What's Behind the Doomsday Hysteria?
Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 9:08AM 
Having been out of the USA for the past few months I was not aware of the extent to which Harold Camping had publicized his May, 21, 2011, rapture/doomsday message. It seems to be a national phenomenon with freeway billboards, people carrying doomsday placards and passing out handbills. And bemused journalists and TV reports have spread Camping's message to an even greater extent. Jehovah's Witnesses ought to be envious at all of the media coverage the Family Radio host has garnered, or maybe not. It will be interesting to see how he responds on May 22nd and thereafter, when his rapture predictions are proven to be a fraud.
And make no mistake friends, there will be no rapture - not on May 21st or any day thereafter, because there is no such thing as a rapture. It is a work of fiction that evangelical preachers have concocted and spooned to the untaught, gullible masses. Of course, wild-eyed believers will insist that there is such a thing, just as they are convinced of all sorts of other myths, such as a fiery hell, an immortal soul, a three-in-one God, and on and on.
In reality, though, every person called to heaven must first die, just as the original forerunner, Christ, first died before he was resurrected and ascended to heaven. The opening of the 5th seal of the Apocalypse makes it plain that the sons of the kingdom have to be killed first before God destroys the nations. But, contrary to the grim scenario envisioned for those "left behind" after the holy ones are killed off and transformed in the twikling of an eye, the true hope held out in the Bible, which only Jehovah's Witnesses have embraced, is the oportunity of surviving the world-ending war of Armageddon, with the prospect of being the seed of a new world, a righteous new world.
But in spite on the obvious lunacy of the May 21st doomsday hysteria, there may be more to it than merely another religious crackpot announcing the end of the world. According to Jesus, while no one knows the day or hour of the beginning of the judgment, Christ sternly forewarned his true believers that may false prophets and false christs would appear both prior to the commencement of the judgment and during the conclusion and that they would mislead many. Jesus said that they would be empowered to perform great signs and wonders, so as to deceive even the chosen ones, if that were possible.
A reasonable question to consider is, since the many false prophets are scheduled to appear simultaneously with the stealth appearance of Christ to his chosen ones, how do the false prophets know in advance? Well, the very first thing that will occur when the kingdom comes a war takes place in the invisible realm, in heaven. The 12th chapter of Revelation portrays a war erupting in the heavens between Michael and his angels and the Devil and his angels. The demons lose and are forcibly evicted from Jehovah's domain and hurled down to the earth. In great anger Satan goes off to wage war with the chosen ones on earth, knowing he has a short period of time. So, while Jesus indicated long ago that not even he knew the day and hour, when once Satan is cast down then he will know that the countdown to Armageddon has begun. Since there is no way to humanly discern what goes on in the invisible, we can only observe what Satan does upon the earth in his anger. And as stated, his intent is to mislead the chosen ones through various false prophets and false christs. During Satan's short period of time he will seek to misdirect, confuse, disorient and befuddle those who are in line for salvation.
With the world teetering on the edge chaos, global financial collapse, nuclear war, famine and all the things foretold to come upon mankind during the Apocalypse of Christ, the arrival of the May 21st doomsayers appears to be right on schedule. While we may be certain that no rapture will occur, we cannot with the same certainty rule out some horrific disaster taking place then or shortly thereafter that might give credence to the hoaxsters. No doubt 2012 will bring an even greater wave of hysterical, rapture flagellants and similar alien-invasion, Nibiru, messianic doom loons.
As Jehovah's Witnesses are fond of saying: 'We are living in interesting times.'
Indeed! And they are getting interestinger and interestinger!
Reader Comments (16)
It is a interesting modge-podge to see, hear and read about the doomsayers regarding this matter and several others. Always the main central theme is "what the Bible Says." Well, if any of these people had a clue as to the FACTS surrounding "what the Bible says," perhaps Hollywood would have to look elsewhere for cannon fodder! --LMAO
KIM
Is anyone visiting E-Watchman's website working on Saturday? It gotta be tough having to be at work knowing that it's the last day. It certainly affects one's concentration to say the least.
I think the purpose that this is serving in the way of misleading is likened to the boy who cried wolf. These false prophets do mislead these crackpots into believing the nonsense that they are putting out, but even they will have to realize the day after, that it was not true, however it still serves for the greater act of misleading by way of making the two witnesses work look as just another people talking of doomsday. So now when it is time to really listen to what is being said, those won’t because of all the nonsense that was said prior.
I was watching the Atheist Experience the other day, and they have been in contact with Family Radio on a few occasions. Though it is unconfirmed, we have developed a theory concerning what they will say on May 22. And I swear, I would not put it past these people to say this. Okay here goes.
On May 22, Family Radio will announce great news! God's heart was deeply touched by Camping's followers. Because of their brave obedience, God decided to postpone judgement day on their behalf. Then they will take credit for saving the world. Mark my words. This group is crazy enough to say this and believe it.
