A. THE BIBLE’S TEACHING ABOUT THE TIME OF JESUS’ RETURN
1. Jesus said there would be “wrong” predictions about His return. “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matt. 24:23-24).
2. Jesus said the time of His return is unknown. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36).
3. What shall be our reaction? “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matt. 24:42).
4. What was Paul’s direction about the time of Jesus’ return? “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (I Thess. 5:1-2).
B. WHEN HE SHALL COME
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (I Thess. 4:13-18, NKJV).
C. ARE THESE WRONG PREDICTIONS?
1. Jack Van Impe predicted Jesus would come September 5, 1973, i.e., He would come at the Feast of Rosh Hashanah (early fall). This is the Feast of Harvest when workers are called in from the harvest field.
2. Millions of copies of the booklet were mailed, 88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Come in 1988? Hal Lindsey taught a generation is 40 years, “Then He spoke to them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away (40 years) till all things take place’” (Luke 21:29-32). According to Lindsay, the state of Israel founded in 1948, meant Christ was coming in 1988.
3. Why did millions believe Jesus was coming in the year 2000 AD, i.e., Y2K? The millennial theory taught there were 4000 years in Old Testament, 2000 years in New Testament and 1000 years in the millennium.
4. Why are many people predicting disaster will happen on December 21, 2012? The Mayan Calendar kept track of 5,150 years beginning in 3013 BC, predicting this age will end in a deluge, culminating in earthquakes and the impact of a cosmic object on December 21, 2012.
5. Some have predicted the Venus Transit will cause tragedies. In December 2012, Venus will pass between the earth and sun. This event occurs in cycles of approximately 105 and 120 years. Many teach this event will disrupt electromagnetic currents.
a. We are in a solar minimum phase now, and the next solar maximum stage begins in 2012, i.e. time of sunspots, solar winds, etc.
b. The energies of the sun will transmit solar flares, explosions, etc., that will disrupt telecommunications. Sun explosions are called coronal mass ejections, which are giant blobs of ionized gas. They are powerful enough to send huge electric currents racing around the earth’s open atmosphere disrupting power grids and communication satellites.
6. Some have predicted the Galactic Center will bring physical problems to the earth. The sun arrives at the center of the Milk Way (Galactic Center) in 2012; no one knows what that will produce on earth.
7. NASA has named a giant asteroid heading our way “Nibiru” (Sedna or Eris). It is part of a brown dwarf/dark star that will appear in 2012 AD.
a. Could affect the orbit, spin or axis of the earth.
b. Oceans depend on the magnetic force from space for their movement. If ocean currents begin stopping or slowing, ocean waters could begin heating up and stagnate; unable to support marine life.
c. Some say polar caps will melt because magnetic poles shift.
d. As Nibiru enters the earth’s atmosphere; it could disintegrate and create blazing red flares in the sky as predicted in the Bible.
e. Solar flares could disrupt radio telecommunications (no cell phones, computer use, Internet, credit card purchases, television, radio, etc).
f. Some say the electro-magnet civilization could collapse impacting our infrastructure, including water distribution, anything controlled by electricity, heating, and cooling, sewerage disposal, phone service, transportation, delivery of food, fuel supply. (Emergency services would be strained and command/control centers would be useless). Civilization as we know it could collapse.
g. If a 100 to 1000 foot asteroid collided with the earth, it would kill 5000 people. A one mile wide asteroid would kill 1.5 billion people, and a six-mile wide asteroid would kill 10 billion people.
D. WHY IS THE DECEMBER 21, 2012 PREDICTION NOT VALID?
1. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36). What did Martin Luther and Jerry Falwell say? “If anyone guesses, God would change the date.”
2. The earth will end with the coming of Jesus. It will not pollute or destroy itself to death.
3. God promised to not curse the earth again. “And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake . . . nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease”(Gen. 8:21-22).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com.
