Is The End Nigh? We'll Know Soon Enough (World to end May 21)

NPR ^ | May 7, 2011 | Barbara Bradley Hagerty

[tlb]

May 21, "starting in the Pacific Rim at around the 6 p.m. local time hour, in each time zone, there will be a great earthquake,". The true Christian believers will be "raptured": They'll fly upward to heaven.

"and on top of all that, there's no more salvation at that point. 153 days later that the entire universe and planet Earth will be destroyed."

"I no longer think about 401(k)s and retirement," he says. "I'm just a lot less stressed, and in a way I'm more carefree."

Brown is married with several young children, and none of them shares his beliefs. It's caused a rift with his wife — but he says that, too, was predicted in the Bible.

But it appears that many became believers in 2009 after turning on Family Radio, a Christian network. Camping's predictions have inspired other groups to rally behind the May 21 date. People have quit their jobs and left their families to get the message out.

"Knowing the date of the end of the world changes all your future plans," says Adrienne Martinez.

She thought she'd go to medical school, until she began tuning in to Family Radio. She and her husband decided they wanted to spend their remaining time with their infant daughter.

"Why are we going to work for more money? "

"We budgeted everything so that, on May 21, we won't have anything left," Adrienne adds.

I've asked a dozen of Camping's followers the same question. Everyone said even entertaining the possibility that May 21 would come and go without event is an offense to God. They all hope they'll be raptured.

"If I'm here on May 22, and I wake up, I'm going to be in hell," says Brown

On the other hand, he will presumably have lots of company.

[EBH]

As far as the 'rapture', we might not really notice that either. How many true believers are there left? Uh...144,000?

You are correct in pondering if it will even be noticed by those left behind. The great falling away from God, the death & persecution of millions for their testimony...much is outlined in Revelations about the end of days. We're very far from it.

Will the coming of Christ be noticed and the rapture? According to the Bible it will be unmistakable, but much death & sadness comes first to the Christians.

[Graybeard58]

Your explanation in number 34 is as straight forward an explanation as I’ve seen yet but then again, I didn’t need convincing.

[Skooz]

May 21 sounds good. Sooner would be better.

[Graybeard58]

IIRC, Camping predicted the world would end in the 1990s.

It's what cults and cultists do and some are quite successful in misleading people, From Charles Taze Russell to Joseph Smith.

[Graybeard58]

And this is a woman who was going to be a doctor, so she’s not dumb.

Huh?

My (former) doctor voted for Obama.

[mad_as_he$$]

My FRiend that was an overshare.

[don-o]

I thought your points were self evident and not in need of further commentary. Of course Proddys have a significant amount of diversity. It’s the nature of large groups of people, actually.

My point is that the fruit of sola scriptura is confusion and division. It is telling to see the PC word "diversity" describing it. And also to characterize The Church as "a large group of people", which ignores the unique nature and claims attached to it - no matter what the faith tradition is.

Let's stay on topic here - Harold Camping derives a date of the Rapture from his own personal interpretation of Holy Scripture. What do you do with your "crazy uncle" who refuses to stay locked up in the attic?

[Chandalier]

They have they’re end of the world scenario and the left has theirs, it’s called global warming. Opposite sides of the same coin.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

he didn’t answer because he’s not real.

Well, He is real, no doubt about that. We have hundreds of prophecies, made by God, which have been fulfilled to the smallest detail. Only God could tell someone that something was going to happen hundreds and sometimes thousands of years beforehand and then have it come to pass. Here are one or two of those fulfilled prophecies that prove God's existence:

• Some time before 500 B.C. the prophet Daniel proclaimed that Israel's long-awaited Messiah would begin his public ministry 483 years after the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25-26). He further predicted that the Messiah would be "cut off," killed, and that this event would take place prior to a second destruction of Jerusalem. Abundant documentation shows that these prophecies were perfectly fulfilled in the life (and crucifixion) of Jesus Christ. The decree regarding the restoration of Jerusalem was issued by Persia's King Artaxerxes to the Hebrew priest Ezra in 458 B.C., 483 years later the ministry of Jesus Christ began in Galilee. (Remember that due to calendar changes, the date for the start of Christ's ministry is set by most historians at about 26 A.D. Also note that from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. is just one year.) Jesus' crucifixion occurred only a few years later, and about four decades later, in 70 A.D. came the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 105.)*

• In approximately 700 B.C. the prophet Micah named the tiny village of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Israel's Messiah (Micah 5:2). The fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Christ is one of the most widely known and widely celebrated facts in history.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 105.)

