Sent 1/19/00

Dear friends:

Author and Bible teacher Charles Capps poses an interesting idea. He is not dogmatic about it and only offers it as a possibility. I will explain, and elaborate.

Capps notes that Jesus lived until age 33. His physical body was on the earth for 33 years. If a prophetic biblical generation is 40 years, that is only 33 years of 40.

The "fig tree" (Israel) began to "put forth its leaves" in 1967 with the capture of Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Jesus said that the "generation" which sees that would not pass away until all be fulfilled. (He did not say this last generation would be a complete 40 years, only that it would "not pass away" or expire, meaning it could be LESS than 40 years. In fact, the first century typology occurred only 37 years, not 40, after Jesus' crucifixion, with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.)

The church is now the physical body of Christ on the earth. Since the putting forth of the fig trees' leaves in 1967 and the biblical generation and countdown began, Christ's body has likewise been on the earth for 33 years, as of the year 2000.

Will Christ's body leave the earth after 33 years now, in the year 2000, just as it did before?

If so, when? Of course, no one knows. Technically, the 1967 war was in June. And Jesus lived until age 33 1/2. So even if a valid concept we may be looking at June 1967 + 33 = June 2000 + 1/2 year. But maybe not. Let us just keep watching and being ready at all times.

Just a thought -- a part of our continuing "watch," as we are commanded.

Jim