Some in past and present try to set dates for such return. One date setter was William Miller who set the date for October 22, 1843, based on the 2300 days of Daniel 8:13. Nothing happened, and he recalculated to October 22, 1844, and again nothing happened. The Adventist group split then, and Mrs. Ellen G. White became prophetess and leader. She said the mistake was that the Lord did not come to the earthly sanctuary but to a heavenly sanctuary on that day. Yet, the Bible tells us that Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary long ago (Hebrews 3:1, 8:1-2, 9:42, 12:2 Acts 1:11, 2:35, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:19-23, Colossians 3:1, I Peter 3:22, Revelation 3:21)
To try to set an exact date or hour of a return or rapture, is unwise and impossible.
There are so many discrepancies in calculating years of the calendar, months, days, and it is a different hour in each part of the world, so if we knew an hour, for which part of the world would it be?
There are always scoffers, mocking the talk of a soon return or rapture.
II Peter 3:3-4
Knowing this first, that there shall come, in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 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 creation.
Yet, the Bible is one third prophecy, and prophecy is a revelation from God of what He wishes us to know of His purpose. Prophecy is written for our comfort, and to give us hope. The Thessalonicans needed some more of this hope, and so do we.
Romans 15:4
...for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope.
Prophecy is being more clearly understood in our day, and the Bible predicted a great revelation to envelop this last age.
Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
The whole book of Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, are opening up to us, with new and fresh understanding previously not fully understood.
We are in the last age, we are in the generation, we can know this, for the Bible may say we will not know the day nor hour, but it says we should know the generation, the times and the seasons.
Luke 21:29-31
Behold, the fig tree, and all the trees, when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise, ye when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is at hand.
When the fig tree blossomed, i.e. Israel became a nation, we knew we had entered the generation, that would not die off, before the coming of the Lord. On March 14, 1948, Israel became a nation.
Matthew 24:33-34
When ye see all thse things, know that it is near, even at the door... verily, this generation, shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.
Many other things confirm that we are near the rapture and some seven years later, the second coming of Jesus. The so-called seven thousand year theory is further confirmation.
II Peter 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day... The Lord is not slack concerning His coming...
The millennium (1000 years) is like the seventh day of the creation week. It will be a thousand year sabbath rest, as was the sabbath day of that creation week. This was taught in the Book of Enoch, by Barnabas, Ireneus, and many others down through the years. How close are we to the end of the six thousand??? Well, mistakes in the Gregorian calendar are calculated to between 2 and 17 years, so, with seven at least to go until the second coming, we are in the few at the most.
We are to be sign watchers, we are to know the times and the seasons. We are to know we are in the generation, and yet, we are told, occupy till I come. So with all the speculation, and calculation, we need to still keep on with the work of the Lord. The nearness of His coming should spur us to new growth, renewed joy, and enthusiasm, but should not make us sit on a mountain top, idly awaiting a particular day. We have work to do, and the night cometh when no man can work. So till then, we should hurriedly finish up our work for the Lord.
Almost 200 years ago, some Bible scholars made a list of things they should expect to see, before the Lord Jesus would come. They began to watch for these things to happen.
What was on the list then???
1. The Jews would return to their homeland.
(1948 to present sees this happening.)
2. The Hebrew language would be revived. (It was a dead, unused language at the time, and in 1948, it was revived.)
3. Russia would become a world power, and in 1914, it started, and continued, and finally became one of the two super powers of the world.
4. A ten nation confederacy would arise in Europe, and in the last few years, we find they have opened borders, combined armed forces to a great degree, developed a common currency, and have a ruling board for union.
5. China would become a political force. This obviously has happened during the 1960's through the present time.
6. They also predicted frequent earthquakes and astronomical signs, and the earthquakes have multiplied many times previous levels, and signs and wonders, even some man-made ones, have startled the world.
