Well, if He does it will have nothing to do with the creative and suspect Biblical Numerology that Harold Camping and others have concocted. (And I should note this is their second attempt to get it right, their first false prophecy failed in 1994!)
Yesterday I outlined in the message titled "Jesus' Return" (May 15, 2011) a simple version of how they came up with the date of May 21, 2011.
[ For those interested here is mini version of their creative math, as I understand it: Take a supposed date that Noah loaded the animals into the ark, add 7000 years. The 7000 years, according to them, is the intent of Peters words that say a 1 day is as a 1000 years with Lord. Since Noah took 7 days to get the animals into the ark, and each day is as 1000 years, you come up with 7000 years. As for the day that Noah started, they say you have to use carbon dating and tree rings to find that date. Ok, if you have not left the room yet, you then add a year because there is no year zero on the calendar... that gets you to 2011. To get to May 21, you have to then assume Noah used the Jewish calendar, and since he loaded up everyone on 17th day of the second month, you come up with May 21st. The funny part is when they are interviewed about this and explain it the reported, they conclude with something like, " See it clear as can be from the pages of the Bible!" ]
In addition in this message, I outlined some other major predictions of Jesus return that have failed in history. These, like Campings, have been based on ideas from Biblical numerology, the lining up of planets, or simple nice round dates. Each one has come and gone.
But don't throw the baby out with the bath water...there are over 300 references to the return of Jesus in the Bible. He will return, and He said His return will be when most least expect it, like a thief in the night.
However, I have to wonder what it is that makes some of those, like Camping, try to figure out a date based on hidden Bible codes in favor of the clear teaching that Jesus said in Matthew 24, that no man, no angels, and not even Jesus himself knows the time when this event will take place? How complicated is that? I hear of Christians lining up for the next prediction in December 2012 based on a Mayan calendar. Come on now, the Mayans? Do Bible believing Christians really think that God is waiting on or cares about the Mayan calendar to send His Son to gather the church again?
Dr. Al Mohler commented on this controversy. He gets to the heart of the matter:
The Bible does not contain hidden codes that we are to find and decipher. The Bible has been given to us in order that we might know the truth, and the truth is clearly revealed in its pages. We are not to look for hidden patterns of words, numbers, dates, or anything else. The Bible’s message is plain and requires no mathematical computation for its understanding. The claim that one has found a hidden code or system in the Bible is an insult to the Bible as the Word of God.
…We are not to draw a line in history and set a date, but we are to be about the Father’s business, sharing the Gospel and living faithful Christian lives. We are not to sit on rooftops like the Millerites, waiting for Christ’s return. We are to be busy doing what Christ has commanded us to do.
Despite it all, I want to thank Mr. Camping and crew. While I am not gonna drink this water, your efforts and expense have brought a renewed interest in the Lord's return to our culture. If nothing else, it gave me a chance to preach on it and as a result we had several give their lives to Jesus. So, while I am not buying into your math codes, I will be ready and hopefully more are as a result.
Blessings,
PR
6 comments:
Thank you for answering my question about May 21st.
ok the bible has been written over through out the 2000 year period by man him self and your gana tell me that theres nothing canged in it . its like some one tells someone a secrete and by the time it hits the last person its not even the same.so back to the question not even jesus kknows the end date isnt jesus god our lord . and god told warned noah before the flood :D
didnt god warn noah think about it.
41 Matthew 24:30-50
30"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
oh...yup!pator then plz may i knw actly when is jesus cmng nd i have followed all his commanmands xcept the sabath as bcz im in a hind religious place nd i couldnt keep the sabath holy...wil jesus forgive me and take with him to heaven ha??????
good point about this bringing the subject of Jesus' return to the forefront of U.S. culture. I read another blog about dealing with people the day after (disappointed people). Esp. those who put their life savings into billboards and ad campaigns.
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