The answer
Why did the author of that article choose the year 1967 rather than another?
What basis is there in the Bible to support that? Upon what calculation was it made?
Many people in the past have defined dates for what they believed would be the end of the world, and probably the Jehovah's Witnesses have been most prominent in doing this. They said that Christ would come to rule in 1914, but the date came, and Christ didn't! The Seventh Day Adventists and the Plymouth Brethren have also foretold the end of the world, and have challenged the word of the Bible in a startling way
According to what Jesus Christ Himself said to His holy disciples:
" It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." (Acts 1:7)
According to St Paul: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought. " (Rom. 12:3) So why do some people take it upon themselves to decide things that are way above their level, and beyond their human understanding? These things are under the authority of the Father alone. But let us look now at what will happen when Satan is freed from his prison. The Bible says:
" Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, " (Rev. 20.7-8)
So, had a thousand years passed when we got to 1967? And if so, from when and how did they calculate it?
Is Satan, therefore, now that we are some twenty odd years past that date (1967), able to lead the nations astray?
The Lord said: " And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened .... For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." (Matt. 24:22-24) Has any of that happened yet? For if Satan had been set free from his prison, he would be trying
with all his might to bring this about, knowing that he would have an easy time. (Rev. 20:3)
The choice of 1967, then, was not a very satisfactory one after all!
In fact for us in Egypt, 1967 was rather a good year, for it was in that year that the foundations were laid of the main cathedral, which was opened the following year. And on 2nd April 1968, St Mary appeared in Zeitun, and a great spiritual revival took place as a result of this appearance and its miracles. Could all this have happened if Satan had been released from his prison?
On the world stage, during these past few years, after which the supposed prophecy claimed that Satan had been freed, we have seen President Gorbachov begin a policy of freedom of conscience, and the revival of the Church in Russia. America and Russia have agreed on the elimination of medium-range nuclear weapons, and the nations of the world are now moving towards abolishing chemical weapons and other destructive weapons. Could all of this be happening if Satan had been released from his prison?
When Satan was free in olden times, he was able to bring down all the nations of the world to worship idols, so that paganism and primitive forms of worship were widespread.
Only the Jews remained worshipping God, and later they too fell into paganism.
When Moses was detained on the holy mountain talking with God, and the tribe of Israel worshipped the golden calf, who was worshipping God then? There were only two people, Moses and Joshua.
Those days when Satan is released from his prison to lead the nations astray will be terrifying, unless God limits them, for otherwise no one would saved.
We could hardly be living in those days now, with churches filled with worshippers and hundreds and thousands of people receiving Holy Communion in every church each week!
When Satan is released, false prophets and false Messiahs will abound, according to what Christ said, and they will, " will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. " (Matt. 24:24) So where are these people and their miracles today?
There are many signs which will herald the last days, none of which have yet taken place.
What about the 'Antichrist', who according to St Paul will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2:4) and " The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, ..."? (2 Thess. 2:9)
And what about the apostasy of the world, which is supposed to follow the coming of the Antichrist and his miracles?
What about the prophecies of Enoch and Elijah?
What about the faith of the Jews? (Rom. 11:26) And what about the words; "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, … until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. " (Luke 21:24), and " until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." (Rom. 11:25)?
The final signs will be the destruction of Nature.
The Lord said: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.". (Matt. 24:29)
So, theological matters really call for humility of heart.
We cannot claim to know everything. If we are asked about subjects like the date of Satan's release from his prison, and the end of time, which we cannot answer, we should simply say without embarrassment that we do not know, and not try to claim that we do know, or think of ourselves more highly than we should!
The Bible says that Satan will he bound for a thousand years, and that when that period has passed, he will he freed from his prison. How, then, could that thousand years have been completed by the year 1967, by any calculation, whether literally or symbolically?
This is a very serious point: if an idea occurs to us, we shouldn't just present it to people as doctrine! "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"(Matt. 13:9) ( ((( ((
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Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory