CRCF””5-22-11
Here”™s the news clip I read early yesterday morning:
Camping — the octogenarian numerologist whose calculations spawned a worldwide movement (of indeterminate size) devoted to warning non-believers to prepare for the return of Christ, or else — recently told a reporter that the end of the world would begin at exactly 6 p.m. on May 21 in each time zone around the globe. That means the end should be beginning right about now in the South Pacific archipelago of Tonga, where it’s 6 p.m., May 21, 2011.
Here’s what’s supposed to be happening, according to Camping’s website:
“A great earthquake will occur the Bible describes it as ‘such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.’ This earthquake will be so powerful it will throw open all graves. The remains of the all the believers who have ever lived will be instantly transformed into glorified spiritual bodies to be forever with God.”
And then I came across this piece last night late:
Harold Camping, the former civil engineer who heads the
Family Radio Network of Christian stations, had been unwavering in his message that believers would be swept to heaven on May 21.
His Oakland, California-based network broadcasts over 66 U.S. stations and through international affiliates. With the help of supporters it posted at least 2,000 billboards around the United States warning of the Judgment Day.
In New York, retired transportation agency worker Robert Fitzpatrick was inspired by Camping’s message to spend over $140,000 of his savings on subway posters and outdoor advertisements warning of the May 21 Judgment Day.
As he stood in Times Square in New York surrounded by onlookers, Fitzpatrick, 60, carried a Bible and handed out leaflets as he waited for Judgment Day to begin.
By his own reading of Bible, which was slightly different than Camping’s, Fitzgerald expected the great worldwide event to begin at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
When the hour came and went, he said: “I do not understand why …,” as his speech broke off and he looked at his watch.
“I do not understand why nothing has happened.”
Camping, who previously made a failed prediction Jesus Christ would return to Earth in 1994, had said doomsday would begin at 6 p.m. in the various time zones around the globe.
That meant it would begin in Asia and Oceania, but with midnight local time having come and gone in those areas, taking them well into May 22, and no indication of an apocalypse, Camping seemed to have gone silent.
During the day, his Family Radio played recorded church music, devotionals and life advice unrelated to Judgment Day.
The headquarters of his network was shuttered on Friday and Saturday, with a sign in the door that read “This Office is Closed. Sorry we missed you!”
Camping, whose deep sonorous voice is frequently heard on his radio network expounding the Bible, could not be reached for comment.
Oops! … We”™re Still Here!
Various Passages
It is impossible to know when Jesus will return; but we can all be ready to see Him!
Matthew 24:32-51 (NLT)
32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah”™s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn”™t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don”™t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ”˜My master won”™t be back for a while,”™ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It is impossible to know when Jesus will return; but we can all be ready to see Him!
The East Bay Express this week pointed us to the “coffee klatsch” of local atheists behind this billboard, near the foot of the Bay Bridge, which cost $27,000 to produce. The organization American Atheists erected several such billboards around the country, pointing people to these Rapture Parties they’re throwing, the largest of which may be centered in Oakland at the Oakland Masonic Center, Saturday and Sunday. “Expected to draw about two hundred participants, the conference will feature keynote speeches from scholars, bloggers, student activists, former Christians, atheist feminists, and other crusaders. It will offer a chance for so-called ‘heathens and skeptics’ to discuss their collective disdain for ‘God’ (whose name is always framed by quotation marks on the American Atheist web site).”
Scripture tells us to expect these kinds of responses to the truth of Jesus”™ soon return”¦
2 Peter 3:3-18 (NLT)
3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”
5 They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. 6 Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. 7 And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.
8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn”™t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God”™s righteousness.
It is impossible to know when Jesus will return; but we can all be ready to see Him!
14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
It is impossible to know when Jesus will return; but we can all be ready to see Him!
15 And remember, the Lord”™s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him””16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
17 I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
It is impossible to know when Jesus will return; but we can all be ready to see Him!
Swindoll
I worked in a machine shop for four-and-a-half years alongside a fellow named George”¦George was born again, and he loved the teaching of Scripture on prophecy. I remember hearing him sing hymns as he worked”¦Late one Friday afternoon about ten minutes to quitting time when we were all weary, I looked at George and said, “George, are you ready?” He said, “Uh-huh”. But he was all dirty. He was obviously not ready. In fact, he looked like he was ready to keep on working”¦I said, “Look at you! Man, you”™re not ready. You”™ve gotta go clean up.” “No,” he said, “let me show you something.” So he unzipped his coveralls and underneath were the neatest, cleanest clothes you can imagine. He had them all ready. All he did when the whistle blew was just unzip and step out of those coveralls, walk up, and punch his clock and he was gone. He said, “You see, I stay ready to keep from getting ready””just like I”™m ready for Jesus!” (507).
1 John 2:28-29 (NLT)
28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
29 Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God”™s children.
It is impossible to know when Jesus will return; but we can all be ready to see Him!
Are you staying ready to keep from getting ready for Jesus to return?
Communion