Dear friends:
In years past, people have speculated that the seven good years before the seven bad years (paralleling Joseph's time in Egypt) began with the Oslo Agreement in 1993. That would have made the seven good years 1993-2000 and the seven bad years 2000-2007.
The year 1993 and Oslo were certainly significant and probably prophetic, and the first seven years worked out in that 1993-2000 were certainly good years. However, the next part has not worked out. So far, the years 2000-2005 have been generally prosperous and peaceful, even seeing the evil Taliban and Saddam regimes toppled, plus the demise of master terrorist Yassir Arafat.
If there is to be a modern-day parallel with Joseph, there is reason to believe that the seven good years really have been 1998-2005, and the seven bad years will be 2005-2012.
Why 1998 as the beginning of a possible 14-year countdown? Several reasons
First, back in about 1994, through Christian author Betty Malz and her book, Touching the Unseen World ," I first learned about a preacher by the name of Noah Troyer who lived in the 1800s and who had an unusual prophecy experience. While not new to some, this may be new to many of you.
Through some investigation, I was able to contact Betty, also a pastor's wife, in Florida. She told me the unusual way she first discovered Noah Troyer. She had gone to a Christian retreat center for privacy and to write -- the retreat center in north central Florida founded by the late evangelist Roxanne Brandt. While there, she discovered an archive of old Christian materials. In this archive were documents describing Noah Troyers experience in the 1880s and even included a secular newspaper article about it. Because it was such an amazing phenomenon, it brought public attention. I contacted the retreat and they graciously copied the stack of material and mailed it to me.
Noah Troyer was an Amish minister, born in 1831. He became seriously 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 while unconscious, someone counted 19 times. His wife called friends and family members to witness what he was saying.
The message was that just as with Noah before the flood, God was warning him, also named Noah, that He was giving America 120 years to repent before it will be destroyed.
These words were prophesied by Noah Troyer in 1878. And 1878 + 120 years = 1998.
"Just as it was in the days of Noah" is how Jesus described His return (Luke 17:26, NIV). If "just as it was," could this not also mean that there would, indeed, be a God-given 120-year warning as many interpret was given in Noah's day (Genesis 6:3)?
When I first discovered this 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 clock." 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, God's time clock -- in 1878, the same year Noah Troyer gave his 120-year warning! This seemed like amazing confirmation.
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 respected scholar and 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. If the conversion to biblical years is not proper, there is another interesting possibility. Adding 2,520 modern years to 606 B.C. = 1914, the beginning of World War I. Scholars say the "nation against nation" phrase Jesus spoke of as a sign of the end of the age is an idiom for world war, the first of which began in 1914, possibly signaling the beginning of the end.
But, alas, we know that destruction did not happen in 1998, so at first glance Noah Troyers prophecies and this theory appear totally discredited.
Or are they? Wait! Not so fast! There may be more to it. Remember, Troyer's prophecy included the condition of repentance. God has been known to delay judgment, or even cancel judgment if enough righteous people are found.
While meditating on this, I realized that a major fasting and prayer movement began in 1994 when 600 Christian pastors, lay leaders, and ministry leaders met in Orlando for three days to seek Gods face and fast and pray for repentance and revival in America according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. This fasting and prayer movement began to spread rapidly to different cities, churches, campuses, and other countries, and a similar but larger gathering was held every year, broadcast worldwide on satellite, with perhaps 2 million worldwide or more fasting for 40 days.
Has there been evidence of major cultural change? Maybe not, but God said, If my people, not Hollywood, meet His conditions. Many have. How many does it take?
This and similar efforts may have been enough to forestall judgment, to provide time for more harvest, and there has been great harvest. If you do not believe it, check my July 2001 article, Evidence of Revival and Harvest at the Turn of the Millennium, at http://www.choicesforliving.com/spirit/part4/revival.htm
But forestall for how long?
This is just speculation, but the delay may have been enough to fit the 7 years and 7 years scenario, delaying the judgment until the final seven years of the 14-year 1998-2012 time frame.
There are other things possibly pointing to 2005. See my article, Patterns pointing to the year 2005 at http://www.choicesforliving.com/spirit/Prophecy%20Updates/2005.htm
But back to 1998. There are other reasons that year seems prophetically significant.
1. The Wye Agreement between Israel and the PLO was signed on October 23, 1998, which, in effect, confirmed the Oslo covenant of 1993.
2. 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 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.
3. 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.
4. In his fascinating 1988 book, "Times of the Signs" (New Wine Press, Chichester, England) the late New Zealand author George C. Curle describes numerous biblical dates and historical patterns that all amazingly point to 2005 for the Second Coming. It may not have been the Second Coming, but the beginning of the final seven years.
5. 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 significant reasons.
6. The year 1998 was Israel's Jubilee year, or 50th anniversary, surely a profound prophetic year.
7. Ron Reese mentions a book titled, "Bible Prophecies: 1998 thru 2005," by D.S. Dutcher with at least 49 separate calculations that point to 1998 as the beginning of the tribulation. It may not have been the beginning of the tribulation, but the beginning of the final 14 years.
8. Converted to its equivalent letters, the Jewish year 5758, which overlaps with 1998, means "season of Noah." I find this amazing.
9. In the days of Noah, the earth was filled with violence (Genesis 6:13). Surely, the demonic and bloodthirsty Al Qaeda is evidence of this violence. In February 1998, Osama Bin Laden announced the creation of a new alliance of terrorist organizations, the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders. The Front included the Egyptian al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Harakat ul-Ansar, and two other groups. The Front declared its intention to attack Americans and our allies, including civilians, anywhere in the world. By at least February 1998, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad had effectively merged with al Qaeda and joined with al Qa'ida in targeting American civilians. You know the rest of the story of this serpentine movement.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. All these things may mean that 1998 began the final 14 years before the Second Coming and the final seven years before the Tribulation.
2. If true, the rapture could literally be any day.
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