Update: Camping's predictions concerning May 21 failed. The following article explains why Camping's predictions failed: Link
There are twelve days left until May 21, 2011, the date that Harold Camping claims is “Judgment Day” and the date of the Rapture. A few months ago I wrote a critique of Camping’s prediction, which you can find at this link if you have not read it yet: Link
I was alerted that Camping has recently made another prediction relating to his “Judgment Day” prediction. Camping predicts that a great earthquake will begin in New Zealand at 6 P.M. on May 21 and then travel across the globe. The prediction was reported yesterday in the New Zealand Herald, one of New Zealand leading news outlets, and has been reported on websites elsewhere on the Internet.
The main reason I write today’s critique even though I have already critiqued Camping’s May 21 “Judgment Day” prediction is that there are probably going to be a lot of people in the next couple of weeks who will hear about Camping’s earthquake prediction and will seek out information concerning this prediction. Hopefully, some of these people may encounter this article or another article like this that will examine Camping’s prediction(s) critically.
Camping primarily cites Revelation 16:18 as “evidence” to support his claim there will be a great earthquake on “Judgment Day” (parenthesis is added by me, but the bold is Camping’s).
On the first day of that five-month period [May 21, 2011] all of the true believers are to be caught up (raptured) to be forever with Christ. It is also on that day that the Day of Judgment begins for all of the unsaved.
It begins with “a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great” (Revelation 16:18). This enormous earthquake will cause all of the graves, pits, and mausoleums all over the world to be thrown open.[1]
What you do not find in Camping’s citation of Revelation 16:18 is the biblical context that the great earthquake takes place in. The earthquake mentioned in Revelation 16:18 is an outcome following the pouring of the seventh vial judgment.
- Rev 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
- Rev 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
- Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
- Rev 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
- Rev 16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Many people who have differing views of when the Rapture will transpire would probably tell you that Camping is wrong to cite Revelation 16:18 because we are nowhere close to seeing the pouring of the seven vials, which are the final seven plagues of God’s wrath (Revelation 15:1):
- Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
- Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
- Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
However, I recognize that there may be some people who encounter this article that may be new to the study of Bible prophecy. Therefore, I next present a relatively easy example to follow to show that we are nowhere near seeing the fulfillment of the seventh vial judgment.
Let’s take a close look at the sixth vial judgment to further illustrate how inappropriate it is to cite Revelation 16:18 as evidence that there will be a great earthquake on May 21. The sixth vial judgment, the vial judgment before the seventh vial judgment, includes the drying of the Euphrates River and the gathering of the kings of the earth to Armageddon. In addition, the time frame when the sixth vial is poured is a period when the Antichrist (the beast), Satan (the dragon), and the False Prophet are on Earth.
- Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
- Rev 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
- Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
- Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
- Rev 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
I don’t know about you, but…
- I have not heard about the Euphrates River drying up completely yet. Actually, I’ve heard that Iraq is trying to work with Turkey and Syria to increase the water level of the Euphrates River rather than lowering the water level.
- I also have not heard any recent reports of world leaders and their armies gathering in Israel for a great battle. I imagine this gathering will be one of the top stories in the news when it actually takes place…
- I do not believe the False Prophet and the Antichrist have sent unclean spirits from their mouths to persuade world leaders to gather for battle yet (I do not believe that we have seen the Antichrist or the False Prophet emerge as major global players yet…)
Furthermore, the events associated with the five preceding vial judgments (vial judgments one through five) have not taken place either yet. We do not yet have the following:
- People with the mark of the beast feeling grievous sores (1st vial judgment/Revelation 16:2)
- The sun scorching people with fire (4th vial judgment/Revelation 16:8)
- The entire world dealing with physical darkness (5th vial judgment/Revelation 16:10), etc.
Therefore, it’s practically impossible for the great earthquake described in Revelation 16:18 to take place on May 21, 2011. There are still many events that must take place before the great earthquake described in Revelation 16:18 can take place. The earthquake will take place someday, but not later this month.
As for the great earthquake beginning in New Zealand and then moving across the globe, I have no idea how Camping came up with that idea. I am unaware of a prophecy in the Bible about a great earthquake beginning in New Zealand at 6 P.M and then traveling across the globe.
- There is no clear indication in Revelation 16:17-21 that a great earthquake will be felt at one location but not at another location at a given moment. It’s far more likely in my opinion that the great earthquake will be felt simultaneously around the world.
In sum, Camping’s May 21 great earthquake prediction is based on taking Revelation 16:18 completely out of context and on a teaching which has no biblical support (his May 21, “Judgment Day” teaching). Therefore, I would not lose sleep thinking about the possibility of a great earthquake wreaking havoc around the world on May 21.
Reference
[1] Camping, Harold. “We Are Almost There!” Oakland: Family Radio Stations Inc, Revised August 2010. Pg 58 http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/waat/waat.pdf
