“But of that day and hour knoweth no man,
no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
(Matthew 24:36)
About 200 years ago a wave of millenial hope began rising in the Christian world. A number of clergy, scholars, and inspired laymen felt that the return of Christ was imminent. Although they knew they could not determine the day and the hour, yet they felt that there were unmistakeable signs of His coming, just like nature gives us signs of summer. Jesus said:
“ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. ” (Matthew 24:32-33)
One of the signs Jesus mentioned was the abomination of desolation that was foretold by Daniel:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” (Matthew 24:15)
“How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:13-14)
The clerics and scholars of 200 years ago who studied the book of Daniel determined that the end of the abomination of desolation, the completion of the 2300 days, would be in the mid-1800s. Based on this calculation, as well as signs they saw in the heavens, they predicted that Christ would return in their lifetimes. The Christian world was soon caught up in a millenial fever, but it turned to a great disappointment when Jesus did not return as they expected.
However, Christians were not easily discouraged. Many people felt in their hearts that Christ would soon return, and they dedicated themselves to spreading His gospel throughout the world. They took their inspiration from these words of Jesus:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)
Coincidentally with this movement, something unexpected happened. In 1844 the Sulṭán of Turkey signed a decree that would allow Jews to return to the Holy Land for the first time in centuries. Starting with a few drops, then a trickle, the world has witnessed a steady stream of Jews coming from all parts of the globe to settle and live in Israel. It brings to mind these words of Moses, Isaiah and Jesus:
“That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.” (Deuteronomy 30:3)
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:11-12)
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)
These three signs, the end of the abomination of desolation foretold by Daniel, the preaching of the gospel throughout the world, and the return of the Jews to the Holy Land all indicate that that time for the return of Christ has come.