Well, the world as we know it did not end last weekend –
much to the chagrin of a few Bible teachers.
I’ve been around long enough to remember the flurry of
interest in a book titled 88 Reasons Why
the Rapture Will Be in 1988. When that year passed, the author followed up
with predictions that Jesus would come in 1989 . . . then 1993 . . . then
1994.
Now another misguided prognosticator suddenly became famous
(or infamous) by assuring us all that Judgment Day would definitely be last
Saturday, May 21. What now will be the fallout for his devotees?
Don’t get me wrong. A time of worldwide judgment is indeed
coming. Scripture is very clear about that. Paul confidently proclaimed, “God has appointed a day on which He will
judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by
raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). But we get into trouble – big
trouble – when we become more definitive than the Bible. Jesus said no one
knows the day nor hour of His return to Earth (Matt. 24:36).