Revelation for Beginners

REVELATION AND MAY 21, 2011

March 17, 2011 on 2:42 pm | In REVELATION AND CURRENT EVENTS | Comments Off on REVELATION AND MAY 21, 2011

There seems to be a spike in interest in end time events lately, perhaps because of the natural disasters occurring. In the current (April 2011) Reader’s Digest there is an ad stating “The Bible guarantees the end of the world will begin with Judgment Day, May 21, 2011.” I can guarantee that will not take place on that date. How can I be so sure? Let me explain . I have watched this type of prediction come and go through the years, and each time I say the same thing–it isn’t going to happen. The danger in predicting such a date is that it becomes a little like the boy who cried “Wolf!” But since each time he did so he was just joking, eventually no one believed him when a real wolf actually did appear. The organization behind this message is based in California, and according to a news article on CNN, they have actually organized bus caravans to different parts of the country to warn everybody what is coming. They apparently maintain that on May 21 the rapture will take place to be followed by 153 days of death and horror before the world actually ends on October 21. Keep in mind that the same leader of this group also predicted the same thing for September 6, 1994. They are no doubt sincere in their belief and their zeal is commendable. Yet in Romans 10:2 the apostle Paul commenting on some people of his day stated, “They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” So what does the Bible actually have to say about this?

A previous post about 2012 and the hype associated with it is relevant to this date also. The Bible in Matthew 24:26 gives the definitive statement about this concept of predicting dates. Jesus is speaking: “But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Still later, as recorded in Acts 1:6, 7, the disciples asked Jesus after His resurrection if He was going to set up His kingdom at that time. His response was, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” Those references seem pretty clear, don’t they? Revelation gives no dates regarding the time for the end of the world. So how does this group deal with this? Their response is that “the rules have changed now.” Really? Who decided that? In Malachi 3:6 God says, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” Well, they will say, the book of Daniel has been unsealed and new truths revealed. That statement is true, but not as they apply it. The book of Daniel has been unsealed, and there are some dates prophesied (especially in Daniel 7-9), but none that pinpoint the date of the return of Christ. I plan to start a new category soon on how Daniel and Revelation relate to and explain each other and will go into more detail then. I have studied these books for a number of years and never have found a text giving the date for the end of the world.

One other item to note. This group, according to the CNN article, also believes that the elect are predetermined. If that were true, they why bother proclaiming their message–those who are going to be saved have already been selected and it matters not what others do, since they couldn’t be saved anyway.

The consistent message of Jesus Himself was always “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” Matthew 24:44. And if I should die tonight, that would be the same as the end of the world for me. So while we may know that His coming is near “even at the doors,” (and I do believe it is near) it is not for us to know specifics. We are simply admonished to be in right relationship to God at all times. Then the timing is irrelevant as far as our personal salvation is concerned. The most important thing? “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3