tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5280165411357185476.post220443501578931083..comments2011-05-20T15:20:44.486-04:00Larry Eugene Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03968271056094267260noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5280165411357185476.post-34376856123976164472011-05-20T15:20:44.486-04:002011-05-20T15:20:44.486-04:00Greg,<br /><br />I don&#39;t know why things went this way with Camping. Forty years ago he was very much a proper Christian. He was in a church called the Reformed Christian Church and along with a Baptist and a Presbyterian bought a radio station and turned it into a multi-station network broadcasting Christian hymns, Bible readings and preaching the true Gospel. But somewhere he got off on this alternate stuff. I don&#39;t think he&#39;s looking for publicity. His radio network depends strictly on viewer donations to broadcast and I suspect both listenership and donations will greatly drop off after this weekend.<br /><br />As far as you and I going to Hell, you can breath a sigh of relief. Camping also teaches that the wicked do not go to an eternal Hell after judgment, but simply cease to exist. They are dead with no consciousness whatsoever.<br /><br />LarryLarry, aka The Kid and The Old Goathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03968271056094267260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5280165411357185476.post-5528797115143307382011-05-20T15:20:07.685-04:002011-05-20T15:20:07.685-04:00FROM GREG at Jesus is Wonderful<br /><br />Yup, I also think he and most of his followers are sincere about this. Like you, I am in prayer about them handling it well, if the prediction doesn&#39;t come true. It did occur to me that maybe he&#39;s doing this for publicity (as Paul said, either way Christ is preached), but as you pointed out, the prediction not coming true is likely to push a lot of people away from the true faith.<br /><br />Camping is a bit snooty about it, though, by claiming that those who don&#39;t know the date and those who are affiliated with an organized church are going to hell. I&#39;ve never heard of him until this week (though I knew about the prediction for a couple months now), but I&#39;ll be praying for him and his followers.<br /><br />I truly appreciate your insights and fellowship, Larry. May the Lord continue to bless your ministry and family.<br /><br />GregLarry, aka The Kid and The Old Goathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03968271056094267260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5280165411357185476.post-67743680907330941382011-05-20T06:05:44.921-04:002011-05-20T06:05:44.921-04:00Greg,<br /><br />Absolutely the enemies and critics of Christianity love this stuff. But I expect that. It bothers me more that people who are wondering about their faith and beliefs become confused or reject the truth because of things like this. Also the media, even people who normally are not putting down people of faith get caught up in making fun of this without knowing all the facts. I view these things as a tragedy for many people who put their trust in false prophets. I don&#39;t think Camping is hoaxer or a scam artist or anything. I think he really believes what he writes and its going to be hard on him as well. He is 89 years old. Once he was fairly respected and in a Reform Christian. Back when I came to Christ his radio station was highly regarded. I don&#39;t know what happened to him. I think it is a caution to us who do spent time studying scripture, that we don&#39;t read something in that isn&#39;t there and then go off on a tangent.<br /><br />I was going to comment on some of his suppositions, but I thought it would make the post too long and really better done separately if I did.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments.<br /><br />LarryLarry, aka The Kid and The Old Goathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03968271056094267260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5280165411357185476.post-32567558388926576162011-05-20T06:04:59.641-04:002011-05-20T06:04:59.641-04:00FROM GREG at Jesus is Wonderful Blog<br /><br />Great post, Larry, though you scared me at the beginning there. :) I&#39;ve read Camping&#39;s stuff on his site, and while I agree with you that he writes well, his way of computing the date is extremely suspect, at best. The short of it is that he nit-picked a few of the significant numbers in the Bible and multiplied them together.<br /><br />I think the reason Jesus made it clear that no one would know when the end will come is so that things like this would not happen. I also have been thinking about those who have caused great harm to their finances and relationships, not to mention the suicides that are likely to occur, as a fallout from this. Also, Atheists and people of other religions are eating this up as just another example of how crazy we ALL are. The bottom line is that we should all be living as if today if our last. I just read today that it is estimated that someone dies every 12 seconds. So in the time it took me to read your article and respond, today proved to be the last day for a couple dozen people. We should all be ready, my friend. :)<br /><br />I&#39;m glad you posted again, and I will try to find some time to do the same.<br /><br />Greg<br />JesusIsWonderful.comLarry, aka The Kid and The Old Goathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03968271056094267260noreply@blogger.com