Hopefully by the time you reach thirty you will see a pattern. People set dates about the future stating a certain horrific event will occur. The date comes and goes and no such thing happens. If it does happen, and it rarely does, the one who made the prediction is jolted into the limelight while all of their unfulfilled predictions are forgotten.
For 2012* it was the Mayan calendar. Thirteen years before that it was Y2K. The year 2000 neared and there would be a massive worldwide disaster with computers. About a decade and a half before that the planets would line up and there would be great devastation on earth. It happens in the religious realm too. The Watchtower Society often predicted, or alluded to predict, Armageddon. They were wrong every time, and it is sad they still have a following.
On the surface false prophets might howl for attention, fame, money or even control (as in some religions). On their hearers’ part, there is something in many people that crave excitement, a good scare.
God alone knows the details of the future and true prophecy only comes from Him. I feel the foundational reason for false prophecy is a tactic of distraction by evil spiritual forces.
Revelation 19:10 (Williams) states, “Worship God. For the testimony borne by Jesus is the inspiring spirit of prophecy.” This is why false prophets howl. The testimony of Jesus is not acceptable to our sinful flesh because if we surrender to the coming King our flesh will be crucified. This is one reason why few read the Holy Bible for it does speak of Christ throughout. The howling wolves cause a distraction from the center of prophecy and the answer to our needs: Christ.
Essentially, true prophecy is the revelation of the plans and purposes of God. A message delivered under the anointing of the Holy Spirit is in this sense a prophetic utterance even if it does not touch upon the future.
Those who have a concern about the future really should turn to the Word of God. It will not only tell you the future, but will prepare you for it if you yield to its message. True surrender to Christ dramatically changes one. Instead of fearing the future you can be enabled not only to face the future, but play a positive role in rescuing souls as you were rescued.
Scarey as the Great Tribulation with Armageddon might be, the positive side is overlooked: a remnant of Israel will accept Jesus as Christ (Zec. 12:10, Rom. 11:5). Many true Christians are working now to prepare not only Jewish hearts, but also non-Jews for that precious Spirit of supplication that shall surely be poured forth.
Neither you or I have control over the rapture, the rise of The Beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet, or Armageddon. But we do have a choice of which side to be on. Make Christ the coming King your daily King (Rom. 10:9-13).
Notes:
*=Though this article was written at the end of 2010, I confidently used the past tense here since assumptions of the destruction of the earth in 2012 were without a doubt false, and usage of the past tense in this case makes the article “evergreen.”
All Scripture is from the Authorized Version unless otherwise noted.
Excellent!
I lile it very very very very verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
interesting
I was in high school when the planets were all lined up. My physics teacher had us calculate the gravitational forces to show us that the forces would have little or no effect on the earth.
When Y2K neared, they said that the computers onboard airplanes would think that the year was 1900 – they would realize that airplanes haven’t been invented yet and will fall out of the sky. I was a school librarian at the time and I bought a video about how to prepare for Y2K. I showed it to my principal and he said that after Y2K we could watch it and laugh at how unnecessary the fear mongering was. I am sure that we will be reading your article in 2013.
So I think the satan is behind the false prophets.
Good points! I totally agree with you.
the watchtower doesnt actually predict dates they believe the end is coming, (like everyone else) that is all.
Greetings Dominic Fowler
The article states, and emphasizing one small word for clarity…
The Watchtower Society often predicted, OR alluded to predict, Armageddon.
Somewhere I have a list of those. At any rate, I would refer one to Walter Martin’s Kingdom of the Cults.
The Watchtower would often allude to a year, not a specific date. The article never said they referred to a specific date.
Would love to find a copy of “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.”
Here you go Dominic…
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_times_have_Jehovah’s_witnesses_predicted_Armageddon_through_the_course_of_history
For Dominic again. Just thought of this: NO, not “everyone else” has predicted dates and years for these things.
For example, the Assemblies of God has strictly forbidden their credential holders from such activities.
Oh! If we would but listen and adhere to scripture. The Lord has made truth so easy for he says no man knows the day or the hour. Times show we move towards the end but anyway, since time began-we’ve always , as each new day comes-are closer to the return of Christ.
Your so right-the positive side is most always overlooked.
Good article,thanks
Good article,thanks.
Very true. I would only add that the false prophets themselves are a sign of Jesus’ coming return. That is why more than ever we should be focused on Him, then we will have nothing to fear.
I didn’t know the Jehovah Witnesses did end time fore casting. I will read your link. Thank you.
1914 for the JWs. They say Satan revved up evil in 1914. I think the Jehovah’s came out of the Millerite group from 1844 who predicted the rapture three times. I’m not sure but I’ll check.