7. Other predictions on their list, included, sexual immorality will be rampant, a strong trend toward spiritism and the occult, apostasy and heresy in the church would rise in great measure, in the midst of an effort to create a one world church. The attempt to create a Chrislam church, merging those who see Jesus as Deity, with those who see Him only as a prophet under Mohammed, and a false god named Allah, is ensuing in our days. Others are wanting us to accept Mormons into Christianity, when they see Jesus as the brother of the devil, and unable to atone for our sins. That one church they try to create is not the church of Jesus. He is outside knocking on that door, unwanted by those inside, in fact, they do not realize He is absent from that horrific church.
Certainly these things have occurred.
And startling other fulfillments of Bible prophecy have occurred. The Lord knows the exact time of His return now (though while on earth, the exact day was not known to Him), and He and the Father, and the Holy Spirit are more anxious than we are, for the Spirit and the bride say, COME.
The first coming of Jesus was expected, and many were watching closely for Him, for the signs of the star, the message of the wise men, the preaching of the shepherds, and the Scriptures had all confirmed that the Messiah was soon to present Himself.
Daniel had prophesied that in 69 sevens of years after the command to build the Temple, the Messiah would come (Daniel 9:25-27). Some years later the command was made by Artaxerxes was made to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:1-6). The date of that event was in the month of Nisan in the 20th year of Artaxerxes which was in 445 BC. If the 69 times 7, (483 years) were the Biblical 360 day years, we have 173,880 days after the decree of March 14, 445 B.C. that the Messiah was to present Himself. The day that Jesus went to Jerusalem on the Sunday before the passover, was April 6, 32 A.D., exactly 173,880 days after the prescribed starting day. The accuracy of Daniels prophecy, if correctly interpreted, should have alerted many in Israel to be ready for the Messiah to come. In that prophecy of Daniel, the last seven of the 70 sevens is yet to be fulfilled, and events therein are spelled out to the day, 1260 and 1260, plus 30, and plus an extra 45 days shown for other events. So, we know Jesus will soon be coming, and we may not know the exact day nor the hour, but we know it is soon. We can trust the rest of prophecy to be literally fulfilled, as was the former events.
We live in the last days, and we should have unwavering faith, as did the Thessalonians, and to continue growing in such faith. The fact and hope of the coming of Jesus should keep us excited and anxious. We cannot waver for His coming is soon. It was important that Thessalonians not waver, and so much more vital, that in these last, last days, we not waver either.
To try to set an exact date or hour of a return or rapture, is unwise and impossible.
There are so many discrepancies in calculating years of the calendar, months, days, and it is a different hour in each part of the world, so if we knew an hour, for which part of the world would it be?
There are always scoffers, mocking the talk of a soon return or rapture.
II Peter 3:3-4
Knowing this first, that there shall come, in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 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 creation.
Yet, the Bible is one third prophecy, and prophecy is a revelation from God of what He wishes us to know of His purpose. Prophecy is written for our comfort, and to give us hope. The Thessalonicans needed some more of this hope, and so do we.
Romans 15:4
...for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope.
Prophecy is being more clearly understood in our day, and the Bible predicted a great revelation to envelop this last age.
Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
The whole book of Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, are opening up to us, with new and fresh understanding previously not fully understood.
We are in the last age, we are in the generation, we can know this, for the Bible may say we will not know the day nor hour, but it says we should know the generation, the times and the seasons.
Luke 21:29-31
Behold, the fig tree, and all the trees, when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise, ye when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is at hand.
When the fig tree blossomed, i.e. Israel became a nation, we knew we had entered the generation, that would not die off, before the coming of the Lord. On March 14, 1948, Israel became a nation.
Matthew 24:33-34
When ye see all thse things, know that it is near, even at the door... verily, this generation, shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.
Many other things confirm that we are near the rapture and some seven years later, the second coming of Jesus. The so-called seven thousand year theory is further confirmation.
II Peter 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day... The Lord is not slack concerning His coming...
