Looking Back: Camping's Second Failed Prediction

May 21, 2011 Comes and Goes

May 21, 2011 –Harold Camping’s prophesized date for the Rapture – turned out to be a typical Saturday. The day came and went. Two-hundred million “true” Christians weren’t whisked off to Heaven, non-believers didn’t feel God’s wrath, and Earth didn’t explode.

While this was a normal – and possibly an enjoyable Saturday, it was a day of tribulation for those who truly hoped this was the beginning of the end of life on Earth. No one could be more disappointed than Camping.

The 89 year-old broadcaster, Christian author, and president of the Christian-based Family Radio (and host of the show's Open Forum) truly believed he had uncovered the exact date of the Rapture – the supposed beginning of the biblical prophecy of the apocalypse. Instead, he was reportedly befuddled that the mathematical formulation he used didn’t produce the results he wished for.

The failure of this prediction should be no surprise. It was based on one man’s interpretation of the Bible. And, it was also coming from a person who had a history of being wrong on such matters. Still, this particular prediction and its failure to deliver left many – including Camping – wondering what went wrong.

First Prediction

Incredibly, Camping's first end-time prediction came about in 1992. In his book, titled 1994? Camping predicted that the beginning of the end would start in 1994. It was supposed to be a process that would eventually end in 2011.

...he used a numerological system in which 5 represented “atonement”, 10 means “completeness”, and 17 stands for “heaven”.

In its infancy, his prediction didn’t have a specific date in 2011; however, he continued to work his “math” equation based on what he referred to as “Christian numerology” by plugging in numbers and dates found in the bible to eventually come up with May 21, 2011. Two decades later, he was so sure of this prediction that he eventually went on radio to tell his flock of the important doomsday date.

Camping’s Math

Numerology is the concept that numbers have symbolic meanings. This belief is often associated with the occult and states that the numbers have influences on human life. Camping appeared to use numbers as codes for the second-coming of Christ.

The end-time date for May 21, 2011 was more specific and it was the result of his application. Still, Camping’s use of numerology was complex and confusing. He used numerical symbols found in the digits representing the span of days (yes, days) between May 21, 2011 and April 1, 33A.D. – the date of Jesus’ crucifixion.

He paid for billboards throughout the country, posters, flyers, and pamphlets detailing the end of times.

According to Camping, that would be 722,500 days. He determined the number of days is the square of 5 x 10 x 17. Next, he used a numerological system in which 5 represented “atonement”, 10 means “completeness”, and 17 stands for “heaven”.

Camping’s Determination

Many in the Christian community rejected his claim, but that didn't deter Camping. He believed the "true" Christians will hear his message and take precautions for the pending event.

Another aspect to Camping’s prediction was how he and his followers used the media to get his message to the masses. His first step for this prediction relied on a self-published book. As his proposed date neared, he used the full force of the media - and lots of money (some estimates have it near $100 million) - to accomplish this.

He paid for billboards throughout the country, as well as posters, flyers, and pamphlets detailing the end of times. Also, he used TV, radio (especially his own show, Open Forum), and the Internet to inform the world.

Camping wasn’t alone. Many of his followers spent every penny of their life savings to print out their own tracts, bumper stickers, flyers, and pamphlets to hand out on the street.

Day Comes and Goes

May 21, 2011 came and went. Nobody vanished and was taken to heaven. Jesus didn’t arrive. The sun rose in the east and set in the west without many really paying much attention. It was just another Spring day and soon enough it was May 22, 2011.

While many thought little of this day, others saw their hopes and dreams crushed. When this prediction didn’t come to fruition, many true-believers were disappointed – and broke. While many reported they felt somewhat betrayed, others didn’t give up hope – some said the experience reaffirmed their faith.

Some on the other hand took matters to the ultimate extreme. There were several reports of suicides. In one case, a woman slit the throat of her children, and then tried to kill herself. This was done in anticipation of the Rapture.

Camping Quietly Proclaims a Second Prediction

Apparently, one of those people who didn’t waver in his beliefs was Camping. After emerging from his self-imposed seclusion in his Alameda, California home, the would-be prophet came to a realization: his calculation was wrong.

Thus, he went back to work trying to figure out where he made mistakes. Eventually, he found the “correct” date. He realized he was only off by a few months. Thus, Camping’s second prediction came into fruition.

The beginning of the end was actually October 21, 2011, so says Camping. This news was not met with the same hoopla as his first. Most likely, he didn’t have enough money to regenerate the media blitz he had the first time around.

In addition, many in the faithful flock began to lose that faith. Some reports indicated that even family members were turning their back on him.

Still, Camping determined that October 21 was the exact time that the end-times will begin (this time he simply stated the beginning of the end rather than the actual end). Was this going to be the date that would propel Camping and his believers to the promised land?

Well, October 21, 2011 came and went. Soon it was October 22, 2011. The world kept spinning and most people were concerned with Halloween being more than a week away. Nobody noticed any changes or signs indicating that the end of the world was beginning.

From this point on, Camping seemingly disappeared from public view. He wasn't raptured. Instead, he'd become ill and eventually pass away several years later. By that time, nobody was listening what he had to say except for a few true believers.

The Failure of the Second Prediction

There’s an old saying out there that best explains Camping’s failed second prediction:

• “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Many true believers felt betrayed or disappointed that his first prediction failed. They were fooled once and that was enough.

The public in general paid little attention the first time around and completely ignored his second prediction. The only reason they knew of the first one was because they saw the plethora of billboards that littered the streets and side of buses in the months preceding it.

The prediction failed in another way. His modifications for the second one seemingly had a failsafe mechanism added to it. Instead of an actual end, he turned October 21st as a “beginning of the end.” When was the end supposed to arrive? In one year? A decade or a century? And how was it going to happen? Was there supposed to be a process? These questions couldn't easily be answered.

No one will ever know. The only beginning of the end was for Camping’s reputation and eventually the religious media business he had built over the prior decades.

More Information on Harold Camping

• The Life and End Times of Harold Camping