June11 Beacon

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Wading River Baptist ChurchP.O. Box 438, 1635 Wading River-Manor Road, Wading River, NY 11792

(631) 929-3512; 929-6022

www.wrbc.us [email protected]

A Tragedy of ErrorsPart 1: Hermeneutics

Well, May 21st came, and Jesus didnt. By

this time, most of America knows that

Family Radios founder, owner, and chief

Bible teacher, Harold Camping, publicly

declared that, according to the Bible, Jesus

Christ would return to earth on May 21,2011, and divine judgment would begin.

He was adamant. Beyond the shadow of a

doubt, May 21 will be the date of the Rap-

ture and the day of judgment, he said to

reporter Tom Breen of the Associated Press

in a January 3 interview. At 6:00 PM on

that day, local time, each time zone would

be hit by rolling catastrophic earthquakes.

Just how certain was he? In the same in-

terview, he concluded, If May 21 passes

and Im still here, that means I wasnt

saved.

When the Lord Jesus did not return onMay 21, did Camping hold a press confer-

ence and announce that he had not been

saved all along? Did he even humbly con-

fess his heretical date-setting, declare him-

self to beby biblical definitiona false

prophet, and then beg the forgiveness of

his many blindly nave followers? Did he

promise never to engage in this sort of

speculation again? Not at all. On May 22,

Camping described himself to the news

media as flabbergasted, and unable to

explain why events didnt transpire as he

expected. He was looking for answers, he

said. Equally perplexed were his manydisciples, some of whom had liquidated

their life savings to spread the word of the

impending rapture via RV caravans, some

5,000 billboards, and full-page magazine

advertisements. Camping and his predic-

tions have become the butt of irreverent

jokes throughout the media. Genuinely

evangelical believers, whose faith is tainted

by the apocalyptic nonsense disseminated

by Family Radio, wish Camping would just

go away.

Unfortunately, however, he has not,

and it turns out that we have not seen the

end of Campings mischief. In fact, he

found his answers rather quickly. On May

23, Camping resumed taping his Open

Forum program, declaring that he was off by five months. The earth will now be

obliterated on October 21, 2011. In other

words, we have to go through all of this

nonsense again. He did exactly what Wil-

liam Miller did in 1844, when Christ didnt

come as predicted. He declared that May

21st was indeed a spiritual judgment day

(some of us called that one!). Even his

employees at Family Radio were dismayed

that they saw no humility, but only arro-

gance. Campings public relations aide,

Tom Evans, told the Los Angeles Times,

We obviously went too far, and thats

something we need to learn from. But will

they? Thats highly doubtful.

The tragedy is that we have been

through all of this before when Camping

predicted the end of the world and the

coming of Christ in 1994, which didnt

happen because he (trained as a civil engi-

neer) made a mathematical error! One

would have thought that he would have

checked his math this time. He has, how-

ever, decided that since judgment and sal-

vation were completed on May 21st, he will

not warn people anymore. Family Radio

will just play Christian music and Bibleteaching programs. The world will have to

be surprised when it is obliterated in Octo-

ber!

The question that we are addressing in

this issue of The Beacon is why Camping

makes these predictions. How do we ex-

plain the obvious heretical nonsense of

someone who says he believes that the

Bible is absolutely true and authoritative,

and is Gods message of salvation (Camp-

ing, We Are Almost There, p. 1)?

The first problem with Camping

thinking is his view of divine revelatio

Gods revelation, he says, consists of thr

parts. The first two are as expected, t

Old Testament (1447-391 B. C.), and t

New Testament (A. D. 33-95). But, Caming asserts, the New Testament, like t

Old Testament, was written by God in su

a way that many truths set forth in it r

mained hidden from the true believers

the church age (p. 2). These hidden trut

concern the accurate understanding of t

timing of Gods salvation program and t

final 23 years of the history of the worl

Thus the third part of revelation is ne

truth: It is almost like God has given

an addition to the Old and New Test

ments (p. 3). The New Covenant is t

whole Bible, and God is now finishing o

understanding of the Bible.

Thus, Camping holds to a view

Gods Word that includes new revelatio

This is a very serious error, but one th

has, almost without exception, disti

guished false religions and the cults. Th

hold to the Bible plusthe teaching of t

Roman magisterium, Science with Key

the Scriptures, the Book of Mormon, t

writings of Ellen G. White or Herbert

Armstrong, etc. Every false religion clai

ing to be Christian insists upon addition

revelation beyond the Bible. Camping f

well into this category of cult. Thatwhy he has fallen into the errors of decla

ing that the church age ended in 1988, th

Christ died twice, and annihilationis

(there is no hell and the unsaved simp

cease to exist).

