Despite the Rapture becoming a relatively large topic of discussion this past week, the world remains pretty much as we know it (despite the news Arnold Schwarzenegger has fathered multiple love-children). Though there has been considerable hype about this event, a lot of people don't really know what it is. In fact, I heard someone call it the "Rupture" today.
Most people recognize the Rapture, May 21st, 2011- as the day the "world will end" or the day all non-Christians will die, or go to hell. Yep, admittedly some heavy stuff. All of this absurd ruckus began when Harold Camping, an admittedly adorable old man, decided to alert the world of the Rapture.
I'm just confused as to why anyone believe Camping such as one man, Steve, who believed Camping's 1994 doomsday prediction as well.
In his book "Time Has an End," Camping explains many questions I had about this day.
1. How did he determine the exact date? "The year 391 B.C. is the year when the Old Testament was finished, and 2,011 + 391 - 1 = 2,401, or 7 x 7 x 7 x 7"(Camping)
2. Why would God kill so many people? Camping says God will punish America and the rest of the world for Gay Pride and same-sex marriages.
3. Who will God save? It seems that Camping believed Jesus would descend to earth and select about 2 to 3% of the population to be raptured (yes, it is a verb as well) and the other 98% or so would be left on Earth to be crushed in an earthquake on October 21st.
For more Q&A: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/hottopics/detail?entry_id=89183#ixzz1NCaBmM00
All I can think of throughout any of this is that the media is desperate to grab onto this ridiculous claim. Or, that there were people out there willing to believe it.
To read more about Camping's reaction on the 22nd please go here, he seems legitimately confused: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/harold-camping-speaks-after-rapture-fails-to-begin-on-may-21/2011/05/23/AFxMIp9G_blog.html
For other believer's reactions: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/22/may-21-judgment-day-may-22_n_865298.html
Carolyn- Great post! I too think this end of world news is nonsense, just a way for people to make some money off people's fear. The movie "2012" is a great example, it's just a hyped up exaggeration of what certain people think will happen when the world ends. The other day I found a hilarious think on StumbleUpon listing all the dates throughout history people have predicted the end of the world. http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2r5HZO/www.signsofwitness.com/exact-dates-of-the-end-of-the-world
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