Two conversations – 2,000 years apart
Conversation # 1
DATE: About 2,000 years ago.
LOCATION: In the little Middle East town of Bethlehem, two citizens are walking down the street, talking. Their conversation went like this:
First guy: “Hey, Yacov. When do think Messiah is coming?”
Second guy: Dumb question, Moishe. I don’t know. We are not supposed to know.”
First guy: “Yeah, but wasn’t the prophet Daniel very specific about the timing, even to the very year (Daniel 9:25)?”
Second guy: “Hey, stop this date-setting stuff. It's crazy. Don’t you know that all the priests say ‘no one knows’? Don’t be an idiot, or a date setter.”
First guy: “Okay. Oh well, I’ll see you in a few days. I’ve got this part-time gig helping a friend herd sheep. He is a sheep herder, living in the fields, keeping watch over his flock by night. It’s lonely, but beautiful out there. It makes me feel close to God.”
Second guy: “See you later. I also have a part-time job over at The Inn helping handle the rush of visitors coming in for the Roman census. It’s really crowded. Last night, one young lady was pregnant, and we had no room for her in The Inn. She and her husband had to sleep in the stable, with the animals. She had her baby there. Cute baby.
(We know what happened!)
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FAST FORWARD 2000 YEARS….
Conversation # 2DATE: Today.
LOCATION: Anywhere, USA. Two guys are walking down the street.
First guy: “Hey, James. When do you think Jesus is coming back?
Second guy: “Dumb question, Moe. I don’t know. We are not supposed to know.”
First guy: “Yeah, but wasn’t the prophet Daniel very specific about the timing, even to the year of the second coming, according to the brilliant Sir Isaac Newton? (Daniel 9:25.) What about all the other unprecedented signs we have now, and those Bible scholars who say the rapture could be any day or any minute now? Jesus said we should be watchful. And Paul said that the day would not surprise us (1 Thessalonians 5:4).”
Second guy: “Hey, stop this date-setting stuff. It’s crazy. Don’t you know that all the preachers say ‘no one knows’? Don’t be a date setter, or an idiot.
First guy: “Okay. Oh, by the way, I read that those who are to be going in the rapture will first hear the sound of a trumpet. WAIT! WHAT IS THAT SOUND I HEAR? IS IT A TRUMPET? I BELIEVE IT IS!”
Second guy: “I don’t hear anything.”