The End Time and the Judgment Prophecy of May 21, 2011 – Will It Really Happen As Predicted? How about December 21, 2012?

Lately there has been an uneasiness that is turning into a frenzy throughout the world in connection to the signs of the END TIMES and the JUDGEMENT DAY predictions. There has always been a concern about when these events would actually occur but a sincere interest began to peak with the dead birds and dead fish events that recently took place around the globe. These reports bombarded the media, including 15 events being documented in one week. Some of the top stories included incidents in the Chesapeake Bay area involving millions of dead fish.  There were also thousands of dead birds that rained down from the skies in Arkansas and a town in Italy was filled with dead birds.

Scriptural Analysis.

As it was reported, this caused for an insecurity that permeated the earth as people began to seek answers from the Bible, not being totally satisfied with waiting for science to come up with definitive answers. The two scriptures that spoke to these untimely incidents that connected with what some deemed to signs of the “doomsday prophecy” was Zephaniah 1:3 and Hosea 4:3.

In Zephaniah 1:3 it says:

3. “I will consume man and beast, I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land,” Says the LORD. (NKJV)

Could this scripture really be a reference to a sign of the end times especially since it specifically alludes to the dead birds and dead fish?  It could be, but it could not be as well. Even if it was, the end would not yet be and I’ll explain why later in the article. With this said, at a minimum, we can conclude that it is possible that it could be but we don’t know exactly for sure. To add to this, one of the questions we also have to ask is what about the other mass amounts of marine life that died as well, like the octopi that are not mentioned in this text. However, in its context, this scripture is talking about nature and all if it inhabitants suffering for man’s sin as  part of the curse due to the Fall of Man in (Genesis 3:17). In the other connective verses, (Romans 8:18-22), explains that Creation itself is waiting for deliverance as well.

The other scripture reference that some theologians believed was the closest scripture that could be found to connect with the “doomsday prophecy,” as if Zephaniah was not close enough, was Hosea 4:3 which says:

3. Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beast of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.” (NKJV)

Could this scripture really be a reference to a sign of the end times especially since it specifically alludes to the dead birds and dead fish? It could be, but it could not be as well. Once again, even if it was, the end would not yet be and I’ll explain why in a moment. With this said, once again, at a minimum we can conclude that it is possible that it could be but we don’t know exactly for sure. However, when you do an exegetical study (comparing scripture with scripture to get the fuller context and meaning) this scripture also points back to (Romans 8:18-22) which, as I stated earlier, talks about man’s sin having a detrimental effect on the environment. Some theologians interpret this scripture to be defined as the whoring of Israel and the unfaithfulness of the priest of Israel. To add this, they believe that this verse has nothing to do with the apocalypse or the end times.

What the Bible Says About the End Times.

Then what are the signs that must come to pass that gives us an indication the end is near or coming? The Bible does have some specific answers to this pursued question. Though there are many questions that people have in connection to Christendom, one of the most widely asked two fold questions is, what will be the signs of Jesus coming and when will the end come? Even the disciples asked this very same question in Matthew 24:3. Jesus answers this question by first warning people of false signs and not to be deceived by anyone. He then gives some signs “of” His coming NOT specifically His actual coming. Jesus says that these signs must come to pass but the end is not yet but represents the beginning of sorrows. This term “beginning of sorrows” means “labor pains” which were expected to precede the end times, which marks the transition from this age to the Age to Come. Using this same analogy of a woman in “labor pains” we can conclude that there will be sever labor pains, delivery and then fulfillment. So the end is coming but Jesus goes on to tell the disciples not to be troubled because of this, at least not yet anyway. The signs are, according to the passage, Matthew 24:3-14:

• Many will come in His name saying, ‘I am the Christ and will deceive many (vs. 5).
• You will hear of wars and rumors of war (vs.6).
• Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (vs.7).
• Famines (vs.7).
• Pestilences (vs.7).
• Earthquakes in various places (vs.7) in which we have recently seen examples of this in Haiti and Japan.
• Christians will go through more tribulations, be killed and be hated by all nations for His names sake (vs.9).
• Many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (vs. 10).
• Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many (vs. 11).
• And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold (vs. 12).
• And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, AND THEN THE END WILL COME (vs.14).

If I can quickly comment on this last bullet point, the Gospel has not gone throughout all the world yet but is making further advances with each passing year as T.B.N. is infiltrating new untapped regions throughout the earth by way of T.V. One learned person approximated that only about 15% to 20% of the world has not yet been tapped into in connection to hearing the Gospel. If nothing else, the interesting thing is that we can agree that many of the signs listed above are happening now or have already happened. So what does this mean? In Matt. 24:33-34 it lets us know that the end is near, NOT coming on May 21, 2012 as my dear beloved brother in Christ, Harold Camping has been predicting. This passage of scriptures says:

33. “So you also, when you see ALL these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34. “Assuredly, I say to you, “this generation will by no means pass away till ALL these things takes place.” (NKJV)

The May 21, 2011 and December 21, 2012 Prophecies.

