The Media's Obsession With "Rapture Date Setters"
The media's obsession with "rapture date-setters" is being used to distract people from the obvious signs of the times. Jesus never set any dates and he told us that it was futile to do so ourselves. He said in Matthew 24, "No one knows the day or the hour, not the angels of Heaven, not even the Son, but the Father only." So the next time someone gives you a date, you ought to ask them, "You smarter than Jesus?" Jesus didn't give us any dates because he didn't know what they were either! But what he DID give us were plenty of signs to keep us watching.In Matthew 24, Jesus gave us the signs that would mark the beginning of the prophetic period known as "The Great Tribulation" and in that same chapter, he also gave us the signs that would mark a period of time he called, "The Beginning Of Sorrows." Jesus specifically said that this period called "The Beginning Of Sorrows" IS NOT THE END, IT'S NOT THE TRIBULATION, but rather it's a period of time that PRECEDES the Great Tribulation. We're not told how long this time period is, whether it lasts 10 years, 100 years or a 1000 years. We're only given attributes, or signs of that time period.
Each of these signs are not unique to "The Beginning Of Sorrows", for each of them have been fulfilled individually many times in the past 2000 years. But when you begin to see them all being fulfilled rapidly and in combination with each other, then you'll know that we're in that period that Jesus called, "The Beginning Of Sorrows."
We're not called to be calendar markers, but sign watchers. And when it comes to the signs of the times, I can't think of a single sign Jesus gave in Matthew 24 (under the "Beginning Of Sorrows" category) that isn't in full display today and has been for several decades.
Are there False Christs? Yes, all over the place!
Are there wars and rumors of wars? Yes, all over the place!
Has nation risen against nation and kingdom against kingdom?
Yes, it happened twice on a worldwide scale in just the last century and there hasn't been the slightest bit of world peace ever since.
Famines? Yes, not in America but spread sporadically all over the world.
Pestilences? Yes, not in America but spread sporadically all over the world.
Earthquakes, in divers places? Absolutely and increasing in diversity, frequency and magnitude!
Has Israel been delivered up to be afflicted and hated by all nations for His name's sake? Yes, almost 100%. Israel considers the United States to be her greatest ally at present. But when you consider the diplomatic slaps in the face that we've made against Israel in the past 20 years or more, one can help but wonder how long Israel will still consider to call us, their friends.
All these signs are happening right now! All one need do is read Matthew 24 and Luke 21 and compare those two chapters with current headlines! No wonder the news media wants to focus our attention away from the signs and focus on the ridiculous "Rapture Date-Setters" who have been setting dates and marking calendars ever since Jesus first said, "No man knows the day or the hour." Meanwhile, we also have the infamous Mayan 2012 prophecy looming on the horizon. But I dare say that if Christians can't set dates, then neither can the Mayans.
