Dooms Day Preacher Changes Date Once Again
Self proclaimed prophet Harold Camping revised his apocalyptic prophecy Monday, saying he was off by five months because the earth actually will be obliterated on Oct. 21st. Camping had predicted that 200 million Christians would be taken to heaven Saturday before a global cataclysm struck the planet. He told the press that when his prediction didn’t come true that he went to a hotel with his wife. In the old testament we would have gone to the hotel as well. The only difference is we would have gone with rocks to stoned him. God was not very lovie dovie when it came to declaring yourself His prophet and not batting 100%.
Forget the fact that Jesus said in Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” As a result of Harold’s declarations, he has been able to raise millions of dollars.
When hope fades, cynicism is often waiting in the wings. This is indeed one of the great challenges of our time. Skepticism, simply put, I can’t trust anybody or anything, has taken hold of our culture. In an age of ever increasing skepticism why are so many people paying attention to a man who has repeated proven himself to be a false prophet? I believe there are two reasons why people are drawn to this message. The first is the lack of hope and the second is the unwillingness to preserver. An overwhelming number of believers are living without hope. They have sought the American dream and it has brought them nothing but pain and disappointment. Because of those disappointments, pessimism is king and they want out. “Get me out of here Jesus”. Secondly, believers do not want to endure. The Scriptures calls us to endure. We are called to press on. We are here on mission and it is God’s grace and mercy that causes Him to tarry. He tarries that men might know Him. History is moving to an end, and the Bible offers a good end. Therefore we must press on living out our calling not leaning on human efforts but resting in the goodness and promises of God.
