What's Next for Family Radio?

After Harold Camping's failed prophecy last week, many have been wondering, whats next? Clearly Mr. Camping has been through a tough year. He made two prophecies concerning the end of the world which both proved to be false, suffered a stroke, and is dealing with the embarrassment of being the preacher who cried wolf. I can't help to feel sorry for the man. I just think he doesn't get it. He's not a bad person, just self-deceived. Although he released a recorded audio file of a quasi-apology, Camping still let's on that perhaps there is more to come. In his apology he says,

“I am checking my own notes more carefully than ever. There is other language in the Bible, and we still have to look at very carefully. ... We should be very patient about this matter."  

What notes? What other language? What is he talking about? I don't think even he knows what he is talking about anymore. I believe that Mr. Camping has proven to the world he is a fraud. Anyone else who continues to follow him, simply does not have rational minds. But what about Family Radio? It appears they scrubbed their website of any trace of May 21, and OCt. 21. But what about the church age? What about annihilationism? What about the atonement? Where does the station stand on the crucial issues where Mr. Camping has deviated from historic Christianity? Well I decided to email Family Radio and to my surprise, I received a response from Mr. Camping's daughter Susan Espinoza. You can read both emails and see for yourself.

IF there is any doubt to whether or not Family Radio is penitent- the answer is clearly no. Its back to the drawing board until the next embarrassing moment for the bleeding station.


Email exchange between myself and Susan Espinoza

To Whom it May Concern:

While Mr. Camping has apologized for his false claims, there are still many unanswered questions.

1) Where does Family Radio stand on the end of the church age? Mr. Camping’s teaching on the end of the church age were all tied into the matrix of the second coming. If his calculations were wrong on the rapture and second coming, isn’t it reasonable to conclude he has been wrong on the end of the church age? Is it ok for people to go to church now, being that the prophecies failed? If Mr. Camping was wrong about saying those who did not believe in May 21 were not Christians, couldn't Mr. Camping be wrong in saying that those who attend church are not Christians?

2) Where does Family Radio stand on the atonement? Mr. Camping also deviated from historic Christianity and reformed theology in asserting that Christ atoned for sin "before the foundations of the world" and that his death on the cross was only "a parable". Does Family Radio believe that Christ died a real death and suffered in our place as our suffering substitute on the cross, or was his death on the cross a meaningless show to demonstrate what happened in heaven?

3) Where does Family Radio stand on the doctrine of Hell? Does Family Radio insist in the doctrine of annihilation? IF so, on what merit?

4) Who is currently the head of Family Radio? Is there an executive board? Will Family Radio seek to possibly reinstate former bible teachers? Who replaces Harold Camping? And will such a teacher be accountable to others or be autonomous like Mr. Camping?

I am sure the station does not have all the answers as you sort out the mess. But after so much confusion- it is only fair to Family Radio Listeners to get a straight answer and not be left in the dark guessing.

Thank you and God bless

Robert Gianserra

Dear Mr. Gianserra,

It is true that the recent prediction of the end of the world was totally incorrect.  That is obvious, as we are still here.  God has given us the calendar, but Mr. Camping and others misunderstood the significance of May 21 and October 21.  Perhaps with time God will give us that understanding.

It does not follow, however, that everything else we teach, or Mr. Camping has taught, is therefore wrong and should be discarded.  We believe that Family Radio is teaching the truth of the Bible, and we have no intention of changing our position on the subjects you mentioned, unless God corrects us.

Sincerely in Christ,

Susan Espinoza
Family Radio