Yeah, but will they get their money back? After some of them spending their life savings and then having to contiue on in the days we live in, (I just paid $3.75 for a gal of milk) I don't think they will be happy about the postponement. :)
Dude, that is what irritates me about Camping. I was listening in on Open Forum (his weekly radio show). Some guy asked that question -- if he would be giving the money back if no rapture came. Harold said he never explicitly asked for donations. That means NO Refunds. He says the same thing about the guy who killed himself, too. He didn't tell anyone to commit suicide or spend their life savings. He doesn't feel responsible at all. But mark my words. These people WILL make something up to explain this failure away. Some new religion might span from this in future generations. This has happened many times before. Prediction fails, they make something up to explain it, and everyone feels justified in their delusion. Nothing is ever learned, at least not many will face the reality of their situation. I doubt they will suddenly conclude, wow were being pretty ignorant. Lets learn something valuable from this. I seriously doubt that will happen.
Jehovahs witnesses have also predicted the end of the world, after 1975 passed with no armagedon many left the following
Hello everyone, I guess the people in Noahs day were the smartest, we should all be like them, they weren't dumb enough to listen to a preacher of righteousness were they? Stuff helping to build the ark, and then getting in and hoping that it would rain!
yet I agree with RK some people are absolutely blinded.
I just saw what this guy looks like for the first time. He resembled someone from the GB in the past, I can't remember who. Im totally serious check him out. He's got that old JW look for sure. Kinda spooky!
Hi Guest, I doubt if any governing body member would mention any specific month or day but they have alluded to a year of course.
1914 was one specific time fro this system to end, and of course as many of us know it was alluded to that 1975 would bring a close to this old system of things.
Of course they were wrong on both counts.
But there were also other times where they had alluded that the end would occur within a few years of time.
This also did not happen as they thought it would and now we are nearly 100 years after the 1914 episode.
And many are wondering when is this old system of things coming to a close?
Well it will come to a close when God is good and ready and not when we say so or think that it should come and we should ever be mindful of a couple of basic scriptures where Jesus had stated that nobody knows the day or the hour.
But also he had stated to stay on the watch and be prepared otherwise we maybe caught out, without our outer garments on spiritually speaking, or we may be caught sleeping on the job when he comes.
Because he had stated that he would come at a time that we do not think that he would come.
Matthew 24
38 For as they were in the days before the flood: eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah went into the ark.
39 And they did not know until the flood came and took all away. So also will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40 At that time two will be out in the field; the one is taken away, and the one is left;
41 two grinding at the mill; one is taken away, and one is left.
42 Watch, then, for you do not know in what hour your Lord comes.
48 But if that wicked slave says in his heart, My Lord delays to come,
49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and to drink with the ones drinking,
50 the Lord of that slave will come in a day in which he does not expect and in an hour which he does not know,
Matthew 25
10 But they going away to buy, the bridegroom came. And those ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11 And afterwards, the rest of the virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But answering, he said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.
13 Therefore, watch, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man comes.
Okay, it's about 8:40PM May 21, 2011 -- my time. Has anyone been raptured yet? Maybe Jesus is just waiting until the last minute. I think God is on pacific time, so we have a little more than an hour to go. Party!!!!
I was raptured today. After an hour, I was sent back! I was told that I wasn't ready yet! I feel so insulted. Go figure!
Cooper
One person already killed themselves on doomsday
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Man+found+dead+in+church+on+doomsday+/-/1056/1166930/-/hvpqpfz/-/
I just found out on MSN that he bumped the date up to October 21. Looks like he has another round of suckers coming. I wonder how much donations he'll pull in between now and then.
We know the reason for Jesus "shed blood" and that the Apostles were dramatically Killed off, but as for the "chosen ones" since the 1st century until this day, with differing circumstances & Political /Religious structures, how many had to be "killed off" or just fell asleep in death naturally, no one knows here on earth.
The interesting part of Revelation chapter 8 that is interpreted by an anointed one, (35yrs) regarding "Wormwood" the angel that "poisons the waters" and in Rev 9:1 "fell from heaven" was given the "key to the abyss by the king of same, the Destroyer devil. You can google "wormwood" & get some information there. Rev 9:14 , there 's a VOICE (Gods)
"untie the 4 angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates" "four stands for universal eg '4 corners of the earth'Angels are messengers, & the anointed are 'angels' once they're sealed..(Rev 2:1)
Now WHO would 'tie up & bind God's angels..? those who are disobeying Jehovah God...For what REASON would 'they' BIND them..?? to SILENCE them..?? ..yes this is true.
Wormwood lets the 'lucusts out' to paralyse the "unsealed SONS of God's KINGDOM" for 5months, interesting point
that th WTorg. writers of the "Revelation Book" adds the lifetime of a locust is 5months/ human terms 70-80yrs..
Herein lies the interpretation of this part of 5th Trumpet == from 1935 until approx 2005 we know that the WTorgan.
"shut the door of God's Kingdom" to the called & chosen Sons of God (called & chosen by HIM) denying Jesus' role
& that He ONLY has the right to 'open & shut that door ==Key of David'
So what then does it mean that these four (4) angels are 'bound at the great river Euphrates'....does anyone know
the answer to this, please..??
His response was similar to that of the Watchtower, "spiritual," arrival. Twisting the Scriptures seems to be an easy matter to false teachers.