Fr. Jose Poch

Monday, May 23, 2011

A CRAZY OLD MAN OR ...

The entire world was watching with bated breath for the predicted end of the world on May 21, 2011. Some watched with trepidation, others with concern, while still others with skepticism for the end that Harold Camping of Family Radio had predicted.

Late Saturday evening, I called a very dear friend from St. David’s and told her that Maly, my wife, and I had been waiting for her and couldn’t find her. Bewildered that she had forgotten an event she was supposed to be at, she asked, “Where are you?” I responded, “In heaven.” We had the greatest laugh ever; She probably still is laughing.

But the end of the world and the Second Coming of Jesus as the Bible and Jesus Himself prophesized is not a laughing matter. We ought to be ready every day, either for His coming in the clouds or for our meeting him after life here on earth. And as for the day and the hour no one but the Father knows (Mark 13:32). To the list of those who don’t know the exact appointed time Mark even adds “the Son.” As if to reiterate he further writes, “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”

The danger with false prophesies such as Harold Camping’s is their striving to know more than Jesus himself; by the way this is his second attempt (Sept. 1994). And the Jehovah’s Witnesses (1914, 1925, 1935, 1975) and others (Dec. 2012) have made similar predictions and more will come undoubtedly.  The scriptural warning: “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect,” implies that people in general and possibly even the “elect” might become complacent and smug; either ignoring Jesus’ warnings or ceasing to believe His word as the Word of God. But be assured that the day will come and lest we are prepared it will surprise us and the loss of lives for eternity will be great.

I don’t know what you think of Harold Camping, who is 89 years old and will be 90 in July, and will one day meet the Lord face to face. He is either a crazy old man (I don’t think he is) or he is a misguided reader of the Bible (I think he knows more about the Scriptures than many that today condemn him). But one thing is certain, he is trying to know more than Jesus and ignoring His warnings, by using numerology and his own human calculations, tries to set dates that he could never possibly know.

I invite you to share your thoughts and fears about the end of the world.

Lets Blog.

 

1 comment:

DiAnne said...

If one stays faithful in working at growing in relationship with our Lord through Scriptures (reading & studying), prayer (deliberate, consistent seeking, constant), Worship (corporate & personal), then as we rely on hearing Him and knowing Him we will not be taken in by false prophets for we will know and trust only our Lord. Our time, attention, energy and effort will be on holiness, faithfulness, following where He leads growing as a disciple not following the whims and obsessions of those who so clearly have strayed from revealed truth. We test against the revealed Word of God written and Incarnate dismissing what doesn't fit.