Publicity World news in 2011: bible teacher and radio presenter Harold Camping predicted that 21 May was to be Judgement Day. Only true believers would be accepted into heaven. Documentary makers Stefan Wittekamp and Suzanne Arts got access to the heart of this group. From up close, they captured the hopes, fears and loneliness of three adherents on film. This results in a unique view on the thought process of ‘true believers’ Adrienne, Michael and Candace and their families. Filled with excitement and uncertainty, they count the days to Judgement Day. Their actions can scarcely be understood by the ‘unbelieving’ outside world. A mutual sense of incomprehension and division is the inevitable result. And so it appears that the separation of the wheat and the tares is already taking place far before Judgement Day is said to dawn.
Empty street in the sunset, with a silhouette of Manhattan high-rise in the back INCOMMING CALL AT FAMILY RADIO (woman’s voice): Mr Camping, thank you for taking my call. My question is; when the May 21st date does come, which I do believe is going to happen. If, let’s say I am one of the elect and I am still living at that time, will I actually experience the earthquake itself? Will I see the graves open and then the death will rise first? And then if I am one of the elect, I will rise with them? So my question is will I feel the earthquake and see the graves open? 00:05
Graveyard in the sunset with Manhattan high-rise in the back Mr CAMPING, RADIOPRESENTER: You will see the graves open or you will see people being raptured before that earthquake comes to your city. But when that earthquake hits your city, then instantly, instantly, you will come out of the grave, with a glorified spiritual body and you will have one direction that you’re going... UP, right to be with Christ. 00:35
View from airplane window, through the clouds at the earth Music 01:07
Excerpts from several news messages NBC News: Have you ever had that feeling the world coming to an end? CBS News: In a world with no shortage of natural disasters, signs no point toward the apocalypse, literally. CBS News: The one group believes in this, that the world is coming to an end and it’s ending soon. KTVK News: May 21st, 2011 is Judgment Day.CNN: That is the day, that those who are saved will be raptured to heaven and the rest of us will experience doom and gloom until the end. 01:52
Driving through American landscape Music 02:25
A woman (Candace) handing out tracts to passengers on the street CANDACE: How are you today? Would you like some information on that May 21 date? PASSENGER: We are running out of time, I don’t have time to read it.... CANDACE: Yeah, you got time now, praise God, you still got time. How about you, sir? This is on that May 21 date... 02:39
Candace still handing out tracts Music 03:00
Excerpts from several news messages BBC News: This is the man behind the prediction: Harold Camping.NBC News: Camping arrived at the days date using a complicated mathematical formula, based on biblical numbers. 03:05
Harold Camping in his studio, presenting Open Forum and excerpts of the tsunami in Japan. HAROLD CAMPING: It’s gonna be a huge earthquake, that’s going to make the big earthquake in Japan seem like a Sunday school picnic. 03:13
Excerpts from several news messagesExterior of the house of Michael and Darlene (believers) 3 News NZ: He says it will first strike Fiji and New Zealand. Than work its way around the world. CNN News: Harold Camping estimates that there are maybe 20.000 listeners. But they broadcast online as well, so there is no telling how many people are listening to this message. 03:24
Michael and his son Kevin building a structure in the garden MICHAEL: These are humongous. Right, while you do that, I am going to start a fire. Cause otherwise we are going to be eaten by the bugs. 03:37
Kevin working on the construction, while Michael talks to us in front of the camera MICHAEL: Like I don’t really want to do this. This is like too much work for the amount of time we have left. Entirely too much work... KEVIN: Don’t worry, you got time. MICHAEL No I don’t, I really don’t. Come on, we’ll keep going. 03:54
Excerpts from several news messagesAdrienne walking with her daughter on the street RT News: This is the greatest and the biggest advertising campaign in the World. CNN News: Some of these people have left their families and their homes and everything they know.The Last Word, MSNBC TV: A pregnant woman, with a two-year-old daughter, whose second child is due in June, after the end of the world, who with her husband is spending the last of her savings..., every dollar, so that they will be absolutely penniless on May 21st. 04:07
