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Religion See other Religion Articles Title: 44 failed & 1 ambiguous end-of-the-world predictions between 30 and 1920 CE 44 failed & 1 ambiguous end-of-the-world predictions between 30 and 1920 CE Some Christians and secular individuals predicted several momentous events that they believed are related: The second coming of Jesus Christ, when he returns to earth after almost two millennia. The war of Armageddon -- a massive battle in Israel. The arrival on earth of the Antichrist, an evil political, military leader. The Tribulation, a seven year interval of great suffering and death. The Rapture, when Christians who have been born again -- both living and dead -- will rise into the sky towards Jesus. Some horrendous natural disaster. etc. It is worth noting that all of the following predictions have failed. We expect that all of the predictions about our future will also fail. Failed prophecies: About 30 CE: The Christian Scriptures (New Testament), when interpreted literally, appear to record many predictions by Jeshua of Nazareth (Jesus Christ) that God's Kingdom would arrive within a very short period, or was actually in the process of arriving. For example, Jesus is recorded as saying in Matthew 16:28: "...there shall be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." In Matthew 24:34, Yeshua is recorded as saying: "...This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Since the life expectancy in those days was little over 30 years, Jesus appears to have predicted his second coming sometime during the 1st century CE. It didn't happen. More details. About 60 CE: Interpreting the Epistles of Paul of Tarsus literally, his writings seem to imply that Jesus would return and usher in a rapture during the lifetime of persons who were living in the middle of the 1st century. More details. About 90 CE: Saint Clement 1 predicted that the world end would occur at any moment. 2nd Century CE: Prophets and Prophetesses of the Montanist movement predicted that Jesus would return sometime during their lifetime and establish the New Jerusalem in the city of Pepuza in Asia Minor. 365 CE: A man by the name of Hilary of Poitiers, announced that the end would happen that year. It didn't. 375 to 400 CE: Saint Martin of Tours, a student of Hilary, was convinced that the end would happen sometime before 400 CE. 500 CE: This was the first year-with-a-nice-round-number-panic. The antipope Hippolytus and an earlier Christian academic Sextus Julius Africanus had predicted Armageddon at about this year. 968 CE: An eclipse was interpreted as a prelude to the end of the world by the army of the German emperor Otto III. 992: Good Friday coincided with the Feast of the Annunciation; this had long been believed to be the event that would bring forth the Antichrist, and thus the end-times events foretold in the book of Revelation. Records from Germany report that a new sun rose in the north and that as many as 3 suns and 3 moons were fighting. There does not appear to be independent verification of this remarkable event. 1000-JAN-1: Many Christians in Europe had predicted the end of the world on this date. As the date approached, Christian armies waged war against some of the Pagan countries in Northern Europe. The motivation was to convert them all to Christianity, by force if necessary, before Christ returned in the year 1000. Meanwhile, some Christians had given their possessions to the Church in anticipation of the end. Fortunately, the level of education was so low that many citizens were unaware of the year. They did not know enough to be afraid. Otherwise, the panic might have been far worse than it was. Unfortunately, when Jesus did not appear, the church did not return the gifts. Serious criticism of the Church followed. The Church reacted by exterminating some heretics. Agitation settled down quickly, as it later did in the year 2000. 1000-MAY: The body of Charlemagne was disinterred on Pentecost. A legend had arisen that an emperor would rise from his sleep to fight the Antichrist. 1005-1006: A terrible famine throughout Europe was seen as a sign of the nearness of the end. 1033: Some believed this to be the 1000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus. His second coming was anticipated. Jesus' actual date of execution is unknown, but is believed to be in the range of 27 to 33 CE. 1147: Gerard of Poehlde decided that the millennium had actually started in 306 CE during Constantine's reign. Thus, the world end was expected in 1306 CE. 1179: John of Toledo predicted the end of the world during 1186. This estimate was based on the alignment of many planets. 