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Controversy rises over possible Judgment Day
Sussex Countian ^ | May 16, 2011 | Jennifer Dailey, Assistant Editor and Antonio Prado, Community News Staff Writer

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


TOPICS: Other Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: bible; camping; prophecy; rapture
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To: ChocChipCookie
It makes a laughing stock out of Christians.

It always has done just that as Pastors or Teachers make these claims. They've been had by the Father of lies IMO. Because by setting a date, exactly as Christians were told NOT to do nor could they, they've stepped over the line God said don't go over.

This does not mean we should not discern the times we are living in..." Birth Pains"...are indeed around us and are increasing in intensity (record breaking)....and frequency. However this can be slowed down at any time by God as He has done so in the past.

However, We could be the last generation spoken of...(note: "Could be").... some theologians and others believe this to be the case and do formulate a convincing arguement to that affect.

At best we can only seculate....besides we are told to look for His coming itself...not the date to sit and wait for that.

61 posted on 05/16/2011 11:41:02 AM PDT by caww
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To: stuartcr

The question guy does appear once again....

It would behoove you to study God’s word for the answers . But then some do ask questions for other than attaining meaningful dialogue...it’s an attention getting thingy.


62 posted on 05/16/2011 11:43:28 AM PDT by caww
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To: lastchance

ROTFLOL....good one!


63 posted on 05/16/2011 11:44:33 AM PDT by caww
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To: Mr. Silverback

Some people just never give it up! Troll is a good word in this case..it does get more than annoying. Sometimes better some be called out and then simply ignored. Unfortunately others don’t know and take the bait, so the rest of us have to ade thru the non-sense. Scrolling becomes my good friend then.


64 posted on 05/16/2011 11:48:14 AM PDT by caww
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To: Tax-chick
Even if I believed I’d be raptured on May 21 (when we’re supposed to be at camp with the Cub Scouts) I’d still have to mop the floors today.

That's a great response.

There's a story about a man of God who was working in his garden when a paserby asked what he would do if he knew the world would come to an end tomorrow? After a quick thought, he replied "I think I would be working in my garden."

65 posted on 05/16/2011 11:51:37 AM PDT by jda ("Righteousness exalts a nation . . .")
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To: lasereye
So, Mr. Camp, on May 22, will you admit that you are a false prophet???
66 posted on 05/16/2011 11:57:56 AM PDT by jda ("Righteousness exalts a nation . . .")
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To: jda

Yes, I’ve seen that story. I think that, no matter what we expect tomorrow to bring, we have to perform the duties of our state in life today.

And now, back to helping my 11-year-old make tuna casserole for supper. (Yuck, but I don’t have to eat it ;-).


67 posted on 05/16/2011 12:11:16 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Obama's "Gutsy Decision": Who's gonna tell the fool that he ain't cool?)
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To: Mr. Silverback

Not really, when you consider He is all-knowing and knows what is going to happen and what we will do.


68 posted on 05/16/2011 12:41:48 PM PDT by stuartcr ("Everything happens as God wants it to...otherwise, things would be different.")
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To: caww

I ask people these questions because I want to get answers from people, not God.


69 posted on 05/16/2011 12:46:18 PM PDT by stuartcr ("Everything happens as God wants it to...otherwise, things would be different.")
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To: hope_dies_last

I did get my facts straight! And you proceeded to support my point perfectly. If you don’t think the Millerite movement wasn’t the predecessor of SDA you need to correct a large number of documents. Frankly, I think you owe me an apology.


70 posted on 05/16/2011 1:08:01 PM PDT by Portcall24
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To: Portcall24

Are you an ex-SDA?

Generally speaking, most critics of “The Great Disapointment” are not acquainted with the facts surrounding this great event, unless they are ex-SDA’s or non-denominational pastors or theologians bent on attacking the principles of denominational churches, like SDA’s, to support their independent theology.


