No Rapture for You

Image via WikipediaLike most Saturday nights I was scheduled to deliver pizza from 5pm until midnight or until it slows down enough that I can leave, usually around 11pm. I was kind of bummed that I was working seeing as how Harold Camping said the world would end at 6 pm. That really is something you would want to be with your family should it occur.

Technically, Camping predicted that the Rapture would occur which consists of Jesus returning to take his follower to heaven in the twinkling of an eye. Still, I have read enough of the Bible, end times theology, and Left Behind books to know you wouldn't want to be out driving around when the Rapture occurs. All of those suddenly unoccupied cars could cause some major traffic headaches.

The appointed time of 6pm came and went with a whimper. No apocalyptic earthquake, no out of control cars, nothing. I turned the radio on to WAVA, a Christian station I used to frequently listen to and not affiliated with Camping's Family Radio, and they were still broadcasting. So was the local Family Radio station. About the only sound I heard were two kids yelling they were still alive.

It is a good thing for Camping that we aren't living in biblical times. The biblical standard for prophets is perfection. So far Camping is 0 for 2 in his prophecies which wouldn't even qualify him for Minor Prophet status and would likely end with him being stoned, and I am not talking about the kind where you fire up a fat one.

Personally, I didn't put much stock in Camping's prediction. After all, I believed Jesus when he said no man would know the day or the hour of his return.  Unfortunately, not everybody was equally discerning in separating the wheat from the chaff and believed Camping's false prophecy.  There are a number of stories out there of folks who emptied their bank accounts to help promote Camping's falsehood.

I do not know the heart of Harold Camping.  I am sure that in his mind he was sincere and doing the right thing.  Much like he should have heeded the words of Jesus when Jesus said that no one but the father would know when Jesus would rapture the church, perhaps Camping should heed these words of Jesus from Matthew 7: 21-23:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Just sayin'....