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Mkfound
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Username: Mkfound

Post Number: 77
Registered: 1-2011
Posted on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 8:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'm not sure if you have heard by now, but there is a popular Christian group, which then spawned other groups, proclaiming that Jesus is coming back on May 21, 2011.

I heard about it on the radio, and out of curiosity decided to do a little research. There are many websites up claiming this concept.

Search in Google, and you'll turn up a whole bunch of websites. It appears that a radio program began the idea and people seem to have been taking the bait.
Here's one just for kicks:

http://www.may21-2011.com/

The originator of this idea uses the 2300 day (day for a year) prophecy, plus a whole bunch of other numbers in the Bible, like 17, 2 40, 3, etc. etc. ad naseum, adding, multiplying and even squaring them. It sounds like Miller and his 10 proofs or so.

It is claimed that the Bible was 'confusing' until now. 'Now' we have new knowledge, the book has been unsealed, and we can understand what has never been understood before. Sound familiar? "Present truth" anyone?

As for Jesus' saying that only the Father knows when the Second Coming will be--well, that's not true--'now we have new knowledge'.

So what to do? Well, your church is 'Babylon', so come out of Babylon. Sounding more familiar now?!

He makes a long list of what is wrong with the churches, and of course--no one keeps the 'Sunday Sabbath'. He claims churches have their services on Saturday evenings to get over with the service so that members can have Sunday for 'their pleasure'. Then he quotes the Sabbath verse in Isaiah about not doing your own pleasures on Sabbath.

Then he goes on to claim that all the other churches make you 'do' something to receive the free gift of grace, so you must come out. Confused as I just saw a touch of legalism there with "Sunday Sabbath Sacredness".

And finally, he claims only about 2% of the world's pop. will be saved. How he arrives at this figure with all the rest--I have no idea, but it again reminds me of SDAism and the concept that hardly anyone would be saved, because it was so difficult.

So essentially, the whole proof of it goes something like this, Jesus is coming back on May 21, 2011, and it's because 17x2-8x40+2300 years-70-17+13+12 to the square root of 153 +2-18....... = May 21, 2011.

I think it's almost like living in Miller's time.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
Flyinglady
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Username: Flyinglady

Post Number: 9180
Registered: 3-2004


Posted on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 8:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Bible teaches that no one knows when Jesus is coming again, only the Father.
Anything that disagrees with that is false.
Diana L
Skeeter
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Username: Skeeter

Post Number: 1407
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 10:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wonder what all these people are gonna use as the excuse when they wake up May 22nd and are still earth bound...:-)
The Pastor mentioned this rumor yesterday in church. He said just maybe someone someday will get it right eventually (teasing of course) and that we should live EVERY day as if we were expecting Christ to come TODAY. :-)
Wiredog
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Username: Wiredog

Post Number: 162
Registered: 8-2010


Posted on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 11:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am just curious if Harold Camping will do the William Miller thing and admit he was wrong and recant on the air OR if he will pull the Ellen White and blame God for hiding the errors.
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 12564
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 11:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Doesn't it just give you an "icky" feeling in your stomach? These convoluted formulas are nothing but tiring...

Sigh,
Colleen
Christo
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Username: Christo

Post Number: 263
Registered: 2-2008
Posted on Monday, May 09, 2011 - 11:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

They just solicited me by mail for support as a faith partner to share $ each month, and asking me to to contribute my first $ gift. This included a letter from Harold sounding the trumpet for 5/21/11. Makes me think of all those who gave sda their life saving in 1843, 1844. Must have been quite a purse. No wonder they had to fabricate the Investigative Judgement. It was the only way they could live with themselves, and their new found wealth.

Sigh,
Chris
Cortney
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Username: Cortney

Post Number: 275
Registered: 8-2006
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 12:53 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

ick....ick...ick..
Jonvil
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Username: Jonvil

Post Number: 555
Registered: 4-2007
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 7:10 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'll bet this whopper started out with something that appeared innocuous. Small errors spawn bigger errors, they have a way of creeping up on you.

Which brings me to my original thought, when we tolerate 'small errors' for the sake of fellowship, how 'big' do they have to become before we consider them intolerable?

