Failure rate to predict the day of the Rapture remains at 100%

Oh, date setters, you were wrong. Again. Over the last several weeks, there’s been a large movement that the Rapture would occur during Rosh Hashanah, 2011. It didn’t. Now, instead of simply seeing that setting a date was wrong, the rapture has been postponed until October. Have you learned nothing from Harold Camping or the countless others before him?

Setting a date for the day of the Rapture is a guaranteed impossibility.

The Rosh Hashanah theory did have some interesting points. The Jewish holiday certainly has some similarities to the Rapture. It’s a wedding ceremony, a new year, the “last trump,” a day of repentance, and even sometimes called the “day that no man knows,” since it’s a different date each year.

This year, its also 63 years afterIsraelbecame a state. 63 years +7 years of tribulation= 70. The Bible refers to 70 years as a generation, and Matthew 24:34 says, “…this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” It does not, however, say that THIS generation will be exactly 70 years. It also does not tell us the day to expect it. In fact, it says the exact opposite…

Just a short two verses away, we are told, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Now, go back and read that again. MY FATHER ONLY. If you’re reading that correctly, you’ll see that ONLY means NOBODY ELSE. That means not even Jesus knows!

Before reading further, if you are one of the ones who got caught up (no pun intended) in this theory, ask yourself exactly when you were given a higher knowledge than Jesus Christ? You weren’t. You do not have more authority than Jesus, and to assume you do shows a great deal of arrogance. Instead, trust that the Bible is correct and humble yourself to God and his word.

Has there ever been a date setter to be proven correct in all the 2000 years we’ve been waiting? EVERY one of them has been wrong. There is good reason for that. The Bible specifically tells us we don’t know. That, like everything else in the book, has not changed. You will never be right when you set a date. NEVER. God will not be wrong, and never has been. You can’t outsmart him.

Now, many people date set because of the hope it gives. The problem, however, is that the hope is short lived, as many see now that Rosh Hashanah is over. It also ruins your credibility. To those non believers you’re trying to convince, any progress you’ve made is now destroyed. Now you’re the crazy person nobody will listen to. How many times will it take of debunked predictions before we learn that we simply can NOT do it?

Setting dates is essentially the same as working for the Devil. Each time a Rapture date is set, and fails, more and more become part of the falling away, and fall into the “scoffer” category. The number of people (several thousand) that joined an online event for after rapture looting should be proof of that. Way to go, Harold Camping, for giving believers a bad name. Again.

But please, do not let the false prophets fool you for even one second. The Rapture is indeed going to happen soon. Jesus said so.

The bottom line is that we all want our Lord to come get us. It’s really tough in 2011. I want out just as much as you. God has told us not just in words, but in previous failed predictions, that we simply do not know when it’s going to happen. We do know to have faith, and to wait. We know that it can happen today. It could’ve also happened on Rosh Hashanah…but not because you predicted it. Don’t lose your faith, destroy your credibility and go against God’s word by deciding you know better than the son of God himself.

It’s been set in stone long before your days on this Earth, and isn’t going to change. People have set dates for thousands of years, and not a one of them have been right. Instead of getting your hopes up for next Wednesday at4:00, just know that it WILL happen, when God sees fit. That is enough of a gift in itself, even if you don’t know when it’s coming.

Remember, God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect. Stop trying to change it.