May 21, 2011: Are you ready?

I was surfing through Comcast's cavalcade of countless channels the other day when I happened upon Harold Camping and his Family Radio Network.

Oh boy. The guy stopped me in my tracks. Harold Camping is a televangelist with a terrible twist.

Unlike his peers, Harold Camping does not pack a positive punch. Camping is no Joel Osteen with a set of pearly whites to go along with his message of do good and make money in this lifetime. No sir. No way. Not this televangelist. He doesn't have the time.

That's because 88-year-old Harold Camping is laser-focused on the end of days. He's close to the end and he wants to make sure we know we're close to the end of our days as well.

In fact, Harold knows the exact date of his end, and ours: May 21, 2011. Yup, May 21, 2011. Camping's pieced together various Bible passages that, he says, pinpoint May 21, 2011, as the end of the world. He says 5-21-11 is the date when the 'Rapture' will begin.

If I heard him correctly, the Rapture is a period of 155 straight days of nasty, horrible and terrible things that will beset Planet Earth (think: locusts, floods, long-standing PR accounts going up for review, etc.).

Happily, though, Brother Camping and his devoted followers will survive. Nay, thrive. And, when the 155 days are over, Brother Camping & Co. will ascend to Heaven and all the good things that go with it (Christianity's version of Islam's 73 virgins?).

News flash: Brother Camping is the latest in a long line of prophets, fakirs and whatnots who have predicted the end of days. Sane people ignore them. But, the vulnerable do not. And therein lies the issue. Far too many people buy into the end of days mythology and end up selling their worldly possessions (Think: Jonestown, Waco and others). Real people with real problems get badly hurt when a Brother Camping decides it's time to cash in his (and others') chips.

And what happens when the end of days doesn't happen? Well, the Brother Campings of the world just end up blaming others for the apocalypse that wasn't. And the devoted find a new prophet with a new dire prediction.

It's so sad and, in some individual cases, apocalyptic. And, from an image and reputation standpoint, just further tarnishes the overall image and reputation of organized religion.

Comments

[Lunch Boy]

that's funny, as I am predicting May 20, 2010 as the end of the Mandals era.

Halleluiah, praise be given!

[RepMan]

You’ll be born again, Lunch. Still, I can’t imagine a workplace without those dogs of yours on display.

[Lunch Boy]

did you catch my reponse to your mandals post? all in good fun, Rep.

i figured that today would be a great opportunity to speak about the Mets, the "management" team [sic] and the local beat reporters trying to land jobs with the org. what a mess! then i saw how you have given up on them all together.

anyway, go phillies!

[Flackman]

I've occasionally listened to Camping and his pathetic callers much in the same way rubberneckers look at car wrecks. Keep those contributions coming, suckers and "Thank you for caring and sharing."

[RepMan]

Great point, Flackman. I wonder what Brother Camping's revenue model is? Do you suppose he tithing any of the funds? Regardless, I'd die for one of his '5.11.11' t-shirts. Talk about a great stocking stuffer.

[Let God be True and every man a liar]

Mr. Camping is right on my money, if you check out what he is teaching from the Bible by requesting the books for free showing what he is talking about you will be surprised. Listen to Family Radio for a month and I bet you will never listen to another station.

[RepMan]

I actually do watch Brother Camping every now and then. He seems like a genuinely nice man, but quite a few holy men throughout history have predicted a certain date as the end of the world only to be proven wrong. Adding together a few dates and passages from a text written nearly 2,000 years ago to predict the end of the world on May 21, 2011, strikes me as just plain irresponsible.

[Dave]

If you did not read "We are almost there"That is free as eveything else on Family radio is.You should not comment on May 21 2011.Everything that is in We are almost there is all biblical.You will see that the bible teaches that May 21,2011 is 100% on that judgement will happen on that day.But please Don't trust Mr.Camping but check it out in the bible.But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Dave

[Mary Mags]

As a Christian, I believe we do need to be prepared for the next life, but the only way to do so is to focus on TODAY. In the Bible, it teaches us "not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself" and it also tells us "no one will know the hour or the day" when Jesus is to return, that it will come "like a thief in the night." This is the bible that I read. I also have a good relationship with God and, based on everything he shows us daily, I don't think he would ever want us fretting here on earth over the "last day" on earth. It isn't in line with his teachings, and it is contradictaory to some, in fact. Let's not get caught up in when, because the truth is, nobody truly knows. Let's focus on today and getting it right here.

[Dave]

Mary,
The bible is very clear that we can know the day the Lord returns.In the book of Daniel,God tells Daniel to seal these things up till the end.When we get close to the end God will open up those seals.In our day He has opened them up.
4But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

If you are truly interested you can call Family radio for a free booklet titled We are almost there.Or go to Familyradio.com.Everything is free.
God told Noah yet seven days and the flood will happen.The flood was a picture of Gods judgement.Noah and his family knew exactly when it would happen.God has given us a sevent housand year warning.any time Judgement accured God let his peoiple know.God told Lot the exact time Judgement was coming.god told Nineva yet 40 days and he would destroy nineva.They knew the exact time.
Dave

[D]

Dave,

Aren't you ignoring the fact that Jesus was himself an apocalyptic Jew who predicted that the end of the world would occur in his time, and that, in fact, at least some of his disciples would live to see it? Oops.