Interestingly enough, it appears that we may not have as much time as we think. So, how does this tie in with the “Judgment Day” predictions made by Harold Camping, the 89 year old former Civil Engineer and owner of Family Radio station based in San Francisco California? He concluded this misinformation by expressing that he used a formula to calculate “doomsday” from the Bible?  The last time Mr. Camping used his formula to calculate the end of the human race on September 6, 1994 he was wrong and admitted having made a calculation error. The controversial prophecy maker is back on the scene with his latest prediction and believes that he has gone back to the drawing board and has gotten it right this time. I’m sorry Mr. Camping, with all due respect, especially for my elders; I must encourage you to prepare for yet another calculation error press conference.

I watched a special on CNBC called Apocalypse 2012 this past Sunday night something very interesting to say the least. Now Mr. Camping has some prophecy predicting company as there are many other misguided people and groups who believe that “Judgment Day” will take place on December 21, 2012, the last date of the Mayan calendar. I wish they would make up their minds because this is getting a little out of hand. At least they agree on the day and year but if everyone is supposedly using the same Bible, how can this confusion be? The latter groups of people had various different conspiracy theories as to how “doomsday” would happen that included tidal waves, (we know this is false Biblically because God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants after him, never to destroy the earth by water again and provided the rainbow as a sign of His covenant in Gen. 9:8-17).  Other conspiracy theories include portals opening up that a man has to jump through to prevent “doomsday” from happening, just to give some examples. These people are really preparing for this by actually building all kinds of shelters and hideouts of some sort to protect themselves. They even have an Apocalypse 2012 Conference where they are going to gather that cost over $2000.00 per person and online registration is multiplying every day. Just like the song on Sesame Street said, “One of these kids is doing their own thing” because this is insane, for a lack of a better term, to prepare for a date, excuse me two dates, that are not going to happen when they are suggesting that it will.  Why? Because the Bible says in Matthew 24:36, 42-44 says:

36. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” 42. “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” 43. “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.” 44. “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (NKJV)

I was driving down I-95 North heading back home after having dropped my wife off at work when I saw a Grand Cherokee truck that had a sign on the hood, both doors and the back window. As I got closer I noticed that it said: “JUDGMENT DAY MAY 21, 2011-MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY.” As I sped pass the truck I did not even beep the horn because even though they may have been my brothers in Christ and mean well, I did not want to show my support of their erroneous prediction. Besides, I have my website and my book cover, A Field Trip to Hell, plastered on all four sides of our truck, but for marketing purposes only, not in connection with any “doomsday” predictions. However, I did agree with the later part of the sign that said “MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY.” I then thought to myself while still driving, let’s say for the sake of argument that Mr. Camping or these other groups of people were right about their “doomsday” prediction dates, whichever one it may be. I believe that God would change the date just for the sake of what He said in His Word in Matthew 24:36 and 44 which says:

36. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” 44. “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Just know that THE END will come one day, perhaps one day sooner than we think. However, according to the Bible, it WILL NOT come as predicted on these two dates.

In conclusion, with right being right and wrong being wrong, there are positive and negative representations in every religion and no religion is in a position to cast any stones. With that said, we have to also keep in mind that the negative representations does not make them bad people per se but maybe they are misinformed or just needs their passions harnessed. Even though I disagree with Pastor Jones in connection to the burning of the Quran, or anyone who would burn the religious materials of any religion for that matter, I still love him as my fellow brother in Christ. To add to this, I will not by any means judge him as a person and definitely not his salvation for only God can do that. In addition, the negative depictions carried out in the name of the various different religions do not represent everyone connected with that particular religious affiliation. However, as it specifically pertains to Christendom, we have to constantly see the big picture. That is to, while leaving room for imperfection, do the best that we can to always be mindful of our testimony and message that it sends. This is so that we can project that which puts us in a position that will allow us as Paul the Apostle said, win some. We need to be careful how we exercise our Christian liberty so as to not place a stumbling block in the path of people and turn them away from what we believe more than we already have in this dispensation. The Church already has two black eyes and has shot itself in both feet. If there was ever a time to bring about healing in connection to the image of the Church, the time is now. Even though we have a long road ahead of us and an uphill climb to make we can start by being a lot more careful about how we exercise our Christian liberty. We have to care enough to start somewhere. I can only give you what the Bible has to say and what God would want us to do.

Pastor Kevin Benton

Kevin Benton attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA., the world’s largest Evangelical Christians School, founded by the late Chancellor, Rev. Dr. Jerry Falwell. While at Liberty, he was a member of the basketball team that represented the first Christian School to ever play in the N.C.A.A. tournament against high school friend and former N.B.A. player, Rasheed Wallace and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Kevin Benton is a Minister, Youth and Young Adult Pastor, Recreational Director, Ex-professional basketball player and a Child Care Social Worker. He has played against some of the best players in the world including N.B.A. players Kobe Bryant, Yoa Ming, Aaron McKie, Rick Mahorn, Jerome Allen, Paul Graham and the list goes on. Kevin Benton is the C.E.O. and founder of Kevin Benton Ministries and is a very knowledgeable and anointed speaker, gifted to preach and teach the Word of God. He is the author of the published book, “A Field Trip to Hell” and was invited multiple times as a guest on the Trinity Broadcasting Network for an interview on the "Praise the Lord" segment, which aired on T.V. In his book he tells of a real visitation to Hell experience that he encountered when he was in college which motivated him to write the book. He exposes the world to the 30 revealed torments of Hell firsthand, according to the Bible so that people might realize that Hell is a real place and to avoid it at all cost.

More Posts - Website