I read this in the Christian Post:

“The other day I heard a well-meaning Bible-prophecy radio minister trying to use a very cryptic Bible text to prove that a recent series of terrorist attacks in Israel were specifically predicted in Scripture! These guys read the New York Times and the Jerusalem Post the way a psychic reads tea leaves. And with a rising fever in the air, you get the feeling you need to stay close and stay tuned to hear the latest from their prophetic perspective. You want to make sure you are ready.

But then, when what they say doesn’t happen or the interpretation they have been espousing demands adjustment, they do so as unapologetically and frequently as the local meteorologist. But are Bible prophecies supposed to be approached like weather forecasts, or should we just be a little more tentative about our interpretations to begin with?”

I’ve heard this kind of stuff, too. Back in the days of the Apostle Paul, people had actually quit their jobs because they thought the end was so near. While I agree that the notion of the Lord coming at any time can spur one to action, it unfortunately spurs many to slumber.