On Saturday, May 21st at 6:00 pm yet another failed prophet's prognostication of the end of the world passed without manifestation.  Most people gave it little or no credence as their attentions were directed to more immediate concerns such as their personal struggles, the impact of the economic depression on their lives, joblessness, war and family.

Harold Camping's recent doomsday pronouncement  and his decision to announce a new date when the original passed, has inducted him into the charlatan's club. This self-proclaimed prophet is the latest in a long string of individuals who have set end of the world dates that have come and gone. 

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On Friday, May 20th I witnessed a man withdraw all the money from his bank account as he announced in a stentorious voice "the world is going to end and I want to take all my money with me."

It was a ridiculous concept to which another client replied "well, if you read the Bible then you wouldn't be worried. "  I added "the Pharaohs tried to take their wealth with them and it only ended up in the hand's of grave robbers and Western Museums."  However, he was oblivious to the ludicrous nature of his action and the gullibility that it implied.

Ten days earlier on May 11th Rome, Italy was supposed to be destroyed by a devastating earthquake. The Colosseum, the Pantheon and St Peter's, as well as the rest of the Eternal City was predicted to be reduced to a pile of rubble by midnight.  Primo Mastrantoni, secretary of the consumer group ADUC said, "one out of five people did not go to work, while rural and beach hotels outside Rome reported higher than normal bookings."

When discussing the ever impending end of the world people imagine the apocalyptic vision portrayed in the movie "2012."  The 2012 prophecy is based upon the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. "Mainstream Mayanist scholars state that predictions of impending doom are not found in any of the existing classic Maya accounts, and that the idea that the Long Count calendar "ends" in 2012 misrepresents Maya history." (Source: Wikipedia)

William Miller like Harold Camping made a series of predictions in the 1800's pertaining to the end of the world. Based upon the symbols and metaphors that he misconstrued from the apocalyptic books of the Bible he identified a day when Jesus would return.

On October 22nd, 1844, thousands of Millerites were directed by Miller to sell all of their possessions and await Second Great Awakening. When the date passed and nothing occurred Miller claimed a slight miscalculation based upon a misinterpretation of Biblical symbols and metaphors.  He would then recalculate and set a new date for the end of the world.

According to Suhaibwebb.com the stance of the Qur'an on this issue is clear from the following verse: “They ask you [Prophet] about the end of the world, saying, ‘When will it be?’ How can you tell them that? Its time is known only to your Lord. You are only sent to warn those who fear it.” (Qur’an 79:42-45)

According to the King James Bible in Matthew 24:36 the end of the world is not something that can be predicted by man as "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father."

According to the Torah the term “End of Days” is taken from Numbers 24:4 and has always been taken as a reference to the messianic era.  The date and time of the Messiah's arrival  is unknown though it is prayed and hoped for hourly and daily.   The 'end of time' will usher in an era when as Isaiah (Ch.11:6) states “the wolf shall lie with the lamb."

To adherents of the three great Abrahamic religions - Christianity, Islam and Judaism, we need only to refer to our scriptures to guard against deceit and fear.