Is the Lord Returning May 21, 2011? What Happens if the Lord Doesn't Return Then?

For a little while, Family Radio has been stating that the Lord Jesus Christ will come back the second time on May 21, 2011.  Is what they are saying true? Well, let me first say that Family Radio is accurate in stating that the Lord definitely will return.  There is no doubt about that.  The passage I posted last night on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-16 makes that point very clearly (there are other passages besides just this one).

So what is the problem?  The problem is the Bible speaks of the Lord's return as being as a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10).  If the Lord is returning as a thief, then no one will know when He is returning--if they did know when  (like tomorrow), then the Bible would be wrong to say that the Lord is coming like a thief. In addition, the Lord Himself speaks of His second return as being like the days of Noah where it will come so quickly that the world will be too late to escaped His judgment (Matthew 24: 36-44). In addition, in the passage of Matthew 24, the Lord states that no one knows the time of His return, only the Heavenly Father knows (Matthew 24:36)!  Clearly, Family Radio is misguided in interpreting the plain understanding of the Scriptures!  The Lord may return today--we do not know!!!  Therefore, let us be ready to meet Him now so His coming doesn't surprise us like a thief!

Now that I have stated some biblical reasons why Family Radio is wrong to declare a date that tomorrow is the return of Christ, I will look at how they arrived at their wrong conclusion.  Family Radio, according to their website (www.familyradio.com) took the 7 days mentioned in Genesis 7:4 and coupled it to 2 Peter 3:8 which states that a day with the Lord is as a thousand years.  Their conclusion then is that the days of Genesis 7:4 must equal 7,000 years and should be interpreted as such.  If you take this premise and add 7,000 years to the year God rescued Noah and his family ( and animals) from the global judgment, and drop off one year to account for the change from BC to AD, you come up with 2011.  The month and day are figured out because May 21 is the same calendar time as Genesis 7:10-11.

Is this the case?  Is this group accurate?  I think not.  Why?  Because they miss interpret several key things about the Scripture.  Let me explain.

1. One of the principles of studying the Scripture is you should always allow the context of a verse to speak for itself.  Words themselves are important, but the meaning of words should always be interpreted with the primary weight given to how they are used in the immediate surrounding context.  For example--for God to tell Noah that the 7 days means 7 thousand years is nuts because there is nothing in the immediate context that gives any reference that the word "day" means "thousand."  The context makes the most sense in Genesis 7 that "day" should be taken as a 24 hour period. 
2. Another principle is that you should always take a conclusion somebody makes and compare it with the body of Scripture.  For example, where in Scripture does it state that seven thousand years after Noah entering the ark the Lord's second coming will come?  The answer is nowhere. In fact, the Bible directly speaks about us never knowing the exact time of the Lord's return in Matthew 24.
3. The Bible speaks of a calling up of God's people (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11) since He has destined His people not for wrath, but for obtaining salvation in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).  This calling up takes place before the Tribulation and the Lord Jesus' Second Coming.
4. One last principle is that you should never contradict a clear statement of Scripture that is very plain in its meaning.  Since the Bible clearly speaks of the time of the Lord's return as being unknown to man, then to contradict a clear statement in Scripture is foolish and sinful.

In closing, you may ask why I have taken such time to explain to you why Family Radio is wrong in declaring tomorrow as the Day of Judgment.  The reason is Family Radio is ignoring what the Bible actually states.  They are ignoring that God has left it a mystery so that the Second Coming of Christ will be a surprise to the world.  I firmly believe the Lord Jesus is coming back a second time--and He will just like He did the first time (Acts 1:11; Revelation 6: 12-17)!  Do I know when?  No.  But, I know if the Lord doesn't return today, we are one more day closer to that Day when He will return.  My challenge to you right now is if you are not ready for His return, get ready.  Place your faith in Christ now for salvation from your sin!  Do not listen to the lies of the Devil that the Lord is never coming back.  He is coming!  We just don't know when.

"Matthew 24:29-51 ESV  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  30  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  31  And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  32  "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.  33  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.  34  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.  35  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.  36  "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.  37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,  39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  40  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.  41  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.  42  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  43  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.  44  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  45  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?  46  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.  47  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.  48  But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'  49  and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,  50  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know  51  and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Maranatha!
Rev. Steve
Psalm 119:89

PS: I am updating this on October 21, 2011--the second date Camping has given for the Lord's return.  The above statements I made in May still apply today and will always apply until the Lord actually does return.