Will somebody please tell me what this is all about and where it originated/who started it?

Originally posted by AllentownDarkWater Will somebody please tell me what this is all about

Actually, tomorrow is just the start of it. The end will be sometime in October.

Originally posted by AllentownDarkWater and where it originated/who started it?

This time it was some "Christian" nut-job radio host down south, I think. Most of these usually come from religious zealots who seek "truths" in their "holy" books. However a few come from technology (think of the millennium forecasts) or pop culture (such as Orwell's 1986). Personally, I'd rather not know when the world will end, but I don't think it will come from some "all-mighty" being. It will be an asteroid or comet passing too close to the earth or the sun, or if humans are around in ten or twenty thousand years, we might see the sun go super-nova or something. The earth is a living thing just like us, and just like us, it will some day die. I don't plan to live my life as if that will happen anytime soon.

Originally posted by amethyst The end will be sometime in October.

Whoa o.O why you say that Amethyst? October..

That's just what I read. Like I said, I don't put too much stock in any of it. Actually, I don't believe any of it. I've just seen too many.

It's worth noting that for this particular nutjob, this is his second attempt. He first said it would send in September 1994. This time, he claims that the "Ra[ture" (whatever that is) will come at 6pm on 21 May 2011, with the final armageddon in October sometime. The fun thing is that this time stands no matter where in the world you are. I'll let you all know how it goes for me so that those of you in the US can be prepared.

The Rapture is not in the Bible (unless you get really creative with various verses), but it's part of some Fundamentalist Christian beliefs. Remember, these are the ones who claim they read only what the Bible actually says. It comes in three flavors, depending on sect: Pre-Tribulation - The saved will be drawn up to Heaven before the events depicted in the Revelation of John the Divine (the Tribulation). The rest of us get to suffer under the dominion of the Beast. Mid-Tribulation - The saved will be drawn up to Heaven in the middle of the Tribulation. Post-Tribulation - The saved will be drawn up to Heaven after the Tribulation. So, if you ever wondered about that bumper-sticker that says, In case of Rapture, this car will be driverless, now you know.

Originally posted by UnpublishedWriterRemember, these are the ones who claim they read only what the Bible actually says.

I love that! Especially considering that the common incarnation of the "Devil" comes not from the Bible, but from Milton's Paradise Lost

And Marlowe's version of the Faust legend.

Originally posted by UnpublishedWriter The Rapture is not in the Bible (unless you get really creative with various verses), but it's part of some Fundamentalist Christian beliefs. Remember, these are the ones who claim they read only what the Bible actually says. It comes in three flavors, depending on sect: Pre-Tribulation - The saved will be drawn up to Heaven before the events depicted in the Revelation of John the Divine (the Tribulation). The rest of us get to suffer under the dominion of the Beast. Mid-Tribulation - The saved will be drawn up to Heaven in the middle of the Tribulation. Post-Tribulation - The saved will be drawn up to Heaven after the Tribulation. So, if you ever wondered about that bumper-sticker that says, In case of Rapture, this car will be driverless, now you know.

True the word Rapture isn't on the bible but the description is check 1st Thesalonians chapter 4 verse 17 basically states the word taken.

Originally posted by Madilayn It's worth noting that for this particular nutjob, this is his second attempt. He first said it would send in September 1994. This time, he claims that the "Ra[ture" (whatever that is) will come at 6pm on 21 May 2011, with the final armageddon in October sometime. The fun thing is that this time stands no matter where in the world you are. I'll let you all know how it goes for me so that those of you in the US can be prepared.

I think that that old man is on crack!

Well... Here in Oz, it's almost 10.30am Saturday, May the 21st... and if the end is supposed to start with mild weather and bright blue skies, then... it's happening. Of course, given it is a whole ten hours and thirty minutes in, I was kinda expecting it to be something a little more.... thundery.... perhaps even a tad windy by now.... *sigh* I don't know about you, but I swear our apocalypses were way better when I was a kid.