Adrienne and Joel, with daughter Joleah talking with each other. JOEL: How do you know? Those ladies you know... ADRIENNE: The ones that took a tract from you? 04:39
Joel handing out tracts at a street corner JOEL: 14 days away... 04:46
Adrienne handing out tracts at a street corner ADRIENNE: This message is not for everyone. I had to keep reminding myself if people are not taking tracts, they are getting the message from my shirt. I see a lot of people laughing about it. And you know what? It’s God working to warn them, so at least, when it comes, they know that they had a chance. 04:51
A taxi-driver reacts on the message he reads at Joel’s sign TAXI DRIVER: It’s a false prophecy. You make the people feel so worthless. That’s wrong teaching and false prophecy. 05:15
Joel standing/talking with a co-believer (David) at a junction. DAVID: Dude, it’s going to be stinking here on the 22nd. You look at a lot of open land, like it is not developed. You look at uh..., people will scatter to those undeveloped areas, cause it’s going to be stinking so much. JOEL: Yeah, I know. It’s pretty sad, but... 05:30
Joel handing out tracts at junction. MusicJOEL: Sir... (while holding out a tract to a passenger). PASSENGER: No, thank you. JOEL: Have a good day. 05:50
Adrienne handing out tracts at junction, while Joel packs their car to leave. MusicADRIENNE: Would you like some information from the Bible? OK, God bless you... 05:57
Point of view driving through American cityscapes, till Joel, Adrienne and Joleah arrive at their house in Orlando. MusicHAROLD CAMPING’S VOICE: The world can know a whole lot about the things of this earth. Scientists for example can build a telescope that can reach millions of light-years out in the space and so on... But when it comes to spiritual things; no, no, they don’t realise that the world has never been as rebellious against God as it is today. It is scandalous when we think about the way the world is mocking the Bible and it is because they are spiritually blind. We have to have spiritual ears and only God can give that. He gives that to those who He plans to give it to. He does not give that to just anybody. 06:02
Adrienne steps out the car with Joleah in her arms, in front op their house. Film title appears in screen... Music 06:49
Adrienne bury in the kitchen Music ends. 07:07
Interview setting Adrienne ADRIENNE: I grew up, kind of always believing that the world would end in my lifetime. It’s like.., I am a very solitary person. Maybe God prepared me for that. You know, He knows how our life is going to be, before we are born. 07:15
Adrienne behind computer starting something up and walking to Joleah to help her.Interview setting Adrienne Switch on Family Radio. A male voice reading a passage from the Bible.ADRIENNE (continues the interview): In school the girls they always talk about anything a kid would talk about, like music or going places, shopping. And I never felt that way. I never was into that stuff. And I remember telling my mum a lot that I won’t get along with these people. Not that I felt bad that they weren’t my friends, but it was more like; how can these people be focussed on this stuff. You know, it never changing and it is so vain. 07:34
Adrienne with Joleah on her arm in their living room talking to Joel.Interview setting Adrienne ADRIENNE: She wants to play Elmo, but she don’t know how to do it.ADRIENNE (continues the interview): It will be a cool thing to see, as morbid as it sounds because it’s death everywhere. It’s really about God you know, it’s not about us and... Like His plan, that He planned for... what, 13.000 years now, you know before time started even He planned this. And it will be like His whole plan coming to a finish. So, it is glory to God. 08:05
Candace at the corner of a street with signs and tracts. Sound of passing cars. 08:44
Candace talking to a guy on the street. CANDACE: It’s gonna start in New Zealand and it’s gonna start to roll around the world. It’s gonna be a mighty earthquake because it has to shake open the graves. If you can take Haiti and magnify it about a hundred times, I mean you kind of get the idea, because you know there is nobody coming to save you. This is worldwide... 09:02
Candace trying to hand out tracts on the pedestrian area. CANDACE: Can I offer you some information from the Bible, about that May 21st date, you are hearing so much about? God bless you, ma’am.CANDACE (continues interview): You know, God has to basically put an end to it, because we would just be destroying ourselves, you know what I’m saying? I mean since we’ve been so magnified, look at all the murder rate, look at what happens with peoples relationships and, you know, the amount of sexual perversion and everything else. 09:24
