When Will Jesus Come?
A glance through the ages shows how some have answered the question: “When will Jesus come?” All of those cited below have one thing in common: they were wrong!! A glance through history shows a long list of those who, ignoring what Christ said, still needlessly plod along, each confident they have arrived at the correct dating for the return of Christ based on their interpretation of the same scriptures used by all the others who were themselves wrong.
How much better off the religious world would be if it could simply acknowledge that if Jesus himself did not know the hour of his return neither can we (Mark 13:29-32).
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Some first century saints expected Christ to return in their lifetime (see 1 Ths. 4:3-7 and 2 Ths. 3:1-14).
Some first century saints expected Christ to return in their lifetime (see 1 Ths. 4:3-7 and 2 Ths. 3:1-14).68Hymenaeus and Alexander taught the resurrection was past, “overthrowing the faith of some” (2 Tim.2:7-18).
Hymenaeus and Alexander taught the resurrection was past, “overthrowing the faith of some” (2 Tim.2:7-18).60-120 Papias of Hierapolis, likely the first post-biblical author to describe a 1000 year visible kingdom of Christ– the millennium.1
100-165 Justin Martyr expected the faithful dead would rise and reign with Christ a thousand years in a rebuilt Jerusalem.2
172 Montanus proclaimed that Jerusalem would soon descend near Phrygia, that the millennium had begun, and that rejection of
Montanus proclaimed that Jerusalem would soon descend near Phrygia, that the millennium had begun, and that rejection of this pronouncement was blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.3
200s Hippolytus of Rome declared Christ would establish the millennium in 496.4
Hippolytus of Rome declared Christ would establish the millennium in 496.4847 Thiota the pseudo-prophetess announced in 847 the end of the world for the following year.5
Thiota the pseudo-prophetess announced in 847 the end of the world for the following year.51838 In 1838 William Miller published Evidences from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ About the Year 1843.
In 1838 William Miller published Evidences from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ About the Year 1843. The crowds grew larger as the date grew closer, growing to approximately 50,000. A lot of excitement was engendered by the
movement and expectations were high. When 1843 passed, he recalculated the return of Christ to be October 22, 1844. 6
1891 Charles T. Russell, a disciple of William Miller, revitalized the “Millerites” (later renamed Jehovah’s Witnesses). He wrote: “All
Charles T. Russell, a disciple of William Miller, revitalized the “Millerites” (later renamed Jehovah’s Witnesses). He wrote: “Allknow something of the failure of Bro. Miller’s expectations. The Lord did not come in 1844, and the world was not burned up with fire
as he had expected.”7 He then announced that the Lord had returned (secretly) 8 in 1874 9 and that the “times of the Gentiles” would end
in 1914 when Christ’s Kingdom would be fully established and the Lord himself present.”10
1920 J. F. Rutherford, building on Russell’s efforts, reckoned a count of “seventy jubilees of fifty years each,” concluding that
J. F. Rutherford, building on Russell’s efforts, reckoned a count of “seventy jubilees of fifty years each,” concluding that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others would be resurrected from the dead in the year 1925 and begin serving in the kingdom as the “visible,
legal representatives of the new order of things on earth.”11 Based on his conclusion that Jesus had come in 1914, and that regeneration
of the earth and the faithful of humankind (whether dead or living) would begin in 1925, he confidently prophesied “millions now living
will never die”12 and published his book by the same name.
1970 Hal Lindsey publishes Late Great Planet Earth in which he asserts that the generation that saw reestablishment of an Israeli
Hal Lindsey publishes Late Great Planet Earth in which he asserts that the generation that saw reestablishment of an Israelihomeland in 1948 was “the” generation Christ promised would not pass away “till all these things be fulfilled” (Matthew 24:34). He
concluded that a generation was about forty years and that within forty years of Israel’s rebirth as a nation (1948–WFB) “all these things
could take place.” 13 This would put the return of Christ in 1988!
