Galatians 1:6-8: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
In the early 1980’s when I was in college I frequently listened to Family Radio. The gospel message being proclaimed at that time by FR’s founder Harold Camping was rooted firmly in Scripture. Regular listeners to his Open Forum programs would consistently hear the truths about man’s total depravity, unconditional election, particular atonement, effectual calling and perseverance of the saints. Solid, reformed doctrine frequently preached and meticulously explained.
Let’s now fast forward to around 2000. The message being proclaimed during that time by Harold Camping was still sprinkled with sound biblical doctrine; however, there was an increasing emphasis on teachings related to what he termed Latter Rain/High Places. The result was that the message proclaimed over FR’s airwaves was beginning to change based upon the progressive revelation related to the Latter Rain, High Places, and their associated teachings.
So let’s now fast forward a few more years to around 2004. Mr. Camping and FR’s message now was largely focused on the Latter Rain, High Places and now a Depart Out teaching. Mr. Camping’s progressive understanding and approach to Scripture now taught that every single church in the world without exception was being ruled by Satan and that no more of God’s elect would come from within the church. Rather, they would come from para-church ministries such as FR. Believers had no choice: given these high places, they must depart out and be edified instead by the latter rain nourishment provided from FR. Once again, the gospel message proclaimed over the airwaves of FR had changed.
Now let’s look at the present. In addition to all of the above, Mr. Camping and FR now teach the following:
* the annihilation of the unsaved
* there will not be a visible return of Christ
* there will be no resurrection and final judgement of the unsaved
* the “eternal” wrath of God on the unsaved will last just 5 months
* Christ became the Son of God after He rose from the dead before the foundation of the world. Quoting Mr Camping directly, “Thus when Jesus went to the cross, He was not there to pay for our sins.”
My intent here is to highlight for everyone how Mr. Camping’s gospel message has progressed over the years based upon his progressive understanding of the Bible as well as upon progressive revelation itself. If you listened to FR in 1983, you heard one gospel message. If you listened to FR in 2000, you heard a different gospel message. If you listened to FR in 2004, you heard yet another gospel message. And listeners today are hearing still another gospel message.
This is not an individual’s personal opinion of Mr. Camping’s theology; the teachings are out there for anyone to check out for themselves – don’t listen to us. This is a statement of objective fact based upon the evidence, which are FR’s broadcasts and Mr. Camping’s teachings.
Certainly, it’s possible Christ may return sometime during 2011. He could also return this very moment, or He may choose to tarry for many more years. But please ask yourselves this question: what new gospel message will FR proclaim should Christ tarry beyond May 2011? What progression will there necessarily be to their teachings?
As a footnote to this posting, the doctrine of progressive revelation has been (and is today) supported by many groups:
1. The Latter-Day Saints
2. Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches
3. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church
4. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
5. The Watchtower
6. The Bahai Faith
7. Christian cults (David Koresh and Jim Jones)
8. Family Radio, Harold Camping and all their disciples..
9. FR-related websites (Latter Rain, E-Bible Fellowship, Bible Only)
Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
To God Be The Glory!
November 13, 2009 at 11:47 am |
Very sad, but he was never that right on as a Calvinist, i.e. his pastoral work and desire. In reality every pastor is a teacher..pastor-teacher, and will somewhat abide as in Titus 1:9, and to “a common faith” (verse 4). But of course there is no perfection in any pastor-teacher. As Andrew Murray said, “There are three great motives that urge us to humility. It becomes me as a creature, as a sinner, [and], as a saint.” And, “In the third we have the mystery of grace, which teaches us that, as we lose ourselves in the overwhelming greatness of redeeming love, humility becomes to us the consummation of everlasting blessedness and adoration.”
Fr. Robert (Anglican)
November 13, 2009 at 2:04 pm |
Oh my. I see Harold’s problem. He believes the world is going to end on Oct 21, 2011 and therefore something bad should be happening right about now. So now Harold is on his second attempt at sounding the trumpets before his own life expires (1994, 2011).
