Friday, May 20, 2011

Is Christ Coming Back May 21, 2011?

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (Mark 13:32-33)
       By now, you've probably seen newscasts, YouTube videos, Tweets, Facebook chatter, and billboards, declaring the message that Christ is going to return tomorrow, Saturday, May 21, 2011. You've probably heard that there's going to be a tremendous earthquake that will kill millions of people, and that the church is going to be raptured, and escape God's wrath; and five months later on October 21, 2011, God is going to completely destroy the earth and the universe.
       Well according to the Bible, these proclamations are simply not true. No one knows the day or the hour when the Lord will come back to this earth to take those who believe in Him to Heaven. There are signs of His imminent return (i.e., war in the Middle East, false prophets, earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis, hurricanes, etc.), but we cannot know the actual day — no matter how clever our mathematical calculations.
       This false prophecy came from Harold Camping, a Christian radio broadcaster and president of Family Radio, a California-based broadcasting network. Mr. Camping has been known to use so-called Bible-based numerology to predict dates for the end of the world. He miscalculated that Christ would return September 1994. When he realized he was wrong, he recalculated and came up with a new date: May 21, 2011.
       The mention of Christ returning May 21, 2011, has caused quite a stir.
       Many of Mr. Camping's followers have left their jobs and families to stand on street corners and travel from town to town and state to state to tell people the news. I know they mean well, because Jesus said we should share the gospel and warn people of the coming judgment of God, because unless a person is born again, he or she will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
       Just as earthquakes, wars, and rumors of wars are signs of the end times and of Christ's return, so are false prophets spreading false information. "... many false prophets will appear and deceive many people" (Matthew 24:11). So let us be informed — not deceived.
       Everything we need to know about the truth of Christ's return is in our bibles. All we have to do is open it up and read it. Yes, Christ will return, and God's judgment will take place, but only according to His timing, not ours. "Jesus said to them [his disciples]: It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority" (Acts 1:7).

** This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays here.

21 comments:

  1. Well said. I like the billboard that's scheduled for the same spot on the 22nd: "That was awkward" and quoting Matthew. I feel sorry for Mr. Camping. That being said, for many people, tomorrow they will die: Welcome to real life, and many will die, today. The only question I may ask is: Am I ready, if God calls me Home, today?

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  2. A very timely post, Judy. Camping and his followers have certainly caused a stir. But that's what happens when people are not anchored in truth. And it is that reality that will make multitudes easy prey for false prophets yet to come in these last days.

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  3. You are right. Even Jesus said he did not know the day or the hour, but only his Father in heaven knew. We just need to be prepared, like the five wise virgins who had their oil lamps burning.

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  4. Wise and truthful words! Thanks for sharing them!

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  5. Wise words, Judy. One of the things that bothers me most about Mr. Camping (and others like him who make false predictions) is that it gives Christianity a bad name. Already athiests are planning "post rapture" parties.

    I do feel for his followers and I pray that they will someday know the truth. I read on Jim Daly's blog (Focus on the Family) that one man had spent his life savings on getting the word out to others.

    When someone isn't grounded in the truth of God's word, they are easily deceived. Sad.

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  6. Very well said, Judy, amen! I'm amazed at how much press this has received. Maybe it is a good reminder that we should live each day as if it were our last.
    Andie

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  7. Yes, I did here this. I pray that people will trust in the Bible and the Lord and not listen to a man.
    God Bless,
    Ginger

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  8. we were just talking about this and what you said..that none of us knows the time. Perfect post for today.

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  9. I hadn't heard that but wouldn't have believed it anyway. God's word is the only word we should rely on. Thank you for making this known to all of us.

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  10. Not even the Son knows. Perfect verse. Have a great weekend!

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  11. Amen to this post. We're well into May 21st now and it seems like any other day. It's sad that some are deceived by this kind of thing. But you're right. It was predicted. I do see things shaping up more every day indicating the end is near but how near no one knows.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  12. Very good post. I think often the world doesn't battle us with obvious evil but makes it look right and appealing. LIke it would make sense to believe a certain compromising way. We have always be prepared to line it up with what scriptures says.

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  13. I enjoyed your well-worded post on this subject.

    I agree with Joan above - things like this just give Christianity a bad name.

    We are promised that deception will be rampant in the end - and many will be deceived. We have to pray for people's hearts to be opened up to the Truth!

    As for me, I'm trying to live EVERY day like He's coming back soon!

    GOD BLESS!

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  14. Not even the SON knows! But what does HE say?
    Be ready.
    Thank you for this post. God bless.

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  15. Beautifully written and much nicer than what I said. I just said if someone has named a day, then that is not it. Thanks.

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  16. Amen! great post...
    Even the angels in heaven and the Son don't know. Only the Father knows.

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  17. We don't know, but we do know if we are ready when He DOES come. I want to be ready!

    Pamela

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  18. Poor deceived followers! Some even came here to the Philippines and spent for posters on billboards and buses! What now for them? They thought they were putting their treasure in heaven!!! So sad! Patsy from
    HeARTworks

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  19. I just found your guy lol...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWM7PTQiqzA

    Jake

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