AS TO THE END OF THE WORLD ? BE ALWAYS READY

[John]

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Millions—and in virtually all nations—wondered whether May 21, 2011 would begin the countdown to the end of the world. The masses saw ads on billboards, in newspapers, on the Internet and elsewhere. Great numbers were captivated by the possibility of imminent destruction. Fear was everywhere. So was confusion. Thousands of believers thought they would vanish into Heaven on this day.

Radio preacher Harold Camping had painted a stark picture for May 21: a great worldwide earthquake, “such as the world had never seen”—dead bodies thrown out of graves to be “shamed”—and believers “raptured.” The earth would be bathed in blood for five months—and destroyed on October 21.

May 21 came and went like any other day—nothing happened.
Realization began to dawn on Camping followers: no rolling earthquakes starting in the South Pacific and crossing the globe—graves still closed—and true believers still here. The prophecy failed.

But some things did happen.

A distraught 14-year-old Russian girl scrawled a note in her diary: “We are not righteous people, only they will go to heaven, the others will stay here on Earth to go through terrible sufferings.”
The writings, obtained by Russian news agency RIA Novosti, indicated the prediction that “Judgment Day” would arrive Saturday May 21, 2011, was too much to bear. Her final entry said, “I don’t want to die like the others. That’s why I’ll die now.”
On May 21, she hanged herself.

A Taiwanese man reportedly also committed suicide by jumping to his death.

A California woman attempted to kill herself and her two daughters weeks earlier, slitting their throats then her own, in an attempt to escape Earth’s doom.

Other stories began to unfold, less tragic, but still painful. Some now face bankruptcy. They had quit their jobs ahead of an expected “rapture” and emptied retirement accounts and savings in order to send all the funds to the Judgment Day group. Others had alienated family and friends through their fixation on the “end of the world.”

Terror. Panic. Hysteria. Suicide. Financial ruin. Embarrassment. Depression. Disillusionment. Anger. Confusion. Feelings of betrayal. Thousands—many thousands—wrote describing their feelings.

After two days of silence, Mr. Camping held a press conference. He stated, “I don’t have any responsibility. I can’t be responsible for anybody’s lives. I am only teaching the Bible. I am not teaching what I believe, as if I am the authority. I am just simply teaching what the Bible says.”

His version of the Bible perhaps, but not the ones most people use.

Another “Great Disappointment”
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In the week preceding May 21, Mr. Camping stated in interviews heard the world over that he could not entertain the possibility this day would not mark the rapture and the beginning of the end.

How did he explain a Judgment Day that failed to materialize, despite assurances that “The Bible guarantees it”?
David C. Pack, Real Truth magazine Editor-in-Chief, stated the following in a special World to Come video presentation released May 17, and viewed by millions: “When his prophecies fail, the man who uttered these predictions will have only two options: admit he is a false prophet—highly unlikely—or spin events by claiming his prophecy was fulfilled in some mysterious fashion…Prepare now for the spin!”

The spin arrived on schedule. It took the form of a common tactic among false ministers—“spiritualising away” events and scriptures that are literal in meaning. “The Bible is a very spiritual book,” Mr. Camping said. “There are a lot of things that are very factual, very factual, of course, but there are a lot of things that are very spiritual. How to know whether to look at it with a spiritual understanding or a factual understanding is hard to know…The fact is when we look at it more spiritually then we find that He did come…God brought judgment day to the whole world…It will continue to October 21, 2011 and at that time the whole world will be destroyed.”
The long game of deceit continues…

How to Know a False Prophet

Many know Mr. Camping falsely suggested “Judgment Day” would likely occur May 21, 1994. History repeated itself 17 years later, but this time carrying the “guarantee.” Both errors would be impossible with a prophet of God. Why? The apostle Peter wrote, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy.
..” (II Pet. 1:19). God’s prophecies are certain. They never miss. Not one!

Harold Camping will not admit his prophecy failed—but no false prophet would, or the game ends.

God’s instruction regarding prophets is “If you [ask] in your heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?” (Deut. 18:21). God’s answer? “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him” (vs. 22).

Men can presume to speak for God. It happens every day. Therefore, you must know if God sent a man—or if the man sent himself.

