May 21st: The End of the World?

(NYC scene from the movie The Day After Tomorrow)

Deep Impact * Mad Max * Waterworld * Independence Day * 2012 * Armageddon * The Day After Tomorrow...

Hollywood has had more than its share of predicting the end of the world as we know it. And people --by the millions -- flock to theatres to watch the supernatural disasters that inevitably come with it in HD and surround sound. I mean, who wouldn't want to see the Statue of Liberty being washed away by a giant tidal wave? Or a giant asteroid crash a huge hole into the Earth's crust? It makes for some pretty cool special effects. 

But nobody believes stuff like this will actually happen? Or do they...?

Okay, okay...I'll fess up. I've been seeing a lot of people on Facebook and Twitter talking about how this Saturday, May 21st (drum roll please!) will officially mark the end of the world. Some people are seriously freaking out, others have questions, and for some it just kind of makes them think (which is good!) Of course, this being a Christian blog, I just couldn't let this one pass without some serious (and maybe not-so-serious) comment.

First, let's take a look at where these rumors are coming from.



(Harold Camping on right; scene from movie 2012 on left.)

Family Stations, better known as Family Radio, is a non-profit Christian broadcasting ministry based out of California that was founded in 1958. The president of Family Radio is 89-year old Harold Camping, a former civil engineer-turned-preacher, a full-time volunteer (that means he doesn't get paid for this) who broadcasts his sermons or preachings on a daily basis to an audience that is world wide. If you check out his website, he has his sermons recorded and translated into almost 61 different languages that are aired on 66 radio stations throughout the U.S. He transmits his sermons in the U.S. and abroad through FM radio stations, shortwave radio and the Internet. He's organized a team of RV caravans that are traveling throughout the states spreading his message and in addition, he's put up about 2,000 billboards, posters and bus posters with messages that relate May 21st as Judgement Day throughout the U.S. and Canada. I mean, the guy gets a lot of coverage for somebody that we've never heard of before.

(Sign announcing the return of Jesus Christ on May 21st in Seattle, Washington.)

Okay, so what is exactly is this Judgement Day prediction all about? Well, according to FamilyRadio.com, Mr. Camping is predicting that great earthquakes will shake the earth at exactly 6 p.m. on May 21st, 2011. At this time, the angel Gabriel will sound his trumpet and Jesus will return to the Earth to "gather up" those who are saved. This is called The Rapture. The souls of those saved (whether they have already died are alive today) will gather up with Jesus and go off to Heaven and those left behind will suffer a great deal here on Earth until October 21, 2011 when, according to Mr. Camping, God will destroy the entire Earth and everyone still on it.

Mr. Camping says he has studied the Bible for almost 50 years and that through his studies and code-breaking he has been able to pinpoint the exact date of Christs' return to May 21st.

Now, I know that many of you reading this blog might not have gone to Bible College or Seminary or are right now scratching your head and going "huh?" so I won't go all theological on you just yet. I'll try to keep it as sweet and simple as possible.

First off, there are some truths in Mr. Camping's teachings. According to the Bible, there will indeed be a Rapture. There will be earthquakes and pestilence and all sorts of natural and man-made disasters. Those who are not saved will suffer a great deal and yes, there will be a Judgement Day.

The problem with Mr. Camping's prediction is that he gives you an exact date of when he thinks the Ratpure will occur. The Bible never gives us any dates. In fact, when the disciples asked Jesus to tell them when He would return and when the end of the world would occur, He tells them:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,

nor the Son, but the Father alone."

(Matthew 24: 36)

Yes, we can perhaps find clues as to when it might happen. Bible students and scholars can read the Bible and interpret Bible prophecy and understand that the Rapture is going to happen a lot sooner than people think. (But that's a subject for another post.) The point is, to give an exact date as to when it's going to happen is pretty much calling Jesus a liar because He's the one saying nobody knows when it will happen. And if I had to choose between believing Jesus and believing Mr. Camping, I'd choose Jesus.

Now, that being said, I think the bigger question here is why are people freaking out? Maybe they're worried because they're afraid of dying. Or maybe they do believe Jesus will return one day but they're not quite sure what's going to happen to them? Maybe they've told themselves that just being a "good" person is enough but deep, deep down inside there's this little teeny-tiny part of them that's not so sure. Or, maybe you could care less and just enjoy adding to all the hype and freaking people out.

So while I would discard Mr. Camping's prediction of May 21st as Judgement Day/The Rapture, I would not discard the idea of the Rapture. Will Jesus' return one day soon. Yes. Will those who are taken away or gathered up with Him include everyone? Unfortunately, the answer to that is no.

Hey, I don't make the rules. The Bible does. I'm not here to judge, either. That's God's job. All I can do is tell you what the Bible says and if you don't believe me, to urge you to pick up a copy and read it for yourself. (Which is what you should do anyway -- never simply believe what someone tells you just because. Always look it up for yourself and verify it with the Bible.)

Now, if you don't believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that everything in it is Truth, then nothing I say is going to make an iota of difference to you. But if you're one of those who are freaking out, or even if Mr. Camping's prediction is at the very least making you think, then maybe it's time to analyze your life and start asking some serious questions. About your life. About God. About death. About your salvation.

I'll be talking more about the Rapture and the End of Times (according to what the Bible says) in the next few weeks, so come back and visit the blog if you're interested in learning more. In the meantime, don't worry about May 21st. Mr. Camping predicted the world would end in 1994 and, obviously, it didn't. He's wrong about this prediction, too.

So don't quit your job, don't give away all your money, don't drop out of school. I can gaurantee you we'll all be here on Sunday.

But I wonder where Mr. Camping will be?