|
Predicted date
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Commentary
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1705
|
The End, according to some Camisard prophets.
(Kyle p.70)
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1706
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The End, according to some Camisard prophets.
(Kyle p.70)
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1708
|
The End, according to some Camisard prophets.
(Kyle p.70)
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1716
|
Cotton Mather's end-of-the-world prediction #2.
(Abanes p.338)
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Apr 5, 1719
|
The return of a comet was supposed to wipe out
the Earth, said Jacques Bernoulli, progenitor of the
mathematical Bernoulli family. (Randi
p.240-241)
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1734
|
Doomsday was to come between 1700 and 1734,
predicted 15th century Cardinal Nicolas of Cusa. (Weber
p.82, McIver #73)
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1736
|
Cotton Mather's end-of-the-world prediction #3.
(Abanes p.338)
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Oct 13, 1736
|
William Whitson predicted that London would meet
its doom by flood on this day, prompting many Londoners
to gather in boats on the Thames. (Randi)
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1757
|
In a vision, angels supposedly informed mystic
Emanuel Swedenborg that the world would end in 1757.
Few took him seriously. Ah, the 18th century, the Age
of Reason! (Randi p.241, Weber p.104)
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Apr 5, 1761
|
Religious extremist William Bell claimed the
world would be destroyed by earthquake on this day.
Since there had been an earthquake on February 8 and
another on March 8, he reasoned that the world must end
in another 28 days' time! Again, Londoners gathered in
boats on the Thames or headed for the hills. When his
prediction didn't come true, he was promptly thrown
into Bedlam, London's notorious nuthouse. (Randi
p.241)
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Feb 28, 1763
|
Devout Methodist George Bell foresaw the end of
the world on this date. (Weber p.102)
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May 19, 1780
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On this day in New England the skies
mysteriously turned dark for several hours in the
afternoon, causing people to believe that a biblical
prophecy had come true and Judgement Day had arrived.
In reality, the darkness was caused by smoke from
large-scale forest fires to the west. (Abanes
p.217)
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1789
|
The coming of the Antichrist, according to 14th
century Cardinal Pierre d'Ailly. (Weber
p.59)
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1790
|
The Second Coming, according to Irish orator
Francis Dobbs. (Schwartz p.181)
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1792
|
The end of the world according to the Shakers.
(Abanes p.338)
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1794
|
-
The end of the world according to the
Shakers. (Abanes p.338)
-
Charles Wesley, brother of Methodist
Church founder John Wesley, predicted Doomsday
would be in 1794. (Source: Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance)
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1795
|
The Millennium would begin between 1793 and
1795, claimed retired English sailor Richard Brothers,
who called himself "God's Almighty Nephew." He was
convinced that he would lead the ten lost tribes of
Israel, and once said that God told him he would become
king of England. He was eventually committed to an
insane asylum. (Kyle p.73, McIver #301)
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Nov 19, 1795
|
While campaigning for Richard Brothers' release,
Nathaniel Brassey Halhead proclaimed that the world
would end on Nov 19. (McIver #310)
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1801
|
Pierre Turrel's doomsday calculation #3 (See
1537). (Randi p. 239)
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1805
|
Destruction of the world by earthquake in 1805,
followed by an age of everlasting peace when God will
be known by all, as foretold by 17th century
Presbyterian minister Christopher Love. He eventually
lost his head, literally. (Schwartz p.101)
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1814
|
Pierre Turrel's doomsday calculation #4 (See
1537). (Randi p. 239)
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Dec 25, 1814
|
Jesus was to be re-born on Christmas Day,
according to the 64-year-old virgin prophet Joanna
Southcott, who claimed to be pregnant with the Christ
child. Witnesses claimed that she did indeed appear
pregnant. She died on Christmas Day, and a subsequent
autopsy proved that she was not pregnant after all.
(Skinner p.109)
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Oct 14, 1820
|
Southcott follower John Turner claimed the world
would come to an end on this day. After this prophecy
failed, John Wroe took over leadership of the cult.
(Randi p.241-242)
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|
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1832
|
The beginning of the Millennium, according to
John Dilks. (Weber p.176)
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1836
|
Methodist Church founder John Wesley foresaw the
Millennium beginning in 1836, the same year that the
Beast of Revelation was to rise from the sea. (McIver
#269)
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|
1843
|
Harriet Livermore's Parousia prediction #1.
