What now for Harold Camping's followers after failed rapture?
While standing in Times Square and watching the clock tick, one avid believer of Harold Camping's May 21 rapture prediction stood there perplexed by his obvious earthbound stay.
"I don't understand why nothing has happened," Robert Fitzpatrick said, according to the New York Daily News, after waiting for the end of the world to begin at 6 p.m. local time. "I did what I had to do. I did what the Bible said," or in this case, what Harold Camping told him to do.
A blank stare to a failed prediction.
“I obviously haven't understood it properly, because we're still here,” said the 60-year-old follower, as reported by the Daily News.
One can only wonder what Camping and his devoted followers are thinking now that it is May 22. So far there haven’t been any reports from the California Family Radio headquarters.
What about the retired man who invested his $140,000 savings on advertisements proclaiming that May 21 would be Judgment Day?
And the young couple who quit their jobs?
At least one church is reaching out to Camping's likely disenchanted followers. Concerned that they might become depressed or commit suicide, Calvary Bible Church of Milpitas, California, is reaching out to provide help. The church is urging them not to do anything rash on May 22.
"Do not despair," said Pastor Jacob Denys in a statement. "You are not alone. We offer you help and Biblical counsel."
Calvary Bible believes Camping's Family Radio is a doomsday cult that promotes a strange understanding of the Bible and misleads others.
"Camping contradicts the Bible, which says that no one knows the date of Christ's return. Jesus said that even He did not know it, but Camping claims to have figured it out," the church stated.
Camping's followers are invited to attend Calvary's Sunday morning service at 10am.
"We realise our offer of assistance may not be well-received right now but we hope on May 22 they will see it is an offer made in Christian love," said Denys. "We know that you will be hurting when you realise that you have been deceived, and we will be here for you."
