Jesus is
NOT planningContrary to much that we may hear, we may be reasonably sure that Lord Jesus is not planning on returning to Earth in the year 2000. Why?
When Jesus was bodily among us, he left many instructions to us, his followers, to prepare us for the deception that he knew we would encounter. One of his most important warnings was this one:
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father...So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Matt. 24:36, 44, NIV).
This is our greatest evidence that Jesus is probably not going to return in 2000: His coming is to be a complete surprise. He will not return at a time when he is expected. Ergo, since many expect his coming in the year 2000, he probably will not keep that appointment either.
Do not be deceived by the old argument, "We may not know the day or the hour, but we can know the month and year." A literalistic reading of Matthew 24:36 cannot withstand the meaning of the context. Jesus clearly stated that no one would expect his return, period (Matt. 24:44).
This is a call for careful discernment about the times in which we live. We do believe that our Lord will return one day and establish justice upon the earth, but we do not know when that glorious day will be. In the meantime we are to live, in the here and now, manifesting in our lives the principles of God's justice which Jesus' return signifies. To this end we quote here Jesus' important warnings and ask that they be proclaimed far and wide, particularly as we near the year 2000 and false prophecies flourish.
As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when this will happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
Jesus answered, "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many... At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.
So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the iner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matt. 24:3-5,23-27, NIV).
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