I always find it interesting when groups of Christian believers get together and determine when “the rapture” will take place. Lately, a new group proclaiming May 21,2011 as “the day” has been getting some attention. I’ll give them their props…they have some effective PR. Billboards…bus stop benches…even a Subaru (keep Lafayette driving!)!
But, ultimately, all of this kind of saddens me because it’s just another case in which people have missed the point. I don’t think Jesus goal in coming to teach people how to truly live had anything to do with people trying to figure out when He would return. I believe His goal was more about faithful living, not end times scare tactics…but I could be wrong.
The verse on the side of the Subaru is Acts 17:31, which reads, “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
Okay, so God has set a day. The problem I see is the idea that we can somehow calculate that date. I mean, let’s be honest, many of these calculated dates have come and gone over the years.
In my mind, if May 21, 2011 happens to be “the day” it will simply be a bizarre coincidence.
It just misses the point. In Matthew 24, Jesus (the Dude who will be the One to return on “the day”) talks about the end times. He talks about not letting anyone deceive you (like people who tell you to “save the date”). He talks about what things could be like.
Then he clearly states in verse 36, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father.” So, according to the “we can know” folks…I guess that only God and Harold Camping can know the day and the hour.
Jesus, again…the Main Dude in this story, states in verse 42, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Pretty clear.
You know, the truth is, we all miss the point at times. We all can be tempted to focus on things that are non-essential and ignore the essential.
Maybe the “save the date” campaign will inspire some people to deepen their faith. But, what will the impact be if the day comes and goes and Jesus doesn’t return? How will that impact the faith of those saving the date?
So, what are you doing on May 21, 2011? I’m thinking about throwing a big party…and we’ll see who’s left behind! It will be awesome!
Check out the Washington Post article HERE.
Check out the We Can Know website HERE.
Tuesdays with Morris 
Stamping Out Harold Camping
Is Second Coming date-setter Harold Camping worthy of death? He already has a zero batting average after his September 1994 prediction fizzle and, according to the Bible, is a false prophet.
Nevertheless that California shaman, who should be ashamed, claims he’s found out that Christ’s return will be on May 21, 2011 even though Matt. 24:36 says that no one knows the “day” or “hour” of it!
A Google article (“Obama Fulfilling the Bible”) points out that “Deut. 18:20-22 in the Old Testament requires the death penalty for false prophets.”
The same article reveals that “Christians are commanded to ask God to send severe judgment on persons who commit and support the worst forms of evil (see I Cor. 5 and note ‘taken away’).”
Theologically radioactive Harold Camping and his ga-ga groupies (with their billboards featuring “May 21, 2011”) should worry about being “stamped out” if many persons decide to follow the I Cor. 5 command.
The above article concludes: “False prophets in the OT were stoned to death. Today they are just stoned!”
worthy of death? wow!
i think that’s another exampler of missing the point.
where is the love, the grace, the mercy, the tender-hearted compassion, the forgiveness, the peace?
i mean, that’s what Christ was all about…restoring those that had missed the point.