People love to make predictions, from the outcome of a sports game to the weather for the next week, to investment opportunities. Predictions are made every day. Even in religion, you can find predictions, especially when it involves Jesus’ return. There are predictions about His return that have been made dating all the way back to 66 AD. As a matter of fact, there has been a minimum of 121 failed predictions made about Christ’s return. There are also at least 8 future predictions on record from people who believe they have figured out when Jesus will come back.
Some people have viewed these reports as jokes, while others have taken them as truth, planning their lives around these false dates.
I use the word “false” because no one knows, nor will anyone ever figure out the exact time of Christ’s return.
In Mark 13 and Matthew 24 we are told that no one knows the day or the hour and it will stay that way until that mysterious day arrives.
Instead of speculating about things that God has chosen not to reveal to us, we should spend our time focusing on what God has revealed to us in His word.
The Thessalonians were stressing out about some misinformation they had received concerning the return of Jesus. It was causing confusion in some and serious distress in others. More grievously it resulted in them neglecting the truth that had already been taught to them by Paul when he was with them.
Warren Wiersbe said that “the purpose of Bible prophecy is not for us to make a calendar, but to build character.”
We have not been given a lot of information about the second coming of Jesus, and that is okay. We know that He will return, and when He does it will be a glorious event for all of His children.
But for now, we need to focus on the truth that has been revealed to us in His word. What does God want us to do? He wants us to be humble, to do justice and to love mercy (Micah 6:8). He wants us to love Him with all of our hearts and minds and to love others with a sacrificial love that shows itself in words and actions.
We are called to know His word well and to make Him known to all who will listen because He will return, and while He will come to restore all things to their former glory, He will also come to judge those who refuse to accept Him as the Son of God and Savior of the nations.
The return of Christ is a glorious truth that we should be so very thankful for, but the Lord has not given us much information about this event. Let’s humbly accept God’s silence in this area and trust that the things He has revealed to us in the Scripture are more than enough for us to know.
Looking to Jesus,
Week 5 Challenge
What are you doing with your time? Are you spending it thinking about frivolous things? Are you getting caught up in teachings that are not grounded in the truth of God’s word? Or are you using the days that God has given you to know him better and to love those around you well?
Write down the things that seem to occupy your thoughts and time. Are they helpful in your pursuit of knowing the Lord better and growing in godliness? Why or why not?
Reading Plan
Memory Verse
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