Rapture Believers Confused About Why They (And The Planet) Are Still Here

Harold Camping is nowhere to be seen, but his followers are already starting to talk about the failure of his prediction to come true:

Followers of an evangelical broadcaster who declared that Saturday would be Judgement Day are trying to make sense of the failed prediction.

Some believers expressed bewilderment or said it was a test from God of their faith, after the day passed without event.

Meanwhile, the evangelist at the centre of the claim, Harold Camping, has not been seen since before the deadline.

He had predicted that Jesus Christ would return to earth on Saturday.

True believers would then be swept up, or “raptured”, to heaven, he had pronounced.

(…)

Robert Fitzpatrick, a retired transportation agency worker in New York, said he had spent more than $140,000 (£86,000) of his savings on advertisements in the run-up to 21 May to publicise the prediction.

After 1800 passed and nothing had happened, he said: “I do not understand why… I do not understand why nothing has happened.”

“I can’t tell you what I feel right now. Obviously, I haven’t understood it correctly because we’re still here.”

Other followers said they had had their doubts about the prediction.

“I had some scepticism but I was trying to push the scepticism away because I believe in God,” said Keith Bauer, who travelled 4,830km (3,000 miles), from Maryland to California, where Mr Camping’s Family Radio is based, for the Rapture.

“I was hoping for it because I think heaven would be a lot better than this Earth,” said Mr Bauer, a tractor-trailer driver, who took the week off work for the voyage.

Other followers said the delay was a further test from God to persevere in their faith.

Better luck next time I suppose

 

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. The Fury says:

    I like how the one guy took a week off of work. If you believed the rapture was coming, wouldn’t you quit? Seems like he knew in the back of his mind that there was no end.

  2. Dodd says:

    Rapture Believers Confused About Why They (And The Planet) Are Still Here

    There are nine unnecessary words in that headline.

  3. Hey Norm says:

    We’re not here…it’s just an illusion.

  4. sam says:

    Greg Mankiw points us to this sure-fire money-making site:

    You’ve committed your life to Jesus. You know you’re saved. But when the Rapture comes what’s to become of your loving pets who are left behind? Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind.

    We are a group of dedicated animal lovers, and atheists. Each Eternal Earth-Bound Pet representative is a confirmed atheist, and as such will still be here on Earth after you’ve received your reward. Our network of animal activists are committed to step in when you step up to Jesus.

    We are currently active in 26 states, employing 40 pet rescuers. Our representatives have been screened to ensure that they are atheists, animal lovers, are moral/ethical with no criminal background, have the ability and desire to rescue your pet and the means to retrieve them and ensure their care for your pet’s natural life.

    We currently cover the following states: Maine,New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Illinois, Iowa.

    Our service is plain and simple; our fee structure is reasonable. For $135.00 we will guarantee that should the Rapture occur within ten (10) years of receipt of payment, one pet per residence will be saved. Each additional pet at your residence will be saved for an additional $20.00 fee.

    Unfortunately at this time we are not equipped to accommodate all species and must limit our services to dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and small caged mammals. [Please note: we offer rescue services for horses, camels, llamas, donkeys, etc. in NH,VT, ID and MT ]

    Brilliant.

  5. Have a nice G.A. says:

    Best one I seen was a guy saying that he wasted money on some rope because he was gonna lasso one of them and catch a ride.

  6. I want to see someone like the Daily Show or Jimmy Kimmel interviewing these people with someone playing “Hearts and Flowers” on a violin behind them.

  7. Bleev K says:

    Best one I seen was a guy saying that he wasted money on some rope because he was gonna lasso one of them and catch a ride.

    It’s you, right?

  8. Ernieyeball says:

    More than a few representatives of Main Stream Religion have commented that what is ridiculous about Camping and his acolytes is that they have tried to predict a specific date for the return of Jesus and the apocalypse.
    Many MSR advocates are content to accept the prophesy of a Judgement Day as long as the timing of such an event remains a mystery.
    Apparently the author of Revelation (A.D. 95) was positing an expeditious turn of events.
    Consulting Azimov’s Guide to the Bible: The New Testament (pg. 536) the author (Azimov) states: “And when the description of the city (Jerusalem) jn the most glowing possible terms is completed, the writer of the book (of Revelation) quotes an angel to remind the reader that all that is predicted is rapidly to come to pass:
    Revelation 22:6….These things are faithful and true: and the Lord God…sent his angel to shew…the things which must shortly be done.
    Revelation 22:7. Behold, I come quickly…”
    Azimov then concludes “And with that assurance–still unfulfilled nearly two thousand years later–the New Testament ends.”
    ———————————————
    …must shortly be done. Behold I come quickly…

    What does it all mean???????

  9. Have a nice G.A. says:

    It’s you, right?

    lol, I thought it was you…

  10. Grandpa lou says:

    I don’t like flying in any airplane, I would have hated it even more flying without one and nude besides…. ain’t no way that’s gonna happen. But thanks to my wastrel youth it was never a question anyhow.

    Regarding the sincere true believers…I don’t know whether to laugh at them or cry with them. I freely admit to a certain level of anticipation.

  11. B^4 says:

    The Rapture occurred, but Randy “Macho Man” Savage was the only human worthy of salvation.

  12. HelloWorld! says:

    How do we know that Jesus didn’t come and decide that there really wasnt anyone worth taking?