John
Animal
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Username: Animal

Post Number: 926
Registered: 7-2008


Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 7:52 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Exposing Adventism - Salvation not found outside of Seventh-day Adventist Church

Quote:

Regardless of the pretext, or how righteous the cause may appear, separation from the visible remnant [the SDA church] is apostasy from the body of Christ.
E.R. Bacchus, president of the Ontario Conference of SDA, Canada, in Messenger, October, 1994, page 2

Quote:

The local [SDA] church becomes the ‘port of entry’ to the kingdom of God.
North American Division Officers, in Adventist Review, October 1, 1992, page 23

Quote:

Therefore it is in the church...that He (Christ) invites all people who accept salvation....Church – who needs it? You do, and so do I – and all others who choose to love Christ...He invites us there, and still adds to it daily such as should be saved. Let us then treat church membership as the privilege it really is...
Brian Jones, Bible instructor in the Washington Conference of SDA, in Adventist Review, March 7, 1991, page 10

Quote:

There is some relationship between salvation and church membership.
Floyd W. Bresee, Associate Secretary of the General Conference Ministerial and Stewardship Association, in Adventist Review, v161, August 9, 1984, page 18


Anyone need a barf bag?...or is it too late to ask??


....Animal
Jonvil
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Username: Jonvil

Post Number: 558
Registered: 4-2007
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 8:30 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oh the PAIN!

I'm going to lodge a protest with the forum moderator.

You have no business posting mind altering 'blank' (reader supplies own adjective) like this without warning. You start with something this awful and next you'll be posting even worse stuff, like Ellen quotes. Is there no end to your depravity?

I'm going to take my marble (I lost the rest of them) and go play somewhere else.

(I was going to leave in a Huff but the battery is dead)
Mrsbrian3
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Username: Mrsbrian3

Post Number: 142
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 9:35 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Why do they need to solicit funds for advertising. Just put them all on a credit card with a due date that is after May 21.

I know ... bad ...
Freeatlast
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Username: Freeatlast

Post Number: 770
Registered: 5-2002


Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 11:13 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Prediction: Hiram Edson XVI will wander through a cornfield on May 22, 2011 and be swept up in a vision that there is yet another compartment of the Sanctuary in Heaven into which Jesus just moved the day before.
Grace_alone
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Username: Grace_alone

Post Number: 1925
Registered: 6-2006


Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 12:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mrsbrian3, HA!!! That's a grand idea.

They don't need any money if the world is coming to an end anyway...
Hec
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Username: Hec

Post Number: 1763
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 1:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Those quotes from Animal sounds exactly like what the Catholic Church would say. The difference is that when is said by SDA is truth, when is said by the beast is blasphemy. Go figure.

Hec
Blessed
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Username: Blessed

Post Number: 433
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 3:25 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was driving the other day and saw a billboard with the following on it: Judgement Day is coming, May 21, 2011. Cry mightily unto God for His mercy. Family Radio.com. 1280 radio AM. I hadn't had time to research it until now but found the following on the Amazing Facts Website:

Bible Prophecy Timeline
That’s why Amazing Facts is preparing to launch a unique, interactive, online Bible prophecy timeline. There is simply nothing like this out there now on the Internet. It’s going to be amazing!

This will be a careful, thorough, and spectacular study tool spanning the history of God’s Word from Creation to Eden restored. Among a host of other Bible information and timelines, this interactive panorama will help people see prophecy spread out in clear timeline charts. We will span the entire scope of human history from Adam to the millennium and the new earth.

People will be able to click on specific events connected with Bible history and see when it happened and how God has worked to fulfill the promises of His Word!

As they click on the various icons on the timeline, pictures and more information will pop up with dynamic links to deeper study to help them understand the big picture of God’s plan.

Plus, as the project matures, we’ll add an entire timeline of the Bible—including major events, characters, locations, kingdoms, and so much more.

For now, as visitors explore the final years of the timeline, they will see a visually clear, logical, and scriptural eschatology of the last days. Isn’t this an incredible alternative to the confusing secret rapture scenarios that have been so heavily promoted by various televangelists?

Powerful Evangelism Tool
This new timeline will be a very powerful evangelism tool for people around the world. Even Jews and Muslims, who also believe in Old Testament history, can go to this resource to see clearly that the Bible can be fully relied upon—including its message of salvation.

This will also be a wonderful resource for Bible students and teachers. It will help them personally understand and convey to their students Bible prophecy in a clear visual timeline, especially the teachings of Daniel and Revelation regarding things to come.

There’s something about the truth of the end times that brings both conviction and encouragement and motivates the church to holiness and evangelism. This is the truth that our world today so desperately needs.

