On May 21, it was all over the news, that Harold Camping’s prediction of the rapture had not taken place and that a worldwide earthquake had not wracked the planet. We predicted on this blog that Camping would
- Backpedal: for example, change the date, say that the earthquake was “symbolic” not literal
- Denial: Jesus really did come for the faithful, you just can’t see it
In fact, he did what many false prophets have done throughout history, interpreted the rapture and the earthquake symbolically. Without a doubt, though, Christ would literally return on Oct 21, 2011.
This time I didn’t see Harold Camping on CNN, and it took me until today to remember that the Oct 21 date had also come and gone. Camping resigned from Family Radio on Oct 16. It is reported that his congregation now has about 25 members. Family Radio pulled all his prophecy teaching from its website. Camping himself apparently suffered a stroke in June, and it was rumored that he had died. Nevertheless he was visible until just before Oct 21, and has now apparently gone into hiding. See a recent update at http://newyork.ibtimes.com/articles/236442/20111024/harold-camping-october-21-wrong-again-doomsday.htm
Camping gave a vague semi-apology on Family Radio on Oct 28 (see familyradio.com). One paragraph is especially telling:
Why didn’t Christ return on Oct. 21? It seems embarrassing for Family Radio. But God was in charge of everything. We came to that conclusion after quite careful study of the Bible. He allowed everything to happen the way it did without correction. He could have stopped everything if He had wanted to.
So, “I just got it right from the Bible?” “God could have stopped me but he didn’t”? That’s a pair of horrendous excuses: God could also forcibly stop all murderers; rather, he allows sinful people to make go ahead in their own wickedness, and reserves final judgment until the end. He has allowed any number of false prophets to misread the Bible. Each one will finally face the judgment due to false prophets.
I invited his former followers to read an article of mine:
http://justinofnablus.com/2011/05/22/for-campings-followers-its-may-22-lets-have-a-serious-talk/
and another article by our friend Rob Haskell in Spanish:
http://razondelaesperanza.com/2011/05/18/harold-camping-el-21-de-mayo-el-fin-del-mundo-y-la-biblia/
Once again, we offer no mocking, no condescension, no gloating: those who have been burned by this false prophet, please feel free to write in to talk.
Open Our Eyes, Lord! 