Harold Camping to end end-of-the-world predictions?

Harold Camping has predicted the end of the world three times -- and each time, the ninetysomething Boulder native has struck out. Most recently, Doomsday did not arrive on October 21. Five months earlier, the Rapture did not occur on May 21. And there were earlier botched Camping forecasts, which...

By Patricia Calhoun

November 2, 2011

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Harold Camping has predicted the end of the world three times -- and each time, the ninetysomething Boulder native has struck out.

Most recently, Doomsday did not arrive on October 21. Five months earlier, the Rapture did not occur on May 21. And there were earlier botched Camping forecasts, which we chronicled in our Doomsday Countdown. A good bet for the future? Camping will get out of the predicting business.

After the world survived October 21, the website of Family Radio, the Christian ministry that Camping founded in 1958, wiped out earlier predictions, replacing them with this simple statement: "We are to live so that we are ready for the return of Christ, and even pray for it. But we also rejoice in every new day, that we've been given another day to occupy and serve our Lord."

But then Camping added his own audio statement to the site. "When it comes to trying to recognize the truth of prophesy," he says, "we're finding it's very, very difficult. Why didn't Christ return on October 21? It seems embarrassing for Family Radio, but God was in charge of everything... we came to that conclusion after quite careful study of the Bible."

What are Camping's plans for the future? To study his notes more closely, at the very least, and to be "more and more humble before God... God is allowing us to continue."

Click to play the complete statement from Camping:

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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