What "if" Jesus Christ did come back on May 21, 2011 of this year? What "if"? ... I am fully aware of what Jesus said in Matthew 24:39.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."
Date setting is definitely out of the question according to Jesus' own words. We are not to set dates for the coming of Jesus. May 21, 2011, December 21, 2012, etc. In fact, the messenger to the Remnant Church has well warned us against making such claims based on future dates. Notice a few statements from her writings:
Many who have called themselves Adventists have been time-setters. Time after time has been set for Christ to come, but repeated failures have been the result. The definite time of our Lord’s coming is declared to be beyond the ken of mortals. Even the angels, who minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation, know not the day nor the hour. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”—Testimonies for the Church 4:307 (1879).
You will not be able to say that He will come in one, two, or five years, neither are you to put off His coming by stating that it may not be for ten or twenty years.—The Review and Herald, March 22, 1892.
The exact time of the second coming of the Son of man is God’s mystery.—The Desire of Ages, 633 (1898).
Also, notice this key statement by Ellen G. White:
I plainly stated at the Jackson camp meeting to these fanatical parties that they were doing the work of the adversary of souls; they were in darkness. They claimed to have great light that probation would close in October, 1884. I there stated in public that the Lord had been pleased to show me that there would be no definite time in the message given of God since 1844.—Selected Messages 2:73 (1885).
Our position has been one of waiting and watching, with no time-proclamation to intervene between the close of the prophetic periods in 1844 and the time of our Lord’s coming.—Manuscript Releases 10:270 (1888).
The people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time [Revelation 10:4-6], reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844.—The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:971 (1900).
( For more statements, see the book "Last Day Events", chapter 3)
From the Messenger of the Lord and Jesus' own words, the message is pretty plain. Don't set dates or a specific time for Jesus to return. No one knows that exact date or hour, except the Father, the Son (in His divinity and glorified human body), and the Holy Spirit. Neither Angels, nor man, nor even Satan himself knows. Only the Godhead and the Trinity. You have been warned!
Date Setting
Date setting causes people to frown, mock, and ridicule those Christians who perhaps with Good intention, are following God according to the light they have. However, the results of such sincere but erroneous work brings people to distrust and disbelieve the true warning of Jesus' soon coming. In fact, the Apostle Peter puts it this way:
"Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to 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.” 2 Peter 3:3-4
As it is, the Devil is working through the media and Hollywood to ridicule Christians and the Real Second Coming of Christ. He will do all that he can to get people to be unprepared for Christ's True Second Coming. The Devil knows that his time is very short.
"Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 12:12
A short time. That is how much time the Devil has left to deceive people into following false Christ's, false teachers, and false religions. He knows that if he can get people to disbelieve the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they will be deceived by man-made religions and a human-centered spirituality. None can save from the gutter most to the uttermost, but Jesus Christ. He is the One who died for us on the Cross of Calvary and took our sins upon Him. He paid the price, the penalty, and punishment that our sins required. He died as our Substitute. He offers us His perfect life of obedience in exchange for our sinful life of disobedience. By faith, we accept His gift of salvation and pass from death unto life. Wow! How amazing! I want to be ready for Jesus to come, don't you? I can't wait to run to Jesus and give Him a big bear hug! I want Him to say to me, "Welcome Home, my child. Welcome Home". What about you? So how can we be ready today for when Jesus really comes back again?
How to be ready for Jesus to come
The Bible writers from Genesis to Revelation always emphasize the importance of being ready when Jesus comes again by having a personal experience with God. Notice just a few texts.
"After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness." Genesis 15:1-5
"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house." Acts 16:25-33
"There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left ... Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:32-33, 39-43
These texts teach us the importance of having a personal experience with God in our life. In other words, we must have personal faith in Jesus Christ that leads us to make a life commitment to Jesus. We must believe and accept Him as Savior, Lord, and Friend. We must spend time with Him every day just for the purpose of getting to know Him better. For in the end, when Jesus returns, He will take us with Him because He knows us, not because of "what" we know about Him. There is a big difference. Dates, doctrines, and commandments are important. However, a superficial knowledge of just knowing "about Jesus" will not be enough. We need to personally get to know Him by spending time in His presence every single day. When we do, we become one of Jesus' loyal friends. Let us enjoy spending time with Jesus today, by reading His Love Letter that He left us in the Book we call the Bible. Let's take it up today, and read His Story as for the First Time. Grab a new translation or a new version of the Bible, and take some quality time to sit in the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords. When you do, you will be ready for Jesus to come!
Thought of the Day: Getting to know Jesus Christ is the the most important thing in your life. Knowing Him, is having true life, and life abundantly.
~ Pastor Sal Garcia
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