New Posting Update

 Hello, Friends. I am going to be taking the next couple of days off. I plan to post again on April 11h. In doing these posts on Harold Camping, I want to share the following scripture for this morning. 

Harold Camping had taken something from the Bible and changed it to his own belief. That the judgement of God would come upon the earth-not once but several times by way of the Rapture.. And he did so much damage to the hearts and minds of those that followed him. Not to mention the material things he took from those people. God does not change. Jesus did not say that no man would know the day or the hour of his return, and then change his mind thousands of years later, to then reveal it to someone that got it all wrong several times. 

We cannot pick and choose what we want to believe when it comes to the word of God and what he says in it. We have to accept it all or reject it all. And repentance of our sin or lack thereof, is what will decide on our final destination when this life ends for each of us. 

I will be back on the 15th. Until then, stay blessed!

 

May 22 and Beyond: The Aftermath (part three)

 Harold Camping: What We Know About Him and His Personal Beliefs About God and the Bible

According to Wikipedia, Harold Camping was a American Radio Broadcaster and evangelist. In October 2011 he maintained a role at Family Radio until his death. (December 15, 2013) He had predicted several  end time judgements about the world ending, and all failed to come true.

His first prediction was for on or about September 6, 1994. When that didn't occur, he revised it to September 29 and then to October 2. In October of 2005, he then predicted the Rapture would  occur on October 21, 2011 where by those saved would be taken to heaven, and fire and brimstone and plagues on the earth, would follow for five months with  millions of people dying every day until October 21, 2011 when the world would finally be destroyed.

After his May 21 warnings passed without judgement occurring, he changed his teaching of it to there had been a "spiritual judgement" on that date, and the physical judgement would take place on October 21st. with the destruction of the world at the same time.

Camping suffered a stroke in June of 2011 and largely avoided press interviews after May 21, save for one interview on May 23rd. After October 21, 2011 passed with no forthcoming Judgement, he was called a false prophet by mainstream media and they said that his ministry would fail.

In a private interview, Wikipedia states that Camping admitted that he no longer believed that anyone could know the time of the Rapture or the end of the world, and stated that his prediction was sinful.

After his failed predictions, Family Radio suffered a huge loss of assets, staff and revenue.

(My notes), I guess he calculated his biblical dates wrong. Right? But I am wondering, why a Christian Radio Station would not hold him to God's word on Mathew 24:36? Didn't anyone question him there, or were they just to busy watching the millions of dollars roll in?

And there is the other side of it. And that is all those people that were sending the donations in. Didn't any of them hold his feet to the fire and make him explain to them why he no longer believed that Mathew 24:36 was correct? Surely, someone did. Right?

Because believe me, he had an answer for that. And some other things as well. Come back tomorrow. I think it gets more and more interesting as we go.

In the mean time, thanks for coming. Have a blessed day 

The Return of May 22 and Beyond: the Aftermath (part 2)

Hello Friends. Our celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus, for another year is over. However, it should live on in our hearts and minds every day and not just one week out of the year. That being said though, I am going to return to the subject matter I had been posting prior to this Easter. That being Harold Camping and his end time predictions of judgement. 

These questions remains.(along with others) Was he a false prophet? Or was he just a man that was misled  and thus misled those that followed his predictions? And is there anything we can find out about what happened to those people that believed him, once his predictions failed to come true? What did he have to say about his predictions after none of them came true? Also, what does wheat and tares in that video mean?

In today's post however, I would like  to discuss  what a false prophet is, according to what the Bible says about it.

It is interesting that the term false prophets does not appear in the old testament. However, they are there when we look closely. In Jeremiah 14:14 we find this for instance:

Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

So we know that the difference between a false prophet and one that is truly sent by God, is where and by whom do we get their information from. Are they from God or not. Because if they don't line up with his word, then they are false.

God warns us in Jeremiah 23:16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

And in that same chapter, this in verse 21:I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

The Bible has much more to say about false prophets and one great place to find scriptures that speak to this, is at:   What does the Bible say about false prophets? | GotQuestions.org

There you will find scriptures, both in the Old and New Testaments about what they are. And along with what information is given there, the following is also stated as to how we can spot them:

"Another difference between true prophets and false prophets in the Bible is motivation. True prophets are motivated by loyalty to God above all else, whereas false prophets are motived by self-interest and a desire to be popular among the people (1 Kings 22:13–14). While Jeremiah foretold the grim truth of coming desolation upon Jerusalem (Jeremiah 4), the false prophets promised peace (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). Naturally, the people of Judah preferred the pleasant messages of the false prophets: “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies” (Isaiah 30:10, NLT).

