Coincidence & Calamity?

Last fall the US Senate met on October 1 to approve a $760 billion bailout and every day for 10 days the markets crashed like never before. What most people didn't know was that October 1 was the eve of the new moon coinciding with the Feast of Trumpets in Leviticus 23:24. In Bible times they blew a ram's horn for 10 days signaling the Day of Atonement, a type of Judgment Day. Just a coincidence?

Would we consider Ezekiel's prophecy with timing for 2009 also just a coincidence? Israel had 390 years of apostasy as Ezekiel 4:5 shows. But God said if they will not hearken, He would punish them seven times more, Leviticus 26:21,24,28. Assyria took them captive to Damascus in 722 BC (Wikipedia). Seven times 390 is 2730 years. Subtract 722 because of the BC years = 2008, but there was no "0" year, so this points to 2009 for the end of Israel's captivity and their scattering mentioned in Jeremiah 31:10.

When Israel's time in Egypt was ended, God afflicted the gods of Egypt. They worshiped the Nile; it turned to blood. They worshipped cattle; cattle died. We worship money; another coincidence of timing? Israel was in bondage to Egypt. Could we be in bondage today?

How about millions of Americans who are in bondage to a medical system that has become a leading cause of death due to adverse reactions to prescription drugs? Journal of AMA, 4-15-1998; Archives of Int. Med, Sept 10, 2007. Our children are in bondage to an educational system with sex education that has most of them losing their virginity before they finish high school. Too many can't read, nor can the 10 Commandments be posted in the classroom. Before Israel's deliverance in Egypt, babies were killed. It happened also in Bethlehem, Matt 2:16. Our nation has been killing babies since the 70's. Coincidence or something more? "As it was in the days of Lot" (Luke 17:28,29) destruction fell suddenly on Sodom, a community that suddenly lost its "gay rights."

2009 also has potential for the end-time to start based on Christ's words about the goodman in Matthew 24:43. There is only one reference to the goodman in the Old Testament, Prov 7:18-20, KJV. A harlot tells a man, "the goodman is gone a long journey... he will return at the yom kece [full moon]." Passover comes on a full moon, but "long journey" is a specific clue for Passover in the 2nd spring month as you see in Numbers 9:10,11.

The pope's visit to Jerusalem this spring was on May 11, which was the 15th day of the 2nd spring month, according to the provision in Numbers 9. He was the "goodman" (both by catholic consensus and his name, Benedict, bene means good. And from a Protestant perspective, he is married to the harlot, Proverbs 7:18; Revelation 17:1. Some say there are no coincidences.

Christ's warning in Matthew 24:15 was understood by early believers to mean Rome. When Cestius brought the Romans, the Christians fled and were spared the siege by Titus a few years later. The Roman Empire fell, but the Holy Roman Empire emerged, and in a first-ever visit by a pope, John Paul went to Jerusalem in 2000. Since then, Jerusalem has been "compassed with armies" of Palestinians and others hostile to Israel, a sign that "the desolation thereof is nigh," Luke 21:20.

When Titus sieged Jerusalem, Herod's Temple burned on the 10th day of the 5th Jewish month according to Joseph, the same day that Solomon's Temple was burned, Jeremiah 52:12,13. The 10th day of the 5th month was August 2, but that date has come and gone. The next window of opportunity for a prophetic event would be September 21--Rosh Hashanah--the Feast of Trumpets this year.

It is possible that when John heard the "great voice as of a trumpet" in Revelatiion 1:10, it was also the Feast of Trumpets and what he heard was the sound of thunder like at Mt Sinai when the mountain shook and the trumpet was very loud (Exodus 19).

Will a huge event then be another coincidence? What if it's not just a coincidence? Believing only in coincidences could prevent understanding of what it means. The parallels suggest that there is a time of deliverance at hand if we can see the larger picture. Governments worldwide are unable to provide Health, Education and Welfare (a former department of the US government), but the Bible promises these as a by-product of obedience to biblical laws, Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 4:8. Calamity on September 21, 2009 would be full of significance as a judgment from God and the end of an era. If big things happen, will we get it right?

Dr. Richard Ruhling, a biblical researcher believes truth for our time needs to transcend denominational lines. He offers further information at http://www.Exodus2.info and http://www.theBridegroomComes.com