As many of you are aware, May 21, 2011 at 6:00 PM was supposed to be the “rapture” as prophesied by the self-proclaimed “prophecy expert” Harold Camping.
He took millions of dollars from his followers of Family Radio to put up thousands of billboards around the world proclaiming that May 21, 2011 would be the end of the world. Well, obviously, that did not occur.
He, like many others through the years, namely, William Miller, Ellen White, Jonas Swendahl,
Charles Taze Russell, and Edgar Whisenant to name a few, thinks that he has been blessed with the ability to forecast what God has denied men the knowledge of.
This is not the first time he has made of fool of himself and has caused unbelievers to mock the Second Coming of Jesus.
What is so hard for him to understand about
“No man knows the day or the hour”?
He thinks he can determine both.
He has now determined that October 21, 2011 will be the big day.
I bring this up as an addendum to the Preface (The Last Trumpet - available as an ebook on Amazon Kindle), to make a point. He is feeling rather foolish today and his cohorts are feeling that they have been deceived. Although when Jesus returns, all true believers will be with Him forever – regardless of their various eschatological beliefs and idiosyncrasies. I wonder if those who believe in the “rapture” as defined by Premillennialism will also realize that they have placed their faith in a deception.
Camping’s complicated and complex mathematical formula for determining the day of the “rapture” is no less complicated than the man-made Premillennial system that so many trust in today. The Second Coming is simple. Uncomplicated.
Many of the Premillennial camp think they have correctly read the “signs of the times.” They have determined that certain social, economic, and natural occurrences – hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis - and certain technological advances have brought in the “last days” (according to Scripture, the last days began with the first coming of Jesus. The last days stand in contrast to the former days i.e. the Old Covenant) and that their definition of the “rapture” must occur as they have forecast. This has been going on for a long time. Every time something new, unexpected, or disastrous happens, someone sees it as an indicator of imminent “rapture.” I have personally heard several preachers – going back to the 1960’s – 50 years now - declare with arrogant certainty that the “rapture” must happen any day now – immediately if not sooner - because of how they interpret Matthew 24. Many of them continue with their predictions even after decades of upheavals in the world that they have declared with conviction marks the unquestionable nearness of the “rapture.” They have totally misunderstood the words of our Lord in the Olivet Discourse. Jesus clearly states that wars, earthquakes, pestilences, famines, deceivers, and tribulation must take place, but that the end is not yet.
These are not signs of anything. These are the natural occurrences that will continue in a sin-ladened world until Jesus does return. Yet, the “prophecy experts” persist with their resolute declarations. They still adamantly assert that their definition of the “rapture” must occur as they have so expertly pronounced. In answer to “no man knows the day or the hour”, they state somewhat self-righteously that they are not setting days or hours for the Second Coming, but rather are determining the “imminency” of the “rapture.” They have that right, so they say. (I hope to prove to you Scripturally throughout this book that there is no such thing as the Premillennial “rapture.” There is only the Second Coming.)
But Jesus said Matthew 24: 38, 39 that life at the end of time will be just like it was prior to the flood. People will be marrying, eating, drinking, and conducting life as they always had been doing.
Matthew 24: 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Nothing will indicate the time of the Second Coming. There will be no sign that specifies His return is imminent. It will be at a time that is unexpected. But, just like Harold Camping, many “prophecy experts” believe they have the inside track on the approximate time of the Second Coming. But, these “experts” have redefined the Second Coming to suit their theological preferences. They consider the “rapture” to be the initial stage of the Second Coming. Then the actual Second Coming occurs some seven years later. If the “signs” that they imagine are being fulfilled now point to the Second Coming, then the “rapture” must be upon us. But, that is just as much a distortion of Biblical truth as Camping has launched.
There is one truth I hope everyone takes away from this fiasco of the past few months. God is not held captive to man’s foibles and misinterpretations of His Word. He will accomplish His will as He has mandated, not as man dictates or desires. Man’s will or pronouncements hold no power over Him. God has declared the manner of the Second Coming of Jesus, and no man will change that, regardless of how sincerely others believe and teach otherwise.
