No Doomsday or Tombsday

May 26, 2011

A. Doomsday/Tombsday (or sadly was it Dumbsday?)

Uncle Chucklins sent me this link that also contains a video concerning Harold Camping:

IBTimes San Francisco

'May 24, 2011 8:46 PM EDT

The failed Doomsday prophet Harold Camping, the president of Family Radio who raised over $80 million of donations over the past five years, said he has no intention of giving any money back to those who have donated for his false Doomsday campaign.'

The article notes the network has 66 stations worldwide with Internal Revenue Service filings revealing the non-profit group worth $72 million dollars.

'Camping has repeatedly announced in the public that the Doomsday will take place on May 21, 2011 when 200 million people will Rapture and the remaining people will go through series of natural disasters, including earthquakes that would make Japan's recent earthquakes “look like a Sunday school picnic in comparison,” until October 21, 2011 when the world will be destroyed completely. Basing his calculation on Bible verses, Camping said he was, “without any shadow of a doubt it (Doomsday) is going to happen.”'

In the article it appears he has no intentions of returning any donations.

I noted on my other blog previously that this was a false prediction, I stated, edited:

'I saw two of these signs locally today, finally.

As I stated on Facebook. I reason this represents false prophecy. It is from Harold Camping of Family Radio, California.

In this rare case a friend wanted me to publicly make a comment because the billboard signs were local and very public and so I posted on Facebook prior to Blogger...

Matthew 24: 34: 41 NASB

34"Truly I say to you, (AS) this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

35"(AT)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36"But (AU) of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

37"For the (AV) coming of the Son of Man will be (AW) just like the days of Noah.

38"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, (AX) marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that (AY)Noah entered the ark,

39and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the (AZ) coming of the Son of Man be.

40"Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

41"(BA) Two women will be grinding at the (BB) mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

Also in Matthew 24: 24, Jesus warned against false Christs and false prophets that would show great signs and wonders, and if possible even mislead the elect.'

Further today:

H.L. Ellison states that the time of second coming is unknown except to the Father, but this does not mean there will not be clear signs before it. Ellison (1986: 1146). R.T. France reasons that date of the parousia (second coming/advent) is unknown to human beings and to angelic beings and even to the Son. A limitation of Jesus' earthly knowledge as human, although he is still both God/man. France (1985)(2001: 347).

Camping when he predicts anything rapture related is not merely suggesting signs, as many of us in the Christian community do, but is going beyond on that into the error of false prediction and false prophecy.

I do not know the man's motives but he would have millions of reasons to have bad motives. But only God can judge his heart properly...or mine.

ELLISON, H.L. (1986) ‘Matthew’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

FRANCE, R.T. (1985)(2001) Matthew, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans.



B. Calvinism


Blackburn page 53.
I have quoted secular philosopher Simon Blackburn a fair amount on my blogs and within my Wales MPhil and PhD theses. I find him a very useful philosopher and scholar. I am Reformed and basically hold to TULIP, and of course this too would need to be defined and debated. Since I have Reformed Baptist leanings although I am a member of a PCA church while in Canada, I consider myself more so Reformed than Calvinist or Calvinistic.

I suppose Blackburn's definition is basically largely correct although in regard to freedom Calvin does note...

If freedom is opposed to coercion, I both acknowledge and consistently maintain that choice is free and I hold anyone who thinks otherwise to be a heretic. If, I say, it were called free in this sense of not being coerced nor forcibly moved by an external impulse, but moving of its own accord, I have no objection. Calvin (1543)(1996: 68).

What Calvin seemingly opposed theologically and philosophically was libertarian free will, as he reasoned that a person with a corrupt nature would make choices via that nature. In the 'Introduction' to Calvin's The Bondage and Liberation of The Will the author A.N.S. Lane states that ' Calvin argues even the best of human works are tainted by human sin'. Introduction (xxi). A fallen human being was of a corrupt human nature and would always commit actions accordingly. Because of the sinful nature continual resulting sinful thoughts and actions could not be avoided by libertarian choice. However, a person was not forced or coerced by an outside force to commit acts that he or she would then be held morally accountable for.

To further clarify, this does not mean a person with a corrupt sinful nature will always sin, a particular sin, so, for example a person could resist a temptation, but the person will always be sinful.

For the Christian, being regenerated, born again (John 3), is the process by which God begins to work good in the person which culminates in the resurrection. At the resurrection, the taint of sin is removed from the human spirit/body unity. In contrast to human wickedness from a corrupt nature, Calvin noted goodness results from the grace of the work of the Holy Spirit. Calvin (1543)(1996: 115). This spiritual work starts the transformation is the elect.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford, University, Press.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

LANE, A.N.S. (Introduction) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.



C. Satirical look at career prospects

I have between 150-200 CVs out this year for teaching positions at colleges, Universities, seminaries, and positions in regard to media/radio and publishing. But I suppose I need to consider my options outside of my four degrees (and future academic writing such as journals and books)...









Photo via email from Philip Hayes

One could start an international Yarsel business.