The true prophet Ezekiel recorded, “Son of man [Ezekiel], prophesy against the prophets of Israel...and say you unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear you the word of the Lord; thus says the Lord God; woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing” (13:2-3).

This is a serious matter to God—and it should be to you! Mr. Camping cannot be a servant of God. God tells you, “You shall not be afraid of him.” Do you—will you—believe God?

[John]

Will the World End?

Mr. Pack, author of The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!, writes this: “What about the Return of Christ? Will this usher in the end of planet Earth on October 21, 2011?—on December 21, 2012?—or on any other date? Will all people die in the fulfilment of end-time prophecies—as so many assume? The answer is a resounding NO! And here is proof.

“When Jesus described world conditions leading to His Return, He stated, ‘Except those days should be shortened [cut short], there should no flesh be saved’ (Matt. 24:22).

“Some religionists believe the phrase ‘no flesh be saved’ refers to spiritual salvation. But that is not what Jesus is talking about. Rather, that unless God cuts the Tribulation short, no human beings—‘no flesh’—would survive.

The human race would become extinct if Christ did not return. The implication is that He will return before this happens. For those who believe God, this is further proof that 2011 could not possibly end human existence.

“Other prophecy writers speak of the ‘end of the world’—that the earth itself will supposedly be destroyed. This could not be further from the truth. This idea often stems from a misunderstanding of Christ’s disciples asking Him for a sign of the ‘end of the world.’ The Greek word (aion) translated world means ‘age.’

The disciples were asking when the period of man’s rule would end—and the kingdom of God would be established. They well understood the many Old Testament prophecies that speak of the Messiah setting up the kingdom of God on Earth. They also knew Jesus said, ‘The meek shall inherit the earth’ (Matt. 5:5), and that He was merely repeating Psalm 37:11.”

“Countless verses could have been cited to disprove the 2011 deception. Scripture makes plain that 2011 does not mark the ‘end of the world,’ and that such ideas are preposterous to the point of almost humorous—were it not for the fear and confusion they spawn.”

When—not if, but when—October 21 fails, Mr. Camping may again claim that God has “heard the prayers of the faithful, and shown His mercy.” This ploy will enable him to calculate another date, then another, and another
…
Prepare now! Determine to never let a false prophet—or any other kind of false teacher—mislead you!
Ludicrous Teachings
Mr. Camping’s doctrines are—and in his case, seemingly without exception—unbiblical, illogical and indefensible. This article can only counter a sampling, but the approach will serve as a template that can be applied to all others.

Let’s bring critical thinking—which has been defined as thinking that “clarifies goals, examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, accomplishes actions, and assesses conclusions”—to his teachings.
Ask: What about all the specific events he had predicted for May 21? A worldwide earthquake, five months of horror, corpses ejected from graves—did all of this occur “spiritually” as well? Or did God simply cancel them?

Camping had based this five-month period on Revelation 9:5: “…they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man.” Are the unsaved currently—NOW!—under attack by spiritual scorpions, unbeknownst to them?

Must the saved now loiter on Earth for five months? According to this man, judgment has been rendered and salvation closed. What would be the point of postponing supposed world punishment for five months when there is no longer opportunity to repent and seek God?

Further, Mr. Camping teaches that the Creation of Genesis 1 occurred in 11,013 BC, and Noah’s flood in 4990 BC.
This alone invalidates all his predictions—every one.

Commonly understood Biblical chronology places the flood around 2350 BC—almost 26 and a half centuries later! Creation was in or near 3981 BC. Both dates are based on historical accounts and events described in the Bible, such as the completion of Solomon’s Temple, coupled with genealogies like the detailed one in Genesis 5.

Evolutionists of course believe the Earth is millions of years old but that is based on an inaccurate measuring rule, based on the supposed time over which the various rock sediments were laid down. They also are False Prophets.

The various types or rock sediments have been known about for many years and a Table of Rocks has existed, but without the addition of dates or time spans. These were only added in the 1920’s by a small group of geologists using inaccurate guess work with the determination to mislead.

Another factor Mr. Camping set forth in determining the doomsday dates is the belief that May 21, 2011 was “722,500 days” after the Crucifixion. Citing this number as significant is an example of how ignorant gobbledygook thinking can seduce the unwitting because they think it sounds “profound.” Biblically, this number has no meaning of itself—whatsoever.

