Will Christ Return By 1988? 100 Reasons Why

Colin Deal (1979)

The idea behind books like this—and there were others—was that a generation = 40 years => modern Israel became a nation in 1948, therefore => 1988 = end of the world.

So, Will Christ Return By 1988?

I think it may not be too early to answer: Probably not.

Especially since we're twenty years past 1988, living in a year that, fundamentalistically speaking, was never supposed to happen. Or, in other words: BZZZT.

(Troo fakt: Unlike the websites of other religious authors, Colin Deal's website doesn't pimp his infamous prophecy books. In fact, it doesn't even mention them. At least, not that I could tell—I, like many humans, have a hard time with red text on a blue background).

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Colin has the gift of being a modern-day prophet. — Rev. Randy Gibson (v)

[#20] According to Genesis 6:4, these giants were a result of the union (marriage) of the sons of God (fallen angels) and the daughters of men. This unholy union occurred both before and after the flood of Noah's day. Since Jesus stated that the same events which occurred in Noah's day would reoccur in the days just prior to his coming (Luke 17:26), will giants roam the earth again? Let's see! Sightings of a creature have been reported in numerous areas in the Sierras and the Cascades. Known as Bigfoot. North of these mountains, in Canada, the creature is called Sasquatch. The name for them in the Himalayas is Yeti or the Abominable Snowman. In the Florida Everglades, the creature is named Skunkman and in Malaysia it is Omah. These creatures. are tall, weighing 500 or 600 pounds each, giants by any standard. [...]
The fact that the giants were partly of supernatural origin made it easy for the ancient paganistic world to regard thein as gods. [...]
Were these evil spirits the driving force for Maharish Mahesh Yogi, the leader of the Satanic Transcendental Meditation movement which swept our nation? This man admittedly received his spiritual calling to "rechannel the course of humanity," while living as a hermit in the Himalayan Mountains, the home of the Abominable Snowman. (33-4)

[#22] Thirty years is the Jewish age of maturity. The Jew could not hold an ecclesiastical or political office until he reached the age of thirty. Members of the the Sanhedrin (Jewish Supreme Court) were thirty years of age before being eligible to serve. Jesus was thirty when he began his ministry.
In 1918, the Jews received and verified the Balfour dec1aration. This declaration, signed by Israel and Great Britain, permitted the Jews the right to return to the land of Palestine. Thirty years after this declaration was verified by the Jews, Israel became a sovereign nation in 1948.
Why? Israel became mature enough to fulfill God's plan. God's timing is perfect! (37-8)

[#26] During the Six-Day War of June 1967, Israel captured all of the Sinai region, and within this are five principle cities. Hebrew, the official language of the land of Canaan today, is now being taught in schools in these cities.
According to Isaiah 19:18, one of the cities would be called "The City of Destruction." The city of E1 Arish in the Sinai on the Mediterranean Sea is still under Israeli occupation, and its name literally means "The City of Destruction." (41)

[Actually, arish is Arabic for hut or booth.]

[#27] THE PRICE IS RIGHT (42)

[#77] Why was "Star Wars" the all-time, top-grossing picture in box-office history? The film is simply the prelude of a soon-coming war to be fought in the heavens. Revelation 12:7 — "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon (Satan); and the dragon fought and his angels (fallen angels)." (128)

[#79] Even though this comet is named in honor of Edmund Halley, it has a remarkable similarity to the Greek word "Heli" meaning "My God" or "High . Priest of Israel." (135)

[#82] Why is the bulk of the world's oil located in the Middle East? The Bible can supply that information. Moses tells us that the Garden of Eden was once the plant and animal capitol of the world. (140)

[#83] LET'S MAKE A DEAL (142)

[#94, footnote] NOTE: The suggested cover date of this book depends solely on our present-day Gregorian calendar's relation to the ancient Hebrew calendar and the length of a Jewish generation, about both of which learned scholars differ. However, allowing for a small recognized calendar error, and figuring a 7-year pre-tribulation rapture, I do strongly feel that Christ will return bodily to the earth or in the air for the church by 1988. (158)

[#96] The Jewish nation of Israel was set up in Palestine on May 14, 1948, and the fig tree taken as their national symbol just as prophesied. Therefore, the generation (or time span) started in 1948. But how long is a Jewish generation, and when will it mature?
According to Jewish genealogy (Matthew 1: 17), the Bible (Psalms 95:10), and the Dead Sea Scrolls (under Reiigious Belief and Practices) a generation is 40 years. Christ also confirmed this in Matthew 23 and 24 when he predicted the overthrow of Jerusalem in that present generation — Matthew 23:36. From the time Christ spoke this (approximately 30 A.D.) until the overthrow of Jerusalem (70 A.D.), about 40 years expired. Now to conclude, Luke 21:32 — Vetily I say unto you, this generation (Israel's rebirth 1948 to around 1988) shall not pass away, till all (all of Luke 21) be fulfilled."
Need I say more; we are that generation! (162-3)

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

In lieu of a prayer, we close with a line from Deal's website:

"Jesus will be returning soon are you going to be ready?"

[How long is soon this time? / Hrm. No date this time.]