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Why do many end-time *watchers*, including me, believe that we're near the time of the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture of the saints to meet the Lord in the air (the end of the "times of the Gentiles")? Simple. The math!
Psalm 90:10 declares that a generation is between 70-80 years. Israel, the "fig tree", became an independent state (nation) on May 14, 1948, and even she knows she is the biblical "fig tree" (based on OT scriptures).
The math: 1948+80 years (the max for a generation) = 2028-7 years (tribulation period) = 2021 <=== THIS is why we believe that we have arrived at the time of our redemption ...
"The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." {Psalm 90:10 KJV - a "score" is twenty years: so "threescore" being 3x20 = 60 years + ten = 70 years; "fourscore" being 4x20 = 80 years}
Jesus' three biblical witnesses of His prophecy of the "fig tree" ...
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." {Matthew 24:32-34 KJV}
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, [even] at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done." {Mark 13:28-30 KJV}
"And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." {Luke 21:29-32 KJV}
We are that final generation. Jesus' words about Israel, still true ...
"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." {Luke 21:24 KJV}
Paul's words, read the whole chapter {"the fall of them" being Israel} ...
"Now if the fall of them [be] the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? ... For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." {Romans 11:12, 25 KJV}
What is the "fulness of the Gentiles", elsewhere called the "times of the Gentiles"? It's these past 1991 +/- years, since the death of the Testator (Jesus, who died April 6, 30AD & resurrected April 9, 30AD) until now (2021), which also includes Israel's becoming a sovereign nation 73 years ago (2021-1948), which is exactly 7 years (tribulation period) shy of a full 80 years!
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." {Hebrews 9:14-17 KJV}
Jesus explains these "times of the Gentiles" as a Nobleman (Himself) being in a far country (the world) to receive a kingdom (bride). In other words, from the time of His death/resurrection until now, He's been out in the field (the world) gathering a kingdom (elsewhere called a bride) for Himself and he will come home at a full moon ...
"He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return." {Luke 19:12 KJV}
More on that timing in an upcoming article - hint: when is the New Moon?
And yes, IF the years 2021-2022 pass and we're still here then we've figured a generation wrong using the wrong scripture. I will continue to watch all the same. The signs are all around us, it can't be much longer in terms of years. Keep looking up, keep watching!
A BLB search link about the "fig tree", you can do your own research on this being Israel ...
https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=%22fig+tree%22&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1
