Into the Woods

             No Camping Sign            ”Let’s go camping!” I used to love hearing that phrase,love the outdoors. But if you came here thinking you’ve found the newest blog on tent popping -so sorry. Just a little word play in the title,an abbreviated form of Harold CAMPING and his Depart OUT doctrine. But we do feel Mr. Camping is lost in the “woods” called Allegorical Wonderland with his entourage, known here and elsewhere as Campingites, and need a light of truth to navigate out of that Black Forest. But first a little aside-for those ready to accuse us of a verbal personal assault on  Mr. Camping and those who embrace his teachings,please read our About page.  Other sites,because it either didn’t fit their format or couldn’t stomach the heated  debate a lightning rod topic such as this generates, have relent.”If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”(Harry S Truman)-and so they did.

     A little backround for the uninformed.Harold Camping comes from a Dutch Reformed backround and  was in the construction industry(owner of Camping Construction) before co-founding  Family Stations, Inc. in 1958,a non-profit world-wide radio ministry better known as  Family Radio.He’s president/general manager and has devoted himself to full-time unpaid ministry after leaving his business some years ago and has hosted a call-in program “Open Forum” since 1961(you do have to admire the dedication). And it is this program which has become his primary “soap box” to spew abberrent teachings. To be fair, there was a time when Mr. Camping fell within the pale of orthodoxy,in Reformed school of thought, but began to stray off the reservation with his hyper-allegorical method of interpreting Scripture-with a dash of numerology thrown in. This method is purely subjective, given to the whims and mood of what one may “see” in a passage at the moment, and only limited to ones imagination. It is this very method that has produced his “The church age has ended”-(aka-”Depart Out Doctrine”-that one should leave his/her church because God is essentially through with the church ,circa 1988) , his previous book  ”1994?”(that Christ would return in the fall of 1994) and current “Time Has an End”-his “magnum opus”,if you will,with revised calculations now pointing to a 2011 return of our Lord (in the fall,of course). (Where’s Mr. Rodger’s when you need’em-” Can you say False Prophet?!”). In fairness-as in 1994? Mr. Camping gives himself some wiggle room in this statement:

In parallel fashion, God is warning the world that, in all likelihood, in the year 2011, the whole world will be destroyed. …………. Having said all of the above, the end-time dates presented in this study are not being offered as absolute fact. They are being offered based upon our present knowledge of Biblical truth. Continued study of the Bible may result in correction being made at some future time if any errors have been made. We must never forget that the Bible is given not only to teach us doctrine but also to make correction in whatever doctrine we hold. Wherever we have correctly understood the Bible, however, the resulting date absolutely will be correct.  (From Time Has an End- H.Camping).
     
      OK-we have” in all likelihood “,” based upon our present knowledge of Biblical truth”  - should insert “ever changing” between “present” and “knowledge”. But wait!” STOP THE PRESSES!” Drum Roll,Please! Harold has just come out with a new book! A grand summation it seems of  his last five bodies of work,entitled-
We Are Almost There!” . You have The End of the Church Age..and After,  The Fig Tree , The Wheat and the Tares, I Hope God Will Save Me (ah..He will,just repent) and Time Has an End -all rolled into a tight little egg roll,so to speak, for easy consumption. And now, he’s finally done it with this cherry,from very beginning of his new work:

WITH NO APOLOGIES, IT IS THE INTENT OF THIS BOOK TO WARN AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE ABUNDANT BIBLICAL EVIDENCE THAT THE END OF THE WORLD IS ALMOST HERE. THE END OF THE WORLD IS THAT AWESOME AND TERRIBLE MOMENT WHEN JESUS CHRIST, THE SUPREME RULER OF MANKIND, WILL COMPLETE THE JUDGMENT PROCESS THAT BEGAN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN WHEN ADAM AND EVE DISOBEYED GOD. (From We Are Almost There!-italics added).

 He’s done it! He’s boxed himself in,painted himself into the proverbial corner!-the end of the world is almost here…. for  him being 2011. Mr. Camping,it seems , has no where to go after this one-if, Lord willing, he out lives this “prophecy”( as of this writing he’s 86 years old).

        To make this short -(and leaving the Church and annihilation for another post)- again ,Mr. Camping is lost in the deep, dark forest off the beaten path forging ahead on his own to oblivion. It would do well those who tag along behind him to take heed to the following verses:

But of that day and hour no one knows, no,not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” -Matt.24:36(NKJV)

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor hour in which the Son of Man is coming” Matt. 25:13(NKJV)

“And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many,will come in my name, saying’I am He’, and, ‘ The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.”  Luke 21:8 (Bold added,NKJV)

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.” 2Corinthians 11:19,20(KJV)

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2Corinthians 11:13-15(KJV)

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2Thess 2:3,4(KJV)

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:13,14(KJV)

A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.” Ecclesiastes 10:14,15(KJV)  

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” Proverbs 14:15(KJV)

                          And with this I’ll end-BE A BEREAN!!    “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” Colossians 2:4

9 Responses to “Into the Woods”

  1. JimB Says:

    I feel sorry for Harold Camping, but more sorry for his followers. I was in a cult in the 1980s that followed Harold Camping, and God got me out of it. This cult went to Arizona and formed a communed in 1988 to wait for the end of the world in 1994. Whoever now is following Harold’s new heresies of the world ending in 2011, Annihilation, and all churches are of Satan, is sadly following the Devil. I know the mindset of a CAMPINGITE, because I used to be one. This is not the Christian Life.
    God Bless,
    Jim B.
    jimbbbbb@gmail.com

