Posted on 05/16/2011 7:14:13 AM PDT by lasereye
Dover, Del. —
For at least three years, Family Radio in Oakland, Calif. has broadcast across the ether that May 21, 2011 is the Day of Judgment.
Family Radio President Harold Camping preaches that on that day a great earthquake such as never has been seen in the world will occur – as spoken of in the book of Revelation. Those who are raptured will dwell with Christ forever in heaven while those left behind will agonize in a ruined world that finally comes to a fiery end on Oct. 21.
Many people do not listen to Family Radio, which is available locally on 106.9 FM. But, two huge billboards have been erected in Kent County to advertise Judgment Day and they have people talking.
One billboard is on Route 8 on the right just before Byler’s country store. The other billboard is on Route 13 near Cheswold.
But to a man, all of the local churches and congregations contacted for this article agree, “... of that day and hour knoweth no man” (Matthew 24:36). It did not matter if they were Episcopalian, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or a nondenominational Bible church.
“As Christians, we believe that on Judgment Day at the end of the world, Christ will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil and to judge the living and the dead,” Catholic Diocese of Wilmington spokesman Bob Krebs said. “The Bible tells us, ‘… Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come’ (Mark 13:32-33).”
Camping expects to hear that from the churches, which he has characterized as spiritually dead since 1988 – the so-called end of the church age. “That’s exactly what God predicted would happen in the churches,” Camping told the Community News in a telephone interview from Oakland. “He said in Revelation 3:3, ‘If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.’ In the last verse of Mark 13, it says ‘I say unto you watch’ because God has given us this information. We have to know it in order that we can warn the whole world just like Noah had to warn the world of his day. He was a preacher.”
Associate Pastor Jeff Dyer, of Calvary Assembly of God said that while Jesus wants people to prepare for Judgment Day, there is no formula to determine the actual date.
“The Bible shouldn't be read as a document used to predict Judgment Day precisely. That's not its intention. Matthew 24:36 says 'about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.'” Dyer said, “Jesus asks us to be ready and prepared but doesn't give a day. The Bible does speak of a Judgment Day but there isn't a formula to figure out the date."
Moreover, Dyer explains that Camping has been wrong before and his calculations don’t make sense.
"It's based on a lot of assumptions and giving numerical value to the atonement, completeness, and heaven. He multiplies and squares the number, there's no real logic to it. Certainly on May 22nd he'll start working on the numbers again."
Pastor Raymond Bertolet, of Bible Fellowship Church in Camden, comments on Judgment Day are similar to those of Dyer. He said scripture has taught people they’ll never know the time or day the world will end.
“Another thing scripture has taught us is if someone says a prophecy that is not true, that they are not speaking from God,” Bertolet said, “This is the third occasion he [Camping] said this and he has always made excuses as to why he is wrong. I have no doubt in my mind that all of us will be breathing naturally come May 22.”
Email Jennifer Dailey at jennifer.dailey@doverpost.com
Note that May 21 is not supposed to be the end of the world as many keep saying, but Oct. 21. May 21 is when the believers are raptured.
Camping will have a lotta ‘splainin’ to do if 22 arrives and there has been no Rapture. On the other hand....
I'm guessing Camping will be nowhere to be found come 5/22. Raptured, don't ya' know....
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this May 21, date was inspired by Satan. Yep, and Camping is his tool. It makes a laughing stock out of Christians. Remember Y2K and how many people felt stupid the day after? To this day, a lot of them feel burned and won’t consider ever preparing like that again. The same will hold true of this Judgement Day fiasco. People will feel burned and turn against God and the teachings of the Bible, only this time there really WILL be a Judgement Day, in God’s timing, and they won’t be ready.
There’s a billboard here in rural Maryland from the Camping organization espousing that date. Interestingly enough, they left off the year 2011. It only says May 21st. On May 22nd Harold will go missing—gone camping. :)
He will just change the date- just like many
false ministers before him.
BTW- Christ specifically says “No one knows the day or hour”
So it would be interesting to hear what camping has to say about that.
Foolish silly man.
hmmm.... quix, uri?
“Camping will have a lotta ‘splainin’ to do if 22 arrives and there has been no Rapture. “
If?
I’m still unclear on how a person who believes in Jesus Christ is supposed to “prepare” for Rapture and/or Judgment Day. If you have faith in Christ, aren’t you pretty much prepared, either for “End Times” activity or your own death?
I’m still unclear on how a person who believes in Jesus Christ is supposed to “prepare” for Rapture and/or Judgment Day. If you have faith in Christ, aren’t you pretty much prepared, either for “End Times” activity or your own death?
I’m still unclear on how a person who believes in Jesus Christ is supposed to “prepare” for Rapture and/or Judgment Day. If you have faith in Christ, aren’t you pretty much prepared, either for “End Times” activity or your own death?
I wonder how many Christians get their faith destroyed by folks like this and Paula White and Benny Hinn
This date is on a billboard on Buford Hwy in Atlanta. Presumably Camping financed it.
Sorry about that, everyone.
Jesus turned me over to the Sheriff.
Thats the way I read it also....If your not prepared, a few days notice ain’t going to do the job....
strong words CCC
If people turn their backs on God and salvation through Jesus Christ because of this Judgement Day circus, it plays directly into Satan’s hands. It’s the old, “Fool me once...” mindset. No one likes feeling duped. Unfortunately, in this case it could result in lost souls. So yeah, I do think this May 21 “Judgement Day” may very well be what turns more hearts away from God than toward Him.
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