Well, Harold camping is back at it again. The fairly well known false prophet and founder of Family Radio Worldwide has issued another international false prophecy, claiming that "beyond the shadow of doubt, May 21 will be the date of the rapture and the day of judgement". Unfortunately, Mr. camping has just succeeded in giving the mainstream news media more ammunition to claim that "born again" Christians who believe in the rapture are "wingnuts". I wish folks like him and the people at the Westboro Baptist Church would just keep their mouth shut.
Mr. Camping has used a twisted interpretation of scripture to justify his prophecy, just like all false prophets do. Evidently he believes that Genesis 7:4 helps to prove his point. This scripture says: "For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the Earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth".
He uses 2 Peter 3:8 to justify his calculations. This scripture says: "that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day". He tries to make the connection that the seven days in the Genesis verse is actually 7000 years and that, since by his calculations, the flood took place in 4990 B.C., that 7000 years from the flood is judgement day and the day of the rapture. He is wrong. Most biblical scholars agree that Bishop James Usshers' calculations that man was most likely created around 4003-4004 B.C. is accurate, so the Genesis flood happening in 4990 B.C. is impossible. History and scripture place the flood at around 2350 B.C.
Although a 1000 year to one day scriptural connotation can be used in some cases, the situation here is not one that works. Genesis 7:4 is a prophecy in itself, which was fulfilled in the flood exactly seven days after the Lord said it would happen, not 7000 years. God has also made a promise to the human race that he would not destroy the world by flood again. Genesis 9:11 says: "and I will establish my Covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth". The use of this scripture for a rapture prophecy and a future judgement day is ludicrous.
Will there be a rapture of the church? Yes, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 makes it clear as a bell: "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the Trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words". There is no mistaking the literal interpretation of these verses - PERIOD. Will it happen today? Most likely not. The Lord told us that "no man" or "angel", nor the Lord himself would know the day or the hour of this event. Only God the father knows, because he knows the final population of the church.
You see, the rapture is the continuation of the first resurrection, of which Christ was the "First Fruits" of those who slept. The first resurrection event has been on hold for almost 2000 years to enable the Gentile Church to evangelize the world for Christ. When the fullness of the Gentile Church has "come in", God will send his Son Jesus to collect his bride, the church. This is the first resurrection and the rapture and it can happen at any time, even before I finish this sentence. Still here.
The removal of the church serves another purpose as well. The Christian Church is a restrainer on worldwide evil, without it the world would be more vicious than it is right now. The removal of the church will enable the rise of the antichrist, starting the last 7 years of Satan's rule over the Earth. The second half of this period will be 3-1/2 years of the worst tribulation man has ever witnessed, culminating in the second coming of Christ, the battle of Armageddon, and Christs' thousand year reign as King. That's the short version, more detail can be found as this new Blogspot develops.
The big question for you today is...What if the rapture did happen today? Would you be left behind? It is your choice, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today, who knows, you might just be the last born again believer to "come in"! Make your reservation for the flight out!
God Bless,
Bryan
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