I last updated this writing in 2008, from 2004 when I first described the chart I put together in 2003-2004 timeframe. It is now the last week of April 2016 and all but the scheduled start date of the 42 months has passed.
When I composed the chart defined in this writing, I determined that if the scheduled start dates did not materialize I would not make a new chart with using the dates of the next recurrent cycle in ten to twelve years; this would be my final timing chart.
At first it was difficult for me when January, February, then March passed without the scheduled events. And now April has just concluded. As I set about to try to understand why, why the signs of the end were occurring all over the world yet the Son of God had not returned as He had promised. After I had overcome my short period of discouragement I set about doing what I have done for the last twenty-two plus years, I prayed for guidance from my beloved teacher, the Holy Spirit. What I discovered, with Her guidance, was far beyond anything I would ever have expected.
There are two episodes in the apocalyptic prophecies which call for a delay of the scheduled occurrence. The first delay we find in Matthew 25:5.
Now while the Bridegroom was delaying they all got drowsy and fell asleep. (NASB)
This delay then caused the next scheduled event to be delayed, this is found in Revelation 7:1-3.
And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” (NASB)
Initially, this raised an important question in my mind and thoughts. Why would God, who knows the end from the beginning, schedule any event/events, knowing that these events would not transpire at the scheduled time.
God, who is eternal (who was, and is, and is to come) exists outside of time. In order to schedule appointments one must have a timepiece with which they can use for scheduling purposes. When God/Elohim created this earth, they created, they purposely created the time piece they would use to schedule event dates. This time piece functions on the movement of celestial bodies in respect to one another as observed from earth. The earth spins on its axis as it orbits around the sun. the moon orbits the earth, and transitions from a state of darkness (new moon) through full light to darkness once again, this measures the month. The earths spin measures the day, and its orbit around the sun measures the year and the seasons. God/Elohim uses this timepiece as their event planner.
The first “day” in Elohim’s event planner was the day of the new moon that occurred on or following the spring equinox. The last day in this event planner was March 19, 1994. The purpose of this specific event planner made it possible for Elohim to set limits of forgiveness. What I mean by this is, Elohim has a plan for restoration. According to this plan, Elohim will set apart a people for themselves, then through these people accomplish the restoration of their glory throughout the whole earth.
So the Lord said, “I have pardoned them according to your word; but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. (NASB)
The “Son of Man” answered, when asked by Peter what is the limit of forgiveness, said this.
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22 (NASB)
Some understand this answer to infer that there is no limit to forgiveness, but that is not correct. Peter asks if the limit of forgiveness is seven, his Teacher answers, that the limit is not one times seven, but seventy times seven, or four hundred and ninety times. It is clear He knew the exact limit of forgiveness. The restoration event planner testifies to the voracity of His answer.
The Lord then spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a Sabbath to the Lord. Leviticus 25:1-2 (NASB)
You are also to count off seven Sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven Sabbaths of years, namely, forty-nine years. Leviticus 25:8 (NASB)
Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemy’s land; then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your Sabbaths, while you were living on it. Leviticus 26:34-35 (NASB)
“As for you, lie down on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; you shall bear their iniquity for the number of days that you lie on it. For I have assigned you a number of days corresponding to the years of their iniquity, three hundred and ninety days; thus you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. When you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah; I have assigned it to you for forty days, a day for each year. Ezekiel 4:1-6 (NASB)
For thus says the Lord, When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. Jeremiah 29:10 (NASB)
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans- in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Daniel 9:1-2 (NASB)
Seventy sevens (weeks) have been decreed for your people and your holy city… Daniel 9:24 (NASB)
The restoration calendar, or event planner, is what Elohim designed to schedule the end of the rebellion and the restoration of righteousness. This planner functions according to three measures of time, a year, a week of years, and a week of Sabbath years. Each unit of measure contains a built in limiter functioning on the limit of forgiveness. The first limiter is the seventh year. As described in Leviticus chapter 25, the seventh year was a Sabbath year. The Sabbath year was instituted by Elohim as a time of rest (Sabbath) for the land. This Sabbath year observance would be an indicator of the compliance or noncompliance of Israel. The forgoing texts in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel confirm the limit of forgiveness as revealed by the Son of Elohim, seventy sevens. Ezekiel was instructed to lie on one side then the other each indicating the years of violation. Jeremiah, in his instructions to the exiles in Babylon, informed them that they would be in captivity for seventy years. Elohim had specifically tied the exile to Sabbath year violations; which fit nicely into the 430 years in Ezekiel. Daniel was reading the letter Jeremiah sent to the exiles, and observed the number of years appointed for the captivity. The seventy years were coming to an end prompting Daniel to pray to Elohim asking them to remember their promise to Israel. The angel Gabriel came to answer Daniels question, and to inform him of the next scheduled date on the event planner. This scheduled date would begin with the issuing of the decree to restore, and to rebuild Jerusalem. Beginning with this decree a period of seventy sevens would commence. This time the compliance indicator was not tied to Sabbath year violations but a set 490 years. God gave Israel 490 years to accomplish the purpose for which they were commissioned, or be relieved of their responsibility.
