[A] McCain, [B] Obama, [C] None of the Above…

“I am John McCain, er I mean Barack Obama, and I approved this blog…” I have heard so many of these political commercials during the past year that the I can almost recite them in my sleep.  As a former manager of West Texas a radio station I remember the days when we would receive a media “buy” that would saturate our air-waves with one political message after another–Republican, Democrat, Independent etc, they all sound the same after about the 1000th time you are forced to listen to over and over again!  Republicans attacking the Democrats about their “liberal” agenda, and Democrats attacking Republications about “radical right wing” politics and “conservative” social agenda.  It is a seasonal “tug-of-war” and what hangs in the balance is the destiny of our nation–pulled in opposite directions by opposing forces, both of whom believe they are what is “right” for the country.

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.”