Harold Camping is one example of a false prophet. He predicted the "Rapture" of Christians to be May 21, 2011.
How do we know he is a false prophet?
The Bible guarantees it!*
In Mark 13:31-37 the scripture is clear that no one but God the Father knows the hour or the day of Christ’s coming. No one but the Father knows the day or hour this world shall end.
“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. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” - Mark 13:31-37
In Deuteronomy 18:21-22 we read how to identify a false prophet.
“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
In Jeremiah we read the word of the Lord against the false prophets of Jerusalem. See Jeremiah 23:16, 25-26, 32, 36, 39, 40
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”
“I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart”
“Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.”
“…for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.”
“Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.”
"The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him." - Jeremiah 28:9
Many professed Christians have actually done one of the same things as Mr. Camping. They choose to ignore parts of scripture which they do not like. (He disregarded Mark 13:32) They disregard parts of the scripture because it requires them to do something to which their flesh (their carnal mind) is opposed. Many modern (unbiblical) “Christians” who mock Camping are hypocrites in this way.
Just as Camping’s ignorance (weather purposeful or not) of the scriptures resulted in lies, wasted resources, anger, and destruction (both on his part and from his followers) so too does disobedience of the scriptures result in lies, waste, anger, and destruction in the lives of all who disregard them.
But most importantly, those who disregard the Gospel message will not experience the Joy and blessings of knowing Christ their Saviour (Ephesians 1:3-14). They will suffer the consequences of a vain life, and everlasting damnation in Hell where the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die (Ecclesiastes 11:8,Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Daniel 12:2, Revelation 21:7-8, Isaiah 66:24, Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46, Mark 9:48, John 3:36, John 3:18, Hebrews 10:31).
Beware the many false prophets and false Christs today!
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.” - Matthew 24:24-25
See the following two links for more information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Camping
http://www.katu.com/news/local/122235709.html
or Google "May 21 Harold Camping" or "the rapture of Christians May 21, 2011"
*(to rightly use a phrase he misused).