Harold Camping Predicts a Big Sleep for Non-Believers as His Doomsday Arrives
Close friend and previous PR representative of Harold Camping, Tom Evans, contends that Camping has recently changed his tune concerning the end of time, which he predicts to be happening today, Friday Oct. 21.
In a recording of the “Tom Evan’s Show” played on Family Radio on Thursday, Evans told listeners that he had recently spoke to the 90 year-old American Christian broadcaster, who “believes that unbelievers will simply become tired, fall asleep, and never wake” when the rapture arrives on Oct. 21.
This is Camping’s fourth predicted doomsday. He vehemently affirmed the end of the world was to happen on May 21, and then hid himself from public criticism after the May predicted doomsday proved inaccurate.
He has now changed his tune, saying May was just the “spiritual rapture” and so could not be seen, and that the “physical rapture” would follow on Oct. 21.
“Probably there will be no pain suffered by anyone because of their rebellion against God,” affirmed Camping in his radio address at the beginning of this month.
“They’ll quietly die and that will be the end of their story,” he added.
Use of the word “probably” indicates doubt, compared to his earlier doomsday predictions which were filled with confidence and warning for non-believers:
“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,” Camping said in a statement shortly after the May 21 letdown.
Camping originally predicted the end of the world would include a rapture of 200 million and natural disasters for multiple days, including fires, earthquakes, and plagues, before God destroyed the world on May 21st.
Critics argue that Camping has softened his claims after receiving mass public criticism after his May 21 flub. Many followers sold their possessions in reaction to Camping’s predictions, and when May 22 arrived, they were left with depleted bank accounts.
“I don't have any responsibility. I don't have any responsibility of anybody's life. I'm only teaching the Bible. I'm simply saying, ‘This is what the Bible says’," he announced in reaction to criticism.
Shortly after the false prediction, Camping, 90, suffered a stroke which many attribute to stress.
Many are wondering what will happen to Camping’s health if Friday’s predicted doomsday turns out to be false.