Mr. Camping’s calculations also involve assigning “spiritual meaning” to random numbers. For example, he teaches, “17 represents heaven.” This is a ludicrous assertion without a shred of Biblical support—pure fiction. But this is a key part of the formula that produced both the May 21 and October 21 dates!
When specific time periods in the Bible do not fit Mr. Camping’s chronology, he calls them “spiritual” and “symbolic.” One example, from his booklet We Are Almost There!, is his revision of the 1,000-year Millennium described in Revelation 20: “Satan…was bound so that he could not deceive the nations during the complete period of the church age, which was symbolically described as a period of 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-3). The 1,000 years must be understood as a symbolical or spiritual number that signifies ‘completeness.’ The actual period he was bound was 1,955 years (from A.D. 33 to 1988).”
If you find this confusing, that’s a good sign!

And all of this is in addition to Camping’s use of the Roman calendar (a solar calendar) to analyse dates and time periods marked in Scripture using the Hebrew calendar (which harmonizes both solar and lunar events).
These errors alone should end all discussion of whether this man is a Biblical authority—on ANYTHING!

In regard to the most basic point of salvation, he made this worst of statements: “Being a Christian has nothing to do with salvation. It has nothing to do with religion—it can be a Hindu. If God has saved them they’re going to be caught up [in the rapture].” This teaching is utterly false!

The Bible—which Mr. Camping describes as the “university” he attended—states, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [other than Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) and “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13). Many more verses could be cited.
Who would follow such a man to the kitchen, never mind salvation? Yet thousands do. And vast millions more follow men who are little better.

The Great Tribulation
Mr. Camping writes, “…the church age ended on May 21, 1988 (A.D.)” ushering in a 23-year Great Tribulation.

Numerous passages explain that the Tribulation will last 3½ years, including the year-long Day of the Lord that concludes it. Together, these events fulfil the 1,260 days—or 42 months—before Christ’s Return (Rev. 11:3).
A 23-year period, let alone Tribulation, is found nowhere in Scripture! Another Camping fiction.

Further, the Bible describes the Great Tribulation as the worst time period in history. As you read these passages, ask if they could possibly apply to today.
Jesus said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21). Mark’s account repeats it for emphasis: “For in those days shall be affliction [tribulation], such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be” (13:19).
In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah recorded, “Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (30:7). The prophet Daniel wrote, “…there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered” (12:1).
These are all speaking of the same event—there cannot be three times that are all the worst time of all time!

Now consider that in 1988, the Cold War was nearing an end and the Western world entered one of the most prosperous periods in history, with wealth being created on an unprecedented scale. Does this—and the years that followed—sound remotely like the worst time ever?

Luke brings horrific detail to what must occur at the outset of the Tribulation: “There shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people [modern Western nations]. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of [overrun by] the Gentiles” (21:23-24). Revelation 11:2 describes this “treading down” as a period lasting 42 months.

This time has so obviously not come! However close it is—and it certainly is growing closer—no thinking person can believe any of it has yet arrived.
In addition, Jesus also plainly said in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 that a series of other very serious events and conditions must precede the Tribulation.

He describes increasing deception, war, famine, disease, earthquakes and commotions as the “beginning of sorrows.” While these are increasing, and intensifying, they are foretold to grow much worse before the Tribulation. Again, however close this time now is, it has not yet come.

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The Rapture Fiction
While many believe a rapture has always been the Bible teaching, the idea was unknown before the 16th century.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, reformers John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, Martin Luther and John Huss campaigned against the dominance of the Catholic Church. These men shook Catholic theology to its core—calling that church the Antichrist.

To dispel the church’s label of Antichrist, Jesuit priest Francisco Ribera created the belief of futurism. This declared that the prophecies of Revelation only apply to the last seven years preceding Christ’s Return.

Ribera’s false idea opened the door to the rapture theory.
Ironically, almost 300 years later, Protestants adopted Ribera’s “futurism” invention. Anglican preacher John Nelson Darby, often called the “father of the rapture,” taught that Christ would first secretly collect His followers and take them to heaven, and return to defeat the Antichrist.
Since the 16th century, countless millions have blindly accepted the rapture theory—fearing what would happen if they did not. But grasp this. The doctrine began in the minds of Catholic priests, then continued development in the minds of the reformers—not GOD’S mind, as revealed in the Bible!

