Seriously? Another one? I was personally hoping for a 2012 end-time scenario based on the Aztec calendar, but--oh well! Or was it the Chinese I-Ching numerology? And on, and on, and on...
Personally, I hate that deceivers such as Harold Camping of Family Radio get so much press and media hype. His prediction is that the "rapture" of the Church will occur on May 21st, 2011, and that the "tribulation period" will begin. Essentially Camping believes there will be a period of fire and death on earth, during which the unsaved will suffer for 5 months. According to Camping, the world will truly be destroyed on October 21st, 2011.
First, Camping has a lousy track record at predicting the future. He's been wrong about this date before, actually prognosticating that the rapture was supposed to occur back in 1994.
Second, he's incredibly arrogant. He claims to have knowledge Jesus Himself didn't have:
Mark 13:32 NKJV: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Jesus is simply stating that specific knowledge of the Second Coming of Christ belonged only to God the Father. In the verses previous to this statement, Jesus outlined specific markers for the doom of Jerusalem. It's interesting that He gave no such signs to warn us of His return and the conclusion of Time.
Christians have always been concerned with the dating of the end of Time. This is especially true of the Thessalonians. Paul admonished their preoccupation with setting the date, and chided them for the futility of doing so:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NKJV: But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Paul says: "This is not news--I shouldn't even have to tell you--but you can't know when Jesus will return." The thief analogy is refuted by the likes of Harold Camping, saying that thieves coming at night bring nothing good. But look at the comparison for a moment. People cannot predict when a thief will suddenly break in. If people could, they would be waiting for him and prevent the harm he wishes to cause.
Jesus return likewise cannot be predicted. Look, I won't pretend to know anything the Scripture doesn't say. But what I know for sure is this: worrying about Christ's return is pointless--if you are ready to meet Him. Scripture doesn't encourage us to predict; however it commands us to to be ready:
2 Peter 3:13-14 NKJV: Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless...
So, let's forget about worry and focus on preparation. If you aren't ready to meet the Resurrected Christ, you need to know Him and serve him. For more details on how to survive the End of Time, send me an e-mail from my Blogger profile.
Personally, I hate that deceivers such as Harold Camping of Family Radio get so much press and media hype. His prediction is that the "rapture" of the Church will occur on May 21st, 2011, and that the "tribulation period" will begin. Essentially Camping believes there will be a period of fire and death on earth, during which the unsaved will suffer for 5 months. According to Camping, the world will truly be destroyed on October 21st, 2011.
First, Camping has a lousy track record at predicting the future. He's been wrong about this date before, actually prognosticating that the rapture was supposed to occur back in 1994.
Second, he's incredibly arrogant. He claims to have knowledge Jesus Himself didn't have:
Mark 13:32 NKJV: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Jesus is simply stating that specific knowledge of the Second Coming of Christ belonged only to God the Father. In the verses previous to this statement, Jesus outlined specific markers for the doom of Jerusalem. It's interesting that He gave no such signs to warn us of His return and the conclusion of Time.
Christians have always been concerned with the dating of the end of Time. This is especially true of the Thessalonians. Paul admonished their preoccupation with setting the date, and chided them for the futility of doing so:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NKJV: But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Paul says: "This is not news--I shouldn't even have to tell you--but you can't know when Jesus will return." The thief analogy is refuted by the likes of Harold Camping, saying that thieves coming at night bring nothing good. But look at the comparison for a moment. People cannot predict when a thief will suddenly break in. If people could, they would be waiting for him and prevent the harm he wishes to cause.
Jesus return likewise cannot be predicted. Look, I won't pretend to know anything the Scripture doesn't say. But what I know for sure is this: worrying about Christ's return is pointless--if you are ready to meet Him. Scripture doesn't encourage us to predict; however it commands us to to be ready:
2 Peter 3:13-14 NKJV: Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless...
So, let's forget about worry and focus on preparation. If you aren't ready to meet the Resurrected Christ, you need to know Him and serve him. For more details on how to survive the End of Time, send me an e-mail from my Blogger profile.
Great post. What is upsetting to me is the bad light these kind of predictions shed on the Christian world. Secular journalists have a field day with this. Keep up the good articles.
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