So the Rapture actually DID happen - sort of . . .

I'm not exactly surprised to see that Harold Camping - the man who confidently predicted that the Rapture would take place last Saturday - has come up with an explanation for what didn't happen.

The preacher who predicted the end of the world has taken to the airwaves to reveal why we are all still here.

Harold Camping, 89, said he was 'astounded' when May 21 came and went without the Rapture.

But he is already examining new theories ... including the possibility that God, being merciful, did not want mankind to suffer for five months, and so will end the world all at once on October 21 instead.

He also claimed that God did visit Earth on May 21 - but that he did so 'spiritually'.

Speaking on Family Radio tonight, he said: 'Last weekend became a very interesting weekend because May 21 came and has gone and all the dire predictions that have been talked about did not come to pass.

‘I can tell you when May 21 came and went it was a very difficult time for me - a very difficult time. I was truly wondering what is going on. In my mind I went back through all of the promises God had made. What in the world was happening? I really was praying and praying: "Lord, what happened" because all through this I’d been astounded how God opened door after door.

‘It was marvellous how everything was going until May 21 came. I stayed away from home for one night because the pressure from that phone ringing and people knocking on my door for an interview was more than I could stand. So my wife and I went to a motel and spent the night there.’

He continued: ‘We were convinced that on May 21 God would return here in a very physical way by bringing a great earthquake and ushering in the final five months of the day of judgement and the fact is when we look at it spiritually, we find he did come.

‘We’ve already been talking about the end of the world being October 21 2011 but we have not emphasised that because the beginning of it was the fact that we’d see all these things happening (over the five months).'

He explained by saying he'd received a letter from a 'listener' who offered a very interesting theory he wanted to read.

He quoted: 'The great earthquake and rapture and the universe melting in fervent heat will be happening on the last day - October 21 2011.'

'It’s all going to happen on the last day.

'The great earthquake didn’t happen on May 21 because no-one will be able to survive it for more than a few days or let alone five months to suffer God’s wrath because everything will be levelled and destroyed after that earthquake and there will be no food or water to keep everyone alive.

Camping continued: 'The Bible tells us that Christ has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. God is a very compassionate God and while the law of God demands that there has to be punishment it does not mean God is going to punish, and punish, and punish, and punish.’

He went on to explain that the first part of the end of the world began on May 21 1988 - and at that that time 'God brought his judgement on all the church congregations'.

‘In May 21 1988 Christ left the churches and installed Satan there - so God actually enlisted Satan who was the enemy in the churches,' he said.

‘Everything in God’s plan fits a very structured way - it’s all very structured. On September 7 1994 when I said there was a high likelihood it was judgement day, it was true - there was judgement. It was salvation in a wonderful day. Since May 21 1988 virtually no-one could be saved in the entire world.

‘On September 7 God brought even more judgement on the churches because in the world where God’s judgement had begun, God lifted that judgement and allowed people to be saved outside of the churches - leaving the churches under the judgement.

‘On May 21 2011 at that time again judgement and salvation is in view. The fact is on May 21 1988 judgement came upon the churches. On September 7 1994 the judgement continued on the churches, but in the world God lifted that and salvation began again outside the churches.

‘On May 21 2011 we didn’t feel or see any difference in the world but we know from the Bible that God brought judgement day to bear on the whole world - and it will continue right up until October 21 2011 when the whole world will be destroyed.

‘We’re not going to be passing any more tracts or put up any more billboards or advertising in any way about judgement day - that’s all done. The world has been warned - we did our little share and boy, did the media pick it up. Now the world has been told that it’s under judgement.

‘The finish five months from now - we’re not changing the date, we’re just learning we have to look at this more spiritually. The Bible clearly teaches on October 21 that the world will be destroyed, but it will be very quick. When you study the Bible, you’re always learning. We had all of our dates correct.

'But God had not opened our eyes yet to the fact that May 21 was a spiritual coming - not a physical coming. Our task is done. We didn't understand the spiritual meaning of May 21.'

There's more at the link.

Uh-huh. As I said on Saturday, Mr. Camping is just another false prophet, the latest in a long, long line of them. Trouble is, he's still convinced he's anything but false, despite all evidence to the contrary. Delusions are persistent things.

*Sigh*

Peter