Not many realize, but 2018 marks a period of crisis for many End-times preachers. They are coming down to a make or break date for the past seventy years of their teaching. Dates for Christ’s return have been set, passed and forgotten throughout the history of the Church. As Dispensationalism grew in popularity over the past 150 years, teachers began predicting the date of the Church’s Rapture. When Israel was reborn as a nation in 1948, speculations about that date exploded. Teachers keyed in on the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:32-34,
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Noting that Israel is often equated with a fig tree in the Bible, many interpreted their national rebirth as the greening of the tree in Jesus’ parable. If correct, we were just one generation from beginning of the end. 1948 + 40 years (which everyone insisted was the span of a Biblical generation) = the magic number. That’s why so many End-Times preachers staked their reputations on 1988 bringing the rapture of the Church.
When that date passed, speculators had to adjust their approach. Psalm 90:10 says, “The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength.” So, suddenly a Biblical generation was 70 to 80 years. And they’re still setting dates. According to Dr. F. Kenton Beshore, “If you extend that from 1948, the outside date for the millennium would be 2028. Take off seven years for the Tribulation and the outside date for the rapture would be 2021.” But what about their “inside” date? This is the 70th anniversary of Israel’s nationhood. That would mean the rapture of the Church should take place sometimes this year. In any case, the next three years is make or break.
Later in Matthew 24, Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” My recommendation is that we stop calculating dates … and start living like He could come back today!