The problem with any false teacher, such as Charles Taze Russell (founder of Jehovah’s Witness), is that when they are found to be wrong in their prediction they then are compelled to come up with yet another unprovable idea as to why that event didn’t happen.
I don’t believe in progressive revelation either in the sense that Jesus has been silent for 1914 years since He spoke the book of Revelation. However at some point the 144,000 sealed Jews and two witnesses appear on the scene before Jesus returns. In this sense we really have nothing new to say about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ because Jesus will already have two witnesses who will prophesy for 1260 days on the ground during the great tribulation of the saints. While we are … well … on the run.
I can easily demonstrate that brother Harold has gone off the deep end firstly with respect to his dating the year of creation:
http://truthlife.wordpress.com/age-of-the-earth/
And secondly I can provide a better estimate of the visible return of Jesus Christ based upon the Bible and a few other previously recorded historical facts:
http://truthlife.wordpress.com/jesus-a-d-2095/
November 13, 2009 at 8:47 pm |
There was a time when I listened to Mr. Camping, but no more for many years now. A message to all Camping followers: you need to get back to the Word of God and away from the word of Harold Camping. God does not want us to focus on the time of Christ’s return, just to be ready. Don’t follow anyone’s teachings, read the Bible and God will show you the truth.
November 13, 2009 at 9:15 pm |
The Church has to admit however, that postmodernism and deconstruction has moved into the center of human life. It is a shift in the culture for certain, and certainly affects the church also. We must say no, when it is not biblical or historical, to the Judeo-Christian truth and reality. “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel, can avail against the Lord.” (Prov. 21:30) – Fr. R.
November 14, 2009 at 1:37 am |
Psa 38:14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
November 16, 2009 at 1:32 pm |
Very good ,Jeff. Yes,progressive revelation-through a hyper-allegorical/numerological method of interpretion. In short,eisegesis. Campingites would do well to pick up the Word and read it “for all its worth” instead of being spoon feed by someone trying to find esoteric meanings in scripture.
And true,the Lord could choose to consummate history in 2011- He is Sovereign.
November 16, 2009 at 2:03 pm |
Always the historical grammatical. And God as sovereign and transcendent, is also immanent. We can see the spiritual signs of further apostasy, but the end is not yet..(2 Thess. 2:3). But the “eschaton” is always before the Church, (Rev. 1:7). We as Christians have lived before it for nearly 2,000 years.
Fr. R.
November 17, 2009 at 4:13 pm |
Set your affection on things above.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Joh 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearlyseen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
December 1, 2009 at 12:03 am |
Please see my comment #16 of November 30,2009; 11:36 P.M. at “Joel Nederhood on “Depart Out.”
Lon Crawley
December 1, 2009 at 12:27 pm |
Will,
I echo your comments on November 13th. I gave myself this advice about 3 years ago. I tried encouraging a well meaning friend I used to have house fellowship with to do the same but she stubbornly refused and continues to cling to every word and new teaching on Family Radio. I left that fellowship and never went back.
I started listening to Family Radio on my brother’s shortwave radio when we were in high school in Jamaica many years ago. I too had a growing respect and admiration for Mr. Camping as one of the best Bible teachers I had ever come across. It saddens me deeply to see how far he is falling. This is truly a lesson to one and all, to take care how you stand, lest you fall suddenly without warning.
December 2, 2009 at 11:24 pm |
Dovetail,
I’m happy to read that you have turned from Mr. Camping. I’m sorry for your friend. We are all human and therefore we are all sinners so we are all going to “fall”, I did for many years. The important thing to realize is that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is there to pick us up when we fall. And He does that through prayer and reading of the Word of God. If you do that, then you will soon find that you don’t need to turn to the world for your answers. A fellowship with God will provide all the answers you need. He is our loving Father.