Stop Date Setting

On this day in 2012, the Rapture or the end of the world was to happen. Seven years later the Rapture was to happen on December 8th according to a chart I saw. Now others believe the Rapture is imminent. The 1st Century Christians thought He would come back in their lifetime. Every generation since has thought the world was so evil Jesus surely was coming back and had signs to prove it.

Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

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.

Is Verse 32 that unclear? Stop it! It only hurts the Gospel with your silly trying to know what even Christ does not know. If your pastor ever starts predicting the Rapture will happen on a date run from that church and never return!

Wesley had it right when he said to plan your life like Jesus is not coming back for a hundred years, but live it like He is coming back tonight.

We believe that mankind will have six thousand years and then the thousand year Millennium with Christ and David on thrones in Jerusalem. After that, a new heaven and earth and eternity. If we use the Hebrew calendar, as we should, that means we have awhile as 2023 became the year 5784 in September meaning we have 216 years before the year 6000 if their calendar is 100% accurate and if we will have a full six thousand years.

I think we hurt the message and seal unbelievers in their unbelief when we jump on the Rapture train or declare that this is it and Jesus will be back in a New York minute when we do not know.

2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

We may be a part of the cause of that attitude. If we would spend more time in evangelism and seeking to walk in righteousness and less time guessing when we will be lifted out of here we might have more impact on the world and scoffers.

Yes, there are a great many things that look like we are close, but then again as bad as things are this may still be a pre-game warmup. We need to first make sure we are walking in the power of the Spirit then we need to come out of our church huddle and go on the offensive turning the world upside down. We should be engaging doing our Father's business so that we will be taken out while serving. Indeed, an ideal situation would be that we would vanish right after leading someone to Christ.

Dates do not matter much when you are in the thick of spiritual warfare. Put down your calendar. Pick up your sword of the Spirit and fight for the souls of men on their way to Hell. Dump the American Dream theology and get back to truth as he who dies with the most toys does not win, but he who wins the most souls will shine throughout eternity.

So neither did the Mayans or anyone else past or present know the day. We can see the season, but the ticket is to have your ticket so that when He comes you are gone. The Rapture is supposed to happen today and if it does not it is just another false prophecy making Christians look stupid to the unbelievers. If your pastor ever starts predicting the Rapture will happen on a date run from that church and never return! Maranatha!!