(Matthew 24:36) No one knows the day or hour.

Throughout church history, some Christians have declared with certainty that the second coming of Christ and the end of the world would happen at any time.

Some Christians have even predicted the exact day, year, or generation that Jesus would return.

They were sure the “signs” of the world’s end—earthquakes, wars, dictators, diseases—had arrived.

They have identified many different people as the Antichrist, from Hitler to the Pope.

I have books that list all these end-time predictions over the last 2,000 years, all of which have turned out to be false.

Over the years, I have seen many configurations of so-called “end-time charts.”

Some people point to the present decline of Christianity as a sign of the end times. However, this decline is primarily in the West. Around the world today, the church is growing fast. In fact, the church is growing tremendously across the globe. As American Christians, we have a tendency to see the world through our own eyes and experiences.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul warned the church about people who were declaring that the second coming of Christ had already occurred.

I remember in AD 2000, at the turn of a new millennium, some Christians were selling everything and going to live off the grid. They were sure that human history was coming to an end.

Some Christians portray themselves as having “special end-time knowledge” and claim that we do not have true faith if we do not follow them.

I am not trying to quench the Holy Spirit, nor am I pointing my finger in judgment at anyone.

I am simply emphasizing that the Bible tells us to be ready and alert for the return of Christ, but it does not tell us when it will happen.

As Christians, we must remain focused on the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

We must go, not stop and escape into a cave.

We are the salt and light of the world.

As Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Let God be God.

God created the world, and he alone will determine when he will create a new heaven and a new earth.

Let us be wise.

Let us not be shaken.

Let us remain faithful and obedient to the Great Commission.

Let us keep spreading the love of God in Christ to every person and nation!