Oops! Preacher Admits 'Apocalypse' Date Wrong

The American preacher whose "end of the world" prophecy went conspicuously unfulfilled has a simple explanation for what went wrong - he miscalculated
Harold Camping had said he believed "beyond the shadow of a doubt" that Judgement Day was upon us on Saturday when rolling earthquakes would strike at 6pm.

But a few days on - and with no apocalypse in sight - he has back-pedalled on his theory.

The 89-year-old Christian evangelist from California is now telling his faithful followers they have to wait another five months for Jesus Christ to return to Earth and take them to heaven.

Mr Camping, leader of Family Radio Worldwide, said instead of the world coming to an end on May 21, as he first predicted, he now believes his forecast is playing out "spiritually".

He said the actual apocalypse is set down for October 21 - the day he had initially said would be when those remaining on Earth after all the good had joined God in the skies above would be obliterated.

He said it "dawned" on him that a "merciful and compassionate God" would spare humanity from a "hell on Earth for five months" by compressing the physical apocalypse into a shorter time frame.

His May 21 doomsday prediction sparked atheists to hold parties across the globe to bid farewell to those who believed they would be raptured.

Non-believer and US entrepreneur Bart Centre used the forecast to reel in cash by setting up a business that promised to rescue people's pets after the event.

He lured more than 250 clients to Eternal Earth-bound Pets with each paying up to $135 (£83) to have their furry friends picked up and cared for when they are gone.

He told the Wall Street Journal his clients would be disappointed twice: "Once because they weren't raptured and again because I don't give refunds."

Many other followers also gave up much or all of their world possessions in the belief that Mr Camping's forecast would come true.

But it is not the first time the broadcaster's predictions have not come to fruition.

In 1999, he was forced to explain when his apocalypse forecast did not happen - again, he used "mathematical error" for the mistake. (from SKY)

shame he cannot forecast the lotto numbers

I like the tale about the bookmaker who was offering pick your own odds bets. I imagine a fair few would have fallen for that one.

kat wrote:shame he cannot forecast the lotto numbers

If his lottery numbers are as good as his end of the world predictions not a lot of money would be won