“We emphasize truths as central which are central in Scripture. The prophecy that Jesus will return is central. The prophecy that there will be a Day of Judgment is central. Details concerning a coming great tribulation, the potential timing and character of a rapture, the interpretation of the Beast from the Sea and of the antichrist, the timing and character of the millennium are all clearly not central. It is legitimate to have opinions about these matters. It is illegitimate to use one’s opinions about these questions to define what orthodox Christianity is, to divide churches, and to exclude Christians from ministry positions. In view of the fact that orthodox Christians have held different positions for centuries, it is foolish, even arrogant, to insist on the absolute truth of one’s position on these surely minor questions.” – Eckhard Schnabel (professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), 40 Questions About The End Times, 312-313
“The early Christians prayed that Jesus might come back soon. They believed that Jesus’ return was imminent, allowing for the possibility that this might happen during their lifetime. Yet, they never mention a time frame within which Jesus would return. They never calculate how close the end might be. They never set a date. They waited, but they did not speculate. They did not make false predictions: Jesus could indeed have returned in the first century, after Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed. At the same time, the early Christians knew that Jesus’ return might be delayed. Jesus repeatedly spoke about a delay and about the fact that his return would be sudden and unexpected. This must be our attitude as well if we heed Jesus’ exhortation and the apostles’ anticipation: we eagerly wait for Jesus’ return, we do not speculate about dates, and we do the work of the Lord in the meantime, until he comes back.” – Schnabel, 40 Questions About The End Times, 261
“Read the Beatitudes, and there you have a description of what every Christian is meant to be. It is not merely the description of some exceptional Christians.
John Wesley said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” There is some truth there but its not the full story. Creation took place before there ever was a prayer meeting. God made His plans long before anything else ever existed. God gave a people to His Son in eternity past who in time will come to Him (John 6:37) and He did so when no one asked Him to. God is not merely a responder, He is a master planner. He is found even by those who never sought Him (Romans 10:20). Lets always be people of prayer but let us be forever thankful that God is not limited to our prayer life before He can act in this world; otherwise we would be Sovereign and not Him.