I was looking at the Google Trends, and “May 21st” caught my eye. Apparently, people are predicting judgement day will come on May 21st. Here’s the first article I read.
NJ.com: Your comments: New Jersey guys warn of Judgment Day May 21
According to this article, Reverend Camping is predicting even to the point of the exact time of 6pm and the location where it will start:
Gather: May 21 Judgement Day Details Revealed by Rev. Camping
Here you can read an interview of Harold Camping:
Daily Intel: A Conversation With Harold Camping, Prophesier of Judgment Day
So, what is the truth. Well, I am not going to be dogmatic, but let me give you my thoughts. I can almost predict that it won’t happen on May 21st based on this verse:
Matthew 24:36-37
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
It’s not that judgement won’t happen, but the Bible makes it very clear that we can’t predict when God will say enough and come back to take his people home. In this same passage where the disciples are asking about the end times, Jesus speaks of what it will be like:
Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
The Bible does speak of Jesus return in a little more detail here. While all this tribulation sounds ominous and scary, those who have put their trust in Jesus can rest easy:
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
One of the sad things about all of these articles is that the world seems to laugh at these predictions. They seem think the prediction is outrageous and they include the exclusivity of Christianity in the same manner. The problem is that while the Bible says you cannot predict the time, it also says that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The world has this belief that those who are sincere in their belief, whatever it is, will be counted “good enough” for whatever they believe. Surely, a loving God wouldn’t judge someone, at most, mistaken when they are trying their best. We have to remember that God is first and foremost holy and perfect. We on the other hand are all sinners. No one can argue that they haven’t made at least one mistake that eliminates them from being perfect:
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Our only hope is in Jesus. He paid the punishment on the cross for our shortcomming.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
All God asks is that you put your trust in Jesus, that you believe his payment for your sins is what you needed:
Romans 10:9-11
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
So, if you have put your trust in Jesus, you don’t have to worry about whether Reverend Camps is right on his date or not. We just need to stay faithful in spreading the good news about Jesus.
For Reverend Camps, we can look to this verse and just wait:
Deuteronomy 18:22
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
So, what are your thoughts. Are there some verses that I missed and should have included here?
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