Rabbi claims rains in Israel mean Messiah’s coming imminent: But what about the Bible?

Kaballistic Tree of Life

Is the return of Jesus return imminent? Notice the following claims:

Major Kabbalist Says Unusual Rains Sign Messiah is Imminent

May 7, 2018

“O children of Tzion, be glad, Rejoice in Hashem your God. For He has given you the early rain in [His] kindness, Now He makes the rain fall [as] formerly— The early rain and the late— ” Joel 2:23 (The Israel Bible™)

Several esoteric sources connect rain with the Messiah, leading one prominent Kabbalist (mystic) in Israel to state that the recent downpours are a sure sign that the Messiah’s coming is imminent. …

The rain is currently on its way south and rains are expected in the center of Israel, much to the chagrin of Israelis who are used to basking in uninterrupted Mediterranean sun for most of the year.

But the unseasonable rains also bear a message most people are unaware of. At a recent gathering, Rabbi Dov Kook, a prominent Kabbalist (mystic) living in Tiberias who is a descendant of Israel’s first chief Rabbi, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook, made a startling announcement at a recent gathering of his followers. Rabbi Kook announced that he had a vision of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a Jewish sage from the second century known by the acronym Rashbi and who, according to tradition, wrote the Zohar, the basis of Kabbala. In the vision, the Rashbi told Rabbi Kook that the current unseasonable rains are a sure sign that the Messiah’s arrival is imminent. …

To further illustrate the connection between rain and the Messiah, Rabbi Fish cited an enigmatic section of the Talmud (Tractate Chulin 63a) which describes an undefined bird, alternatively identified as a sea crow or vulture named a Shrakrak (whistler). The Talmud states that when the Shrakrak sits on something and cries out its eponymous call, mercy comes to the world in the form of rain. But should this bird sit upon the ground and make its call, then the Messiah is about to come.

“There are many ways to understand this section of the Talmud, literally and figuratively” Rabbi Fish said. “But what is clear is that rain is an aspect of God’s mercy and as such, necessarily precedes the Moshiach (Messiah).” https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/107234/major-kabbalist-unseasonable-rain-in-israel-is-sign-of-messiahs-imminent-arrival/

No, the recent rains in Israel are NOT signs that the coming of the Messiah is imminent.

It does not matter how many rabbis quote aspects of Jewish tradition.

Nor should Christians heed faulty Protestant traditions that tie the 1948 founding of the State of Israel with the return of Jesus within a generation (watch also the video Israel, 1948, and Prophecy).

Christians should heed the word of God.

In the Bible, Jesus said He returns AFTER the tribulation:

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31)

Jesus cannot return until 3/12 years after the start of the period known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). And according to other words of Jesus, that cannot start until something prophesied in Daniel occurs (read Matthew 24:15).

And in the Book of Daniel we learn that the start of the Great Tribulation does not start until 3 1/2 years AFTER a deal in Daniel 9:27 has been confirmed by a prince for seven years (see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

As far as Kaballist teachings go, they tend to incorporate not only faulty Jewish traditions, but also astrology and other teachings that the Bible warns against (see The Bible and Astrology).

That being said, Satan does have a plan and throughout the centuries he has had false prophets make predictions that have some accuracy. In the time of the end, many will be confused by false prophecies and other doctrines of demons.

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).

Nearly everyone will be deceived in the end times. Though not just by the Kaballists.

There will be lying wonders as well:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Many will be deceived.

At this time, dates associated with Jesus’ return should be considered as speculation.

But, what is NOT speculation is for me to declare that, according to what Jesus taught in Matthew 24 as well as passages in the Book of Daniel, Jesus is NOT going to return within the next seven years.

As far as prophetic teachings go, we in the Continuing Church of God “have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).”

Why?

Because we really do rely on what the Bible teaches.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2026 or 20xx? There is also a video titled 6000 Years: When will God’s Kingdom Come? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2018, 2019, or 2020? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2018 o 2019? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation begin in 2018?
The Times of the Gentiles Has there been more than one time of the Gentiles? Are we in it now or in the time of Anglo-America? What will the final time of the Gentiles be like? A related sermon is available and is titled: The Times of the Gentiles.
The Bible and Astrology Should Christians avoid participating in astrology or did God inspire it? Does the Bible encourage astrology? What does the Bible actually teach? What is astrology? How does astrology differ from astronomy? Should Christians Be Involved In Astrology?
OMENS? DIVINATION? HOROSCOPES? THE ORIGIN OF ASTROLOGY Where did astrology come from? Should you read your horoscope?
Does Astrology Work? Many believe and follow astrology–but does it work? Here is a link to the article in Mandarin Chinese: S`fg/QÆxnTÿ .
Close Encounters of a ‘Spirit’ Kind discusses some experiences I believe were (demon) ‘spirit’ related. A video is also available titled: Poltergeists and Lying Wonders.
Evangelical support for Donald Trump’s Jerusalem policy BBC asked, “Why do US evangelicals support Trump’s Jerusalem policy?” BBC provided quotes from some believing it has to do with the ‘last days’ while others saying that is not the reason. Hal Lindsey’s book, ‘The Late Great Planet Earth’ is one of the sources pointed to. In this video, Dr. Thiel addresses scriptures related to Jerusalem as well as prophetic ones. He goes over the common ‘fig tree’ interpretation, belief about a ‘Third Temple,’ and statements about animal sacrifices. He explains biblical statements on those subjects as well as the views of certain modern Jewish organizations. This is a video.
Jerusalem, Donald Trump, and Prophecy On December 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump fulfilled a campaign promise related to the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. This brought anger, protests, and rockets from some Palestinians. It also brought condemnation from European allies–it has been claimed to be disruptive and even catastrophic. The Palestinian President (Mahmoud Abbas) said that this pronouncement eliminated the USA as being a fair mediator for a peace deal. Others have claimed that Donald Trump is an end time Cyrus and his pronouncement will lead to a Third Temple in Jerusalem. Is there ever going to be a peace deal? If so, will Europeans be part of it? Is Donald Trump a ‘Cyrus.’ Do the Jews require a Third Temple for sacrifices? Dr. Thiel answer those questions and more in this video.
Israel, 1948, and Prophecy Was the formation in 1948 of the nation of Israel prophetically significant? Was this event what Jesus referred to in His “parable of the fig tree”? Are most Israelites in the modern nation of Israel? Are most Jews in that nation? If the prophecies Jeremiah 23:3-6 and Ezekiel 34:13-30 do not point to 1948, when will those prophecies be fulfilled? Are there prophecies that will be fulfilled related to the nation of Israel? What was the first sign that Jesus said would be seen by a particular ‘generation’? When might that have happened? What are the signs that Jesus’ fig tree parable point to?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Does the Church flee or is it taken up just prior to the great tribulation? Who really is left behind? There is also a YouTube video with information Did Jesus Teach a Pre-tribulation Rapture?
Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God How has God used dreams in the past? Does God still use dreams? Did He use any involving those in the Continuing Church of God? A related sermon is also available: Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful among all real Christian groups to the word of God.