Remembering 1998

The year 1998 and its possible prophetic significance keeps coming to mind. I just can't help it.

I am not saying that it began the final seven years. I am not saying that it began the tribulation. I am not saying that it began the 70th week of Daniel. I am not saying that it began the time of Jacob’s trouble. Please don't say that I am. All I am saying is that there are things about it that still intrigue me. I do not have the answers, but I continue to think about it.

This month, April, 2002, marks exactly 3 ½ years from the Wye Agreement between Israel and the PLO, signed on October 23, 1998, which, in effect, “confirmed” the Oslo covenant of 1993.

Let me rehash some of the things I still find fascinating:

1. Ron Reese pointed out the signs in the heavens when the Wye Agreement was signed. He said that the actual signing of the covenant document was the "exact same minute" (2:34 p.m. EDT) as Saturn (Satan) came closest to earth and brightest in 20 years, in the sign of Pisces (Israel), and in conjunction with constellation Cetus (Antichrist). He says the odds against this happening at the same minute by mere coincidence were more than 10 million to 1. Additionally, Ron says that the sign of Revelation 12:1 appeared in the heavens the eve of October 23, 1998. Odds against: 912 to 1. He also says that the Day of Atonement is the most likely day for Second Coming. If you add exactly 2,520 days (seven prophetic years) to October 23, 1998, you arrive on the Day of Atonement, 2005. Odds against: 365 to 1. Combined odds for just the above three: astronomical.

2. In his January-February 1998 newsletter, "The Last Call," Pastor F.M. Riley listed and described ten unusual biblical cycles that all came to an end in 1998.

3. In his fascinating 1988 book, "Times of the Signs" (New Wine Press, Chichester, England) New Zealand author George C. Curle describes numerous biblical dates and historical patterns that all amazingly point to 2005 for the Second Coming. Back up seven years, of course, and you arrive at 1998.

4. For many years Bible scholar Marilyn Agee looked to 1998 for the rapture. While she believes she now understands the error, God may have led her to that year for other reasons.

5. I have been puzzled at why the extremely unusual Noah Troyer prophecy in the year 1878 had not come to pass, and maybe this is an explanation. Perhaps it did. I have personally documented this and have even seen 122-year-old secular newspaper clippings. By way of review, Noah Troyer was an Amish minister, born in 1831. Troyer became ill, causing him to have repeated periods of unconsciousness, during which time he would stand and prophesy. He spoke almost the same basic message over and over again, someone counted 19 times. His wife called friends and family members to witness what he was saying. There was even newspaper coverage of the phenomenon. Basically, the message was that just as with Noah before the flood, God was warning him, also Noah, that He was giving America 120 years to repent before it will be destroyed. These words were spoken by Noah Troyer in 1878. And 1878 + 120 years = 1998. While destruction did not come in 1998, things could have been set in motion in that year that would bring the destruction soon to follow and a fulfillment of Troyer's prophecies.

In about 1994 after I heard the above story about Noah Troyer, I asked myself, "Could we really now be in such a 120-year countdown? If so, when did the countdown really begin?" Then I remembered that Israel is "God's time piece." Israel is the key to prophecy. I wondered, "Could there have been some significant historical event about Israel in 1878 that might confirm such a countdown beginning in that specific year?" Then I remembered a certain book on my shelf that lists all significant historical/biblical events, by exact year, since recorded history began. I grabbed the book and anxiously flipped to 1878, curious if there would be any entry at all. To my shock, it read: "1878 -- Establishment of Petah Tikvah in Judea and Rosh Pinnah in Galilee. These were the first Jewish villages in Palestine in our times." This was the planting of modern Israel, the fig tree, God's time clock -- in 1878!!!

Later, I was studying about the "times of the Gentiles" as spoken of by Jesus (Luke 21:24). I discovered that some Bible scholars believe the "times of the Gentiles" actually began in 606 B.C. when Babylon captured Jerusalem, and would extend for 2,520 years, based on God's promise to punish Israel seven times (Leviticus 26: 18,21,24,28), with "times" meaning 360 years (7 X 360 = 2,520), and/or based on Nebuchadnezzar's madness for 2,520 days. If true, 606 B.C. + 2,520 biblical (360-day) years = yes, exactly 1878! I later discovered that author Grant R. Jeffrey had written that 1878 did, indeed, signal the beginning of the end of the Gentile Age and the beginning of a 120-year countdown. Such a countdown beginning in 1898 would end in 1998.

6. The year 1998 was Israel's Jubilee year, or 50th anniversary, surely a profound prophetic year.

7. Bible writer Bob Schlenker saw great significance in the year 1998, beginning the Famine Week (seven years), following the Abundance Week, which began in 1991.

