Passion, Power & Glory

Watching for the Return of the King of Kings

Passion:
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: The Acts:1:3

Power & Glory:
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  Mark 13:26

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.  Selah. Psalms 24:7-10

Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.  Luke 19:38

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen. I Timothy 1:15

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.  Revelation 17:14

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!   Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.  Luke 13:34-35

Prologue:
A book by the title, "Passion, Power & Glory, Watching for the Return of the King of Kings", was planned to be finished sometime before October 2005.  However, due to recent events that point to a possible sooner ingathering of the Saints, the time for development of a finished book would not be available.  This condensed version is offered at this time instead, for the edifying of the Saints.  Time is a gift from God and we all should use it to the best of our ability.  And one should not hide one's measure of light under a basket, which if our time is indeed very short, gives this even more a sense of urgency.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:15-16

Watching, Waiting and Wondering
Watching for the Return of the King of Kings is an exciting, joyous adventure.  Seeing signs of His soon return in everything from recent events, the cosmos, mathematics, and the Bible, each by the measure of talents God has given them, is a life-fulfilling and sustaining activity.  However, it should never be seen as an escapist opportunity.  God created the circumstances we live in to provide fulfillment through using out talents to bring Glory to God in the short time he has given us.  This can only occur when we have our priorities in order, keeping God first.  Then all other priorities fall into place such as our spouse, children, ourselves, and then our job.  This cannot be over-emphasized.  Without God as first priority our other priorities often turn upside down.  And with God as our first priority we will naturally be watching, waiting, and wondering when He will return to establish His kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven.  And as He taught us to pray.  And we are in good company of a long succession of fellow believers that have been watching throughout the centuries, ever since He ascended into Heaven forty days after His resurrection.  For He told us:
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  John 14:2-3

Sad to say but even some Christians don’t watch at all.  Some don't want to think about it.  Others have had their hope and desire for watching short-circuited by being told that Jesus could return at any second which cannot be known in advance.  This is sometimes called the doctrine of imminent return.  The logic is why obey Christ in His countless commands throughout the New Testament to watch for His return when it is impossible to watch for him because it can't be seen in advance?  It would be folly.  However God has foreordained the exact second of Christ’s return for His Saints AND His return as King of Kings over the Earth where He will rule for a millennium, followed by a short season of lawlessness, then reign for eternity.  So Christ cannot come at any second.  He must come at exactly the time the Father has foreordained for Him to come.  And we who are to be His Bride can prepare ourselves knowing he is coming.

But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.  Mark 13:23

Community of Believers
These past years I have been fortunate to have been part of a community of believers who were also actively watching for Jesus Christ's return.  This letter is being sent to be posted on a web site of such a community, www.FiveDoves.com along with my personal web site, www.EndOfAge.com.

I remember buying a small paperback booklet in 1988 of why the rapture would occur in 1988.  I was hopeful but not convinced by the logic in the book.  In the mid-1990's when 3 1/2 years passed after the signing of the Oslo Accord and nothing happened, it just mean't that we had our eyes open and were obeying Christ in watching for His return, but saddened none the less.  And in the fall of 1998, counting back 7 years from the Jewish New Year in 2005, nothing happened, we were again saddened.  And again we looked forward to the fall of 2000, counting back 7 years from the Jewish New Year in 2007 or forward 7 years from the Oslo Accord, the ingathering of the Saints did not occur.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. I Samuel 15:22

But we had been obedient to watch. And again in 2002 when 3 /12 years passed from the Jewish New Year in 2005, we were again watchful.  On January 24th, 2003 I had posted on Five Doves what looked to me as days to watch for His return for His bride in the coming 2003.  The one that held out the most promise was October 17, 2003 because of how many signs converged on this date, which is also the last day of the Jewish Feast of Ingathering.  The first week of August 2003 I had even changed the opening screen of www.EndOfAge.com to show the next rapture watch date to be October 17, 2003.  Still I felt overall that October 5, 2005 (10-5-05), the Jewish New Year, was a more likely day to watch.

