Restoring Kingdom Builders

This morning, I drove out to Surprise for my monthly chiropractic appointment.  While listening to the Nearly Famous Barry Young Show, the host happened to mention the advertised date for the rapture: May 21.  While I was laying on the chiropractor’s table, her assistant also mentioned the Judgment Day date independently of anything I said.  He said that in his town of Wickenburg, there are billboards touting the May 21 date.  Maybe you’ve seen a few of them yourself.

Why do Christian leaders feel the need to make ridiculous predictions like these?

I’ve heard about the rapture since I was a teenager.  When I was 16, one of my Bible study teachers predicted that Jesus would come back within five years.  Jesus didn’t come.

Years ago, I received a booklet in the mail entitled 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will be in 1988.  I looked at a few of the reasons and remained unconvinced.  The booklet was written by a man I had never heard of and wish not to remember.  Jesus didn’t come.

I believe in the rapture as taught in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  It would be wonderful if I was alive when it happens … but I’m not counting on it.

Many years ago, I was invited to teach on a radio program called “The Pastor’s Study.”  I was given some instructions and dutifully showed up in time to tape the show at station headquarters.  I spoke into a microphone for five minutes each time and talked about holiness.  When I was done with the broadcast, I left.

A while later, I was invited back.  When I was done with my talks, I was invited to tour the facilities, and I was taken aback by the reach that this particular radio station had all over the world.  When I was ready to leave, my hostess said, “And that’s Dr. Camping’s office over there.”

I thought to myself, “Camping?  Harold Camping?  I’ve been taping a show on Harold Camping’s radio station?”

Maybe I should have done some research before agreeing to do the show.

Two weeks later, I received a letter in the mail that “The Pastor’s Study” radio show had been discontinued.  I never did find out if the whole show was cancelled or just my talks, but evidently I did something wrong, although I have no idea what it was.

Harold Camping is a strange guy.  He’s almost ninety.  Many months ago, I was doing some channel surfing in a hotel room, and I stumbled upon a man sitting in a chair talking softly to the camera.  This man did some Bible teaching and then took questions from callers.  There was nothing really special about his manner or his answers.  I later found out it was Camping.  Later that day, he spoke at a church service in a school, and that service was broadcast as well.  As the camera scanned the room, I don’t think there were as many as 100 people present.  Harold Camping dominated an entire television channel but I couldn’t figure out why!

Camping has declared that the Church Age is over and that God no longer saves people primarily through a local church.  Since he owns a big radio station, I assume it’s okay for God to save people through the use of radio waves.  But how possible is it that Camping believes the Church Age is over because his church ministry has become relatively insignificant?

Harold Camping is not a biblical scholar.  He has a Civil Engineering degree from the University of California at Berkeley but not from any recognized Christian school of higher learning.  He is not an ordained minister.  While he may know what the Bible says, that does not automatically mean he knows what the Bible means.  He predicted Jesus would return in 1994, and when that didn’t happen, his followers should have walked away from him for being a false prophet.  While some have, others have still chosen to follow him.

So is Jesus coming back on May 21?  Yes, there are lots of earthquakes, and yes, there are false Messiahs, and yes, Israel is back in the land.  But that doesn’t mean that Jesus is coming back on May 21 or this year or even this century.  While I hope He returns today, He may not return for a long, long time.

Just remember:

First, Jesus will return when He deems it right.  He is not obligated by our anxiety, our timetables, or our predictions.  When the disciples asked Jesus right before His ascension if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel, Jesus responded in Acts 1:7-8, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses …”  In other words, Jesus told His closest followers that they were not to pour their energies into figuring out when He was going to return.  They were to occupy their time with sharing the gospel instead.

Second, setting dates for Christ’s return discredits the date-setter – and sometimes the gospel.  How many times throughout history have Christians predicted Christ’s return, only to have Him be a no-show?  The Millerites sold all their possessions and stood on a mountain waiting for Jesus to return on a particular date – but He didn’t come back.  So they recalculated, and tried it again – but when He didn’t return, their movement imploded.

If Jesus doesn’t return on May 21, I suggest the name Harold Camping be quietly forgotten.  The sad thing is that some people may reject Christ because of his misuse of Scripture and his defiant date-setting in light of Jesus’ prohibition.  However, if Jesus wanted to come for Harold Camping on May 21, I personally would not object …

Third, realize that some Christians chase novelties to seem significant.  Remember the whole “holy laughter” phenomenon in the 1990s?  It started at a church in Toronto that met in a hotel ballroom.  People visited the church and ended up rolling on the floor in laughter for long periods of time.  Gullible Christians (along with some leaders) flocked to Toronto to get in on the spiritual laughing gas for themselves.  But the Bible doesn’t emphasize “holy laughter” at all.  Are we ever told in Scripture that Jesus and His disciples used to hang out in the Temple or someone’s house and roll around the floor laughing?  What does that have to do with living a life pleasing to the Lord?

Being a pastor for nearly four decades, I have seen the competitive nature of pastors – including famous ones – up close.  Most pastors want to gain significance for something.  If they can’t build a big church, or preach to thousands, or write bestselling books, then some are liable to find a little novelty that turns the spotlight onto them.

For Camping, it’s Bible prophecy.  While I can’t diagnose the condition of his heart, it seems as if his date-setting is a way of saying to Christians, “I have a little corner on the truth that none of the rest of you have.  My life and ministry are nearly over, and I’ve had my critics, but if I’m right, I’ll get the last laugh.  If I’m wrong … oh, well, I’ve been wrong before.”  But while we’re debating the merits of Camping’s biblical interpretations, we’re still talking about him – and that makes him a player of sorts, even if he doesn’t deserve it.

When I was in my late teens, several of my friends got married, and I observed a phenomenon I began to call “Meyer’s Law.”  Meyer’s Law states that whenever a couple decides to get married, and they discuss an initial date, they always move the date up.

Wouldn’t it be fascinating if Jesus did the same thing and came on May 20 instead?