The second problem underlyi

Campings theology is his faulty hermene

ticshis method of interpreting the Bib

He insists that almost every church in t

world cannot understand many truths

the Bible, and that is because they don

obey the Bibles instructions concerni

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continued on page 2


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continued from page 1

interpretation. Although he stresses the

importance of the original languages, he

himself was never trained in the languages

and frequently betrays his ignorance. But

the heart of his method of interpretation is

his spiritualizing hermeneutic. Camping

reserves his most vitriolic scorn for the

man-made literal, historical-grammatical

method of biblical exegesis, the method

which interprets the biblical text according

to the normal usage of language. Concretelanguage is understood concretely and

figurative language figuratively. It is no

wonder that Camping is so hostile to this

hermeneutical method, because it is the

only one that would ensure that he would

not wander off into grievous interpretive

error. This method, used consistently by

conservative evangelical theologians, is to

be totally rejected, says Camping.

The reason for this is that the Bible is a

spiritual book. His hermeneutical prin-

ciple is based on Mark 4:33-34, which re-

cords that Jesus did not speak to them

[the crowds] without a parable. However,

Camping conveniently leaves out the rest of

verse 34: but He was explaining every-

thing privately to His own disciples. Thus,

Camping assumes that every detail in

Scripture has some hidden, mystical mean-

ing; and when it comes to prophecy, the

keys to understanding have only been re-

vealed since the end of the church age in

1988.

Campings background is in the Re-

formed Church, and this denomination is

committed to Covenant Theology with its

accompanying amillennialism. Reformedtheology has, for the most part, historically

ignored the details of biblical prophecy; it

has dismissed the interpretation of pro-

phetic truth based on literal, historical-

grammatical exegesis. This interpretive

mysticism, better described as allegoriz-

ing than spiritualizing (theres nothing

spiritual about faulty interpretation), has

therefore distinguished Reformed escha-

tology, but not its approach to other divi-

sions of theology. For example, Reformed

theology does not allegorize the cross (or

other doctrines concerning salvation).

When it comes to eschatology, however,

Reformed theology has chosen to employ

so-called special hermeneutics, which

amounts to the application of allegorizing

to biblical prophecy where it would reject

that approach to the rest of theology. What

Camping does, then, is to extend mystical

hermeneutics to details of prophecy which

most Reformed, amillennial preachers and

teachers have treated superficially, or not

at all.

Specifically, words like Canaan, Is-

rael, Judah, Jerusalem, Zion, the temple,

etc. are used to represent the kingdom of

God. They are used spiritually of the

church which, during the church age (A. D.

33-1988), externally represented the king-

dom of God (WAAT, pp. 9-11, 14). Like

most Reformed theologians, Camping re-

gards the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 as a

symbolic (spiritual) number representing

the church age (completeness). The ac-

tual number was 1,955 years, but then ac-

tual numbers cannot be allowed to get inthe way! The insuperable difficulties

Camping faces in interpreting Revelation

20 this way are apparent when he says that

in the church age, Satan was bound so as

not to deceive the nations, but even though

he was bound, he still went about as a roar-

ing lion (p. 15), leading to the failure of the

church. Bound or not bound, Mr. Camp-

ing? Which is it?

Camping justifies his approach to

prophecy with Daniel 12:9 (these words

are concealed and sealed up until the end

time). The problem was that the man-

made hermeneutics of the churches made

a great amount of biblical information in-

accessible (pp. 19-21). In his view, the

entire Bible is a parable. There is hidden

spiritual meaning behind each historical

detail, and finding the truth requires an

immense amount of Bible study (p. 19).

He, of course, was willing to do that im-

mense amount of study, and thus, almost

every day new truth is pouring from the

Bible (p. 21). Alluding to Amos 3:7 (that

God does nothing unless He reveals His

secret counsel to His servants the proph-

ets), Camping assumes he is the one to whom God has revealed His secrets, thus

tacitly ascribing to himself the status of a

prophet (p. 22).

Here, then, are the basic principles of

interpretation embraced by Harold Camp-

ing as he has given them (WAAT, pp. 24-

26).

1. The Bible is a very analytical

book, written like an engineering book,

where truth is presented as absolute fact.

2. Each and every number recorded

in the Bible is accurate, even if it is difficult

to understand.3. There is great precision in the

occurrence of historical events (numbers of

years, etc.).

4. Frequently, God uses numbers to

illustrate spiritual truth. Camping assigns

specific meaning to specific numbers (2, 3,

4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 23, 37, 40, 43).

Number 17, for example, symbolizes

heaven, and number 43, Gods wrath or

judgment. Large numbers are then broken

down into smaller numbers. 153 is 3 x 3 x

17. Thus as for the 153 fish the disciples

caught (John 21), it is Gods purpose (#

to bring to heaven (#17) all those whom H

has saved.

5. Sometimes numbers prophesy

future event. Daniel 12:12 speaks of t

blessing of those who come to the 1,3

days. This prophesies the coming of Jes

whose ministry lasted from September 2

A. D. 29 until May 22, A. D. 33, a total

1,335 days (!).