The millennium (1000 years) is like the seventh day of the creation week. It will be a thousand year sabbath rest, as was the sabbath day of that creation week. This was taught in the Book of Enoch, by Barnabas, Ireneus, and many others down through the years. How close are we to the end of the six thousand??? Well, mistakes in the Gregorian calendar are calculated to between 2 and 17 years, so, with seven at least to go until the second coming, we are in the few at the most.
We are to be sign watchers, we are to know the times and the seasons. We are to know we are in the generation, and yet, we are told, occupy till I come. So with all the speculation, and calculation, we need to still keep on with the work of the Lord. The nearness of His coming should spur us to new growth, renewed joy, and enthusiasm, but should not make us sit on a mountain top, idly awaiting a particular day. We have work to do, and the night cometh when no man can work. So till then, we should hurriedly finish up our work for the Lord.
Almost 200 years ago, some Bible scholars made a list of things they should expect to see, before the Lord Jesus would come. They began to watch for these things to happen.
What was on the list then???
1. The Jews would return to their homeland.
(1948 to present sees this happening.)
2. The Hebrew language would be revived. (It was a dead, unused language at the time, and in 1948, it was revived.)
3. Russia would become a world power, and in 1914, it started, and continued, and finally became one of the two super powers of the world.
4. A ten nation confederacy would arise in Europe, and in the last few years, we find they have opened borders, combined armed forces to a great degree, developed a common currency, and have a ruling board for union.
5. China would become a political force. This obviously has happened during the 1960's through the present time.
6. They also predicted frequent earthquakes and astronomical signs, and the earthquakes have multiplied many times previous levels, and signs and wonders, even some man-made ones, have startled the world.
7. Other predictions on their list, included, sexual immorality will be rampant, a strong trend toward spiritism and the occult, apostasy and heresy in the church would rise in great measure, in the midst of an effort to create a one world church. The attempt to create a Chrislam church, merging those who see Jesus as Deity, with those who see Him only as a prophet under Mohammed, and a false god named Allah, is ensuing in our days. Others are wanting us to accept Mormons into Christianity, when they see Jesus as the brother of the devil, and unable to atone for our sins. That one church they try to create is not the church of Jesus. He is outside knocking on that door, unwanted by those inside, in fact, they do not realize He is absent from that horrific church.
Certainly these things have occurred.
And startling other fulfillments of Bible prophecy have occurred. The Lord knows the exact time of His return now (though while on earth, the exact day was not known to Him), and He and the Father, and the Holy Spirit are more anxious than we are, for the Spirit and the bride say, COME.
The first coming of Jesus was expected, and many were watching closely for Him, for the signs of the star, the message of the wise men, the preaching of the shepherds, and the Scriptures had all confirmed that the Messiah was soon to present Himself.
Daniel had prophesied that in 69 sevens of years after the command to build the Temple, the Messiah would come (Daniel 9:25-27). Some years later the command was made by Artaxerxes was made to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:1-6). The date of that event was in the month of Nisan in the 20th year of Artaxerxes which was in 445 BC. If the 69 times 7, (483 years) were the Biblical 360 day years, we have 173,880 days after the decree of March 14, 445 B.C. that the Messiah was to present Himself. The day that Jesus went to Jerusalem on the Sunday before the passover, was April 6, 32 A.D., exactly 173,880 days after the prescribed starting day. The accuracy of Daniels prophecy, if correctly interpreted, should have alerted many in Israel to be ready for the Messiah to come. In that prophecy of Daniel, the last seven of the 70 sevens is yet to be fulfilled, and events therein are spelled out to the day, 1260 and 1260, plus 30, and plus an extra 45 days shown for other events. So, we know Jesus will soon be coming, and we may not know the exact day nor the hour, but we know it is soon. We can trust the rest of prophecy to be literally fulfilled, as was the former events.
We live in the last days, and we should have unwavering faith, as did the Thessalonians, and to continue growing in such faith. The fact and hope of the coming of Jesus should keep us excited and anxious. We cannot waver for His coming is soon. It was important that Thessalonians not waver, and so much more vital, that in these last, last days, we not waver either.
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