Lately, I’ve been noticing more and more religious organizations setting dates for Yahshua’s return. This is quite alarming to me because we are told in Scripture that no one knows the day or the hour. It seems natural that people want to know when the Messiah is coming back, but they can put way too much focus on this. Many years ago, I was a member of a certain religious group that preached that the Messiah would return in 1972. I was shocked to learn that many of the members began selling their houses and land in anticipation of the ushering in of the Kingdom! It was a huge disappointment for those people when the Messiah did not return and many disillusioned individuals lost their faith and left that organization.
Even some in Peter’s time were wondering. In 2 Peter 3:4, we read, “ And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” Yes, centuries have come and gone, and the world continues to decay, growing worse and worse. Has Yahshua forgotten His promise to return? Of course not!
We all want Yahshua to return, of course. We look at all the sickness, wars, disease, and suffering in the world and we long for the Kingdom. On a more personal level, we look at our own suffering and want relief even more so! But Yahweh knows exactly when He needs to send Yahshua back to this earth. We need not concern ourselves with dates and times. We need to focus on seeking first the Kingdom. There is much we can do to prepare for Yahshua’s return. First and foremost, we must pray and study the Word on a daily basis. We must develop a set apart, righteous character. In many ways, it is good that Yahshua did not return yesterday—most of us would not have been ready for Him! We still have so much to work on in our lives.
Ask yourself, will I be ready for His return? What kinds of things should I be working on in my own life to prepare for His coming? Be honest with yourself. We all have things we need to change in our lives. Preparing our hearts is a much bigger task than setting dates. Perhaps that is why many seem to focus on date-setting in Scripture, because it is much easier than seeing the reality of what needs to be changed in our own lives. Let us prepare our hearts and minds for the return of Messiah so that we may be presented to Him as a pure Bride!