Rapture predictor Harold Camping suffers stroke

Harold Camping speaks during a taping of his show "Open Forum" in Oakland, Calif., May 23, 2011 - two days after the 89-year-old had said the Earth would end. / AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Last Updated 2:38 p.m. ET

Harold Camping, the Family Radio minister who inaccurately predicted that the world would experience Judgment Day last May 21, has suffered a stroke.

Camping, the 89-year-old head of the Oakland-based evangelical media company, suffered a stroke on Thursday night after a radio broadcast and was taken to a local hospital, according to a message posted on a Family Radio-oriented Yahoo group by Charlie Menut, station manager of Family Radio affiliate WFME.

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A neighbor of Camping told the Oakland Tribune that the Alameda minister was taken by ambulance from his house Thursday night.

The unnamed neighbor said she had spoken with Camping's wife Shirley on Friday and was told the radio evangelist is doing "OK," although his speech is "a little bit slurred."

Family Radio is expected to give an update on Camping's condition on Monday.

The fundamentalist minister had led his Christian followers to believe Saturday, May 21, 2011, marked the Rapture and the countdown to Judgment Day.

The day after, Camping told a San Francisco Chronicle reporter he was "flabbergasted" when the predicted End Times did not materialize.

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In related news. Agence France-Presse is reporting a Malwai man has plead guilty to circulating false documents, after handing out fliers published by Camping's Family Radio that predicted the Rapture would take place on May 21.

Saduki Mwambene, 39, was arrested in April for distributing false documents "that threatened the peace and security of citizens," according to an official at the magistrate's court in Chitipa district, Malawi.

Mwambene was granted bail and was ordered to report back after May 21 to ensure the information was false.

At a hearing Saturday, he pleaded guilty and was given a six-month suspended sentence. The official said Mwambene was repentant and said he would never again be influenced by "false prophets,"

David Morgan
David Morgan is a senior editor at CBSNews.com and cbssundaymorning.com.

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96 Comments Add a Comment

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GodSaveMe333 says:: I hear you!; reply

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GodSaveMe333 says:: Because Jesus is Faith; reply

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OrangPuteh says:: Why does faith deserve respect?

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f7a_1184871139; reply

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OrangPuteh says:

RELIGION: Cruelest hoax ever perpetrated against humanity.

Harold Camping and his co-conspirators thank you, however, for the millions of dollars sent his way.

Keep the money coming, Suckers!


GodSaveMe333 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; The world has been warned through the Millions of Dollars that would have been spent to commit fornication with the worlds material goods and then some

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GodSaveMe333 says:

I feel I have been resurrected in a sense since October 21, 2011 came and went. I have been resurrected by the fact that Mr. Camping apologized for his error. It is enough for me that by him doing so God is Magnified by this. He has chastised his own.

I do believe that Mr. Camping was a solid bible teacher in his younger years. I believe the Bible is his passion. I believe he is dedicated, hard working and I believe he was self deceived.

I also believe that we are very close to the end and that NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY NOR HOUR, NO, NOT EVEN THE SON (JESUS), NOT THE ANGELS.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.: or any other man.

Thank you for your comment. I understand why you said what you did.


dresia replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; GodSaveMe333, I love your comment. You hit the nail right on the head. May I also add, that I believe this is a warning to us from Harold Camping, though the Bible does state, no man knoweth the day nor the hour, not even the Angels in Heaven, only God so Harold Camping in my opinion shouldn't predict when Jesus return is because this can turn people away from the Bible because his predictions are false. That's why it's so important to read the Bible for ourselves because when these false teachings of any kind pertaining to the Bible arise, we can know for sure, that's not what the Bible reads and pay no attention to it. I also believe that Harold Camping's stroke was a warning, a second chance. God has silenced him for a moment so I'm so sorry for the stroke, and I'm glad he did not die, but I hope he will think twice about his predictions on the second coming. I do believe that this is a warning for mankind to repent and pray for God's deliverance because Amen like you mentioned, the time is near.

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GodSaveMe333 says:: I believe in Christ and have repented of all including my following Mr. Camping's teachings. I do believe the man was a very solid devoted and dedicated Bible teacher and believes what he taught. I believe the Bible is his passion. He recently confesses he was wrong in teaching that certain people would not be saved after May 21, 2011.

Thank you for your reply; reply

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CWOODS8178 says:: IF YOU BELEIVE IN CHRIST AND REPENTED YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN YOUR SINS BECAUSE CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN THEM; reply

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GodSaveMe333 says:: Agree; reply

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GodSaveMe333 says:: Agree; reply

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chris_bray says:

This boy is lost. I have yet to find the word "rapture" in the bible by the way, can someone refer me to that word?


agnesdeo replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; The word "rapture" is no mentioned in the Bible. But the belief is taken from I Thessalonians 4:17. I believe these words refer to those Christians, who are alive on the day Christ's Returns. They shall rise up to the heavens, not a rapture, but an ascension to Christ's Right Hand.


GodSaveMe333 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; There is a Greek word and a Latin word used which translates to being "caught up." I canb not put those two words here because the moderstor of this site does not allow any other language but English. Go to google and type in greek and Latin word for rapture and you will get you answer. Also the word bible is not mentioned in the bible.