Posted on 01/11/2009 7:41:33 PM PST by The Ignorant Fisherman
Ever since the Prophetic Movement of the 1870's, there have been those who love to set dates for the return of Jesus Christ to earth. Many twist, crunch and contrive their calculations from Holy Scripture to force such a date. Most of these date setters reject the clear scriptural teaching about the Rapture of the Church along with many other basic dispensational teachings clearly taught in the Bible. Is there any way to know the exact date of Christ's return to Earth when He will institute the Kingdom of God? There are two apparently conflicting answers: “No, there is not,” and “Yes, there is!”
(Excerpt) Read more at theignorantfishermen.com ...
I’m in the “No” camp.
Ditto...No
He is returning, no man knows when, certain events will take place before His return, no man knows when or how long between these vents before the return...bottom line it does not matter - you just better be ready.
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe [it] not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:21-44
Mar 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Mar 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Mar 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Mark 13:29-32
Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:25-36
Not even Satan knows the day or hour, but then again that is why there will always be a satanic plan in the wings which is plausible to insert an antichristian attack.
Some believers have misplaced their faith by becoming too engrossed in date setting, perhaps have even been frustrated when their previous interpretations placed more into their personal predictions, than simple faith aloe in Christ alone.
All history is His Story. He will not return until the Church, His bride is complete. 18% of all Scripture is unfulfilled Prophecy. It was placed in the canon of Scripture for good reason for God does nothing which is good for nothingness.
Interpret current events based upon Scripture, and not His Word based upon current events. Every five minutes there may be another plausible mechanism in operation to fulfill Prophecy in the worldly cosmic system. Every new one is simply more evidence testifying to the failure of any plan which isn’t His Plan.
For every believer is a plan He has prepared. our duty is to remain in fellowship with Him, so that we might be in the right place at the right time to perform His Will in all things.
It's this Spring for sure
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Note the change from verse 34 to verse 36. In verses 4-34 Jesus is giving a very detailed description of all the events that would precede the “great tribulation.” He a speaks of persecution of the saints, war and rumors of wars, famine, pestilence, the “abomination of desolation” which Luke tells us is related to “Jerusalem being surrounded by armies” (Luke 21:20). Jesus warns His disciples listening to His words, those living in Judea, to “flee to the mountains”. This detailed description from Jesus fits the events that fell upon Jerusalem in AD70 when the armies of Rome sacked the city and destroyed the ancient temple, so that “not one stone shall be left here upon another.” All these things came upon “this generation” (v. 34).
In verses 36 and following we see a different view of things. There are no warnings about signs and events. We are told that things are going on pretty much as normal, marring and being given in marriage, etc (v. 38). The suddenness of the event is compared to the sudden flood that came upon the generation of Noah in his day. There was no warning by way of signs until it started to rain and Noah and his family entered the ark.
I believe vv 4-34 is speaking of the events of AD70, very detailed so that the disciples had tiem to flee from a doomed city, and that vv. 36ff is speaking of the Second Coming that will be without warning so that no one knows the day or hour.
there is a way to know. Follow this series and you will see!
I agree, all these date setters forcing a date etc... In this series it will be shown though how they will know the exact day.... I hope you follow along!
Dave
I’m pre-trib for the record.
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