In I Corinthians 14:33, the apostle Paul states, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” Verse 40 states, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” What could possibly be orderly or peaceful about millions of people suddenly vanishing from beds, workstations, automobiles and airplanes? The obvious result would be utter confusion and chaos!

Let’s state this plainly! The rapture is a doctrine of chaos, and makes God and Christ the authors of confusion.

Now think. Disagreeing theologians—rapture theorists do not agree—found different ways of interpreting the Bible to present the rapture. Which should one listen to? The answer? None!

Mr. Camping becomes a proof of this.
Rapture supporters cite certain verses as supposed “proof texts.” When read correctly, each one, however, in fact disproves the rapture! The rapture is a big subject, and over the years an elaborate “theological” scheme to sell it has come into place.
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Evil Men and Seducers
The arrival of modern false prophets and false teachers—even false christs—was foretold by Jesus and other New Testament writers. Paul wrote, “…in the last days perilous times shall come” (II Tim. 3:1). “Perilous” means dangerous. Paul then lists specific character traits that will appear as civilization breaks down, concluding with, “Evil men and seducers shall wax [grow] worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (vs. 13).

The Greek word God chose, translated “evil,” means, “Hurtful, calamitous, culpable, derelict, degenerate, vicious, malicious, wicked, grievous, of the devil” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). This definition should hit like a thunderbolt! These men both deceive others and are themselves deceived. That they may be sincere is not relevant.
Verses 2 to 7 in the same chapter describe a worldwide breakdown of character in our time that contributes to the peril Paul referenced. Take time to read them, and ask if you see what they describe in your neighbourhood?—your workplace?—the news? These are signs of the times as much as the rise of false teachers.

Scoffers in the Last Days
Collateral damage from events like the phoney “Judgment Day” takes many forms. False prophets and failed predictions leads to one: “…there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (II Pet. 3:3)—people choosing and following the course of human nature, as in Sodom and Gomorrah, and Noah’s time (Luke 17:26-29).
Continuing in II Peter 3, verse 4, scoffers are described as asking: “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob] fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
This describes people who are unwilling to believe that serious times—the last days!—could actually come. Never mind in their lifetime. They choose to dismiss obviously worsening conditions and trends, declaring that these things “continue as they were from the beginning.”
God declares, “For this they willingly are ignorant...” (vs. 5)—this speaks for itself! And, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise...but is longsuffering to us-ward [patiently waiting, because He is] not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (vs. 9).
Sadly, most will not repent—will not change their ways.

Worsening False Prophets
The rolling 2011 doomsday event is more than just a curiosity or an entertaining sideshow for onlookers’ amusement. It is an outrage foisted on great numbers of naive people who trusted that their leader understood the Bible—and that he could do their research for them. This destroyed lives.
The folly of Mr. Camping’s teachings, combined with his botched predictions, causes most to view his and his followers’ efforts as a joke.

Similarly, the bizarre Mayan calendar 2012 phenomenon can be expected to roar to life next year, perhaps with one or more “authorities” leading the charge. This prediction will also fail, casting further doubt on all prophecy.
Grasp this: the world will see many more false prophets in the years ahead, and this will be deadly serious. Far beyond simple predictions, they will perform miracles—displays of supernatural power—that even hardened sceptics will be unable to dismiss. You will witness staggering events, and beyond what you can begin to imagine!

Does this sound far-fetched? Notice passages that describe our time:

Mark 13:22: “False Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”

Matthew 24:24: “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

II Thessalonians 2:9: “Even him [the final False Prophet], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”
If thousands can accept Harold Camping’s teachings, imagine the response when false prophets begin to do miracles!

Mr. Camping taught that conditions would greatly worsen over the next five months. Of course, it cannot be denied that world conditions and trends are deteriorating—Mid-East turmoil, droughts, wildfires, floods, tornadoes and other weather upsets, rising food prices, rising fuel prices, divided governments, governments collapsing under impossible debt loads, riots in Europe, earthquakes and volcanoes increasing. What we see, Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows,” while not yet in full force, are at the world’s door.

