And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11)Probably, as the disciples went home after Jesus’ glorious ascension they debated when He would return. By day’s end they may have even set a date. People have been setting dates for His return ever since the day he left.

Every generation has believed that they were that end-times generation that would witness Christ’s return. They all thought they had proof that they would be the ones to witness the fulfillment of end-times prophecy.

Many, who have gained national attention, such as Harold Camping and Edgar Whisenant, have set dates just in the last few decades. What do all these date setters have in common? They have all been wrong.

Besides the point that the Bible is clear that no one knows when Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36), this date setting mania has done tremendous damage to the Body of Christ in various ways.

First to Non-Christians it just increases their skepticism about Christianity and the authenticity of Scriptures. They learn of these end-times predictions and then see them fail, again and again. They have to wonder if the Bible can be understood at all if even Christians can’t seem to make sense of it.

Then end-times mania tends to paralyze Christians. They refuse to get involved in anything long term because Jesus is coming back soon. I believe that this teaching has a lot to do with the demise of our culture. Christians have retreated into the four walls of the church and are waiting for the end. Well, the end may be coming but not the one they expect.

Sitting and waiting is not a biblical option. We are told to “occupy until He comes (Luke 19:13).” He hasn’t come and we are not occupying. Let’s get out there and make a difference today and for the next hundred years.