1975 Max King defends the proposition that Jesus made a personal return to the earth in A. D. 70 in fulfillment of Matthew 24:34.14
Max King defends the proposition that Jesus made a personal return to the earth in A. D. 70 in fulfillment of Matthew 24:34.141978 Tim LaHaye saw World War I (1914-1918) as the onset of end-time prophecies. He said that before everyone of the WWI
Tim LaHaye saw World War I (1914-1918) as the onset of end-time prophecies. He said that before everyone of the WWIgeneration, of a sufficient age to comprehend a world war (5-14 years of age) died the Lord would return to set up His kingdom. He
then stressed that the church will be raptured to meet the Lord seven years before that happens and that “Unbelievers will have seven
additional years after Christians leave, but it will be the worst years of their lives.” Since then he has written the popularly received Left
Behind series. 15
1992 BANG-IK-HA, of the Taberah World Mission, prophesied that Jesus would return in Oct. 1992. He proclaimed this on tours to
BANG-IK-HA, of the Taberah World Mission, prophesied that Jesus would return in Oct. 1992. He proclaimed this on tours toat least nine U. S. states and several foreign countries. Followers of this Korean Hyoo-go (rapture) movement in 1992 sold their homes
and quit their jobs in anticipation of Christ’s imminent return. 16
1997Hal Lindsey “. . . changed his prediction of Christ’s return, but still portrays the writer of Revelation as an “eyewitness to
Hal Lindsey “. . . changed his prediction of Christ’s return, but still portrays the writer of Revelation as an “eyewitness toevents of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.” He states that the apostle John wrote in “encoded symbols” and that interpretation of
these requires “a Christian guided by the Spirit of God.”17 In 1997 Lindsey authored yet another book entitled Apocalypse Code in which
he claimed to have found the key that unlocks the mysterious code.
1999“The fascination with end times predictions seems to have escalated as the second millennium closes. Two examples: Harold
“The fascination with end times predictions seems to have escalated as the second millennium closes. Two examples: HaroldCamping, president of Family Radio, in his book 1994? predicted the world would end in September of that year; and Grant R. Jeffrey,
author of Armageddon: Appointment with Destiny, suggests the year 2,000 as “the probable termination date for the ‘last days.’” 18
Citations1. “Taking The Long View” by Dana Netherton in Christian History, Issue 61, Vol. XVIII, No.1, ed. Mort Galli, p. 10.
“Taking The Long View” by Dana Netherton in Christian History, Issue 61, Vol. XVIII, No.1, ed. Mort Galli, p. 10.2.Ibid.
Ibid.3.Ibid, 11
Ibid, 114.Ibid, 12
Ibid, 125.“The Apocalyptic Year 1000: Then and Now,” by Richard Landes in The Year 2000, ed. Charles Strozier and Michael Flynn (Rowan and
“The Apocalyptic Year 1000: Then and Now,” by Richard Landes in The Year 2000, ed. Charles Strozier and Michael Flynn (Rowan and Littlefield, London).6.“The Great Disappointment” by Bruce Shelley in Christian History, Issue 61, Vol. XVIII, No.1, ed. Mort Galli, pp. 32-33
“The Great Disappointment” by Bruce Shelley in Christian History, Issue 61, Vol. XVIII, No.1, ed. Mort Galli, pp. 32-337.Russell, Charles T., Studies in the Scriptures, Series III “Thy Kingdom Come,” Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Allegheny, PA, 1905,
Russell, Charles T., Studies in the Scriptures, Series III “Thy Kingdom Come,” Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Allegheny, PA, 1905, p. 85.8.Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Series II “The Time Is At Hand” 1889, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Allegheny, PA, p. 154.
Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Series II “The Time Is At Hand” 1889, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Allegheny, PA, p. 154.9.Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Series III, 190-191.
Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Series III, 190-191.10.Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Series II, 170.
Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Series II, 170. 11. Rutherford, J. F., Millions Now Living Will Never Die, International Bible Students Association, 1920 (reprinted by James D. Bales in 1977),
p. 88.12.Ibid., p. 97.
Ibid., p. 97.13.Lindsey, Hal, Late Great Planet Earth, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970), p. 43.
Lindsey, Hal, Late Great Planet Earth, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970), p. 43.14.King, Max R. and McGuiggan, Jim in The McGuiggan/King Debate (Warren: Parkman Rd. Church of Christ, 1975), p. 89.
King, Max R. and McGuiggan, Jim in The McGuiggan/King Debate (Warren: Parkman Rd. Church of Christ, 1975), p. 89.15.LaHaye, Tim, The Beginning of the End (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1978), pp. 165-168.
LaHaye, Tim, The Beginning of the End (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1978), pp. 165-168.16 See the banner ad reprinted in “The Great Disappointment” as found in Christian History, Issue 61, p. 32.
See the banner ad reprinted in “The Great Disappointment” as found in Christian History, Issue 61, p. 32.17“Late Great Predictions” in Christian History by Robert G. Clouse, Issue 61., p. 41.
“Late Great Predictions” in Christian History by Robert G. Clouse, Issue 61., p. 41.18Ibid.
Ibid.