6. The true understanding of a biblical truth comes only when the H

Spirit decides that it is time for us to kno

that truth.

7. The ceremonial feast days a

shadows of things to come. Much

Campings speculations about prophe

dates is grounded in the dating of th

ceremonial feasts.

One can see the significant role th

numbers play in Campings hermeneuti

Even in the matter of biblical interpret

tion, however, its true that there is not

ing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9). Camings fascination with and manipulation

numbers reflects the Jewish Kabbalah,

brand of esoteric mysticism with roots

the 1st century, but which fully emerged

the Middle Ages. Jewish exegesis w

founded on four methods, only one

which was the literal sense (Peshat); t

other three involved mystical, hidden, an

allegorical interpretations. Kabbal

(tradition) claimed secret knowledge

the unwritten Torah communicated by G

to Adam and Moses, knowledge which pr

vided a way of directly approaching Go

Texts were interpreted according to t

realand the symbolic. Kabbalism assign

meaning to letters of the Hebrew alphab

and eventually involved magic formul

and the symbolism of numbers (the met

od called Gematria which is similar

Campings speculations).

In the Middle Ages, the influence

Kabbalism was passed down throu

Jerome and Augustine to Roman Catho

Scholasticism in the quadriga (the fourfo

sense of Scripture: literal, allegorical, an

gogical, and tropological). Thus the te

usually did not mean what it seems mean, and Camping has eagerly embrac

a similar approach to interpretation.

The important reality about these sy

tems of interpretation is that they all led

serious theological error, and by adopti

similar non-literal interpretive method

Camping has likewise perpetrated dece

tive beliefs. He has many devoted follo

ers, and his refusal to acknowledge t

errors of his beliefs and his persistence

date-setting may lead to the developme

of an identifiable new cult. Believers fu

continued on page 3


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committed to the truth of the inerrant and

authoritative Word of God should be aware

of this danger and reject all past, present,

and future influence from Camping.

Perhaps the most sobering issue of all

is Campings words quoted above, If May

21 passes and Im still here, that means I

wasnt saved. Mr. Camping needs to give

that statement serious consideration now

that May 21st has come and gone. His fol-

lowers need to do the same, and then move

forward by rejecting his teachings, joining

solid Bible-preaching churches, commit-

ting themselves to grow in the grace and

knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jes

Christ (2 Pet 3:18), and living faithfu

until He actually does return. Maranath

Pastor Ron Glass

Getting Acquainted with Dennis Tyska

It is fair tosay that a

man re-

ferred to as

a lifelong

Long

Islander

would be

somewhat

stereotyped

as a city slicker or something in the close

vicinity of one. Native New Yorkers are

perceived to be in the fast lane of life tak-

ing in Broadway shows and all the sights.But we can safely say there is one New

Yorker, a Long Islander, who is still living a

half mile from his childhood home that by

no means fits that perception of a typical

New Yorker.

Dennis Tyska, born and raised in the

Riverhead area, grew up on a farm with the

simple life of the land. That was when the

roads to Riverhead cut through farms and

not much else. He was a part of a Polish

community com-

prised mostly of

farmers, many of

whom were part

of his extended

family.

Dennis was born in Greenport, NY on

July, 22 1946, the second of three children.

His father, John Tyska, farmed until Den-

nis was 16 years old; at that time, he began

bartending at the Riverhead Polish Hall

while assisting in the management of the

Hall. His mother, Helen Tyska, was a de-

voted Mom, always in the kitchen with

down on the farm cooking.

Dennis attended the Riverhead High

School and being a farmers sonhisafter-school activities were somewhat lim-

ited; his father worked seven days a week

and his mother did not drive. Just like all

farm boys, Dennis learned to drive as a

very young boy and always found time to

do a few wheelies in the back fields of the

farms. You might say his love for driving

trucks began there in the farm fields.

In 1966, shortly after graduating from

high school, Dennis enlisted in the Air

Force and served three years during the

Vietnam War. His three-year tour of duty

included one year duringwhich he was stationed in

Thailand (July 1967

through July 1968).

After Dennis was

honorably discharged from the Air Force,

he worked with a friend delivering home

heating oil. This job demanded that Den-

nis obtain a CDL (commercial drivers li-

cense), which he acquired and has kept

We must not forget to mention

1973 Ford F-250 pickup truck! At the a

of 35, Dennis began transforming a simp

Ford pickup truck into a semi-monst

trucka truck with the big wheels and

roll bar!! The truck was a masterpiece

perfection and an extension of his growi

love for trucks and being on the road.

few years after the transformation of h

truck, a duplication of the truck was com

pleted by a family member; only this tim

as a miniature replica in the form of a ba

tery-operated toy truck. It kept the kid

Dennis nourished.

activ

her condition and at all hours of

the

ly to have the mar-

riag

nd married Dennis on

December 31, 1983.

e.

