The Date of Christ Return

Daniel 12:4-13

Multitudes Have Made Predictions

• 1831 – William Miller• 1844 – William Miller• 1866 – Michael Baxter• 1879 – J.B. Dibblebee• 1914 - Judge Russell• 1975 – Jehovah's Witnesses• 2000 – Harold Camping

Predictions are Sensational

• Irreparable harm to the cause of Christ has been made by those who set dates.

• An unbelieving world scoffs at the foolishness of those who set dates.

• Christians lose what little credibility we have when we make foolish and ignorant predictions.

The Supposed Scriptural Basis some use for Date Setting

• Matthew 24 – The Parable of the Fig Tree

• The generation that sees Israel reestablished as a nation will also be the generation that sees the second coming of Christ.

No Basis for Date Setting• Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour

knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

• Acts 1:6-7 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Biblical Signs that indicate Christ Coming is Near• Statehood of Israel

• Revival of Roman Empire

• Prominence of Middle East : Politically, Economically, and Militarilly

• The Alignment of Nations

• Apostasy

But Even With These Signs

• We have no assurances that Christ second coming will not occur this morning or 1000 years from now.

Daniel ‘s Obscure Signs• Prophecy not understood until the

end “…shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end…”

• The relevance of the book of Daniel is sealed until the time of the end.

Daniel ‘s Obscure Signs

• Run to and fro

• This Heb. verb form always refers to the movement of a person searching for something.

Daniel ‘s Obscure Signs

• “…knowledge shall increase…”

• Knowledge Explosion– Technology– Medical Science– Computer– Finance

Daniel ‘s Obscure Signs

• “…knowledge shall increase…”

• Particularly knowledge concerning Daniel’s prophecy.

The Duration of the Time of the End

• “…a time, times, and half a time.” This answers the question of v. 6. Adding these (one, two, and one-half) come to the final 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week.

Why is the time determined?

• To accomplish something

• Scatter – Psalms 2:9

• Humble Israel

The Final Outcome (vs 8-13)

• Daniel did not understand.

• So he ask again.

The Answer

• I will withhold complete understanding.

• Understanding will be given later.

• The Ultimate Outcome

• Go Thy Way