Hello everyone, It is based in Oakland, California. It comes from Family Radio.com. Here is part of the interview from NPR's Talk of the Nation trying to explain everything. Jerry Walls joins us from the campus of the University of Notre Dame, where he's senior research fellow at the Center for Philosophy of Religion. He's also the editor of the Oxford Handbook of Eschatology. Nice to have you with us again. Mr. JERRY WALLS (Oxford Handbook of Eschatology): Great to be here. CONAN: And why this Saturday? Mr. WALLS: Well, you know, he has a very esoteric numerology, which he's worked out, going back to the flood, which he has dated at 4990. So even though scholars by and large agree that we have no idea when the flood actually occurred, he's got it down to the exact year. CONAN: And you're saying he. Who's he? Mr. WALLS: Oh, he - I'm talking about Harold Camping, the man that everybody is talking about, that's got all this second coming talk astir again. He is a radio mogul, head of a radio empire, has lots of followers. He wrote a book originally several years ago called "1994?" question mark - in which he predicted the Second Coming of Christ in 1994. Now, that did not materialize. Strikingly enough, he still has a lot of followers and has now come up with a new scheme saying that he misread important parts of the Bible that he hadn't really carefully studied. So, of course, that's an interesting question. A guy who admits he hadn't carefully studied with his first prediction, you know, but now he - now apparently he's got all the gaps covered, and he says it's absolutely clear this time. And again, his starting date is the flood, which he says happened in 4990 B.C. Now, the second crucial number goes back to Genesis 7:4. After Noah has built the ark, God then says to Noah, in seven days the flood is going to occur. So sort of the idea is that seven days you can preach to people, warn them, seven days the flood is going to start. So he takes the seven days to symbolize a thousand years each because there's a verse in the first - in the New Testament, First Peter or Second Peter, I think it is, 3:8, says that one day with the Lord is as thousand years, a thousand days, or a thousand years is as a day. So each day represents a thousand years. So you add 7,000 to 4990, that's how gets 2011 as the actual date of the Second Coming. Now, it's more specific still. He's got an exact day, and again, this is really, really complicated how he arrives at that. I've got this written down in front me. It's rather complicated. He believes that Jesus was crucified on April the 1st 33 A.D. And again, scholars, you know, reputable scholars do not think we can pinpoint that, but he has. And he says there's 722,500 astronomical days from that date to May 21, 2011. Now, here's how he arives at that. In the Bible, he says five signifies redemption, 10 signifies completeness, and 17 signifies heaven. So 722,500 is made up of two sets of five times 10 times 17. So you see, it's a rather convoluted numerical kind of a figure, and again, that's part of what's fascinating about these kind of predictions. The more esoteric they are, the better they are. It's kind of like someone, you know, that has special insight that nobody else could have come up with or seen has suddenly hit the, you know, the loadstone, and nailed this thing in that way that everybody else missed before. CONAN: And... Mr. WALLS: So - go ahead. CONAN: Oh, I was just going to say, and then the sequence that comes after that is - I guess the apocalypse sequence that everybody has become more familiar with as the result of the "Left Behind" series of... Mr. WALLS: Right. CONAN: ...terrible time - the rapture... Mr. WALLS: True Christians will be removed from the world, raptured, after which the rest of the population will undergo enormous judgment. And I heard him say in a clip I watched the other day, millions of people per day would be dying, you know, so apocalyptic disaster of unspeakable proportions follows, until October 21, which is literally the end of everything, the literal end of the world. CONAN: Well... Mr. WALLS: So that's the scenario. CONAN: That's the scenario. Mr. WALLS: So anything you need to get done, do it now. CONAN: Drink the good wine now. (Soundbite of laughter) CONAN: So as we look ahead to this - I mean, we make jokes, this group has to know that when they published this date as they did in 1994, they're going to be mocked. This is going to be the punchline of every comedian on the planet. Mr. WALLS: Right. Already has been and will be even more. But the amazing thing is, despite this track record, people continue to do this. And, again, this kind of thing has been going on for a long time. Back in the 1970s, there was a book, a bestseller called "The Late, Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey, in which he more or less implied that the end of the world would happen probably around 1998, which was a generation after the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. So he more or less, you know, predicted what happened sometime within a generation of the founding of the state of Israel. Well, that didn't happen. That book was the bestselling nonfiction book of the 1970s, okay? Now, in 1988 there was another - another guy wrote a book called "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988." And again, this is fascinating to me. The guy who wrote this was a NASA engineer. Camping is also an engineer, a civil engineer. So it's something about a fascination with numbers. CONAN: It's a little unusual to come up with a sequel, though, after the first one doesn't come up right. (Soundbite of laughter) Mr. WALLS: Yes, it is. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. But again, everybody thinks they have hit on the formula that other people have missed, all right? So he wrote his book. And, again, this book sold like 4.5 million copies, okay? Okay. And a lot of people, again, were astir. You know, he didn't predict an exact date, but he gave up like a three-day window. But it was going to be in 1988, within a three-day window. That didn't happen, so he again predicted it in 1989, 1993 and 1994. Now, you know, he lost a lot of his following after the first time it didn't happen. But Camping has maintained a rather large following despite his previous failed prediction. CONAN: Well, we do know that many faiths do. Just as they have creation myths, they talk about the end of days. Mr. WALLS: Yes. I mean, I mean virtually everybody thinks there's some kind of an end of the world, at least in the theistic religions. Now, in some of the non-theistic religions, they don't believe there will be an end of the world. They, in fact, think the world is eternal, has been around forever and always will be. And so history is not aiming to a target in the way that it is in the great theistic religions. But even for the naturalists, people who don't believe in God, there's an end of things, and it's a rather dismal, bleak kind of an end of time billions of years into the future, when the sun burns out, and not only our sun but all the other suns burn out. And the universe just keeps expanding and disintegrating into oblivion. So you got... CONAN: Entropy, I think, that's called. Mr. WALLS: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you got the end of the world either way. And so the question is, is the end of the world the end of hope or is the end of the world something to be hoped for? So people who see the end of the world as something hopeful, see it going somewhere that will end up - end up in a positive way. I hope this clears up things. I DON'T believe in this. Actually, it's making my job harder. I'm in security. Health and Happiness Health and Happiness