Often false prophets were hired for payment or spoke their messages for financial gain: “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD’s support and say, ‘Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us’” (Micah 3:11; see also Nehemiah 6:12–13; Jeremiah 6:13–14; Ezekiel 13:19; 2 Peter 2:1–3)".

I think the most compelling scripture that gives us the most important reason to stay away from believing any false prophet is what Jesus said in Mathew 7:19-23:

Every tree that brength not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

In the video Wheats and Tears (Amazon.com), a man by the name of Harold Camping made three predictions about judgement day (Christ's return to earth) that did not come true. Can it be said that he was a false prophet? Do any of the scriptures above allude to that, or was he just someone that was mislead and really believed what he was predicting?

 It would seem that yes, he could be called a false prophet. Because what he predicted, not once or twice but three times-certainly did not come true. He took his own view point, and ran with it, and it did not come from the mouth of God.

It is said that he made millions of dollars, toting his end of world predictions. CNN was one such  report  on May 19, 2011: (see: May 21 End of the World: Harold Camping's $72M business - May. 19, 2011) If you don't always trust CNN, there are other reports as well. 90 year Old Harold Camping spends 3 million dollars to ruin families and mock Jesus and False Prophet Harold Camping made Millions on Doomsday Scam  are a few. And as we know, the internet is the internet and we can't always trust it. So I have to say to you this: Believe what you will about what the news says. But always believe what the Bible says, because when all else fails, the word of God will keep us safe from the wolves that are out there.

At the center of it all, Camping's organization, Family Radio, is perfectly happy to take your money -- and in fact, received $80 million in contributions between 2005 and 2009. Camping founded Family Radio, a nonprofit Christian radio network based in Oakland, Calif. with about 65 stations across the country, in 1958.Doomsday minister Harold Camping dead at 92

So how much money did Camping generate for himself out of all of those millions of dollars?

I have to admit, I have not found an answer to that particular question yet. However, if his radio program brought in that much money, it would seem that he may have acquired a good chunk of it. 

And if so, it would also be true that he was probably in the business of predicting lies instead of the truth, for personal gain. But he did seem convinced about his predictions and he was able to lead people to the same conclusions. Who really was Harold Camping?

Was this end time fallacy the only thing that pointed to him being a false prophet or did he have other teachings that were false as well? 

That is tomorrows question where we will find out just what he did believe. In the mean time, you may want to find out more about his talk radio program here: Harold Camping - Wikipedi

Thanks for coming today, Friends. Have a blessed day

An Empty Tomb Ensures Us of Our Security

 

It was sudden. Something that no one expected..  A convulsing of the earth.  A great earthquake. And then an angel of he Lord appeared, to roll the stone away from the tomb where the body of Jesus had been placed. so that no one could come and take it away claiming he had risen from the grave, as he said he would. 

But that tomb could not hold him. Those that had killed him did not have the final authority on what was to happen.

 Only God had that authority.

And as the stone was rolled away, Jesus came out clothed in dressing so bright, that the guards fell to the ground!

I wonder what it was like that day, to witness an event that was privy to those that had just helped nail him to the cross and watched him die his slow and painful death just hours before. 

Because Jesus could really have made this a fantastic event, seen by the throngs of people that followed him during the last three years. And to his friends and those that truly loved him. All cheering the fact that he was alive! And yet, it was those guards that were present for this miracle of his grand appearance. 

Those that followed him and believed, well maybe they didn't need to actually see him come out of the grave.. They didn't really understand what was to happen, but they would believe it when he appeared to them that day and as the days went on. Maybe because the guards were unbelievers that God wanted to show them what they had done to his Son. So that they could then believe as well.  Maybe it was a second chance for them. Only God knows why.

And what about satan and his cohorts in hell?

Were they shocked?  Speechless? At a loss for words? 

I am doubtful they were any of those things by now. Because they knew the scriptures, They knew the prophecies from the time they were revealed  by Isiah. Did they really think they could have stopped Jesus? If they were laughing during that time....

they weren't laughing now. 

I don't think Jesus had calmly walked out and said, "Hi guys. I am back. Give me a high five."                                           

No, I imagine that Jesus had burst out!

He hadn't had to announce it to those guards. They saw that he was alive!

Alive, indeed!

And if there was moaning by the demons of hell, surely there was rejoicing in heavens by the angels that had believed that Jesus would do just what he had been born a human....

to do. 

Maybe even with trumpets and horns blowing loudly!

Life would never be the same. Sin had been defeated. The devil had been made the liar that he was. And because of Jesus and the empty tomb, we can rejoice, knowing that because he does live, we can be free! And a mansion for us with him in heaven that waits for us!

Praise you Jesus, and thank you for dying for us!