In 1970, Dennis gained employment at

Cablevision, where he remained for 22

years. He worked up the ladder of em-ployment until he became the head-end

technician maintaining the electronics and

six tower sites throughout Long Island. His

job included many hours of being on call

when the severe weather conditions would

wreak havoc upon the quality of the recep-

tion. If the quality of the picture on the TV

was not up to par, who would they call??

Dennis, of course! Snow, sleet, pouring

rain, or damaging windsit did not mat-

ter. Ever faithful and courageous, Dennis

would be adjusting equipment or even

climbing one of the towers in every imag-

inable weat

Never having children, Dennis i

stantly became a Dad of sorts upon marr

ing Joan. Joan had two daughters and fo

foster children, all teenagers. This broug

Dennis to the reality of a crash course

parenting, one which cut him loose of h

carefree ways as he supported his wife

striving to create a loving safe haven for tchildren. As the home became an emp

nest, another young teenager in need of

roof and support moved in with the inte

tions of staying for two weeks but inste

became attached and stayed for two yea

The relationship bonded into a pa

ent/daughter relationship and is still

this day rooted in the Tyska family. Not

have the guest bedroom empty, a you

Polish student found her place in the Tys

family for a time before returning to P

land. With each young teenager, Denn

fatherly wisdom grew, earning him t

well-deserved title of DaDennis or Ba

mamajama.

night.

Also working at Cablevision (as a dis-

patcher) was a single Mom. A friendship

grew, only to be put on hold for a while

when the single mother quit Cablevision

and moved on to a better-paying job. Den-

nis also moved on, marrying his high

school sweetheart on

e end in divorce.

Fortunately, the paths of the single

Mom, Joan Tyska, and Dennis crossed

once again, and what used to be just a

friendship got shifted around to a deeper

relationship of a soul-searching bond.

Joan became Dennis best friend, sharing

all of his griefs and sorrows as well as the

joys. Joan, in the early stages of the rela-

tionship, was not interested in marrying

again. Dennis, on the other hand, had

other plans for the relationship as he pa-

tiently waited for her to change her mind;

she eventually did a

Once all the children were grown an

on their own, attention was turned

Joans Mom, aging and living alone

Ocala, Florida. This motivated the ro

trips to Florida twice a year to check in

Mom English. Dennis did not pass on t

opportunity to buy a 37 motor home f

the semiannual trips to Florida. Mom

was being cared for and Dennis was on th

road again!!! He was happy.

continued on page 4


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By Dennis 50th birthday, it was time to

bring Mom E. back to Long Island and

move her into the empty guest room. Once

in NY, Mom E. preferred to attend a Bap-

tist church, instead of the Wading River

Congregational Church where the family

had been attending. So, the very next Sun-

day, Dennis, Joan and Mom E. became a

part of the WRBC under Pastor Glass

preaching.

Dennis was raised Catholic, with relig-ion never being one of the strong points in

his life. There were always a lot of unan-

swered questions; as a result, he remained

in limbo spiritually. But now in a hus-

band/wife relationship, Joan became a

catalyst in a spiritual awareness on Dennis

part. As the years accumulated at the

WRBC, so did Dennis spiritual wisdom

and willingness to accept Jesus Christ as

his personal Savior. In 2010, Dennis was

baptized and joined the church along with

his wife.

As Cablevision advanced in its tech-nology, Dennis position became less se-

cure; by 1992, Dennis was laid off to seek

new employment. Fortunately, Dennis has

a way of being a jack of all trades allow-

ing him to master whatever is necessary to

continue with an income. He began his

own lawn business, mainly with senior

citizens as his clients, and his popularity

grew within the senior community.

But when the opportunity arose to

work for Ivy Acres of Calvertona position

that would put him on the road againhe

sold his thriving lawn business and went

full-time with Ivy

Acres, where he is

still employed

today. He entered their employment as a

salesperson with the traveling show truck,

later moving into the position of a truck

driver delivering interstate.

Being on the road is a passion of Den-

nis and as he serves at the WRBC, the pas-

sion is extended to driving the church bus.

There is never a moments hesitation for

another WRBC road trip if his work sched-

ule allows it. When you have spent your

whole life on Long Island as Dennis has,

you take advantage of opportunities to get

off the Island and explore.

As the fast life of New York City ex-

panded east on Long Island, the simple lifeof the farmer began to deteriorate; how-

ever, this trend had little effect on Dennis.

Once the country life was embedded in

Dennis heart, it has remained without

apologies. He is pure country but now with

a western flair. He still loves to work the

land and has three tractors through which

his creativeness can flow. His imagination

is quite vivid and innovative, and it shows

around his home. There he has built ar-

bors, a pond (more to the size of a small

lake; big enough with a bridge to an is-

land), and many gardens to allow his wife

to work.

