CIRCA TRINITATEM

2365 Pine Avenue - Vero Beach - Florida - 32960

LEFT BEHIND?

This Saturday, May 21, 2011 - is supposed to be the final day for the earth as we know it, according to some professing Christians who have spent millions this past year publicizing the forthcoming "rapture," global destruction, and the Second Coming of Christ. Predictions of this kind have happened before, raising the question of motivation on the part of the alarmists.  I would offer a few observations: (1) Jesus said at his ascension that no one (not even God the Son) other than God Almighty could know when he would return; (2) Amazingly, history shows that end-of-the-world predictions not only increase attendance and revenues for religious forecasters before the supposed date, but that erroneous "prophets" are rarely held accountable by their gullible throngs. In fact, some major denominations were formed on the basis of a false apocalyptic prophecy (Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses); (3) A "rapture" - with people disappearing and others being left behind - is not found in the Bible and was never a part of Christian doctrine and tradition until proclaimed by various fundamentalist groups beginning about 150 years ago; and (4) Christian tradition has always opposed using Second Coming predictions as a manipulative means of "putting the fear of God" into people.

With so many still unreceptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I can't imagine a bigger waste of time than predicting or even speculating when Christ will return. Our best service to God and our neighbors is to live every day to its utmost, as if each day might be our last. When John Wesley was asked what he would do that day if Jesus were to return, he replied "Exactly what I had planned to do."  Exactly.

Fr. Jacobs