Today's post is partially from Mathew 28: 2-4 Thank you so much for coming by, Friend. May God bless you on this Easter Day knowing that his death gave us our life! 

 

Judas. Sold Out to the Wrong Master!

 

Mathew 27:1-60

Judas had sold Jesus out to the enemy. What real friend does that for someone that is totally innocent?  A friend for whom they can cash in on? And yet, this too had been ordained before the foundation of the earth.

Very early Friday morning, Jesus was arrested. And when Judas saw this, he was sorry for what he had done. He knew that Jesus was innocent. Those 30 pieces of silver meant nothing to him now. He threw the money into the temple and left. And he hung himself. Ummm. What a sad and sobering thought. How many people have done that since then for one reason or another? The bottom line being that without Jesus there is no hope.

Meanwhile, Jesus was taken to Pilate the governor. Pilate asked Jesus if he was king of the jews. Jesus simply said to him, "You have said so." When the Chief Priests began to accuse him, Jesus offered up absolutely no answer to their charges. Pilate was amazed that he did not once defend himself.

Pilate asked the crowd that had gathered there, whom should he release as was his custom at the festival., to release one person from prison. The people opted for a well-known prisoner named Barabas. Those people that had just a few days before following Jesus, gave him up to be crucified. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent and so he washed his hands in front of them, telling them they were the ones responsible

With that, he released Barabas and handed Jesus over to be flogged. 

Roman soldiers mocked him.  They stripped him and put a purple robe on him. They made a crown of thorns for his head. Put a staff in his hands. They spit on him and said, "Hail, king of the jews!"

They whipped and beat him and then led him away to be crucified.

Once on the cross, they hung a sign over his head, that said, this is Jesus, king of the jews. 

On either side of him hung 2 other prisoners. One recognized him for being who he said he was and asked Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus promised him he would be with him in paradise that day. 

People passing by Jesus cursed him. They shouted that if he was really the Son of God than save himself and come down.

From noon until 3:00 darkness fell over all the land. And then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?" And with that, he gave up his spirit and died. 

From a distance, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Mary Magdalene watched. Pilate gave the body of Jesus over to one of his followers, a man by the name of Arimathea, called Joseph. He took the body, wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in a tomb. He then rolled a stone in front of the entrance. 

No doubt satan laughed throughout this whole ordeal. Jesus was dead now. He (satan) had won. 

However, satan didn't know that:

With 3 nails and 2 pieces of wood, Jesus conquered sin and death!

 

Hi Friends, and Happy Good Friday. I am copying a post I had done in 2018 for today. It is a different year, but the message of this passage in Mathew is timeless and will be forever. Because it is what saves those that believe on our Lord Jesus Christ. May your day going forward be blessed! Thanks for coming by.

Don't Sit on the Fence

 What is it about the government that holds true throughout time even from bible days. Many in government, lie, cheat, go after what they want no matter who they step on to get there.

In Jesus day, they lied about him. Or at least many did. And those that maybe were on the fence about him, or even believed him,  could be bought off to lie and why not? Being paid to lie was a much better reward, then speaking the truth and perhaps being imprisoned, or even being killed for it.

Judas was one who had been paid for giving away who he knew in his heart, who Jesus really was. Look where it got him. Thirty pieces of silver which he thought he had wanted. And then he ended up throwing it back and went off to commit suicide.

Because why? Because he knew.

He knew. He knew who Jesus really was and he was ashamed for what he had done.

Even the devil knows who Jesus is. And that fact was behind the whole deal with Judas. 

Then there are those Roman Soldiers that were paid to lie and say that the disciples had taken the body of Jesus away in the night. Did they know really what happened? Well, they did figure it out. 

There had been an earthquake. An Angel of the Lord came down to roll away the stone, and Jesus

 emerged dressed in clothing as white as snow. There could be no mistaking him for dead. His appearance was as that of lighting. 

And those soldiers? They shook so bad that they fainted and appeared to be dead themselves.

But then they were then paid off by the government officials to say the disciples had stolen his body. 

None of them knew their lies would catch up with them. At the time of his coming out of that tomb, and until he went back to heaven, he was showing up in too many places, being seen by too many people for his enemies to be able to cover up their lie completely.

Just as those in that day were made to pay their own price, so will those of today that are still trying to buy people off and snuff Jesus out from the truth, they  too will eventually pay a price.

A heavy one. If they don't repent. 

While we meditate on Jesus as Easter Sunday approaches, let us remember that our eternity is all too important then to be trying for that silver, or even sitting on a fence. 

 No amount of money would be worth it to me. Better to die with Jesus then to live without him. 

His price was too high for us to reject him. Because one day, we too will see his appearance as lighting and his dress as white as snow. And we will not want to faint away as did the soldiers that were probably by that time, sitting on their own fences.

