"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first." -Oswald J Smith

Happy May 22nd!!!

Honestly, I'm kind of blow away by some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Against clear evidence in the New Testament, (Matthew 24:45-51 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 being a few passages), someone claims to know the day and hour of our Lord's return and they flock to him? Selling everything the own to spread the word?

When did reading into the Word override reading the literal Word of God saying that we cannot know?

I didn't pick up on this prediction until 2 days prior to the "end times", so I don't know a whole lot about what they're believing or declaring. But from the little I have read, the message they sold everything they have to declare is that the world is coming to an end and that we must repent. As far as I have been able to tell from websites and billboards, there has been no message of Christ and His sacrifice, death, and resurrection were mentioned anywhere. No mention of His great love for us and His desire to be united with us once again. No hint of the gospel anywhere.

How is this supposed to save the people they were trying to warn?

I really want to shake my head and say, "How could you be so blind?! How could you miss SO MUCH?!" I want to put on my judgement hat and shake my finger at them and their ignorance.

But I know that I make foolish assumptions and leaps and have made PLENTY of decisions and actions that are not backed Biblically. I know that I am not perfect by any stretch and therefore have no right to place shame and condemnation on anyone. I know that even in the past few hours, I have gone from one end of the spectrum of mocking them to coming under conviction and knowing that I'm just as lost sometimes as they are.

I'm sorry for all the people who gave up everything to share this message and are now left with nothing because they put their trust in a guy who can "decipher the Bible". I pray none of them "turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other" (Matthew 24:10). Despite the fact that this may be a huge blow, I pray that they would draw closer to Christ. My heart breaks for their disappointment, but I pray they'd find true joy in Christ alone and that they would come to long to tell others about the Saviour who gave His life for them instead of spreading a message of fear.

Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

If we are so eager for the return of our King, why don't we start sharing with those who have never heard? At the very least, can we begin praying for nations, tribes, and tongues that we don't know about, we never think about, and certainly never pray for? We'll spend all eternity with them in the presence of our Lord (Rev. 7:9), so why not begin caring for them/about them now? They WILL BE your brothers and sisters in Christ someday!