Phew! It did not happen. What a relief for many and disappointment for others
Harold Camping and his Family Radio had billboards around the world proclaiming judgment day. He said that the dead in Christ will arise and go with the raptured saints to heaven at 6 p.m. on May 21.
It did not happen. I am writing this on May 11, and according to the Bible, “no one knows the day nor the hour of Jesus’ return.” Thus any person, or organization, which claims to know when, are wrong. They are false prophets!
Camping established a large following with 140 radio stations. Thousands believe his message and act accordingly.
Wars, natural disasters, droughts, famines and all sorts of calamities are predicted just before the second coming of Christ. It has never been this hot, this cold, this dry, this wet. In the U.S.A. there were 312 tornados in one 24-hour period in April alone. Earthquakes, tsunamis, sky rocketing costs and more are signs pointing to Jesus’ soon return. These are growing in frequency and intensity.
Jesus mentioned in Mark 13:29, “When ye shall see these things come to pass, know that His return is nigh, even at the doors.”
In every era, some believers have been setting dates for his Second Coming. All have been wrong. Jesus mentioned that “in an hour as ye believe not, the Son of Man cometh… for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
In spite of Bible warnings, Pope Innocent III predicted that Christ would return in 1284 A.D.
William Miller, a Baptist, of the Great Advent Awakening said Christ would come in 1844. Joseph Smith predicted Christ’s return, on or before, 1891.
Then the organization that claims to be God’s prophet, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have given multiple dates, all of which have shown to be false: 1874, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975. A false prophet indeed!
All these date settings are a diversion of Satan. Jesus said at Matthew 24:36, “No one knows about that day or hour.”
Even though our church name has the word “adventist” in it, we have never cited a day for Jesus’ return. But he is coming again and the signs show that his return is near, even at the door.”
Are you ready to meet him in peace? Do not be mislead by false teachers. How do we act as we see the signs fast fulfilling? Are we ready for our Lord’s soon return?
Ian Cotton is the pastor at the Creston Seventh-day Adventist Church.