What is wrong with date setting for the end times?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Questions about the end times are nothing new; Jesus's disciples wanted to know, and so do we today. Date setting for the end times is misguided because Jesus explicitly stated that no one except the Father knows the day or hour of His return (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). While signs like wars, famines, and earthquakes are indicators of a fallen world, Jesus warned that these are just the beginning—not definitive markers of the end (Matthew 24:6–8). Scripture emphasizes that Jesus's return will be sudden and unexpected, like a thief in the night, making predictions futile (2 Peter 3:10; Luke 12:39). Instead of speculating, believers are called to stay prepared, live in obedience to Christ, and fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). Our focus should be on faithfully serving God, knowing that whether we live to see Christ’s return or meet Him after death, our hope is secure in Him (Philippians 1:21–26; Romans 12:1–2).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Date setting for the end times is not specifically addressed in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• When the disciples asked for signs of what will come, when Christ will return, and when the end of the age would arrive (Matthew 24:3), Jesus said, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains" (Matthew 24:6–8; cf. Mark 13:7–8). Today, wars, famine, and even increasing earthquakes across the globe all make headlines. Surely the end is near, for Jesus said these things were a sign, right? But that's not what Jesus said. He said these are just the beginning, meaning there is more to come before the end times are fully upon us.
• We know with certainty that Jesus will return (Acts 1:6–11; Revelation 22:20). However, people are prone to ask, "Why does He delay so long?" The Bible talks about His patient endurance, so people will repent and find salvation (Romans 9:22; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9).
• Peter wrote, "Scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, 'Where is the promise of his coming?'" (2 Peter 3:3–4). Indeed, that is precisely what people say now.
• Peter reminds us that people who mock His return deliberately overlook the fact that God will keep His word. He says the heavens existed long before our time and that the earth was both formed from the water and destroyed by water (2 Peter 3:5–6). But now, says Peter, "By the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly" (2 Peter 3:7). Jesus said, "For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:37). He explains that the people in Noah's day were living their lives normally, with no expectation of what was coming (Matthew 24:38–39). This, He says, is how it will be when the Son of Man returns.
• Peter reminds us, "The day of the Lord will come like a thief" (2 Peter 3:10). And Jesus tells us, "If the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into" (Luke 12:39). In other words, just as we are unaware of when a thief sneaks into our house, we are unaware of when the end will actually be.
• Jesus also said plainly, "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only" (Matthew 24:36).
• Just before His ascension, He told His disciples, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority" (Acts 1:7).
• Jesus said, "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42). Jesus has made it clear that no one except the Father knows when He will return. Even if you were to accurately guess the date of a future event, you would do so out of pure chance. Many have tried over the centuries, and every prediction has ultimately failed.
• Jesus told us to be prepared at all times for His return. Expending our efforts on trying to determine the date of His return is not only contrary to this teaching but fails to uphold the Great Commission to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…" (Matthew 28:19). Sharing the gospel message of salvation in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (John 3:16–18; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 1:13) to the glory of God alone should be our primary focus, not trying to determine the date of the end times.
• Jesus taught us to store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20), that is, to live our lives in obedience to Him, patiently awaiting His return. He spoke of abiding in Him and loving others (John 15). We are to live our lives on this earth with an eye to the end and a sense of purpose, knowing we are citizens of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20–21) and ambassadors here (2 Corinthians 5:18–21). Paul instructed us to run the race to obtain the prize that awaits us (1 Corinthians 9:24–27). If we are focused on end-times date setting, we're likely not spending our time obeying God in the here and now.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Christians are often concerned with the end times, and rightly so. It is the end of suffering (Revelation 7:17; 21:4); it is the start of eternal joy and comfort apart from sin and temptation (Revelation 20:10); it is the installation of a new and perfect world (Revelation 21:1); and it is the point at which God will dwell forever with man and man forever with God (Revelation 21:3). It makes sense that Christians would want to know when this happens, but, again, we are explicitly told we cannot know the day Jesus will return. Rather than concern ourselves with dates, we should be actively obeying God, joyfully serving Him, and loving others. Whether Jesus returns in our lifetimes, or we die first, all who have put their faith in Him will be with Him one day. We have been entrusted with this short time on earth and should set our hearts to live however many days we have for His glory (Philippians 1:21–26; James 4:14; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15; 1 Peter 1:3–9).

UNDERSTAND

• Only God knows the timing of Jesus's return.
• Signs of trouble are not definitive markers of the end.
• Believers should focus on living for God for however many days we have until His return.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that only the Father knows the timing of Jesus's return change the way you approach the future?
• How can you shift your focus from speculating about the end times to faithfully serving God today?
• How does the uncertainty of Jesus's return challenge you to live with greater spiritual urgency?

ENGAGE

• Why have people throughout history been drawn to predicting the end times despite Jesus's clear warning?
• How can we encourage others to stay prepared for Christ’s return without falling into fear or speculation?
• What does it mean to "stay awake" spiritually, and how can we help each other live with that mindset?