Several events have since changed my feelings.  One was Ola Ilori's post regarding the last trumpet, the last day of the Feast of Ingatherings as the rapture day posted at www.FiveDoves.com on September 25, 2003 which would be confirmation of my earlier posts regarding October 17, 2003 possibly being that day.

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. II Corinthians 13:1

Now there were two witnesses to the last day of the Jewish Feast of Ingathering anyway, not necessarily this year.

The second event was the noticeable absence from the body, presence with the Lord, of many of the highly regarded contemporary saints of today as brought out by many on www.FiveDoves.com, lately, including Jim Bramlett.  Let's not forget Johnny Cash.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

 A third event was reading Mark Aaron Robinson's "When will it Happen (revisited)" dated October 3, 2003 on Five Doves that Yom Kippur was "clearly the Day when Ya'Shua will return as King of Kings".  This was confirmation regarding a timeline I had hoped to publish in a book in the future.

The Menorah
One of the doubts I had regarding October 17, 2003 was that many believe that just like Christ's first coming was in fulfillment of the Spring Feasts in order, He would come again and fulfill the Fall Feasts in order.  However, I came to realize, although I do not claim infallibility regarding this and only desire to give glory to God, that Christ's fulfillment of the seven major Feasts looks like the Menorah.

 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world  John 9:5

Christ is believed by many, including myself, to have been conceived into this world on Hanukah.  He is the light of the World and He came into the womb of Mary on the Jewish Festival of Lights, normally in our December.  This is the center candle light in the Menorah.  His Passion on the cross is the second candle which was in our April and occurred on the Jewish Passover.  His resurrection from the grave three days later would be the third candle which occurred on the Jewish Feast of Firstfruits.  His giving of the Holy Spirit around our June is the fourth candle which occurred on Jewish Pentecost.

However, Jesus is the light of the whole world. He is not just the light of the Jews.  His light also shines the other direction on the Menorah.  Going from Hanukah backward on the calendar, the next high feast day one comes to is the last day of the Jewish Feast of the Ingathering which could be the ingathering of the Saints, the Rapture, the fifth candle.

The next feast Jesus would fulfill would be Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement when Jesus would atone for all the Jewish people and come back to put an end to the reign of terror of the antichrist.  The return of Jesus as King of Kings to start His thousand year reign should be in fulfillment of the Jewish Old Testament prophet Daniel's prophecy to the day on Yom Kippur which was the whole basis for starting this book, which we will get to later, and is the sixth candle.

And, after satan is loosed for a season, Jesus will once again fulfill the last feast, although it is the first of the fall feasts, (the first shall be last), Tishri 1, which is appropriately also named "Judgement Day", Yom Hadin, when He comes again on Judgement Day to judge the living and the dead. This would make it the seventh candle and also the end of the seventh 1,000 years.

 So you see, the rapture does not need to be on Tishri 1 nor should it to fulfill the order of the feasts.

The Light's Better Over Here
There is an old joke about someone going up to another person who is crawling around on their hands and knees under a street lamp.  The person asks what they are doing and the other responds that they lost a diamond earring or something similar of great worth and they were diligently looking for it.  The other person joins in the hunt, getting down on his hands and knees and searching long and hard for the lost diamond earring or whatever.  After a while the person who has joined in the hunt asks the one who lost the earring where exactly did they think they lost it.  To which the other points into the darkness around 10 yards away and says, "over there".  Whereupon the newcomer asks why in the world is the person looking over here. To which the one responds, "because the light's better".

Such, to me,  is our watching for our Savior's return.  We naturally watch where the light is better which means the nearest events in time to the current.  Those events are also the one's that affect us the quickest.  But as we watch prophecy unfold we must be able to also consider possibilities where the light isn't that great.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
There is usually at least one great original overriding idea in many great books.  Sir Isaac Newton's great book, "The Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse", (originally published in 1733) may contain many but to me the greatest was the following assertion.  That of Daniel's 70 week prophecy, the 62 weeks from the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem related to Christ's first coming and the 7 weeks from the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem relates directly to Christ's second coming.  Quoting from what I find the easier to read revised edition published in 1998 by Printland Publishers, Hyberadad, India, starting at the bottom of page 132.

