When will Christ return?

20.MAY.11

Editor: Unquestionably, there is hardly any disagreement among orthodox Christianity that Jesus pre-existed in heaven, that he came to earth about two thousand years ago via the miraculous virgin birth.{{more}} Having lived a sinless life, he was crucified but arose triumphantly from the grave, ascended back to heaven and promised his disciples that he will come again (cf. John 14:1-3). Notwithstanding, he gave them no date relative to his return except that they should “…be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:36-44). Nevertheless, there have been many religious speculators over the past years. They come and go, deceiving and being deceived.

We are now hearing from some religious groups that God has given us in advance the exact time of the Day of Judgment. They boldly assert that May 21, 2011, is that day. The argument to substantiate their claim is that when God told Noah that there were seven days left prior to the forty-day-forty-night destruction of the earth by rain (Gen. 7:4), this seven days can be seen as 7,000 years, since according to Peter, “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (II Pet. 3:8). So, since the flood occurred in the year 4990 B.C., and since Noah preached that mankind had seven days or 7,000 years to escape destruction, 2011 A.D. is exactly 7,000 years after the year 4990 B.C. when Noah preached that warning. Their arrival at May 21 is based on the date of the cross, which they purport was Friday, April 1, 33 A.D., exactly 722,500 years to May 21, 2011, also known as the day for the Rapture. Coincidentally, the Rapture and the Judgment will take place on this day.

Frankly speaking, it will not be surprising if some people are deceived into believing these false teachers. In 1831, a religious leader by the name of William Miller began preaching that Jesus will come and the end of the world will occur sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. It so happened in 1843 there were unusual signs and wonders in the heavens, the greatest meteoric shower of all time blazed and lighted the skies for some six hours. Also, about the same time there were violent shocks from earthquakes in India, Mexico, England and the West Indies. All of this helped make many disciples of Mr. Miller’s belief that the end of the world was at hand. But March 21, 1844, of course, passed without incident.

Miller then rechecked his figures and predictions. He concluded that he had made a mistake. But he set another date; this time, for sure, he (Jesus) was to come on the day of October 22, 1844, just seven months from the date he originally set. An intensive campaign began and many converts were won to his cause. Groups were organized, and hundreds of thousands of pieces of literature were distributed in an effort to spread the prophetic propaganda. People gave away or destroyed personal belongings, storekeepers opened their doors to the public and abandoned their merchandise. Farmers left their fields with their crops to rot or be choked by weeds and grass.

Then came the day, the second coming of Christ, foretold by the false prophet Miller, October 22, 1844. The disciples of Miller prepared to meet the Lord. Dressed in white robes, they left homes and gathered on hilltops, and in cemeteries where they expected to rise with the resurrected dead.

All through the night, there was a struggle between faith and unbelief. Dawn came and the sunlight of a new day brightened the eastern horizon. Christ did not come. Miller’s prediction was a mockery of God. The gloom of Miller’s followers was beyond words to describe. There was anger, weeping, and shamefacedness! The groups disbanded, in shame and embarrassment, with their white robes wrinkled and soiled; and with empty hearts they crept back to empty homes-no food, no furnishings, no businesses, no merchandise and no crops-a deluded and deceived people! William Miller, who remained at home, wept tears of shame and disappointment. He had been so foolish as to preach to the people that he knew when the Lord was coming again.

There is not a man on the earth that knows one thing about when the Lord Jesus will come again. The Jews were told that they should not be afraid of a prophet who spoke presumptuously (Deut.18:20-22). Moreover, when Jesus was on earth he said in Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” In this text we are admonished to watch, for we know not when he shall come again. We must watch and be prepared for his coming, whether it be today, tomorrow or a million years from now.

Mark A. Charles