[Dave]

D,
What scripture are you looking at?Lets examine the scripture.
Dave

[Dominique D. Dowd]

There's nothing wrong with you stating your opinion, only if it's based on exaggerated statements.

1. Harold Camping and the staff at Family Radio have never mentioned on air that they will be saved nor have their EVER alluded to individuals who will be. Does he consider himself one of those individuals? Maybe. But if you understood one key aspect of Christianity, which is to be HUMBLE, then you would know that isn't going to toot his horn.

2. "Brother Camping and CO cash in their chips" You also don't seem to know that Family Radio is entirely listener sponsored. They ask for donatations periodically throughout the program to support their INTERNATIONAL RADIO AND INTERNET broadcasts. There aren't any listeners sending in their LIFE FORTUNE to the station.

3. Listeners actually do question Mr. Camping about their finances because they fear the end of the world, and shockingly enough, Mr. Camping directs them to the Bible and prayer and that is all. He specifically tells them that he CANNOT give them financial guidance. Last time I checked, the Bible doesn't tell people to turn over their savings to the church.

So while you're on your bashing streak, it would be more effective to just, hey, be INFORMED.

[Dave]

Dominque,
I am giving scripture to back up the time of our Lord's return.You say I am on a bashing streak.Who am I bashing?I looked back at all my post and I did not read anywhere that I bashed anyone.I am just stating the fact the the Lord will return on May 21 2011 and then 5 months of judgement begins.This can be proven by the bible only.
1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
The Lord will come as a thief in the night for the unbelievers but notice verse 4 He will not come for the believers as a thief.The believers will know when He will return.Any time there was judgement the believers knew the exact time.God gave noah 7 day warning when the flood would begin.The flood was a picture of judgement and Noah and his family knew the exact time
Dave

[Dave]

There was a time all through the bible that man could not know the day of the Lord's return.That is because God had sealed that information up.It was always in the bible but God kept it sealed till the time of the end.(When we get close to the time of the end)Then God would open up the seals.We must get our information from the bible not from a dream or vision.When we come to truth it is only because God had opened our eyes,we can not take any credit for what we know.We read in Daniel that God had sealed this information up untill the time of the end.4But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
God gave us a clue in Genesis.God said it will be as it was in the days of Noah and also in the days of Lot.As we study the days of noah we find a lot of information about the coming end.During the flood of Noah's day it was a picture of judgement.Lot and his family knew the exact time when judgement would begin.We read: 4For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.God gave Noah and his family the EXACT time judgement would begin.Yet 7 days.Noah and his family where a picture of the believers.They knew the exact time.The ark was a picture of Christ.They where safe in the Ark.Just as the believers will be safe in Christ.We must remember Christ spoke in parables and without a parable He spoke not.
34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Now here is a big clue about the time of the end and this is only one clue there are many many others.
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Look at verse 8 God tells the believers be not ignorant of this one thing one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.Remember Christ spoke in parables.
God told Noah yet 7 days and the flood will begin and get in the ark.
From the time Noah and his family got into the ark untill May21 2011 will be exactly 7000 years to the day.And it lands on the second month and the 17th day the same day and month Noah got onto the ark.God records that it was the second month seventeenth day.WOW!!God has given us a 7000 year warning!I can go on with many more examples but this post is getting long.I will post more latter.Just a reminder that the flood was 4990 bc if we add 7000 years to that it will come to may 21 2012 but we must subtract 1 from that because there was never a year 0.We must go by 365.2224 days in a year because that is how long a year is.That is why all through time correction was made to the callenders.
For a great deal more information you can go to familyradio.com.request the little booklet titled "we are almost there"They will send it free of charge.
Dave Higgins

[RepMan]

Thanks for your comments, Dominique. I'm concerned that people who listen to Brother Camping's end of the world prediction will liquidate their life savings in anticipation of the rapture. What happens to them on May 22, 2011, if Brother Camping is wrong? They'll be destitute and facing a completely different kind of apocalypse: bankruptcy. Putting anyone in that position is irresponsible.

[Dave]

Repman,
I never heard Mr.camping tell anyone to liquidate their savings.I listen to Open Forum almost nightly and never heard that.I hear Mr.Camping tell people that May 21 2011 will 100% be the start of the 5 months Judgement period.Everything Mr.Camping gives He will give scripture proof to back up that date.Many people will laugh at that but that is ok.I am sure Noah was the joke of the day but when it started to rain I am sure they started to think about what Noah was saying but it was to late the door of the ark was closed and that will be the same May 21 2011.
I was one of those that laughed at Mr. Camping and would quote the scripture that no man knows the day of the Lords return.But lo and below I started getting answers to the scriptures.We still have time to beg God to have mercy on us it is still the day of salvation.But after May21 2011 the door will be shut.What a great and terrible day that will be.
Dave Higgins

[Anon]

Why do you imagine that only Harold Camping had been gifted with this special knowledge of the end times and nobody else? Was everyone else spiritually blind? a false teacher? Are Harold Camping and his listeners the only faithful left on earth?

