Introduction — the question and why it matters
People have always wondered: When will the world end? Today some groups confidently set dates and predict the “day.” The Bible, however, gives a surprisingly sober answer: the Father alone knows the day and hour. This article explains that biblical teaching, shows how the early Church and the Fathers read the texts, surveys how the practice of date-setting arose in church history, and presents the Catholic pastoral and doctrinal response. Along the way you’ll find clear tables, a timeline, and trustworthy sources.
Key short answer: Scripture and the Catechism teach that no human knows the exact day or hour; Christians are called to readiness, repentance, and faithful living rather than date-setting. Bible Gateway+1
1 — The primary biblical texts (what the Bible actually says)
Matthew 24:36 — the plain statement
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” — Matthew 24:36.
This is Jesus’ own declaration that the precise time of the final coming is hidden by the Father. Any doctrine that claims certain knowledge of the exact date runs directly counter to this plain text. Bible Gateway
Acts 1:7 — Jesus to the apostles
“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” — Acts 1:7.
Jesus told the apostles explicitly that timing belongs to the Father; their mission was to bear witness, not to compute calendars. ESV Bible
The coming “like a thief” and the ethical demand
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief… the heavens will pass away…” — 2 Peter 3:10.
Scripture emphasizes suddenness and the call to holy, watchful life rather than giving us a timetable. Bible Gateway
Load-bearing conclusion from Scripture: God intentionally withholds the exact time; the Bible’s emphasis is on watchfulness, repentance, and faithfulness rather than date-setting.
2 — What the Catechism and Magisterium teach
The Catholic Church echoes the Bible’s restraint:
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Catechism (CCC 673): “Since the Ascension, Christ’s coming in glory has been imminent, even though ‘it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.’” The Church teaches readiness and pastoral sobriety: Christ may come at any time, and the Church will pass through a final trial before his return. Vatican
Magisterial emphasis: The Church condemns false certainties and date-setting that foment fear, scandal, or easy cynicism when predictions fail. Vatican II (Dei Verbum) also calls for Scripture read within Tradition and warns against speculative distortions. Vatican
3 — How the Early Church Fathers read the matter
The Fathers concentrated on moral readiness and warned against rash date-setting:
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St. Augustine (City of God) warns Christians against rashly asserting times for the Last Judgment and stresses spiritual vigilance. New Advent
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St. Irenaeus and other Fathers spoke of final things (Antichrist, tribulation), but they did not promote precise calendar predictions; instead they urged faithfulness and discernment. (See Against Heresies.) New Advent
Patristic takeaway: Eschatological teaching is pastoral and theological, not a how-to manual for date calculators.
4 — Historical development: when date-setting appears (and who promoted it)
Many movements through church history have made date claims; most ended in failure and pastoral damage.
Short timeline — development of date-setting phenomena
| Era | Notable examples | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1st–4th c. | Early expectation of imminent return; warnings against curiosity about times | Watchfulness, martyrdom witness |
| 17th–19th c. | Radical premillennial and historicist movements; some prophetic chronologies emerge | Increased speculative chronology |
| 19th c. | William Miller (Millerites) — predicted 1843–1844 (Great Disappointment) | Schism, new movements (e.g., Seventh-day Adventists) |
| 20th–21st c. | Jehovah’s Witnesses multiple date claims; Harold Camping (2011) | Repeated failed predictions, loss of credibility. Research shows believers rationalize after failed dates. faculty.haas.berkeley.edu+1 |
Historical lesson: Date-setting has a recurring pattern: confident prediction → failure → rationalization / reinterpretation. Scripture’s restraint is vindicated by history.
5 — Why trying to set the date is theologically and pastorally problematic
| Problem | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Contradicts direct Scripture | Jesus and the apostles explicitly forbid precise knowledge claims. Bible Gateway+1 |
| Encourages superstition or fear | Fixation on dates distracts from call to holiness (1 Thess 5). |
| Hurts credibility of the Gospel | Failed predictions cause scandal and give critics fuel. |
| Ignores literary and theological genre | Apocalyptic texts use imagery and symbolism; forcing literal calendars misreads genre. |
| Undermines pastoral care | Leaders who predict dates risk leading the faithful astray when predictions fail. |
6 — Signs the Bible gives (not a timetable)
The New Testament does list signs that characterize the age’s waning or increase of trials (not the day itself). Below is a succinct table.
| Sign | Biblical references | Pastoral meaning |
|---|---|---|
| False christs/prophets | Matthew 24:4–5, 11, 24 | Test of faith; beware deception |
| Wars, famines, earthquakes | Matthew 24:6–8 | “Birth pangs” — not specific dates |
| Persecution & apostasy | 2 Thess 2; Matthew 24:9–12 | Call to endurance |
| Gospel to all nations | Matthew 24:14 | Missionary imperative |
| Suddenness of coming | 1 Thess 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10 | Live always prepared Bible Gateway |
Pastoral thrust: Use signs to spur conversion and evangelization, not to construct calendars.
7 — Modern psychology & sociology of failed predictions
Social-scientific studies of date-setting movements (e.g., Millerites, Harold Camping) show patterns: strong commitment, social reinforcement, reinterpretation after failure. Scholars document how believers reconcile disconfirmed prophecy — often by spiritualizing the meaning or setting a new date. These patterns argue prudently against date-setting as reliable theology. faculty.haas.berkeley.edu+1
8 — A succinct apologetic answer (what to tell date-setters and anxious Christians)
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Scripture overrules speculation. If Jesus says the day and hour are unknown, that settles the matter for Christians. Bible Gateway
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Read signs responsibly. Signs in Scripture are pastoral prompts, not keys to an exact calendar. Bible Gateway
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Follow the Church’s teaching. The Catechism (CCC 673) encourages readiness and cautions against claiming knowledge we do not have. Vatican
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Live faithfully now. The Christian vocation is perseverance, holiness, and evangelization (not obsession with dates).
9 — Quick comparative table: Date-setters vs. Biblical/Catholic stance
| Issue | Date-setters (typical) | Biblical / Catholic stance |
|---|---|---|
| Claim to know the day | Yes — specific dates | No — Father alone knows (Mt 24:36; Acts 1:7). Bible Gateway+1 |
| Approach to prophecy | Calendrical decoding | Pastoral/eschatological meaning |
| Outcome historically | Repeated failure | Scripture consistent; Church warns about predictions |
| Proper Christian response | Build lives on dates | Live in repentance, hope, mission (CCC) Vatican |
10 — Recommended primary sources & further reading
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Scripture passages: Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5; 2 Peter 3. Bible Gateway+2ESV Bible+2
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Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§672–677, especially 673 on the imminence of Christ’s return and ignorance of times. Vatican
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Patristic works: Augustine, City of God (books on Last Things); Irenaeus, Against Heresies (on Antichrist and end). New Advent+1
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Scholarly studies: sociological and psychological analyses of failed apocalyptic movements (studies on Millerites, Harold Camping). faculty.haas.berkeley.edu+1
Conclusion — certainty about what matters most
The honest biblical answer to “When will the end come?” is: we don’t know the day or hour — only the Father does. The Bible, the Fathers, and the Church call Christians to vigilance, repentance, and mission, not to calendar-making. History confirms the danger of date-setting; pastoral prudence and the Catechism counsel us to prepare at all times by living holy lives and proclaiming the Gospel.
Final pastoral word: Don’t be anxious about when — be faithful in the present. As Scripture says, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44). Bible Gateway
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