It has come to my attention since last year that there is a growing unrest in the Christian community. Why? Because for some reason some of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, have gotten the idea that Jesus is set to return on May 21, 2011! I was even more upset to find out that a well-known *Christian radio host* has been expounding on the same thing!
This particular Christian radio station in New York City is my favorite because they regularly read from the Scriptures and play ( what is known to folks my age as ) those "old fashioned hymns". But since this particular person has taken over and started teaching this FALSE AND ERRONEOUS DOCTRINE, I've stopped listening to the station.
I thank God this person has been blessed with the resources in order to place sattilites into space, in order to beam the Gospel into far-flung countries. Fulfilling the Great Commission so that many have the opportunity come to Christ. But, this doctrine of Christ returning on a specific date is DEAD WRONG and I will NOT listen to it!
Why? because the bible clearly says:
Mathew 23:3-42 ( King James Version )
Mat 24:3 ¶ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15 ¶ When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
at 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Mat 24:29 ¶ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:32 ¶ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 ¶ But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
What did Jesus Himself say? Take heed that no one fools you, because many will come in MY ( Jesus') name ( Mat 24:4-5 )! The day and hour of His return is known only by His Father ( Mat 24:36 )!. Therefore since we don't know, we should remain watchful because He can return ANY DAY OR ANY HOUR ( Mat 24:42 )!
Most of all we as believers should not be fooled ( Math 24:24)! Jesus Christ specifically warned that even the elect will be fooled, but you don't have to be one of them!
The bible also says in Deut 18:22 ( Kings James Version )
Deu 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
You see back in those days ( Old Testament ) the Israelites "stoned" people for doing this! These days God uses other ways to smite ( strike down ) people who scatter his flock and hurt His lambs. Our responsibility to NOT BE DISTRACTED BY ERRONEOUS DOCTRINES AND TO KEEP OUR EYES FIRMLY FIXED UPON THE PRIZE!
Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He would not have any of us be ignorant. I pray that He has used this humble blog entry, as one of His instruments to instruct, warn and encourage His people.
Let it be so ( AMEN ).
