Harold Egbert Camping
COGwriter
A year ago, there were billboards all over touting Harold Camping’s wrong date of May 21, 2011 for Jesus to return. I, of course, denounced that date as well as Harold Camping’s revised date of October 21, 2011.
A reporter decided to follow-up with some of his followers as well as to look into those who insist on false return dates. Here is some of what he reported:
A Year After the Non-Apocalypse: Where Are They Now? A reporter tracks down the remnants of Harold Camping’s apocalyptic movement and finds out you don’t have to be crazy to believe something nuts.
By Tom Bartlett
For a while, their message was everywhere. They paid for billboards, took out full-page ads in newspapers, distributed thousands of tracts. They drove across the county in RVs emblazoned with verses from the books of Revelation and Daniel. They marched around Manhattan holding signs. They broadcasted day and night on their network of radio stations. They warned the world. That warning turned out to be a false alarm. No giant earthquake rippled across the surface of the earth, nor were any believers caught up in the clouds. Harold Camping, the octogenarian whose nightly Bible call-in show fomented doomsday mania, suffered a stroke soon afterward and mostly disappeared from sight…
But I wanted to know what happens next. It’s been noted by scholars who study apocalyptic groups that believers tend to have analytical mindsets. They’re often good at math. I met several engineers, along with a mathematics major and two financial planners. These are people adept at identifying patterns in sets of data, and the methods they used to identify patterns in the Bible were frequently impressive, even brilliant. Finding unexpected connections between verses, what believers call comparing scripture with scripture, was a way to become known in the group. The essays they wrote explaining these links could be stunningly intricate. That intricacy was part of the appeal. The arguments were so complex that they were impossible to summarize and therefore very challenging to refute.
As one longtime believer, an accountant, told me: “Based on everything we know, and when you look at the timelines, you look at the evidence — these aren’t the kind of things that just happen. They correlate too strongly for it not to be important.” The puzzle was too perfect. It couldn’t be wrong… Another engineer I came to know had spent most of his retirement savings, well over a half-million dollars, taking out full-page newspaper ads and buying an RV that he had custom-painted with doomsday warnings. Even when I pressed, he wasn’t willing to admit any doubts about whether October 21 would really, finally, be it. “How can you say that when you see that all this beautiful information is in the Bible?” he asked me, his voice rising. “How can everything we’ve learned be a lie?” Other believers had no trouble recalling what they now viewed as an enormous embarrassment…
In the beginning, I was curious how believers would react, as if they were mice in a maze. But as time went on I grew to like and sympathize with many of them. This failed prophecy caused real harm, financially and emotionally. What was a curiosity for the rest of us was, for them, traumatic. And it’s important to remember that mainstream Christians also believe that God’s son will play a return engagement, beam up his bona fide followers, and leave the wretched remainder to suffer unspeakable torment. They’re just not sure when.
Among those I came to know and like was a gifted young musician. Because he was convinced the world was ending, he had abandoned music, quit his job, and essentially put his life on hold for four years. It had cost him friends and created a rift between some members of his family. He couldn’t have been more committed. In a recent email, he wrote that he had “definitely lost an incredible amount of faith” and hadn’t touched his Bible in months. These days he’s not sure what or whether to believe. “It makes me wonder just how malleable our minds can be. It all seemed so real, like it made so much sense, but it wasn’t right,” he wrote. “It leaves a lot to think about.” http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/atheologies/5983/a_year_after_the_non-apocalypse%3A_where_are_they_now/
In about a week, followers of CGPFK’s Ronald Weinland will realize that he was wrong about Jesus returning on Pentecost, May 27, 2012. Some sadly will believe whatever Ronald Weinland will later say about it, others will look for someone else, and some others will be completely turned off about prophecy and/or the Bible. Some will be embarrassed, others will ignore the obvious.
For those unfamiliar with him, Ronald Weinland was a minister in the old old Worldwide Church of God, then he was in the United Church of God for a while. Since then, he has been on his own. He claims that he is one of the two witnesses and that his wife is the other one. After first insisting that the Great Tribulation began on April 17, 2008, he later insisted that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008 and that Jesus will return on May 27, 2012 (these are his last published dates). I have been denouncing Ronald Weinland’s false statements for well over six years now and have not been wrong yet–nor will I be wrong now–Jesus will not be returning on May 27, 2012 in Jerusalem.