Candace in conversation with two teenagers. CANDACE: We don’t know who these people are, but we know there is about 200 million people that God is going to be saving. So, my advice to you is to be in the Bible and just be praying for mercy. GIRL: Ok. CANDACE: Do you have a Bible? GIRL: Huhuh. CANDACE: Ok, good. GIRL: I have two. 09:52
Exterior house of Michael and Darlene. Children playing in the neighbourhood. 10:13
Michael building a construction with his stepson Kevin. KEVIN: Let’s get the blocks out first. Let’s go, I don’t have all day. I do have things to do. I have to finish moving mad end still, so... MICHAEL (laughing): You’re amazing. First you blame me and then you say: hurry, hurry, hurry? KEVIN: It is your fault. MICHAEL: You are amazing. KEVIN: You put the blocks outside and you said don’t use the two by threes. MICHAEL: All right, get a tape measure. I won’t do any more until you get a tape measure. KEVIN: And I found the tape measure you lost. MICHAEL: I lost. Did you notice how everything that happens in this situation is my fault? I measured incorrectly..., uhm.., what else did I do wrong.., I lost a tape measure yesterday that I didn’t use, I put the blocks in the wrong place and drilled the holes. I’m doing pretty good. I should keep up the good work. As a matter of fact, you might want to fire me. KEVIN: I know. MICHAEL: Measure. I want to see how wide this is. 10:21
Kevin working alone in the garden. KEVIN: I think it should be that I’m crazy and the parents are the saint ones. That’s how it has been for a long time. But, now it seems like the tables have turned and they’re the crazy ones. I shouldn’t be that way, I don’t think. REPORTER: Can you talk about it with Mike and your mother? KEVIN: Uhm.., yeah, I can talk about it, but... It’s kind of a circular argument, because they are so convinced that the world is going to end..., so, it’s not much a can really do. All that they do is to read the Bible and listen to Herald Camping. Basically every night. Or go and protest on the street holding up signs. It’s about all they do these days. 11:16
Kevin working alone in the garden. KEVIN: I’m just hoping that they are paying their bills. Cause, if they think the world is going to end, why would you pay bills, you know what I mean. So when they will be sitting here and the electricity is gonna go out. Gonna have no electricity, no gas, no heat.Well you got to start and see the reality of things. And when your parents start talking the world is going to end, then they start quitting their jobs, so you got to be ready for things. And they are pretty emotional about it. I don’t know if you’ve met my mom. She is pretty crazy too. 12:18
Darlene busy cooking in kitchen DARLENE: We are definitely down to the end of our money. You know, because we haven’t been working, so no money is coming in. But that’s ok; we planned it just right until the end. We had enough just to get to the end. And that’s it, then no more... 12:56
Darlene busy in kitchenJoleah is hanging on the couch (daughter of Adrienne and Joel). Clock ticking and music 13:25
Joel is on the phone, while Adrienne is busy with JoleahInterview setting Adrienne ADRIENNE (interview continues): I was involved in a car accident and I was seventeen. And I really should have died from it. Like I was ejected from the car and I broke my neck and I had brain injury and the recovery took like about a year. Learning to walk again and all that stuff. Anyways hum, from that I felt like I owed it to God to search out. I just wanted to know what the truth was. So I picked up my Bible and I would try and read. Like I knew the numbers had to mean something. Like God wouldn’t just put numbers in there. So I searched, but I couldn’t really figure out anything on my own, 13:42
Adrienne, Joel and Joleah behind the computer listening to Family Radio. ADRIENNE (interview continues): I guess years later, in college I stumbled on Family Radio. And it was Harold Camping on Open Forum. And that was like; I had never heard anything before like that. 14:25
Computer screen in which we see Harold Camping doing his radio show Open Forum. HAROLD CAMPING: The true believers, the ones who are chosen by God will not be here, when Judgment Day is in operation. They will be safe and secure with Christ in Heaven. 14:36
Some shots of a gathering of believers called The Fellowship in Brooklyn. Music and distant voice reading the Bible.VOICE: The last days, scoffers walking after their own lust and saying: ... (Camping’s voice takes over) 14:50
