Predicting Jesus' Return I. Introduction A. We have perhaps heard the joke, "economists have predicted 10 out of the last 4 recessions!" 1. the statement may take us aback for a moment, since we are used to hearing the opposite-- a person wins 2 out of 3 times, or some such thing, with the second column greater than the first 2. the joke is apparent, however, when we realize that many economists have predicted many more recessions than have actually occurred B. The same has occurred over time with the return of Jesus 1. Ever since He spoke regarding His return, man has attempted to determine when it was going to occur 2. Every attempt so far, however, has been proven wrong 3. It can be said: some professing Christianity have predicted 9 out of the last 0 returns of our Lord! C. Let us look at these historical examples of predicting Jesus' return and gain Biblical insights into our Lord's return II. Predictions of Jesus' Return A. The First Century 1. The church in Thessalonica was very concerned regarding Christ's return and Paul's letters reflect that concern 2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: the Thessalonians evidently demonstrated some concerned as to those who die before the Lord returns, as to whether they will receive the reward 3. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3: some had sent letters to Thessalonica to the effect that the Lord returned, but Paul comforts the Thessalonians and gave them many indications as to what was to come. 4. This is consistent with the apocalyptic fervor that had seized Judaism since the second century BCE and continued in that religion until 122 CE; many Christians also obviously had great apocalyptic fervor, and some of these either were in Thessalonica or disturbed some in Thessalonica 5. Paul's words are true and we await their fulfillment; the apocalyptic hope of the Thessalonians and others, however, have yet to be fulfilled. B. 666 CE 1. In Revelation 13:18, the number of the beast is given as "666" 2. Many who lived in the seventh century CE, however, were concerned that the coming of 666 CE would lead to the end of the world 3. We, however, have continued long since 666 CE C. 1000 CE 1. Round numbers tend to lead to concerns over the end of the world 2. Almost every century has seen some predicting the return of Christ at each century's turn 3. the fervor around 1000 CE, the conclusion of the first millennium of the era of Christ, was great 4. Europe was in the midst of many great changes, and these were seen as signs of the end 5. We know, however, that another millennium has already passed since D. The 14th century 1. Many felt that the 14th century was the end of the world! 2. In 1344, the bubonic plague struck Europe-- the Black Death, killing 1/3 of Europe and 1/2 of England! 3. The century also saw the ruinous Hundred Years' War between England and France 4. The 1380s saw the "Great Schism," when two Roman Catholic popes-- one in Rome, one in Avignon, France-- ruled 5. Surely the end had come! 6. And yet here we are, 600+ years later E. 1500 1. See 1000. F. 1666 1. See 666. G. 1844 1. Shortly before 1844, a man named William Miller in America, a premillennialist, was reading Daniel 9 and Revelation and believed he could predict the return of Christ 2. By using the idea that each day in Daniel referred to a year, and calculating the value of "a time, times, and half a time" of Revelation 12:14, he came up with a time between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844 as the return of Christ 3. This idea was warmly received by many, even in the "Restoration Movement!" 4. When March 22, 1844, came, Miller returned to his calculations and recognized a mathematical error, and adjusted his prediction to October 22, 1844 5. When October 23, 1844, came, Miller's reckoning was demonstrated to be false, and to many it was known as the "Great Disappointment" 6. The story does not end there, however-- many Millerites, as his followers were known, began to follow a fellow Millerite who claimed to be a prophetess-- Ellen G. White, who founded the Seventh-Day Adventist denomination 7. She re-interpreted October 22, 1844, as the day upon which the Lord entered the "Holy of Holies" and began a ministry there 8. The only denomination that has ever been founded on a failed prediction H. 1914 1. Many groups, including the Jehovah's Witnesses, using the same types of logic and prooftexts as Miller, predicted that Christ would return in 1914 2. Living now in the early 21st century, we recognize that Christ did not return in 1914 3. To justify themselves, the Jehovah's Witnesses now claim that Jesus did not return per se in 1914, but that Satan was cast to earth in that year per Revelation 19 I. 2000 1. I believe that we are all aware of the manifold predictions of doom and Christ's return in 2000 2. I remember well many television shows on The History Channel and other stations as the millennium change grew near which predicted the end of the world by 2000 or shortly thereafter 3. It is little surprise why The History Channel and other stations have not re-aired those shows: four years after the change and all of the predictions have failed J. Despite all of these various predictions, made either on the basis of current events or supposed Biblical mathematics, the Lord has yet to return, and the world remains K. What should we know about the return of our Lord? III. The Bible on Jesus' Return A. While we can look at these predictions and perhaps give a chuckle over the embarassment and dismay that their failures may have caused, and we may find such predictions to be harmless, they do provide difficulties B. Such persons have done a disservice to Christianity, since failed predictions give the impression that no harm will come and Christ will not return 1. such is a part of human nature 2. We see it in regards to weather forecasting-- if warnings about severe weather are given often and if they are only rarely that severe, people will begin to no longer heed the warnings and place themselves in danger 3. The wolf calling syndrome! C. Let no one be deceived: Christ will return! 