The next to last scheduled date on this event planner occurred in the years of 1843-44 CE when the 2300 evenings and mornings prophecy of Daniel 8 arrived. The end of the event planner/restoration calendar arrived when the seventieth cycle of 49 years ended. The calendar started in 1437BCE and ended 1994 CE. Elohim intends to restore this world to a state of purity. In order to accomplish this Elohim must first establish a kingdom of their own on earth, a kingdom in the world, but not of the world. Elohim first chose the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. The plan required the candidates to be purified through the process of sanctification; this process involves the removal of sin/lies, and filling the heart and mind with virtue and integrity/truth. The function of the restoration calendar was to insure that those chosen to accomplish this purpose would have a limit on the time given them.
Israel reached the limit of forgiveness with the seventieth Sabbath year violation. Elohim promised to give them a second opportunity to succeed. When the middle of the seventieth week arrived the Son of God appeared, and began to give His testimony. Only a handful of people believed Him the rest rejected Him and hung Him on a pagan cross. Shortly before His death the Messiah made this announcement.
I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Matthew 21:41 (JB)
Elohim had graciously granted the children of Israel a second opportunity to become their kingdom triumphant. They informed them, through the prophet Daniel, how long they had to accomplish this task (490 years). This accomplish, according to the prophet, was the complete restoration of righteousness throughout the whole world. In the middle of the seventieth week Elohim took this mandate away from them and invited any and all who would meet the standard of qualification would be accepted into their kingdom. The standard of qualification is righteousness in fact, not in faith.
The Delay
“Now while the Bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. Matthew 25:5 (NASB)
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” Revelation 7:1-3 (NASB)
I have already written an article on the process of a marriage, which is the context the Son of God used to help us understand His going to His Father’s house and return for His bride. I will say this because it applies to the subject of the delay, if the bridegroom comes to get his bride to take her to the wedding, she must be ready when he arrives or the wedding will be cancelled for good. The only explanation for the bridegroom to delay his going to get his bride is this, he knows she is not ready. It is the responsibility of the bridesmaids to prepare the bride to meet her bridegroom, and the bridesmaids are asleep.
The second part of the timing that is being delayed is the release of the four winds. The instructions given to the four angels who are holding back these four winds, stipulated that when the restoration calendar came to an end (at the end of seventy cycles of forty-nine years) the people who had responded to the wedding invitation, the kingdom of the heavens, were to have the bride ready and the final judgment process would be over, like in the days of Noah.
The delay of the four winds was ordered because, although the end had come, the required process had had a late start with only a handful of people. These “servants” needed more time to complete the qualification process. From this handful of people will come the 144,000 first-fruits of the harvest. These are not the whole harvest only the first to become fully ripe. To complete all of the demands of righteousness is to be ready for harvesting. They then awaken the sleeping kingdom and lead them to the great banquet hall where the feast is conducted. This all happens over a very short period of time; revealing the great importance of having extra oil, and why it is essential. The oil represents the presence of, or affinity for, the Holy Spirit. It also represents those who are open to what the Holy Spirit teaches, and will readily accept the paradigm shattering message the 144,000 deliver. Then both groups will work during the time of the trumpets to “prepare the bride to meet her husband”; these are the people of all nations who accept this offer of marriage. Those who allow the bridesmaids to prepare them to meet their Bridegroom will be ready to meet Him when He arrives. These people of every language, tribe, kingdom, and nation, are the same group that is seen standing around the sea “clear as crystal” which is in front of the throne of Elohim. This is also the multitude which no one can count (Revelation 7:9).
The Delay Ends
And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there shall be delay no longer, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, God’s secret intention will be fulfilled, as He announced in the Good News told to his servants the prophets. Revelation 10:5-7 (JB)
Elohim is a mystery; they are Divine spiritual beings that are completely unified in thought, purpose, and action. They knew from the very beginning of their creation what the future would be. They had a plan in place to restore peace, righteousness, justice, and integrity after the rebellion. Elohim is a mystery to those who do not know them. Those who acknowledge the existence of and their belief in God, but do not know them, are deceiving themselves. To these people Elohim is a mystery, and their intentions are a secret. Elohim reveals their plans to their servants the prophets, and it is the responsibility of these servants to reveal the mystery of God/Elohim, their secret intention, to every nation, country, language, and empire.
