Apocalypse not now: The Rapture fails to materialise

The Guardian ^ | 05/21/2011 | David Batty

[SeekAndFind]

Christian doomsday prophet Harold Camping looks likely to be less than rapturous after his prediction that the world would end on Saturday failed to materialise.

The 89-year-old Californian preacher had prophesied that the Rapture would begin at 6pm in each of the world's time zones, with those "saved" by Jesus ascending to heaven and the non-believers being wiped out by an earthquake rolling from city to city across the planet.

But as the deadline for the Apocalpyse passed in the Pacific islands, New Zealand and Australia, it became apparent that Camping's prediction of the end of the world was to end not with a bang but with a whimper.

Only on Twitter did the supposed armageddon sweep the world, with users expressing their mock disappointment at the lack of dead people rising from their graves.

New Zealander Daniel Boerman tweeted: "I'm from New Zealand, it is 6:06PM, the world has NOT ended. No earthquakes here, all waiting for the rapture can relax for now. #Rapture"

In Australia, Jon Gall of Melbourne was unimpressed by the lack of fire and brimstone. He tweeted: "#Rapture time here in Melbourne. A rather quiet sort of rapture if you ask me.

"Well we have had the #Rapture going for 50 minutes now. So far it hasn't interrupted my fish & chips and glass of stout."

In Brisbane, KillaJeules, was similarly disappointed by the lack of a Hollywood blockbuster ending: "So it's 6:37pm here in Brisbane, Australia. No earthquakes. No beaming up of Christians. No zombie apocalypse. No surprises haha."

Camping, a retired civil engineer, has built a multimillion-dollar, non-profit ministry based on his apocalyptic predictions. He previously predicted that the world would end in 1994.

[Terry Mross]

There was one false prophet who said “Islam is a relgion of peace.”

[The Citizen Soldier]

You really believe Camping's followers paid for 100 radio stations to air their claims 24/7? Who told you that, if I might ask?

Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia (not the best source in the world, but convenient)...

"Family Radio (aka Family Stations Inc.) began obtaining FM broadcasting licenses on commercial frequencies early in FM's history, and by 2006, was ranked 19th among top broadcast companies in number of radio stations owned. Currently, Family Radio's affiliates in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and San Francisco are on prime commercial frequencies and the licenses of these stations alone may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars if sold today."

Family Radio/Family Stations has no commercials and is funded entirely by donations.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Here's a bit about this very subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3nRjlK3jfY

Monty Python did this sketch years later in “The Secret Policeman's Other Ball” also with some other actors.

[Golden Eagle]

Thanks, I’ll say a prayer that someone who speaks the true Gospel might in light of these events now take over that platform.

[Mom MD]

There will be a lot of surprised people on that day! You have the right to your opinion of course but I would hardly call Paul an American huckster

[woofie]

I bought 3 matching end of the world rapture suits with the full “CAMPING” gear

[allmendream]

Maybe so few were called that nobody noticed.

;)

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Sorry for the error but I finally found the sketch and it was from the original “The Secret Policeman’s Ball” ( 1979 ). Heavy traffic at this link for obvious reasons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hJQ18S6aag

[The Citizen Soldier]

Thanks, I’ll say a prayer that someone who speaks the true Gospel might in light of these events now take over that platform.

Me too. I think we do well to begin by remembering Jesus' command to come to Him as a child. He made salvation available, and so clear and understandable, that children can believe.

When men elevate themselves and profess some higher understanding (thus making others depend on them instead of Christ) we can pretty sure it is not of God.

God Bless.

[traumer]

“www.familyradio.com/index2.html”

because the server where this page is located isn’t responding.

[lonevoice]

It would be funny if a big group of, say, college kids, did a flash mob “planking” party in a highly visible public square. They could be the ones who weren’t raptured. (If you don’t know what “planking” is, here’s a very funny youtube demonstration...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRHnTFesv7c).

[Golden Eagle]

When men elevate themselves and profess some higher understanding (thus making others depend on them instead of Christ) we can pretty sure it is not of God.

Very well said, and the litmus test I often apply myself. Are the teaching the Word, as it is written, or applying heir own self serving addendums. Thanks for your chat, and may the Lord Bless you in all ways today as well.

[lonevoice]

Since Camper also “prophesied” huge rolling earthquakes all across the land as the faithful are raptured, shouldn't it be a fairly simple thing for his followers to see and understand that there have been no such earthquakes?

[The Pack Knight]

Wonder how the dingdong will feel tomorrow, the one that spent 140000 of his life savings on billboards and bus placards. Dope.

He's probably laughing all the way to the bank. His nonprofit has more than $100 million in assets and reported almost $20 million in donations in 2009. Who knows how much money he's suckered out of people this year?

[headsonpikes]

The reaction of Apocalypse Today devotees to reality will indoubtedly be like the reaction of socialists to the collapse of the Soviet Union and Marxism as a serious ideology - denial.

Cognitive dissonance works for everyone - a very democratic delusion!

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..Camping, a retired civil engineer, has built a multimillion-dollar, non-profit ministry based on his apocalyptic predictions. He previously predicted that the world would end in 1994..."

That would be a clue that this guy is no prophet. I wonder what excuse he will make this time?

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Maybe the Rapture occurred and he is one of the damned?

[WKUHilltopper]

Oh well...there’s still Dec 21, 2012...LOL

[jetson]

The SF Bay will ROCK at 4:00pm when the Giants play the A’s.

[Flying Circus]

While the vast majority of Christians in the world do not believe in this Dispensationalist concept of the Rapture, it seems like the majority of Freepers do. It comes from a novel mis-reading of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.

I would also point out that it is also inconsistent with the long history of persecution and the Christian faith through history. Christians have given witness to their faith by accepting death and suffering since the time St Stephen was stoned to death. Jesus, who endured great suffering on our part, told us us the ‘servant is no better than the master’ so we should expect to share in this suffering too. To expect that somehow Christians should be whisked out of the world to avoid tribulation at the end seems nonsense.

Our time in this world is but a blink of an eye compared to life in the next. If we can keep faith in the promise of everlasting life from a good, eternal, almighty God, we can endure any pain or trouble in this world.