End-times Internet Meme

Since last fall, I’ve been seeing (and receiving) pamphlets telling me how Jesus will be returning on May 21, 2011. If for some reason you’ve been immune from the hubbub of Harold Camping and his followers, you can find the initial pamphlet here and “Another Infallible Proof” here. I know several bibliobloggers have made mention of the rapture fever that seems to be running through the Dispensational community, but I’m going to make a suggestion. Let’s turn this into an internet meme!

At the risk of slapping down my beanbag chair of smugness in the studio apartment of scoffers, I think that the blogging community can come up with better arguments for a end-times date.

In the next month (since that’s all we’ve got), let’s see what alternative predictions we can come up with using the presuppositions that Camping uses to make his calculations (infallibility of Scripture, young earth, dispensationalism, etc.). Post your best ideas in the comments section below, or link back here from your own home on the net.

In case you are unfamiliar with Camping’s reasonings, one of the explanations for May 21, 2011 is as followed:

In 2 Peter 3:8, … Holy God reminds us that one day is as 1,000 years. Therefore, with the correct understanding that the seven days referred to in Genesis 7:4 can be understood as 7,000 years, we learn that when God told Noah there were seven days to escape worldwide destruction, He was also telling the world there would be exactly 7,000 years (one day is as 1,000 years) to escape the wrath of God that would come when He destroys the world on Judgment Day. Because Holy Infinite God is all-knowing, He knows the end from the beginning. He knew how sinful the world would become.

Seven thousand years after 4990 B.C. (the year of the Flood) is the year 2011 A.D. (our calendar).

4990 + 2011 – 1 = 7,000

[One year must be subtracted in going from an Old Testament B.C. calendar date to a New Testament A.D. calendar date because the calendar does not have a year zero.]

Thus Holy God is showing us by the words of 2 Peter 3:8 that He wants us to know that exactly 7,000 years after He destroyed the world with water in Noah’s day, He plans to destroy the entire world forever. Because the year 2011 A.D. is exactly 7,000 years after 4990 B.C. when the flood began, the Bible has given us absolute proof that the year 2011 is the end of the world during the Day of Judgment, which will come on the last day of the Day of Judgment.

Amazingly, May 21, 2011 is the 17th day of the 2nd month of the Biblical calendar of our day. Remember, the flood waters also began on the 17th day of the 2nd month, in the year 4990 B.C.

You gotta love that 2 Peter 3:8 move. Any dispensational prediction worth its salt has to use that one!

And please note: while this meme is open to anyone, there’s no need to get into a flame war on my site because of differing eschatologies. My attempt at humor in regards to this interpretation is not an attack on the basic tenants of anyone’s faith, no am I really interested in anyone being proselytized here (by me or other commenters). Play nice, everyone.