It's the End of the World ( as we know it )!

May 21st, 2011, in the year of our Lord, is fast approaching, but will this really spell the beginning of the end? If so, and this is quite possible, the end of what ( 'world' )? For whatever reason, and it could be because of the Mayan ( 2012 ) thing, which is also looming on the horizon; we have started to hear, once again, the clanging symbols, purporting to signal Christ's return, and the end of the age, I mean 'world'!

Predicting the end of the world is nothing new: a Google search ( Bing? ) will quickly reveal many results, several even listing most of the many failed predictions, or prophesies that have been made, down through the millenia. ( Of course most of these will also, interestingly enough, list Jesus' own prophecy in Matthew 16:28, Matthew 24:30, Mark 13, and Luke 21. ) I think I even saw one website that listed an end-of-the-world prediction from Before Common ( era ).

Maybe the most famous ( or is that, 'infamous' ) of these 'false prophets' ( Deuteronomy 18:20-22 ) is probably Hal Lindsay, best known for his 'prophecies', back in the 70s, but William Branham predicted the imminent return of Christ in 1977 ( he died in 65' ). I believe that many of the prophecies are contingent upon the funding of the nation/state of Israel in 1948, but, while more could be said on that subject; suffice it to say thatall these prophecies failed, not only because they were based, however loosely, on an already false premise, but ultimately, and more importantly, because the 'end' came when Jesus said it would, in the first century!

I am saddened, although it is almost humorous ( I've even had a laugh or two at their expense ), by the sheer lunacy ( some might say, 'idiocy' ) of these 'false prophets', who think that, ignoring Jesus' own warnings, they can make these predictions, ruining countless lives ( including their own ), and leading countless thousands into a false hope, and very marshy, to say the least, theological ground!

Although Harold Camping is, no doubt, not the only one spreading this fear-mongery about May 21,2011, he is probably the loudest cymbal right now.  I, as well as others, wonder what will happen when May 22nd comes around, and there is no sign of Christ; maybe we should keep our eyes on 'Israel'( Romans 9:6-8, Galatians 6:16 )!

In the service of the present Christ,
and His Kingdom,
Charles Haddon Shank