Could It Be True That Christ Will Return On May 21, 2011?

I rarely read the newspaper.

There was a time when I subscribed to the major local paper, and like most men I would come home from work and read through a few of the stories that caught my eye.

I now find that newspapers are both biased and quickly out of date.  In addition, I believe that main-stream and traditional print media frequently report what they want to be true, rather than what is true, and I simply have no use for them.

My mother-in-law, however, is an avid reader of the major newspaper from the nation's capital, and she likes to share.  So I was not surprised when a section of newspaper appeared on our kitchen counter today.

It was the Metro section, folded back to reveal a story about a young woman who is convinced that Christ will return on May 21, 2011.  She still holds her job and has not run up debt.  But she has emblazoned her car with a message of the imminent return, along with the key to all messaging in this day and age: a web-site (see the photo below).

This young woman is convinced that a series of calculations, beginning from "the day that Noah shut the door to his ark" reveals the day of Christ's return.  A day which is referred to many times in Scripture, but never along with a specific date.

The first error should be apparent already.  Noah did not shut the door to the ark, the Lord did (Gen 7:16).  Based on personal experience with the media, I will assume that some errors in the article are the result of faulty reporting.  But what of the major claim?  The claim that we have now calculated the exact date for the return of the Lord?  What is a Christian to think about such a prediction?  Might this be the day for the rapture of the church?  Could she be a modern-day prophetess?  Should we all quit our jobs and rush to proclaim the gospel to the lost?

While it is possible that May 21, 2011 might be the day of the Savior's return, it is also possible that it will occur on May 20, May 22, November 16, tomorrow, or one-thousand sixty-seven years from now.  How can we know?

Let's take a look at what the Bible says about the return of Jesus Christ, specifically the day He returns to call His believers to Him in the sky.  An event known as the rapture.

The Bible does provide a lot of information about the rapture.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, for example, states:



"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." 



This verse is where the word "rapture" comes from.  The Greek word translated here as "caught up" is where our word rapture comes from.  Note also that where this verse says "the Lord" it means Christ.  This verse also tells us that when He returns, both living and dead Christians "will be caught up together ... in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."  According to the article, this is the event that will occur on May 21, 2011

If Jesus is returning, a truth clearly taught in the Bible, it might help if Jesus had spoken about it directly.

In fact, He did.  He speaks of His second coming several times in Scripture.  For example, John 14:2-3 records the following:



"In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."  (underlining added)


Here, Jesus speaks of preparing a place in heaven for each believer.  Just as the bridegroom of ancient Israel would go to prepare for his wedding, and then appear at a time that was not announced ahead of time, Jesus will "come again" after His preparations are complete.


But, when?  What does the Bible say about the exact date and time?  Does Jesus speak of the date?  His disciples wanted to know the answer to this very question, and they asked Him.  Even more amazing, the conversation is recorded in the gospels of Mark 13 and Matthew 24.


The third verse of the Matthew passage captures the question from the apostles.  Their question was in response to Jesus telling them about signs that will take place before He returns.

"As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

His answer is found in verse 36:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

So, if this young woman knows the exact day and hour, she knows more than the Son of God Himself!  This would mean that she knows the future, a future that can only be known by God, and that would make her a prophetess.  It would mean that God chose to reveal knowledge to her that He did not reveal to His Son, and felt no need to reveal to the apostles, or anyone else through history.  This would mean that it is time to update the Bible, something specifically forbidden by the Bible itself. (Rev 22:18-19)

And if she's wrong?  That would make her a false prophet, something that God not only warned about, but also found worthy of the most severe punishment during the days of Israel in the Old Testament.

Now, I'm not saying this misguided young woman should be punished.  In fact, I hope that a Bible believing pastor will sit with her, gently but lovingly correct her misunderstandings, and help her see the truth.  I am also saying that it is a dangerous thing to make a claim about the secret things of God.




This person (probably a group of people, based on the name of the web-site) are also incorrectly applying Scripture.  Note that on her car she cites Acts 17:31 (see photo at right) as one of her key Scripture verses.  This verse says, "He hath appointed a day, in which He will judge the world."

Not only was the verse misquoted as it was converted to a window sticker, but it is also used out of context.  This verse is speaking of Judgment Day, not the rapture.  Judgment Day is they day when the book of life is opened.  Anyone who is not a true Christian will be sentenced to eternity in the Lake of Fire.

Christians can look forward to the rapture, but not by circling a date on the calendar.  In addition, knowing that the return of Christ is coming, and cannot be accurately predicted, is a reason for Christians to share the gospel.  What if the day, coincidentally, is May 21?  Don't you want your friends, family members, neighbors, the waitress at your favorite restaurant, and everyone else to hear the gospel?


"For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."  (Matthew 24:44)