1205: Joachim of Fiore predicted in 1190 that the Antichrist was already in the world, and that King Richard of England would defeat him. The Millennium would then begin, sometime before 1205. 1284: Pope Innocent III computed this date by adding 666 years onto the date the Islam was founded. 1346 and later: The black plague spread across Europe, killing one third of the population. This was seen as the prelude to an immediate end of the world. Unfortunately, the Christians had previously killed a many of the cats, fearing that they might be familiars of Witches. The fewer the cats, the more the rats. It was the rat fleas that spread the black plague. 1496: This was approximately 1500 years after the birth of Jesus. Some mystics in the 15th century predicted that the millennium would begin during this year. 1524: Many astrologers predicted the imminent end of the world due to a world wide flood. They obviously had not read the Genesis story of the rainbow. 1533: Melchior Hoffman predicted that Jesus' return would happen a millennium and a half after the nominal date of his execution, in 1533. The New Jerusalem was expected to be established in Strasbourg, Germany. He was arrested and died in a Strasbourg jail. 1669: The Old Believers in Russia believed that the end of the world would occur in this year. 20 thousand burned themselves to death between 1669 and 1690 to protect themselves from the Antichrist. 1689: Benjamin Keach, a 17th century Baptist, predicted the end of the world for this year. 1736: British theologian and mathematician William Whitson predicted a great flood similar to Noah's for OCT-13 of this year. 1792: This was the date of the end of the world calculated by some believers in the Shaker movement. 1794: Charles Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, thought Doomsday would be in this year. 1830: Margaret McDonald, a Christian prophetess, predicted that Robert Owen would be the Antichrist. Owen helped found New Harmony, IN. 1832?: Joseph Smith (1805-1844) was the founder of the Church of Christ, which became the Restorationist movement after many schisms. It now includes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- a.k.a. the Mormons, and about a hundred other denominations and sects. He heard a voice while praying. He wrote, in Doctrines and Covenants section 130: 14: "I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:" 15: "Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter." 16: "I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face." 17: "I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time." 14 The year in which this event occurred is not recorded. However, one commentator suggested 1832 or earlier. 16 Smith is later recorded as having said: "I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, and let it be written--the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of heaven till I am eighty-five years old." 17 Smith would have reached the age of 85 during 1890. Unfortunately, by that year, Smith had been dead for almost a half century, having been assassinated by a mob. Note that his prophecy is ambiguous. It can be interpreted that: Jesus would return during 1890 (which did not materialize) or that 1890 would pass without Jesus' return (which did come to pass). Some anti-Mormon sources quote only verses 14 and 15, and draw the former conclusion -- that Smith's prophecy failed. Sponsored link: 1843-MAR-21: William Miller, founder of the Millerite movement, predicted that Jesus would come on this date. A very large number of Christians accepted his prophecy. 1844-OCT-22: When Jesus did not return, Miller predicted this new date. In an event which is now called "The Great Disappointment," many Christians sold their property and possessions, quit their jobs and prepared themselves for the second coming. Nothing happened; the day came and went without incident. 1850: Ellen White, founder of the Seven Day Adventists movement, made many predictions of the timing of the end of the world. All failed. On 1850-JUN- 27 she prophesized that only a few months remained before the end. She wrote: "My accompanying angel said, 'Time is almost finished. Get ready, get ready, get ready.' ...now time is almost finished...and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months." 10 1856 or later: At Ellen White's last prediction, she said that she was shown in a vision the fate of believers who attended the 1856 SDA conference. She wrote "I was shown the company present at the Conference. Said the angel: 'Some food for worms, some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus." 11 That is, some of the attendees would die of normal diseases; some would die from plagues at the last days, others would still be alive when Jesus came. "By the early 1900s all those who attended the conference had passed away, leaving the Church with the dilemma of trying to figure out how to explain away such a prominent prophetic failure." 