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Response
“88 Reasons Jesus Is Coming Back in 1988!”
“October 21, 2011, marks the end of the world!”
“December 21, 2012, signifies the end of the world!”
“Jesus will return during the year of Jubilee!”
“Jesus will return during the upcoming blood-red moon!”
Statements like these emerge periodically, leading many unsuspecting individuals to make significant life choices based on them. The main reason why setting dates for the end times is inaccurate is that Jesus informed His disciples, when asked about the timing of future events, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” «And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. », (Acts 1:7).
Historically, the predictions of setting dates have always been incorrect. Always. Over time, self-proclaimed prophets, well-intentioned preachers, and blatant frauds have confidently declared that a specific date in the near future would be the day of Jesus’ return. However, it never happened. These prophets simply demonstrated that they were not genuine prophets (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Jesus stated that no one knows the day or hour of His return « But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. », (Matthew 24:36). Despite this, some try to justify their date-setting by suggesting that while we may not know the exact day or hour, we can come close. Evidently, this is not the case.
One reason why God has not revealed to us “the day or the hour” of Jesus’ return is that He desires us to live by faith, bringing glory to Him, in a world filled with unbelievers. He wants us to live each day in readiness for His return, rather than speculating about specific dates.
It is important to be involved in our communities «and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; », (1 Thessalonians 4:11), serving our churches «with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: », (Ephesians 6:7), and raising our children to know and honor Him «And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: », (Deuteronomy 6:6). One common response to end-times date-setting is that people stop engaging in life. They pack up, preparing for the Apocalypse. One such group in the 1830s followed a preacher named William Miller. Miller became convinced that Jesus would return in October of 1844, and he was able to convince many others, some of whom sold their possessions, quit their jobs, and waited for the end. Miller was wrong. Jesus did not return in 1844, and the non-event became known as the Great Disappointment. Followers salvaged Miller’s reputation by claiming that Jesus had, in fact, returned—spiritually—to the heavenly temple. The disillusioned group was ripe for a new leader and soon found themselves uniting under the leadership of “prophetess” Ellen G. White and became known as the Seventh-day Adventists.
Another reason date-setting for the end times is wrong is that it tends to disregard Jesus’ final command to His followers. Shortly before He ascended back into heaven, Jesus told His followers to “go into all the world and make disciples” «Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: », (Matthew 28:19). He did not say, “Focus your energies on trying.To figure out when I’m coming back.” He gave us several parables that encourage an attitude of readiness, but that readiness does not mean sky-watching. It means being faithful in all He told us to pursue, like holiness «Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: », (Hebrews 12:14), cross-carrying «And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. », (Luke 9:23), and loving the people He brings across our paths «Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. », (Romans 13:8). Jesus urged us to store up treasure in heaven «Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. », (Luke 12:33), to seek unity with other believers (John 17:22-23), and to work as harvesters in His fields «Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. », (Luke 10:2). He said nothing of trying to predict the date of His return. When we become preoccupied with trying to predict the unpredictable, our priorities are not in the right order.
Date-setting for the end times— and then being proven wrong— also prompts derision from unbelievers. Skeptics already mock the supernatural and discount the Bible asNonsense “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”, (1 Corinthians 1:18). They often seek reasons to ridicule Christianity. When a public figure announces an end-times date with the same authority used to proclaim the gospel, it only serves to confirm the skepticism. It is acceptable to say, “It seems the signs that Jesus mentioned are unfolding, so I believe His return may be soon.” This statement is simply a personal opinion and allows for the possibility of error. However, when date-setters assert definitively that a specific date or time frame must be correct, they only invite more ridicule, which reflects poorly on the reputation of Christ.
If God intended for us to know when His Son is returning, He would have clearly stated it in His Word. Instead, He clearly stated that we would not know. All we have to rely on is what He has revealed to us, and the date is not found in Scripture. Any speculation is just that. Some engage in date-setting for the end times to seem knowledgeable, attract attention, or raise funds; others may have more noble intentions. Regardless of the reason, date-setting for the end times is incorrect. We should consider the signs Jesus provided and then live in a manner that we would not be ashamed if He were to come at this very moment “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”, (1 John 2:28).