Please don't tell me that all of you believe that nonsense that the world will end tomorrow or in October.

Heck no!! As I stated, my job has been hell this week because of it. People are just acting weird. People normally don't need much provocation. I don't need some idiot rilling people up just so he can make a boatload of cash. I've already witnessed my boys ( guys I work with) being belly rubbed with the end of a gun last year. I was guarding a family so I couldn't do much. When I go into work later today, I'm going to not pack any firepower. To many hair triggers. What I wouldn't give for some feather darts. Be well all.

No, Allen, but we are having an *oops*load of fun with it!

We have lightening!! Still no thunder or wind... but at least it's starting to look like what it's supposed to! lol

It's 6.30pm here - I can't help but notice that the world is still here. It is raining though.

This would be a wonderful reason to sleep in tomorrow or a good excuse to " chuck a sicky" "Sorry I can't come into work today...I'm waiting for The Rapture" I think they would still ask for a doctors certificate, and if I was still working for the Government I could have called it a "mental health" day

Check it out, there is a HUGE population of anglo-Christians iin Miami right now that they are selling their possesions and they are still beleiveing that the world is going to end it is not normal my uncle said that no one knows about when the world will end, according to him, he said that not even the angels do not know I do not not know he said it is said in bible, I an atheist

Well... May the 21st is officially over here. Had a little lightening, no thunder... a bit of rain, didn't last long...and no wind... I kinda thought there would be at least wind, you know? Vodka, I think your uncle is right - no one truly knows when the world will end.

What's the use of selling your beongings? If it was going to happen, money isn't going to help you. I remember back in 1979 when I was a teenager some nut saying the same thing. I stayed up all night to find out if it was true and ended up having to drag my exhausted butt to school anyway. Although I believe I heard one of those troublesome volcanos in Iceland is at it again.

I like this enterprising organisation http://www.aftertherapturepetcare.com/

The pets of the saved won't be Raptured. Well, it's 1832, sunny, and hot in my neck of the woods. October will come and go, and this guy will go back to his Bible and make another prediction in a few years. December 2012 will come and go, and the silly New Agers will find some other bit of 'ancient wisdom' to go bugfuck over.

Personally, I wish the religious nuts would just crawl back into whatever cave they came out of. They are welcome to believe whatever nonsense they wish, but they don't have to share it with the rest of us.

We are now nearly 7pm here in Ontario and no sight of the end of the world. Like Green said finally after what felt like 40 days and 40 nights of rain (13 days is close to 40 isn't it?) we had a beautiful warm and sunny day. Although there is more rain in the forecast for tonight. *sigh * As for believing any of this. NO! but I would not mind if someone (GOD) decided to take those "faithful" up to heaven and left the rest of us here in peace.

I'm still here. It is 7:33pm in Matthews,NC. Beautiful day. Little hot though. I want to thank everyone on this thread. It has kept me in very good spirits all day.

