I’ve been fooled with predictions about the end of the world before. When I was in high school, I got this pamphlet announcing that Jesus was coming back in October 28, 1992. I was only a kid who hadn’t finished reading the New Testament then so I literally had no idea what the Bible said about the end times. (That’s the reason why I didn’t know the distinction between the end of the world and the coming of Christ. I just sort of lumped them together in my head.)

At the back of my mind, I wasn’t really convinced that it was going to happen so I never told anyone about it, not even my family. I figured that if it was indeed the end of the world, I would have been ready for it. If it was not, then I had nothing to lose. I know it sounds very selfish but you really can’t blame an thirteen year-old boy from making contingency plans to save his face, can you?

The night before the predicted date of the rapture, I stayed late into the night to keep my watch. I brought our wooden sofa outside, took a pillow and a blanket and pretended I was stargazing. What my mother didn’t know was that I was actually watching the skies, waiting for the world to fall apart with clapping thunders and earthquakes and the glorious appearing of Jesus in the clouds.

The clock struck midnight but everything looked serene and perfect with the moon shining beautifully over the clouds. No sign of volcanic eruptions and Armageddon, no trumpet sounds in the four corners of the world, no heavenly creatures flying up the evening skies. I didn’t float in the air and flew to heaven. I didn’t hear the sound of celestial choir welcoming me to God’s presence. All I heard were crickets and frogs croaking in the nearby rice paddies.

“Maybe heaven’s clock is later than our wall clock…” I encouraged myself. “Or maybe it’s not supposed to happen at exactly 12 midnight…”

I went to bed still a bit hopeful that I’d be in paradise in less than 24 hours. Maybe tomorrow, the trumpet sounds would wake me and I’ll be having breakfast in heaven. Wait, do they even serve breakfast in heaven? Do people still eat dried fish in their glorified bodies?

But October 28, 1992 came and went like any ordinary day for me- sunrise, school, home, dinner, homework, bed. Jesus didn’t return. The world wasn’t ripped off its hinges. Everything just moved on like they should. I got to grow up and learn many things about life, about God, about the Bible and of course, about eschatology. Typical.

Last Saturday, the world was supposed to end according to Harold Camping. It didn’t happen.

Of course it didn’t happen! The Bible is clear that nobody would know when it’s all gonna happen (Matthew 24: 36). I can understand why Camping had to feel strongly about end times. I also look forward to Jesus’ return but that should not blind us of other pressing issues the Bible is more concerned about, like the evangelization of the world (Matt. 24: 14) and us keeping ourselves pure and holy (2 Peter 3: 10- 14).

Many angry and mocking words have been hurled at Harold Camping; I won’t add to the chaos. Like him, I was also deluded once. Sure, mine was more private while his was so spectacularly public. But it is in times like these that our love and compassion are most necessary. Camping may have strayed far away from evangelical doctrines but at least it’s not yet the end of the world (no pun intended).

To all those who were disappointed, there’s plenty of time to recover and get back on your Christian life. Forget all those predictions about the date, get busy with the more important stuff.

“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” 2Peter 3: 14