God watches over His Word to perform it. (Isaiah 55:11)
And He is absolutely precise and exacting as He causes biblical prophecy to come to pass. Prophecy will be fulfilled at the precise time He has determined and nothing in this universe can stop it. Many, if not most, prophecies have a mathematical component built in by God Himself. His exacting math is readily apparent as we read beginning with the six days of creation in Genesis, His direction for solar and lunar calendar timekeeping, the significance of the Jewish feasts, the countdown to Messiah and Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel chapter 9), Sabbath rests for the land of Israel (both 1st and second exiles), the duration of the Great Tribulation, the 1000 year kingdom reign, etc, etc.
As an example, we only need to consider developments leading up to Jesus’s sacrifice. All the characters and situations necessary for that to happen at the exact time were meticulously engineered by God Himself. It’s no accident that characters such as Caesar Augustus, the Magi, John the Baptist, the disciples, Judas, Herod, Annas and Caiaphas, Pontius Pilot, Joseph of Arimathea, etc, were on hand doing their thing so that God’s plan would be carried out in every detail. All so that Jesus the sacrificial Lamb would be put to death at precisely the right moment, fulfilling the Passover feast at the precise time. I’m not saying these characters did not have a free will in their situation, just that God knew how they would respond, and manipulated them to accomplish His will. We can see similar acts by God thru ought the entire bible where God has a predetermined outcome predicted through His prophets.
Jesus’s second coming will be just as precise regarding timing and other prophetic fulfillment. If you are watching as Jesus commanded us to do (Mark 13:37), it’s not too hard to observe God in the process of moving men and nations into place on His chessboard. Things are rapidly developing as we approach Daniel’s 70th week, as well as all the detailed events that are contained in the related prophecies. Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus told His disciples; “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” (Acts 1:7). The word “put” here means “fixed“. God has a precise time set in stone when His Son will return and set up His kingdom. The Father will see to it that everything that needs to happen will happen so that His prophecies will be fulfilled to the letter, at the exact time. And it shouldn’t surprise us. Jesus said, “But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.” (Mark 13:23)
He watches over His Word to perform it. Keep your eye on what He’s doing.
Maranatha, Jim