In light of the two failed predictions in 2011, and also of the last forty years (mainly that Jesus would return by 1988 or 2000), we need to stay watchful for Christ's return and not allow false alarms and predictions to disillusion and lull us to sleep.
I believe Satan has used these predictions to lull the church into a state of sleepiness (lack of expectation of Christ's return) and unpreparedness (careless living) for the return of Jesus. It would be wise to keep the parable of the Ten Virgins of Matthew 25 in mind, as well as Mark 13:35-37 below:
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“35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
And Matthew 24:44 "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
We need to guard against assuming that Jesus has delayed or will delay His coming and the resulting careless living.
Luke 12:45-46 says:
"45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."
I believe that Satan has used the “cry wolf” technique to produce the scoffers described in II Peter 3:3-4 below:
“3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
I believe the sleepiness and scoffing are themselves indicators that Jesus is returning soon.