(McIver #699)
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Apr 28, 1843
|
Although this date was not officially endorsed
by the Millerite leadership, it was a popular belief
among William Miller's followers that the Second Coming
would take place on this day. (Festinger
p.16)
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Dec 31, 1843
|
Many Millerites expected Jesus to return at the
end of 1843. (Festinger p.16)
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Mar 21, 1844
|
William Miller, leader of the so-called
Millerite movement, predicted through careful
calculation that Christ would return sometime between
March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. He gathered a
following of thousands of devotees. After the failure
of Jesus to show up during this window, the cult
experienced a crisis of faith and in the confusion
began reinterpreting the prophecy and aggressively
proselytizing. (Gould p.49, Festinger
p.16-17)
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Oct 22, 1844
|
It's Miller time again! Rev. Samuel S. Snow, an
influential Millerite, predicted the Second Coming on
this day. The date was soon accepted by Miller himself.
On that day, the Millerites gathered on a hilltop to
await the coming of Jesus. After the inevitable
no-show, the event became known as the "Great
Disappointment." (Gould p.49, Festinger
p.17)
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1845
|
The Second Coming according to the Second
Adventists, a group that formed from the remaining
hardcore members of Miller's cult. The Second
Adventists were the forerunners of the Seventh Day
Adventists (Kyle p.91)
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|
1846
|
Another Second Coming according to the Second
Adventists. (Kyle p.91)
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1847
|
Harriet Livermore's Parousia prediction #2.
(McIver #699)
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Aug 7, 1847
|
"Father" George Rapp, a German ascetic who
founded a sect known as the Harmonists (aka the
Rappites) and established a utopian commune in Economy,
Pennsylvania, was convinced that Jesus would return
before his death. Even on his deathbed he refused to
give up hope for Christ's return, saying "If I did not
know that the dear Lord meant I should present you all
to him, I should think my last moment's come." It
turned out that his last moment had indeed come, yet
Jesus failed to show up. Rapp died on August 7, 1847.
(Cohen p.23, Thompson p.283, Encyclopedia
Britannica)
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1849
|
Yet another Second Coming according to the
Second Adventists. (Kyle p.91)
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1851
|
You guessed it! Still another Second Coming
according to the Second Adventists. (Kyle
p.91)
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1856
|
The Crimean War (1853-56) was seen by some as
the Battle of Armageddon. After all, Russia had plans
to wrest control of Palestine from the Ottoman Empire.
Perhaps it was this war that triggered the popularity
of the "Russia invades Israel" scenario so popular
among modern prophecy teachers. (McIver
#437)
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1862
|
The end of 6000 years since Creation, and thus
the end of the world, according to John Cumming of the
Scottish National Church. (Abanes p.283)
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1863
|
Southcott follower John Wroe, who in 1823 tried
(and failed) to walk on water and underwent a public
circumcision, calculated that the Millennium would
begin in 1863. (Skinner p.109)
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1867
|
The Anglican minister Michael Paget Baxter was
an ardent date setter, a veritable Charles Taylor of
the 19th century. In one of his earliest publications
he predicted the End for 1861-1867. (McIver
#348)
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|
1868
|
In another publication Michael Baxter claimed the
Battle of Armageddon would take place this year.
(Abanes p.338, McIver #349)
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|
1869
|
Another End according to Michael Baxter. (McIver
#350)
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Jun 28, 1870
|
The end of the world as per Irvin Moore's book
The Final Destiny of Man, to be followed by
Christ's millennial reign on Earth. He predicted that
during this year, France would fall, and Jerusalem
would become the capital of the world. (McIver
#746)
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|
1872
|
Michael Baxter predicted another Armageddon in
1871-72 or thereabouts. (McIver #351)
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|
1874
|
-
The end of the world according to the
Jehovah's Witnesses. This was to become the first
in a long string of failed doomsday prophecies by
members of this group. (Gould p.50, Kyle
p.93)
-
The Parousia according to the newly
formed Seventh Day Adventists, a group founded by
former Millerites. (Abanes p.339)
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|
1878
|
The end of the world according to the Jehovah's
Witnesses. (Kyle p.93)
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1880
|
Thomas Rawson Birks in his book First
Elements of Sacred Prophecy determined that the end
of the world would be in 1880 by employing the
time-honored Great Week theory. (McIver
#371)
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|
1881
|
-
The end of the world according to the
Jehovah's Witnesses. (Kyle p.93)
-
The end of the world according to some
pyramidologists. (Randi p.242)
-
16th century prophetess Mother Shipton
is said to have written the couplet:
The world to an end shall come
In eighteen hundred and eighty one.
In 1873, it was revealed that the couplet was a
forgery by Charles Hindley, who published Mother
Shipton's prophecies in 1862. This did not stop
people from expecting the end in 1881, however.
(Schwartz p.122, Randi p.242-243)
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|
1890
|
Northern Paiute leader Wovoka predicted the
Millennium beginning in 1890. This prediction came from
a trance he experienced during a solar eclipse in 1889.
