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Question: "Do you think the world is coming to an end very soon?

1. I have in my possession a booklet which lists "88 reasons why
the Rapture will occur in 1988."  We entered the year 1990, and
time has marched on to the present moment. This is one of many
erroneous efforts to set a date for the end of time (or for "end-
time" events). William Miller set the date for Christ's coming at
1843/44. Joseph Smith gave 1891. Officials in the Jehovah's
Witnesses' organization have set the date as 1914, 1925, 1941, and
more recently in 1975. All such predictions have proven to be
false. Deut.18:22: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah,
if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which
Jehovah hat not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously,
thou shall not be afraid of him."

2. Christ's coming will be sudden. 1 Thes. 5:3.

3. Some refer to Matt. 24, which speaks of 1) the appearance of
false Christs (v.5), 2) wars and rumors of wars (v.6); 3)
earthquakes, famines and pestilences (v.7); 4) persecution v.9); 5)
many would stumble (v.10); 6) false prophets would arise (v.11); 7)
the gospel would be preached unto all nations (v.14); and 8) they
would see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place
(v.15).
     a. These signs were to be to Jesus' disciples in Judea who
were warned to flee (vv.16-20). Jesus was speaking of the
destruction of Jerusalem. He said, "This generation shall not pass
away, till all these things be accomplished" (v.34). Some of that
very generation were still alive then Titus and his Roman army
completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D.

4. Christ gave no signs of the end of the world, only an admonition
to watch (Matt.25:13: "Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor
the hour." (cf. 2 Pet.3:10-12).

5. The reason Christ has not returned yet is not because the Lord
is slack concerning His promises. He is granting yet more time and
opportunity for men to repent (2 Pet. 3:9). He desires that all be
saved (1 Tim. 2:3,4). When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,
time shall be no more. No more opportunities to prepare, to get
ready, to obey the Gospel.







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