The Problem with Dates

There are people who are focused on the date of the Second Coming of Christ.

Jesus clearly stated that no man knows the day, or the hour, but the Father only.  He gave a clue as to the conditions, but not the date.

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The problem with being date conscious is that it leads to discouragement, disappointment, and even to a point of abandoning faith when something does not happen the way one “thinks” it should happen.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This is a grave danger.

Rather than look to dates, we should be looking to “occupy” until Jesus comes.

Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

 

Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

What that looks like for each individual differs according to their responsibilities before God, gifts and callings, and place in the body of Christ.  Nevertheless, we each have jobs to do and it behooves us to be doing those things rather than waiting around for Jesus to come again.

Jesus defeated satan at the cross.  He left the work of enforcing what he did to believers … through faith, the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, the power of God, and the promises of God.  We have a job to do.  And actually, we, by doing our jobs, will hasten the Second Coming of Christ.  If Jesus is not here when we think he should be here, it is maybe because, as the proverb goes, “the ball is on our court” and we should be on the court playing rather than waiting for Jesus to do our job.

II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

 

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

 

Job 34:11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.