12 1891: Mother Shipton, a 16th century mystic predicted the end of the world: "...The world to an end shall come; in eighteen hundred and eighty-one." 1891 or before: On 1835-FEB-14, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, attended a meeting of church leaders. He said that the meeting had been called because God had commanded it. He announced that Jesus would return within 56 years -- i.e. before 1891-FEB-15. (History of the Church 2:182) 1914 was one of the more important estimates of the start of the war of Armageddon by the Jehovah's Witnesses (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society). They based their prophecy of 1914 from prophecy in the book of Daniel, Chapter 4. The writings referred to "seven times". The WTS interpreted each "time" as equal to 360 days, giving a total of 2520 days. This was further interpreted as representing 2520 years, measured from the starting date of 607 BCE. This gave 1914 as the target date. When 1914 passed, they changed their prediction; 1914 became the year that Jesus invisibly began his rule. 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975 and 1994, etc. were other dates that the Watchtower Society (WTS) or its members predicted. Since late in the 19th century, they had taught that the "battle of the Great Day of God Almighty" (Armageddon) would happen in 1914 CE. It didn't. The next major estimate was 1925. Watchtower magazine predicted: "The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would be presumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume just what the Lord is going to do during that year." 6 The Watchtower Society selected 1975 as its next main prediction. This was based on the estimate "according to reliable Bible chronology Adam was created in the year 4026 BCE, likely in the autumn of the year, at the end of the sixth day of creation." 8 They believed that the year 1975 a promising date for the end of the world, as it was the 6,000th anniversary of Adam's creation. Exactly 1,000 years was to pass for each day of the creation week. This prophecy also failed. The current estimate is that the end of the world as we know it will happen precisely 6000 years after the creation of Eve. 9 There is no way of knowing when this happened. More details on the WTS predictions. 1919: Meteorologist Albert Porta predicted that the conjunction of 6 planets would generate a magnetic current that would cause the sun to explode and engulf the earth on DEC-17. References used: The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today. Richard Kyle, "The last days are here again: A history of the end times," Baker Books, (1998), Page 111. You can read a review and safely buy this book from Amazon.com online bookstore Watchtower magazine, 1924-JUL-15, Page 211). William Martin, "Waiting for the End: The growing interest in apocalyptic prophesy," The Atlantic Monthly, 1982-JUN. Online at: http://www.theatlantic.com/ "Herman L. Hoeh," Wikipedia, downloaded on 2006-APR-24, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/ Mike Harris Jr., "Arnold Murray. False Teacher. False Prophet.," Mikes Christian Corner, at: http://www.mikeschristiancorner.com/ Site navigation: Home page > > Religious conflict > End of the world > here or Home page > Religious information > End of the world > here Copyright © 1997 to 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Last update: 2009-NOV-10 Compiled by B.A. Robinson
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#2. To: gengis gandhi (#0)
THAT is open to interpretation.... "Christ On David's Throne by David Padfield Premillennialists claim that one day our Lord will return to this earth for the purpose of establishing His kingdom. They further claim that He will sit and rule "on the throne of David" in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. The truth of the matter is that at this very moment, Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, and He is now reigning from heaven "on the throne of David." If we can prove that Christ is now "on the throne of David," the entire theory of premillennialism [ATKH: and Judeo-Communist British Israelism!!!] falls to pieces....... David's kingdom was "established" by Christ in the first century. Paul told the Colossians how God "has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Col. 1:13). He told Hebrew Christians that "since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Heb. 12:28). David's throne was "established" when God raised "up the Christ to sit on his throne" and exalted Him "to the right hand of God" (Acts 2:29-36). Christ told the church at Laodicea, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Rev. 