The foundation for the Signs of the End Project were the events surrounding Israel that were timed at 2,520 years from  the events of the Babylonian Captivity. The recent events of concern are the establishment of the settlement at Petah Tikva in 1878, the founding of Zionism in 1897, the start of World War I in 1914, the establishment of Nazi Law against the Jewish People in 1933, the re-establishment of Israel in 1948, and the gaining of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in 1967. These can all be traced back 2,520 years to events of the Babylonian Period. The ultimate question is: Can we project a time period from these events until the return of Christ?
 
Most past attempts by others in figuring out the possible time of Christ’s return have usually focused on one of these dates, which has primarily been on the re-establishment of Israel in 1948. However, Signs of the End tried to use a number of these dates from 1897 to 1967. However, the date of 1878 was never used, since its discovery came later in the research process. With the failure of the proposed time of 2010 to 2017 as the timeframe of the 70th Week of Daniel, could the inclusion of 1878 with all of the dates provide a better matrix with which to understand the end time? In other words, can this date of 1878 assist in a better determination?
 
Of course, most of the past attempts have focused on the time period of a generation since a generation must exist that sees all of the signs given by Christ until the moment he physically returns and sets up the Kingdom. It is still believed here that World War I stands as the opening sign as this was the first time the world had a global war, just as Jesus said there would be “wars and rumors of war”, but that the end of the age began when it accelerated to “nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom”.  The fact that World War I began on the 9th of Av 1914 seems to further highlight its importance. With the first mention and longest period of a generation of the Bible at 100 years (the story of Abraham and also the 400 years in Genesis 15:13-16) it now becomes hard pressed to fit that duration in to point to the time of Christ’s return. Even with picking the end World War I in 1918, 100 years later comes to 2018 and therefore insufficient time remaining for seven prior years necessitated by the 70th Week. So are there any options left? It would seem that Jesus’ words of a generation not passing away must then be defined not as a time period, but a period in which there will be people who were alive from the beginning until the end. And indeed, this is all that he says.
 
While reading the accounts of the Patriarchs in Genesis, there were some interesting parallels noted with regards to people’s age and prominent events. While this is not conclusive, it does seem strange that certain times and ages given in Genesis seem to fit with the matrix of significant events that started in 1878 until the possible time of the end. Prior to this, certain timelines gleaned from Genesis were used in Signs of the End that had focused on the year 2017 as being the conclusion of the 70th Week. From the founding of Zionism in 1897 it was noted that 120 years later was 2017. One hundred twenty years first appeared in God’s warning to Noah, then it appeared as the age of Moses, and then it appeared as the length of unified Israel under three kings. But most importantly, 120 years was the period of grace before judgment began. Is it possible that 1897 until 2017 still fits this period of delay?
 
As has been noted, if World War I was the sign of the end of the age,  from the height of the war and Jerusalem being surrendered by the Turks in 1917, that it would also be 100 years until 2017. As has just been seen, 100 years can be taken as the first number given for a generation, since Abraham was told his family would serve Egypt for four generations, which would be 400 years.  But it also seems quite interesting that Noah’s children enter the Ark at 100 years of age when the judgment begins. This is very interesting in light of Judah Ben Samuel’s prophecy that the Turks would control Jerusalem for 8 jubilees (1517-1917, 400 years) and that in two more Jubilees the Messiah would come (2017). Judah Ben Samuel died in 1217 making his death 800 years before 2017. It must also be remembered that Isaac was born to Abraham when Abraham was 100 years old to further establish the importance of 100 years. The use of 100 years seems to be an appropriate number from 1917 since other biblical numbers of a generation, which are less, cannot be applied in this instance.
 
If we are to apply these numbers of 120 and 100 years from any of the significant dates concerning the Jews while still keeping World War I within a lifespan, it would seem that 1897 and 1917 are the only dates in which to possibly apply these numbers. This would mean that 2017 is a possible year of concern. But how are these numbers to be applied? If we use these numbers of 120 and 100 as found in the Flood story, it would seem more accurate that they point to the start of Judgment, just like the Flood.
 
So far these timelines have only concerned 1897 and 1917, but what about the target date of 1914 that began World War I?
 
The Germans and Russia declared war on each other on August 1, 1914 starting the plurality of nations and thus world war. Austria-Hungary had declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. August 1, 1914 was the 9th of Av. The 9th of Av is the day the 12 spies and the 40 day mission of the Exodus ended in doubt and thus discipline for Israel as 40 years in the wilderness. On this day numerous calamities have followed, such as both temples being destroyed by first the Babylonians and then the Romans. So it seems fitting that world war would have commenced on such a day, but most importantly, that it is significant.
 
