Jesus said, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] will come at an hour when you do not expect him."1
It is amazing how intensely some people get caught up in the setting of dates regarding Christ's return and the end of this age. Jesus said that only God, the Father, knew the exact time his return would be. And yet whenever predictions are made with a specific date for Christ's return, there are gullible people who believe it and give up all they have in preparation for that day.
Over the centuries there have been various theories as to when and how the world might end. If you google "date setters" on the web, you will learn that over the past 2000 years there have been many who have claimed that the world would end or that Christ would return on a certain date. Obviously they were all wrong. Following are just two of the many.
German mathematician, Michael Stifel, based on his study of Revelation, calculated that God's Day of Judgment would be on October 19, 1533.2
German mathematician, Michael Stifel, based on his study of Revelation, calculated that God's Day of Judgment would be on October 19, 1533.2
Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, calculated 1874 to be the year of Christ's return. It was then changed to 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914 with later dates.3
Unfortunately, because of these and modern-day fanatics, many people, including Christians, ignore or even shy away from the biblical teaching about Christ's coming again and the end of this age as we now know it.
Unfortunately, because of these and modern-day fanatics, many people, including Christians, ignore or even shy away from the biblical teaching about Christ's coming again and the end of this age as we now know it.
However, Jesus himself promised that he would come again.4 The angels of God assured the astounded followers of Jesus on the day of his ascension into heaven following his death, burial and resurrection saying, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."5 According to Jesus' words (when he was on earth) only God the Father knew the date and time of his return to earth.6
The fact is that Jesus is coming again. We just don't know when. It may not be for a hundred, or a thousand years, or it may be today. The important thing is to be sure that you are ready, for when we least expect it, Jesus will come again. As Theodore Epp said, we need to "live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow."
To be sure you are ready for Christ's return read, "How to Be Sure You're a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the wonderful hope that Christians have in that Jesus is coming again to take all his true followers to be with him forever in Heaven. Please help me to live as if he were coming back today so I will always be ready for Jesus' return. Above all, please use me to tell as many people as possible about your wonderful life-saving gospel message. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV).
4. John 14:1.5. Acts 1:11 (NIV).6. Mathew 24:35-36.
NOTE: ACTS does not necessarily endorse the websites listed in 2 and 3 above.
Credit: Daily Encounter
2 comments:
Some points need to be clarified concerning Charles Taze Russell:
1. Charles Taze Russell was not the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses. He never heard of such an organization, did not believe in such an organization, and actively preached against Christians needing such an organization until the day he died. The JW organization was actually formed by Joseph Rutherford after Russell died. After Russell died, Rutherfordd, through deceit and legal trickery, gained control of the Watch Tower Society and used that legal entity to form his new organization, complete with his new doctrines, especially his doctrines that would condemn to the second death almost everyone who disagreed with him.
2. In 1876, Russell came to believe that Jesus had already returned un 1874, and he died with that belief. He never claimed that his beliefs were infallible, and certainly never believed a Christian should disfellowshiped or excommunicated for disagreeing with him. I don't know of anyone who claimed that Jesus returned in 1878, 1881, or 1910. Russell never believed that Jesus was to or did return in 1914. After Russell died, Rutherford rejected Russell's studies and claimed that Jesus actually returned in 1914, not 1874. I and thousands of Bible Students do believe that Jesus did return in 1874, not 1914, and certainly not 1878, 1881 or 1910.
3. The word "fanatic" is often used as derogatory term relative to what one perceives to be "fanatic". Russell was inded a "fanatic" in his belief about God, Jesus, the Bible, and especially "the ransom for all", and I, for one, am glad that he was. Praise God!
4. Russell did not believe in "the end of the world" as that term is usually used, and although often accused of claiming the world would end in 1914, he disclaimed such many times. In 1904, the main thing he was expecting to begin in 1914 was "the time of trouble" (not the "end of the world"), but stated several times that he could find nothing in the scriptures that tell how long the "time of trouble" would last after 1914. I believe that the Gentile Times did end in 1914, and that "the time of trouble" did begin in 1914, and that it continues to this day.
For the truth about Russell, see:
http://ctr.reslight.net
If you are going to clarify that Pastor Russell is not the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, then let's also not forget that Charles Taze Russell's Watch Tower Society publication (which he owned 990 shares out of 1,000 shares) advertised "miracle wheat" for sale at $1 per pound. This so called miracle wheat would grow five times faster than any other wheat. So, tell me, where did the money go for those who purchased the miracle wheat? If you guessed into the pockets of publishing the Watch Tower and to pay for Russell's sermons you guessed right.
Check out the archives in New York for "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle":
Jan 1, 1913
Jan 22, 1913
Jan 23, 1913
Jan 24, 1913
Jan 25, 1913
Jan 27, 1913
Jan 28, 1913
Jan 29, 1913
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