As stated before, he is a jack of all

trades; Dennis has a God-given ability to

fix almost anything. He becomes a most

valuable commodity of a household adher-

ing to a budget. Not only does he keep his

own home in a state of repair, but also the

respective homes of his Mother down the

road and his Aunt and Uncle in Riverhead.

His greatest passion is being on the

road in the RV, getting off of Long Islandand exploring life outside of NY. He loves

camping, exploring, and being in the coun-

tryespecially when he can sit by the

campfire with his wife. He still bowls in a

league with his brother and nephew, and

likes his NASCAR. In his younger years,

Dennis excelled in sports; yet he never had

an opportunity to join a team. He on

owned a boat and would spend his fr

time fishing, clamming, or crabbing a

then sharing his catch of the day. His da

of deer hunting with his buddies upsta

during Thanksgiving week are long go

and have been replaced with family a

church responsibilities.

It is not hard to spot Dennis. He is t

guy with the cowboy boots and hat. Denn

is most comfortable in a pair of jeans bcleans up well in his western garb. H

sense of humor is not only catching b

uplifting as he finds humor in almost an

thing. Dennis is quite at home in t

kitchen, always possessing a farm boy

appetite. On occasion, Dennis will trade

his cowboy hat for a chefs hat to prepa

his favorite mealbreakfast.

As Dennis has attended the WR

over the past 15 years, his walk with Chr

has continued to strengthen and his unde

standing of Gods Word has steadily pr

gressed. He continues to study the Bib

being particularly fascinated by the gre

battles of the Old Testament and by t

book of Job. He loves the fellowship a

freely gives of his time in taking care of th

church bus and ushering, among oth

things.

Now if this article seems biased anyway, it probably is. Dennis is my hu

band, my best friend, and someone

share eternity with. It cannot get any b

ter than that.

Joan Tyska

Missionaries of the Month Joe and Denise Holman

Joe and Denise

Holman are mis-

sionaries inCochabamba,

Bolivia, with the

goal of radically

impacting Bolivia

by igniting the

church pastors and leaders to know God

better and to love Him more. For now,

though, they are in the states with their 11

children and have been since June 3, 2010,

with hopes of returning to Bolivia by Au-

gust 2011. Studies have shown that home

assignments are essential for long-term

missionaries, which the Holmans are.

They had been on the mission field for

three years; it became necessary to fulfillthe requirement of a one-year home as-

signment that would permit a time of re-

freshing, visiting, preaching, fund raising,

and chilling with their friends. One of their

early visits after arriving in the states was

to the WRBC on June 13, 2010, when the

church welcomed Joe to the pulpit. At that

time, it was with hopes that Joe would re-

turn to the WRBC with his entire family

before returning to the mission field.

After receiving a little money from

Joes fathers estate when he passed away,

they decided to use the money for a neve

to-be-forgotten vacation to Disney Wor

and for a cruise. Joe shared pictures of hentire family and of this memorable eve

(along with other updates and informatio

on Facebook as well as his on his w

pages: www.Holmanfamily.org

www.TheHolmansInBolivia.blogspot.com

or www.Joe-Holman.blogspot.com;

makes for interesting reading and offe

real insight into life with the Holmans.

As for the children, the oldest, Seth,

now 22 and is living in Alexandria, VA, an

is working as a waiter. Next in line

Jacob, 21, living with the family for th

continued on page 5
http://www.holmanfamily.org/http://www.theholmansinbolivia.blogspot.com/http://www.joe-holman.blogspot.com/http://www.joe-holman.blogspot.com/http://www.theholmansinbolivia.blogspot.com/http://www.holmanfamily.org/


5/8


year with plans to attend college next year.

Caleb, 18, was given the choice to finish his

senior year here in the states but has cho-

sen to return to Bolivia. The restBen

(16), David (14), Josh (12), Faith (11), Hope

(9), Joy (7), Patience (6), and Mercy

(2)are all being homeschooled by Denise.

When they return to Bolivia, Joe will

embark upon a new facet of his ministry.

The largest newspaper in Bolivia, Los

Tiempos, has asked Joe to write a shortarticle each week on marriage and family.

Joes articles will appear in a Sunday

magazine insert called Happy Families

(not a Christian magazine) that resembles

Parade magazine. He has asked not only

for your prayers but ideas for topics he can

expand on in the areas of marriage and

parenting. You can e-mail Joe Holman at:

[email protected].

The Holmans love staying in touch

with everyone and have given you multiple

ways to do so. Please take the time to

check them out on their websites or onFacebook. It is obvious from the pictures

and blogs that there is a lot of love in this

family, n

even to me

tion the sen

of humor th

is bei

shared wi

one anoth

You will fall

love wi

them, especially knowing how deeply th

love the Lord as they impact the world sharing the message of Gods Word.

