but it isn't until 516 BC that the temple is rebuilt.
6. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the 10th of Nisan, AD 32, the exact date as predicted by Daniel in Chapter 9:24-26
You can find this calculation all over the internet in various Bible studies so I won't duplicate it here. The first man to figure this out was Sir Robert Anderson. I encourage you to get his book, The Coming Prince, which explains his research in detail
7. The temple in Jerusalem is destroyed in that same generation
Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; Matthew 23:36-38
We all know that Jerusalem was besieged, and the temple destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans
8. Israel reborn in 1948.
Though there aren't any specific scriptures which point to this date, it is rather interesting that the book of Psalms is the 19th book of the Bible from the beginning and the 48th book from the end. And particularly interesting that Psalm 48 states this:
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
5 They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
Please note that the phrase "generation following" in Hebrew is dôr aḥărôn which means Last Generation.
Another interesting fact is that Abraham was born in the year 1948. You cannot tell me these things are coincidental.
9. John the Baptist's Father Zacheria was told he would be mute until the baby was born because of his unbelief.
Now behold, you will be and will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time. Luke 1:20
This happened at the exact time the baby was born and he gave it the name Gabriel told him.
Then Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing and praising and thanking God. Luke 1:63-64
Other prophesied timelines that came true
- Elizabeth and Sarah having babies in their old age
- Jesus rising on 3rd day
- Tyre being destroyed in 70 years
Can you think of others? If so, let me know in the comments below
We are now 2000 years later and Jesus said he would come back to restore Israel on the third day.
“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Hosea 6:1-2
He was crucified in 32 AD and I believe he must return by 2032. Why because I believe the Bible teaches there is a 6000 years of mankind, followed by a 1000 year reign of Jesus on Earth. Jesus came to this world around the 4000 year mark actually in 3983 from what I've seen in many historical articles. The extra 17 years has something to do with his eligibility to perform certain priestly duties.
God has every event timed out to the very second. Before He even created the World, He already knew the exact moment of the rapture, of the start of the Tribulation and of His return. In fact, even our enemies know there is an "appointed time" for them to be punished.
And behold, they shrieked and screamed, What have You to do with us, Jesus, Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the appointed time? Matthew 8:29
Here's more proof that everything, every moment has been ordained. God does not TARRY. He's right on time
Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Liberate the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. So the four angels who had been in readiness for that hour in the appointed day, month, and year were liberated to destroy a third of mankind.
Revelation 9:14-15
What am I trying to say? I'm trying to give you both peace and encouragement. Jesus is coming at precisely the day and hour He is supposed to. So, cling to Him and stay in faith! The world may be evil, but you are not of this world! And soon, you will be caught up into glory!
And the effect of righteousness will be peace internal and external, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever. Isaiah 32:17
