I’ve been embarrassed by the most recent Rapture date. This has allowed the press to mock us. To summarise Harold Camping had fallen into one of the errors of fringe protestantism: like a christian kabbalist, he turned the bible into code.
And broke into error. For we do not know the hour or the day.
I think that Camping also forgot that there are rules around preaching and prophecy. And they are harsh.
Deuteronomy 18.
18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. 19Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. 20But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak — that prophet shall die.” 21You may say to yourself, “How can we recognize a word that the LORD has not spoken?” 22If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it.
James 1
26If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
via Daily Lectionary Readings — Devotions and Readings — Mission and Ministry — GAMC.
Before I leave the rapture issue, I’d want to add that this is not classical doctrine for three branches of Christendom: Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox
Today, prophecy pundits and “end-time” revivalists preach the Rapture as if it were established dogma from the time of Christ until the present. The truth is that the first historical reference to the Rapture doctrine comes from the Plymouth Brethren. Not only is the Rapture not found in the teachings of the Church, but even “end-time” heretics throughout the centuries never dreamed of proposing such a novel idea…
In all the writings of the Scriptures, the Early Fathers, and the Ecumenical Councils, there is no mention of two 2nd comings of Christ. In fact, the 2nd Ecumenical Council definitively states and places in the Nicene Creed these words: “He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His Kingdom shall have no end.” This council of the Church, held in A.D. 381 in Constantinople, pronounced for all time what we as Christianis believe about the 2nd coming of Christ. The Fathers of the Church wanted it to be crystal clear that when our Lord returns (a time which only God the Father knows- Mark 13:32). He will establish His rule on earth forever, not merely 1000 years. The council did not condemn the Rapture heresy because the teaching did not yet exist. Moreover, there is no mention of the teaching in either the early Medieval period or the Scholastic era.
One might think that the Rapture is the product of the Reformation, since almost all of its adherents are Protestants, but not so. The student searches in vain to find the Rapture doctrine among the writings of Martin Luther, John Calvin, or John Knox. John and Charles Wesley know nothing of the theory. Even the Puritans (some of the most radical of the radical Protestants) never heard of or wrote about the Rapture. As a matter of fact, not only do the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and Anglicans deny such a teaching but all “mainstream” Protestants do as well. The Rapture is not to be found in the doctrinal statements of Presbyterians, Lutherans, or Methodists (at least not in the main bodies of each of these groups).
The correct response is that we are living in the end times. We should be prepared for Christ’s coming. There is a coded book (Revelations) that has valuable doctrine within it — like Daniel — but is also about the last times. However, like Daniel, it is likely that our scholastic explanations will reliably miss the fulfilment of this — apart from one thing, it is in Christ.
So what are we to do? What is true religion? It is to care for those who have no provision for them ( the widows and orphans) and not become corrupted by this world.
We are given church, prophets, scripture and the Holy Spirit to keep us on task — which will not leave us in this life. There is enough challenge in obedience
Leave the obscure and difficult to those who itch for new conspiracies.
UPDATE.
I had a brain fade about the branches of Christendom. Reformed Theology is, of course, a branch of Protestantism. Thanks to Will S. for pointing this out.