Detroit Free Press - Billboards say Jesus is Returning On May 21,2011

This is ridiculous, I noticed it on the homepage of the Detroit Free Press.

(http://www.freep.com/article/20101204/NEWS05/12040397/1320/Billboards-to-proclaim-Jesus-return)

I'm wondering where these folks get their money, it's an expensive ad campaign.

This sort of reminds me of the modern day equivalent of the soothsaying woman that was following Paul in Acts 16 saying 'these men are servants of the Most High God' in an attempt to discredit his ministry by association.

Your thoughts?

In Christ,
Earl J

This ministry is run by Harold Camping, who famously foretold that the Second Coming would occur in 1994. I started to read his explantion for the new date of May 21, 2010, but then thought, "Why bother?"

He is 89 years old, BTW.

We don't know when Jesus is coming, but we do know we are closer to His Coming today, than we were Yesterday.
God Bless
Nellie

I heard an evangelist say that he knew when Jesus was coming (not serious of course). He said it would be on Christmas day, because alot of churches will cancel services when Christmas comes on a Sunday. He said it is almost impossible to get people to come to church on Christmas anymore. I'm sure all congregations are not the same. Wouldn't it be terrible to not be where we are supposed to be when Jesus returns? Just a thought.

"It was predicted by a group of people back in 1844 that Jesus would return, nothing happened. So they regrouped and gave another date, nothing happened. And nothing will happen on May 21, 2011."

Of course nothing is going to happen on May 21, 2011 because everyone knows the end will be December 21, 2012 ;).

I was never fond of people guessing dates of the Lord's return people that do seem to think they can out smart God who clearly states no one knows.

When I lived in Illinois, we listened to family radio all the time. They play good God honoring Christian music. Sad that Mr. Camping has ruined alot of it with his predictions. We now listen to the Bible Broadcasting Network online since there isn't a station in our area. There are some others, but they have compromised with the world so much.
No one knows the day or hour of His return. But we do have the assurance that He is coming back, we don't know when, and we must be ready.

Regarding being prepared for the coming of the Lord, I have often wondered why this reality is not more provocative for action among the Lord's people and I think I may have the beginnings of a thought. It ties in with something I heard from a sermon by Art Katz dealing with keeping the Sabbath. He stated that for a long time he considered all days holy abiding in the rest that comes from walking in the Spirit so that it is the Father who does the work. However, in the middle of a ten day fast of the entire Ben Israel community the Lord brought a word through a brother of gentile decent about keeping a true Sabbath and really stopping. Stepping beyond a spiritual experience to a literal expression. It was a word in season and the community decided to adopt it. In a similar manner, I wonder what it will take to go from a zealous doctrinal stance to a clear vision of the verity of God coming in judgement.

This is so grievous!

I checked out the "Family Radio" website and on it in bold letters they say: "Judgement Day - May 21, 2011 - The Bible Guarantees it." Seems to me this is just giving the enemies of our LORD Jesus more opportunities to ridicule the WORD and by extension his people.

"Family Radio" have a long article posted on their website detailing why they are so certain that this is the day for the LORD's return. They are so convincing...reminds me when Edgar Whisenant insisted that Jesus will return in September of 1988. He was very convincing...seems to me that Family Radio is merely recycling Whisenant's theories, modifying it to reflect current times.

This is grievous....

ginnyrose

I just listened to that same sermon like eight or nine times last week Jeremy.

What is the name of that sermon?
Thanks in advance.

This past weekend, I actually saw one of these billboards in the San Francisco Bay Area. It didn't announce that Jesus was coming on the sign, but it did include the date and the website (that makes the claim).

It is amazing that people are citing a particular day -- when not even the Son knows that day or hour (Matthew 24:36).

But, like Greg said, today can be the "day" that people have their very own meeting with the Lord. After all, TODAY is the day of salvation. We aren't promised to live through the end of the day. In fact, many, many people will die today without having ever known the Lord.

As we drove by the sign, my wife pondered, "Do you think those people will become 'post-trib' after May 21, 2011?" I said that I was a bit more worried about the reproach that such loud proclamations can bring upon the Body of Christ and the true Gospel to the world when they make such bold claims.

We don't really need to know just WHEN our Lord will return. After all, as Greg pointed out, many people are dying without Christ each and every day. It shouldn't take a calculation of the end, an expected doomsday, earthquake or tsunami to get us to tell others about Christ. We should be just as diligent as these with bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world where people may meet their maker at any moment.

Two weeks ago in Newport Oregon, I saw a gentleman on the street corner holding up a sign making this same declaration...

I have seen quite a few of these billboards in the Los Angeles area within the past year or so, sadly to say.

Two weeks ago in Newport Oregon, I saw a gentleman on the street corner holding up a sign making this same declaration...

You didn't have a chance to talk with him? Might have had an very interesting conversation...:-)

It would be interesting to see if they would accept the challenge to write their property over to someone else on May 20th - since they 'believe' they won't be needing it anymore.

PassingThru

We don't really need to know just WHEN our Lord will return. After all, as Greg pointed out, many people are dying without Christ each and every day. It shouldn't take a calculation of the end, an expected doomsday, earthquake or tsunami to get us to tell others about Christ. We should be just as diligent as these with bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world where people may meet their maker at any moment.

Well said. Perhaps the billboards will serve a valuable purpose in reminding us that Jesus will indeed come again. I don't know when He will come again, I don't know the hour or the day, but I do know that there is no hour or day when He could not come.

For each one personally it will be very important whether the Lord Jesus is our Judge on that day or our Savior. We must not wait to accept Him, one day it will be too late.

The world needs strong and trusting Christians, especially in these dark days, we need vision to see the reality of God's plan and of Jesus' victory...

Where there is no vision, the people perish...
Proverbs 29:18

In Christ,

Ron