Religious radio personality Harold Camping is sorry his prediction that the rapture would occur on October 21 did not prove accurate. In a penitent statement posted to his Family Radio website, Camping apologized for his inaccuracy and said he would refine his calculations.
“When it comes to recognizing the truth of prophecy, we’re finding that it’s very very difficult,” Camping said in a recorded statement posted to his group’s web site.
“Why didn’t Christ return on October 21st? It seems embarrassing for Family Radio, but God was in charge of everything. We came to that conclusion after quite careful study of the Bible.”
But, Camping said, the absent apocalypse has given him pause to check his math. “I have been checking my own notes more carefully than ever,” he said.
The Family Radio host also backpedaled on his earlier claim that people who refused to accept his rapture deadlines risked being left behind.
“Incidentally, I have been told that I had said back in May that people who did not believe that May 21 should be the rapture date, probably had not become saved,” Camping said. “I should not have said that and I apologize for that.”
“We are learning to walk more and more humble [sic] before God,” he added.