Shots at The Fellowship (people reading the Bible and talking about it... HAROLD CAMPING: God has given us the Bible as a very analytical book. It is true that in the Bible God does teach us that we have to compare scripture with scripture. The Bible is it’s own interpreter, it is its own dictionary. And when we do that very faithfully, and it’s a slow, slow process. And you have to pray for wisdom. And slowly on, if God so wilts it, He’ll open your eyes and you’ll begin to learn a little bit more here and a little bit more there. 14:59
Leader of the Fellowship preaches And with these principles in mind, we read in verse seven now; And when they have finished their testimony... (Sound of voice is faded to the back) 15:35
Exterior house Michael and Darlene Music. 15:42
Busy making a fire against the insects. Pointing at Kevin (who is out of the picture) MICHAEL: You know, we never had anything dictated by God in a sense that.., in a godly fashion, in a, a, a Godly catastrophic fashion. You know, we had indications of what his power is by lighting storms, tornado’s... You know located to one area... You know like Japan, Chilli, Haiti. But never something of this magnitude. Never. Not around the world, never. I don’t know what makes him think he can survive that... KEVIN: It’s not gonna happen. MICHAEL: It’s not gonna happen. And there you go. That’s his solution. 15:46
Michael helps Kevin building the fundament of the structure. MICHAEL: What do you want me to do…? OK, what if we flip it this way and then you can... (Reaction Kevin). Ok. 16:27
Michael sits in a garden chair (interview setting) I’m trying to figure out you know, at some point in time I start to have my... You know every night I do in anyway, and every morning and every afternoon I spend time in prayer, but I want to spend more time in prayer. I have to get closer to God, I have to get closer to God. Not that it’s gonna do anything, I just need to let... you know... He knows my heart by now, but I can’t stop. I heard a commercial a long time, it was one of the guys at Family Radio. He talks about his family you know. He talks about his family and how you should always... , he builds up the family, the idea of family, he builds up... And he talks about, he says, you know my grandfather just said something that I always remembered. And he says: finish strong! So, I wanna finish strong. 16:39
Michael helps Kevin building the fundament of the structure. Sound of the work.KEVIN: I don’t know about Mike. I don’t know how he got started on it. He pretty much raised me. He has been around since I was like five or so... We have a good relationship I would say. He used to ride his bike a lot... 17:2217:26
Shot on Kevin doing interview, while working on the structure. KEVIN (continues interview): ...he used to run. He sold his bikes, really his good bikes and he doesn’t really run anymore. I mean, that’s the way he sees it and I get that’s the way he sees it. But, the way he was talking too, was that anyone born past like ‘92 or something, wasn’t going to make it into heaven. For some reason, I don’t know, I wasn’t reading it, but... I don’t know, but he got some pretty crazy views about who gets to make it and who doesn’t. 17:42
Candace standing on a street corner CANDACE: Hello, how are you? Can I give you some information on that May 21st date, from the Bible? 18:16
Candace talking to the camera, while handing out tracts CANDACE: No, I’m actually divorced. I’ve been divorced uhm... We’ve been separated for about, let’s say.., my son was two and he is twenty-two, so twenty years we’ve been separated and we got divorced about ten years ago. We finally got divorced about ten years ago. And I never remarried, because you know, the Bible says you know, what God has joint us on there, no man... you know, basically you have to honour that commitment. Whether they choose to or whether they don’t. But, I don’t date and I don’t... you know. But God has kept me. I raised me three kids on my own, with an ex spouse that was pretty angry, actually. And it wasn’t always easy, you know. But God always provided. God has always been faithful in that regard. So... 18:24
An Arabic woman comes walking to Candace and they have a short conversation. WOMAN: Do you know any where for buy something food? CANDACE: Yes, uhm... There are food shops down this way. In that little... See that little church tower? There is a Duncan Donuts in there. WOMAN: Ok. CANDACE: And then down towards there, there are more little food shops. WOMAN: Thank you so much. CANDACE: God bless you. 19:19
Candace walking on the street, holding up a May 21st sign to the passing cars. CANDACE: Mr Camping and Family Radio. Ok, God used that radio to bring me through a lot of though times in my life. Being a single parent and going through a divorce and everything else. And I look at Mr Camping almost like he is part of my family. 19:47
