When Will We Learn
There is word going out that all over the country there are billboards going up, sponsored by an obviously misled but wealthy person, stating the Jesus will return to earth on May 23, 2011. Somehow the group that person is affiliated with has figured it out mathematically from the Bible that this is the day. Whether this is the so-called "rapture" or the actual Day of The Lord is not clear.
I have several observations on this matter, most of them obvious. First, history is replete with accounts of deluded Christians who thought they knew when Jesus would return. Those incidents just cause nonbelievers (and other Christians) to mock. Of course, nonbelievers are going to mock at Christians any way, but I would personally prefer it be for the sacrifices we make for the kingdom, not for thinking we know more than Jesus himself, who said he didn't know the hour or day.
One of the most relevant was the Millerites of the 1850s, folks up in New York state who sold all their possessions and on two occasions went to wait for the Lord on a hillside. What many dispensationalists do not know is that their view of eschatology was largely dependent on John Darby, who was affiliated with the Millerites (and others who became Adventists). I know, I know--Baptists today are, for the most part, dispensationalists and believe in the Rapture/7-year tribulation/Second Coming/Millenium/Last Judgment scenario. I was taught that and understand where it comes from. But dispensationalists have a hard time finding this teaching any time before the late 1800s. I realize this is controversial but I would challenge anyone who has trouble with it to find a reliable history of the Seventh-Day Adventists, the Millerites, John Darby, and the early fundamentalists (circa 1900) before they argue with me.
I am not saying the Rapture, etc. scenario is wrong. I am saying it shouldn't be considered a "deal breaker" doctrinally. I prefer to look for the coming of Jesus the way he and the Father and the Holy Spirit want to do it. Specifically, the Rapture, etc. scenario always seemed to me to be a way to say, "Christians won't go through intense persecution." It is interesting also that it was "discovered" by Americans, people who really aren't too keen on acknowledging religious persecution. I would prefer for the American church to be aware that going through intense persecution as the Day of the Lord approaches is a strong possibility, rather than their believing that we won't have to, that we will be snatched out of it before it gets too bad. I know, I know. Trust me, I know the verses about how Christians won't go through judgment. But it seems to me that Christians should be aware of the possible interpretations of the end times so that they can be approached intelligently. Otherwise we are saying to them "You are too stupid to deal with the complexities of Scriptures."
So along with the mockery and the problem of these billboards flying in the face of clear Biblical teaching, there is the question of resource allocation. Aren't there wiser ways to spend that money? I can't even imagine how much that campaign is costing, but I can imagine places where that money could be better spent to spread the gospel and relieve human suffering. On the other hand, being the capitalist I am, if the man who is financing them earned the money honestly in business, he has every right to spend it as he wishes as long as it is legal. But I just can't help but shake my head and think that building wells in Africa to ensure clean water supplies in a way that would show the love of Christ would be a better investment.
Finally, maybe I have it all wrong. Maybe the Lord will come back in May. Maybe this will cause people to listen up and repent and ready themselves for the end. Certainly we, especially the Church, don't live like we really believe in Christ's return. Sometimes I wonder if we believe he came the first time! We could stand some constant reminding. But setting dates and advertising it--I have my doubts.
I have several observations on this matter, most of them obvious. First, history is replete with accounts of deluded Christians who thought they knew when Jesus would return. Those incidents just cause nonbelievers (and other Christians) to mock. Of course, nonbelievers are going to mock at Christians any way, but I would personally prefer it be for the sacrifices we make for the kingdom, not for thinking we know more than Jesus himself, who said he didn't know the hour or day.
One of the most relevant was the Millerites of the 1850s, folks up in New York state who sold all their possessions and on two occasions went to wait for the Lord on a hillside. What many dispensationalists do not know is that their view of eschatology was largely dependent on John Darby, who was affiliated with the Millerites (and others who became Adventists). I know, I know--Baptists today are, for the most part, dispensationalists and believe in the Rapture/7-year tribulation/Second Coming/Millenium/Last Judgment scenario. I was taught that and understand where it comes from. But dispensationalists have a hard time finding this teaching any time before the late 1800s. I realize this is controversial but I would challenge anyone who has trouble with it to find a reliable history of the Seventh-Day Adventists, the Millerites, John Darby, and the early fundamentalists (circa 1900) before they argue with me.
I am not saying the Rapture, etc. scenario is wrong. I am saying it shouldn't be considered a "deal breaker" doctrinally. I prefer to look for the coming of Jesus the way he and the Father and the Holy Spirit want to do it. Specifically, the Rapture, etc. scenario always seemed to me to be a way to say, "Christians won't go through intense persecution." It is interesting also that it was "discovered" by Americans, people who really aren't too keen on acknowledging religious persecution. I would prefer for the American church to be aware that going through intense persecution as the Day of the Lord approaches is a strong possibility, rather than their believing that we won't have to, that we will be snatched out of it before it gets too bad. I know, I know. Trust me, I know the verses about how Christians won't go through judgment. But it seems to me that Christians should be aware of the possible interpretations of the end times so that they can be approached intelligently. Otherwise we are saying to them "You are too stupid to deal with the complexities of Scriptures."
So along with the mockery and the problem of these billboards flying in the face of clear Biblical teaching, there is the question of resource allocation. Aren't there wiser ways to spend that money? I can't even imagine how much that campaign is costing, but I can imagine places where that money could be better spent to spread the gospel and relieve human suffering. On the other hand, being the capitalist I am, if the man who is financing them earned the money honestly in business, he has every right to spend it as he wishes as long as it is legal. But I just can't help but shake my head and think that building wells in Africa to ensure clean water supplies in a way that would show the love of Christ would be a better investment.
Finally, maybe I have it all wrong. Maybe the Lord will come back in May. Maybe this will cause people to listen up and repent and ready themselves for the end. Certainly we, especially the Church, don't live like we really believe in Christ's return. Sometimes I wonder if we believe he came the first time! We could stand some constant reminding. But setting dates and advertising it--I have my doubts.
Comments
Of course, the Protestant Reformers never taught anything even near to these false gospels. Indeed, the nineteenth century was notorious for strange new belief systems (i.e., Mormonism, JWs, Christian Science, Seventh-day Adventism, etc.). As Protestants, let us firmly uphold "sola scriptura" as the sole basis of our faith. After all, the Bible is God's voice speaking to us.
Dennis Fischer
E-mail: dfministries@gmail.com