As one of them said, while Jesus was still on the cross, and had committed himself to his father"

"Surly this man was the Son of God."  How many more of them had said that of him? 

How many will say that when they see him face to face? They won't be able to deny it then. No matter how they lived their life on earth. And for too many, it will be too late. 

⭐⭐⭐

Today's post comes from Mathew 28.  Thanks for coming, Friends. Have a blessed day!

In Remembrance of What Jesus Did For Us!

I know that this being Holy Week as we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord,  I have not been as much focused on that, as I should be. I have some reasons that I can give you. One big one isthe fact that we have finally found a home and anticipate a closing date coming up very soon. In the mean time, we have seemed to run around crazy trying to get things done working towards it. Like selling our home in Ohio, finding a new place, getting a loan...and much more. It has been one thing after another.  

Life at 69 has not settled down, as I once thought it would. 

In the mean time, we have also helped some family members with things on different occasions. Not because we had to. But because they have given us so much of their help all through this transition of moving and then getting acquainted with a new city, a new state and new situations.

And because they are family. And family helps other family out.

Now we are finally about ready to close a deal and the next steps will be to get everything out of storage and get moved in. No easy task, I assure you.

In the mean time, I have been trying to do the best I can to keep up with the series I have been doing on Harold Camping. A lot of days, I have just had to take time off for it to do other important things. Sometimes just to get some rest. 

For me, these are important reasons.And yet, all in all. I have not been so much focused on what should be (and really is) the most important part of life every year. The Easter Celebration. Because, that time is what we as Christians live for. 

God forgive me for my important albeit  misguided life these days!

And so, for this weekend, I am going to repeat excerpts  of the blogs and maybe some writings from another site, that I have done in the past. I hope you will find that acceptable and stick with me. I will get back to Harold Camping next week. 

From  April 12, 2019

Jesus had just a few hours before, had been having supper with his friends. He had been trying to tell them what was about to happen. He had explained that one of them would sell him out. And that Peter would deny him 3 times. After supper, they went to Gethsemane where he became very troubled. He knew he was facing the very reason he was born on this earth. And it was less then a very pleasing thought now. It was causing him so much anguish that he wanted to back out. But he knew it was his Father's will to proceed and he knew he had to go through with it. 

After he was through praying, Judas and the Roman Soldiers came up. Judas had been the one to sell Jesus out as he gave him a kiss. And he did it for just 30 pieces of silver. The amount he was willing to pay for his "friends" life. But he did and now Jesus was arrested and taken before the high priest and the chief priests and  the whole Sanhedrin.looking on.  

They had been looking for anything they could use against Jesus to just get rid of him for good. The only answer that Jesus himself would give them was that he was 'the Son of the Living God' to which it was clear. Jesus was worthy only of death.

He was to be flogged and crucified. And when the soldiers had their fun mocking him and had stripped him of his clothes, they led him off to the place where he would be on display for everyone to see. Because, as they "knew" he was not really the Son of God as he claimed. What God would ever allow his Son to be humiliated like that. Jesus was just not who he claimed to be and they were going to prove it.

And Jesus hung on the cross until about evening when they made sure that he was dead. While his grief stricken mother and friends looked on. What if he wasn't really the Son of God? Had they had any real doubt? Perhaps even just an inkling? Would he really come out of that tomb as he said he would? Or did they just take it for granted that he was in there and he wasn't coming out alive?

Today's scripture references: Mathew 26:36-67, 27:11:61

April 12, 2019 Easter Reading: With a loud cry Jesus breathed his last. And the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood in front of Jesus saw how he had died, he said "Surely, this man was the Son of God.

Jesus had cried out "It is finished." in John 19:30 that day. But it was not finished. Not really. He would arise from the grave to spend a few more days with those he loved. And then go to heaven where he has been since the beginning of time until his birth. What a miracle that had been. The work he started here on earth is not finished. It has gone on and on and will forever more. Despite the objections  and  workings of man through satan himself, to destroy what Jesus had done.

What was finished is the reason he was born in the first place. That was to fulfill the prophesy in Isaiah 53 about his suffering and death. Now it was done and for good reason. So that all could escape hell for a life in heaven.

He had not had to die on the cross for our sin. God his Father did not make him do it. It was his choice. He had not wanted to go through what he knew would be a cruel death. Not even God wanted that.  But because it was the will of God, he took all the sin in the world upon himself, to free us from it.

How great is our God?  Need we ask that question today as we think on what he did for us? No. Because he is and it is available to all that sincerely seek him

Our God is Great, alive and worthy to be praised!

God bless you ! May we allow him to do his good work in our hearts! 

And so were you!