The predictions are dire. An imminent, massive global cataclysm the likes of which mankind has never seen. And it will happen this year, on May 21, 2011.

Despite a thoroughly documented history of these bonehead predictions, some Christians still can’t seem to resist responding in predictable ways.

Throughout the history of mankind, frauds, opportunists and charlatans have taken advantage of the ignorance, fears and superstitions of their fellow man in the name of religion. Sadly, this has never been more true than it is in the realm of Christianity.

It is not this authors intent to disparage those who believe in Christ Jesus, but to awaken them to the fact that the only trustworthy authority on matters spiritual is the Bible. Just as there can be no true bridge but Christ between man and God, neither is there any true authority between man and the Word.

The following are but a few examples of why the way of truth is evil spoken of today by the unbelievers as predicted by the apostle Peter.

2nd Peter 2:2

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

 In his book “We Are Almost There!” Christian radio star and author Harold Camping, has once again sounded the alarm that the rapture is coming. Despite Biblical evidence to the contrary, Camping has publicly announced that “ We indeed can be certain that the rapture will occur on May 21, 2011, and the final day of the history of the world is October 21, 2011.”

Before we shave our heads, divest ourselves of all worldly possessions and make post rapture arrangements for our pets, let’s examine the issue more closely.

Throughout that past 1,000 years, there has been no shortage of would be prophets predicting the end of the world. In 999 A.D. many Europeans gave away their possessions to the Roman Catholic Church, to prepare their souls for the expected end of the world on January 1, 1000. The Catholic priests carefully recorded all donations to the church and refused to give them back when Christ failed to show up on schedule.

In 1190, English King Richard the Lion-Hearted conferred with prophecy expert Joachim of Fiore. They determined that the Antichrist was already then living in the world somewhere, that it would be the destiny of Richard to deal with and defeat him, and that the Millennium would begin by 1205. Richard missed his date with Antichrist, dying in 1199, leaving no children who might have continued the Holy fight, since he was a homosexual.

Melchior Hoffman announced that Christ would return in 1533 and set up the New Jerusalem in the German city of Strassburg. For his part in fomenting the Munster Rebellion which was consequential to the failed prediction, the rulers of Strassburg put him in prison, where he remained until he died.

The Old Believers of Russia predicted the end of the world in 1669. When it didn't happen, 20,000 of them burned themselves to death in the period up to 1690 to protect themselves from the coming of Antichrist, who was later identified as Peter the Great.

In 1830 prophetess Margaret McDonald announced that Robert Owen would be the Antichrist. She also announced that the Church of Jesus Christ would be "Raptured" before the coming of the Great Tribulation. Owen later participated in the founding of New Harmony, Indiana and then died in 1859.

Mormon prophet Joseph Smith predicted the end of the world to come before the end of the 19th Century. He also stated by revelation that the Moon was inhabited by a race of men 6 feet tall and dressed like Quakers. In 1969, NASA sent a mission to the Moon to retrieve these lunar inhabitants. They found not so much as a box of oatmeal.

Baptist preacher William Miller, founder of the Millerites, announced that Christ would come on March 21, 1843, and when that failed, he proposed a new date of October 22, 1844. 

 
Next>>