71 posted on 05/16/2011 1:24:08 PM PDT by hope_dies_last
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To: Cronos; Bed_Zeppelin; Quix; UriÂ’el-2012
If you go to Camping's web site,
none of his end time theology is scripturally based.

It is based on mathematics know only to Camping.


72 posted on 05/16/2011 1:34:30 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your law is my delight.)
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To: PaleoBob

I think Camping is saying the Rapture on May 21st will last 153 days..(Jesus and the catching of the 153 fish in John :21) and end October 21st, 2011 which will signal the Great Tribulation based on the Feast of Tabernacles 1260 days which end on Passover April 4th 2012 Passover...

That is what I think he has done with those dates...


73 posted on 05/16/2011 4:44:13 PM PDT by TaraP (An APPEASER is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last)
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To: UriÂ’el-2012

Greetings,

Do you think Camping came up with those dates based on my post #73?


74 posted on 05/16/2011 4:45:41 PM PDT by TaraP (An APPEASER is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last)
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To: TaraP
I think Camping is saying the Rapture on May 21st will last 153 days..(Jesus and the catching of the 153 fish in John :21) and end October 21st, 2011 which will signal the Great Tribulation based on the Feast of Tabernacles 1260 days which end on Passover April 4th 2012 Passover... That is what I think he has done with those dates...

Camping is teaching that Judgement Day is May 21st. On that day the graves will be opened and the bodies of the elect that have already died will be transformed into glorified bodies and will be raptured along with all the remaining elect who are still alive.

The bodies of the unsaved dead will be scattered all over the earth and those who remain alive will stay on the earth where there will be suffering for 153 days until the whole world is destroyed by fire on October 21st.

75 posted on 05/16/2011 4:59:42 PM PDT by CrosscutSaw
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To: CrosscutSaw

I never heard the Rapture would be the same day as *Judgement* The rapture of the church I do think might take some time, meaning it could take 153 days....I don’t know how Camping came up with those dates, I am just saying the rapture of the church and the resurrection of the dead might take some time.....

The resurrection of the dead is a task in itself that is beyond our human comprehension, because gazillions of believers have died since the resurrection of Christ....


76 posted on 05/16/2011 5:05:26 PM PDT by TaraP (An APPEASER is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last)
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To: Cronos
I wonder how many Christians get their faith destroyed by folks like this and Paula White and Benny Hinn

I'm one if you also include the Bakers and Swaggert and another fraud who used to "talk in tongues"........Add to that the catholic church and it's pedophiles.....it seems to go on and on and on.

As a person who is trying to make a connection with Jesus Christ, a church does not seem to be a logical choice anymore.......

77 posted on 05/16/2011 5:12:15 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (It's a beautiful day and I'm glad I can see it in color.......)
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To: lasereye

I heard him years ago he said it would take place in 1994

The world will end May 21, 2011. This is not the first time Camping has made a bold prediction about Judgment Day.

On Sept. 6, 1994, dozens of Camping’s believers gathered inside Alameda’s Veterans Memorial Building to await the return of Christ, an event Camping had promised for two years. Followers dressed children in their Sunday best and held Bibles open-faced toward heaven.

But the world did not end. Camping allowed that he may have made a mathematical error. (Berton J. Biblical scholar’s date for rapture: May 21, 2011. January 1, 2010. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/01/BA8V1AV589.DTL&feed=rss.news).

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Harold Camping claims Jesus will return May 21, 2011, but that is not even Pentecost - Los Angeles Church History & End Prophecy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/church-history-end-prophecy-in-los-angeles/harold-camping-claims-jesus-will-return-may-21-2011-but-that-is-not-even-pentecost#ixzz1MZ18DCHC


78 posted on 05/16/2011 5:20:11 PM PDT by restornu (God Bless America!)
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To: TaraP
Nothing about Camping's theory makes any sense.

Why does he believe that the earth is 88,000 years old.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

79 posted on 05/16/2011 6:47:40 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your law is my delight.)
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To: lasereye

May 22 here.


80 posted on 05/16/2011 6:58:46 PM PDT by onedoug (If)
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