Posted by Bib. chronology [Bibleman] on November 02, 1999 at 05:16:26 {.c1iAaocfMMRXA6xmpscslyACFuF8c}:
We have every reason to be on increased alertness these days since several "end times" Biblical dates are now expiring, allowing us to make certain speculations.
The "last days" over Fall of 1999
At day with Jehovah is as 1000 years and some think that the "last days" are really two days of 1000 years each since the birth of the Messiah in 2BCE. That 2000-year period just ended this fall in 1999. 2000 minus 2BCE = 1998 +1 =1999. Jesus was born around the time of the festival of booths.
What can we assume? Well, if this really does refer t the "last days" then the last day would be over as of this fall meaning that the First Resurrection would be over since it was to occur during the "last day".
End of "Gentile Times" over 1992
Old news, the fall of Jerusalem now confirmed by astronomical text to have been in 529BCE, 2520 years later ends the gentile times in 1992.
Biblically, of course, this date is arrived at two ways:
1) 70 weeks prophecy fulfilled by Cyrus dates his 1st year in 455BCE and the fall of Jerusalem 74 years earlier in 529BCE.
2) The end of the 1290 days which would see the end of the trampling of the Jews and their return to Palestine in 1947, fulfills the 1335 days in 1992, which is 45 years later. So there is a double confirmation the Messiah was supposed to arrive in kingdom power, in secret, in 1992.
End of "Grand Jubilee" in fall of 1996
This relates to the temple rebuilding eras of 490 years each, related to the rebuilding of the spiritual temple. Jubilees occur on the 50th year and occur every 49 years. Thus a Grand Jubilee is considered to be 49x50 years, or 2450 years would represent a Jubilee of Jubilees. If we start that 2450 years from the first 490-year period in 455BCE which started the "70 weeks" prophecy, then we come up with 1996. 2450-455=1995+1=1996. So 1996 is a Jubilee year as was 36CE which ended the first 490 years.
By parallel comparison, the first 490-year period saw the Messiah appear in the "70th week" so likewise, during the last 490-year period, the Messiah again appears during the 70th week. That is, a 7-year period from 1989 to 1996, compares to the 7-year period of 29CE to 36CE.
Also note, that 1947 is a jubilee period as well since it is 49 years earlier than 1996. So all the jubilees in Jewish history are linked together from the Exodus (1386 BCE) to the return from exile (455BCE), to the freedom from the Law Covenant (36CE), to the start of the Protestant movement (1506 AD) to the end of the covenant period in 1996. So we just experienced another END-TIME date as far as the Grand Jubilee is concerned.
"Last Generation" ends 1994
Simply, the generation that began the "last generation" with World War I would last for 80 years (Ps. 90:10) and end in 1994. Everything prophesied to occur during that last generation did, including the preaching of the 'good news' world wide by JWs, the "great tribulation" (i.e. the HOLOCAUST), and the "END of the system of things" which means the "END of the gentile times" when the Messiah takes up kingdom power which occurred in 1992.
(The only thing that didn't happen were increased earthquakes so I guess that wasn't fulfilled exactly unless we're misinterpreting that. Check with A.F. on this. He's are resident Biblical seismologist. :>)
End of "time, times and half time" 1996
As noted, 1996 ends a Covenant period which we presume thus ends the "time, times and half time" which would have begun 1260 years earlier in 736 A.D. This was the time "Easter" became finally well established, replacing the Nisan 14th Passover celebration as the "constant feature" which was then restored to Nisan 14th by the "temple organization" when it apppeared after 2300 evenings and mornings. 2300 eves and morns is broken down into 1150 days/years and subtracted from the 1260 years which means that the "temple organization" would be "in its right condition" for the last 110 years of the 1260-year Covenant Period. That means from 1886 until 1996. In 1886 the Bible Students began to distinguish themselves as a religion by publishing in 1886 their first "Studies in the Scriptures" volume which series became the foundation of their new beliefs. Thus the organization that became JWs served as the "temple organization" from 1886 to 1996.
Days of Noah, 120 years, ended 1994
This is interesting. The Bible students focussed on 1874 as the time of Christ's invisible presence. They became more and more active from around this time. 1874 is 40 years from 1914 and 80 years from 1994, meaning a 120-year period from 1874 ended in 1994.
End of "1335 Days" in 1992
Per Daniel 12, the trampling of the Jews, called the "holy ones" would continue until the end of 1290 days. That "dashing of the holy ones to pieces" came to a climatic head during the HOLOCAUST when the prophesied event like none other in human history would occur to the Jews. That was the HOLOCAUST. But by 1947 the Holocaust was over and the Jews were returning to Palestine. This was jubilee year for them and ended the 1290 days. But 45 years later would be another happy event, the time their Messiah would appear in kingdom power. 45 years after 1947 was 1992 which was when the "sign of the Son of man" was witnessed, proving the Messiah did appear that year.
End of "Vineyard" Period, Ends Passover 1999-2000 A.D.
A 12-hour vineyar period is suggested at Matthew 20. Based upon 11 hours of work at 7 years each, the work would be basically completed by 1992 if dated from 1914. The payment couldn't begin until the Messiah actually took up kingdom power. If we use the first Passover since his return as sort of a key date, then the last "hour" of 7 years would end Passover of 1999.
Thus if we use Passover of 1915 as the beginning of the Vineyard period, we still get good numbers, particularly with the end of the first 21 years which would end in the spring of 1936 by which time the "othe sheep" class began to be recognized. Beginning with the third-hour workers, those invited to share in the vineyard and who would all get the "penny to heaven" did not know as the first-hour workers did that they would be getting the penny ahead of time. They presumed they would get "whatever was fair" and thus were working for something less in a sense, that is, the "earthly hope." But turns out everybody got invited to heaven if they were paying attention enough to get into the kingdom when the Messiah arrived in 1992. So that's within a year of 1935 which works out.
The 77 years would thus end from Passover of 1915 to Passover of 1992 when the Messiah would first appear as the Prodigal Son to return to God's house. He would receive the kingdom in December of 1992 and his first Passover with his anointed ones as the Messiah would be
Passover of 1993. So the official 7-year period would end Passover of 1999 but the extend payment period at Passover of 2000 A.D.
And that is the "latest" extension of "end time" dates suggested in Scripture.
CELESTIAL PHENOMENA:
Just of note, an unusual celestial phenomena took place in 1996 and 1997, which was Halley's comet and Halle Bopp, making these two marked years as far as unusual celestial events.
We are fresh out of "scheduled" Biblical events. Chronology is now in God's hands!
Cheers,
Bibleman