Many have tried and failed to accurately predict when Christ will come again. It really started with St. Paul. Even though he did not prognosticate a definite date, he wanted his churches to be very aware and prepared for the coming of the Lord. He was convinced it would happen in their lifetimes. Every generation since has had its own “prophets”. Nostradamus captured the intrigue of many, although his seemingly uncanny predictions had more to do with worldly events and historical figures. The Age of Enlightenment ushered in more rational thinkers, combined with other enthusiasts and zealots. Many visions were claimed to be true revelations from God. America, early 1800’s saw a great deal of hope and promise, with renewed interest in what became known as Millennialism. Was God’s kingdom just around the riverbend? From upstate New York came William Miller, convinced that Christ would return sometime between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. Using Daniel 8:14, he calculated that two thousand three days was really 2,300 years, figured back to 457 B.C.E. when the Persian King Artaxerxes had Jerusalem rebuilt. Subtract 457 from 2,300 and voila! World War I saw renewed interest in millennialism. Continuing the brief, quick historical roller coaster ride, 1967 brought us the New Scofield Bible.

We continue to wait. We have survived Y2K. There will continue to be signs, natural disasters, more clues, more predictions. St. Paul is certainly not to be discredited. We all wait for that day to arrive, oftentimes with a mixture of exuberance and dread. Will we be ready? Are our hearts truly in the right place? The yes and no of being in the end times is another way of saying that the kingdom of God is already and still not yet. Those seem like unconvincingly vague answers to skeptics and seekers. We try to keep our capacity for disappointment on one end of the see-saw, hopefully balanced with the other end of great expectations. This we know: our future is assuredly safeguarded in God’s hands, the outstretched arms of Jesus on the cross, and the Holy Spirit’s warmth within our souls. Oh, the immeasurable depths of God’s gracious mercy and provision! Greater still His unconditional love!

Pastor Art