Saturday, September 23, 2017, has come and gone by the time you get this. I’m writing this on Sunday, September 17, 2017. If you are reading this when it is posted on the evening of September 24, 2017, or later, and you know Christ for salvation, the Rapture hasn’t occurred. If you aren’t reading this because you are no longer on the planet, or it was never posted because there was no one here to post it, then my commentary is inconsequential. But if you are a believer and you invested heavily in the notion that the date, September 23, and the Revelation chapter 12 Scripture pointed to the Rapture of the Church, you might find the considerations herein worthy of your time.
This is not to point fingers of shame at those who were invested in the September 23 date as tied to Revelation 12. There were many chronological and astronomical/astrological statistics and postulations to support a case that the date and the signs in the heavens meant something of prophetic significance was afoot.
Many–including some colleagues and friends of mine–believe that the sign in the stars that converged on September 23 didn’t necessarily point to the Rapture. They believe these strange comings-together of astral bodies is a confirmation from the Lord that the end times are here and Christ coming to put an end to man’s rebellion is imminent. These same colleagues and friends, thus believe–and I agree–that they haven’t violated the “doctrine of imminence” regarding the unknown time of the Rapture of the Church.
I won’t attempt to defend those who did dogmatically predict that September 23, 2017, was definitely when the Rapture would happen. There is no pinpointing the exact day and hour of Christ’s coming for the Church. Jesus said so.
To make such predictions is to enter into the folly that so many down through the years have entered. The result is the same. The Rapture did not occur on September 23. What else can be said?
Their disappointment, if they were totally invested in the proposition of Rapture on September 23, is no doubt profound. I, myself, wish it would have happened on that date. As a matter of fact, I prefer that the Rapture happen right now while I’m writing this on September 17.
Now, what do we do from this point forward? I believe we go from disappointment to determination.
We don’t have to look at perceived astronomical, astrological, and other anomalous signs to know that Christ’s return is imminent. We don’t have to look longingly each year for the Jewish holy days–the feasts, etc.–in thinking on the Rapture of the Church.
There are signals of the prophetic stage-setting sort that make it crystal clear concerning the time and season in which this generation finds itself.
The Gog-Magog coalition is practically 100 percent formed. Russia (Rosh), Iran (Persia), Turkey (Torgomah), and all the Arab world of the Middle East are gathering north of and surrounding Israel.
China and the kings of the east are growing in strength and leering westward.
The globalists elite and their minions are in a rage to bring in the Antichrist regime, even though they perceive their quest as attempting to establish Utopia.
The nations of the world are in economic and civil chaos. They are in perplexity with great distress at the center of their troubles.
There is a developing religious universalism in which the pope and many so-called Protestant pastors are proclaiming many ways to God and salvation.
Nature seems to be spinning up as part of the great end-times storm that is most certainly on its way.
Rather than suffer in the throes of disappointment because dates and prophetic events don’t work out to fit human calculus, let us be determined to serve our individual and corporate–heavenly–purpose. Let us lift the Name of Jesus during the time between now and when He comes for us who are called by His Holy Name.
We are not left without understanding of the lateness of these last days.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Perfect Biblical assessment of where we are. So, let’s focus on the fact we still have time to reach more people who are lost without God. Take the disappointment that we didn’t “go”, and redirect it wisely.
Our Lord is going to accomplish HIS PLAN, on HIS TIMING…..not ours. We will one day see the wisdom of His perfection revealed, and we will rejoice forever…………
Great article by Terry James! Brings insight into the issue of setting dates for our Lord’s return!
Just….Thank You for the sanity!
I’d like to add my 2 cents. It’s my firm belief that the alignment of constellations formed in the skies on the 23th and 24th of this September is the fulfillment of Rev 12:1-2., and it’s been put there by the Lord to herald the approaching tribulation period and the nearness of the rapture. As one brother in Christ said it, this celestial sign is like an “exit sign” on the road, it’s marking the nearness of our destination. As for me, I’m not writing it off just because the rapture hasn’t happened yet. Most of the “main guys” who studied the “Rev 12 Sign” and shared their studies with the Church, warned us that this sign only heralds the nearness of the tribulation and the rapture, it doesn’t mean that the rapture will surely happen on the 23th of this September! I also believe that it’s one of the Lord’s warnings to the inhabitants of Earth, also to the Jewish nation and to the Church. Described in the Book of Genesis, one of the “tasks” of the heavenly bodies -besides giving light- is to mark certain times and seasons, the Lord’s appointed times and also they are there for signs! We’re surely living in a high-watch time with the unprecedented convergence of prophetic events and their fulfillment in progress on all fronts. There are much more to the topic of the Rev 12 Sign but that’s all in a nutshell I’d like to share. Asking my brethren to take into consideration not to dismiss something that the Lord might meant as a “wake up call”.
“We don’t need signs in the heavens to know the Lord’s coming is imminent.” This is a true statement, but not one that I want to make. It’s like saying keep your birthday gifts because I already have enough stuff. I don’t want to say that. I want to treasure up in my heart and praise God for ALL that He is doing and about to do. The Heavens are the work of His hands, and praise should be given where praise is due. The signs are not just so that we can get to where we need to go, but also so that we can praise Him along the way, standing in awe of what He has done and give Him Glory.
Lord, we want to see and believe all that you are doing in the heavens and on the earth.
You said “They believe these strange comings-together of astral bodies is a confirmation from the Lord that the end times are here and Christ coming to put an end to man’s rebellion is imminent.” I think that is the correct conclusion because what just happened in that alignment, was a little like Revelation when the Lord tells John, “write the things which were, which are, and which are to come”. It’s like a summary before moving on to the next order of business. It is a sign that the Jews, when they recognize their Messiah, will look back on and realize it was one of the many ways the Lord made provision for them to know the truth, but they had been blinded due to not loving the truth God had already given. And yes, a confirmation, as Nora said, that those who have watched for, warned, and longed for His appearing, are not mistaken, a confirmation to encourage the weary. Many who warned believers not to take the “sign” as marking the day and hour, got blasted for it, but at the same time, some who called out the date-setters were dismissive and ridiculing in their effort to “set the record straight” about it. I think that the depiction in the stars is too uncanny to not be purposeful on God’s part, but agree it was foolish for anyone to tie their hope to that as the rapture date. I appreciate, Terry, that God gifted you with such grace and gentleness as well as your insight. It is an encouragement to many.
I have followed several of these “stargazers” for some time, and to be fair, I do not recall any of them being dogmatic about Sept. 23. In fact, they went to great pains to point out that they were NOT setting the date for the Rapture. The date for the astral event is fact. That it occurs once in 7000 years is fact. This is a very unique sign in the heavens, and by the way, it will remain there a few more days. So the Rapture could still take place very soon. The Rapture remains imminent. Those who criticize the “stargazers” are wrong to dogmatically dismiss them saying that the Rapture WILL NOT take place on the 23rd. Making such statements, when they do not know one way or the other, puts them in the category of “scoffers” (2 Peter 3:3-4). Personally, I’m a little disappointed that the Rapture did not occur, because I long to be with Jesus. However, I thank God, that He has given us a little more time to share the Gospel. I’m still watching – still listening for that last trump!
Post 9/23 post.
By God’s Grace for God’s Glory.
On Sep 24, 2017 3:15 PM, “Terry James Prophecy Line” wrote:
> Terry James posted: “Saturday, September 23, 2017, has come and gone by > the time you get this. I’m writing this on Sunday, September 17, 2017. If > you are reading this when it is posted on the evening of September 24, > 2017, or later, and you know Christ for salvation, the Rapt” >