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
We will leave this earth when it is our time and not before. No human being can predict when or where. I have faith in my Lord and Savior and so therefore I live each day as I should and hopefully, when my time comes I will be forgiven. Everyone should just stop worrying and do what you are supposed to do on a daily basis and just move on.
See ya all back here on May 22nd!
Did not the Bible direct Christians to be part of a fellowship?
Not much doubt in my mind that that Day will arrive in our lifetimes. Look around you! look at the news folks! It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that Day arrives before the end of the Obamanation’s reign.
But I am smart enough to know that I can’t know the exact date when the Day is going to come.
I think the whole life of a believer is a preparation. The believer will make it to heaven but there will be rewards depending on works. Other than that I don’t know how to prepare.
Wouldn’t heaven laugh if The Day turned out to be May 22?
I always wondered that as well when all these end of the world predictions come up. When it's time, it will be time. The best we can do is try to live as Jesus wants us to and keep praying.
If you live each day as you should, why would anything need to be forgiven?
God knows before you are even born, if you’re going to ba a believer or not, doesn’t He?
In this house being raptured means we finally got the lock on the bedroom door fixed.
Remember, this nation was built on rugged individualism so give the lad no information or passwords but let him fend for himself.
My quandary is if I am the one left behind,low probability, should I be a glutton for punishment and remarry or live the life of a single person in peace and quiet.
LOL!
oh come on now...you are nit picking. You mean to tell me you never did anything wrong in a day in your whole life? You didn’t tell a fib or anything? If you haven’t good for you but most people have done things that they need to be forgiven for no matter how big or how small.
Anyone who says differently...I question. NO ONE is PERFECT...NO ONE!
Of course I have, I just don’t believe forgiveness is necessary, especially if you’ve lived the way you’re supposed to...which is according to what God has planned for you.
People are trying to cash in early on EOTW before 12/12/12.
In the religion section of the paper Saturday, there was an article about a man who is an athiest and is cashing in on the whole Rapture concept.
He is offering insurance for the pets of those who expect to be caught up in the Rapture. After the Rapture, he guarantees that he or someone in his employ will locate your pet and make sure it is cared for and placed in a good home.
The insurance is a one time purchase and is good for 10 years.
The JW’s had their own “End Days”.
In fact many of them sold off or gave away their belongings in anticipation of them and were left with nothing when the world continued and they were still here.
So, God knew before you were born that you were going to spend all your time on FR asking stupid troll questions?
Mind blowing!
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