Countdown to Rapture

 In 2020, a friend and I went to a prophecy conference and heard a pastor talk about how he was convinced that the Abraham Accords signed in September of 2020 was the covenant mentioned in Daniel. When the covenant mentioned in Daniel is confirmed, it starts what the Bible calls the 70th week of Daniel, otherwise known as the 7 Year Tribulation.

I remember hearing that and having a mini heart attack. Now, I know and my friend knows that no one knows the day or the hour, so we took this information with a grain of salt. But it was like a warning blast of a shofar to keep oil in our lamps and be on watch. 

As a private joke, we downloaded a countdown APP on our phones that tracked the proposed Rapture date like a hopeful coming event - like a wedding or graduation that you are anticipating. And over the last 5 years, we have texted each other screenshots when life gets hard or current events start reading like Matthew 24.

Now, I'm not upset with this pastor and won't even be mean and call him a false prophet. Like the apostles in the Bible, he thought the Second Coming of Jesus was imminent. He was convinced the Abraham Accords were the start of the countdown. 

When you have the calling of being a Watchman on the Wall, you are constantly on the lookout and prepared to give a warning. Other people's lives depend on it. In Ezekiel 3 and 33, God commissions Ezekiel as a Watchman for Israel. God warns Ezekiel telling him if he sees danger approaching and doesn't warn the people, he will be accountable for their deaths. If he warns, and people don't listen, then he will not be held accountable.  

So, this pastor's message was like a warning blast from the wall. It was a false alarm, but an alarm, nevertheless. It cemented in my mind, the need to be on high alert prophetically when "peace deals" are made that concern Israel. That's what a good watchman does, he scans the horizon for warning signs, Those who are called to be watchman should observe current events through the lens of scripture.

So, as my countdown APP is still moving towards this hypothetical date of 10/2/2026 - 9 am of course because who wants to be Raptured in their PJs - I decided this morning that my main goal for 2026 is to live my life like this countdown to the Rapture is not hypothetical but real. 

What if every morning I wake up knowing that the day or hour to seeing Jesus is getting closer?

How would I live my life?

If you knew you were going to see Jesus face to face on October 2, 2026, how would you prepare for that meeting now? 

I would:

1. Cut out all things in my life that will embarrass me or shame me when I meet Jesus: Bad habits, unforgiveness, fear, laziness, etc.

2. Get healthy - take care of my tent so that I can run the last leg of the race with endurance and win that prize.

3. Take my calling of a Watchman seriously. Warn everyone that Jesus is coming back soon. Be on guard for attack of the enemy. Be trained in Spiritual Warfare. 

4. Reactivate my personal prayer language that has been neglected too long and pray in the Spirit again. This will strengthen my faith, empower my spirit and give me spiritual discernment and wisdom.

5. Blow may shofar again as a spiritual weapon of war. 

6. Encourage and teach people to pray scripture.

7. Be a shepherdess for Jesus. Watch out for His sheep. Rescue the lost. Go after those who are wandering away. Bind the wounds of the broken. Do not let any of His sheep wander alone and be easy pickings for the enemy.

I was kind of dreading 2026 but after remembering my Countdown APP, I am kind of excited to walk into it with a whole new purpose. The Bible says to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:15-16), making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. We all can sense that 2026 is going to be a turbulent year, with elections and Israel becoming the stumbling block to the world mentioned in Isaish 8:14-15.  Now is not the time to retreat but to engage in the spiritual battle before us. 

So, when 10/3/2026 comes and I am still here, don't worry about me. I am not going to be disappointed or go crazy; I am using this as fuel to train - spiritually, mentally, and physically. Kind of like when I started to jog for a 5-K. I would tell myself, you just have to run to that bench or fence, then you can walk. Take it one step at a time. If that day comes, I will set another countdown and keep training.

Since the Bible tells us, don't cling to the things of this earth, let's start 2026 storing for ourselves treasures in Heaven. Live each day like you have a Countdown to meet Jesus face to face. 

Ask yourself, if this is the year I meet Jesus either by Rapture or death, how do I want to be remembered? What jewels in my crown do I want to earn in the next 12 months? 

Live this way in 2026 and it will be the best year ever.

God bless and happy New Year.

Love,

Yolanda