However, on this day there were two spies who did not cower and their names were Joshua and Caleb. Both were the only ones of their generation who were permitted to enter the Land after the 40 years. Joshua took over for Moses and escorted Israel and the bones of Joseph into Israel. Joshua and Joseph both lived to be 110 years of age. Is it merely coincidence that 110 years from 1914 would end in 2024, seven years after 2017? The last surviving combat veteran of World War I also died last year (Royal Navy, Claude Choules, died May 2011) at the age of 110, as well as the last veteran (Royal Air Force, Florence Green, died February 2012) who also died at 110. Of course, with Joshua being the name of Jesus, does Joshua’s age span the gap from the first sign of the end of the age that Jesus (Joshua) gave to indicate the time of his glorious return to save Israel? Maybe. In both life stories, Joseph and Joshua represent the Messiah. Joseph is the picture of the suffering Messiah and Joshua is the picture of the Messiah delivering Israel into the Promised Land.
 
The Book of Genesis should be translated as the Book of Generations. It of course gives the history of those generations that end with Joseph in a coffin in Egypt. Is it any wonder that Exodus comes next with the deliverance of Israel through the water to new life on the same Hebrew calendar day Jesus would rise from the tomb? But as we consider the generations of Israel according to the Book of Generations, there are four men of concern–Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. So far Joseph’s age of 110 along with Joshua’s same age might be the time frame that marks the “end of the age” period.  But do any of the other life spans of significance fit within these bounds?
 
Of course, the key question was what to do with 1878. With that date being already 134 years past, it is pretty much forgotten, but it is the first date of the return matrix. While seeing the significance of the Patriarchal stories and their tie into God’s plan, it cannot be helped  but noticed that Isaac’s age and Abraham’s age are very clear when Isaac marries Rebekah. Abraham is 140 years of age and Isaac is 40. Is it possible that 140 years marks the beginning of Israel at Petah Tikva until the time Isaac (the Son) meets Rebekah (the Bride)? 1878 plus 140 years would make the 140th year span from 2017 to 2018.  So 140 years would then fit alongside the other years of 100 and 120 ending at 2017, but 140 would also fit the theme of the Son meeting the Bride at the Rapture.
 
What is interesting in all of this, is that only some of the ages of Genesis are given, such as Sarah, who is another important figure in the narrative who represents Israel. Here we will find out that Sarah died at 127 years of age. Sarah represents Israel, who is the woman who brings the Son (Isaac/Messiah). 127 years would fit the time from the start of Zionism in 1897 until 2024.
 
On a similar note, Jacob, who also represents Israel and especially the Israel that will be delivered through the Tribulation, his age of 147 years would also work with the dates in view. From Israel’s start of re-gathering in 1878, it would place the 147th year as being 2024-2025.  The life span of Jacob, who became known as Israel, would then be a parallel of the people of Modern Israel and their gathering span until the Second Coming. Both individuals (Sarah and Jacob), who each represent Israel, then have their life spans possibly pointing to the year 2024 and the completion of the promise.
 
Therefore, from the first settlement in Israel at Petah Tikva (“gate of hope”) in 1878, there are 140 years (Isaac’s Bride) and 147 years (Jacob’s life) to the bookends of the 70th Week, if this theory is correct. Then from the founding of Zionism in 1897, it would also be 120 years (judgment warning) and 127 years (Sarah’s life) to the same proposed bookends of 2017 and 2024. Then the next date on the horizon was 1914 and the start of World War I, which would then be 110 years (Joseph and Joshua’s life) until 2024. The next time to consider is 1933, but that date must be considered separately in another article. After 1933 is 1948, which was 70 years after the first settlement. With 70 more years after 1948, it will lead to the same time as the 140th year of 2017-2018. The final date of the matrix is 1967 (70 years from 1897) and many things have been noted here previously about that date. It would seem that 1967 marks the middle of the 100 years from the height of World War I in 1917 until those worthy through the blood of Christ are spared the onset of the 70th Week.
 
It must be remembered that this is simply a theory based out of analogies from Genesis. Until it happens, the theory should be viewed as possible hints to the time.
 
Now there may be some who might doubt the validity of using the ages of the Patriarchs. While the life spans of Abraham and Isaac were not used, all of the other given spans were. There are no ages given for Rebekah, Leah or Rachel. There are also no ages given for Ishmael, Esau or the other sons of Jacob besides Joseph. For Sarah, it seems almost out of place to have her age listed. Maybe this is the reason it is. On another note, it seems fitting that Rebekah (the Bride) after warning Jacob to flee, is not seen or mentioned again until the death of Jacob–think Revelation 19. That might be a whole other article. However, it must also be remembered that the spans that are used fit the themes associated with that person or event. But is this scenario the missing key to bridging the timeline gap? It would seem so, but we must certainly have optimistic caution.
 
The selection here of 2017 to 2024 is based on previous articles on this web site and this analysis utilizes solar years. However, if we were to convert to 360-day years, then one year is lost per 70 years. For example, 140 360-day years would convert to 138 solar years, which would end that time span in 2015. Shifting the 70th Week to 2015-2022 could be a possibility, but those years do not line up with other discoveries posted here. Be that as it may, the window of time is shrinking and for those of us watching, the day and hour, will soon become more clear.