Talk about the month of September has swept across Christian watch communities, with many pointing to celestial events, Jewish feast days and Middle East tensions as possible prophetic signs. For some, the coming weeks are charged with expectation about the rapture of the church and global shifts that could fulfill Bible prophecy.
On his Watchman River podcast, Tom Cote acknowledged the heightened focus on this month but urged balance. “Many are saying this is the month of the rapture,” Cote said. “Anyone who’s watched me for any length of time knows that I’m excited every single day. I’m no more excited today than I was yesterday and I will be no more excited tomorrow than I am today.”
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He pointed to the Jewish feast days as particularly noteworthy. “Am I excited about September 23rd, Rosh Hashanah? Yeah. And every day leading up to it and I’ll be excited after it if it doesn’t happen that day,” he said. Cote added, “If I ever put my hope in a date and that date passed, I’ve never done it. I won’t put my hope in a date. Only my hope in Jesus because his timing is so perfect.”
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Key events this month
Cote listed multiple September markers drawing attention in prophecy circles. Among them are a blood moon eclipse on Sept. 7, a partial solar eclipse on Sept. 21 and the fall equinox on Sept. 22. He also noted that the 80th United Nations General Assembly opens this month and may push Israel toward a two-state solution.
“I’m keeping a close eye in these last days on the Middle East,” he said. “It looks like it’s getting ready. It could boil over at any time. Once again, you know, Israel did quite a few attacks over the weekend.”
To frame the speculation, Cote asked listeners to weigh in using a food analogy: “Is September a big juicy burger in regards to eschatology and perhaps the rapture of the church or the starting of the seven-year tribulation… or is September a nothing burger?”
Call for discernment
While many point to September as a month of prophetic significance, Cote reminded his audience to anchor their hope in Christ. He expressed support for watching and waiting but resisted speculation tied to dates. “I won’t squash anyone’s excitement over them watching and looking and waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of Jesus Christ our savior,” he said.
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As believers look at the signs of the times, discernment is essential. Scripture warns against setting dates for the return of Christ, affirming that no one knows the day or the hour. The call remains to stay watchful, prayerful and ready, fixing hope on the Lord’s timing rather than the calendar.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
