May 21 2011, Judgment Day

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [or I am specially anointed]; and shall deceive many. - Matthew 24:4-5

Some Judgment day predictions by Christians

May 21, 2011, September 7, 1994 & May 21, 1988

May 21, 2011 was not the first prediction of Judgment Day; in fact, these predictions are all too common. Harold Camping himself also predicted judgment days on May 21, 1988, and September 7, 1994.

1988 and 1989

Before him was Edgar C. Whisenant who sold 4.5 million copies of 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. According to Wikipedia, Whisenant was quoted as saying '';Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town'';. Does this sound like a humble servant of the Lord? As a young Christian, I remember reading a few of his proofs, the common theme was to take Scripture out of context yet at that time, I knew many who were caught up in his book.

October or November 1982

Before him was Pat Robertson, in 1976 he also predicted the end in October or November 1982. In a May 1980 broadcast of The 700 Club he stated, '';I guarantee you by the end of 1982 there is going to be a judgment on the world'';.  

May 1988 and December 1988

Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel also predicted the end, though he was more responsible in that he did not guarantee it, “We’re the generation that saw the fig tree bud forth, as Israel became a nation again in 1948. As a rule, a generation in the Bible lasts 40 years. . . . Forty years after 1948 would bring us to 1988.”

1914 through 1975

The Bible and Watchtower Society, also known as Jehovah's Witnesses, have a long history predicting the end of the world as we know it. As early as 1877 Charles Taze Russell started making these predictions, his and his followers predictions included ... (Quotes from TowerWatch Ministries)

1889 '';In the coming 26 years, all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved.''; (C. T. Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 98-99, 1889)

1894 '';We see no reason for changing the figures - nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.''; (Watchtower July 15, 1894, p 266; p 1677 reprints)

1908 '';True, it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved''; (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1908 ed.; p. 99)

1974 '';Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to increase our activity?...Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.''; (Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, p. 3)

1890-1891

The founder of the Mormon church, Joseph Smith also predicted the predicted the Christ's coming and the end of the world. (Quotes from Wikipedia)

In 1836 Joseph Smith said, '';[T]he coming of the Lord, which is nigh - even fifty-six years should
wind up the scene.''; History of Church, v2, p 182

April 5, 1843, '';There are those of the rising generation who shall not taste death till Christ comes.'';
History of the Church, v5, p 336

March 21, 1844 & October 22, 1844

William Miller founder of what later became the Seventh Day Adventist Church, predicted the end of the world in March 21, 1844 and when that date failed he predicted, April 18, 1844. Later Samuel S. Snow, one of his followers predicted Christ would return on October 22, 1844.

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [claiming to be a special person]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.  - Luke 21:8

The Problems with these false prophets

The first problem, those who put their hopes in false prophets will often give up the Christian faith when the prophecies fail. Others propagate a new twist to the prophecy, and continue to perpetuate the error rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.  - Luke 17:28-30

The second problem, these predictions inoculate the world against the real dangers of the End Days. On May 21 there were many parties, some celebrating '';Back Peddle Day'';, others celebrating a rather mild apocalypse. To share Christ's second coming with one of these skeptics will now be an uphill battle. Peter said:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  - 2 Peter 3:3-4

After all the false predictions, why shouldn't they scoff? Why shouldn't they celebrate the rapture of the church? Even so, we can use these false prophecies to spread the Gospel. I would not hesitate to share the fact that if there were not false prophets today, than Jesus would have been the false prophet. The fact that many false prophets have come in His Name (see the partial list at beginning of this study) assures me that Jesus indeed knew the future.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  - Matthew 24:11

AND

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.  - Matthew 24:24-25

Another way that these false prophecies are good for me is that I see it as a warning for me to be careful. Like many other Christians, I have always felt that the Lord could come back in my lifetime. While I never set exact dates, because of the parable of the fig tree, I do believe that He could wrap things up at any time. However, I shall be more careful in the future to make sure I say He can come soon and not, He will come soon.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
- Matthew 24:32-34

As I read this more carefully, I see Jesus did not say 1948 (Israel became a nation) or 1967 (Israel recovered Jerusalem), He said when we see all these things, and my generation has not yet seen all of the things Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24. The truth is that the Lord can delay his coming, and if He does, it is for us to remain faithful.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:8-9

AND

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. - Matthew 24:42-51

Warnings about false prophecy

Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. 
- Jeremiah 23:32

While the false apocalyptic visions are the ones that get all the attention, there are many other false prophets in the church today. It is time for the Pastors and elders to rebuke them. At the very least, you must not feel like you are being disrespectful to God when you ignore them.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  - 1 John 4:1

AND

I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. - Revelation 2:2

Watch with care

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  - Revelation 3:3

Fifteen different times in the New Testament the Lord and His apostles commanded us to watch for the end. Therefore, we should not let anything discourage us from watching.

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. - Luke 12:41-44

The return of Jesus Christ will be glorious and the thought of it is well worth dwelling on.

By Jeff Barnes,