One Last Blog Before Doomsday

Unlike some other Christians, I am no good at predicting the future. In fact, when it comes to the end of the world, I don't even try. That's probably because I take seriously things like Matthew 24:36 which says:

"But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

That comes in one of the most Apocalyptic passages in the Gospels, and I've always interpreted it to mean "no one knows." That's why I was caught by surprise to learn that someone, apparently, does know.

Harold Camping, the president of California based Family Radio, has studied the scriptures carefully and discovered that the Apocalypse will begin tomorrow, on Saturday, May 21, 2011. This is the day of the Rapture, when those who have been saved (about 200 million people by his estimates) will vanish from the earth to ascent into Heaven. Those who are left behind will experience terrible ordeals, including a global earthquake before the final destruction of the earth (and the rest of the universe) five months later (October 21, 2011.)

Camping is the latest in a long line of people who have predicted the date of the biblical end-times. One of the most significant Bible interpreters was William Miller (1782-1849) a Baptist preacher who headed a nationwide movement predicting that the world would end on October 22, 1844. When Miller's prediction failed to come true many of his followers dropped away in what became known as "The Great Disappointment."

Still, there were others who carried on this tradition. The Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Adventist Christians are all his direct spiritual heirs and predicting the end times remains an important part of their faith.

In the 20th Century one of the most influential predictors of the Last Days has been author Hal Lindsay. I remember him and his predictions from when I was growing up. He said that the Bible revealed that the world would probably end in the 1980s, and certainly before 2000.

This isn't just a recent phenomenon. The great Reformation leader, Martin Luther, believed that the end would come in the 16th century; Presbyterian pastor Thomas Love believed that it would happen in the period from 1758-1763; Charles Taze, of the Jehovah's Witnesses said Christ would come again in 1874 and that the end of the world would take place in 1914.

Though this kind of prediction has grown in popularity in the modern era, it's been with us from the beginnings of the Christian church. Each generation has its doom-sayers, who sincerely believe that the Apocalypse is here. So far their predictions have had a 100% record of failure.

We'll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow, but I doubt it'll be anything more traumatic than what and other Saturday brings. I think that we miss the point when we try to make these kinds of predictions. I think that's why Jesus says what he does about no one knowing. His focus is not on predicting the end, but on preparing people to live lives of kindness, honesty, acceptance, and a passion for justice for everyone. When we live following the example he gives us we don't have to worry about the end of the world for we can face anything, even that, without regrets.