Doomsday Deception

The head line read,

  "When Doomsday Isn't, Believers Struggle to Cope"

(http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20110521/sc_livescience/whendoomsdayisntbelieversstruggletocope)

May 21, 2011 at 6 pm, Mr. Camping prediction of the world's end failed. We are still here.

Other Prediction Failures

Another failed attempt in September 1994 was because of a "misunderstood key bible passage." In 1954, Dorothy Martin predicted a cataclysmic flood. The believer's were to be saved by flying saucer aliens. The Baptist preacher, William Miller, predicted October 22, 1844 would be the day Christ came again. Wrong again. 

Result of Failure
A professor of religion at Concordia University, Lorenzo DiTommeso, says groups have trouble keeping followers in line following a end-time failure. 

Another researcher observing followers of failed doomsday predictions found:

• one-third become disillusioned, 
• one-third become more fervant, 
• and one-third are somewhere in between.

One researcher predicted, following Camping's latest failure, many will be "disheartened" or "terribly confused."

William Miller's 1844 prediction resulted in a splinter group. One subset of disappointed believers claim Jesus had shifted His location in heaven in preparation to return to earth. The group became The Seventh-day Adventist.

Biblical Terms & Definitions
God used specific terms for these people. The terms are not complimentary.

• False Prophet. The word refers to people who use magic, false visions, and divination.
• False Teachers. They teach men's ideas as though they were God's ideas. Characteristics of false teachers include:
• confidently speaking what they do not understand. (1 Timothy 1:7)\
• They give attention to spirits (1 Timothy 4:1-4).
• They pay attention to demon doctrines. (IBID)
• They have a seared conscience. (IBID)
• They forbid marriage and selected foods. (IBID)
• Their teachings do not agree with the Bible, Jesus soundness, or godliness. (1 Timothy 6:3).
• They purposefully make listeners feel good. (2 Timothy 4:3).
• They secretly introduce destructive Heresy. (2 Peter 2:1).

• Soothsayer. These are people who foretell the future.
• Deceivers. They are imposters. They use smooth talk and flattering speech to trick the honest and unsuspecting.

What God Thinks About These People

• False prophets.
• "My hand is against prophets who see false visions. (Ezekiel 13:9).
• Beware of them. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. (Matthew 7:15).
• Their visions are false and foolish. (Lamentations 2:14).
• They cannot be trusted. They use spirits, not God . (Jeremiah 14:14).
• There are many, and they mislead many. (Matthew 24:11)
• Their teachings are destructive. (2 Peter 2:1).

• False teachers.
• They must be silenced. (Titus 1:11)
• Their teaching is destructive. (2 Peter 2:1)
• God identifies them so we would recognize them.

• Soothsayers.
• God does not want people listening to prognosticators. (Jeremiah 27:9; Leviticus 19:26)

• Deceivers.
• God does not use tricks or deception.
• They deceive and are being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)

Conclusion -- What Can Be Done?
The Bible has what we need to know. God condemns today's revelations and oracles. Christ disciples don't need visions or spirits. We must do 1 John 4:1. " Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 

You must TEST every preacher. You must VERIFY every religious idea. Why? Only ONE christian group is going to heaven. (Matthew 7:14; 16:18 --church is singular). Can you prove yours is the one?

Question strongly those who seem to know everything. Check for contradictions. If he talks about spirits don't listen. If he forbids foods or marriage, you have a false teacher. Run away. If he makes you feel good, he maybe wrong. Don't listen. 

Embarrassment silences. Use it.

Don't use palm readers or fortune tellers. You don't need tea leaves or tarot cards.

"Let no one deceive you with empty words." (Ephesians 5:6) 
"Let no one in anyway deceive you." (2 Thessalonians 2:3). 
"Little children let no one deceive you." (1 John 3:7).