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I haven't mentioned this from the pulpit because, frankly, it is pretty much not worth speaking on. Still, it is a great example of why the non-Christian world believes that we believers are kooks. Harold Camping, who predicted Jesus would return in 1988, then in 1989, and later that the world would end in 1994 is at it once more. This time, "Camping and his devoted followers claim a massive earthquake will mark the second coming of Jesus, or so-called Judgment Day on Saturday, May 21, ushering in a five month period of catastrophes before the world comes to a complete end in October" (CNNMoney) As CNNMoney reported, Camping is raking in quite a sum of money yearly from his radio stations, taking in $18 million in '09 alone, and $80 million from '05-08. Where does he get this money from? Donations from our precious and untaught brothers and sisters in the Lord. My heart breaks over this. This is classic "deception", and fits right in the guidelines of identifying a false prophet. Deuteronomy 18:22 says "when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him". The Apostle Peter wrote, in 2 Peter 2:2-3 "Many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber". Camping is teaching false doctrine, and he and his teachings should be avoided. His false prophecies are reaping millions of dollars from untaught and gullible people, and is resulting in the gospel being mocked and believers stumbling. This is quite serious. Jesus issued a warning to those who stumble His children. He said "whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea". (Mt 18:6) Camping is stumbling believers and giving the enemies of God reason to blaspheme, and he doesn't seem to understand the depth of his error. Or perhaps he may. I really don't know. What is interesting is, his own employees do not believe what he is saying. They are planning on being at work on Monday, even though the end of the world is supposed to begin the previous Saturday. One of the employees (a program producer from an Illinois station) said "We're going to continue doing what we're doing", which apparently includes working for a deceiver like Camping. Camping wrote a good-bye letter to his listeners, while at the same time encouraging his employees to continue to stand with him in proclaiming the gospel through family radio. Apparently he plans on disappearing, but his employees should go about business as usual. Interesting. From what I have read, there are those who believe Camping to be sincere. Moody Bible professor-at-large Charles Dyer says "(Camping) sincerely wants Jesus to return, and I do too. The problem is Harold Camping wants it so much he's almost using the Bible like a Rorschach test and trying to read his desires into the Bible rather than letting the Bible teach us". (Chicago Tribune) Jesus said "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Mt 24:36). If only the Father knows the hour, then obviously it is wise for us to long for the return of the Lord, but to continue to "occupy" till He does return (Lu 19:13) The writer of Hebrews wrote "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry" (Heb 10:37). The return of the Lord is imminent, and is scheduled according to God's timeline. Believers are called to remain faithful to the end, and to look up in anticipation of His return. His return and its promise is intended to cause us to have hope, and to inspire us to preach the gospel. If He comes in our lifetime, praise God! If He does not, when we close our eyes we shall see Him as He is, so it is a win-win situation for the believer. Finally, a rumor went around during the time of Paul that was causing trouble for the people of God. Some were saying that the Day of Christ had already come, and this was being circulated through prophetic utterances, conversations, and some spoke of a supposed letter written by Paul attesting to this claim. Paul actually had to write a letter to correct such a wrong teaching, and it is 2 Thessalonians. He bluntly told the believers "Let no one deceive you by any means" (2 Th 2:3) because they were being duped. He then went on to outline events that must occur before history came to its worldly conclusion. With Paul, I would encourage us all to be careful not to be deceived, and not to be troubled. I especially would encourage all of us to pray for Harold Camping. He may be sincere, but he is also deceiving many sincere but untaught believers. His organization is also reaping in quite a sum of money by teaching such error. Jesus doesn't like that.By: David Rosales
I haven't mentioned this from the pulpit because, frankly, it is pretty much not worth speaking on. Still, it is a great example of why the non-Christian world believes that we believers are kooks. Harold Camping, who predicted Jesus would return in 1988, then in 1989, and later that the world would end in 1994 is at it once more. This time, "Camping and his devoted followers claim a massive earthquake will mark the second coming of Jesus, or so-called Judgment Day on Saturday, May 21, ushering in a five month period of catastrophes before the world comes to a complete end in October" (CNNMoney)
As CNNMoney reported, Camping is raking in quite a sum of money yearly from his radio stations, taking in $18 million in '09 alone, and $80 million from '05-08. Where does he get this money from? Donations from our precious and untaught brothers and sisters in the Lord.
My heart breaks over this.
This is classic "deception", and fits right in the guidelines of identifying a false prophet. Deuteronomy 18:22 says "when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him". The Apostle Peter wrote, in 2 Peter 2:2-3 "Many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber". Camping is teaching false doctrine, and he and his teachings should be avoided. His false prophecies are reaping millions of dollars from untaught and gullible people, and is resulting in the gospel being mocked and believers stumbling. This is quite serious. Jesus issued a warning to those who stumble His children. He said "whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea". (Mt 18:6)
Camping is stumbling believers and giving the enemies of God reason to blaspheme, and he doesn't seem to understand the depth of his error. Or perhaps he may. I really don't know. What is interesting is, his own employees do not believe what he is saying. They are planning on being at work on Monday, even though the end of the world is supposed to begin the previous Saturday. One of the employees (a program producer from an Illinois station) said "We're going to continue doing what we're doing", which apparently includes working for a deceiver like Camping.
Camping wrote a good-bye letter to his listeners, while at the same time encouraging his employees to continue to stand with him in proclaiming the gospel through family radio. Apparently he plans on disappearing, but his employees should go about business as usual. Interesting. From what I have read, there are those who believe Camping to be sincere.
Moody Bible professor-at-large Charles Dyer says "(Camping) sincerely wants Jesus to return, and I do too. The problem is Harold Camping wants it so much he's almost using the Bible like a Rorschach test and trying to read his desires into the Bible rather than letting the Bible teach us". (Chicago Tribune) Jesus said "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Mt 24:36).
If only the Father knows the hour, then obviously it is wise for us to long for the return of the Lord, but to continue to "occupy" till He does return (Lu 19:13) The writer of Hebrews wrote "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry" (Heb 10:37).
The return of the Lord is imminent, and is scheduled according to God's timeline.
Believers are called to remain faithful to the end, and to look up in anticipation of His return. His return and its promise is intended to cause us to have hope, and to inspire us to preach the gospel. If He comes in our lifetime, praise God! If He does not, when we close our eyes we shall see Him as He is, so it is a win-win situation for the believer. Finally, a rumor went around during the time of Paul that was causing trouble for the people of God. Some were saying that the Day of Christ had already come, and this was being circulated through prophetic utterances, conversations, and some spoke of a supposed letter written by Paul attesting to this claim. Paul actually had to write a letter to correct such a wrong teaching, and it is 2 Thessalonians.
He bluntly told the believers "Let no one deceive you by any means" (2 Th 2:3) because they were being duped.
He then went on to outline events that must occur before history came to its worldly conclusion. With Paul, I would encourage us all to be careful not to be deceived, and not to be troubled. I especially would encourage all of us to pray for Harold Camping. He may be sincere, but he is also deceiving many sincere but untaught believers. His organization is also reaping in quite a sum of money by teaching such error. Jesus doesn't like that.
By: David Rosales
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