My family became engaged in a conversation last night regarding the hubbub around the prediction that judgment day or the rapture of the Church is going to occur on May 21, 2011, and the end of the world is going to take place on October 21, 2011. I posed the question to everyone “if this prediction is true, what does this mean to you?”
For the sake of clarity, I do not accept the notion that any man knows the exact day and time of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) return.
Everyone expressed how they would want to repent of any sins they have committed; those wrongdoings they were aware of; and those acts they may not have recognized as sin before a holy God. My older children communicated (if this prediction is indeed true) they would want to take this period of time (between yesterday and May 21st), to “get things together.” After inquiring about what “things” they needed to “get together” and having a time of repentance, I took the opportunity to share with them…
The greatest concern with providing a specific date and/or time regarding Messiah’s return is this: What makes any of us so certain we are going to wake up and see tomorrow (let alone May 21st)? As a matter of fact, how do we even know we are going to rise up from this table at this very moment? What guarantees do we have that Jesus is not going to part the sky tonight and return for us? James 4:13-16 (KJV) Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. The Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) reads: Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a city, stay there a year trading and make a profit”! You don’t even know if you will be alive tomorrow! For all you are is a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears. Instead, you ought to say, “If ADONAI wants it to happen, we will live” to do this or that. But as it is, in your arrogance you boast. All such boasting is evil.
What authority do any of us have to think we have the exact timing of His return determined? Was the precise date given by revelation of the Holy Spirit or were these calculations formulated by man’s so called intellect? Far too often people spend too much time claiming to understand the things of God from an intellectual standpoint. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (CJB) Now the natural man does not receive the things from the Spirit of God – to him they are nonsense! Moreover, he is unable to grasp them, because they are evaluated through the Spirit. I do firmly believe Jesus’ return is imminent (Mark 14:61-62)! No one can accurately articulate the exact day or hour.
The main point I wish to convey here is – stop taking things for granted! The only way to be prepared for either His return, or your departure from this life, is to accept Yeshua (Jesus) as your Lord and Savior. Confess this with your mouth and believe this in your heart that Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb for your sins and that He paid the complete penalty for you (Romans 10:9-10). Acceptance of Him and His sacrifice is the only way you can be reconciled to God! Invite Jesus into your heart right now! Make Him Lord over every area of your life! Renounce and repent of your sins and, while you are here, live (daily) a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. Do not ever assume you have time to get yourself together – you may not. Jesus said in Matthew 25:13 (KJV) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
AB
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