[RepMan]

You raise an interesting point, Anon. We'll see how Dave responds. I also worry that Brother Camping's followers, believing May 21, 2011, to be the end of days, will liquidate their worldly possessions and find themselves in quite a fix come May 22, 2011.

[Dave]

Anon,
That is a very interesting question and I often wondered about that.As I read the bible I find many places where God had used individual people to do His work.For example, He told Jonah to go to the ninivites and tell them yet forty days and God would destroy niniva.Insadently,those people knew the exact time judgement was coming.I also read in the bible that God used a donkey to get His word out.Numbers 22:30
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.Why God would use this one or that one I don't know.
I know a lot of people had taught Harold camping a lot about the end of time.Harold Camping does not hold the corner on truth he is just one of many believers.Mr.camping is just a man and he has been wrong on many things and he is not afraid to be corrected.The bible is the only source for truth.One can't go by Mr.Camping but we must check everything out by the bible.
Does the bible teach that May 21 2011 is the beginning of Judgement?Absolutley!I have given a few examples in the bible that come to may 21 2011 in my past post.But one must check this out for himself.

RepMan, I would not be concerned about people liquidating their assets.It will happen.Will I liquidate?No,I will just live as I do day by day warning others and begging that God might have mercy on me.
Dave

[Anon]

I think your reasoning might contain a few gigantic leaps of logic which may be problematic. The premise here seems to be that May 21, 2011 is exactly 7000 years to the day after Noah entered the Ark. In order to believe this you would have to believe that Harold Camping's calendar of history is entirely flawless. If you accept that, you then must believe that 7000 years after Noah entered the Ark is the beginning of judgement, even though the Bible never explicitly or implicitly states such a thing. It seems as if you are jumping from an unproven premise to an unwarranted conclusion. I think Harold Camping and his followers are unwise to be so dogmatic about end times predictions. All prognosticators (including Camping) have been 100% wrong in their predictions so far. Given that track record, anyone who claims special knowledge of the end times should never be arrogant or dogmatic about it.

[Dave]

Anon,
We can not arrive at the date of the flood being the year 4990 Bc by logic(scientific truth)but we must use the bible as our standard. That is where we must find truth.We must compare scripture with scripture.That is the biblical rule God set down.You can find out how 4990 BC was the year of the flood and many other dates were put togeather by calling Family Radio and requesting the FREE boklet titled (Adam When?).I can see why people are very uncomfortable with someone coming up with a date of Gods judgement,as you stated:"I think Harold Camping and his followers are unwise to be so dogmatic about end times predictions. All prognosticators (including Camping) have been 100% wrong in their predictions so far."Mr Camping did put out a book titled 1994 and there was a big question mark on that book meaning it could happen.Mr Camping also said we could be missing something.Mr camping also mentioned a few times in 1994 that it could be 2011.In 1994 judgement did not happen but judgement did begin in the churches which must happen first as we read in 1Peter 4:17For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God:and if it first begin at us,what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of the bible.1994 was not dogmatic but may 21 2011 is dogmatic.God has opened up a lot more information from the bible that May 21 2011 will be the beginning of His judgement.Amos3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.The believers can know dogmaticly when the Lord returns.
Dave

[RepMan]

Thanks for the additional information, Dave. So, Brother Camping's book entitled '1994' also prophesized an 'end of days'? If so, how did he explain the non-event after the fact? And you allude to fundamental changes that churches did make in that year. What were they? I'm intrigued. Also, I assume Brother Camping's been factoring in updates made by Pope Gregory and others to the basic calendar as well as leap years, etc., in his arriving at May 21, 2011? Will Family Radio Network be covering the event?

[dave]

RepMan,
In the book 1994 Mr camping said we could be missing something,but he was quite sure it would happen.When it did not happen Mr camping said we are to still give out the gospel.There was stll more to learn.I believe this was ment to be as I read in rev10:7But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
What we were declaring in 1994 was that judgement was coming or the Mystery of God was finished.But it did not happen.
I think Revalation10:7-11 pertains to that time.It looked like it was the end or finished but it was not Rev10;11 God says were are to prophesy again.When one is sharing Gods word we are prophesing.

We arrive at may 21 2011 by the solor callender.The solor callenser is 365.2224 days in a year.The reason we adjust our callender is because 365 days is not a complete year.All through time man had to make adjustments to the callender because it is hard to make a callender of 365.2224 days.If we take 365.2224 days it is exactly 7000 years from the day that noah entered the ark.Also it lands on the 2nd month 17 day of the jewish callender

Dave

[RepMan]

Thanks for the clarification, Dave. I still don't understand the significance of the 7,000 years though. Why 7,000 and not, say, 6,500 or 7,500?