  2. JimB Says:

    Harold Camping is a false prophet who said the world will end in 1994, and was wrong, and he is a false prophet again by saying their will be a rapture of the Campingites on May 21, 2011, and for 5 months all of the unsaved “church” people will be tormented. On the contrary, all of the Campingites will be confused for those 5 months. On May 22, 2011, Harold Camping (if he is still alive) will say that he was wrong about the rapture, but the world will still end on Oct 21, 2011. So for 5 months, all of the Campingites will be the ones confused and tormented and hope that their CULT LEADER HAROLD CAMPING was correct about all of his heresies about the churches and the world ending on Oct 21, 2011. When Oct 22, 2011 comes, all of the brainwashed Campingites will be totally distraught, and will probably leave God altogether. This is the work of SATAN. I already saw this happen with the CULT group I was in that followed Harold Camping in the 1980s and early 1990s and they thought the world will end in 1994. Most of the cult members were so totally confused and hurt, that they left God altogether, and do no talk about God anymore. This is the work of the DEVIL
    Harold Camping is a minister of Satan. He now aligns doctrinally very close to the Jehovah’s Witnesses who set a lot of dates for the end of the world, and also believe all Christian churches are of the Devil. Let me repeat myself with Love and Compassion for any follower of Harold Egbert Camping of Family Radio. Harold Camping is doing the work of Satan, and if you follow him, you are being decevied by the Devil and will be very confused and severely hurt when you leave your church and when the world does NOT end in 2011.
    God Bless You and open all of our eyes.
    Jim B.
    Feel Free to email me,
    jimbbbbb@gmail.com

  3. senecus Says:

    Yes , Jim , it is sad that a man who began so humbly has now leaped off the cliff in an attempt to do what others have tried and failed , that is , time and date our Lord’s return and consummation of history. As you point out ,the Jehovah’s Witnesses being one of the more illustrious examples-and I’ll add some in the dispensational circle aren’t far behind in this area. Saddest part of all is the human and spiritual wreckage this will leave in its wake when 2011 passes by uneventfully.

  4. johannes coetzee Says:

    We listen to family radio via AM and Short Wave every night.

    Even my friends in there little mud houses can tune in..

    To God be the glory.

    21 May 2011 is the beginning of the last day… up unto 21 October 2011

    May God have mercy on each one of us!

    johannes coetzee

    Family Radio listener (South Africa)

  5. senecus Says:

    Hello Johannes-while it is encouraging that that those who live in “little mud houses” in South Africa can receive radio signal(like the antennas-aeriels, and dishes I’ve seen on Mongolian yurts) not everything traveling over those airwaves is gospel truth-or like Mr. Camping used to say it is “another Gospel”. Which is where we see Mr. Camping at now-espousing another gospel(end -of-church-age,annihilation,”hope”? you are saved,again-date setting end of world) which will leave another trail of disillusioned,angry and some-lost-followers when 2011 passes by. Yes,may God have mercy! Be a Berean!

  6. JimB Says:

    Johannes,
    Unfortunately Mr Camping was wrong about the world ending in 1994, and he is wrong again about the world ending in 2011. Both dates are built upon the wrong foundation of his 13000 year old earth. The earth is about 6000 years old, and Geneisis 5 and 11 stands just as it reads. Mr Caming is a dangerous Cult Leader. I was in a cult formed by Mr. Camping’s teachings in the 1980s that believed the world will end in 1994. I used to believe all churches were apostate, this is a deception from the pit of hell. A church is anywhere believer gather together, as long as there are believers in the world, there are true churches. Listening to Mr Camping everyday is like being on drugs, you will get addicted, and will believe everything he teaches. You are being brain washed like I used to be, but God got me out of it. Thousands of people will be disillusioned after 2011 passes just as in 1994. May God open your eyes and grant you the peace and truth of the simple Gospel of Christ.
    God Bless,
    Jim B

    Feel free to email me and I will discuss this more,
    jimbbbbb@gmail.com

  7. lisa crowder Says:

    Help!! My x-husband is Very Much into Camping and LOVES to be called a ‘Campinite”! The problem is…my x has visitation rites to see our 3 year old twins and is teaching them that i have been “marked of the beast “because i still go to church.He is trying to make them believe they hate me,and i am wicked and evil.I need some help.He is tring to get them away from me and more with him.I can’t afford a lawyer.I need some VERY SERIOUS HELP ASAP!!!! Will some one PLEASE tell me what i can do and how to do it.Childrens lives are at stake!

  8. senecus Says:

    Hello Lisa-your situation is one of many I’ve heard of regarding Camping’s cult-like hold on an individual. This is very sad. And to use ones children as pawns sadder. Though I’m not an attorney and don’t have any “legal” training-I do know from past experiences of others there are legal avenues you can follow,often free to low income families(think legal aid societies). Don’t know what state you live in but I would seek counsel through one of these agencies or family courts. Our hearts are with you-and I know relating that doesn’t solve your problem,but be encouraged there are others out here who have known similar situations (cult dealings) and (I know ,cliche’ ;) will be praying for you ,your children AND exhusband. Feel free to comment,update at any time-peace and rest….

  9. JimB Says:

    Lisa,
    Unfortunately Mr Camping gets a strong hold on people and without the grace of God there is not much you can do. Show you children the love of Christ in your life and explain to them that their Dad is following a bad teacher. I have been in a cult following Harold Camping, and when I disagreed with them I was condemnied to Hell. God set me free but my brother and friends waited for the world to end in 1994, and were disallusioned and confused when it did not happen. I will pray for you. Feel free to email me if you need any further help.
    God Bless,
    Jim B
    jimbbbbbb@gmail.com

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