Harold Camping Oct. 21 Rapture: Is the Media Ignoring New Doomsday Prediction?
Christian radio broadcaster and end of times prognosticator Harold Camping has seen all of his startling predictions concerning the end of the world proven untrue but has managed to make quite a media frenzy in the process.
Camping’s May 21 prediction for the end of the world set off a media storm in which many reporters questioned the merits behind the 90-year-old broadcaster's prediction, patronized his prophecies, and questioned if his predictions would prove true.
This time around, it seems as though both media outlets and individuals are simply paying less attention to Camping’s next prediction.
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However, perhaps some of lack of media attention may have something to do with Camping himself.
New York Magazine described Camping’s mass effort prior to his May prediction saying, “Over the course of years of herculean effort, Camping and his listeners had spread his-and His-word far and wide: $100 million raised to finance 5,000 billboards across the U.S. and 30 countries; millions of copies of free books and pamphlets distributed; 24-hour Bible instruction translated into 75 languages, available to millions via Family Radio’s network of radio stations and its website.”
Following the failure of his May 21 2011 prediction, the 90-year-old told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was “flabbergasted” as to why his prediction did not materialize. He added, “It has been a really tough weekend.”
Camping, who suffered a stroke in June following his failed prediction, has been largely quiet about his next prediction and later explained that May 21 was just the spiritual rapture, and the physical rapture will occur in October.
Last month, Camping described the soon-to-be rapture saying, “The end is going to come very, very quietly, probably within the next month. It will happen by Oct. 21.”
Camping previously suggested that the world would come to an end following a global earthquake, but his change in tone has some suggesting that Camping’s stroke is the reason Camping has come out with a “softer” tone on the rapture.
However, none of that explains why Harold Camping has not managed to light up the same media storm he was able to this past May.
Perhaps Camping’s “quieter” form of rapture is considered less interesting for readers or perhaps Camping’s failed predictions have left both his followers and media outlets discouraged in Camping’s prophetic abilities.
Nevertheless, even with less media attention this time around, Camping is holding steadfast in his belief that the end of the world is around the corner. Camping recently said in a statement, "We can be sure that the whole world, with the exception of those who are presently saved (the elect), are under the judgment of God, and will be annihilated together with the whole physical world on October 21, 2011."