Know also and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to cause to return and to build Jerusalem, unto the Anointed the Prince, shall be seven weeks.  The former part of the Prophecy related to the first coming of Christ, being dated to his coming as a Prophet; this being dated to his coming to be Prince or King, seems to relate to his second coming.  There, the Prophet was consummate, and the most holy anointed; here, he that was anointed; comes to be Prince and reign.  For Daniel's prophecies reach to the end of the world, and there is scarce a prophecy in the Old Testament, concerning Christ, which doth not in something or other relate to his second coming.  If divers of the ancients, as Irenaus, Julius Africanus, Hippolytus the martyr, and Apollinaris Bishop of Laodicea, applied the half week to the times of Antichrist, why may not we, by the same liberty of interpretation, apply the seven weeks to the time when Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming. Very well said.

Likewise is Sir Robert Anderson's groundbreaking book on Daniel titled "The Coming Prince" (1895).  The original overriding idea is in the evidence presented that the first part of Daniel's prophecy of Christ's first coming as King of Kings was fulfilled to the exact day.  This brought us to what we celebrate as Palm Sunday, the Sunday before His passion when He entered Jerusalem as King of Kings but was later rejected that same day.  One simply substituted, using the conversion used apparently also in Revelation, 360 days for each of the days represented in the 70 week prophecy of Daniel regarding the 62 weeks.  (The days represent years and the years contain 360 days.)

 Now for me standing on the shoulders of giants and creating a synthesis of these two original ideas to create a third, which I think is also an original idea.  That is, the following.  The modern day commandment to rebuild Jerusalem occurred when the Nation of Israel captured Jerusalem on June 7, 1967.  Rebuilding has indeed occurred since that time in Jerusalem.  Adding 7 weeks or in other words 49 years of 360 days from June 7, 1967 brings us to exactly Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, in the year 2015, (September 23, 2015, Tishri 10, 5776). Would this not be the fulfillment of prophecy for Christ to return as the King of Kings "when Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming"?

 It is very hard to have a truly original idea but I have searched the internet and not found this date, September 23, 2015, referenced in this regard.  So for now I can claim it as original and put it forth as the fulfillment of Daniels 7 weeks of his 70 week prophecy.  Time will tell whether this is the fulfillment of  this prophecy by Daniel.

Likewise it is very easy to count backward 1260 days and come to April 11, 2012.  At first this may not ring a bell but I had written a paper a while back on February 15, 2003 at www.FiveDoves.com where April 11, 32 AD was shown on the Gregorian calendar, had it been used back then, to perfectly line up with multiples of 6998 days including the burning of the temple in 70 AD and June 7, 1967.  And it would have been the Sunday before Passover in 32 AD, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem triumphantly as King of KIngs, and was rejected.  What more fitting day when the Messiah, Christ Jesus was cut off, for the antichrist to take over to fulfill the last 3.5 years of Daniel's last week?  Picture Jesus to be rejected by the Jews as Messiah and antichrist to be accepted by the Jews as Messiah, on the same day, exactly 1980 years apart.  Any significance to 1980 years?  I'd guess that one could make allusions to the fact that 30 pieces of silver were used to pay off Judas which associates it with blood money and 60 by 6 cubits was in the size of the Nebuchadnezzar's idol which  associates 66 with idol worship.  And 1980 is the product of 30 times 66.  There are doubtless other combinations one could use to help explain the significance of 1980 years but I will leave it to others.  I will also leave it to others to subtract 7 years from September 23, 2015 if so desired.

New Testament Corroboration
While the Jew does not accept the New Testament, the Christian looks at the New Testament as bearing direct witness to the Old Testament. With this in mind consider the following verse:

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. Matthew 1:17

While there are many timetables out there, from what I have seen using 360 days times 49 or 17,640 days, which is equivalent to 2520 weeks,  fulfills these generations to the year.  And I would venture to say that if one could have accurate enough records that these generations shown in Matthew 1:17 could be proved to have been fulfilled to the very day.

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.  Matthew 24:33-34, see also Mark 13:30 and Luke 21:32

Shalom!

Ted Porter

Copyright October, 2003 - all rights reserved