Before I give you that answer, let me remind you of people who’ve made that prediction… and were wrong.
In the Second Century Montanous proclaimed New Jerusalem was about to appear. In the Third Century Novation gathered many to await the Second Coming. In the Fourth Century Donatus proclaimed 144,000 specially chosen believers were to usher in the Kingdom. In the Fifth Century the destruction of Rome by the Vandals was the definitive event that would bring about Jesus’ return.
On the last day in 999, the old basilica of St. Peter was filled with people waiting the end of the world. They had given land and possessions to the poor to ensure God’s favor. The same thing happened again in 1100, 1200, and 1245. During the 1300s many Christians believed the Black Death was the event indicating the immediate return of Christ.
The Hundred Years War (14th to 15th Century) was supposed to be the Armageddon of Revelation. In the 16th Century Martin Luther believed the Pope was the Antichrist and the return of Christ would take place in the immediate future. Just like with the Hundred Years War, people believed The French Revolution, The American Revolution, The Civil War, WWI, WWII, The Six Day War, and the Yom Kippur War would bring about the return of Christ.
The last few decades are no different! In 1976 Hal Lindsey wrote “Terminal Generation” in which he stated this generation was THE one that would witnes the return of christ. Reginal Duncan predicted in 1979 that a Russian invasion of America would bring about the millennial reign of christ. Michael Dall in “The Midnight Cry” predicted the events of Revelation would come to pass in 1980.
Emil Gatherlock predicted the rapture would take place in 1981. Collen Deal published “Christ Returns by 1988” and identified a computer in Europe called “The Beast” as the Beast of Revelation 13. Edgar Wisenhunt published “88 Reasons Why Christ Will Return in 1988.” In 1989 he published “The final Shout: Rapture Report 1989.” Charles Taylor wrote in “Bible Prophecy News” that Christ would return in 1992. Harold Camping predicted Christ would return in 1994. Grant Jeffrey predicted the year would be 2000.
And they have all been wrong…
For centuries Christians have made the mistake of setting dates and making fantastic claims about the return of Christ. As a result… the message about Christ’s return has become ignored by many.
Now for my answer as to when Christ will return…
Matthew 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Seems pretty clear to me… what about you?
Vey scary
Oh no! Don’t let this scare you, but encourage you in the faith and in your trust of God! When Christ comes back it will be a time of great celebration! A time of great rejoicing! A time of excitement like we’ve never known! When Jesus comes back he will conquer all His foes for good… and all who are saved will reign with Him forever and ever. There’ll be no more pain, worry, sickness, dying, or tears. There won’t be any fear of any kind because we will always be with The Lord.
Look forward to Jesus’ return! Look forward to it with joy, anticipation, and excitement! Look up every morning because each day could be the day of His return! Be and stay ready (Matthew 24) because no one knows the day or hour of Christ’s return… so we stay ready. In the same way a child waits with great joy the coming home of their mom and/or day, so Christians look forward to when Jesus will return!
AMEN!!!!!! Praise the Lord, praise him!!!!!!
May 21, 2011 is predicted return of Christ by Harold Camping, a man who has studied the Bible for 50+ years faithfully. His prediction comes from scriptures alone.
So you’re saying that Mr. Camping is saying that Jesus is coming back on May 21, 2011? I don’t doubt his love for God, his faithful devotion to the Scripture, or that he loves Jesus. However, I have a problem with him making such a prediction given three things: 1) The poor track record of those who’ve predicted it in the past, 2) The Scripture, 3) He’s already been wrong once before (See the above post as he predicted Christ would return in 1994.).
So, are you talking about the rapture or the 2nd coming? Seems a little vague to some readers who dont know the difference. Anyway, only God knows when… thats what Jesus said…
Well done Joe! I am examining the difference between the two. I am in the process of examining the seperation between the two… and if the two are different. One of the things I am commited to is to “study to show yourself approved unto God, rightly handling the Word of Truth.” Are the two different? Maybe, maybe not. Some conservative, God fearing Bible expositors say they are not different… others say they are. You have nailed one of the things I’m trying to discern and figure out for myself. And honestly, it is always a good thing to study in order “Know the way more rightly.”
The things I believed and held to over the years have matured (I hope) as I have grown in my understanding of Scripture. I don’t want to assume that I know everything perfectly because I don’t want to be “A man thinks he is something when he is nothing.” I have briefly explored this in a previous post.
Last thought… your last thought is 100% correct and cannot be debated… “Only God knows when” all these things will take place. Blessings!
Hi pastorron7
That was excellent information on those predictions of the second coming of Christ…
Since you have said “What about you?” I have to tell that Orthodox Preterists do not believe that the passage that you quoted, Matthew 24:29-31, speaks of the literal and bodily return Christ…However,we do believe in the future literal and bodily return of Christ…
If you would like to have another opinion or two,here are a couple of sites that you can have a look at… If you like, you can ask the blog owners questions as well…
I’m the owner of the blog listed first in Y’s comment. I firmly believe in clarity over agreement. By that I mean I would rather clearly disagree on a matter as long as their is clarity in position taken than just burn up bandwith with debate…I think that is best and most Biblical
But would love any correspondence if thoughtful and gracious. I try to be as Y can attest to…
David
Pastorron7
I hope that i did not offend you yesterday…I must say that your Post “I know when Jesus will return” caught my attention,and will likely get the attention of others,based on the title alone…
Your “what about you?” statement,did indeed open the door for comments that are contrary to what you have believe…However,it is the way that you responded to the person named Joe,and to his comment.This that you said in particular.(see your comment below)
One of the things I am commited to is to “study to show yourself approved unto God, rightly handling the Word of Truth.”
