This week in Christian history: Pope born, theologian dies, failed End Times prophecy

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, October 17, 2021

Harold Camping’s final Rapture prophecy fails – Oct. 21, 2011

Harold Camping, president of Family Radio, speaks out for the first time since his failed prediction that the rapture and Judgment Day would happen on May 21. The address was broadcast live from the ministry's headquarters in Oakland, Calif., on May 23, 2011. | (Photo: The Christian Post / Hudson Tsuei)

This week marks the anniversary of the final date that Family Radio President Harold Camping predicted would mark the rapture and the start of the End Times.

Camping garnered widespread attention in the United States for claiming that the rapture was going to occur on May 21, having widely promoted the date on his radio station.

After May 21 came and went, Camping released a statement explaining that the date in May involved the “spiritual aspect” of Judgment Day, while the literal aspect would come five months later.

“On May 21, this last weekend, this is where the spiritual aspect of it really comes through. God again brought judgment on the world. We didn’t see any difference but God brought Judgment Day to bear upon the whole world,” Camping said at the time.

“The whole world is under Judgment Day and it will continue right up until Oct. 21, 2011, and by that time the whole world will be destroyed.”

In March 2012, Camping released a statement vowing to halt any further End Times predictions and in December 2013, he died at age 92.