Elohim is a mystery. There are those who “Believe” in… and those who do not. Those who do not “Believe” in God, or any god give a variety of reasons in support of their certain conviction. Those who “Believe” in God offer no verifiable proof in support in support of their conviction, their confidence comes from the certainty of unknowing. This unknowing gives strength to what really matters, to God anyway, their unwavering faith that God is real, that He loves them, and will save them because they have great faith.
Willful: 1 obstinately and often perversely self-willed 2 done deliberately : intentional
Ignorant: 1 a : destitute of knowledge or education; also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified b : resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence 2 : UNAWARE, UNINFORMED
Faith: willful ignorance (my definition)
I am sure you have heard the saying “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” but history proves otherwise. The people in the days of Noah did not know that a flood was coming until it came. The leaders of the Jews did not know that the Son of God was their anticipated Messiah because He did not fit their paradigm. And I say the people of faith (willfully ignorant) will not know their outcome until the judgment comes and removes all doubt. The evil one works in darkness because it gives him the best advantage to propagate his lies and deceptions.
Elohim uses mystery in a different way. Where the evil one uses mystery to facilitate and maintain ignorance and deception, Elohim uses mystery to foster learning through the knowledge of truth, leading to understanding and wisdom. It is not Elohim who wants to keep people in the dark; it is Their purpose to move people from darkness to light. The method which Elohim uses to accomplish this is a mystery, a mystery to those who refuse to allow Elohim to lead them through the path of understanding, but plain as day to those who KNOW their God.
And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And He answered and said to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has (knowledge in truth), to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, not do they understand. Matthew 13:10-13 (NASB)
Truth is the mortal enemy of faith, because truth eliminates the need for faith. Truth is the first step on the way to the kingdom of Elohim. As you learn the truth more truth is made available to you. The Holy Spirit gives understanding based in the truth you have learned. Truth purifies the mind and heart culminating in the consecration of both these spiritual connectors qualifying the individual for service, service for Elohim.
“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens” the Son of God said to His disciples. What the Son of God was telling them was that they had been given the opportunity to learn what they needed to know to understand the mystery of God, His secret intention.
But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some were doubtful (though some hesitated (JB)). Matthew 28:16 (NASB)
God has invited all who are willing to listen to His word (the truth) to learn from Him. The testimony of the Son of God is the syllabus for the student/disciple. John and Matthew, possibly Peter through Mark’s writing, are the same words of instruction given to the twelve disciples. The mystery of God will remain a secret to those who are satisfied with faith alone, but to those who answer the call to follow the Teacher of truth the path to understanding is possible.
Revelation presents one of the greatest mysteries of all time, what with beasts, angels, horns, seals, trumpets, and the woman dressed in scarlet. With all the death, destruction, and rivers of blood most have labeled this account as the final judgment of God, and indeed there is judgment, but this account is vital for the bridesmaids. Revelation chapter 19 describes a bride prepared to meet her bridegroom, those who have read my articles concerning the importance of preparing the bride so she is ready when her bridegroom arrives to take her to the wedding will appreciate this revelation in the book of the same name “Revelation”. The account in Revelation describes the time during which the bride of the Son of God is prepared. When she is fully prepared He comes in the “clouds of the heavens” to take her to His Father’s house; the bride is the multitude which no one can count (Revelation 7:9 and 15:2).
The enemy of Elohim is Satan. Elohim operates with clarity of truth; Satan operates through deception in lies. Those who willingly assent to lies must do so through faith, because one does not need truth to believe by faith. Truth is the narrow way to the kingdom of Elohim; lies are the wide way which leads to desolation and death.
With this understanding about the mystery of Elohim, let us consider the information contained in Revelation chapter 10.
1: Powerful angel, small scroll (unrolled) in hand. Put his left foot in the sea and right foot on the land.
2: Shouts with authority
3: At this seven claps of thunder respond
4: John heard the voice of the seven thunders, and was about to write it down, but was instructed not to write what he heard.
5: He was told to keep these words secret and not write them down.
6: The powerful angel then raises his right hand to the heavens and declares by oath the end of the delay (the time of waiting).
7: John is told to take the scroll in the angel’s hand and eat it, it would be sweet as honey in his mouth but would be sour in his stomach.
8: Prophecy again, this time about many different nations and countries and languages and emperors’.
