Harold Camping came to fame in the British media recently on account of his prediction that on 21 May 2011 the righteous would be “raptured” (caught up into heaven). Five months of dreadful judgements would then come on the earth, culminating in the end of the world on 21 October 2011. The media, recording this latest of Camping’s unfulfilled prophecies, portrayed him as a Christian fundamentalist taking his predictions from the Bible. Implicitly they poured scorn on Christianity and on those who believe that the Bible is the Word of God and entirely trustworthy, as he professes to do. Writer, broadcaster and owner of broadcasting stations, with many followers in the USA, he persuaded many to contribute funds to advertising his predictions. Some donated their life savings, ceased working, sold their houses or ran up large debts because they expected to be carried up to heaven on May 21.
Camping takes no responsibility for these actions and their consequences. While acknowledging that he was mistaken in his calculations and now claiming that what took place on May 21 was a spiritual judgement, he is unrepentant concerning his endeavours to determine the times which the Lord said no man knows, “no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mk 13:32). The Lord is not denying His omniscience as the Son of God but declaring that the time of the end is not something which He has been commissioned as Mediator to communicate to us.
Camping is charged with alleging that all churches are apostate and with various departures from Biblical Christianity, such as denying total depravity and affirming the annihilation of the unsaved. This note focuses on Camping’s belief in a pre-tribulation rapture and on his claim that times can be calculated from the Bible, which he justifies by misinterpreting Daniel 12:9:
“Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end,” which only means that the things prophesied will become known as they occur.
The idea of a secret rapture of God’s people prior to a time of great tribulation on the earth, followed in the view of some by a physical coming of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for a thousand years, has no basis in Scripture. This notion found acceptance for the first time among a body of professed Christians in the nineteenth century through J N Darby’s reception and elaboration of views preached by Edward Irving and through Darby’s propagating of these views among the Brethren.
The principal scripture on which the notion of the rapture is based is 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17: “The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” That there will be nothing secret about the appearing of the Lord which will bring about this event is clear from the beginning of verse 16: “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God”. A sober reading of the passage in the context of Scripture as a whole makes clear that it refers to the coming of Christ at the end of time, bringing about the general resurrection, and ushering in the Day of Judgement and the eternal state of all. The “blessed hope” of the people of God is not some “secret rapture” but “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). The righteous and the wicked shall be together on the earth until the end comes.
The Westminster Confession of Faith states: “As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgement, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity; so will He have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly” (33:3).
Paul taught those Thessalonians who gave up work, presumably expecting the Lord to come any day, that many things are to happen before the Lord’s appearing, the final consummating event of earth’s history. That God’s people have “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven” (1 Th 1:9,10), finds expression not in trying to calculate times which God has kept to Himself but in living as those should to whom the Second Coming is as real by faith as the First – “soberly, righteously, and godly” (Titus 2:12) – knowing that soon our brief life shall end and we shall be caught up in the implications of that day.
HMC
FREE PRESBYTERIAN PLACES OF WORSHIP
Scotland
Aberdeen: 2 Alford Place, AB10 1YD, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Tuesday, 7.15 pm. Rev D W B Somerset BSc DPhil, 18 Carlton Place, Aberdeen, AB15 4BQ; tel: 01224 645250.
Bracadale: Struan: Sabbath 12 noon; Wednesday 7 pm (fortnightly). Contact Rev J B Jardine; tel: 01859 502253.
Breasclete: no services meantime.
Dingwall: Church, Hill Street: Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Beauty (Balblair): Sabbath 6.30 pm, Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev Neil M Ross BA, Dingwall, 10 Achany Rd, IV15 9JB; tel/fax: 01349 864351, e-mail: nmross2001@yahoo.co.uk.
Dornoch: Sabbath 11.30 am. Bonar: Sabbath 6 pm. Wednesday 7.30 pm (alternately in Dornoch and Bonar). Laig: Church and Manse; Rogart: Church; no F P services. Contact Rev G G Hutton; tel: 01463 712872.
Dundee: Manse. No F P Church services.
Edinburgh: 63 Gilmore Place, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev Hugh M Cartwright MA, Napier House, 8 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DS; tel: 0131 447 1920.
Farr (by Daviot): Sabbath 12 noon (other than second and fourth Sabbaths of month), 6 pm, Thursday 7.30 pm. Tomatin: second Sabbath 12 noon. Stratherrick: fourth Sabbath 12 noon. Contact Rev G G Hutton; tel: 01463 712872.
