RE: What need does he have to write his staff a farewell letter? Shouldn’t they all be raptured together?
I am not a psychologist, but I know something of human nature... deep in his heart Camping fears that he’s going to be wrong again. He’s been wrong before when he predicted 1994 to be the year the world ends.
A second wrong prediction will make him lose ALL CREDIBILITY. You know the adage — “Fool me once...” (can you imagine how that person who spent $150,000 of his life savings on warning ads is going to feel about him on May 22?).
He writes this letter as a signal that he’s stepping down soon if the prediction does not pan out. After all ( like Helen Thomas ), he’s 89 years old and his retirement IS LONG OVERDUE.
I just hope that he retires, and if he does, someone more reasonable and orthodox takes the helm of Family Radio. It is one of the very few stations in this country that still plays the good old fashion hymns of the faith ( yep, no contemporary Christian music ).
I still listen to the station for the inspirational music but tune out when Camping’s Q&A Open Forum comes on.
Perhaps Camping simply fears death and wishes to be raptured before it happens.
If you’ve read “Pilgrim’s Progress”, the river scene is the allegory for having to pass through death to get to your reward.