When predictions fail...getting past false prophets
Shelly Webb
May 29, 2011
259
SummaryWere you surprised the world did not end on May 21, 2011 as predicted by the radio evangelist, Harold Camping? Most people were not surprised at all, but for the ones that bought into that prophecy, it was probably disappointing.
Story--- So what happens next after an evangelist predicts the hour and time of the end of the world and well, it doesnt end? Does this type of prediction and ministry hurt the gospel of Christ and make a negative reflection on Christians in general? And can anyone know the day of Christ return?
Well, two local pastors, Cliff Hartley of Northside Baptist and Trevor Littleton of Millersburg Christian Church shed some light on this questions and the whole notion of false prophets.
The Bible is clear, no man, not any man, not now, has been or shall be hereafter knows what day or what hour our Lord will come (Matthew 24:36-44), Hartley said. Any one or everyone who sets dates for his return is nothing more than a noisome gong in a hollow room or the sound of an empty shell. Technology may predict to the second when a space shuttle will lift off and re-enter the earth's atmosphere, but to predict the hour or day when the Son of man will come--don't bet the farm on it!
Littleton agrees with Hartley.
Matthew 24:36 clearly and explicitly states that no one can know the day or hour, he said. Harold Camping tried to cite a verse I believe from Ecclesiastes, that later God would give people wisdom, and then because of that, man can interpret things like the end. However, since his prophecy is false, he has removed the scripture verse and article from his website. This would be the doctrine of special revelation, when God directly speaks to man outside of the context of scripture. It is the same thinking that Joseph Smith used when he wrote the Book of Mormon and founded the LDS church. (See Deuteronomy 18:20-22) Granted, I believe God still speaks to us today, but He will never contradict himself, because God does not change (Malachi 3:6).
Littleton thinks it is pointless to even assume a season or time period at all when it comes to the return of Christ.
We know that we are in the last days and have been since Christ's accession into Heaven, he said. I am reminded of a passage of scripture in Matthew 25:5. Here, Jesus talks about the coming of the Bridegroom, and remarks that it caught everyone by surprise, because he was a long time coming. I am surprised at everyone's reaction and criticism that His return hasn't happened yet, when Jesus plants many seeds saying, Hey, it's not going to be when you think, so just be ready."
Hartley, however believes we should be aware of prophecy and the season of the last days.
The Bible says that we can know the season of his coming and end times events (Matthew 24;32,33), he said. When the fig tree begins to bud, we know summer is near. May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was born after some 2,000 years. Israel has been re-gathered and with this we hear the prancing of the horses' hooves of the apocalypse, even at the doors. We are not to set dates, but we are to be ready and watchers in prayer as the Son of man will come as a thief in the night.
Regardless of prophetic events, predictions and middle-east time tables, Hartley thinks being ready to meet the Savior at any given moment should be the goal of life.
The Bible tells of the story of the five foolish virgins who had no oil in their lamps when the bride-chamber came, Hartley added. I would say to the world to repent of their sin, trust Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord, busy them selves in getting their family and friends saved, and to serve the Lord in a Bible preaching/Bible believing, soul-winning local church, and be prepared on any given day or hour for His return.
Predictions and false prophecies have a way of spreading through the media like wild fire. People that buy into these predictions are sometimes left feeling foolish and taken advantage of, by God more so than by the false prophet making the prediction.
Littleton thinks this can be a dangerous and sad situation for all Christians.
I believe it hurts the credibility for Christians when events like this come up, he said. It is unfortunate, but also critical that we know scripture well and can sort out some of the nonsense from men like Harold Camping. He does speak for a vocal minority, and unfortunately the media will use whatever it can to make Christians look bad. If someone has bought into a radical belief, and is disappointed, I would simply advise them that it was a man who let them down, and not God. Too often we discredit God for someone else's bad decisions and that's not fair to God.
Littleton says the simple formula is that scripture never fails.
We must look at scripture fairly, and not put our views into it, he said. Rather, we must look at scripture in its historical and cultural context, and ask, "What is the author trying to communicate? What is God saying here?" It may not be fun, like a date for the end. It may not be what we want it to be, but it is scripture, and we will submit to it regardless of what we want. When we bend scripture to say what we want it to say, problems will always follow, as is the case with Camping and others.
