The End of the World? Keep
Watching!
by Jim Josephsen
This time the end of the world was to occur on October 21st, 2011.
Oops! Wrong again. When will the likes of
Harold Camping and
his followers with their
brand of Christianity ever learn?
Perhaps you recall back in May, the 21st to be exact, Judgment Day was to take
place on the earth. A great earthquake was to occur with massive global
destruction occurring coincidentally with graves opening and some two hundred
million “saved” individuals wafting up to heaven, as God poured out his wrath
upon sinning mankind. (For a recap of this false prediction, see our “Word
From” article,
Another Day, Another Lie.)
The May 21st prediction was wrong and the false prophet was quick to adjust his
message. He spiritualized his
apocalyptic
interpretations and put a twist on his fortune telling. After May 21st came and
went, Camping went back to his mathematical equations, establishing a new
timetable. And of course
a new date was set; October 21st, 2011.
According to Camping, what really happened on May 21st was that God accomplished
exactly what he wanted to have happen. That was to warn the whole world that on
May 21st God’s salvation program would be finished on that day. For the next
five months, except for the elect (the true believers),
the whole world would be under God’s final judgment. To accomplish this goal God
withheld from the true believers the way in which two phases were to be
understood. Had he not done so, the world would never have been shaken in fear
as it was, so Camping teaches.
One of Camping’s followers was reported to have concluded that instead of an
“earthquake” meaning the earth or the ground quaking violently occurring on May
21st, what really happened on that day was “all
mankind was shaken with fear.”
Are you shaking your head in bewilderment yet?
On May 21st, when no noticeable global destruction occurred, when no reports of
disasters, no twitters or videos gone viral were evident, Camping had to
re-evaluate his folly. Several months later he proclaimed that on May 21st, “God
had brought down an invisible ‘spiritual judgment’ upon humanity and that the
world was still scheduled to end in October.” Camping stated, “I am really
beginning to think as I restudied these matters that there’s going to be no big
display of any kind. The end is going to come very, very quietly, probably
within the next month. It will happen that is, by October 21st.”
Continuing, Camping stated, “There will be no pain suffered by anyone because of
their rebellion against God … we can become more and more sure that they’ll
quietly die and that will be the end of their story.” And October 21st was to be
the end.
Oh give it a rest! Even a cursory reading of the Bible, read in a literal sense,
shows the juvenile logic of Camping and his followers, as they attempt to
interpret Biblical prophecy.
One can only hope that Camping will decide to quit telling his fairytales and
save face while he still has a chance. Interestingly enough, this is now the
third time (once in 1994; then of course twice in 2011)
Camping has attempted and failed to predict the end of the world; what he would
characterize as Judgment Day.
Let’s get another thing straight; the Bible does not prophesy an end of the
world; which is to say a complete and utter end of this earth brought about by a
destructive force so powerful that not one person is left alive and the earth is
no longer the third planet orbiting around the sun.
In relating to end-time prophecies, of events to occur prior to the return of
Jesus Christ, the Bible does not speak of an absolute and complete physical
destruction of the planet earth. Of certainty the topography and physical
features, the country-side, cities, at street-level, mountains and shorelines;
all will be affected. These results will manifest themselves not only due to
nations at war with one another, civil unrest and physical violence of all
types, but also as a direct intervention of God, in order to get mankind’s
attention.
There is a time coming that will require the intervention of God, through Jesus
Christ, in order to save mankind from destroying itself, from complete and utter
annihilation.
When God decides to address the world, when God shakes the earth; when His
outpouring of judgment is revealed– the entire world will know it. Nothing will
be as if in secret and done quietly, when God decides to get your attention.
When Jesus Christ was asked, “Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall
be the sign of thy coming and the end of the age (Greek
– aion – age or period of time, course),” He responded with a series
of chronological events that will transpire leading up to his return; His second
coming.
Mankind is very capable of destroying itself and would do just that, unless God
interferes in the affairs of the nations and peoples (cf.
Mathew 24:22).
Camping’s prophetic utterances failed. What a pity. Thinking of his three
attempts, and the likes of others who have predicted end-time scenarios, only to
realize the predictions did not come to pass; a scripture comes to mind, found
in Deuteronomy 18:22. If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does
not take place or come true, his message is not what the Lord has spoken. That
prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
It is disturbing to realize more and more people these days are entertained by
the words of alleged preachers (men and women alike);
are taken in and attracted to teachings that are the exact opposite of the very
Bible itself. Rather than simply reading the Bible and letting the Bible
interpret itself, many Christians are hoodwinked and believe lies.
The prophecies of the Bible are of no private interpretation (cf.
2 Peter 1:20). God reveals exactly what He will allow to transpire in
the end-time.
Consider what the Word of God proclaims and compare it with the failed attempts
of false-prophets like Camping; Amos 3:7. Surely the Lord God will do nothing,
but he reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets. Consider also Isaiah
8:20: to the law and the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it
is because there is no light (or truth) in
them.
God has revealed the events that are to occur not only to the nations of the
United States, Britain, Australia and Canada but to the entire world; events
that will culminate in the return of Jesus Christ. The scenario of events soon
to occur is nothing like that which Camping proclaims.
Ironically, October 21st being yet again a bust and a day of ridicule is still
further evidence of the accuracy and validity of the Bible. Jesus Christ
accurately stated: Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my
name, saying I am Christ and shall deceive many (Matthew
24:4-5).
Further God warns, I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my
name, saying I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the
hearts of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit
of their own heart; (Jeremiah 23:25-26).
False prophets come and go. In their wake, they leave disillusioned and
disappointed people.
Of a truth the Lord is a true God, he is a living God and an everlasting king:
at his wrath the nations shall tremble and the nations shall not be able to
abide his indignation (Jeremiah 10:10). God
will judge the earth, according to the truth. (cf.
Romans 1:32 – 2:2).
But only for a while will all the nations tremble, for in God’s mercy, salvation
will come to the whole earth and all the inhabitants therein. God will not keep
his wrath forever, but will save His creation; as the prophets of old and the
Apostles have declared. As an example of how God’s mercies will flourish for all
mankind, notice what He spoke to Israel. In a little wrath I hid my face from
thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,
saith the Lord thy Redeemer (Isaiah 54:8).
It is God’s desire that all will be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (cf.
1 Timothy 2:4) and God has a plan laid out to give every human being
the opportunity to repent.
God will send his wrath upon sinning mankind, to stop man’s misery and to get
their attention, resulting in the death of many. None the less, God will provide
a chance for the dead to live again (cf. Revelation
20:5). This is a fact Camping does not preach.
Of the hour and the day, no man knows (Mark 13:32).
Any person, who would stay faithful to God and stay safe under God’s protection,
will not listen to anyone who predicts a date for the end of the world or
predicts a date of Christ’s return.
Christ admonished those who would be faithful to Him to watch and pray - for you
know not when the time is. (Mark 13:33). He
also stated, as Luke wrote, Watch therefore and pray always that you may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand
before the Son of Man.
It was obvious Camping was wrong. No matter what date he proclaims, he will
never get it right.
As for you, it is best that you give heed to the Word of God, and with all due
diligence – Keep Watching!
