"A 14-year-old girl from the Republic of Mari El in Central Russia has committed suicide, allegedly because she was afraid of the upcoming doomsday, predicted by the American radio preacher Harold Camping."
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...%29
Nastya Zachinova believed that the Rapture was about to take place on the date Harold Camping said it would, and allegedly took her life to avoid the suffering that would ensue after the event. Unfortunately for many who believe these date-setters against Jesus' own instructions, never seek for themselves the scriptures that explain what to expect. These false prophets who needlessly hurt many by unbiblical date-setting are many, and are even warned about in scripture. This is why it is very important to check these things out for one's self before putting stock into what someone claims.
"Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction," (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
It is clear that the "day" coming will not arrive until "the man of sin" is revealed (anti-Christ) ...as you can see the parameters for such an event aren't so clear. One also must take into consideration Jesus' Words that His "day" will come as a "thief in the night" when no one expects Him. It is at least clear no one will know the day or the hour...
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matthew 24:36)
So what instructions are there about the coming day of Christ's return and Tribulation of the world? Is there anything we can do? Or is it like some mock and say... it is just a fear tactic to extort money from people, or gain power over some? AS one who has had his life changed, I take the scriptures very seriously, and would encourage people to have a relationship with God instead of trusting in religious duties or rituals.
It really is God who desires a relationship with us and has instructed us to pray that we would escape such a day, knowing that God has provided salvation from sin, we can also be assured that the coming tribulation is not for those who are His own. God is doing everything He can to love and warn people to return to Him... are we willing?
"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth." (Revelation 3:10)
The temptation is to avoid the inevitable by simply ignoring it... Jesus Christ came once for all to put away sin by His sacrifice as a servant... He will return to establish His reign the next time, not as a servant... but as the King of Kings! As believers we have been given an instruction manual... so that the "day" does not take us unaware...
yet many scoff and misuse the scriptures... it doesn't change the truth.
I as millions have had their lives changed by the living Jesus Christ... the gospel we preach is not our own... we cannot deny that our live were changed; we cannot deny the Words of God that changed us; and we cannot deny the Spirit of God that leads us into all truth. We are chosen by God to be His witnesses, changed forever by His Promises, we cannot deny that Jesus is real and has given us life in His Name...
so we share what has been done for us...
according to His Word...
THE problem with the "Domesdayers" is that they follow not the Words of Christ, we must be diligent to follow Christ alone, or we risk being deceived...
He (Jesus) also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? (Luke 6:39)"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
The return of Christ is at hand... by us going to Him or His return to us. We need not fear if we have Christ as our Savior, we forget sometimes that He is the one reaching out to us... we won't just slip through His grasp... or escape His notice... our salvation is the reason He came to this world in the first place.
"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:33)"Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
(1 John 5:13)