Joan Tyska

A Month in Review

April 29, 2011 will be a date remembered

by the history books; the date when Prince

William of Wales married Kate Middleton.

The attention given to this royal wedding

captured the hearts and souls of people

worldwide as everyone lived in the fantasy

of the event. The pomp and circumstance

given to such an occasion in the grandeurof Westminster Abbey was beyond all ex-

pectations of ones imagination.

But for those that love the Lord and are

constantly waiting for Christs return, April

29, 2011 will not hold a candle to what is

awaiting Gods children. May this royal

wedding be a reminder to be ready for our

royal ascension in the pomp and circum-

stance of Gods love?

May 1, 2011 The Bible study resumed at

the Hallstroms home after a month of can-

celed meetings due to excessive holiday

scheduling. Only, this particular Bible

study started an hour

earlier to accommodate

a surprise 60th birthday

buffet to honor Doug

Heuzey. Bonnie Heuzey,

with Jackie Hallstrom

assisting, put together a

wonderful buffet, birthday cake and all, to

celebrate Dougs milestone birthday of 60

years.

May 5, 2011 Regular Wednesday night

prayer was moved to Thursday night to

accommodate National Day of Prayer. It

was a time when churches all across Amer-ica observed this annual event with unified

prayers for our nation. Let not the prayers

stop as we continue to pray for our nation

and our leaders at such a critical time. May

we continue to pray daily for a revival

among evangelical churches in America

and a great awakening of lost sinners?

May 8, 2011 Pastor Glass never forgets

to honor the mothers on Mothers Day

especially his own Motheras he fea-

tured his Mom in the May issue of The

Beacon. It was a wonderful tribute to his

Mother, very representative of how WRBC

honors our mothers. May God continue to

bless and honor moms, especially those

who honor His Word.

May 13, 2011 Not enough is ever said

about WRBCs AWANA program under the

leadership of Chris and Jackie Hallstrom.

They run a full schedule of Friday nights

beginning in September through the end of

May, with sometimes as many as 16 young-

sters attending. One of the favorite events

remains the Grand

Prix when each

AWANA participant

purchases a small pine block of wood and

plastic wheels from which they construct

their cars, hopefully getting one or both of

their parents involved

with the project. The

cars race on a wooden

two-lane track, this year

run by Kendal Conway,

one of the AWANA assis-

tants. Awards are given for the best design

and the fastest car. The following Friday,

May 20, 2011 was the final night of AWANA for the 2010-2011 season where

awards were given out and the AWANA

kids were able to spend their AWANA dol-

lars in the AWANA store set up for this

purpose. Throughout the year, the kids

were able to earn dollars through club

attendance, wearing their

uniform, bringing their

handbooks, bringing a

visitor, and completing

handbook sections. Jacob

Chapman was one of the

recipients of a special 1st prize award.

May 14, 2011 For the seniors that are

senior denial and missing the Senior Sain

Luncheons, you have missed another ou

standing luncheon honoring our vets a

coming together as Gods Army for a mea

loaf and mashed potato

luncheon. It was a recordturnout to hear Bill

Mallman not only lead

the devotions but to hear

him make a joyful noise

on his harmonica and

banjo. Diane Pandolfini showed up in f

army gear supplied by her son serving

the army; this was Dianes tribute to o

fighting men. Closing the activities for t

afternoon was a very loving and surprisi

acknowledgement to the Senior Sain

leader (that would be me, Joan Tyska) o

her birthday. Even a writer can be lost f

words at moments like this; so humbly

saythank you!

May 21, 2011 Congratulations are

order for Mike Pandolfini on his retireme

after 23 years with the Long Island Ra

road.

May 21, 2011 Spring work day turn

out to be the perfect day weather wise

tidy up around WRBC. Flower beds we

weeded and cultivated, curbing repair

bushes trimmed, the kitchen cleaned, a

the biggest project of allthe garage w

cleaned out. Clutter had been collecting

continued on page 6
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


6/8


the garage for many years, and for Cheryl

Sunderland and Maureen Glass, this was

not only a big task at hand but a most cou-

rageous move on their part.

May 22, 2011 was designated as Mayday

for Marriage Sunday by the New Yorkers

Family Research Foundation as New York

churches focused on preserving the biblical

and historic definition of marriage in the

face of a powerful effort on the part of Gov-

ernor Cuomo and some in the state assem-

bly to pass legislation permitting same-sex

marriage in New York. The bill has been

put under the disguise of Governor

Cuomos Program Bill, so stay alert to its

progress.

July 25-29 seems a good distance away, b

plans are already in the working f

WRBCs Vacation Bible School. Ple

pray that it will all come together in

timely fashion.

