2012 The Next Failed Date…

I recently found an interesting website called, www.december212012.com which claims for itself the distinction of being “The Official Website” (although nobody actually steps forward to explain exactly who made it “official”) of the predicted “end of the world” on December 21, 2012.  The copyright at the bottom of the page extends from 2006-2012, which of course means that in January 2013 all of us will be allowed to reprint everything contained on the site as proof that this was just another manufactured hoax of a world that just cannot resist the temptation to set dates for the future that are destined for failure.

One interest feature of the website is the “2012 Survival Shop” that offers a Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight With Emergency Battery” all for the price of just $19.99 (I suppose we can all hear Billy Mays in the background telling us to “hurry while supplies last”).  Who knows, by November 2012 we may be able to order one of these flashlights and get the second one for FREE by just “paying the price of postage.”

Other items features in this shop include the “Elton Emergency Crank Radio” in “Metallic Blue” (certainly attractive enough).  However, if the “end of the world” takes place on this date, who will be on the other end of this radio for us to listen to?  Gosh, I hope it is not one of those “elevator music” stations!  I think I would rather just be swept away in the disaster than have to listen to that!

I did notice that some of the more “respectable” premillennialists authors (aka Jack Van Impe) have embraced the “end of the world” scenario and supposed significance of 2012 (or at least there is a book he has written and is selling that advertises this year as a possibility).  When I arrived at the page there was 59 people reading the material at the time, all hoping to be survivors I am sure!

One positive thing about this site:  It will give preterists fun and amusement for the next 1591 days, 16 hours, 37 minutes we have left remaining…scratch that, 36 minutes remaining.  My goal is to write a nice, thoughtful, blog entry 1592 days from now just to let these people know that it is a waste of time to make predictions that are certain to fail.

These guys are amateurs at this “date-setting” business.  The premillennialists are the professionals and have just as many failed predictions as they have dates set on the books.  One of my personal favorite books in my library is:  88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Occur in 1988, not exactly a New York Times Best Seller but it was popular…until 1989.  After favorite is the Herald Camping book about the end of the world in 1994…that is 14 years ago just in case you are doing the math!  Before these guys we had the likes of C.T. Russell, William Miller and many others.  I believe it is an addiction, one for which there will never be a cure because there is no end in sight…at least not according to God’s Prophetic Timetable which points backward to the year A.D. 70 when all of the prophecies were fulfilled just as Jesus promised they would be (Luke 21:22).

I want all preterists to plan on having a gathering on December 22, 2012 to celebrate the victory of God and to proclaim the certainty of accomplished salvation.  Since the word ends the day before making a reservation at a really good restaurant or resort should be easy.  I will look into it and get back to you “soon.”

Antichrist and Obama: A Lesson in Premillennial Fairytales

Conservative Radio Talk Show host Brian Sussman of KSFO in San Francisco recently made the prophetic connection between the premillennial prediction of a coming world leader–the Antichrist and the upcoming elections in November.  I am a regular listener of Sussman whose evening talk show is both provocative and entertaining for me as I spend an hour on the road coming home from work each day.  Of course, his political views are expressed from the “far right” perspective complete with a daily list of reasons why people should not consider voting for Barak Obama during this election cycle.

Because of the recent success of the Obama visit to Europe and the Middle East, especially the warm reception given to Obama by a variety of world leaders and the incredible attention of a gathering of 200,000 in Germany, Sussman has concluded that perhaps Obama may be the fulfillment of Bible prophecy arriving on the world stage in the midst of war and extreme economic hardships in the person of the Antichrist.  If you Google the words Obama and Antichrist you get 635,000 hits and there is at least one blog that is devoted to the concept already and hundreds are certain to follow suit.  The header of the blog makes this comment:

Barack Obama may be the Antichrist, he has risen up out of no where, he mesmerizes crowds, people are gathering in huge numbers, he is likely becoming the next President of the United States. Do not look only to what I say, but look to your Bibles, to passages in John, Daniel, and Revelations.

I tend to find myself skeptical of the “scholarship” of anyone who places an “s” at the end of the book of Revelation, but perhaps Brian Simmons can provide some of his premillennial wisdom of why it should be included on the word–who knows?  According to other articles posted on the site, the author claims not to be an “extremist” but merely a student of the Bible who is concerned with the rise of this formerly unknown politician who has gained enormous popularity in a brief period of time.  I suppose that on the other side of the coin a more “liberal” student of the Scriptures might argue that McCain, given his “age” could be “that Serpent of OLD” also referenced in the book of “Revelations” [sic].