Fort William: Monzie Square, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm as intimated. Manse: 15 Perth Place, PH33 6UL; tel: 01397 708553. Contact Mr D A MacKinnon. Tel: 01397 702597.
Gairloch (Ross-shire): Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm. Prayer meeting in Strath, Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev A E W MacDonald MA, F P Manse, Gairloch, Ross-shire, IV21 2BS; tel: 01445 712247.
Glasgow: St Jude’s Church, 137 Woodlands Road, G3 6LE. Sabbath 11 am and 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev Roderick MacLeod BA, 4 Laurel Park Close, Glasgow, G13 1RD; tel: 0141 954 3759.
Greenock: 40 East Hamilton Street, Sabbath 2.30 pm.
Halkirk: Sabbath 11.30 am, 5 pm; Thursday 7 pm. Manse tel: 01847 831758. Wick: Church; Thurso: Church; Strathy: Church; no F P Church services.
Harris (North): Tarbert: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Thursday 7 pm. Stockinish: Tuesday 7 pm. Rev J B Jardine BD, F P Manse, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, HS3 3DF; tel: 01859 502253, e-mail: northharris.fpc@btopenworld.com.
Harris (South): Leverburgh: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm. Sheilebost: Sabbath 12 noon (except first Sabbath of month). Prayer meetings in Leverburgh, Sheilebost, Strond and Geocrab as intimated. Rev K D Macleod BSc, F P Manse, Leverburgh, HS5 3UA; tel: 01859 520271.
Inverness: Chapel Street, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev G G Hutton BA, 11 Auldcastle Road, IV2 3PZ; tel: 01463 712872.
Kinlochbervie: Sabbath 11.30 am; Tuesday 7.30 pm. Manse tel: 01971 521268. Scourie: Sabbath 6 pm.
Kyle of Lochalsh: Sabbath 6 pm. Manse tel: 01599 534933. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
Laide (Ross-shire): Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev D A Ross. F P Manse, Laide, IV22 2NB; tel: 01445 731340.
Lochcarron: Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Manse.
Lochinver: Sabbath 12 noon. Manse tel: 01571 844484.
Ness: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev A W MacColl MA PhD, F P Manse, Swainbost, HS2 0TA; tel: 01851 810228.
North Tolsta: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Thursday 7 pm; 1st Monday of month 7 pm. Rev D Campbell MA, F P Manse, North Tolsta, HS2 0NH; tel: 01851 890286.
North Uist: Bayhead: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm (fortnightly). Sollas: Wednesday 7.30 pm (fortnightly). Rev D Macdonald BA, F P Manse, Bayhead, North Uist, HS6 5DS; tel: 01876 510233.
Oban: Church and Manse. No F P services at present.
Perth: Pomarium, off Leonard Street. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Manse tel: 01738 442992. Contact Mr J N MacKinnon; tel: 01786 451386.
Portree: Sabbath 12 noon, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Contact Rev W A Weale; tel:01470 562243.
Raasay: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Saturday 7 pm. Contact Rev W A Weale; tel:01470 562243.
Shieldaig: Sabbath 11 am; Applecross: Sabbath 6pm. Tuesday 7 pm (alternately in Shieldaig and Applecross). Shieldaig manse tel: 01520 755259, Applecross manse tel: 01520 744207. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
Staffin: Sabbath 12 noon, 5 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev W A Weale, F P Manse, Staffin, IV51 9UX; tel: 01470 562243.
Stornoway: Matheson Road, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Thursday 7.30 pm. Achmore: Sabbath 12 noon; Tuesday 7 pm. Rev J R Tallach MB ChB, 2 Fleming Place, Stornoway, HS1 2NH; tel: 01851 702501.
Tain: Church and Manse. Fearn: Church. No F P services. See Dornoch and Bonar.
Uig (Lewis) Miavaig: Sabbath 12 noon Gaelic, 6 pm English; Wednesday 7 pm. Manse tel: 01851 672251.
Ullapool: Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Manse: Quay Street, IV26 2UE. Tel: 01854 612449.
Vatten: Sabbath 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm (fortnightly). Glendale, Waternish: As intimated. Contact Rev J B Jardine; tel: 01859 502253.
England
Barnoldswick: Kelbrook Road. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Friday 7.30 pm; Wednesday 8 pm, alternately in Haslington and Gatley. South Manchester: Sabbath 6.00 pm, in Trinity Church, Massie Street, Cheadle (entry at rear of building). Contact Mr R Middleton, 4 Rhodes Close, Haslington, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 5ZF. Tel: 01270 255024. Manse tel: 01282 851782.
