SO, we all woke up on May 22 in our usual beds, or wherever we were supposed to be at the time.
None of us got swept up to heaven in the rapture. None of us ‘sinners’ got left behind to face mass destruction here on earth.
Of course, our hearts go out to those around the world who were unfortunate to be caught up in the midst of natural disasters like tornadoes that coincidentally happened over the weekend that was supposed to be the end.
But, the beginning of the end of the world on May 21, 2011 as predicted by Harold Camping did not happen. In fact, many of us in this part of the world did not even realise that there was such a prediction.
Apparently there were people who took the prediction seriously.
Followers of Harold Camping in the United States even went to the extent of using up their children’s college funds to prepare for the rapture, shelling out their life savings to print ‘the end is near’ posters and signs, and paying opportunistic atheists to take care of their pets in the months to come before the end of things, should they be ‘raptured’.
In Camping’s description of Judgement Day, the Earth would be wrenched in a great earthquake and many inhabitants would perish in the coming months, until the planet’s total destruction on Oct 21.
However, as minutes passed 6pm on May 21, believers of Camping’s Judgement Day watched their clocks in disbelief as life went on as usual around them.
Some broke down, not knowing what to do next. Their leader Camping was nowhere to be found.
When he finally emerged from seclusion after the weekend, Camping insisted that the end would still come on Oct 21. The Eye wonders how many of his followers would still stick with that belief.
Hardcore punters here would more likely take this date in good stride and come up with a combination of numbers from 21-10-2011 and hit the 4D shops to try their luck.
Over the years, mankind has heard and survived numerous failed end of the world predictions made by philosophers, religious leaders, scientists, writers, and ancient communities.
One date in particular stands out, as interpreted by mankind – Dec 21, 2012 (21-12-2012 looks like a good number for the jackpots too). This date basically is seen as the end of the Mayan calendar, and thus, regarded as the end.
Some of these apocalyptic dates and scenarios (including 2012) have even been made into fictional blockbuster movies that have generated millions of dollars – definitely just the beginning of a good life for those who earned all that dough there.
Prophecies aside, let’s take a look at the reality of things.
The world is more likely to end if we do not take care of the Earth – if we continue to pollute, destroy the very beings (plant and animal life) that keep this earth going, and fight among ourselves over issues that should not even be fought over (such as race, religion, borders, resources).
These, to the Eye are activities that will, without a doubt, lead to the destruction of the world and humankind.
And this is something we do not need prophecies or modern day interpretations of ancient scripts to tell us.
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