Jesus' Return

No doubt you heard about Harold Camping's recent prediction that the rapture would occur last Saturday (5/21/2011) - he has since adjusted his time line by five months to October 21, 2011.  Last Friday (5/20) as I drove around listening to various talk show programs and everyone was talking about judgment day May 21.  Most were making fun of Camping's prediction.  As I listened I experienced a myriad of emotions - sadness, anger, embarrassment, hopefulness.  Needless to say Dr. Camping was wrong again (he tried this once before in 1994) and we're still here and so I felt compelled to write a blog post sharing some thoughts about these recent events....

• It's folly to try and predict the exact moment of Jesus' return. God tells us in his word that no one knows (Matthew 25:13). 
• People who wrongly speculate about the date of Jesus' return give ammunition to those who scoff at the notion of a rapture or 2nd coming.  We do damage to the cause of Christ when we wrongly interpret scripture and make claims even Jesus wouldn't make. However, the scoffers have been around since the days of the early disciples.  In fact this is one of the signs that his return is near (2 Peter 3:4). 
• Part of me was really sad that Harold Camping was wrong.  I'd love to see him return today. There is a crown of righteousness that awaits those who love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).  If Jesus' return makes you nervous or you don't want to see it happen, you might want to do a heart check.
• As fantastical as it may seem the Bible clearly speaks about a day when Jesus will return. We may not know the day, or hour, but it will happen (I Thes. 4:16-17; I Cor. 15:50-52; Rev 19)
• While we cannot know the exact date or time of Jesus' return we can observe certain occurrences in history and culture that show us the time may be drawing near.  When is Jesus coming back? Study what it was like in the times of Noah (Matt. 24:37). Study what it was like in the days of Lot (Luke 17:28). Watch the Nation of Israel (parable of fig tree - Mt. 24:32-33).  Look at the characteristics of the "last days" (2 Tim. 3:1-4)

While we didn't hear the trumpet sound last Saturday we know that one day it will. As believers we should live in light of that day. Don't let it overtake you as a thief in the night. Diligently serve Him with your life so that you are not ashamed at His appearing.  As I said earlier, I'm a little sad that Harold Camping wasn't right. The older I get, and the longer I walk with the Lord, the more my attitude becomes like that of John in Revelation 22:20 "...Even so, come, Lord Jesus"

Comments

[Jack R.]

Big suprise there