It’s a good thing The Chronicle is a morning newspaper on Saturdays, as this should give you plenty of early warning for the coming end of the world at 6 tonight.
On page one today, we printed the story of Harold Camping, a self-proclaimed Bible scholar who is the 89-year-old president of the Oakland-based Christian radio station empire Family Radio Worldwide, including a station in Longview. Camping has made a loud prediction that Jesus Christ will take true believers up to heaven and into eternal paradise this afternoon.
But the prediction is far from only positive. Camping and his followers believe at the time of tonight’s rapture, those left remaining on earth will suffer a massive rolling earthquake that will make life for those remaining behind a living hell.
Camping first made his prediction about 15 years ago using numerological calculations based on Bible prophesy, most notably the founding of Israel in 1948. This isn’t Camping’s first end of the world rodeo. He also predicted Judgment Day would hit in 1994. For those who haven’t been paying attention, Armageddon did not take place back in 1994.
This latest prediction for tonight is being broadcast near and far. Camping has bought 5,500 billboards and enlisted a Crusade-worthy army of RVs painted with his message, turning Camping into a celebrity, at least for a few more hours. Talk about only having 15 minutes of fame.
Those that don’t believe in Camping’s prophesy — his self-proclaimed Biblical reckoning — have had a bit of fun at the prospects of the end of time.
Self-proclaimed mockers and non-believers have gone so far as to set up a Facebook page called “Post rapture looting” and many have planned “Rapture parties.” One atheist started Earth-bound Pets, a company that offers Rapture believers insurance to pay for needs of the family pet left behind.
That many, including the mainstream Christian church bodies in America, are scoffing at Camping’s prediction has its roots in past history. Time and time again predictions have been uttered, people believed, nothing happened and the leaders either faded away or “recalculated.”
A few points are worth considering. From a Biblical standpoint, the Bible clearly states only a true prophet is correct every time. Miss a prediction once as Camping did in 1994, and the Bible calls one a “false prophet.” Another point: According to Matthew 24:36, no man will know the time of the return of Jesus.
While we are not asking for people to make any drastic changes today “just in case,” it is a worthy endeavor to consider how you would live your life if you had but one day left — if your end was near.
Perhaps, to counter Camping, we could all use the prediction today as a way to live life proper, to spend time with our families, to be charitable, to be humble and helpful, and to look deep inside to make sure our spirit is at ease.