Pastorron7, David (the owner of the first blog) is himself thoughtful,gracious and non combatant as are the owner(s)and writers of the second blog….
Speaking of David only,he responds to people and their comments and questions pretty much the same way that you do…Otherwise i would not have posted his blog site on your page…
However,Pastorron7,you need no one to teach you the things concerning the second coming of our Lord and Savior,for they are written…
Orthodox Preterists rely on the teaching of scripture.We are not in lock-step one with the other, concerning prophecy,eschatology or last things,we do disagree on certain things…
Orthodox Preterists do agree on the fundamentals of the Christian faith…This is what makes us orthodox.
We all agree on these fundamental things as well… The future literal and bodily return of Christ,the resurrection of the just and the unjust,the consummation(NH and NE)and the final judgment of the just and the unjust…
Pastorron7,i want to leave you with these…Using your own bible,you can decide for yourself,if what is said here,is based on the clear teaching of the word of God…
Don’t worry about offending me. I’ve been around long enough to sense if/when a person is more interested in debating than a cordial exchange of ideas. And yes… I did title the blog the way I did on purpose… to get people’s attention. My desire is to get people to study God’s Word and not rely upon what men say or write ABOUT God’s Word. The latter can be helpful, but they are not inspired as the Scriptures are.
Thank you for your comment. It is welcomed and well received.
Blessings
Just a thought:
Hal Lindsey hasn’t been proven ‘wrong’ in his stating that “this generation” will be the generation to see the Return of the Lord. “This generation” is still alive.
Even as Jesus stated, “this generation” which saw the start of the Signs of the End, would be around to see His return.
How long is “a generation”? Is it 120 yrs, as God spoke in Gen 6:3?
All food for thought.
The best thing is, as you’ve written, studying to show ourselves approved, rightly handling the Word of God. ….. What should be of more interest to any Christian, than God’s Word and Kingdom, and how we fit into it all !
Praise the Lord.
Thank you for your comment!
It is interesting how “generation” is interpreted so many different ways… all by people who love Jesus, study Scripture, and seek God’s Spirit for understanding. Some say those who were hearing him that day. Some say all those who were alive when Jesus spoke those words. Some say generation refers metaphorically to church age. Some say those who are alive at some point in the future when certain things begin to happen. Who’s right? Who missed it? Someone has it right and someone doesn’t. But which is which? That’s the key isn’t it?!
Personally, I believe when Jesus said “THIS generation” it might be wise to take him at his word regarding who he was talking to. Maybe, just maybe, the simplest and most straight forward interpretation is best. I do know that we all bring a lot other things with us when we interpret who “THIS generation” actually is and who Jesus was referring to. Who is right and who is wrong on who “this generation” is does not concern me as much as being ready for when Jesus does return. I think that is more important.
Blessings,
Ron
Hi, an interesting way of proving (verifying) the correct details for the return of Christ is by using a collection of verses I have. The principle is very simple: take every verse in the whole bible that is an event to do with the return of Christ and use them as a checklist against any idea, theory or book on the subject. The kit is 200 bible verses printed on separate cards.
The test is: any theory must include every event and at the same time not add extra ‘bits’ in. The collection of verses is freely available as a PDF and can be taken to a local copy shop to be printed out for your own use. Enjoy your study!
Thanks, Michael
Actually you are all wrong, Paul and the disciples all firmly believed Jesus would come back in THEIR lifetime which he obviously never did. In the Bible, we see Jesus boldly promising for some serious and major Prophecies about the Hour to pass before the generation of his disciples dies. The Prophecies never got fulfilled look at chapters Mark 13:30, “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” The generation Jesus was talking about has been dead for thousands of years
My aren’t you bold?! I suggest you do a little study about what “these things” are that Jesus was referring to and how they’ve been understood in the two thousand years since Jesus spoke them. You might be surprised to find out some things from your study that could enlighten you and help you consider other views. Things from men who are of much greater intellect and knowledge than either you and I have who disagreed with your point of view. That in it’s self is interesting… at least to me. No Ann, I am not wrong… we have different understandings… and that is okay (You might want to read Romans 14:5 on that point).
My personal belief is that this is the time the bible speaks of, it says there will be sighs like the tsunami and hurricane Katrina (just examples) and also that it will be the time faith is lost and that Satan deceives people all you have to do is look into the illuminati to see that the devils influence is everywhere and this is why we must understand each others faiths and accept, for we are not enemy’s, Satan is our enemy have faith in God whoever your God is for its important that we do not get caught up in literal translations but we are guided by our morals and the good within each of us and forgive me for not knowing a great deal about the Bible but I’m only 18 I’m just starting to see clearly and look into it.
Shaun… thank you for your reply! As I understand Scripture the “Last Days” began at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-17) and the Tribulation has been happening since John wrote Revelation (Rev 1:9). So we have a little different understanding of those two things.
I must also respectfully take issue when you wrote… “Have faith in God whoever your God is…” (Emphasis mine). There is only one God who is Three. I also take issue that we are to be “guided by our morals and the good within each of us.” The Scripture records something quite different about us as found in Romans 3:10-18, 23.
I am glad you are examining Christianity! Could I suggest that you begin by reading the Gospel of John… in what is called The New Testament? That will give you a good overview of Jesus and his life. After reading John, I would suggest you read Romans (A good systematic way to understand Christian Salvation). As you read these, I suggest you read slowly… first asking God to reveal Himself to you as you read.
Blessings my friend!