Broadstairs: Sabbath 11 am, 5 pm at Portland Centre, Hopeville Ave, St Peter’s; Tuesday 7 pm at Friends’ Meeting House, St Peters Park Rd. Contact Dr T Martin; tel: 01843 866369.
London: Zoar Chapel, Varden St, E1. Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev J MacLeod MA, 6 Church Ave, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6BU. Tel: 0208 309 1623.
Northern Ireland
Larne: Station Road. Sabbath 11.30 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 8 pm. Manse, 23 Upper Cairncastle Road, Larne BT40 2EF. Tel: 02828 274865. Contact: 02828 273294.
Canada
Chesley, Ontario: Church and Manse, 40 Fourth Street SW. Sabbath 10.30 am, 7 pm; Wednesday 8 pm. Contact: Mr David Kuiper, Tel: 519 363 0367. Manse tel: 519 363 2502.
Toronto, Ontario: Church and Manse. No F P Church services at present.
Vancouver, British Columbia: Contact: Mr John MacLeod, 202-815 4th Avenue, New Westminster, V3M 1S8. Tel: 604-516-8648.
USA
Santa Fe, Texas: Church and Manse, 4031 Jackson St 77517. Sabbath 10.30 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev L T Smith. Tel: 409 925 1315; e-mail: lyletsmit@gmail.com.
Australia
Grafton, NSW: 172 Fitzroy Street. Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev E A Rayner BA, 23 Nairn Terrace, Junction Hill 2460 (mail to: PO Box 1171 Grafton, 2460). Tel: 02 6644 6044.
Sydney, NSW: Corner of Oxford and Regent Streets, Riverstone. Sabbath 10.30 am, 6.30 pm; Tuesday 7.30 pm. Rev G B Macdonald BSc, 60 Hamilton St, Riverstone, NSW 2765. Tel: 02 9627 3408; e-mail: sydneyfpchurch@aapt.net.au.
New Zealand
Auckland: 45 Church Street, Otahuhu, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact: Mr C van Kralingen, 3 Earls Court, Manurewa. Tel: 09 266 7618.
Gisborne: 463a Childers Road. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday and Saturday 7.30 pm. Rev J A T van Dorp, 14 Thomson Street, Gisborne. Tel: 06 868 5809.
Tauranga: Girl Guide Hall, 17th Avenue, Sabbath 11 am, 7 pm; Thursday 7 pm. Contact: Mr Dick Vermeulen. Tel: 075443677.
Wellington: 4 Rewa Terrace, Tawa. Sabbath 11 am, 4 pm; 3rd Wednesday of the month (not secondary school holidays) 7.30 pm. Contact: Mr Hank Optland, P O Box 150, Carterton, 5743. Tel: 02 7432 5625
Israel
Jerusalem: Sabbath: 11 am, 7 pm in YMCA. Rev J L Goldby MA, P O Box 10578, Jerusalem 91105. Tel: 00972 2 6738181.
Singapore
Singapore: Sabbath: 9.30am and 5.30pm; Wednesday: 7.45pm. Room: “Tanglin I/II” (Level 2), 60 Stevens Road, Singapore 257854. Contact: Mr Bernard Yong, 4 Chuan Place, Singapore 554822. Tel: (65) 6383 4466, fax: 6383 4477, e-mail: byong1@singnet.com.sg.
Ukraine
Odessa: F P Mission Station, 3 Pestelya Street, 65031. Contact Mr I Zadorozhniyy, P O Box 100, Odessa-91, 65091; e-mail: antipa@eurocom.od.ua; or Mr D Levytskiy; tel:00 38 048 785 19 24.; e-mail: dlevytsky@gmail.com.
Zimbabwe
Bulawayo: Lobengula Township, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo. Rev S Khumalo, F P Manse, Stand No 56004, Mazwi Road, Lobengula, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo. Tel: 00263 9407131.
Ingwenya: Church and Secondary School. Rev A B MacLean. Postal Address: Ingwenya Mission, Private Bag T5445, Bulawayo.
Mbuma: Church and Hospital: Postal Address: Mbuma Mission Hospital, Private Bag T5406, Bulawayo.
New Canaan: Church: Rev Z Mazvabo. Postal Address: Private Bag 615, Zvishavane. Tel 00263 512196.
Zenka: Church. Rev M Mloyi. Postal Address: Private Bag T5398, Bulawayo. Cell phone: 0026311 765032.
Kenya
Sengera: Rev K M Watkins, PO Box 3403, Kisii; e-mail: watkinskenya@access350.co.ke. Tel: 00254 733 731002.