Door clicks open and man (Tom Evans) walks towards the camera and takes us inside... TOM: Ok, this is our TV studio here. And over in this corner is the Open Forum set. This is the set that is used seven nights a week. Here on Friday May 20th, Lord willing, will be Mr Camping’s last Open Forum programme. 20:12
The original leader of the Open Forum programme. Open Forum tune and voiceover: Welcome to the Open Forum. A telephone talk programme designed to give people the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues related to the Bible. With our host and Bible teacher, Harold Camping. 20:33
In the studio, during a live registration of a Open Forum show. HAROLD CAMPING: We have a caller on the line, who is asking a question. CALLER: You believe that God revealed this to you? 20:48
Shots of the studio registration of the Open Forum programme.Mr Camping waves at the camera, from his Open Forum chair. Music comes up, while the answer of Mr Camping to the question slowly fades out in volume. HAROLD CAMPING: Yes, God has given this to us. And not just to me, I happen to be one of the first ones to.... (Fades out) Music 20:56
Interview setting Mr Camping at his office. HAROLD CAMPING: Well, my mother was born in Friesland and my father was born in Groningen. And they didn’t know each other in Holland at all. But when they were around 18 / 19 years of age, they, along with a lot of other Dutch were coming to the United States, the land of the free, you know... 21:14
Back in the studio, during the Open Forum programme HAROLD CAMPING (talking to a caller): God has made it way, way, way easier today to detect a false prophet. But thank you for calling and sharing. And shall we take our next call, please? Welcome to Open Forum... 21:37
Interview setting Mr Camping at his office. HAROLD CAMPING (continues interview): The most important message is, we have something that no churches understand, none. They are experts in the doctrines of their denomination. And every denomination has their own set of doctrines that don’t necessarily agree at all with anybody else his denomination. And how can that be, if they all learning it from the same Bible? It’s because they’re not spending enough time really studying the Bible. And they do not understand that every word in the original language, of Hebrew in the Old Testament mainly and Greek in the new testament was dictated from the lips of God. 21:52
Back in the Open Forum studio, as the radio show is just finished. VOICEOVER OPEN FORUM: Open Forum is a production of Family Stations incorporated. End tune of the programme. 22:37
Interview setting Mr Camping at his office. HAROLD CAMPING (continues interview): Our gospel is not very acceptable to most people who claim to be Christians or who are interested. They don’t like what we teach, because we are too focused on the Bible. 22:46
Joel & Adrienne & Joleah: After Joel parked their car they start to hand out tracts. MusicADRIENNE: You want some Bible information? No, God bless you. Señora, quieres información de la Biblia? Es gratis. WOMAN: Como? JOEL: Es información de la Biblia...ADRIENNE: Quieres información de la Biblia? WOMAN: E Español? ADRIENNE: Si, es Español. WOMAN: Gracias. ADRIENNE: De nada... 23:02
Back in the car again, we see the family driving back to home. We hear the car radio. CALLER: I wanted to know what does the scripture say about infants, being raptured? HAROLD CAMPING: The Bibles emphasizes this: the wicked are estranged from the whom. They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. They are poisonous as the poison of a serpent. Now, we are shocked. That beautiful little baby. Oh, how cute... But we don’t know the heart of that little tiny baby. That baby needs a saviour, just as much as an adult. 23:44
Computer screen that shows Open Forum, at home.Joleah appears in a You tube film, on the screen singing ‘Amazing Grace’. The family watch this and laugh. CALLER: Oh hi. I’d like to compare two scriptures... ADRIENNE: How do you do this? JOEL: No, just take it off... While Joleah sings Amazing Grace, Adrienne and Joel reflect on it. ADRIENNE: She is happy. Joel laughs... 24:26
Interview setting Adrienne ADRIENNE: It’s funny, cause me and my husband would talk about, like oh man, imagine people that are 9 months pregnant on May 21. Or imagine people that gave birth right before. And I would think about that and I would be so nervous for them. Like I would think like I’m glad that won’t be me. And then low and behold you know, I’m there. 24:41
