Harold Camping, as you probably know, is an American Christian radio broadcaster with a large following. He owns Family Radio, a California-based radio station group that spans more than 150 markets in the United States. Camping is best known for applying numerology to his interpretations of Bible passages to predict dates for the end of the world.
Five months back he predicted that on May 21, 2011 Jesus Christ would return to Earth, the righteous would be raptured up to heaven, followed by five months of fire, brimstone and plagues on Earth, with millions of people dying each day, culminating on October 21, 2011 with the physical destruction of the world.
Camping claimed then and still does, that around 200 million people, approximately 3% of the world's population, will be raptured when “the end” occurs. When the events didn’t happen as he had predicted... Mr Camping emerged from his home on May 22nd, saying that he was "flabbergasted" that the Rapture did not occur, and that he was "looking for answers," and would say more when he returned to work on May 23rd.
On May 23, 2011 in an appearance before the press, Camping stated he had reinterpreted his prophecy. His revised prediction is now in two-parts: as previously noted... part-one was May 21st when a "spiritual" judgment was rendered by God and part-two would then be the physical Rapture occurring on October 21, 2011, followed immediately with the destruction of the world. So Mr. Camping's latest "revised" prediction is coming three-days from now?
People gave up jobs, sold property, gave away possessions and sent millions to Camping’s organization as they waited for these momentous events to happened. The predicted events did not happen... I WANT MY MONEY BACK! Camping said his ministry enterprise would not return money donated by followers to publicize the failed May 21 prediction, stating... "We’re not at the end. Why would we return it?" That’s just plain wrong Mr. Camping. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Camping suffered a stroke in late May and has been recuperating quietly until the last few days, when he began posting statements on his website and broadcasting on Family Radio’s network that the end is coming this Friday.
Mr. Camping has made a career of such predictions... previously predicting judgment days on May 21, 1988, and September 7, 1994. Of course, we’re all still here. There is however one difference... his 2011 prediction was widely reported, and prompted responses from both atheist and Christian organizations alike. Maybe it was because of the enthusiasm of his followers, who traveled around the world renting billboards and motor homes with large signs emblazoned on the sides proclaiming the end of the world would come on May 21st. Even after that day came and went, the media continued to vigorously cover the story. Even in billboards, one playfully reproving Camping was unveiled on May 22nd, reading, “That was awkward. ‘No one knows the day or the hour …’ .” Never before had his predictions garnered such huge media coverage as this most recent “end in May” debacle. So what’s he thinking now as October 21st approaches?
Mr. Camping isn’t making any big promises and seems to be hedging on the dramatic events that accompany the end... earthquakes, fire, total destruction of earth, by posting this statement recently on his website... “I really am beginning to think as I restudied these matters that there’s going to be no big display of any kind,” “The end is going to come very, very quietly.” But then in another message posted on his website, Camping says this about Friday October 21st... “at this point, looks like it will be the final end of everything.” In yet another statement posted on his website he said... “those who weren’t saved on May 21st, will be annihilated together with the whole physical world on October 21, 2011.”
Contradictions Mr. Camping? What’s it going to be... a catastrophic end with earthquakes, fire, brimstone, plagues, hail, raging tsunamis... or a small, unnoticed, quiet, big... nothing? You seem to be saying both... global catastrophic and an unnoticed whimper. Oh I almost forgot... as Mr. Camping scrambled to explain that the May 21st date was only a “spiritual” End of the World, he went on to explain that the destructive earthquakes he predicted apparently came in the form of “man-quakes,” since mankind shook with fear at the prospect of the Rapture and the book of Genesis describes man as made from dirt. Huh? If you figure that one out please let me know!
In May, I wrote to Renovations readers about the Camping predictions and the “lessons to be learned” from such things. Here’s what I said then and it still holds firm today...
Lessons to be learned... Are you a religious leader? Be careful what you say publicly, because you carry the reputation of your church and the gospel of Christ in everything you say and do. The words of church leaders are powerful and influential. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re right about what you say or if everyone else thinks you’re wrong... when you stray from what the Bible precisely says... your words can have long lasting and damaging impact on the people you influence. Mr. Camping’s failed predictions and the attention they’ve received cast an unfavorable spotlight on the “name and mission of Christ” with the non-believing critics who are always looking for something to hold against Christianity.
THIS is what the BIBLE says regarding knowing dates and predicting the return of Christ... "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36) He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority." (Acts 1:7)
Finally... this whole episode is a reminder that every spiritual leader—whether an elder-pastor or pulpit preacher or someone in other influencing roles — needs to be accountable to others. We all need others to give us wise counsel, to help us see when we are drifting off track into serious error.
Of one thing I am certain... whether today, tomorrow, this Friday, next month or next year, this sort of thing will continue to happen. Maybe not Mr. Camping, but someone else will make predictions, mislead people and leave them adrift without a spiritual anchor. People will continue to believe the misleading nonsense of men who think they know what God is going to do and when He’s going to do it. Men know nothing of God’s time table.
