But Man is perhaps the most peculiar of God?s creature and the most problematic too. His pitiful state is portrayed by the English poet, Alexander Pope:
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan
The proper study of mankind is man.
Placed on this isthmus of a middle state,
A being? Created half to rise and half to fall;
Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all,
Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurl?d;
The glory, jest and riddle of the world.
For Harold Egbert Camping, Christian radio broadcaster and president of Family Radio, a California-based religious broadcasting network in the United States, the Rapture will happen on May 21? six days from now!
Camping has managed to garner a followership, which spans countries of the world, Nigeria inclusive. Evidence is the series of advertorials on pages of The Guardian; akin to a dread-inspiring countdown to take off in some heavenly space shuttle.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Camping has made similar prediction. In 1994, his biblio-mathematical calculations hit September 9 woefully.
Many like Robert Fitzpatrick in New York, the United States, are not taking the prediction lightly. A website, www.goddiscussion.com, reported recently that Fitzpatrick took all his life savings ?$140,000 (about N21 million) and blew them on posters around the city that warned: ?Global Earthquake! The Greatest Ever ? Judgment Day: May 21!?
Although Rev. Fr. Mike Nsikak Umoh admits that Christianity believes in and teaches the return of Jesus for judgment at the end of the world, he stresses need for caution.
?It is no news that so many have come up in the past, making so many claims which turn out to be false and misleading,? he said.
Umoh, who is the Project Director, Centre for Media Development, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, said: ?Much as Jesus spoke of his coming, he nonetheless also warned that the time will not be known to anyone because it will come by surprise; the son of man will come like a thief in the night. He will come at an hour you do not expect. (cf. Matt. 24:36 & 37).
?Even at this, many at different times have misled a multitude by falsely insisting that they knew the timing of Jesus? return. Some classic examples include false prophets like Kochba who caused great pains and havoc to the Jews in the second century. This man claimed that he was the Messiah and led the people into a senseless revolt against the Romans, who in turn massively crushed them, destroying whole villages and towns and forced the people into exile. The Jews can never forget this part of their history.
?Then was William Miller who claimed that Jesus would return ?sometime between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844.? Others include Nelson H. Barbour, Charles Taze Russell, Herbert W. Armstrong and Joseph Smith, the founder of a religion called Mormonism, who claimed that Jesus would return by 1891.
?We cannot ignore the case of Jim Jones of Jonestown, a minister of the Disciples of Christ, with his crazy ideology and shades of theology. He eventually led to the mass suicide of over 900 members of his congregation. Vernon Howell, popularly known as David Koresh, who unlike Jones who claimed to be God, said he was a reincarnation of Jesus in sinful form, was well versed in quoting the bible, which he used to mesmerise his congregation.
Umoh said talks about the end of time would continue to remain a fruitless venture unless it edifies the soul. The study should draw people closer to God rather than repel them from him. It must not lead to self-righteousness where some people wish that others perish or are damned. Furthermore, it must not lead to error of faith.
?Therefore it requires that private revelation must be submitted to the scrutiny and authority of the Church official if it is to be accepted for official belief. The point here is that while it is important to keep in mind the shortness of time as mortal beings on a pilgrimage of life, concentrating on the thoughts of the end is futile.?
The President of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, views the concept of the world?s end from a rather different perspective.
Asked about Camping?s warning, he said: ?This is not going to be possible but there will be changes in the world. The world will never end, but there will be changes on earth. And the changes will be coming gradually.
Those people have not seen it right. God said the world will not come to an end, but there will be various uprising in every part of the world that will bring about certain changes. And those who survive it will experience the new world.?
The Director, Social Communications, Archdiocese of Lagos, Very Rev. Msgr. Gabriel Osu, described purveyors of such predictions as religious fundamentalists.
?Such people are often leaders of religious sects and cults with several na�ve followers who see such leaders as ?God incarnate? and sure way to salvation. They jettison any major contact with the ?outer world? and spend all their days in ?readiness? for the allotted day of their Rapture. Funny enough, most of them end up disappointed when the much-awaited big day turns to become just like others.?
Understandably, Harold Camping?s prediction has come under severe bashing from Christendom. A particular group was recently quoted as saying that ?Camping employ an allegorical method of interpreting scriptures. Because of this method, the meaning of any scripture passage is purely subjective, subject to the mind and imagination of the person? Camping?s use of allegorical method of interpretation for scriptures and especially for unfulfilled prophesy, is fatally flawed and undermines the very nature of communication?
Another biblical Scholar, was quoted as saying that Camping?s complex numerology comes from a ?pick and choose reading of the scriptures, rather than seeing each biblical book in its own context; noting that many numbers in prophetic books are entirely symbolic rather than codes for future events.
An issue as end-time prophesy is a sensitive one, because it bothers, to a large extent, on the salvation of mankind. With poor handling, it can cause unnecessary panic and pandemonium.
Osu said: ?As Christians, and believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should not concern ourselves too much on the exact day and time when Christ shall come again. Rather, we should always be prepared and live each day as if it were the last.
?It is just like death. Death does not announce its coming. It steals in like a thief in the night and strikes its victims. Looking at events happening all around us, it is obvious that all is not well. All the signs spoken about by Christ on what to expect during the last days are very much with us. But that should not weigh us down. We should always watch and pray.
?If it pleases God to end the world on May 21, 2011, so be it. We must be ready at all times and live every day as if it were the last. We are pilgrims here on earth. One day we shall leave to meet our creator and render account of our stewardship here on earth.?
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