Predicting Christ's Return

May 29 2011May 21st , 2011 came and went without any of Harold Camping’s rapturepredictions coming true. Now he has been wrong twice (he made same predictionfor 1994). He is one of many who have prophesied an exact date for the raptureor the end, and all of them have been wrong, just like any who will do so in thefuture will be wrong. The Word of God, the Bible is crystal clear when it comes toanyone purporting to know God’s timing:"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36 (NIV)"You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." Luke 12:40 (NASB)A true prophet of God who truly speaks for God bears an awesomeresponsibility, especially when it comes to predicting future events. In the fifthbook of the Bible, Deuteronomy, God speaks to this, “… any prophet who fakesit, who claims to speak in my name something I haven't commanded him tosay, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. You may bewondering among yourselves, ‘How can we tell the difference, whether it wasGOD who spoke or not?’ Here's how: If what the prophet spoke in GOD'sname doesn't happen, then obviously GOD wasn't behind it; the prophetmade it up. Forget about him.” Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (MSG)The New Testament does not uphold the standard of putting false prophetsto death, but the standard for discerning real prophets from false ones holds,there is no margin of error or revising things when they fail to come to pass. Atrue prophet, any spokesperson for God is never at liberty to just make it up. Allprophets and prophecies have to meet a twofold test, what is prophesied has tocome to pass and it cannot contradict what God has already clearly revealed in thescriptures.What is sad about men like Harold Camping is that they discredit not onlythemselves, but they deceive many who genuinely believe, and they become astumbling block to the lost (those who do not believe in Christ). However, as clearas Bible is in regard to anyone being able to predict the day and hour of Christ’sreturn it is equally clear about the certainty of His return and the judgment ofGod. Thus both Jesus and the Apostles continually warned and admonished to beprepared for both God’s judgment and Christ’s return.Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep(died), or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe thatJesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesusthose who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, wetell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord,will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himselfwill come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of thearchangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will risefirst. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up togetherwith them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with theLord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:6 (NIV, parenthesis mine)"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”John 14:1-6 (NIV)To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans