19 Answers
In addition, there is Acts 1:7, which states, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority." This was said by Jesus after the disciples asked Him if He was at that time going to restore the kingdom to Israel. This would seem to confirm the message of Matthew 24. It is not for us to know the timing of Jesus coming back. But, there is also the question of to which return these passages are referring. Are they speaking of the rapture or the second coming? Which return is unknowable—the rapture, the second coming, or both? While the rapture is presented as being imminent and mysterious, the timing of the second coming could potentially be pinpointed based on end-times prophecy.
With that said, let us be abundantly clear: we do not believe that God has revealed to anyone when Jesus is coming back, and we see nothing in Scripture which indicates that God will ever reveal to anyone when Jesus is coming back. Matthew 24:36-44, while spoken directly to the people in Jesus’ time, also contains a principle. The timing of Jesus’ return and the end of the age is not for us to know. Scripture nowhere encourages us to try to determine the date. Rather, we are to “keep watch, because we do not know on which day our Lord will come” (v. 42). We are to “be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when we do not expect Him” (v. 44). The force of Jesus’ words diminishes if at some point in the future someone will be able to determine when Jesus is coming back. If the date is discovered, we no longer need to “keep watch” or “be ready” until the date is approaching. So, with the principle of Matthew 24:36-44 is mind, no, it is not possible for anyone to know the date that Jesus is coming back.
Despite this clear biblical principle, many throughout Christian history have attempted to prophesy the date that Jesus is coming back. Many such dates have been proposed, and all of them have been wrong. Today, there are two popular proposed dates: May 21, 2011, and December 21, 2012. The December 21, 2012, date is related to the Mayan calendar, with no biblical data used as evidence. The May 21, 2011, date is proposed by Harold Camping of Family Radio. It should be noted that Harold Camping previously predicted that Jesus would come back in 1994. Obviously, Camping was wrong. This should give us yet another reason to doubt the validity of his prediction of May 21, 2011. Camping, does, however, claim to find evidence for the May 21, 2011, date in Scripture. By using a speculative date of 4990 B.C. for the Flood, and then applying the “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years” of 2 Peter 3:8 to the seven days of Genesis 7:4, and then counting down the 7000 years from 4990, the year 2011 results. Then, based on “the seventeenth day of the second month” from Genesis 7:11 and using the Hebrew calendar, the date of May 21 is determined. So, is there any validity to Camping’s methodology?
First, Camping conveniently ignores the second half of 2 Peter 3:8, “and a thousand years as one day.” Further, 2 Peter 3:8 is not providing a method for dating the end times. Rather, 2 Peter 3:8 is simply saying that God is above and beyond time. God is timeless, infinite, and eternal. Second, nothing in the context of Genesis 7:4-11 indicates that the “seven days” and “seventeenth day of the second month” are to be interpreted as applying to anything other than what God was specifically saying to Noah. Third, the Flood being dated to 4990 B.C. is speculative at best, with no explicit biblical evidence. Camping’s calculation of May 21, 2011, falls apart with even the most basic biblical scrutiny. Now, is it possible that Jesus is coming back on May 21, 2011? Yes, but it is just as possible that He will come back on any other date. Does Harold Camping’s particular dating methodology have any biblical validity? No, it does not. Assuming that Jesus does not return on or before May 21, 2011, Camping and others will surely calculate new future dates and will attempt to explain away mistakes by “errors in the formula” or something to that effect.
The key points are (1) the Bible nowhere encourages us to attempt to discover the timing of Jesus’ return, and (2) the Bible gives no explicit data by which the timing of Jesus’ return can be determined. Rather than developing wild and speculative calculations to determine when Jesus is coming back, the Bible encourages us to “keep watch” and “be ready” (Matthew 24:42-44). The fact that the day of Jesus’ return is unknown is what should motivate us to live every day in light of the imminence of Christ’s return.
Recommended Resource: The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age by John MacArthur.
13 years ago. Rating: 5 | |
well well i would hate to have to count the milllions of times that the end has been predicded the end is nigh yeah yeah hheee hhee there was a bunch of fanatics that advertised they would desend in to heaven this was in australia about 10 years ago i went along to see if anyone of those dickheads would give me there car keys as they wouldnt be needing there car any more would they hhee hhee guess what not one of them handed over anything money keys bank details ohhhhh such faith but there they were hands raised up to the heavens but no heavenly bus came ohhhh the shame bloody sinners they just werent good enought for this trip hhha haaahhhaaaa but i did see a sign yesssss a patoto chip i was eating looked like God and he wasnt happy i tryed to show them but there faith was so weak ohhh if u want to join the chip cult we welcome all with incomes over 50g we have study classes a huge colllection of patato chip sacred and blessed
relics.dont miss out this months special on passes to heaven hurry while stocks last
13 years ago. Rating: 4 | |
"not one of them handed over anything money keys bank details ohhhhh such faith but there they were hands raised up to the heavens"
lmao!!! That is perfect! Love it!
I believe Leeroy Did his homework on this question,no one know the hour of His coming.And if you did know,you would not need to get prepare or ready, than it would not be a sincere or truthful preparation.Really think about this if you knew the hour of His coming,now would you not reconsider how you treat other and all the little thing you could do to improve yourself.Therefor Jesus took it upon Himself to save you from your wickedness.
13 years ago. Rating: 3 | |
Well 2012 is getting closer theres a lot of sesmic activity going on also there is a astroid thats suppoded to pass by rather close lots of hurricanes happening plus volcanic eruptions taking place and then thrers a lot of sun storms happening lately, it does give a person something to think on does it not.
13 years ago. Rating: 2 | |
Those things you mention are always going on though. What I am concerned about however are those nuclear plants in Japan. Now that's scary.
No one knows when the world will end. As a christian I believe what the Bible tells me so there is a lot of stuff that has got to happen before the end of the world gets here. The Inca Indians had to end their calendar sometime so it just happened to be Dec.2012. I believe it was the Inca Indians that made the calendar where this theory began. They were undoubtably a brilliant race of people but they couldn't have known.
13 years ago. Rating: 2 | |
13 years ago. Rating: 1 | |
13 years ago. Rating: 1 | |
Its just the end of an Age, the ending of the world of Pisces and the birthing of the New Aquarian Age. At such overlap times the chaos at all levels are great. Nation shall rise against Nation (Man against man), Kingdom agaist Kingdom (nature/the elements) Earthquakes, great storms, volcanos, even the Sun will show the signs (which it has recently; historic flares). It will pass, but the world itself will never be the same again, for the old way or old worldways are ended thereafter. This is the Ouantum "Singularity.)
13 years ago. Rating: 1 | |
been brought up in a catholic enviroment i do remember some sort of warning in the nature of no one will know when the end is comming and that jesus had a big gig booked it was his final curtan call am i right ??? i just hope we havent spoild jesus big surprize then no one will desend up into heaven only me i guess and my motorcycle no no my grlfriends been naughty shes not coming haaaa hhaaa that will teach her
13 years ago. Rating: 1 | |
13 years ago. Rating: 1 | |