Harold Camping, the leader of an independent Christian ministry called Family Radio Worldwide, believes the second coming of Christ will happen at 6 p.m. on May 21, 2011. He “believes through a complex set of numerological calculations, one can date the creation of the world, Noah's flood and other events described in the Bible, then extrapolate when the Bible ‘guarantees’ the world will end. “Camping contends that God warned Noah that global judgment would occur in seven days. From that he concludes that this refers not only to the Genesis account of the flood but also another day of judgment seven ‘days’ (millennia) later. And to top it off, he concludes that this decree can be dated back exactly 7,000 years from May 21 (based on the Hebrew calendar.)
“‘The Bible has given us absolute proof that the year 2011 is the end of the world during the Day of Judgment, which will come on the last day of the Day of Judgment,’ said his website.” [1]
Is Camping’s prediction true? The Bible clearly teaches that Christ will return to this earth (John 14:1-3), but it also warns us that in the last days there will be many false teachers (Matthew 24:4, 5, 11, 24). It is worth asking, “Does Camping’s prediction match what the Bible tells us about Christ’s return? Is he ‘rightly dividing’ the Word” (2 Timothy 2:15)? Two questions arise from Camping’s prediction: What does the Bible say about the timing of Christ’s return? What does the Bible teach about the manner of Christ’s return?
Regarding the manner of Jesus’ return, the Bible says that every eye shall see Him (Revelation 1:7), that His return will be like lightning flashing across the sky (Matthew 24:27), and that it will be an audible event (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). The idea of a “secret rapture” just doesn’t fit Scripture. It will be very loud and very visible! The only text to support this false teaching is found in Matthew 24:40 (Luke 17:34-36), which says nothing about anything “secret”. The Bible has always taught there are two classes of people and when Christ comes, God’s people go to heaven and the wicked are destroyed (Revelation 19:11-18). There is no second chance.
The Bible also speaks of the timing of Christ’s coming. Jesus Himself said, “Of that day and hour no one knows, no , not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). We can know that His coming is near by studying the signs spoken of in Scripture. But the repeated emphasis in the Bible is to watch and always be ready (Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Mark 13:32-37), because we do not know the exact time of His return. You can learn more about what the Bible teaches on the Second Coming of Christ at one of our seminars.
NPR’s May 11 broadcast title on this story says, “Is the End Nigh? We’ll Know Soon Enough.” [2] Should we wait for May 21st to come and go so we can laugh or breathe a sigh of relief at this prediction? The Bible encourages us to seek to always be ready, no matter when Jesus returns. “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44 NKJV).