• In the fifth century B.C. a prophet named Zechariah declared that the Messiah would be betrayed for the price of a slave—thirty pieces of silver, according to Jewish law-and also that this money would be used to buy a burial ground for Jerusalem's poor foreigners (Zechariah 11:12-13). Bible writers and secular historians both record thirty pieces of silver as the sum paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus, and they indicate that the money went to purchase a "potter's field," used—just as predicted—for the burial of poor aliens (Matthew 27:3-10).

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 1011.)

• Some 400 years before crucifixion was invented, both Israel's King David and the prophet Zechariah described the Messiah's death in words that perfectly depict that mode of execution. Further, they said that the body would be pierced and that none of the bones would be broken, contrary to customary procedure in cases of crucifixion (Psalm 22 and 34:20; Zechariah 12:10). Again, historians and New Testament writers confirm the fulfillment: Jesus of Nazareth died on a Roman cross, and his extraordinarily quick death eliminated the need for the usual breaking of bones. A spear was thrust into his side to verify that he was, indeed, dead.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 1013.)

• The prophet Isaiah foretold that a conqueror named Cyrus would destroy seemingly impregnable Babylon and subdue Egypt along with most of the rest of the known world. This same man, said Isaiah, would decide to let the Jewish exiles in his territory go free without any payment of ransom (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1; and 45:13). Isaiah made this prophecy 150 years before Cyrus was born, 180 years before Cyrus performed any of these feats (and he did, eventually, perform them all), and 80 years before the Jews were taken into exile.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 1015.)

• Mighty Babylon, 196 miles square, was enclosed not only by a moat, but also by a double wall 330 feet high, each part 90 feet thick. It was said by unanimous popular opinion to be indestructible, yet two Bible prophets declared its doom. These prophets further claimed that the ruins would be avoided by travelers, that the city would never again be inhabited, and that its stones would not even be moved for use as building material (Isaiah 13:17-22 and Jeremiah 51:26, 43). Their description is, in fact, the well-documented history of the famous citadel.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 109.)

• The exact location and construction sequence of Jerusalem's nine suburbs was predicted by Jeremiah about 2600 years ago. He referred to the time of this building project as "the last days," that is, the time period of Israel's second rebirth as a nation in the land of Palestine (Jeremiah 31:38-40). This rebirth became history in 1948, and the construction of the nine suburbs has gone forward precisely in the locations and in the sequence predicted.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 1018.)

• The prophet Moses foretold (with some additions by Jeremiah and Jesus) that the ancient Jewish nation would be conquered twice and that the people would be carried off as slaves each time, first by the Babylonians (for a period of 70 years), and then by a fourth world kingdom (which we know as Rome). The second conqueror, Moses said, would take the Jews captive to Egypt in ships, selling them or giving them away as slaves to all parts of the world. Both of these predictions were fulfilled to the letter, the first in 607 B.C. and the second in 70 A.D. God's spokesmen said, further, that the Jews would remain scattered throughout the entire world for many generations, but without becoming assimilated by the peoples or of other nations, and that the Jews would one day return to the land of Palestine to re-establish for a second time their nation (Deuteronomy 29; Isaiah 11:11-13; Jeremiah 25:11; Hosea 3:4-5 and Luke 21:23-24).

  This prophetic statement sweeps across 3500 years of history to its complete fulfillment—in our lifetime.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 120.)

• Jeremiah predicted that despite its fertility and despite the accessibility of its water supply, the land of Edom (today a part of Jordan) would become a barren, uninhabited wasteland (Jeremiah 49:15-20; Ezekiel 25:12-14). His description accurately tells the history of that now bleak region.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 105.)

• Joshua prophesied that Jericho would be rebuilt by one man. He also said that the man's eldest son would die when the reconstruction began and that his youngest son would die when the work reached completion (Joshua 6:26). About five centuries later this prophecy found its fulfillment in the life and family of a man named Hiel (1 Kings 16:33-34).

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 107).

• The day of Elijah's supernatural departure from Earth was predicted unanimously—and accurately, according to the eye-witness account—by a group of fifty prophets (2 Kings 2:3-11).