Joan Tyska

A Tragedy of Errors

Part 2: Eschatology

In his cover article, Pastor Glass addressed

both the incorrect view of divine revelation

and the faulty, allegorizing hermeneutic of

Harold Camping, the president and principal

Bible teacher of Family Radio. This article

will build upon the foundation laid by Pastor

Glass and will summarize Mr. Campings

overall chronology (his timeline which begins

with creation and concludes with the end of

the world) as well as his eschatology (doctrine

of the last things).

The information communicated in this article

is from the revised edition (August 2010) of adocument authored by Camping entitled, We

Are Almost There! (WAAT). To download

this book, go to:

http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/litera

ture/waat/waat.pdf

Campings chronology is based upon his con-

viction that numbers recorded in the Bible

frequently have a spiritual meaning in addi-

tion to an earthly, literal meaning (WAAT,

p. 51). To the fourteen integers listed below,

Camping has assigned the following spiritual

meanings:

2 those who have been commissioned tobring the Gospel.

3 Gods purpose.

4 The farthest extent in time or in distancethat God spiritually has in view.

5 The atonement, which emphasizes bothjudgment and salvation.

7 The perfect fulfillment of Gods purpose.

10 The completeness of whatever is in view.

11 The first coming of Christ, 11,000 yearsafter creation.

12 The fullness of whatever is in view.

13 The end of the world, the details ofwhich began exactly 13,000 years after crea-tion.

17 Heaven.23 Gods wrath or judgment.

37 Gods wrath or judgment.

40 Testing.

43 Gods wrath or judgment.

Camping frequently represents the large

numbers in his chronology as the product of

multiple smaller numbers included in the

above list. For example, according to his Bib-

lical timeline, there are 722,500 days (inclu-

sively) between the Crucifixion of the Lord

Jesus Christ on April 1, A.D. 33, and the

(falsely predicted) Rapture of the church on

May 21, 2011. Camping factors 722,500 into

(5 10 17) (5 10 17), and comments:

We have learned the spiritual meaning of

these numbers. The work of the atonement

(5) is completed (10) when all of the elect are

safely in heaven (17). This wonderful fact is

doubled by the repetition of the three num-

bers, 10 5 17. This emphasis is, according

to Genesis 41:32, because the thing is estab-

lished by God, and God will shortly bring it

to pass (WAAT, p. 61).

Lets examine twelve important dates in

Campings chronology, starting with Creation.

11013 B.C. Creation. Camping places the

year of Gods creation of the heavens and the

earth seven millennia earlier than did James

Ussher (A.D. 1581-1656), the biblical scholar

and Archbishop of Armagh in the Church of

Ireland. Ussher, in his monumental workThe

Annals of the World, deduced that the first

day of creation commenced at nightfall pre-

ceding Sunday, October 23, 4004 B.C. An-

swers in Genesis has made Usshers respected

chronology available in a graphical format:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v

27/i4/TimelineOfTheBible.pdf

4990 B.C. The Flood. This cataclysmic

event occurred 6023 = 6000 + 23 years after

creation; the mystical meaning that Camping

ascribes to the number 23 is Gods wrath or

judgment. Archbishop Ussher dated the

global flood of Noahs day at 2349 B.C.

1877 B.C. Jacob to Egypt. When Jacob

and his family were commanded to leave the

land of Canaan, it was like being commanded

to leave the kingdom of God (WAAT, p. 41).

1447 B.C. The Exodus. Camping accu-

rately states that Israel was in Egypt for 430

years to the very day (Exodus 12:40-41) (p.

29). However, it is vital to note at this pointthat Camping fails to consistently distinguish

between Israel, Gods earthly, covenant na-

tion, and the Church, the heavenly bodyand

bride of Christ. The Bible frequently uses

words such as Israel, Judah, the temple, etc.,

in speaking about the churches of the church

age (WAAT, p. 9).

587 B.C. Babylonian destruction of

Jerusalem and the Temple. Camping

cites Daniel 12:11 in an attempt to explain the

1,290-year interval between Jacob and his

family leaving Canaan and the destruction of

Jerusalem at the hand of the Babylonians.

October 2, 7 B.C. Birth of Jesu

Camping maintains that Jesus was born on

year of jubilee (WAAT, p. 27; cf. Lev 25:8-13

April 1, A.D. 33 The Crucifixion.

May 22, A.D. 33 The Beginning of th

Church Age. The church age officially b

gan on the following Pentecost (WAAT,

50), which is affirmed by Scripture (Acts 2).

May 21, 1988 End of the Church Ag

For 1,955 years, the churches all over t

world were symbolic of the kingdom

GodTruly, God was forever finished usithe churches to represent the kingdom

God (WAAT, p. 41). Campings eschatolo

contains a 23-year (8,400 days = 7 12 1

days) great tribulation period that follow

immediately after the church age and whi

he divides into two unequal parts.

