Maybe you have heard of Harold Camping. He’s the fellow that is predicting that the rapture will take place this Saturday on May 21, 2011 and that the world will end Oct. 21, 2011.

This isn’t the first time that Camping has made a prediction like this. You may remember that he made the same claim back in September of 1994, and when his prediction did not come true, he blamed mathematical errors in his work.

Camping obviously has not read or has completely disregarded the words of Jesus concerning the end times.

He said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:31 – 33)

According to this Scripture, even Jesus didn’t know when it would take place, but He left us some instructions about what we should do in regards to the endtimes.

First of all, Jesus says that we need to be prepared. The rapture and the end of the world will take place some day, and all throughout God’s Word we are given warnings to get ready for it. You can get ready by trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Secondly, we should be working while we wait. Jesus has entrusted the message to us, and we need to get it out to everyone possible before it is too late. Christians tell people about the need to get ready because they love them with the same kind of love that God loved us with. God loves you, and wants you to experience his love as well.

Will the rapture take place this Saturday? I don’t know, and neither does Harold Camping. But what if it does? What if it happens today? Are you ready?

Shawn M. Rose

Ironton