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 109).

• Jahaziel prophesied that King Jehoshaphat and a tiny band of men would defeat an enormous, well-equipped, well-trained army without even having to fight. Just as predicted, the King and his troops stood looking on as their foes were supernaturally destroyed to the last man (2 Chronicles 20).

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 108).

• One prophet of God (unnamed, but probably Shemiah) said that a future king of Judah, named Josiah, would take the bones of all the occultic priests (priests of the "high places") of Israel's King Jeroboam and burn them on Jeroboam's altar (1 Kings 13:2 and 2 Kings 23:15-18). This event occurred approximately 300 years after it was foretold.

  (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 1013).

http://www.reasons.org/fulfilled-prophecy-evidence-reliability-bible

So, the existence of God is proven and is undeniable not only through His personal, intimate involvement in the lives of those who know Him as Savior, and the ways He has changed the lives of those who know Him as Savior, but also through the fulfillment of prophecies not only throughout all of human history, but the fact that fulfillment of God's end-time prophecies are happening in our day.

We are all born with a sin debt and at enmity with God because of our inborn sin and rebellion against Him. Until that sin debt is paid by our acceptance of Jesus Christ's death on the cross as payment for our sin, and until our acceptance of Him as our Lord and Savior, God cannot hear our prayers. Our unforgiven sin creates a gulf between us and God that cannot be bridged apart from Jesus Christ. God does not hear the prayers of those who have not been reconciled to Him through His Son and His death on the cross.

There is a way to communicate with God and have Him hear us and respond to us and He has created that way and it is the only way. And until we meet Him on His terms, we pray to Someone Who cannot hear us.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

This feeds beautifully into the agenda of those who deny and discount the Scriptures and gives them perfect ammunition to convince themselves and others that the Bible is a collection of fairy tales written by men and not God's love letter and instruction manual to mankind.

I'd really hate to be in Harold Camping's shoes the day he stands before God.

[stockpirate]

I have a question about the tribulation. When during the tribulation are we to recieve the mark of the beast, is it before the rapture or after the rapture?

[Iscool]

Let's stay on topic here - Harold Camping derives a date of the Rapture from his own personal interpretation of Holy Scripture. What do you do with your "crazy uncle" who refuses to stay locked up in the attic?

And you have a group who says your religion is the one Jesus founded...

Likely camping has far more evidence for his error than you guys do for yours...

Your religion is the King of private interpretation...

[don-o]

Thanks. But the red herring has already been drug out.

[Texas Eagle]

"I no longer think about 401(k)s and retirement," he says......

Uhhhhhhh....well, if you're not going to be needing that money......

[svcw]

Nope. You are mocking me but he wasn’t. Hey I’d say have a blessed Mother’s Day but apparently that wont work for you.

[Matchett-PI]

“...I even asked God about it and he didn’t answer because he’s not real.” ~ Two Kids’ Dad

You unwittingly just proved that He is! :)

Tip of the iceberg:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2687844/posts?page=194#194

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2687844/posts?page=298#298

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2687844/posts?page=241#241

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2687844/posts?page=182#182

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2687844/posts?page=180#180

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2687844/posts?page=179#179

[GiovannaNicoletta]

It's after the Rapture happens.

Jesus will take His bride, AKA the Church, off the earth before the Antichrist makes his appearance and before the judgments begin.

When a person takes the mark of the beast he is swearing allegiance to the Antichrist and making a decision to reject Christ for all eternity. The circumstances that people will be in that will force them to make a decision to take the mark of the beast or refuse it and most likely be beheaded are part of the judgments that will come on this earth. The judgments, including the mark of the beast, will come after the Rapture.

[Ditter]

HIS NAME IS CAMPING? Oh dear, I read it so quickly I thought he was going camping, leaving his clothes out in the yard and all that. What happened to the end of the world coming in 2012, don’t we have another year? I am really confused now. snort//>

[Mad Dawg]

People who make these predictions should be obliged to post bond

[Matchett-PI]

"Camping is a false teacher and false prophet. He has already “predicted” the exact date of the end of the world—September 6, 1994. Anyone who believes him is a fool."

Camping (and his ilk) take God's name in vain. He and they are "gurus" to easily led, simple-minded Bible thumpers that believe "taking God's name in vain" means cursing. :)