What do these people do after the end of the world doesn't happen? Do they turn on the wacko who started it? Do they fall apart and require psychological treatment? One might argue they already need it. I wouldn't doubt it if those people are the ones who think they're going to heaven, regardless what they've done in their lives. How do they deal with the disappointment?

My guess is the ones who were naive enough to sell or give away everything will try to get it back or sue someone. I hope they get laughed at.

Ok going to thow my 2 cents worth in! What actualy would be classed as "The end of the world" are we talking about ... The world blowing up .. Extinction of all life (animals, plants or just humans... Collapse of technology (like in a pulse that knocks out all electronic gadgets).. Plague, famine , war to end all wars... God/Deity getting pissed of and smitting us all..and starting over from scratch..... Re-runs of the TV.... Having a "Bad hair" day.... It would be wonderful if they were more specific...I could plan my last moments better...plus what if my idear of the Rapture is different from others,,(some days having to get ready for work is doom and gloom) Out of curiousity what would your idears of "The End of the World "Be...???? and what would you do??? ps "The Bucket List" movie was on last night (ha ha universe and it's humour) and it got me thinking

I'll just quote REM. It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine...

What? Yesterday should have been another end of the world?! Sorry ... I didn't have the chance to find this thread earlier! I'm so tired of hearing such nonsense that I'm really not giving a damn to anything that might be said regarding such subject, lately! But, I can say that I'm still here, and that nothing has happened in my surroundings except for the unexpected rain showers during an already warm weather! And, I can also confidently say that you'll find me here even after next October, after December 2012, and after any other Armageddon date any maniac could come up with ... at least, if I'd be still standing on the Earth's surface meaning that I wouldn't have died before, because that would be the end of my world! Oh, some humans just can't help coming up with theories and theories, using whatever mathematical equation they know! Every equation has a result but that does not mean that the construction of the equation in itself is good! It's just what the people who come up with such ideas wish the equations to be and where these should lead to! Some people just don't have anything else to do! No wonder they wish their world to end! The unfortunate aspect is that they manage to stir others' lives and anxieties with theirs! On the same note, it's so funny how easily the Bible can be quoted! Next week we have a referendum in our country in order to decide whether to introduce divorce or not! It's a difficult choice which every individual should be free to take, but they're telling us that Jesus himself has specifically said that he's against divorce (as per one quoted sentence from the Bible, but not considering the context, and ... cough ... as if someone has really heard him!) and that Malta would even suffer atrocities if a wrong decision would be taken! Aarrgh!! Where are my earplugs?!! Perhaps, that's it! It's our country that is doomed and not the world! So, all of you could take a deep breath of relief!

My favourite "Prepare, for the end is nigh!" guy is John of Leidan -he decided, in 1534, that Munster, Germany was the "New Jerusalem," paving the way for Jesus' return. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Leiden Harold Camping, by comparison, will get off easily -they played rough in the 16th C.

Has anyone heard any comments from this guy or the people who quite their jobs and sold all their possessions? Here in Ontario I have not heard a thing. Are they feeling "stupid" now?

I heard he went into hiding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDzWSdndJbw "Still Alive" from the Portal game end credits. Couldn't resist.

Condorcandi: Nice video. Iborgia88: Wow that was harsh. I'll be nice, though. Harold should just be drawn and quartered.

There are no dates depicting the end of the world in the bible. Where he got his ideas from are a bit to far out for me. But hey, thats the stuff they get the Armagedden movie material from. I bet a few producers are taking notes on how he said it will happen!! Its really a small group of extremists in comparison to how many Christians there are world wide that aren't placing their focus on "When the world will end.". Looks like God showed him who's in charge after all!!! Personally as a Christian my focus is on helping people and being part of the community in a productive way. Not spreading fear and condemation and all that spooky crap. some of those people need to get their head out of Relevations... IB...wow that guy did get it tough, the end of his world wasn't pretty.

I feel sorry for the religious people who actually thought Rapture was really going to happen now all the crictics are saying that the priest is a false prphet.. and Just like Iborgia said, October, does anyone EVEN believes that? :l

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13516796 Apparently god would not want us all to suffer for 5 months so the rapture will be on the same day as the apocolypse. So those people who gave away all their worldly possessions have a known and finite period of time to spend sleeping in cardboard boxes.

Meridianday: Thank-you for the link.