Wovoka was a practitioner of the Ghost Dance cult, a
bizarre hybrid of apocalyptic Christianity and American
Indian mysticism. (Gould p.56-57, p.69)
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1891
|
In 1835 Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism,
foresaw the Second Coming taking place in 56 years'
time, or about 1891. (Source: exmormon.org)
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1895
|
The Millennium, according to Reverend Robert
Reid of Erie, Pennsylvania. (Weber p.176)
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|
1896
|
Michael Baxter (he's baaaack!) wrote a book
entitled The End of This Age About the End of This
Century in which predicted the Rapture taking place
in 1896. According to Rev. Baxter, 144,000 true
Christians were supposed to be summoned to Heaven
during this year. (Thompson p.121)
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1899
|
Charles A.L. Totten predicted that 1899 was a
possible date for the end of the world. Interestingly,
the infamous "NASA discovers missing day" urban
legend has its roots in Totten's writings. (McIver
#924)
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|
1900
|
-
Father Pierre Lachèze foresaw
Doomsday occurring in 1900, eight years after the
Temple in Jerusalem was to be rebuilt. (Weber
p.136)
-
Followers of Brazilian ascetic Antonio
Conselheiro expected the end to come by the year
1900. (Thompson p.125-126)
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|
Nov 13, 1900
|
Over 100 members of the Russian cult Brothers
and Sisters of the Red Death committed suicide,
expecting the world to end on this day. (Sources: Portuguese article and this site)
|
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1901
|
-
A sect calling itself the Catholic
Apostolic Church claimed that Jesus would return by
the time the last of its 12 founding members died.
The last member died in 1901. (Boyer
p.87)
-
Rev. Michael Baxter foresaw the end of
the world in 1901 in his book The End of This
Age About the End of This Century. (Thompson
p.121)
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|
Apr 23, 1908
|
Once again, it's Michael Baxter. In his book
Future Wonders of Prophecy, the Rapture was to
take place on March 12, 1903 between 2pm and 3pm, and
Armageddon was to take place on this day, which is
after the Tribulation. (McIver #353)
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Oct 1908
|
Pennsylvanian grocery store owner Lee T.
Spangler claimed that the world would meet a fiery end
during this month. (Abanes p.339)
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1910
|
The end of the world according to the Jehovah's
Witnesses. (Kyle p.93)
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|
May 18, 1910
|
Many people believed the arrival of Halley's
Comet would spell the end of the world. Some thought
that cyanide gas from the comet's tail would poison the
Earth's atmosphere. In Germany, one could buy postcards
depicting apocalyptic scenes bearing the caption, "End
of the World on May 18". Con artists took advantage of
people's fears by selling "comet pills" to make people
immune to the toxins...or so they claimed. (Weber
p.196-198, Abanes p.339)
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|
1911
|
19th century Scottish astronomer and
pyramidologist Charles Piazzi Smyth concluded from his
research on the dimensions of the Great Pyramid of Giza
that the Second Coming would occur between 1892 and
1911. (Cohen p.94)
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|
Oct 1, 1914
|
The end of the world according to the Jehovah's
Witnesses. In fact, they viewed World War I as the
Battle of Armageddon. (Skinner p.102)
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|
1915
|
The beginning of the Millennium according to
John Chilembwe, fundamentalist leader of a rebellion in
Nyasaland (present-day Malawi). (Gould p.54-55,
p.69)
|
|
1918
|
The end of the world according to the Jehovah's
Witnesses. (Kyle p.93)
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|
Dec 17, 1919
|
According to meteorologist Albert Porta, a
conjunction of six planets on this date would cause a
magnetic current to "pierce the sun, cause great
explosions of flaming gas, and eventually engulf the
Earth." Panic erupted in many countries around the
world because of this prediction, and some even
committed suicide. (Abanes p.60-61)
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|
1925
|
The end of the world according to the Jehovah's
Witnesses. (Kyle p.93)
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|
Feb 13, 1925
|
According to Margaret Rowan, the angel Gabriel
appeared before her in a vision and told her that the
world would end at midnight on this date, which
happened to be Friday the 13th. (Abanes
p.45)
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|
Spring 1928
|
J.B. Dimbleby calculated that the Millennium
would begin in the spring of 1928, with the Rapture and
Second coming taking place between 1889 and 1928. But
the true end of the world, he claimed, wouldn't take
pace until around the year 3000. (McIver
#495)
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|
1934
|
Final apocalyptic battle was to begin, claimed
Chicago preacher Nathan Cohen Beskin in 1931. (Abanes
p.280)
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Sep 1935
|
In 1931, Wilbur Glen Voliva announced that "the
world is going to go 'puff' and disappear in September,
1935." (Abanes p.287)
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|
1936
|
-
Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide
Church of God, told members of his church that
the Rapture was to take place in 1936, and that
only they would saved. After the prophecy failed,
he changed he date three more times. (Shaw
p.99)
-
End of the world according to some
pyramidologists. (Randi p.242)
|
|
1938
|
Gus McKey claimed in a pamphlet that the 6000th
year since Creation would come between 1931 and 1938,
signifying the end of the world. (Abanes
p.283)
|
|
1941
|
-
The end of the world according to the
Jehovah's Witnesses. (Shaw p.72)
-
The end of the world according to
Leonard Dale-Harrison. (Kyle p.111)
|
|
1943
|
Herbert W. Armstrong's Rapture prediction #2.
