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A Biblical Response to False Date-Setting
The recent claim that Jesus Christ would return on September 22, 2025, represents yet another example of the dangerous pattern of date-setting that has plagued the church throughout history. These false predictions not only contradict clear biblical teaching but also cause confusion and fear among believers, particularly those new to the faith and those who have refused to yield themselves to the spiritual nourishment found in God’s Word.

This proliferation of such false narratives reveals a troubling reality: there exists a ready market for sensational prophetic claims within the body of Christ. Where there are no people hungry for sensationalism, there would be no demand for false prophetic words that lead Christians toward these deceptive teachings and unfounded claims. This highlights one of the primary reasons deceptions operate at such levels within the church that there are believers who actively feed on these lies and falsehoods, almost as if they desire to hear these fabricated narratives to provide themselves with a manufactured sense of hope.

It is important to recognize that preparedness for Christ’s return is dependent upon certain values and lifestyles that align with character integrity and the ecclesia’s collective mission. A shift away from a self-focused gospel towards the kingdom Gospel which emphasizes the exaltation of Christ and his redemptive work among nations serves as a significant indicator of Christ’s return. Furthermore, living righteously and remaining vigilant, as highlighted in 2 Peter 3:11-14, should be prioritized over attempts to calculate or predict specific dates.

Furthermore, the church’s witness and credibility can be impacted by such unfounded claims, highlighting the importance of grounding faith and teaching in the clear, authoritative truth of Scripture rather than speculative or sensational narratives. Believers are instead encouraged to focus on proclaiming the gospel and living out their faith with integrity and anticipation of Christ’s return, without succumbing to the temptation of date-setting or sensationalism.

Yet these same believers have tragically neglected the truth that hope is fundamentally a spiritual condition rooted in their faith and love for Christ, not in some external predictions or spectacular events. As Scripture declares, “Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:24-25). True biblical hope is anchored in the unchanging character of God and His promises, not in human calculations or prophetic speculation.

Believers who lack a sound understanding of what biblical Christianity truly is and what it demands regarding the condition and configuration of their hearts will inevitably seek external evidence and manifestations to satisfy their misplaced expectations. Rather than cultivating inner spiritual maturity through the study of God’s Word, prayer, and genuine relationship with Christ, they become vulnerable to every wind of doctrine and sensational claim that promises to fulfill their desire for supernatural validation.

This spiritual immaturity creates a dangerous cycle: false teachers capitalize on believers’ hunger for the spectacular, while spiritually undernourished Christians consume these deceptions as substitutes for genuine spiritual growth. Apostle Paul warned against this very pattern: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).

The Clear Biblical Prohibition Against Date-Setting
Jesus himself provided the definitive answer to those who would attempt to calculate the timing of his return: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36, NIV). This statement leaves no room for human calculation or prophetic speculation about specific dates.

The disciples, eager to know the timing of Christ’s return and the restoration of Israel, were similarly redirected by Jesus: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). The Greek word for “times” (Chronos) refers to periods of time, while “dates” (kairos) refers to specific moments or seasons. Together, these words encompass all aspects of timing that the Father has reserved for himself alone.

The Difference Between Signs and Dates
While Scripture clearly prohibits date-setting, it does provide signs that believers should recognize. Jesus taught his disciples about the signs of his coming using the parable of the fig tree: “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door” (Matthew 24:32-33).

The signs Jesus mentioned include:
• Wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6)
• Nation rising against nation (Matthew 24:7)
• Famines, pestilences, and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7)
• Persecution of believers (Matthew 24:9)
• False prophets and deception (Matthew 24:11)
• The love of many growing cold (Matthew 24:12).

These signs indicate seasons, not specific dates. They serve as general indicators that Christ’s return draws near, but they cannot be used to calculate exact timing. Understanding Christ’s return requires spiritual discernment, not mathematical calculation. The Second Coming is fundamentally a spiritual reality that will manifest in the physical realm according to God’s perfect timing. As Paul writes, “The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment” (1 Corinthians 2:15).

When believers attempt to reduce this spiritual reality to human calculations and cosmic alignments, they fall into the trap of trying to understand spiritual things through natural reasoning. This approach inevitably leads to error because “the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The Danger of False Prophetic Calculations
Throughout church history, numerous individuals and groups have set dates for Christ’s return, and every single prediction has failed. From the Montanists in the second century to more recent predictions in 1988, 2011, and 2012, date-setting has consistently brought disappointment and damaged faith.

The current prediction about September 22, 2025, follows the same flawed methodology: taking prophetic passages like Daniel’s seventy weeks (Daniel 9:24-27) or the timeline in Revelation, and attempting to create a mathematical formula for Christ’s return. While these passages contain important prophetic truth, they were never intended as calendars for calculating specific dates.

The Sign of the MorningStar
Rather than focusing on dates and timelines, believers should focus on their relationship with Christ and their readiness for his return. Jesus emphasized this repeatedly: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42).

The apostle Peter speaks of “the morning star rising in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19), referring to the inner spiritual reality that prepares believers for Christ’s return. This morning star is not a cosmic event to be calculated, but a spiritual awakening that occurs as believers grow in their knowledge of God’s Word and their relationship with him.

True prophetic ministry builds up the church and points people to Christ, not to specific dates or sensational predictions. As Paul instructs, “Everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Our Response to False Predictions
When faced with false date-setting, believers should respond with biblical wisdom:
1. Test all prophecy against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
2. Remember that God’s Word cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:27)
3. Focus on living righteously rather than speculating about dates (2 Peter 3:11)
4. Be ready at all times (Luke 12:40)

The path of the righteous grows brighter and brighter until the full light of day (Proverbs 4:18). This light comes through walking in God’s Word, not through following false prophetic timelines. When believers live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4), they walk in truth rather than deception.

The prediction that Christ would return on September 22, 2025, like all previous date-setting attempts, contradicts clear biblical teaching. Instead of following such predictions, believers should ground themselves in Scripture, maintain their relationship with Christ, and live in constant readiness for his return, whenever that blessed day may come.

As Jesus himself warned: “Watch out that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). The greatest protection against deception is a thorough knowledge of God’s Word and a heart aligned with his purposes, not with the latest prophetic speculation.

To be continued in article two.