Should Christians try to delay or hasten the arrival of the end times?

Response

The day of Jesus’ return and reign on earth has been a topic of great interest to His followers since before He ascended into heaven «When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? », (Acts 1:6). Christians desire Jesus to come, but we hold different perspectives on our roles in His coming. Postmillennialists believe Jesus will not return until His followers establish Christianity as the predominant religion in a peaceful world. Some premillennial dispensationalists are hesitant to adopt new technology that could potentially pave the way for the Antichrist, as if using it would be cooperating with the enemy.

The reality is, we do not possess that level of power. We cannot transform the world into a righteous place; humanity is too sinful. Embracing new technology will not accelerate God’s revelation of the Antichrist. The timing of the end times has already been determined by God the Father; it is beyond our control. Our focus should be on fulfilling the tasks Jesus assigned to us in the interim: loving God, loving others, and spreading the gospel.

Expediting the Arrival

In the concluding chapters of Revelation, Jesus declares, “Yes, I am coming soon.” To this, John replies, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” It is appropriate and commendable to anticipate Jesus’ return and the new earth where everything will be harmonious, holy, and complete. One specific eschatological perspective—postmillennialism—asserts that we can do more than just anticipate; it is our duty to usher in Jesus’ return by readying the world for His reign. Postmillennialism posits that Jesus will come back after the “millennium,” a period of time that is not necessarily 1,000 years. The strategy involves spreading the gospel globally, creating a peaceful and just society suitable for Jesus’ governance.

Postmillennialism gained popularity during the Enlightenme

nt and Industrial Revolution. Philosophical and scientific advances combined to make people think they had reached a level of sophistication and morality that would inevitably continue to grow until humanity reached utopia. Evolution “proved” that society would continue to improve.

That overly optimistic view didn’t survive the first half of the twentieth century. The horrors of World War I caused belief in human nobility to flounder. World War II all but destroyed it.

In recent years, however, postmillennialism and its cohorts theonomy, Dominionism, and Christian Reconstructionism have made a comeback. Some believe that Christians need to be the dominant force in politics, education, and culture. Others believe we need to quietly evangelize, creating new Christians, then Christian families, schools, communities, cities, and states, and then we’ll be the Christian nation Jesus needs us to be.

Of course, Christians should be involved in their communities and nations. But nowhere does the Bible hint that we need to fix up the world before Jesus arrives. In fact, it says that He will arrive at the end of seven years of oppression, violence, natural catastrophes, and spiritual attack. It is His arrival that will stop the horrors of the world and initiate 1,000 years of His reign (Revelation 19:11—20:6).

Humans, even well-intentioned Christians, cannot make the world good enough for Jesus.

Delaying the End

On the other side are those who know Jesus won’t appear until the world is at its worst and think it is their job to delay that state. Throughout history, Christians have looked at their political and social landscapes and thought, Surely this is proof that the end is near. In the previous hundred years, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the USSR, Y2K, and COVID-19 have all been cited as proof that the end was upon us. And the list of candidates for the Antichrist grows by

The year. For two thousand years, Christians have predicted Jesus’ imminent return; thus far, the date-setters have all been proven wrong.

The current surge of interest in end-times prophecy among dispensationalists began in the 1970s with Hal Lindsey and Carole C. Carlson’s book The Late Great Planet Earth. That publication introduced many to a literal interpretation of the tribulation account of Revelation 6—16 in the context of then-current events. Shortly after, the film A Thief in the Night and its sequels dramatized the lives—and deaths—of several individuals during the tribulation. More recently, the Left Behind series has carried on the tradition.

Placing forthcoming biblical events in the context of contemporary events has prompted many individuals to contemplate how technological advancements and socio-political events align with the preparations for the impending Antichrist. Inquiries arise regarding RFID chips, cryptocurrency, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Union. Are these factors setting the stage for the Antichrist, the mark of the beast, the one-world government, and a one-world currency?

Our cautious response is: perhaps.

The subsequent question frequently posed is “Should Christians abstain from utilizing such technology or engaging with such organizations to postpone the arrival of the Antichrist?” Our resolute answer is no. Nowhere does the Bible instruct Christians to take any action that would delay end-times occurrences. The timing of the rapture is determined solely by God (Matthew 24:36-44). The Bible makes mention of a “restrainer” who is hindering Satan’s work, essentially delaying the Antichrist’s advent, but this restrainer is not contending against technological or political innovations; it is most likely the Holy Spirit operating through the church to propagate the gospel. Spreading the gospel to the lost, not denouncing RFID chips, is how we shield people from the end times!

Naturally, this does not imply that Christians should uncritically accept all technological advancements or political developments. It is essential for believers to exercise discernment and wisdom in their choices and actions.

Consider investing in cryptocurrency or supporting the World Bank. We are encouraged to exercise discernment in all matters and to avoid direct involvement in what is foolish, unjust, and unbiblical. However, just because something appears to align with end-times prophecy does not mean that Christians should oppose it. We have ample tasks without concerning ourselves with matters that only God can manage.

Stay Vigilant

Two of Jesus’ parables that address His second coming are the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Ten Minas. In both parables, a master entrusts specific resources to three servants before embarking on a long journey. The master expects the servants to invest the resources wisely and generate a profit. Upon his return, he rewards those who proved to be faithful stewards.

Nowhere in these parables are the servants directed to either hasten or delay the master’s return—they could not do so even if they tried. Their duty is to utilize their resources wisely to increase the master’s wealth. Similarly, God has tasked us with spreading the gospel and nurturing disciples. Jesus never implies that we can influence the timing of His return. It is prudent to use technology and the societal structures we endorse wisely. It is commendable to impact our culture. However, this influence should serve the gospel, not expedite or postpone Jesus’ return.