# What is Harold Camping's current eschatology? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190 "2011-05-25T19:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/1 "2011-05-25T19:14:01Z")
I must admit that Harold Camping’s arguments are bizarre. Can anyone explain his current date system and what (spiritually) happened on each date? I think his teachings refer to 1988, 1994 as being significant, and of course, the “spiritual” May 21, and the final day of Oct 21, which he apparently thinks (why?) is not going to be spiritual. Can anyone explain his doctrine in a nutshell? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/2 "2011-05-25T19:20:55Z")
I would say take the word “nutshell” and split it in half. Pick a half. Seriously: [here’s a link to a breakdown of some of his math](http://www.cultwatch.com/HaroldCamping.html). To which I add: > [@](#): > > This is not an occult science. This is not one of those crazy systems of divination and astrology. That stuff’s hooey, and you’ve got to have a screw loose to go in for that sort of thing. Our beliefs are fairly commonplace and simple to understand. Humankind is simply materialized color operating on the 49th vibration. You would make that conclusion walking down the street or going to the store. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/3 "2011-05-25T19:40:17Z")
Basically, if I remember his press conference of the other day, he said that, in 1988, God withdrew any sort of blessings from the churches and turned them over to Satan, making it impossible for anyone who is a member of a church to go to heaven. I forget what supposedly happened in 1994. On May 21, God judged mankind, and that was the last chance for anyone living now to be saved. As of May 21, you’re either going to heaven or you’re not. On October 21, there’ll be a big earthquake and the world will come to an end, at which point, those who will go to heaven will, and those who won’t won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/4 "2011-05-25T20:23:01Z")
1994, eh? It was probably Clinton’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/5 "2011-05-25T21:20:21Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > 1994, eh? It was probably Clinton’s fault. Nonsense! It was leftover angst from the Republicans! (Always blame the previous administration.) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/6 "2011-05-25T21:41:52Z")
So what will he say on Oct. 22? What I would really like to know is how much money he is extracting from his followers. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/7 "2011-05-25T22:11:00Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > So what will he say on Oct. 22? It was a **spiritual** end of the world.😃 ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/8 "2011-05-25T22:25:51Z")
I would say that it’s more of a scatological question at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/9 "2011-05-26T20:13:05Z")
> [@](#): > > I would say take the word “nutshell” and split it in half. Pick a half. The “hell” part, or the “nuts”? Yeah, yeah, you probably meant by syllables, but this way works, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/10 "2011-05-26T22:55:49Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > What I would really like to know is how much money he is extracting from his followers. About $2-$3 million per month. Annual revenue of $12 million to $18 million, with assets of between $72 million to over $100 million. This is over the last 3 years or so. It may be somewhat less now. (Though we may not be able to count on that. People who believe preachers like him tend to be real gullible about believing excuses, too.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/11 "2011-05-27T00:21:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The “hell” part, or the “nuts”? > > Yeah, yeah, you probably meant by syllables, but this way works, too. No, that’s exactly what I meant. When Harold Camping et al. talk hell, all I hear is nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/12 "2011-05-27T04:56:14Z")
The OP: I came across the answer to this at [religioustolerance.org](http://religioustolerance.org). Fasten your seatbelt, this will be a rough ride. Camping provides 3 arguments. Here’ number 1: > [@religioustolerance.org](#): > > The bases for Camping’s latest prediction: > > His reasoning for this new date is as follows: > > ``` > "The number 5 ... equals "atonement." 10 is "completeness." 17 means "heaven." 5 x 10 x 17 = 850. > > (850) x (850) = 722,500. This can be interpreted as: (Atonement x Completeness x Heaven), squared. > > Camping believes that Christ was executed on 33-APR-01. The interval from that date to 2011-APR-01 is exactly 1,978 years. > > 1,978 multiplied by 365.2422 days (the average number of days in each solar year) = 722,449 days. > > Adding 51 days brings the total days since Jesus' execution to: 722,500. This will occur on 2011-MAY-21. > > ``` Got all that? The 2nd argument is that Camping thinks last Saturday was the 7000 year anniversary of Noah’s Flood, which he dates to 4990 BC. Point 3: Last Saturday was the end of a 33 year tribulation during which Satan has ruled over the churches. Video at the link! Which I haven’t viewed! [BTV168: Slot Gacor Setiap Hari Tanpa Modal Besar Gampang Menang](http://www.religioustolerance.org/hcamping.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/13 "2011-05-27T07:54:33Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Camping believes that Christ was executed on 33-APR-01. The interval from that date to 2011-APR-01 is exactly 1,978 years. > 1,978 multiplied by 365.2422 days (the average number of days in each solar year) = 722,449 days. Well … no. He seems to have missed a few factors: Like the calendar adjustments of the last 20 centuries. - The Julian calendar was not quite accurate, so the Romans adjusted it at times. - Then the big adjustment when switching to the Gregorian calendar – that involved dropping several days. - Then in modern times, to account for rocket launches, thee have been several changes (though pretty minor, only on the order of a few seconds). Not that I think correcting for these would matter in the end. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/14 "2011-05-27T07:57:16Z")
> [@](#): > > 17 means “heaven.” So… he’s based his entire career on [this?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_l5ETBRqFU) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/15 "2011-05-27T12:25:51Z")
“this monkey’s gone to heaven” ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/16 "2011-05-27T12:47:26Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > About $2-$3 million per month. Annual revenue of $12 million to $18 million, with assets of between $72 million to over $100 million. > > This is over the last 3 years or so. It may be somewhat less now. (Though we may not be able to count on that. People who believe preachers like him tend to be real gullible about believing excuses, too.) Man, I’ve GOT to come up with a good hook to start a Church! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/17 "2011-05-30T02:12:27Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Man, I’ve GOT to come up with a good hook to start a Church! It worked for L. Ron Hubbard. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/18 "2011-05-30T02:37:36Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Seriously: [here’s a link to a breakdown of some of his math](http://www.cultwatch.com/HaroldCamping.html). > [@](#): > > If you are not raptured on the 21st of May 2011, don’t panic. It is not because you are a bad Christian, it is because the date is wrong. This, from a site that is critical about Camping, but not critical about the bible. Apparently the possibility that the Rapture is impossible fiction written by ignorant scribes 2000 years ago isn’t one they will consider. You just got the date wrong, bub. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/19 "2011-05-30T05:20:08Z")
Actually, the Rapture is an interpretation of the Bible that was reinvigorated in the 1830s. The Ancient Christians (c. 431) thought the doctrine was heretical. [Cite](http://www.religioustolerance.org/millenni.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190/20 "2011-05-30T05:38:50Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > The Ancient Christians (c. 431) thought the doctrine was heretical. [Cite](http://www.religioustolerance.org/millenni.htm). I think that’s wrong. I’m looking at the Councils of Ephesus, and I can’t find an outright condemnation of it as heresy. Do you have any more information? As far as I can tell, the first one condemned the Nestorians and Euchites, the second condemned Monophysitism, and the third condemned the Council of Chalcedon (which had condemned the second). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-harold-campings-current-eschatology/583190.md?page=2)