The end is come
Even though the rapture did not occur on May 21, 2011, it really was the end of the world for a lot of people. According to Ask.com
About 70,000 die in the world every day
10,000 in south america
20,000 in north america
15,000 in asia
10,000 in europe
15,000 in africa
Most of those deaths are from diseases
about 5% from murder
about 20% from cancer
about 5% from fires
about 30% from heart diseases
about 20% from suicide
about 10% from cancer
about 10% from Malaria/Hiv/Aids/infections/Fever
There are over 6,000,000,000 people in the world and each day thousands of people die from these problems/complications. The expected world population in 2012 is going to be 7,500,000,000 or more.
The greatest shame about Family Radio, is that they seem to have no idea what to tell people. Even if Mr. Camping was right, he has completely wasted all that money and time for nothing. He is teaching that only the elect are saved, and that we are not saved by coming to faith in Christ because that would be something we do. According to him we are saved by grace, which means nobody has any choice in the matter and we need to pray for mercy. It is like warning a person in the US that their vacation house in a remote part of France will burn down in 3 minutes. I guess you can pray about it, but other than that there is really nothing you can do.
I don’t believe in Calvinism. When I look at the passages which are offered as proof for the system, there are simply a string of references with little or no real exegesis of the passages themselves. To see a fair treatment, get a copy of George Bryson’s book, “5 points of Calvinism, examined and found wanting.” I am not just talking about a few passages that are off a little bit, and most of the rest support the view. I see their theology being read into EVERY ONE of the proof texts. When you study the history of Gomerus, Coornhert, Arminiums, and Calvin, Beza and the councils and how the 5 points of Calvinism were concocted, you will see what I am talking about. They did not study the texts. The 5 points of Calvinism was definitely NOT constructed by a group of people studying the Scriptures. Like so many other issues, the points were constructed to counter the 5 points from the Remonstrants side.
It is the end of the world each day. Pray that you will make a difference to the lives of one of those 70,000, and do what you can to help others believe the simple and clear saving message in verses like John 3:16 in their contexts. People really do have a choice to investigate the claims of Christ, and to subsequently be convinced or not that Jesus offers everlasting life to all who believe in Him for it.
- Don Reiher