(By: Norm Rasmussen)

SPECIFIC date setting of the time of the rapture is Satan subtly working behind the scenes through unwise "Christians" to accomplish his strategies of DISCREDITING.  

Satan desires to discredit true Christianity every way he can, and he gets a lot of mileage doing that by "Christians" setting specific dates of events foretold to come - spoken of in the Bible. God warns us in scripture that we're not going to know a specific date (day) nor a specific hour of His return for The Church.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only,"  (Matthew 24:36 NKJV)

Nevertheless, God warns Christians to learn to discern the times and seasons that God is about to allow/release certain events to come upon the Earth, and I personally believe part of the "discrediting" Satan is doing with specific date setting is getting a lot of mileage with making many Christians COLD to the importance of discerning important times and seasons God warns them to be in tune to.  

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."  (Matthew 25:13)  

There's an important difference between specific date setting verses being alert spiritually to "keep watching" for the return of our Lord (which I believe more qualifies Christians to be able to discern good from evil as we move into the future).  

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42)

And here is what I believe Satan wants as many Christians doing as possible: SLEEPING and/or being DISBELIEVING spiritually when they shouldn't be! Having their thoughts on earthly things (including unhealthy skepticism when TRUE prophetic voices speak out when the Holy Spirit moves them to speak out) at the exclusion of a healthy and wise balance of spiritual, eternal things in line with the balanced Word of God (holy scriptures) regarding prophetic end-time events.

"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him."  (Matthew 24:44)

Date setting is nothing more than a "set up" on Satan's part. Don't fall for date setting. But DO eagerly and soberly keep watching ... daily ... because if you're not spiritually honed to the REAL Christ's sudden appearing for His eagerly expecting and prepared Bride ... you may have some deep regrets.

I believe Satan is also after something far more important to him than Christians knowing about the times of the return of Christ for His Bride (The true Church). I believe He wants as many Christians so spiritually desensitized in their ability to discern the real from the false -- for the reason of making his appearance on Earth to convince multitudes that he's the REAL messiah ... when he's not.

For instance ... if the antichrist decides to make his appearance on this planet and enough Christians starting screaming "Antichrist!  Antichrist!  Beware!" - it may foil, or at least hinder greatly, his plans. But if enough Christians don't even discern him to be the antichrist -- and sobering yet -- fall for his lies ... that would make his end-time plans much easier, wouldn't you suppose?

But of course we have multitudes of Christians screaming as loud as they can scream: "Fool! Don't you realize Christians aren't going to be on this planet when the anti-Christ makes his public appearance?!"

What if those multitudes are wrong?

Unless the Lord changes my way of thinking ... I believe Christians more than likely WILL BE on this planet when the antichrist is first revealed, and I explain my reasoning for it in this writing:  When Will Jesus Christ Return For Christians?

A second reason why I believe this may be is because of Matthew 13:30. Yet Revelation 3:10 offers dedicated, obedient, persevering Christian believers awesome hope (and reward for uncompromising obedience, perseverance ... with a willingness to suffer and/or cruelly die for Jesus Christ if it is thrust upon a believer) in all this end-time mystery, at least it does to me.

However it all unfolds, scriptures make it very clear that we're to have an expectancy about His return for His Bride, so Lord ... help us to be ready when the shout comes: "Come join Me my darling!  It's time to consummate the marriage!"

PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU SHARE THE BEST NEWS GOD HAS FOR EVERY PERSON BECAUSE...

JESUS DID IT! and...

YOU ARE SO GREATLY NEEDED!

Remember:  All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-20 is our assurance)