Why Can't We Set a Date for Christ's Return?

Direct Answer

No — a specific date for Christ's return cannot be set, because the church age is not governed by a revealed prophetic timetable.

Les Feldick explains that Old Testament prophecy to Israel operated on definite periods of time, but the church age is an undetermined parenthesis. No prophecy has been given for the church, so the Lord's coming is imminent — He may come at any time, but no one can know when.

Key Scriptures

Romans 11:25 — Paul describes the present age as a mystery and says Israel's hardening continues only until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, showing the church age has a God-ordained end that is not dated in Scripture.

What Does the Bible Say About the Time of Christ's Return?

In the context of the present church age, Scripture reveals that a spiritual 'mystery' is taking place: 'For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in' (Romans 11:25). This is the only direct passage named in the teaching on this question. The verse shows that Israel's blindness is not permanent, but is limited to the period in which God is calling out a full number from the Gentiles. The passage does not assign a day or a year to the end of that period, nor does it place the church under the time indicators that governed Israel's prophetic calendar.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Not Setting a Date for Christ's Return?

Les Feldick begins with the Old Testament prophetic timetable. God dealt primarily with the nation of Israel, and His program gave definite time periods — for example, He told Abraham that Israel would come out of Egypt after 430 years, and He gave 490 years from one temple to the next (Clip 4). All of that prophecy pointed to a steady flow: the crucifixion of Messiah, the seven-year Tribulation, and the Kingdom. But Israel rejected the offer of the King and Kingdom, so the Tribulation did not follow the crucifixion (Clip 0); nothing of that kind happened in Acts, and the prophetic clock for Israel stopped. The present age is a parenthesis. Using Romans 11, Les explains that Israel was set aside while salvation went to the Gentiles, and that this period is the age of grace, the church age (Clips 6, 7). This age has no prophecy, no time frame, and no date markers. As Les puts it, no more than you can put the church under law can you put the church under prophecy (Clip 1). The church age was a secret hidden in the mind of God, not mentioned in the Old Testament (Clip 3). Because there is no date in prophecy for the church, no one can set a date for the Rapture. Les says he bristles when someone names a specific day and year. The event should be expected at any moment — it may happen this afternoon, tomorrow, next week, or years later (Clip 5). Christ will come when the Body of Christ is complete, when the last Gentile or Jew is saved (Clip 6).

What Happened to Israel's Prophetic Timetable?

In the Old Testament, God dealt with Israel on a timetable. Les cites God's promise that Israel would leave Egypt 430 years after Abraham's call, and the 490-year span from one temple to the next (Clip 4). The prophecies flowed toward Messiah, His crucifixion, the Tribulation, and the Kingdom. But Israel rejected the King, the tribulation did not come after the crucifixion, and the Acts period did not follow that prophetic flow (Clip 0). The seven-year period was pushed into the future and the church age was inserted (Clip 7).

Is the Church Ever Mentioned in Prophecy?

Les emphasizes that the church age is never mentioned in Old Testament prophecy or in the Gospels as a doctrinal subject. It was a secret held in the mind of God (Clip 3). The age of grace is an undetermined period with no words about God going to the Gentiles to call out a people for His name (Clip 4). Since no prophecy is given for the church, the church is not under a prophetic timetable (Clip 1).

How Soon Can Christ Return?

Les says the Rapture cannot be dated but is imminent. Paul had taught the Thessalonians to expect it in their lifetime, and the church has been told to look for it ever since. It could happen at any moment — before leaving the studio, on the way home, tomorrow, next week, or further down the road (Clip 5). The only condition Les gives is that Christ will come for the church the moment the Body of Christ is complete — when the last Gentile or Jew is saved (Clip 6).

From the Teaching

Interrupted Prophetic Flow

Les shows that Old Testament prophecy expected the Tribulation to follow the crucifixion, but Israel rejected the offer, so none of that prophetic flow happened in Acts.

No Prophecy for the Church

Les says prophecy mandates date-setting for Israel, but there is no prophecy given to the church, so the church cannot know when the Lord will come and must not be placed under a prophetic clock.

What Does It Mean to Be "All Things to All Men"? — 1 Corinthians 9

We don't know how long it'll last, we only know it's now come 1900 and some years, and then the Church will have to be taken out of the way so that God can pick up where He left off with Israel, because that all belongs back in the prophetic program.

The Church Age Was a Hidden Secret

The church and the Rapture are not in the Old Testament or Gospels because the church age was a secret in God's mind; God moved Israel's prophetic program into the future and inserted an undetermined period.

Undetermined Age of Grace

Les contrasts Israel's timed schedule (430 years to Egypt, 490 years to the next temple) with the age of grace, which is an undetermined period with no timetable.

Imminent, Not Dateable

Les bristles at anyone who predicts a specific day or year for the Rapture. The event is imminent — it could happen today, tomorrow, or further down the road, but no one can set a date.

The Body of Christ Completed

Les says we cannot say Christ is coming in 5 years or 100 years; He will come the moment the Body of Christ is complete, and that day is unknown.

Church Age in the Prophetic Gap

Les explains that the seven-year Tribulation was pushed into the future and the church age, the age of grace, now fills the gap while God calls out the Body of Christ.

Bible Verses

Romans 11:25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Paul calls this present age a mystery and ties its end to the completion of the Gentiles, without giving any specific time frame for that completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't a date be set for the Rapture if some people try to predict it?

Les Feldick explains that the church has no prophetic timetable. Old Testament prophecy had dates because God was dealing with Israel, but no prophecy is given to the church, so the Rapture cannot be dated. Les says he bristles when anyone names a specific day or year.

Is the Rapture the same as Christ's return to set up the Kingdom?

In Les's teaching, the Rapture takes place before the Tribulation and the church returns with Christ after the Tribulation to rule and reign. The church is taken out of the way so God can resume His program with Israel.

Will Christ come only after the Body of Christ is complete?

Yes. Les says Christ will come the moment the Body of Christ is complete — when the last Gentile or Jew is saved. That is why no one can say He will come in five years or one hundred years.

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