Yes, the shmitta has come and gone, and many have been misled to have placed too much stock in that as being a sign. No doubt that God is drawing attention to the times and the events which are associated with them. These things must come to pass, and there are more wars and desolations to come. Yet, because Jesus has told us, we are to be watchful and prayerful that we will stand through the battles of our faith by doing His will, and having done all, to stand! Building our house on the Rock, we will be unmoveable, if bent and shaken. This is a matter of living faith in His Word and in His name. God help us!
The only certain ‘sign’ that we will be able to run with is the one that the Holy Spirit gave Paul to write in his second letter to the Thessalonian believers. And I believe this was a clarification of what he had already written to them in his first letter, which was being misunderstood.
2 Thes 2:2-4 “that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.…”
And since Daniel is giving us the initial background prophecies by the Spirit of God for the days we are now living in, he has also looked ahead to that event:
Dan 11:36 “”The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.”
Things are again heating up here in Jerusalem and on the southern and northern borders of Israel. To be honest, if it weren’t for knowing the Lord, I can understand how many can be overcome by fear. On this Day of Atonements, though, the Jewish people are in great need of repentance: we still trust in our own abilities and power, and not in the sacrifice for sin which Jesus had accomplished for His chosen people and nation. Therefore, there is no peace and security, despite all that this small country has been able to achieve and accomplish against the odds. Surely if YHVH were not for them, they would be as Sodom and Gomorrah. Praise the Lord for His covenant faithfulness and mercies! O that God would breakthrough and put His holy fear into Jews and non-Jews, and into believers and unbelievers, for His glory!