Well folks, the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah is almost upon us. This holiday occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. It is also viewed as a potential rapture date by many Christians.

One reason Rosh Hashanah has a connection to the pre-tribulation rapture is because the holiday is the Feast of Trumpets; a linkage is made with rapture trump spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. Another reason is the fact that Jesus fulfilled a major prophecy on all other Jewish holidays, and Rosh Hashanah is viewed to be next in line.

Nearly every time a new date is set that points to Rosh Hashanah, a special number is used to link the holiday to major events is Israel's history. This time around, the 14,000 days was selected. Here is an explanation of one justification cited for using this number.

"After the Israelites passed thru the Red Sea, God commanded Moses to number the men of the congregation who were 20 years of age and older. The numbering of the men 20 and over established who was of fighting age and the generation that was accountable to God. Once the men were numbered, the wilderness journey began. In Numbers 10:11, we read the numbered accountable generation of Israelites left Sinai on the 20th day of the 2nd month of the 2nd year - (Calendar Year = 360 days of 12 months).  We add 30 plus 20 plus 360 = 410 days. When the last man of the cursed generation died, God commanded that the congregation cross into the Promised Land.  In Joshua 4:19, the Israelites entered the Promised Land on the 10th day of the 1st month of the 41st year (for 41st year see Dt. 1:3.) Calendar Year 360 x 40 = 14400 + 10 = 14410. When we subtract the 410 days from the 14410 days, we get exactly 14000 days for the numbered accountable, cursed generation! The Israelites were commanded by God to enter the Promised Land the very day the last man of the cursed, numbered generation died. Exactly 14000 days from when the numbered generation set out into the wilderness!" (http://www.rapture2005.com)

The folks promoting the 14,000 theory cite two prior examples as proof that God is mindful of this number. The Israelites wandered in the desert exactly 14,000 days after receiving the Law and before entering the Promised Land.  There were exactly 14,000 days from the day Jesus entered Jerusalem until Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.

With all the preconditions in place, it then become plausible to predict the time frame for the rapture. The date comes from the day Jerusalem was recaptured in June 7, 1967 to Rosh Hashanah, October 3-4, 2005 - exactly 14,000 days.

Not all major date setters are behind this rapture date. Marilyn Agee, who has been called “The Queen of Date Setters,” does not support this 14,000-day theory. Here is what she had to say a few months ago:

"I read '14,000-Day Generation and Rosh Hashanah 2005' by Stuart Cobbs. I disagree with some of his figures. To me, he is mixing apples and oranges. In figuring the 14000-day generation from the Exodus to the entry into the Promised Land, he uses the 360-day year. In figuring the time from the Six-Day War in 1967 to his proposed Rapture on the upcoming Feast of Trumpets, he uses the actual number of days, not going by the 360-day year. Are they equal? I don't think so."

(Agee had already committed herself to looking for the rapture to occur in the middle part of last month.  Some news event in Israel on July 6, 2005 caused her to set her forecast 40 days out to Monday, August 15, 2005). 

I strongly doubt the rapture will ever occur on Rosh Hashanah. Jesus repeatedly described the date of the rapture as being a surprise. The popularity of the holiday invalidates it as a possibility.

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Mat. 24:44).

The reason I called this article “My Judgment Day” is that several of these date setters strongly condemned me for failing to cover the date. Terry and I have been assured that we will be severely punished by God for not sharing this vital information with the public.    

Because I couldn't find anything beneficial to say about the October 3-4 rapture prediction, I decided to let this date pass like all the rest. But in the past couple of weeks, I have noticed something worth commenting on about this group of people. They tend to be the opposite of what could be called productive Christians. They are internally focused and want everyone to know how clever they are for figuring out the mysteries of the end times.

If it were possible to know the rapture date, I wouldn't be wasting my time trying to figure out the schedule of all the tribulation events. My goal would be to save as many people as possible before time runs out.

These people are not necessarily slothful. Many of them have very extensive websites that required hundreds of hours to compile. It is rather sad to see all this effort serving no real purpose.  

I do believe we are getting very close to the end of the age, but I also believe that preparation for the Lord's return never should take a back seat to being a good watchman. If you're not active in leading the lost to Christ, prophecy is of no importance.