Looks like a sweet old grandpa, doesn’t he?

In case you’ve been out of the loop on this, his name is Harold Camping.

If you haven’t heard of him, you’re probably thinking, “so what?”

Well, I hate to break this to you, but ol’ Harold says it’s Judgment Day . . . tomorrow, May 21, 2011.

I’ve hesitated to write about this guy and his whole contrivance. A few months ago my coworker asked me what I was going to be doing on May 21, 2011 or something like that. I wasn’t sure what she was talking about and she mentioned Harold and his theories that May 21, 2011 is judgment day.

There are a ton of reasons why Harold is off his rocker. There is, of course, all the obvious scripture passages that almost everyone knows (Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32) where Jesus says that even He, as the second person of the Trinity, does not know the exact timing.

But there is another, maybe not so obvious reason.

The Bridegroom and His Bride

The first coming of Jesus was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. In fact, Jesus held the Israelites accountable to know Daniel 9:26 because it prophesied to the exact day when Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Because the people failed to know this day, Jerusalem fell in 70 A.D.

However, His Second Coming will be like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4).

Jesus compared the hour to ten bridesmaids. Five of them stayed alert with their lamps full of oil and five of them did not. What’s the significance? The ten didn’t know when the bridegroom was returning! (Matthew 25:13).

So much of prophecy and Jesus’ Second Coming is wrapped up in the ancient, Jewish wedding practices. In those days, there were three stages:

• The first was engagement.
• The second was betrothal.
• The third was marriage. About a year after betrothal, the bridegroom came at an unexpected time for his bride.

In other words, the bride was waiting for the bridegroom and had to be ready for him to return at any moment. The bride (the church) did not know when the bridegroom (Jesus) would be returning for her (us).

We are to be ready at any moment because Jesus can come back at any moment.

Friend, Jesus is coming back and soon. It might be on Saturday, May 21, 2011. I don’t know and neither does Harold Camping.

Only God the Father knows the hour when He will tell His Son: “It’s time to go and get your bride.”

The real question and real issue is: are you ready? Are you ready this very moment for Jesus to return?

May He Increase!

If you were not able to attend or view the live webcast, below is the video from one of the services from the weekend.

We were all blessed by his visit. I was able to speak with him briefly and found him to be so humble and warm. You’d never suspect the life that he lived previously. There wasn’t even a glimmer of pretentiousness or pride. This is a man who has been radically changed by Jesus.

If he is ever in your area, don’t pass up an opportunity to hear him speak!

Have you heard him speak before? Have you met Michael Franzese? What has been your experience?

May He Increase!

• “Pearl Harbor Attacked!”
• “President Kennedy Shot!”
• “Planes Crashed Into the World Trade Center!”

Late last night, a new headline has entered the American lexicon:

“Osama bin Laden is Dead”

It’s been nearly 10 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon of 9/11. It’s not an over-statement to say that Osama (Usama) bin Laden was–at least for the United States–enemy #1.

The United States was attacked by a band of murderers. Talk to any World War II veteran, and they will tell you that this was nothing like Pearl Harbor. Back in 1941, that attack was a military operation against military personnel. 9/11 was a cowardly, despicable, and wicked act against innocent Americans, masterminded by Osama bin Laden.

As of this writing, the news is still coming in and the details about the exact date of when we avenged the murder of the innocents is to be determined. There have been reports that bin Laden was killed on Easter Sunday. If true, I love God’s sense of timing.

Still, as America rejoices over this victory over one of our biggest enemies, I can’t help but think that it’s not out of the realm of impossibility that a new Osama will rise in his place. At the very least, this will only serve to anger our enemies.

I think there is a key passage in Proverbs that is especially poignant at this time:

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him. –Proverbs 24:17-18.

Remember, our God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23). We should feel pity for those held captive to a belief system whose aim is to kill innocent people in the name of a false god.

Our enemies need our prayers. Our country needs our prayers. Our men and women in our armed forces need our prayers. May Almighty God lead us all into His will and may His will continue to be done.

May He Increase!

It was called “President Reagan’s Radio Address to the Nation on the Observance of Easter and Passover.” It was broadcast on April 2, 1983.

We just celebrated Easter this past weekend. I only wish I had seen this video sooner. However, it’s still timely and quite frankly, it provides a stunning contrast between two presidencies. Moreover, it was like a splash of cold water in my face at how much the times have changed in almost 30 years since it was given.

Pay close attention to a couple things he says:

• 0:30 – 0:50: Sadly, our nation has rapidly moved away from this.
• 0:50 – 1:00: What a contrast to what Obama has said about the Bible–with such contempt–from the podium recently.
• 1:00 – 1:40: I can’t even imagine Obama would ever even have the guts to even mention the crucifixion of Jesus.
• 1:40 – 2:00: Passages such as this really make me long for the days when our president had no qualms about sharing his faith. This is the President of the United States actually speaking about the Resurrection of Jesus with such calm reassurance, trust, and faith in the plain truth of the Bible! Amazing!
• 5:30 – End: Starting at this point, I wonder what Reagan would say if he were alive today. It’s a safe assumption the man would shake his head in disgust and shed a tear for what’s become of our great nation.

The hardest quote for me from this address came at the very end:

“If we live our lives and dedicate our country to truth, to love, and to God, we will be a part of something much stronger, and much more enduring than any negative power here on earth. That’s why this weekend is a celebration and why there is a hope for us all.”

Stunning. It’s sounds like something you’d hear in church than from the Oval Office.

No, we can’t go back. We must keep pressing forward. But these types of things must not go forgotten. We cannot allow our heritage to be suppressed by those who stand against truth, love and God. We must stand firm in our faith and keep fighting the good fight against evil.

What say you? How does this video strike you? Surprising? How far do you think we have fallen?

May He Increase!

If you don’t know who he is, I invite you to take a few moments and watch this YouTube video which will give you an idea.

Heard of him? He was even a character in the movie “Good Fellas.”

Michael will be speaking at all the weekend services of April 30/May 1 at Knott Avenue Christian Church. If you are in the area, we would love to have you join us and listen to his powerful testimony. KACC is located at: 315 S. Knott Avenue, Anaheim, CA 714-527-5195.

Can’t actually make it to the church that weekend? You can watch a live webcast Saturday night, April 30 at 5:00 pm Pacific time by clicking here.

Have an iPhone or Android? Download the UStream Viewer app to watch it on your mobile device.

Knott Avenue Christian Church does a live webcast every Saturday night at 5:00 pm. Our ministry would be blessed to know you are watching and worshipping with us from the Internet. Click here to watch the live webcast or any of the recorded ones.

May He Increase!