I predict that Harold Camping, the elderly radio talk show host now predicting Judgment Day on May 21, 2011, and the end of the world October 21, 2011, will adjust his predictions to future dates after doing further calculations on May 22, 2011.

I believe my prediction will most certainly take place because “no one knows the day or the hour,” according to Jesus. Since Camping is working from the genealogies in Genesis 5 and 11 and the account of Noah’s great flood, I assume he can and will come up with calculations to support new dates for the world’s demise.

William Miller, a sometimes Baptist preacher, predicted the end of the world no later than March 21, 1844. He adjusted his prediction after the fateful day passed without incident, lighting on numerous dates in 1844.

Edgar C. Whisenant predicted that the Rapture of the church would occur September 13, 1988. As an American pastor, I received his free booklet, “88 Reasons,” which I keep as a more recent example of misguided apocalyptic fervor. Whisenant was insightful enough to realize that his date had passed without incident, so he then predicted September 15, 1988; then October 3, 1988; and then again selected a day in 1989, 1990, 1991, etc. By then no one was listening.

So why are we listening to the pompous and presumptuous Camping? He thinks all churches were abandoned by God and conquered by Satan on May 21, 1988, his own un-churched and unaffiliated status apparently providing him protection.

This is Camping’s second go-around for predicting the end of the world. His book “1994?” postulated the end of days in 1994 with a tad more humility. He thought at that time he could be wrong, but apparently all uncertainty has passed.

I first encountered Camping’s date on a huge billboard in Accra, Ghana. Similar signs in downtown New Orleans encourage us to “save the date.” Seminary students here are discussing the prediction, and various Christian ministries have gotten on board with Camping just as Trinity Broadcasting Company partnered with Whisenant in 1988.

Expectation of the return of Jesus Christ and the end of the age is an historic part of orthodox Christian theology. It should keep Christians future-oriented and eager to see God’s unfolding plan. It gives hope beyond human strength and wisdom. And it provides confines for human history that exalt the role of God in the world and set all human effort in the context of God’s sovereign rule.

Setting dates for the end of the world is a truly bad idea. While it may remind us of God’s ultimate authority, it also disappoints and disillusions those who assume the prediction to be true. I have personally witnessed the flagging enthusiasm of those who thought they knew when the end would come.

The prophets generally profit from their prediction in various ways but often recover nicely despite the inevitable disappointment. The average person who is caught up in the excitement of the final day leaves the whole ordeal with a bad taste in his mouth.

Judgment Day is coming because justice is an eternal quality of our eternal God. May 21, 2011, is a great day to hope in God’s sovereign rule and continue your faithful routines. If the end of the world should catch you in the classroom or at work instead of on the mountain, you will be found faithful.

Dr. David Crosby

First, you will never hear any better exposition of God’s word in America than you will from those preaching at this conference.  Every speaker is known for being an expositor of God’s word and each one’s position on the Pre-Millennial rapture of the church is a result of proper exegesis of the Scripture.  Second, this is the Kentucky Derby of all conferences.  In the Kentucky Derby you cannot register just any old hag to run.  The horse has to be a thoroughbred race horse.  Boy, did Dr. Vines line up the thoroughbreds for this conference!  It begins with Dr. Jerry Vines.  I liken him to the last Triple Crown Winner Affirmed, who during all three Triple Crown races was challenged by Alydar.  Affirmed prevailed in every race in which Alydar challenged him.  Dr. Vines has certainly prevailed in all of the mini races he has run, but the race he runs for Christ is certainly one in which he excels.  Dr. Vines is certainly the Statesman of the SBC.  His service to Southern Baptist churches and our convention, including his stands on the Scripture, have been rivaled by none.  Dr. Vines preaches with the passion of a zealot and the heart of Christ. He reminds me of that song by Newsong, Finger Tips and Noses.  The song tells of a school for special needs children.  The teacher in this school told them about Jesus and how he would return to get us one day.  The song goes on to explain that they cannot keep the windows clean because the children press their finger tips and noses against it so they can see Jesus when he returns.  I imagine that Mrs. Vines has a hard time keeping the windows of their house clean because Dr. Vines is pressing his fingers and nose close to the window looking for Jesus’ return.

Dr. Junior Hill will end the conference.  I liken Dr. Hill to the 1937 Triple Crown Winner War Admiral who injured his right foreleg coming out of the gate in the Belmont but went on to complete the triple crown win. Dr. Hill, in one of his books, tells the story of going through the painful time of a forced resignation.  Many would have looked for something else to do even within the Christian world, but not Dr. Hill.  He saw it as God’s leading him to be an encourager for pastors, and encourage us he has.  Dr. Hill went into full time evangelism in 1967 after serving in the pastorate for eleven years.  He has been preaching for over 50 years and can still shuck the corn.  Dr. Hill gives practical advice from Biblical truths in every message he presents.

This conference will be a scholar’s dream.  Dr. Vines has filled this conference with scholars par excellence; Dr. Ergun Caner, Dr. Danny Akin, Dr. Paige Patterson, Dr. David Allen and Dr. Richard Land.  Looking at the schedule, each session will cover a biblical perspective from the position of a Pre-Millennial return of Christ.  I look forward to hearing God’s choice servants as they present God’s word.  Maybe the rapture will happen while we are there. :)