Furthermore, the Great Tribulation has most definitely not yet started (we seem to be in the time period that Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows” Matthew 24:8), thus Jesus most definitely will not be returning on May 27, 2012. So, when he is wrong then (if not shortly before), Ronald Weinland will either repent (there is always the possibility he may given some type of apology as well), spiritualize away the non-return of Jesus (like say that somehow Jesus did come, God provided some type of blessing, etc.), try to stay out of the USA (he is under investigation for income tax issues by the US government and he travels outside of the USA frequently), and/or claim to have received a new “revelation” or “truth” that gives humanity more time or something to that effect.
Unlike Harold Camping, Ron Weinland’s date patterns are not intricate, they are simply false assertions rarely based upon fact. When physically signs do not happen as he or the Bible indicates, Ronald Weinland simply says that the signs are spiritual or somehow not literal. Apparently it seems that his followers have so much emotional capital invested in him that they seem to be willing to overlook much of what the Bible teaches.
The fact is that there simply have not been enough fulfillment of the required prophecies that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Notice, for one example, that Jesus returns after the tribulation and various heavenly signs:
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31)
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (Mark 13:24-27)
25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:25-28)
Despite Ron Weinland’s declarations that the Great Tribulation began in 2008, it has not (see also Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? ). It should be obvious that the heavenly signs that Jesus claimed would precede His return simply have not happened. All who believe that Jesus will return on May 27, 2012 need to notice that those “signs of the times” (cf. Matthew 16:3) have not yet manifested themselves and Jesus is not coming this month.
Basically, because he, like Harold Camping, seemingly prefers his own imaginations to the truth of the Bible, Ronald Weinland has also misled many (though less have believed him than Harold Camping).
The iniquity of false prophets such as Harold Camping, Ronald Weinland, and others (like some with the Mayan 2012 date) will turn various people off about prophecy. More people will sadly feel comfortable being prophetic scoffers, per 2 Peter 3:1-16.
Those of us who believe the Bible realize that false prophets and their supporters were prophesied:
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:1-3)
12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:12-15)
It is the use of covetous words, words that are not truly based upon the Bible, but false hopes and imaginations that lead people astray (and this is not limited to obvious false prophets like Harold Camping and Ronald Weinland–there are several who claim a COG background who have falsely boasted that they are apostles: PCG’s Gerald Flurry, RCG’s David Pack, TPM’s William Dankenbring, along with CGPFKG’s Ronald Weinland). Their followers should have checked their Bibles instead of their desires/lusts (cf. James 1:14).
Harold Camping has caused atheists to rejoice and mock and thus fulfill 2 Peter 2:2–so has, and so will, Ronald Weinland (though to a lessor degree as he is less known). Yet, despite false predictions, Mayan prophecies, scoffers, Ronald Weinland, and the assertions of many, Jesus will return. But because of false prophets and false apostles, many people will doubt those who actually do understand biblical prophecy and who will give the final warning messages.
Christians are to look forward to His return. However, Jesus will return no earlier than 2018 (and probably later) as certain biblically-required steps have not yet happened (Daniel 9:27; cf. Matthew 24:15,21,29-30). But the time will come that they are fulfilled. I know many are impatient and do not wish to wait, but they cannot change the Bible and should not rely on false preachers that promise a sooner return than is biblically possible.
Will the majority of followers of Ronald Weinland fail to properly repent like the followers of Harold Camping? At this time, this sadly seems to be the case.
Those who believe that Jesus will come this year or that the Great Tribulation can begin this year really need to check out what their Bibles really say.
Those who are interested in the truth about Harold Camping, Ronald Weinland (who even claims to be one of the two witnesses), Mayan prophecies, when the Great Tribulation can begin, and when the Bible shows that Jesus can return, may wish to study the following scripture-filled articles:
Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Did Not Agree with the Bible Harold Camping taught that the rapture would be on May 21, 2011 and the world would end on October 21, 2011. What does the Bible show?
What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation? Should the Bible be literally understood? What do the writings of the Bible, Origen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Augustine show?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Does the Church flee or is it taken up just prior to the great tribulation? Who really is left behind?
Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the Great Tribulation will start in 2008 (first April 17th, then June 2008, now December 14, 2008) and Jesus will return on May 27, 2012. Why does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? He also has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the Church of God.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might the next pope be involved in 2012?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
