There really is so much I could write about today. The death of Osama bin Laden and capture of much of the intelligence material in his abode reveals even more threats he was plotting against the US. In addition, it reveals the rank hypocrisy of someone who heartily derided the US for its sins, all the while he was engaging in the same type of behavior he was deriding by downloading porn onto his computer. And what about the hypocrisy of the US? After all, bin Laden was our Frankenstein monster, trained by secret operatives and given weapons while he combatted the Soviets. Not only is there unrest in Pakistan over what appeared to be unilateral action on their turf, but there is great unrest in the Middle East overall with Egypt’s overturn in government and other dictators barely hanging onto power. What about the sudden death of animals and birds – birds in mid-flight at that? What of the occasional stories about asteroids and comets that might smash into the earth? Then, there are numerous reports of earthquakes, floods and ironically simultaneous drought.
Must be the end of the world.
And, why not, right? After all, the Mayan calendar runs out on 21 December 2012. This seems to correspond to a prediction by Nostradamus as well. It seems that there is a common anxiety that things are getting ready to heat up.
Although, Harold Camping at Family Radio Worldwide predicts we don’t have that much time and that Judgment Day will occur on 21 May 2011. That’s less than a week away, so you’d better get your ducks in order! Or, so he would have you believe.
The timeline of history is God’s predetermined timetable for the unfolding of God’s Gospel program for this world. In other words the length of time between the day God created this world in 11,013 B.C. and the day he will destroy it in October 21, 2011.
The discovery of this information built the foundation for what God would later reveal from the Bible as the date for the end.
Judgment Day on May 21, 2011 is the culmination of five decades of intensive biblical study by Mr. Camping and other bible teachers who have discovered the same biblical data.
Last night on the news, a story ran about one person who believes Camping so much that he used up his life’s savings to advertise it on billboards.
Ronald Weinland doesn’t predict the end in May 2011, but he did state that 2 April was the “end of four cycles of ‘half-a-time’ in the period of ‘time, times and half-a-time’”. If that statement doesn’t make your head hurt, I don’t know what will. So, there are “only three more periods of ‘half-a-time’” which in English means 1-1/2 years (assuming he hasn’t redefined it by now).
Of course, I’m still trying to figure out where the Tribulation is occurring. As bad as things are, it’s nothing like what I read about in the Book of Revelation.
James Malm teaches that everyone else is wrong and Jesus will return on “the sixth day of Unleavends (sic) 2015”. So, by his reckoning, the Abomination of Desolation will be set up 28 Sep 2011. Of course, his entire timeline is faulty, and COGWriter Bob Thiel has pointed this out to him numerous times. Even though Malm claims “These are only POSSIBILITIES”, one has to wonder why he would bother setting dates at all unless he were trying to establish some sort of superior knowledge about Scripture. Instead, he will show how wrong he is and how far off-track he has become in his understanding of the Bible.
William Dankenbring teaches that we have been given “additional time to repent” and Jesus won’t return until 2017.
Not everyone buys into these theories, obviously, but one businessman has discovered that selling survival bunkers can be profitable.
When you have a question, where do you go? If you really want to know something, who do you see? Don’t you go to the source? What does Jesus say about His return?
1. It will be obvious.
25Behold, I have told you before.
26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:25-27, King James Version)
2. The date and hour are not known to men or angels.
36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36, King James Version)
3. It will take "you" by surprise.
44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 24:44, King James Version)
“Ye” refers to the plural “you”. In other words, He will return in an hour that “none of you” think!
How many times did Jesus tell His disciples to be ready? To not be deceived when people said “Here He is” or “There He is”? After His resurrection, did He not tell them all His disciples “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons”?
When will Christ return? When Christ returns. The important thing is that we must be ready before He returns. The day of His return is too late!
You can include Bob Thiel in the list of names you mentioned.
@Big Red: I don’t recall Thiel setting any dates, though.
When it comes to setting dates, words like “possible” , “likely” or something to that effect gets worked into the vast majority of prophectic statements made by people nowadays. In my opinion a fair amount of readers don’t look closely enough at these statements. But were a person to carefully examine the wording of these statements, most people who proclaim prophetic understanding of dating are wise enough not to be ulitmately pinned down by their own words.
However a few people have always point blank stated a date and when that doesn’t work out, because they have a silver tongue and have a silver mind that decieves even their own self, the reasonings (excuses) that are made by them are swallowed hook line and sinker by themself and many of their followers.
To be sure, there is nothing wrong with speculating about certain elements of end time events. For example, we know that the king of the South will push at the king of the North. But will the push take the form of a nuclear attack, an oil embargo, or what? It’s one reason Christ told us to watch world events.
Some people cross over the line, however, and assert a specific time line or view which goes beyond merely watching unfolding events. Norbert made an astute observation in this regard. In his first paragraph, Norbert was speaking of those whom – linguistically speaking – talk in terms of the assertive subjunctive. It’s a way of promoting your views while giving yourself an out-card at the same time. Bob Thiel falls into this category.
True, Thiel does not set dates in terms of the day or the hour. He does promote a fairly specific timeline, however. For example, in a May 5th blog, he wrote about a peace deal involving Europe, Israel, and the Arabs. “…and while 2012 makes more sense, it is possible that could happen as early as the Fall of 2011 (though a war with Iran may happen first).” And he promotes his belief that the Unites States will be destroyed sometime during the second Obama presidency.
Again, note that he couches his views in the assertive subjunctive. He promotes a definite time frame while giving himself an out-card at the same time.
Now, my suggestion that you add him to the list of crackpots really didn’t have anything to do with the setting of specific dates. It had to do with his devotion to or fascination with the occult. He constantly cites Nostradamus, the Mayan calendar, ancient Catholic prophecies, Nigerian prophecies, and so on. Hardly a week goes by without him citing some occult prophesy or another. He weaves this stuff into biblical prophecy as though it were a single cloth. His website even contains a clock of the Mayan calendar, where you can watch the seconds tick down.
Secondly, any time spent on his website makes it readily apparent of how much regard he has for himself. ‘I have always taught… I have longed warned… as I have predicted…’ He considers himself a prophecy expert, a teacher, a scholar, and one who issues warnings. It makes you wonder where an inflated ego like this will eventually lead.
At any rate, for those who believe that Bob Thiel might be someone special, they can purchase his new book. Just click on his website and pull out your credit card. He’ll provide you with keys for physical and spiritual survival during the end times – for a price!
Big Red wrote: “Now, my suggestion that you add him to the list of crackpots really didn’t have anything to do with the setting of specific dates. It had to do with his devotion to or fascination with the occult…. His website even contains a clock of the Mayan calendar, where you can watch the seconds tick down.”
Yeah, I think he’s quite over the top about quoting Catholics, Mayans and many others. It seems he is stretching for any supporting evidence, no matter whether or not it is valid.
As to the clock, though, what page is that on? Even after turning off the ad blocker, I didn’t see it. I’m assuming I’m not on the right page.
The clock? Go to the “prophecy” section of Cogwriters main page, and click on “End of Mayan Calendar 2012 – Might 2012 Mean Something?” You’ll see the clock at the top of the page. And you can purchase a copy of his book at the same time.
Ah! I see it now! I was looking for something a little more graphical. You’d think he’d sell enough books to at least buy a Java widget or something. ;->