When our Lord ascended to heaven after rising from the dead, he promised to return—the angels said, “just as you saw him go.” Since that day, numerous people have tried to predict when Christ would return and all have proved to be incorrect. Wikipedia identifies 41 false predictions including the following—the Millerites in 1843, Joseph Smith in 1891, Halley’s comet in 1910, Pat Robertson in 1982, Heaven’s Gate in 1997, and Y2K in the year 2000. These and many other predictions were made despite the words of Jesus found in Matthew 24:36-44. There He said about His return, “no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows … So you . . . must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming … You . . . must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” Followers of Christ look joyfully to the day our Lord returns, but we do not set dates. We are satisfied to know He will come when He chooses. Until then, we seek to be faithful in living for Him, in fulfilling His Kingdom agenda of spreading the Good news, and fostering justice and righteousness in our world.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