3:21). What Will David's Throne Do For Him? If Jesus Christ is not now on David's throne, then one of three things will happen when he does ascend to that throne: 1) He will increase in power and authority, 2) He will decrease in power and authority, or 3) David's throne will add nothing to Him. If you teach that being seated on David's throne will increase His authority, you have to explain passages like Matthew 28:18 where Jesus claimed, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Paul spoke of how Christ had been raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God, "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Eph. 1:20-23)....... We need to notice the genealogy of this man. Jehoiakim begot Coniah (1 Chron. 3:16; Jer. 22:24). Coniah (Jeconiah) begot Shealtiel (1 Chron. 3:17; Matt. 1:12). Christ is a descendant of Shealtiel (Matt. 1:12). Therefore, since Christ is a descendant of Coniah, He cannot sit on the throne of David and rule in Judah! Yet, this is the very heart of modern premillennialism! The truth is that Christ is on the throne of David -- but not in the land of Judah. He is on the throne of David in heaven where He must reign "till He has put all enemies under His feet" (1 Cor. 15:25). Conclusion When Our Lord returns it will not be for the purpose of establishing a kingdom -- He is at this very moment the King of kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 17:14). He rules as sovereign King in His kingdom right now. When He returns He will deliver "the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power" (1 Cor. 15:24)....." Christ on David's Throne / Premillennialism / Kingdom of Christ http://www.padfield.com/2000/throne.html Jesus' Second Coming was with His angels to deliver judgment on Jerusalem: Excerpts "Chariots in the Clouds DURING THE "SECOND PASSOVER" OF A.D. 66 AS RECORDED BY JOSEPHUS, TACITUS, AND OTHERS": "Matthew 26:64. Jesus told him, "You said it. I am telling you then, that henceforth you shall see the Son of Man sitting from the right of the Power and coming over the clouds of heaven." (Aramaic Bible) ORIGINAL CONTEMPORARY TESTIMONIES Josephus (A.D. 75) - Jewish Historian 33;A supernatural apparition was seen, too amazing to be believed. What I am now to relate would, I imagine, be dismissed as imaginary, had this not been vouched for by eyewitnesses, then followed by subsequent disasters that deserved to be thus signalized. For before sunset chariots were seen in the air over the whole country, and armed battalions speeding through the clouds and encircling the cities.33; (rendered in Chilton) Tacitus (A.D. 115) - Roman historian HISTORICAL TESTIMONIES Anonymous (1399) "And then the people thought about them (these omens) and considered it all [God's] vengeance, / And knew their woe was due to the wrong that they did / When they killed in the town the bishop, Saint James; / [Yet] no one would equate it with Christ['s suffering], the misfortunes that they had." (Siege of Jerusalem, Lines 1237-40) Richard Carew (1769) Eusebius of Caesarea (A.D. 325) Mark Hopkins (1844) Tacitus, a Roman historian, also says, "There were many prodigies presignifying their ruin which was not averted by all the sacrifices and vows of that people. Armies were seen fighting in the air with brandished weapons. A fire fell upon the Temple from the clouds. The doors of the Temple were suddenly opened. At the same time there was a loud voice saying that the gods were removing, which was accompanied with a sound as of a multitude going out. All which things were supposed, by some to portend great calamities."1 Josephus further says that "no other city ever suffered such miseries; nor was there ever a generation more fruitful in wickedness from the beginning of the world. ... In reality it was God who condemned the whole nation and turned every course that was taken for their preservation to their destruction. . . . The multitudes of those who perished exceeded all the destructions that man or God ever brought upon the world." Famine did its slow but dreadful work so that women were known to eat their own children, just as Moses said they would do, fifteen hundred years before. The prophecy of Christ that not one stone of the Temple should be left upon another, was literally fulfilled. The Jews were carried into captivity among all nations, and their condition from that time till now has been an impressive proof of the truth of prophecy. (Hopkins' Evidences, pp. 322-324.)......." www.preteristarchive.com/...c/chariots-in-clouds.html .....and His kingdom "cometh not with observation"....witness the fact we've been living in it for almost 2,000 years, and people are still looking for it to "come".
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