On Camping's False Prophecy... (Love One Another)

"The day for the rapture came and went - and I'm still here!"

Today, thousands of people - the distraught followers of a false prophet who predicted the Rapture of the saints on a specific date and time - are realizing the folly of the lies they believed with impunity.

Many people in the secular media and even in some religious media, and in particular on social media such as Facebook, are laughing at these folks today - taunting, cackling, making profane jokes at the expense of these folks and their now defunct leader.

What should the Christian response be to this event? Can we join in the derision and laughter, or should we be doing something else?

One of the 1,000's of billboards paid for by Camping's followers

When Harold Camping first predicted the Rapture for 1994 - the date also came and went - but it was explained away as a "trial run", a "miscalculation" on his part in interpreting the dates and year counts of Scripture as it applies to end times study (eschatology). He then: 1. Set a new date, of May 21st, 2011 at precisely 6 pm worldwide, and 2. Described a "rolling Rapture" that would begin with a massive earthquake in the earliest time zone and work it's way westward across the planet as the Christians in each time zone would be translated to heaven one after the other.

And both of those points are strictly against what Jesus Himself taught.

First of all, Jesus plainly told His disciples that absolutely NO ONE - not the angels, not even Himself - knew what the day or hour of His return would be. God the Father has reserved that knowledge to Himself alone. Why? Jesus doesn't say - but I would expect that had He told His disciples, "Yeah, I know the exact date and time - but I'm not telling you!" it would have caused some mistrust and ill-feelings. I mean, they were already arguing over who would have the preeminent positions in  the coming Kingdom anyway. - this could've really sent them over the edge in a big way.

As for us today - if we knew exactly what date Jesus was going to return - could you imagine how we would live our lives? Quite the party until, oh, maybe a week or so before the event - and then, boom! All of a sudden we'd all turn pious and saintly to meet the Lord!

But, in all seriousness, God has chosen to not tell us that date, that time, for His Own reasons - and we simply have to accept that. We can vaguely understand some of the reasoning - but we can't know fully why this is. That's alright - because we don't need to know, anyway. We simply are told that we must be ready at all times - to live as if He could return any moment.

The second part that Mr. Camping got wrong was the "rolling Rapture" idea. Scripture clearly tells us that when Jesus returns it will be instantaneous, worldwide and at the exact same moment for all. It most likely won't be heralded by any earthquake someplace on the other side of the world, either - depending on your views of eschatology (pre-, mid- or  post tribulationist) of course.

But, most Christians already know most of these matters. If they have been taught the basics of theology and eschatology from their pulpits, Sunday Schools and Bible studies - as they should be - then they will have come across this information at some point.*
(*If not - you might want to have a little chat with your minister or teacher as to WHY they haven't taught this - and maybe do some learning on your own from the Scriptures! If yo need some guidance as to how to do this - send me a message and I can show you to some excellent resources that will help you to begin studying these matters for yourself. HMR)

The question before us, now, is what do we do in the aftermath of this debacle? For debacle it is - an event that truly threw filth upon the Name of Jesus around the world. What can we, as Christians, do in response to this?

First of all - and especially if you personally know anyone who was/is a follower of Camping - love them, reach out in love to them and pray for them. Don't push them away, don't taunt or tease them. Don't post scathing remarks on social media or in e-mails. They are broken, hurting people right now. Even the ones who may still profess faith in their leader are still hurting inside. Many people sold their homes, gave away their money and belongings and did all kinds of things in preparation for this event - and now they have to live with the aftermath of it. Some may even be suicidal. A Christians second duty; after loving God with all of their mind, body and soul; is to love our neighbors as ourselves. NOW is the time to show restraint of what may be our own personal prejudices and inclinations and to SHOW that love to these people and on behalf of them. Now is NOT the time to condemn or harangue!

As for Mr. Camping himself - I will not sit and pass judgment on him - because God already will and has. I will say what I have said all along - that Camping is a false teacher of a false gospel, a false prophet, a heretic and a blasphemer. He became proud in his own flesh - presuming to know the things of God that God has reserved to Himself alone. God will judge him or grant him mercy, as God so purposes - and that is not for me or anyone else to decide. There may be legal and civil penalties that may come to bear on Mr. Camping and his organization - but, again, that is not for me to judge, but for the courts of the land.

Finally, if people come up to you and ask questions - answer them from the Bible and pray for the Holy Spirit to lead your words. If they come up to deride you - the temptation is to be like Peter and say, "I didn't know the man!" Especially don't join in the derision yourself because you're afraid of being thought ill of. Truth be told, the world is gonna wash all Christians with the same brush right now, even if it's been dipped in the tiniest amount of paint - we, too, will get painted with it. We need to show true humility towards, strength in and reliance on God on these occasions (as at all times!). Harold Camping may be a false prophet - but he is still a created human being - deserving of compassion and love and, until he takes his very last breath, he may still repent, confessing his sins to God and come back to God's grace and merciful love. We cannot know his heart - that is between him and God alone to know.

I urge all of my brothers and sisters to refrain from the bashing and vilification that so many are engaging in over Mr. Camping and his followers. It is not an act of Christian love and charity to speak or act in that manner - but rather to rise above such pettiness and show the same love and mercy as we ourselves have been shown - mercy and love from God Almighty.

May God Who spread the starry skies across the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth grant you strength, wisdom, humility and an outpouring of wisdom and love. As always, I am,

In His service,
Heidi M. Roberts
May 22, 2011