Family Radio Rapture Counter Hits Zero
This is a screen shot taken of the Familyradio.com web site today. Harold Camping, a preacher and radio broadcaster in Oakland, California had predicted that 6pm local time today, May 21, 2011, the Rapture would begin across the world. This idea of a “rapture” or a “rising” comes from a passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 where Paul speaks of the return of Jesus:
According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Camping’s followers have been spreading the word, handing out fliers and bibles and holding signs in cities across the U.S. over the last few weeks, and have even taken out advertisements in the New York City Subway system. The subway ads (the Guardian reports) were paid for by ex MTA worker Robert Fitzpatrick, who spent his $140,000 life savings to cover bus shelters and subway cars with advertisements warning New Yorkers of the end times.
It would appear that 6pm local time has now come and gone in many parts of the world, although here in New York City, we’re still counting down, with less than 5 hours to go. And at familyradio.com, they’re still broadcasting.
