Time continues to move on long past those of old, whom many have put their faith in as to the end of time. Men like William Miller, an Adventist preacher, who in the 1830’s prophesied that Jesus would return in 1843. The world continued past that date. He said that he had miscalculated, when in fact, his prophecy failed two more times to be exact, 1844 and 1845. Of course, time is still marching on by the time that Charles T. Russell, leader of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, taught that Jesus came to the earth (invisibly) in 1874, and that the ages would end in 1914. Yet, time is still moving on.
While many other dates have been predicted, here we are over a hundred years later from Russell’s folly (that which proves him to be a false prophet, Deut. 18:22). Recently, there’s a buzz about 2012 being the end of time. While many today try to place modern wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other events as “signs of the times,” we are to be reminded of Jesus’ words: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matt. 24:36). While many have put their faith in the “false” words of men, let us put our faith in the “true” words of the Christ and His apostles: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:10-12).
The words of Jesus and His apostles should give faith and hope in the second coming of our Lord, but also give us a clue that NO MAN KNOWS when Christ will return. It will be unexpected, in fact, therefore Peter admonishes Christians to be ready, having our lives in order. Have you obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 1:7-9) and are you faithful in your service to the Lord (Rev. 2:10)?