1. Matthew 24:36-25:46 2. Acts 17:30-31 3. 2 Peter 3:8-10 4. The book of Revelation 5. The message is clear: our Lord will assuredly return! D. When? We will never know! 1. The Scriptures are clear on more than one occasion-- 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 3:3, 16:15-- that Jesus will return as a "thief in the night." 2. Can we know on what day in particular that a thief will come? 3. The entire idea of the metaphor is that we cannot accurately predict precisely when our Lord will return! 4. I would not be surprised if our Lord avoided and avoids any year or date in/upon which man predicts His return-- no thief would come to a house in which he is expected! E. Many will mock and deride the idea of Christ's return 1. We can certainly see 2 Peter 3:1-7 as referring to today 2. After all, no inspiration has been provided for 1,900 years 3. We are reaching the point at which the period of time between Christ and ourselves is greater than the time between Abraham and Christ! 4. Everything is continuing as it did previously! 5. But the Lord is patient, and time is of no consequence to Him 6. As water was given to destroy the world before, fire is now reserved for its destruction again 7. 2 Peter 3:11-12: let us heed Peter's admonition! F. What, then, are we to do? 1. We have seen that we really cannot predict when Christ will come; we can perhaps find indicators that would lead us to a belief that it will be soon, yet we can also see that such has been done for 2000 years and that time has not yet come. What are we to do? 2. Jesus' parables in explaining the end times in Matthew 24-25 may help us in this regard 3. Matthew 24:42-44 a. Jesus begins by establishing that He will return on a day on which we will not know b. He compares that to a master and, unsurprisingly, a thief-- if the master knew when the thief would enter, he would stay up and be ready for him c. We can only be diligent, therefore, to heed His coming 4. Matthew 24:45-51 a. Jesus then turns to a parable regarding two servants, a faithful and wise one and a wicked one b. The faithful and wise servant, acting in accordance to his master's wishes at all times, has no reason to fear the return of his master c. The wicked servant, however, who acts shamefully and counts on the fact that the master will be delayed, and acts accordingly, will be surprised, and his fate will not be kind 5. Matthew 25:1-13 a. our Lord then compares His return to virgins waiting for the bridegroom for a marriage feast, some who took more oil, some who did not b. those who had more oil entered in, those who did not, and who had gone to get more, did not enter in 6. Matthew 25:14-30 a. The parable of the talents b. The master gives 5, 2, 1 talent to each servant c. when the master returns, the 5 and 2 talent servants doubled the money, the 1 talent servant did nothing d. the 5 and 2 talent servants were blessed, the 1 talent servant lost all he had G. What are we to gain from these parables? 1. We must be constantly prepared for our Lord's return! 2. We must act in a way that our Master could come at any time and we would not be concerned 3. It is comparable to a class and being constantly prepared for a quiz-- if one keeps up and knows the material, there need not be any concern for examination 4. Likewise, if we continue to use our talents and act in accordance with the will of the Lord, we should have no fear of His return IV. Conclusion A. We have seen that man has predicted no fewer than 9 of Jesus' last 0 returns! B. These people were sincere and could see indications in their times that would lead them to their predictions, and yet all have been proven false C. We should not take this information and then conclude that the Lord will not return, either at all or in our lifetimes! D. We do not know when He will return, but many will not expect it E. To be ready we must constantly be prepared, holding to His will, being the wise and faithful servant, having no reason to be ashamed F. If you are in the right position with God right now, you should be able to affirm with John at the end of the Revelation, Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20) G. Can you affirm, "Come, Lord Jesus!" without fear? H. If you have never believed in Christ and have not obeyed His Gospel, you cannot look toward that day without fear. I. How can you be sure that the day of the Lord's return is not today? Come in faith to Christ Jesus, repent, confess, and be baptized today! J. Perhaps you have obeyed Christ but are not being the wise and faithful servant. Allow us to encourage you to be so in any way we can as we stand and sing