Please don't date set!

“The apostolic church thought more about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ than about death and heaven. The early Christians were looking, not for a cleft in the ground called a grave but for a cleavage in the sky called Glory.” Alexander MacLaren

 Recently, California pastor and the head of the church, Harvest Christian Fellowship, Greg Laurie, claimed in a sermon that the Hamas’ attack on Israel was predicted in the scriptures 2,500 years ago. In his sermon on October 8^th, Laurie said, “that End Times events were foreshadowed to take place around Jerusalem…if you get up in the morning and read this headline, ‘Russia Attacks Israel,’ fasten your seatbelt because you’re seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in your lifetime before your very eyes.”

  While I appreciate that Laurie went on to say that we don’t know when Jesus will return, I believe he overstepped what the Bible tells us. No one can connect a straight line from the attack on Israel by Hamas with Old Testament prophecies. Yet, because of what is happening in Israel many well-meaning Christians are asking, “Is what is happening in Israel today the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?”  The simple and I believe biblical answer is, “No one knows.” What is true is that we must be very careful about reading current events into the Bible.

  As believers, we grieve over the horrific events of October 7^th. Like any other nation, Israel has every right to defend itself. We must remember these militant Islamic groups don’t believe Israel has a right to exist and will not be satisfied with Israel being driven from the Middle East but will only be satisfied with the extermination of every Jew on the planet. It’s impossible to negotiate with someone who wants you annihilated.

  Modern day Israel was born on May 14, 1948. At the end of World War II sympathy for the Jews increased after the Holocaust. A year prior to that, the United Nations proposed a partition of Palestine for Jews. While Jews approved the plan, Arabs opposed it.

  Once Israel declared its independence as a nation five Arab nations declared war on the fledgling country. Unbelievably Israel won and many Palestinians fled. Another war erupted in 1967, the Six Day War. Israel was outnumbered 30-1 and again won. The Yom Kipper War erupted in 1973 and Israel defeated their enemies again. There has been bloodshed in the Middle East for centuries. While we long for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict, no lasting peace will be achieved until Christ returns.

  God is not done with His chosen people, Israel, though something like 50% of Jews claim to be atheists. Personally, I believe that the promises God made to Israel in the Old Testament will be literally fulfilled – in God’s time when Jesus Christ returns.

  This conflict is very complicated, and one cannot also justify the often brutal treatment by Israelis of Palestinians. Yet, nothing justifies the massacre of civilians or terrorism as Hamas did recently. To equate what Hamas has done in this recent attack to Israeli brutality isn’t a moral equivalent. Yet, our love for Israel must not negate our love for Arabs and Muslims, “For God so loved the world…” The gospel is global.

  When events like these take place, some begin to read today’s news into ancient prophecy. Others date set. The Bible warns us to be cautious with prophecy and to not date set. The date-setting predictions people make have always been wrong. Throughout history, self-proclaimed prophets, well-meaning preachers, and outright charlatans have declared that a specific date was the day that Jesus would return, and then He didn’t. Those prophets had just proven they were not true prophets (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Here are some reasons that we must not date-set.

  Date setting contradicts Jesus’ clear teaching. While the Bible does promise Christ’s return, Jesus Himself stated that no one could know the time: “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows” (Mark 13:32). It’s hard to imagine intentionally avoiding Jesus’ words (which are also recorded in Matthew and Luke), but I surmise that a desire to sell books or gain followers is more valuable to some than truth. Anyone who proposes a date for Christ’s return is directly opposing Christ Himself. We must honor all of our Lord’s teaching, whether it pertains to the past, present or future.

  Date setting claims more knowledge than Jesus had. Whether you interpret Jesus’ words in Mark 13:32 in relation to the Rapture or in relation to His return to earth to establish His kingdom, Christ did not claim to know the date. It is both wrong and arrogant to claim to have more knowledge than Jesus.

  Date setting eradicates the imminency of Christ’s return. Once a date for Christ’s return is set and announced, the implication is that Christ could not return before that date. That contradicts the New Testament’s teaching of imminency (that Jesus could return at any moment). Rather than living ready for Christ’s return, we look for signs or events preceding His return.

  Signs are not for the Church. The Apostle Paul’s instructions were to “wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath” (1Thessalonians 1:10). Let’s not lose our focus or the joy of our blessed hope (Titus 2:13) by embracing the fallacy of date-setting. Christ’s return could happen at any moment.

  As wars take place around the world, with pandemics and other global crises, the fear of end-time catastrophes grips many hearts. It won’t be long and yet another New York Times bestseller filled with dates and frightful predictions will hit the shelves, or some TV preacher will be on the airwaves with the latest prediction. Yet before that happens, the moment could arrive. Christ could come and He could come today. His return is imminent. We are wise to remember His words and be ready: “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows.” Let’s choose to be among those who are prepared and waiting for His return rather than trying to force God’s Word into today’s headlines.

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