Some of the logic (?) connected with this idea stems from within the now infamous Left Behind series character, Nicolae Carpathia who just happens to be, (1) a junior Senator, (2) speaks several languages, (3) is beloved by people around the world, (4) supported by the Peace Corps, (5) cannot see his own “evil nature”, and (6) rises to prominence after delivering just one speech.  Oh, and lets not for forget that both figures are “left-handed” and has appeared on the cover of Time magazine.  The Carpathia character sets about to “heal the world” as the Antichrist, and during the Presidential campaign speech Obama said:

  “A nation healed, a world repaired. We are the ones that we’ve been waiting for.”

Just a week ago the McCain campaign released an advertisement in which he likens the attitude of Obama to that of a “Messiah” even using video of Charlton Heston in his famous role as Moses parting the Red Sea.  Even television icon Oprah Winfrey once referred to Barack Obama as “the one” (and all this time I was certain that Neo–Keanu Reeves–of The Matrix, how could I have been so foolish?).  On and on this line of reasoning continues, all because some believers continue to place their hopes in premillennial fantasy rather than biblical fact.

Whether one agrees politically with Barack Obama or not, using this ploy plays on the fears of evangelicals who continue to look for the mythical world ruler they refer to as the Antichrist.  Never mind the fact that John the apostle told his readers that the Antichrist had already entered onto the “world stage” in the first century, and in fact there were “many” of these antichrists already present in his time–2,000 years ago (I John 2:18, 22; 4:3; II John 7)!  The list of “antichrist” candidates from past failed predictions includes, Yassar Arafat, the ‘Beast” super computer of EU, Jimmy Carter, Bill Gates, Mikhail Gorbachev, John F. Kennedy, Henry Kissenger, Martin Luther, Benito Mussolini, Nero, Pope John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, Pat Robertson, David Rockefeller, Anwar Sadat, Saddam Hussein, Willy Brandt, Boris Yeltsin, and many others, now including Barak Obama.  Certainly the “evidence” (?) seemed strong, at the time of the prediction, only to later be proved false by the continuing events of world history.  I suppose the premillennial “beat goes on” as long as people are willing to buy into this mess of pottage.

What should Christians do?  If Barack Obama is the Antichrist, then perhaps they should cast their vote in favor of his presidency since it is “meant to be” from the standpoint of Bible prophecy.  To vote against Obama would be to resist the will of God in bringing about the rise of the Antichrist.  Just think, Obama becomes President and we enter into a 7-year period, the first 3.5 years are “peaceful” and all of the economic woes of the world are cured.  He makes a “pact” with Israel to be her defender.  Then in 2012 (the next year on the prophetic calendar set for the “end of the world”) he breaks the covenant and the “Great Tribulation” ensues.  If any or all of this is true, then before or right after the November election the Rapture should occur to snatch believers out of harm’s way while the world goes to hell in a premillennial handbasket.  Preterists are among those “Left Behinders” who will suffer during this most horrible period of human history.  Then, God raises up 144,000 male, virgin Jews to preach the gospel to the lost and to remind us Preterists of how stupid we were for not listening to them.

I suppose the “happy ending” of this prophetic fairytale is that eventually after God has spanked us sufficiently for not seeing all of this coming, we will still have the opportunity to be saved when Jesus finally comes back the third time to begin his millennial reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem.  Not sure what we can do to start that Temple building project that will soon become necessary before the Rapture happens, but I am certain there is a Federal Government grant for “affordable worship” housing that can be allocated to cover the expenses.  Maybe Barak can enlist the help of the Peace Corps to do some of the heavy-lifting during this massive reconstruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

And people say preterism does not make any sense!  Honestly?

It is not certain as to whether or not Brian Sussman is actually convinced that Barack Obama is actually THE Antichrist (in contrast to the hundreds of “other” THE Antichrists of days gone by.  It was, however, interesting to hear comments from listeners to his radio show in response to this suggestion.  There does not appear to be any comment from the John McCain about the specifics of this issue, and it is interesting that McCain, for the most part, keeps his religious convictions “private” in comparison to other political candidates who openly affirmed their faith in Jesus Christ.  Recent visits to the Middle East, however, reveal the ongoing “premillennial” mindset with respect to the Israeli people and their “right” to occupy Jerusalem.  Still no word, however, on the next Temple…stay tuned!