9: In the days when the seventh angel is about to sound the secret intention of the Elohim would be accomplished.
Considered the obvious question, that if Elohim knows everything, what was, is, will be, and could be, why delay the schedule dates in a prophetic sequence? Elohim created time and the mechanics for its measurement, not because they needed to keep track of it, but because we do. The process of overturning the rebellion requires certain elements, and time is a very important one. Forgiveness is a key element of this process, but as described earlier, has a limit. The only way to set a time limit is to have a way to keep track of time. The limit of forgiveness is set, allowing for a judgment that will put an end to the violations. This limit is not a secret, but can only be known through observation. The established purpose for the people of Elohim is a condition of purity in holiness, consecrated in truth, not to test the limits of forgiveness. Elohim gives the information required to know the limit of forgiveness only after it has been breached. Elohim created a calendar for specifically for restoration.
Then the land will observe its Sabbaths indeed, lying desolate there, while you are in the land of your enemies. Then indeed the land will rest and observe its Sabbaths. And as it lies desolate it will rest, as it never did on your Sabbaths when you lived in it. Leviticus 26:34-35 (JB)
(Page 8 I explain the limit of forgiveness also)
What Elohim has made known, and can easily be understood through observation, is that the “Restoration Calendar” aka “Jubilee Calendar” primary use was to count the years to the time of restoration. On the grand scale it sets the time limit on the role of humanity in this restoration process, specifically seventy cycles of weeks of Sabbath years. The restoration plan Elohim uses requires Elohim to prepare a kingdom for service. The preparation of the people who will comprise this kingdom must be holy in fact, not in faith. This quality of holiness is accomplished through a process of purification/sanctification; this is where the limit of forgiveness operates. If the invited guests willingly participate in the purification process they will become pure, with no sin in them. The first group (first-fruits) are the priests, these people help the rest of the harvest/kingdom to accomplish purity. When Elohim has a kingdom of priests and family (born of the Holy Spirit) they are commissioned to accomplish the purification of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people (the rest of the peoples of the world), and then the end will come. The “Restoration Calendar” ended at twilight on the last day of winter 1994. It was on this date that the four angels were to release the four winds which harm the land, sea, and trees. Without any holy people on earth at that time this would have resulted in the extinction of all humankind. Elohim is righteous and just and will only execute the guilty. Guilt is willfully sinning. Elohim knew that the process of purification of the priests had begun, the “faithful and wise bond-servant” was at work feeding his fellow bond-servants their food, for it was the “proper time”. Thus the voice of the powerful angel (Revelation 7) commanded the four angels to continue to hold, and not release, the four winds until the priests (144,000) had completed the sanctification process are sealed. Elohim knew this all along, even when they made their restoration plan, but as described previously, they scheduled the release of the four winds at the end of the time for accomplishment.
Elohim revealed and explained all of this in a way that only those who had attained to a certain level of understanding would see it. Elohim was not trying hide anything, They designed the information so only the wise would see and understand it. The information itself has always been available to everyone, and anyone may understand it if they have come to truly know Elohim.
I listened but did not understand. Then I said, ‘My Lord what is to be the outcome?’ ‘Daniel,’ He said ‘go away: these words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the End. Many will be cleansed, made white and purged (Sanctified); the wicked will go on doing wrong; the wicked will never understand; the learned will understand. Daniel 12:8-10 (JB)
And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; but I say to you, that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him… Matthew 17:10-12 (NASB)
(Verse 6) …that there should be delay no longer. (verse 11) And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings”. Revelation 10:6,11 (NASB)
The above texts are only a selection of several which demonstrate the fact that Elohim knew from the start that they would be required to delay the final judgment; but this delay would not be long. I know this because the faithful and wise bond-servant and his fellow bond-servants were already in the process of sanctification when the powerful angel commanded the four angels to continue to hold the four winds. Revelation 10:11 implies that the delay makes it necessary to ‘prophesy again’ with new information. This new information is contained in the little scroll/book in the hand of the powerful angel. It is likely that the voice of the seven thunders may be the information concerning the delay, but this information was not to be recorded by John. The fact that the voice of the seven thunders had been heard by John, and that he had heard what they said, implies that this would be understood by those involved at the end of days.
This concludes this addendum. It is my hope that Elohim has guided me to this understanding to confirm the fact that they are actively working to accomplish the lawful requirements which will finally overthrow the rebellion. The earth will be cleansed/sanctified and a new heaven and new earth will be created.
But indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. Numbers 14:21 (NASB)
We live our life, we make our choices, we determine our destiny. May Elohim ever be our Guide, Teacher and Counselor.
Rick Sterling