In my last post I began to look at the teaching ministry of Family Radio and their president, Harold Camping. It is sad to see how a ministry that was generally a decent Christian radio station has become a really serpentine inspired ministry aimed at undermining the fundamental doctrines of the bible and shipwrecking the faith of some. However this fall from grace did not happen overnight and there has been an architectural design behind it all, no pun intended (Harold Camping’s former occupation was as a builder). At the core of the fall of Family Radio is the teachings of the president of the station, Mr. Camping himself.
Where it all Began: Mr. Camping, according to his own testimony, after serving for years as an elder of Almeda Bible Fellowship, was asked to resign from his position and was prohibited from teaching anymore. This happened around the year 1988, which coincidentally was around the same time that Camping says he began to get “new information” from the bible concerning end times doctrine. According to his version, his being asked to step down was evidence that the corporate churches was apostate. Notice the egotism here. Camping equates his discipline by the elder board of his old church as nothing short of a prophet from the Old Testament being persecuted by apostate Israel.
In any case, this raises the question why Mr. Camping was asked to step down from being an elder, and to stop teaching in his church. Was it simply a case of persecution of a modern day prophet? Or did the elders have a substantial reason. We will never know the details, because that elder board has never gone public with the details, but I can assure you Camping is not a prophet. With that option off the table, I think it is reasonable to assume that one of the major reasons why Camping was forced down was because of his unconventional interpretation of scripture.
No Private interpretation: Before Camping even came out with his modern heresies, he has already had a reputation for using strange techniques for interpreting scripture. This comes down to hermeneutics. For those who do not understand this fancy word, it means: “the study of interpretation”. For generations there are established ground rules to hermeneutics. In other words, no one is simply free to put their own spin on scripture but we are bound to rules of interpretation that are consistent with logical analysis and literary comprehension. Understanding linguistics, historical context, literal vs. figurative interpretative, and other such guides prevent men from “twisting” the scripture to say something it is not. Once you abandon hermeneutics you leave the door open for a floodgate of personal opinions of scripture that are only relevant to the one interpreting. But God’s word is not some hodgepodge of words for the ignorant and unstable to victimize and shape the way they want, but rather scripture is a solid objective and clear revelation of God’s mind, which we must study hard to find out the true meaning of scripture.
For Camping, the bible is a spiritual book. Which is true. However the way he frames that statement is meant diminish the need for the application of hermeneutics. His reasoning goes like this: the bible is spiritual, hermeneutics is not spiritual, therefore we cannot use conventional hermeneutics to interpret the bible. According to Camping churches and seminaries and theologians have not grasped this point and have all failed to properly interpret scripture. In fact just recently he told a caller on his Open Forum program, that there are NO seminaries, NO Churches and No preachers who preach truth any more. He claims they are all teaching from a view of the establishment and have not listened to or obeyed the scripture. In another call he instructed one of his listeners not to read any books written prior to the end of the church age, claiming they are “worthless” because they did not include the “new information” he has recently received. With such audacious claims, Camping has excluded everyone as a legitimate bible teacher except himself or anyone of his proteges.
Camping’s Hermeneutic: According to Camping, the bible (which is a spiritual book), must be read and interpreted by a spiritual person. Of course Camping is spiritual enough to know this. And only those who are spiritual will be able to interpret the bible his way. This is where the fun comes in, Camping’s spiritualizing of the texts in the bible is based on allegory, calculating numbers, and forcing every text in the bible to explain any piece of ‘new information’ he receives from the Holy Spirit. There are two things I want to expose here. First is the faulty and questionable usage of allegory and numbers. And second I must expose Camping as being nothing more or less than a Gnostic in reformed garb. First is the danger of allegory, number and the such. While I do not have time to look at many examples, one example of Camping’s interpretations is classic. It comes from John 21:9-11.
“When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.”