8. Ron mentions a book titled, "Bible Prophecies 1998-2005," by D.S. Dutcher with at least 49 separate calculations that point to 1998 as the beginning of the tribulation. (Available for $5.95 by writing author at 8306 Mills Dr., Miami, FL 33183).

9. On September 13, 1997 Barbara Richmond gave me a copy of an unusual fax she had received from Jerusalem just two days earlier. It was from the Orthodox Hasidic rabbi who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah and is the same rabbi with whom she had a startling, supernatural encounter while visiting Jerusalem in 1995.

Below is the verbatim text of his September 11, 1997 fax to Barbara. Note the sequence of end-time events revealed to him as an Israeli rabbinical student of Scripture without the influence of popular American theology. He too thought the rapture would be in 1998, but could his revelation have a different meaning?

The 1997 fax from Jerusalem rabbi below:

To Barbara. Shalom from Yerushalayim

Today we have done long Bible study. I have revelation to send you important enough to break custom of reaching you through our sister.

As you know we believe Y'shua HaMaschiah is coming very, very soon. Something very important spoken to me by Ruach HaKodesch (the Holy Spirit). Think carefully with me.

Numbers, chapter 4, verse one, Moses instructs the people that for a man to be a priest he must be at least 30 years of age but not more than 50 years. Then he may serve in the house of G'd. Y'shua began to minister at 30 years. I began to think about 30 years and 50 years, to ask for understanding because I felt something in my heart.

Exodus 19:6 the Almighty calls all Israel to be a nation of priests. This is our destiny, our mission, our calling which must to be fulfilled in these times after the days of the Gentiles are finished when the body of Messiah is removed from this earth. Daniel's last week is at the door - when Israel will finish her calling from the Mighty One. Now here is the situation to me...

G'd always fulfills His patterns which he established. At least 30, no more than 50. The city of Yerushalayim so to speak became 30 years on 6 June, 1997, 30 years after Israeli control since 1967 war. Israel is 49 years, to celebrate 50 years 14 May, 1998.

This is like a window of days when for the only time in history, both the city of David and the nation of Israel qualify at the right age to take up again the calling to be a nation of priests... THE CITY IS 30 YEARS, THE NATION LESS THAN 50. Could it be that Israel will begin to fulfill its final destiny between now and May 1998?

You understand, dear Barbara, if this is true revelation from the Mighty One, "Blessed be His Name" that it is very important for you for as we know, the present body of Messiah must be taken from this earth before the Jews take up the mantle again of G'd's work and will. So Y'shua could come for His followers anytime in this "window."

Are they ready in America? Does anyone else speak of this? Do you sense truth in what I write to you? We must know the times so we can be ready.

(Closing comments. End of fax.)

NOTE 1. This Orthodox rabbi in Jerusalem thought 1998 would be the year when "the body of Messiah would be removed from the earth." That did not happen, but instead perhaps he did have a revelation from the Lord that 1998 would somehow begin a final countdown to when “Israel will begin to fulfill its final destiny."

NOTE 2. A day or two after the above was written and shared on the Internet, a lady in Australia e-mailed me confirming Scriptures from Ezekiel. In chapter 24 verse 24, God says to Israel, "Ezekiel is to you a sign: according to all that he has done shall you do." In other words, Ezekiel's life is a model for Israel. We know that Ezekiel was in his 30th year (at least 30) when he began his ministry (1:1). Then when he was less than 50, at age 49 (calculated from 40:1), he had an experience when "the glory of the Lord filled the house" (43:5), symbolizing in Ezekiel's life when the glory of the Lord will return to Israel in the last days. So, with Ezekiel, we have yet a different Scripture pointing to 1998 with the "at least 30 and less than 50" principle demonstrated.

NOTE 3. I shared the above with several long-time students of Bible prophecy, and unanimously they all feel very positive that the rabbi did, indeed, have a revelation from the Lord. However, there is some disagreement about what, and also when the "at least 30--less than 50" window would close, based on Hebrew age reckoning.

CONCLUSION

While we may not be sure, there are interesting reasons to believe that 1998 was a profoundly prophetic year, possibly beginning some kind of final countdown.

This is especially interesting in view of the reported recent and profound proclamation of the 27 leading rabbis in Israel that Israel is now in the prophetic "time of Jacob’s trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7).

Adding to the interest is this: If Jesus was crucified in A.D. 31 or 33 as many believe, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans was 37 or 39 years later in A.D. 70. If the fig tree (Israel) began to "put forth its leaves" in the 1967 Six-Day War when she captured Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, then 1967 + 37/39 = the 2004/2006 time period depending on where the count starts/stops.

Just thinking out loud this morning. I have shared some of this before, but thought you might enjoy remembering, and it will be new to new readers.