(Shaw p.99)
|
|
Sep 21, 1945
|
In 1938 a minister named Long had a vision of a
mysterious hand writing the number 1945 and a
voice saying the world would be destroyed at 5:33pm on
September 21. His prophecy failed, naturally. (Source:
Portuguese article)
|
|
1947
|
In 1889, John Ballou Newbrough (aka "America's
Greatest Prophet") foresaw the destruction of all
nations and the beginning of post-apocalyptic anarchy
in 1947. I guess he wasn't such a great prophet after
all. Newbrough was the founder of the Oahspe cult.
(Randi p.243)
|
|
1950
|
The end of the world, as per Henry Adams. (Mann
p.x)
|
|
1952
|
In 1950, a young Billy Graham stated "We may
have another year, maybe two years. Then I believe it
is going to be over." (Source: Article by Hugo McCord)
|
|
Jan 9, 1953
|
The end of the world, according to Agnes
Carlson, the founder of a Canadian cult called the Sons
of Light. (Source: Portuguese article)
|
|
Aug 1953
|
Pyramidologist David Davidson, in his book
The Great Pyramid, Its Divine Message, wrote
that the Millennium would begin sometime during this
month. (Source: article by John Baskette)
|
|
Dec 21, 1954
|
The world was to be destroyed by terrible
flooding on this date, claimed Dorothy Martin (a.k.a.
Marian Keech), leader of a UFO cult called Brotherhood
of the Seven Rays (a.k.a. The Seekers). Among the
members of this cult were George Hunt Williamson and
the aptly named Charles Laughead. This case became the
subject of Leon Festinger's book When Prophecy
Fails, the classic, ground-breaking case study of
cognitive dissonance and the effect that failed
prophecy has on "true believers". (Festinger, Heard
p.46-48, McIver #1949)
|
|
Apr 23, 1957
|
According to Mihran Ask, a pastor from
California, "Sometime between April 16 and 23, 1957,
Armageddon will sweep the world! Millions of persons
will perish in its flames and the land will be
scorched." (Watchtower, Oct 15, 1958,
p.613)
|
|
1958
|
David A. Latimer, in his book Opening of the
Seven Seals and the Half Hour of Silence, predicted
that the Second Coming would take place in 1956 or
1958, right after the Battle of Armageddon. (McIver
#1501)
|
|
Apr 22, 1959
|
Victor Houteff, founder of the Davidians -- an
offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventists -- prophesied
that the End would be coming soon, but he never set a
date. After his death, however, his widow Florence
prophesied that the Rapture would take place on April
22, 1959. Hundreds of faithful gathered at Mount Carmel
outside Waco to await the big moment, but it was not to
be. (Thompson p.289)
|
|
1960
|
Pyramidologist Charles Piazzi Smyth (see the
1911 entry) claimed that the Millennium would begin no
later than 1960. (Source: article by John Baskette)
|
|
Feb 4, 1962
|
A planetary alignment on this day was to bring
destruction to the world. Incidentally, the Antichrist
was supposed to have been born the following day,
according to pop psychic/astrologer Jeane Dixon.
(Abanes p.340)
|
|
1966
|
Between 1965 and 1966, an apocalyptic battle was
to occur, resulting in the fall of the United States,
claimed the Nation of Islam. (Kyle p.162)
|
|
1967
|
-
The establishment of the Kingdom of
Heaven, according to Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Kyle
p.148)
-
A young Jim Jones, who later became
guru of the Kool-Aid cult People's Temple, had
visions that a nuclear holocaust was to take place
in 1967. (Weber p.214)
|
|
Aug 20, 1967
|
The beginning of the third woe of the
Apocalypse, during which the southeastern US would be
destroyed by a Soviet nuclear attack, according to UFO
prophet George Van Tassel, who claimed to have
channeled an alien named Ashtar. (Alnor
p.145)
|
|
Dec 25, 1967
|
Danish cult leader Knud Weiking claimed that a
being named Orthon was speaking to him, saying that
there would be a nuclear war by Christmas 1967 that
would disturb the Earth's orbit. His followers built a
survival bunker in preparation for this
catastrophe.
|
|
Aug 9, 1969
|
Second Coming of Christ, according to George
Williams, leader of the Morrisites, a 19th century
branch of Mormonism. (Robbins p.77)
|
|
Nov 22, 1969
|
The Day of Judgement, according to Robin
McPherson, who supposedly channeled an alien named
Ox-Ho. (Shaw p.154)
|