Here is Camping’s take, more or less. 153 is an important number. It is (17 x 3)3 = 153. The number 17 come from Jer. 32:9 where Jeremiah buys a plot of land for 17 shekels. The number 17 represents judgment. Therefore just as God brought judgment on the house of Israel through Babylon in 586 BC, God is bringing judgment on the corporate church since 1994. The number 3 which is used twice indicates the divine accuracy and surety of this interpretation and judgment. For Camping the net that Peter is carrying the fish in represents the true believers who have departed out of the church in during the end of the church age. It actually become a more complicated matrix of numbers and connecting bible verses. But I cannot remember how complex it was. In any case this serves a small example of how Camping interprets scripture.
What Camping is doing is called overspiritualizing and isogeting the text. That is, he is reading far too much into the text instead of taking out of the text what it was intended to mean. This gives an idea on how every passage of the bible winds up becoming proof texts, for Camping’s “new information” and is allegorized to fit into that view. When allegory becomes the chief rule in interpretation there are no boundaries to what one can make scripture say.
Nothing New: Finally let’s talk about Camping’s “new information.” This is the real obvious and straight out aspect of Camping’s ministry that discredits him. According to Camping, starting in 1988, God began to reveal “new information” in the bible that had not previously been revealed to other Christians. He equates this new information with the book that has information sealed up in it until the last day of Daniel 12. He argues that the words and information that were sealed up in the book during Daniel’s time is the new information he is teaching now. He explains n that since 1988 the information has been “coming in” in increments (which explains his miscalculation of 1994) and that now he has the complete revelation of new information, that is until something new is revealed to him. The scariness of all this is that Camping has claimed exclusivity in receiving this new information. Which means he is establishing himself as a prophet (though he will never admit it). Because the little book from Daniel 12 has been opened, only true Christians who have been given spiritual insight will understand and believe Harold camping. This new information includes: the end of the church age, the atonement of Christ before the foundation of the world, the abolition of eternal judgment, and the prediction of parousia on May 21, 2011.
When Camping says he has received this secret information, and that only spiritual people will listen to him, this is the exact framework of Gnosticism. The Gnostics were an early cult in the early church. They developed as a result of false Greek converts who sought to blend Christianity with the pagan and Greek mystery religions. The result was a brand of Christianity which claimed to have secret knowledge that only special individuals would understand. To receive this secret information was to be blessed with special illumination. This secret cult became very popular in the early church especially in gentile churches. The Gnostics were the most dangerous, and appealing cults to the early church and were fought against diligently by the early church fathers and the apostles. When Camping claims to have “new information” that has been kept secret but now revealed only to a select few Christians, he is really saying he is a Gnostic who is not revealing anything new, but only revealing his own mind.
The bible makes it very plain in Rev. 22:18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book”
Camping is essentially adding to the word of God. His doctrine is strange and is not in accordance with scripture. He has taken great liberties to interpret scripture in light of his own warped views and claims they are divinely inspired. Not only has he done great injustice to the Word of God, he has condemned every Christian as anathema who do not subscribe to his teaching. Camping is a classic Gnostic who is full of himself and full of hot air. No serious Christian should entertain his teachings except for the purpose of dissecting his heresy.
Next- Analyzing his claims.
Thank you for posting your fair and just analysis of the false and divisive cult of the heretic, Harold Camping. Just a month or so ago, I accidentally stumbled on his “Family Radio” broadcasts, and began to listen to his call-in shows. I liked what I heard at first, until he said one day that anything that anyone hears from the Holy Spirit is not from God, but from Satan, and cannot be trusted, being “not from scripture.”
“Wow!” I thought. “Who is this freak?!?” I continued to listen when I was in my car. Then I heard him say that the “rapture” will take place on the precise date of October 21, 2011, and at that time, Grace will END on the earth.
At this, I knew in my heart that this guy is either insane, completely evil, or possibly both. After this I listened with rapt horror, as one who sees utter evil being done in the daylight, like driving slowly past a horrible gory automobile accident. But I listened to his lies only another time or two. Now I pray that NO ONE will hear or believe this evil man, this false prophet.
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
– Matthew 24:36-44
Nuff sed.