I believe this project will be able to reach people all over the world. It will also help us accomplish three main critical objectives:

Evangelism—by reaching new souls with the message of salvation by directing timeline visitors to our online Bible studies.
Training—by providing believers with a clear visual understanding of Bible history and prophecy to share with others.
Revival—by impressing believers with a new, powerful experience regarding the certainty of prophecy and Jesus’ soon return.
Our planning indicates that the design, development, coding, and promotion of the website will cost approximately $210,000. But we believe this project is one of those mountaintop opportunities that will make a difference around the world for years to come.

So many dear people have been discouraged, confused, and deceived by false teachings. Your investment in this exciting opportunity will changes lives—so keep this project in your prayers.

Has anyone else on the forum seen this billboard in their city?
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 12566
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 5:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

They're shameless, I say. They really will use whatever means necessary to coerce people into studying with them. Of course, they would never say "coerce"--but manipulations is a form of coercion.

Colleen
Hec
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Username: Hec

Post Number: 1765
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 6:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oh, but wait. That's not all. If you send $500 within the next 10 minutes we will send you free a brand new Remnant Bible to really help you study the prophecies. And one more thing we will send you two Bibles so you can give one to someone you hate so they can learn the confusion gospel too.

All this and the blessings of EGW for only %500. If you order within 10 minutes, we'll pay the S&H.

Hurry, supplies are limited.

Hec
Helovesme2
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Username: Helovesme2

Post Number: 2822
Registered: 8-2004


Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 7:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

For what it's worth, the May 21, 2011 date is not set by SDAs, but by a man named Harold Camping and the following he has raised up from Family Radio listeners.

(Message edited by helovesme2 on May 10, 2011)
Nowisee
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Username: Nowisee

Post Number: 851
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 9:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here's an interesting little tidbit from the current issue of "Adventist Frontiers" written by Bill Fagal:


quote:

For the sake of absolute transparency, I want to take this opportunity to remind you what AFM is all about. (Perhaps you should brace yourself for a bit of a shock.) We are, in fact, a special operations cell; the highly-trained and fiercely dedicated cutting edge of a secret plan to end life as we know it on this earth. It's not a new conspiracy. It's an ancient one conceived before the foundation of the world, and its final execution is at least 150 years overdue.

"If all who had labored unitedly in the work of 1844 had received the third angel's message and proclaimed it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts....Years ago the inhabitants of the earth would have been warned, the closing work would have been completed, and Christ would have come for the redemption of His people"(Testimonies for the Church, vol.8, p.115)

Have you ever wondered when Christ will return to this earth and take you home to heaven? As you ponder that question, please remember that there is a variable in the divine math of this world's timeline, and it is you.




Great discussion, everyone. Blessed--great post!!
Pnoga
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Username: Pnoga

Post Number: 466
Registered: 1-2007


Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - 7:18 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"Prediction: Hiram Edson XVI will wander through a cornfield on May 22, 2011 and be swept up in a vision that there is yet another compartment of the Sanctuary in Heaven into which Jesus just moved the day before."

LOL, he moved from the Holy of Holies in Heaven to insdie the Ark of the Covenant in Heaven where he is actively comparing each commandment to one user at a time to see if they earned their salvation.. LOL, LOL, LOL.

Paul
Mrsbrian3
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Username: Mrsbrian3

Post Number: 143
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - 7:22 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Blessed,

I pass two on my 25 mile drive to and from work each day. One is on Highway 67 as you are coming out of Dallas and the other is on I20 as you cross from Dallas into Grand Prairie. Two major highways. It's been covered by the local news here. They interviewed a Methodist pastor who quickly debunked date-setting by quoting Jesus' "ony the Father knows" statement.

Kim
Blessed
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Username: Blessed

Post Number: 436
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - 8:04 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I went back on the Amazing Facts website and realized that they have taken the billboard picture and are using it as a springboard to promote their doctrines. We had an article in our newspaper this morning talking about the billboard and people's reactions to it. The pastor of a large Evangelical church said "A few people have asked me about the billboards and I just tell them to trust in God and in His forgiveness and leave the date to Him." Well said.
Dt
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Username: Dt

Post Number: 125
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2011 - 11:18 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

$210,000 for a website?

Wow.

I wonder if they are taking bids? When they have been writing and pondering the same exact timeline for the past 160 years, why would they need $210,000 to put the information on a website?

Seems a bit excessive.

dt
Skeeter
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Username: Skeeter

Post Number: 1413
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2011 - 4:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Do they offer refunds after May 21st ? :-)

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