A few weeks ago I was texting with a church member about changes to our upcoming church softball league schedule (the rain has been awesome hasn't it?).
He texted back "do we have any games after May 21? We may not be around. LOL."
My mind raced to a number of different scenarios as to why they wouldn't be around, but then he informed me of the prophecy that May 21 is judgment day.
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Now, being a pastor, I'm not sure I should admit this, but I will. This was the first I had heard of this prophecy. In my defense, I am not big on the apacolypse of eschatology (big word for the study of the end times). I prefer instead to wait for the those days while I live out my faith in the here and now.
I figured it was probably a good idea to find out some more on this subject and eventually made my way to www.familyradio.com the home site for this prophecy. Based on some scripture and an interpretation of how old the earth is, May 21st is the day.
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It's easy to snicker at predictions like this, especially when we see video of people marching around on street corners with there homemade signs.
It's easy to think "who in the world would buy into this stuff?"
Get this...family radio is broadcast to over 150 radio stations throughout the United States. While that is no Rush, Beck, or Hannity (the top three, please don't assume anything because I said these three names), Jim Rome (feel free to assume something here) is broadcast to 200 different stations. Point being, there are a number of people listening to this stuff.
Harold Camping is the president of family radio and he's no stranger to predictions, failing once in 1994, which turned out to be a misinterpretation and now he has further understanding.
I guess the big question is, should we believe him? My answer, no. But not because I think he's totally out there.
There are a few reasons why I say no.
First is based on my understanding of scripture. Jesus himself says "but about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36 NRSV).
Second is because this isn't the first or last time the end of the world has or will be predicted (Wikipedia has a nice chart of past, present, and future predictions. You may be suprised at a few).
Please, as I was looking into this prophecy, I also stumbled upon some scams that people are running in light of the rapture taking place--don't buy into them.
So, if you are reading this...which, I'm assuming you will be...I'll see you soon.