By: Michael on November 4, 2009
at 2:36 am
Great post. I attended Camping’s church growing up. Around sixteen I realized something was wrong. Wives and children were getting beaten by husbands and fathers, and the elders didn’t care. Many of the teenagers were dope heads and all but two of the teenage girls were sexually active. I think they like thinking about how wicked other people are so they don’t have to repent of their own sins. Phariseeism never dies.
I am always encouraged to see ex-followers who have gotten back on the straight and narrow.
Brandie
By: Brandie on August 9, 2009
at 4:57 pm
Dear Robert,
First, I want to thank you for taking your time to address these very serious issues. After all, we are talking about deceptions that can affect our loved ones and bring much confusion. I say this from experience!
I was an avid follower of Harold Camping for about 5 yrs. I studied with him and would not listen to anyone else! I was convinced everyone that didn’t believe what he taught was lost. But by the grace of God and His tremendous mercy, He pulled me out of “the Harold Camping cult!” The May 21, 2011 date setting and the annihilation teachings did it for me man! There are way too many scriptures that contradict date setting AND the swift annihilation ideas!
The following verses are verses that clearly refute Harold Camping and his erroneous teachings:
Deut 29:29
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Acts 1:7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in His own power.
Deut 18:22
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID OF HIM.
(1994?)
Matt 24:36
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matt 25:13
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
vs 46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Rev 14:9-11
…If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
vs 15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
These are just a few of the many verses that I will gladly put up upon request. Once again, thx for your time and consideration in these matters!
By: Carlos M on July 3, 2009
at 1:47 am
Dear Robert,
I read your bio on your church’s website and am familiar with North Shore Baptist church. During the dark period I attended that church, the so-called God-appointed pastor there would be talking about election one minute and the next minute I would be hearing a works message. There is always something to please everyone in the churches.
Trying to talk to pastors about the Word of God is like talking to a brick wall. You all learn and preach systematic theology, which is not sound doctrine.
I have learned much since seeing the abomination of desolation as an eyewitness and leaving the church altogether. I believe that one had to actually be present in the churches at least 45 or 50 years ago to actually “see” what we are supposed to now see.
The truth has set me free, Robert. I can now read Matthew 16:18 and recognize the spiritual meaning of the invisible church. As a trained pastor, all you would have me see in that verse is the cold, brick building you preach in, albeit not for a paycheck.
Robert, FYI, Adam was not perfect. I knew this when I was a child being taught in my Lutheran Sunday School 55 years ago and I have more recently undertaken an in-depth, actual study of the matter. It turns out, I was right, way back then. Adam was “corruptible”, “earthy” and “sensual”. I’m sorry to say that you are bound to the traditions of men. I used to be, but not any more.
Also, water baptism is merely a shadow. Just like the Lord’s supper is a shadow. “As oft as ye” tells us that there was a limit to these rituals. At some point, the building of the spiritual temple must be completed by God before Christ returns.
1Ki 7:1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
There were definitely some “old paths” of Jer. 6:16 that endured through the ages. But there were also several major “new paths” that seeped in and they also endured.
April
By: April on June 28, 2009
at 11:48 pm
April- I can give a lengthy reply to your response today, but I will not. I can make the same argument about you and every Campingite. “Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall.” But that will not get us no where. You accusations of me being bound the traditions of men are slanderous. And accusations of Ed Moore preaching works based salvation is even more slanderous. How is it that you have come to think any form of systematic doctrine is bad? As I said in another place there are numerous references in the bible that refer to a systematized pattern of doctrine in the early church. You know where you are inconsistent is that you some how pride yourself that your own system of doctrine is “unsystematic” but “harmonized”. Give me a break. Your body of doctrine is just as systematized as any other body of doctrine. Harold Camping’s is an extremely complex matrix of systematized doctrines. As for myself, I go by scripture alone. I am not bound to traditions of men, but to the clear teaching of God’s word.
As for yourself and others who are Campingesqe, you cloak your spiritual pride with a false humility. What it comes down to is that people like yourself, you are only interested in your own private interpretation of scripture. You run to 1 John 2:27 as your spiritual justification of how you need no people to teach you, yet become teachers yourself of you own doctrine and belief system. You prove my point further of Campingite teachings being Gnostic. You claim that you have been set free, and now you are more spiritual and more enlightened than other Christians. This exclusive mindset,m is riddles with pride and screams of Gnosticism.
