Harold Camping's Global Apocalypse PR Campaign

End of the WorldThe world is scheduled to end on May 21, 2011. At least that's the hysteria being spread by Harold Camping, the 89 year-old fundamentalist Christian radio preacher and president of Family Radio, Inc., based in Oakland, California.

Camping claims to have calculated that on May 21, Jesus Christ will return to Earth and save his true believers. The unsaved will be victimized, he says, by a world-wide earthquake that will "throw open all graves." The "saved" will then rise up to heaven and the unsaved will be left to rot. A subsequent, massive tsunami will wreak five months of havoc upon those remaining on Earth until finally the entire Universe blows up on October 21, 2011, according to Camping.

Two signs that indicate the end is near, according to Camping's website, are the arrival of same-sex marriage and Israel gaining nationhood in 1948.

A Global "Rapture-tising" Campaign

Harold CampingWith the help of his media network and legions of donors who have fallen for his PR blitz, Camping has managed to turn what might ordinarily be an obscure and silly, cult-like religious claim into a huge, multimillion-dollar global PR campaign aimed at spreading fear that he hopes will get people "to search for the truth according to God's Will." As president of Family Radio, Inc., Camping controls more than 66 radio outlets and three television stations. He broadcasts his religious programming in over 40 languages, and his shows are heard internationally in places as far away as Moscow, Istanbul and Manila. For months, Family Radio stations have been pumping out word of Camping's apocalyptic prediction. Beyond this, Camping purchased more than 1,000 billboards in cities and towns across the U.S. and Canada, and an additional 1,000 billboards in foreign countries around the globe. He's also bought banner ads, subway transit ads, and even took out a full page ad in a recent issue of USAToday.

All that costs serious money -- but that's not all of his efforts.

A "Project Caravan" RVLast October, Camping initiated "Project Caravan," in which a fleet of five custom-painted RVs with reflective lettering began criss-crossing the U.S., stopping in cities and towns in almost every state where they disgorge believers who wander the streets distributing leaflets containing word of Camping's May 21 doomsday campaign. In "Project Jonah," groups of people go to foreign countries where they similarly wander the streets distributing "tracts," or leaflets, that tell the citizens of those countries the world is about to end. A slide show on Camping's web site shows photos of his followers handing out leaflets in South Africa and Cameroon, a flat-bed truck outfitted with a traveling billboard driving along the roads in Nicaragua, huge billboards and out-sized Judgment Day banners next to roadways in Samoa, Korea, and more.

If you think Camping's global campaign is silly and harmless, think again. His mission has successfully convinced many people to empty their bank accounts, quit their jobs and devote their "remaining" time on Earth to "saving" others. A retired New York city transit worker reportedly spent his entire life savings -- $140,000 -- on 1,000 bus shelter and subway car ads announcing Camping's May 21 apocalypse. Camping's followers have sold their homes, antique collections and divested themselves of all their worldly goods. Some are spending all their assets down at a rate that will render them completely broke by May 21. Camping says he takes no salary in his position as head of Family Radio, Inc., but he has effectively been getting others to turn over their assets to advance his cause.

Preying on Camping's Followers

Doomsday billboard truck in NicaraguaUnwilling to let a fanatical religious end-of-the-world scare go to waste, some entrepreneurs have been taking advantage of people taken in by Camping's scare campaign. Websites offer Christian believers services like post-Rapture pet care and the emailing of letters to loved ones who will be left behind after the Earthly disasters. Bart Centre of New Hampshire launched a venture called Eternal Earth-Bound Pets, in which, for a fee of $135, a confirmed atheist will rescue one pet per address within 24 hours of the rapture. Additional pets at the same address are $20 more each. Centre's price used to be $110, but he raised it after the demand increased this year due to Camping's media campaign. Another service called "You've Been Left Behind" promises (for a fee of $14.95) to send letters to non-believing friends and relatives who get stuck on Earth after the rapture.

Camping's Other End-of-the-World Prediction

Camping predicted the world would end once before, in September, 1994. After it did not happen, he merely asserted his calculations were off. Undaunted, he came up with the new date of May 21, 2011. His prior error apparently hasn't dampened his followers' enthusiasm for Armageddon, though. This time, Camping claims to be absolutely positive the world will end as he has predicted. His massive global media campaign aimed at striking fear in people's hearts has been scaring them into pouring even more money into his religious campaign, multiplying its reach more than ever. All this has enabled Camping to draw more media attention to himself than ever before, and pull even more naive people into his scheme.

Not bad for an 89 year old religious huckster whose own days, according to actuarial tables, are limited.

We will see after May 21 what comes next from Camping's Global PR and prediction factory.

Comments

Please remember there are false teachers among us real believers in Jesus Christ! If this man was a true Christian he wouldn't claim this blasphemy. A true believer knows that in the bible it says that no one will know when the second coming will happen. Oh and by the way it never says anything in the bible about a rapture! Please, if you hear anything that is supposed to be biblical don't take anybody's word for it. Read and study the bible to see if someone is telling the truth. There is so much negative things these days and people need help from the God above. People like Camping hurt more than they help. I will pray for him that after the 21st comes and goes that he opens his eyes and heart to the one true God and back to reality!

Camping has managed to make millions off of his prediction. So, when the world keeps turning and we continue to exist, Camping won't feel like a fool. Those who have given up everything including their bank accounts will feel very foolish. As for Camping, he will live out the end of his days extremely comfortable, as well as those who are in his posse! He gets the last laugh....for now anyways.

Yes, but he will have to answer to God for his blasphemy! That's definitely not worth the extremely comfortable ten years (if he's lucky) he will have here on earth. I actually pity this man!

Matthew 24:23-27 (New International Version) 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. and... Matthew 24:36-37 (New International Version) The Day and Hour Unknown 36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. So If even Jesus Himself does not know when He is coming back.....Than how can this guy....Dont be decieved.

Harold Camping is a false teacher even apart from his nutty prediction. He does not teach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. He does not teach that one can have assurance of salvation. His current posters and billboards do not even present the gospel, they merely urge people to call out urgently to God for mercy. The day or the hour cannot be simply pin pointed as any check of worldtimeserver.com would verify. For example, in Australia it is already May 21...any news from over there yet ???

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Does this Camping guy even read the bible?

I am ammused, yet very sad for those who have chosen to follow this. Do we really think that a God that blessed Mary (virgin) with child and raised Jesus from the dead who make this as simple as a math problem. Im ready when ever the time comes and look forward to the day. Although I dont believe that May 21, 2011 is that day. He will come as a thief in the night!

It is sad that by the way he is speaking this, people think that christains are freaks, but someday it will come to a end just as the Word shows!! but he warned us about false prophets that will decieve many saying they are coming in the name of Christ,this is the way they open the door to really come to hate christains, we are hear to be a light to a dark world till he comes back!! not to condem but to save!!!! John 3:17, his Word said no man or Angel or the Son of man knows when the return is, he said watch and pray the signs of the times will tell you how close he is!!! I pray that you can hear clearly from God about this!!! a dear brother in Christ!!!be a light!!!!

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