God Told Me...
The problem with date-setting, setting a specific or vague date of the return of Christ, is pretty obvious, despite that, many date-setters twist scripture to justify their disobedience.
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come -- Matthew 24
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." -- Matthew 24:36
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." -- Matthew 25:13
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" -- Mark 13:32
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." -- Acts 1:6-7
...the problem is clear, it is a direct disobedience, deviation and a mishandling of the holy Word of God. Many justify their position by interpreting out of context scripture in a way that complies with human thoughts and reasoning and in turn defies the truth of God's written Word.
It is quite simple and there is no confusion, God, our Father, Creator of us all does not contradict Himself. He is a God of order, having things, people, places and yes TIMES under His power. Do not be fooled.
We live in a time where human intellectualization has become our vanity and pride. Foolishly, many believe the smarter we are in accordance to the standards of man, (Theological degrees etc.) the closer we are to God and the better we can understand Him. Many of these date-setters claim a message spoken to them by God. "God told me..." they claim and many simply believe. Listen to the sound rationale of Saint Paul:
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." -- 1 Corinthians 2:11
Focusing on the question of Paul, What man knows the things of a man, but his own spirit (spirit of man as defined by Paul) which is in him. Pausing to think about this simple, yet true question. HOW do you know another's spirit? The answer is you DON'T.
Even so, says Paul, in other words, in the same way, the things of God knoweth NO man, but the Spirit of God.
True Believers are ONE in the fact that they have the Spirit of God and can understand and receive what is said of another Believer.
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." --1 Corinthians 2: 13-13
I don't care too much for other's proclamation of what "new" prophecy God has told them. Furthermore, I care even less what kind of Theological degrees they tout, nor what church they lead and the number of congregants they have. Those whose eyes are fixed on physical "proof" for spiritual things are the ones easily led astray. The Word is clear, true Believers are to walk in the Spirit. Romans 8:1. In the 2nd chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul makes his case and his point is clear, direct and simple:
"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" -- verse 5
It saddens me truly, when people, and many have, fallen to the falsehoods of date-setting and the "wisdom of men". It shows a fundamental lack understanding of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. He died on the cross and was resurrected, so EVERYONE has direct access to the FATHER by His Holy Spirit. Yes, even YOU.
I have oft heard many say that they do not "hear" God or God does not speak to them. I can not and will not address those statements, but the Word does. The 4th book of James has some pretty strong things to say in this regard...
2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
If we agree that God is perfect, just and righteous in His stead, then we agree, we, quite simply, are not. If we, by nature, are prone to sin, which is departing from the living God in thought and actions, then we need to do some honest, humble self-examination. The Word tells us that we shall be saved from wrath through Him, Romans 5:9. Christ tells us that true Believers will be kept from the hour that is to try the whole world, Revelations 3:10. Why are those clear, simple declarations not enough? Why do so many who are attracted to a specific date, do not find comfort in His words? A better question is, what do YOU think "having" Faith means? Moses never saw the promised land that he worked so hard to bring Israel to and many have said it was his "punishment". I say that short-sighted statement reflects the errors in what is called "Christianity" today. How can Moses be "punished" with Heaven?? He was a man who loved the Lord and proved it with His Faithfulness in acting out the commands of the Lord. Anyone who believes that Moses is sitting up in Heaven regretful of the fact that he has never stepped foot into a physical promised land has completely missed the truth of this statement, "The just shall live by faith". Habakkak 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38
"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." -- Hebrews 11: 39-40
In this law-suit prone society, Americans are compelled to feel as if they are always due something from someone. Do not be fooled into thinking God owes YOU anything...not even a explanation of a date! The question becomes would you be satisfied with that??
Proclamations "new" or "different" prophecy/message in the face of CLEAR scripture.
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." -- Hebrews 13:8-9
The same Jesus that declared, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." is the same Christ that sits at the right hand of the Father. It will be the same Christ who will reign when this world comes to an end.
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