Mr. Camping and many other false teachers will use this as an opportunity to perpetuate a cycle of fear, holding sway over their adherents. And when their prophecies fail, a worse condition arises. Followers blow off the truth of prophecy! It is as though they conclude, “Men lied to me, so I don’t have to obey God. I can continue walking after my own lusts.”

The grave danger of false prophets will culminate in a final figure, called the False Prophet. He will lead a universal religious system centred in Europe that will deceive the entire world through use of false miracles, in an unholy church-state alliance with a powerful civil ruler called the Beast, or final Antichrist (Rev. 16:13).

Consider yourself forewarned!
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Most professing Christians will fall into one of two ditches: becoming a scoffer, believing “my Lord delays His Coming” (Matt. 24:48)—or being “seduced” by the more convincing false prophets just ahead.

Either way, the devil—called the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4), and who is the source of both attitudes—is served. There will be exceptions.

[John]

How Will You Respond?
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The worst tragedy in all that happened is that Mr. Camping’s predictions seem to discredit God’s Word. Those who had real fear of God’s judgment, however misguided, feel they can now heave a sigh of relief and get back to being “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (II Tim. 3:1-4).

If learning that October 21 will pass in the same way as May 21 tempts you to relax and think, “Everything is going to be okay,” fight this feeling. Resist concluding, “Men deceived me, I have no further responsibility!”

False teachers never negate true Bible prophecy!

Serious readers will look beyond simple relief that the world will not soon end. They will want the truth of Bible prophecy.

A third of God’s Word is prophecy—history written in advance. This future history is as certain as tomorrow. Over time, failed doomsday scenarios will leave many millions jaded. This need not be you.

Once you have proven the authority of the Bible, you must act on the other two-thirds of Scripture. After warning of “perilous times,” Paul described the only defence: “Continue you in the things which you have learned and hast been assured of…the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (3:14-17).

To survive this age, you must follow Paul’s admonition. This means you must first learn what the “holy scriptures” actually say about prophecy. And then you must apply God’s instruction to produce true “good works.”

Remember that we are not saved by our good works. We are saved by the sacrifice and the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we are saved by the grace of God. We cannot ear our place in heaven we have to repent what is wrong in our lives, and trust in the LORD JESUS CHRIST to forgive us. See John’s first letter, chapter 1 and verse 9. But we are saved to serve, and good works should follow from our being saved.

The Bible promises that those who are faithful and obedient, although they may be arrested, punished or even die because of their faith in Jesus Christ will be protected through the worst calamities that could fall upon an unsuspecting world. While the last days are perilous, this is but the run-up period prior to the infinitely worse final three and a half years to follow before the good news of the true gospel is fulfilled in Christ’s Coming.

What lies ahead ? You Can Know!

The two false 2011 predictions and the worldwide attention they garnered are but a small warning shot—the mere tiniest precursor of what is to come. Understand. However effective his advertising campaign, largely because it was powered by millions of dollars, Harold Camping is spectacularly ignorant of Bible prophecy, and of even the most basic understanding within it. He is a particularly unskilled false prophet—a rank amateur.

Others who come will be more schooled, subtle, clever and attractive—and will be viewed as more mainstream. These are the most dangerous.

Believe this—and prepare for them now!
In his book The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!, David C. Pack, the world’s foremost authority on Bible prophecy, writes: “God’s servants understand the basic framework of His overall prophetic timetable and plan.

They are not confused about ‘what happens next’ as certain end-time prophecies intensify, and others take place. Many prophecies involve a tremendous amount of understanding that God makes available, and with all necessary details. They understand exactly what lies ahead for all mankind, and for themselves—if they are faithful.”

He also writes, “Suppose you could know the direction and conclusion of world events—world history—in advance of the outcome. What if you could know the courses of nations before they happen? What if the future of great nations—indeed the greatest nations—could be known? Imagine knowing tomorrow’s biggest headlines before they come to pass, and how events will affect you, and every human being, personally.

“Tragically, most Bible readers are completely unaware of awesome, impending world events, soon to involve all nations. Vast sections of Scripture are hidden from them, and remain outside their understanding—completely lost to their thinking. The result is that most simply have no idea what the future holds.
“Many have opinions, but few know how to find the answers. Others think they already understand the prophecies of the Bible.

Seek, Study, Find