1 Tim. 6:3-4 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.”
By: Robert Gianserra on June 29, 2009
at 11:40 am
Dear Sir,
I agree. After all, who can argue with Revelation 22:18? However, all the self-appointed leaders of the church add to and take away from the Bible just as much as Harold Camping does on his own.
Camping (AND PASTORS) are essentially adding to the word of God. His (AND THEIR) doctrine is strange and not in accordance with scripture. He (AND THEY) have taken great liberties to interpret scripture in light of his (AND THEIR) own warped views and claim they are divinely inspired. Not only has he (AND THEY) done great injustice to the Word of God, he (AND THEY) have condemned every Christian as anathema who do not subscribe to his (AND THEIR) teachings… No serious Christian should entertain his (AND THEIR) teachings except for the purpose of dissecting his (AND THEIR) heresies.
Harold Camping’s deceptive teaching includes a few truths here and there. One is the fact of annihilation of the unsaved. The other is the end of the church age.
“Cease ye from man”. There comes a time when believers need to understand and deal with Isaiah 2:22.
April
By: April on June 28, 2009
at 11:30 am
Dear April
You seem quite confused. You seem to equate ALL bible teachers as “adding to the word of God”. Why is that? As for the church, it was established by God and not man. Matt. 16:18 says very clearly, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” That is Jesus himself speaking. Pastors and elders are not self appointed entities, but appointed by God. The bible teaches us that all authorities are appointed by God (Rom. 13 :1-5) First of all Christ called the 12 apostles (one of whom was an imposter) to establish the church. After he ascended to heaven he gave them authority and a commission to build the church (Matt. 28:18-20) This is traced out very clearly in the book of Acts. The gospel is preached, people are saved, and churches are planted. In each church elders are appointed by the specific body (Acts 14:23, Titus 2:5) Not only was their a succession in terms of God ordained leaders for the local church, but a body of doctrine called the “Apostles doctrine” (Acts 2:42) that was the basis of early Christianity. Evidence of this is in Paul’s pastoral letters (1 Tim. 1:3,4:6,16, 6:3,20, 2 Tim. 1:13, Titus 1:9, 2:1 ). After a long period of the apostasy of the Roman Catholic Church, true believers protested Rome and thus the Reformation. The return to understanding true and pure biblical doctrine as the bible teaches it not man. It was Sola Scriptura that allowed reformers to search God’s Word and see what God is really saying on all issues. There have been many disagreements over the years because, man is fallible and there are some things that are hard to understand in the scripture. However to deny that all doctrine is a product of man is false. There is a real and genuine meaning to Scripture that exists outside ourselves, and that we must all arrive at. That real meaning is consistent with absolute truth. That is because God is truth, and therefore his word is truth. As we struggle to study and arrive at the truth, there are bumps along the road and people can make errors. However with all that said, there are certain truths the bible teaches that are unquestionable. Such as salvation through faith alone, through Christ alone etc. But what I have contended is that Harold Camping has taken tremendous liberty in saying things that scripture does not even refer to in the least bit. His claims are based on esoteric and allegorical constructs. With that kind of basis of interpretation the feidl is wide open for anything. I can have alot of fun spinning scripture and then say, “The bible has some new information revealed” But for what purpose? As a faithful minster of the Gospel, I preach to explain the plain meaning of the text, and allow the Holy Spirit to change peoples hearts.. The bible is clear and is in plain language, “making wise the simple” Ps. 19:7.
As for Harold Camping’s beliefs on Annihilation and The End of the Church Age, I plan to examine those claims very soon with new articles. Stay tuned. If you are serious about accepting the bible as the divinely inspired and inerrant, than we must use the bible as the final authority on all matters of teaching. Scripture cannot contradict itself and say something it doesn’t.
By: Robert Gianserra on June 28, 2009
at 10:26 pm