On rapture

It has been interesting to follow the story of Harold Camping, the 89 year-old "radio preacher" who was calling for the end of the world and Christ's second coming or "rapture" this past Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 6 pm Eastern Time.  It came, it went, we're all still here, and now Mr. Camping finds himself as the butt of endless jokes around the world.

Very few people took Camping seriously.  Still, others cashed in their life savings to a collective tune of $100 million to help him spread the word and warn the world of the coming judgement day.  Now they feel deceived.  Yet, the self-proclaimed prophet now tells the world he was just 5 months off, and that the event is truly to happen now on October 21, 2011.

When I saw this updated prophecy on the news this morning, I shook my head in disbelief.  Who is going to believe him this time?  The 5/21/11 event was fodder for jokes for most already.  But now he's really hanging himself out there.

Still, amidst the nonsense, a few things about this event impressed me.

First, this man's bold declaration caught the attention of many people.  Crazy as he may be labeled, the world is listening and, I believe, expecting to hear big news.

Second, my observation is that there are more "believers" that Christ will come again surrounding me that I may have realized. At my workplace last week, for instance, Christians of all denominations casually discussed Camping's warning.  I heard many of them citing the New Testament in which 3 of the gospels plainly claim that neither the day nor the hour of Christ's return are known by any man--see Matthew, Mark and John.

Third and lastly, I reaffirmed my belief in the gospel as it has been taught to me since my youth.  I believe that there is a true, living Prophet on the Earth today.  I'm grateful that the words of latter-day prophets, while often bold, make plain sense.  To me, this is a testament of their truth.  The Spirit witnesses to those who hear that messages are either true or false--the listener simply needs to know how to discern and be sensitive enough to do so.

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."  Matthew 24:24