When Jesus Comes!

 

Did you know Jesus was going to return on 21 May? No? Neither did I until news stories kept appearing in my inbox informing me of the fact.

 

 

American radio evangelist, Harold Camping, states that 21 May is Judgment Day, when "this world will be a horror story beyond anything we can imagine."  He expects to escape the horror due to being raptured ? but it will be a miserable five months for the rest of us.  His story has been repeated across Camping's Family Radio network of 66 stations and on short wave worldwide.  It has been plastered on billboards in cities such as Nashville, Atlanta and Detroit, and missionaries have even headed to this side of the Atlantic to warn the people of Ireland and Scotland that 21 May was the day.  One wonders why there was no concern for the English or Welsh!

 

 

As a good Bible student you will be very aware of Jesus' statement to His disciples, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."  [Matthew 25:13]  Adventists know all about date setting and would reject Camping's reasoning ? as would most of Christendom.  Nevertheless, we do believe that Jesus is coming again ? a fact emphasised by including 'Adventist' in our name.  We preach it.  We believe it.  We do not set dates.

 

 

Or do we?  Within our ranks, and from numerous emails I have received over the last couple of weeks there are those who believe that the Pope and US President, Barack Obama, are conspiring together to institute a National Sunday Law by next month in the United States.  The underlying thought is that once this is achieved the promised return must be very soon.  They even quote Adventist World Church President, Elder Ted Wilson as appealing to Adventists to pray morning and night for seven days for God to intervene in this event.

 

 

Time to sort out the myths from the reality.  There is no statement anywhere in the media, Adventist, non-Adventist, Papal, American, or anywhere else that any such law is planned.  There is a minor reference by a blogger on an Obama related website that a Sunday law might be a good idea.  The blog is from 2008.  That is it!  Even if it was Obama's real plan, it is doubtful that in the real world of American politics in 2011 that such a bill would stand a chance?  The emails that are circulating are a myth.

 

 

There is a little edge of truth in the statement.  Pastor Ted Wilson is calling for church members worldwide to spend time in prayer.  As part of the 'Revival and Reformation' initiative it is something that church leadership in the UK and Ireland have endorsed.  But what does he actually encourage?  In a document voted by the World Church Annual Council in October 2010, the statement is made, "We appeal to each church member to unite with church leaders and millions of other Seventh-day Adventists seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at 7:00 each morning or evening, seven days a week.  This is an urgent call to circle the globe with earnest intercession.  This is a call to total commitment to Jesus and to experience the life changing power of the Holy Spirit that our Lord is longing to give now."

That is a positive statement.  It is one that has potential to change lives ? the lives of those praying ? and the lives of those they come in contact with who will see the difference that a vibrant relationship with God makes in their lives.

One minister in northern England commented on these emails by saying, "I thought the Bible taught us to look up rather than down."  [Luke 21:28]  My plea is one for discernment.  Just because a good friend forwards you an email or points you towards a video link you do not have to accept it as gospel truth.  The apostle Paul commended the Christians in Berea because they didn't just accept his teaching.  They tested it again the written Word.  As a result he called them 'noble'.  [Acts 17:11]

The IVP New Testament Commentary states on this passage, "This noble character manifests itself in two ways.  There is great eagerness (literally, "all eagerness") to receive the message.  Yet the people's enthusiasm is not gullibility, for they subject Paul's message, the word of God, to thorough scrutiny.  Daily they meet to examine the Old Testament Scriptures to see if the gospel declarations square with them (compare 17:2-3).  Their examination parallels the best in human jurisprudence, unbiased investigation to get at the truth (anakrino Luke 23:14; Acts 24:8).  The result is that a large number of Jews and Greeks, prominent women as well as men, probably both God-fearers and pagans, believe the message and are saved (compare Acts 20:4; Romans 16:21)."

 

 

There is enough in the Sacred Writings that Christians hold so dear that we do not need to roam into the world of speculation.  Rather, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."  [Hebrews 12:2]

 

By courtesy of the BUC News