September 7, 1994 Completion of th

first part of the great tribulation. T

2,300-day period between May 21, 1988, a

September 7, 1994, was a time when all ov

the world, and within all of the church

virtually no one was being saved (WAAT,

43). Camping also notes that 3 1,290 yea

(10 3 3 43) had elapsed since Jacob dparted Canaan for Egypt, once again invoki

Daniel 12:11 (p. 40).

May 21, 2011 Conclusion of the se

ond part of the tribulation, and th

Rapture of the church. According

Camping, the last 17 years have actually be

the 6,100-day final period of salvatio

(WAAT, p. 54). The Holy Spirit was pour

out so that outside of the churches, that

completely independent of any church an

where in the world, a great multitude, whi

no man could number, would become save

Although believers were not removed fr

the earth on May 21, Camping insisted thaspiritual judgment had still occurred.

October 21, 2011 End of the worl

Not surprisingly, Camping assigns spiritu

meaning to the 153 days following May 2

The number 153 spiritually breaks down to

3 17, just as it does when we examined t

153 fish (WAAT, p. 62). Camping strains

further justify this date by representing t

1,978 years between the Cross and the Apoc

lypse as 2 23 43, and by claiming th

7,000 years have elapsed since Noahs flood

Peter Albrecht
http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/waat/waat.pdfhttp://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/waat/waat.pdfhttp://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/waat/waat.pdfhttp://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v27/i4/TimelineOfTheBible.pdfhttp://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v27/i4/TimelineOfTheBible.pdfhttp://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v27/i4/TimelineOfTheBible.pdfhttp://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v27/i4/TimelineOfTheBible.pdfhttp://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v27/i4/TimelineOfTheBible.pdfhttp://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/waat/waat.pdfhttp://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/waat/waat.pdf


7/8

JJuunnee 22001111

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 8:00 AM Ladies Prayer Joan Tyska (727-5998)

7:00 PM Prayer Meeting

and Exposition of Psalms

2 3 4

5 9:45 AM SundaySchool (OT History II;

Dr. Vic Bellard)

11:00 AM Worship

6:00 PM Small Group

Study of Ephesians at the

Hallstroms (886-1334)

6 7 8 8:00 AMLadies Prayer



9 10 11

129:45 AM SundaySchool (Missionaries

Jim & Tessie Wroth)

11:00 AM Worship

(Jim Wroth)6:00 PM Bible study

13 14 7:00 PMBoard of

Deacons

Meeting

15 8:00 AMLadies Prayer



16 17 18

19 9:45 AM SundaySchool (Dr. Vic Bellard)

11:00 AM Worship

6:00 PM Bible study




23 24 25

26 9:45 AM SundaySchool (Dr. Vic Bellard)

11:00 AM Worship

6:00 PM Bible study




30

JJuunnee Bible Quiz Questions

1) Name the daughter of Ishmael who became a wife of Esau.

2) What was the name of the city that Lot escaped to when

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed?

3) Who built the first temple in Jerusalem?

4) Which two books of the Bible are named after priests?

5) By whom was the Apostle Paul baptized?Bonus: What is the branch of systematic theology dealing

with the doctrine of salvation called?

Felix Acerra

MMaayyBible Quiz Answers

1) Egypt (Isaiah 30:7; Psalms 87:4).

2) True (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 5:10; 20:6).

3) Forty days and forty nights (Genesis 7:11-12).

4) A rainbow (Genesis 9:8-17).

5) Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:14). Note: Antioch was a

city of southern Asia Minor in Phrygia, situated justnorth of the territory of Pisidia.

Bonus: Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus, the chief

Greek god.

Submit the answers and Bible references to:[email protected]

TThhee BBiirrtthhddaayyCCoorrnnee

June 1st Bob Hart

June 17th Mike Pandolfin

June 17th Nora Faustinor

June 24th Gerry Cosgrove

June 27th Jim Perry

June 29th Bonnie Heuzey

June 30th Linea Piraino

TThhee AAnnnniivveerrssaarryyCCoorrnneerrJune 3rd Patrick & Liz Hyland

June 15th

Vic & Reeva BellardJune 21st Harold & Geraldine Cosgrove

June 24th Warren & Alice Teufel

June 30th Mike & Diane Pandolfini


8/8

PO Box 438Wading River, NY 11792

Our Purpose

1. To glorify God through sharing

the good news of salvation by Gods

sovereign grace through faith in His

Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To nurture believers through a

strong program of Christian educa-

tion, youth ministries, and expository

Biblical preaching.

3. To provide an opportunity for

Biblical worship, service, and fellow-

ship.

4. To extend our ministry through-

out America and around the world

through participation in home and

foreign missions.

WRBC is affiliated with the Conserva-

tive Baptist Association of America

and the Conservative Baptist Mission

to the Northeast.

Wading River Baptist Church

For the Exaltation of God in All Things For the Proclamation of Faith in Christ For the Transformation of Gods People

Documents

June11 Beacon