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Harold Camping, founder of Family Radio International, predicted that the world would end on May 21st at 6:00 P.M. Today is the 22nd. Unfortunately people believed and followed him. Some gave away their belongings. Some drained their savings. Some drove thousands of miles to California to be raptured outside Camping’s gated home.
One man who was outside Camping’s gate was quoted as saying, “I had some skepticism, but I was trying to push the skepticism away because I believe in God” (Virginian-Pilot, “Sunday News,” 5/22/2011, p. 6 boldface for emphasis).
- Why does it still surprise me that even today the people of God are not reading their Bibles?
- Why does it still surprise me that people believe in man more than they believe in God — even for divine events?
This man who was quoted doesn’t believe God; he believes in Camping!
- Yeshua said He is going to return: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).
- The angels verified it: “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
But He also said this: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mt. 24:36).
You know what the world did on May 21st? People organized rapture parties, aiming to celebrate when the believers leave.
An event like this causes . . .
- the world to ridicule a beautiful moment that exists for the Bride of Messiah, when our Bridgegroom will come to claim us.
- the world to make light of an event that will be its complete annihilation.
- But what deception does, additionally, is cause people to mistrust God and hold Him liable for what man has said.
We must know the the truth of God; then we will know the lies of the enemy. I pray for these believers who have been deceived — that they will attribute this lie to Camping — not religion and certainly not God!
One church was pro-active and positioned members outside of Camping’s home to minister to those who would be disillusioned by the lie. Praise God that the church as a whole did not sit around and make fun of our brothers and sisters . . . but rallied around them to pick them up and point their focus to God.
Believers, hope thou in God!
Father, there will be false messiahs and there will be false predictions, but help us as your bride to trust YOU! Redirect our focus toward You and upon You! Amen!
Below are lyrics from “Take My Heart,”a song by Misty Edwards. Let’s worship Him, meditate upon His words and refocus our gaze upon Him!
For a long time I have waited for you. You have won my heart.
I am following. For a long time I’ve been crying out to you.
Tears make my heart soft. I am ready for the return of the Lover!
The return of the Lover!
http://youtu.be/zHvHPxX_-fw
Hello Abbagrl:
“Why does it still surprise me that even today the people of God are not reading their Bibles?”
I agree with you to a point. I am leery about being presumptuous; we can only assume that those who responded to the billboards, media etc., and (their erroneous leader) in the way they did are those who have not been reading their bibles.
The rapture deception as mentioned in your post; will only take those off guard who do not submit themselves as John 4:23-24 says ….23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
I knew right away; when it was first mentioned that it was not of God. He says in Mark 13:23 “But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
It’s impossible to be deceived when you know the word of God; and when you are in fellowship with the Father, nothing can overtake you. The spirit in the old days rushed upon those whom the Lord chose for specific jobs….however he is in us and is guiding us; so we know him by his word and by his spirit.
1 John 4:1 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but TRY THE SPIRITS whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. It is sad to see so many people and give away their life’s earning on false allegations; I am a firm believer that those individuals as mentioned are looking toward man only!
I Timothy 4 says… 1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly (Clearly), that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
Here in is the harm; as mentioned it casts a shadow of doubt on the rapture ever happening. Not that it will not take place; because, God is truth and his word is forever! But for those who, did not see what was stated come to fruition sooner than expected, would become either non believing or forget about their preparation in meeting the bridegroom.
This is very sad, as a matter of fact individuals are making a joke of it as in the day of Noah; when they did not believe…..for this I am very sad.
It’s almost a replica of then and now; I am afraid, that day will find many off guard. So what is our responsibility? We must continue to tell people of Christ return and as many as those who will believe and receive him; they will be the ones who help in saving the lost before the rapture comes!!
I am very adamant that we as Christians must change our lifestyles if we are not living to the standard in which Christ tells us. Its by what they see in us that they would even be interested in living a Christian life.
First of all, Ora, this man owns a media empire worth millions of dollars that he has gotten from donations — FROM SUPPORTERS. It is the 2nd time he has predicted the end of the world. Now he says it is going to be in October. PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO HIM! (Yes, 1 Tim. 4 speaks this truth loudly and clearly!) He said he felt so bad that he was wrong that he took his wife and went to a motel for a few days! People — CHRISTIANS — are listening to this nonsense — and the WORLD IS LAUGHING AT US!
But I love what you said here:
“I am very adamant that we as Christians must change our lifestyles if we are not living to the standard in which Christ tells us. Its by what they see in us that they would even be interested in living a Christian life.”
It will not be the shouting of “the end is here”; it will be by the gentle but mighty power of the love of God lived by example. Hey, let’s love up on a lot of people today. B/c you and I know the truth — the end is very near! Kingdom Might, Strength, and Love to you today!