ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — Judgment Day is coming. That's according to a loosely-organized Christian movement declaring Saturday the day of the Rapture.
A Christian author and radio broadcaster from Oakland, Calif., is preaching that God will destroy the Earth starting May 21, 2011.
Let's first make it very clear — this man also made this same prediction in 1994 and it didn't happen.
While some people say they're Rapture ready, others are taking "Judgment Day" with a grain of salt.
"Probably just another hoax," said Michael Mars of South Bend.
"It scares me a lot," said Felicia Harold of South Bend.
There are mixed emotions over one man declaring May 21 Doomsday, saying the world will come to an end.
Good Christians will be saved, and others won't make it.
"It kinda puts you on edge," said Jodi Squibb of Mishawaka. "I try not to think about stuff like that."
But it's difficult to avoid. From websites to billboards, the Rapture is all the buzz.
"It could happen any time, I guess, but who's to say it's going to happen in two days?" Harold said.
One man thinks he's figured it out. Harold Camping, 89, a California-based Christian author and radio broadcaster, said his 50-year study of the Bible shows Saturday is Judgment Day.
"There's going to be a huge earthquake that will make the earthquake in Japan look like a Sunday school picnic," said Camping.
But other Christians aren't falling for his interpretation.
Matthew Cowden, a pastor at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in South Bend, said it's not smart to put faith in one man's analysis.
"Live today as Christ would want you to live," Cowden said. "That's what the real command of the gospel is, not to spend your days in fear trying to plan how you're going spend to your last few days."
Some said it doesn't matter what religion you practice. If the end is really near, they plan to make the most of their next few days.
"Drive across the country," Mars said.
"Spend all of my money," Harold said.
"I don't know, party," said Jeff Brock of South Bend.
Party? Some will.
One Facebook group is poking fun at the movement, saying when everyone else is gone, they'll still be here, soaking in the fun.
"It sounds like a great way to get a lot of hits on Facebook," Cowden said.
Cowden said there are no hidden secrets in the Bible; he said believe in the verbatim.
Specifically, Mark 13: 32: "Jesus said, but about that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven or the Son, but only the Father."
Cowden said there's a benefit of all these rumors.
He hopes people go back to church to figure out what they believe in.
If Harold Camping's theory is a bust, well, there's more apocalyptic news.
The Mayan calendar says the world is coming to an end at the end of 2012.
A Christian author and radio broadcaster from Oakland, Calif., is preaching that God will destroy the Earth starting May 21, 2011.
Let's first make it very clear — this man also made this same prediction in 1994 and it didn't happen.
While some people say they're Rapture ready, others are taking "Judgment Day" with a grain of salt.
"Probably just another hoax," said Michael Mars of South Bend.
"It scares me a lot," said Felicia Harold of South Bend.
There are mixed emotions over one man declaring May 21 Doomsday, saying the world will come to an end.
Good Christians will be saved, and others won't make it.
"It kinda puts you on edge," said Jodi Squibb of Mishawaka. "I try not to think about stuff like that."
But it's difficult to avoid. From websites to billboards, the Rapture is all the buzz.
"It could happen any time, I guess, but who's to say it's going to happen in two days?" Harold said.
One man thinks he's figured it out. Harold Camping, 89, a California-based Christian author and radio broadcaster, said his 50-year study of the Bible shows Saturday is Judgment Day.
"There's going to be a huge earthquake that will make the earthquake in Japan look like a Sunday school picnic," said Camping.
But other Christians aren't falling for his interpretation.
Matthew Cowden, a pastor at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in South Bend, said it's not smart to put faith in one man's analysis.
"Live today as Christ would want you to live," Cowden said. "That's what the real command of the gospel is, not to spend your days in fear trying to plan how you're going spend to your last few days."
Some said it doesn't matter what religion you practice. If the end is really near, they plan to make the most of their next few days.
"Drive across the country," Mars said.
"Spend all of my money," Harold said.
"I don't know, party," said Jeff Brock of South Bend.
Party? Some will.
One Facebook group is poking fun at the movement, saying when everyone else is gone, they'll still be here, soaking in the fun.
"It sounds like a great way to get a lot of hits on Facebook," Cowden said.
Cowden said there are no hidden secrets in the Bible; he said believe in the verbatim.
Specifically, Mark 13: 32: "Jesus said, but about that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven or the Son, but only the Father."
Cowden said there's a benefit of all these rumors.
He hopes people go back to church to figure out what they believe in.
If Harold Camping's theory is a bust, well, there's more apocalyptic news.
The Mayan calendar says the world is coming to an end at the end of 2012.