Adrienne in the kitchen with daughter Joleah. Taking out a pizza of the oven. ADRIENNE: Oh wait baby, I have to take this out. I know you want pizza. Ohhh, it is hot... 25:05
Interview setting Adrienne ADRIENNE: For my own medical issues I didn’t think I could conceive and I did. So it’s like you know is God setting this all up. Is He giving us these children with the purpose to save them? Because it’s in the end times, these times that we’re in that He is saving the most people ever, so. 25:14
Adrienne preparing the diner table.Joleah sitting in her chair at the table waiting for the food. ADRIENNE: I can’t say someone is saved, because I’m not God. But is I look at everything and how He has set up everything in our lives and, you know she sings hymns and she talks about God, which doesn’t mean anything, I know, like that’s the out worth appearance. But whatever God has planned for her is gonna happen and I have to be content with that. I know that she is better off with Him then with us. 25:37
The family prays for their meal. JOEL: Shall we say a prayer? Father we thank you for bringing us together Lord as a family. We pray that you apply this message to our daughters’ heart father. And if it’s your good will Father, we pray that she can be saved, along with our baby boy. We ask this in Jesus name, amen. ADRIENNE: Amen. 26:07
Diner, family Martinez enjoy a pizza together. Adrienne helps Joleah. ADRIENNE: Yes. JOLEAH: pizza. ANDRIENNE: pizza. JOEL: It’s kind of quite. ADRIENNE: Without the radio. Here honey. 26:30
Adrienne and Joel talk about the coming days, while having diner. ADRIENNE: Man, it’s crazy thinking about where we’re gonna spend our last day, watching this. JOEL: Yeah, we just shouldn’t worry about that. We shouldn’t worry about it. ADRIENNE (to Joleah): Mammy and daddy a talking about where we’re gonna go. JOLEAH: Abby and Jaden. ANDRIENNE: You want to be with Abby and Jaden? JOLEAH: Ok. ADRIENNE: Ok. Honey, God is coming back and we don’t see Him and you don’t know Him yet, but you’ll have a chance to see Him. Ok? It’s going to be really cool. 26:46
Candace having an argument with a passenger. Man walks away, leaving Candace alone at the pedestrian area. PEDESTRIAN: And then the earth cannot totally flood, with thirty days of rain. CANDACE: The bottom line is... PEDESTRIAN: Because it has to be, a warming of the earth where as the icecaps would melt. That’s the only way that the earth could flood. CANDACE: Ok, I’m gonna interject here, because almost all scientist do agree, that at one time there was a worldwide flood. PEDESTRIAN: So your premise is a fallacy. CANDACE: So, you are an atheist? PEDESTRIAN: Yes. I am an atheist, because I believe in science and I believe in evidence and archaeology. CANDACE: See, I have to dispute that. PEDESTRIAN: First of all it’s physically impossible at that point in time to build an ark that big, to hold all those animals. CANDACE: Ok, let me interject something here sir. You know time is short. And for me to spend time arguing with you at this point, which I’m never gonna convince you, ok... PEDESTRIAN: You never will. CANDACA: It’s really fruitless. PEDESTRIAN: And I will never convince you, because you’re, you’re religiously diluted and you believe this stuff and that is your option. CANDACE: Bye, bye now, sir. PEDESTRIAN: Bye, bye. 27:30
Candace walks away, alone CANDACE: You go through periods where you do feel separation. You feel a little bit of an isolation. I don’t know if I would say lonely, but it is to be expected. You know, they hated Jesus, they gonna hate you. 28:43
Michael is putting on the fire in his garden. MICHAEL: Everyone is not gonna believe. I can’t make him believe. I can only give him the information. He is a stubborn kid, he always has been. His way, right..?! Always his way. So if God doesn’t speak to him, I definitely can’t. There is still hope for him though. I’ve never given up on him, I never will. I never will. I pulled him from B’s. We have a lot of history, Kevin and I. A lot of history. More then the other kids, cause he was so much younger when I first met his mum. And we have such a long history. And that’s why I’m building a shed with him. Cause I don’t want him to think I’m giving up on him. I’m not giving up on him. 29:08
Darlene cooking in the kitchen DARLENE: It’s all in Gods hands now. I have no say. I’ve given them the information. As much information as they need or want and it’s really all in Gods hands now. I can’t force them to believe or I can’t force them to make a change or act in any way. I just have to trust in God. That’s all I can do. 29:55
Kevin enters the living room. Darlene tries to get contact. DARLENE: Kev... Where are you going Kevin? Buy some slime... 30:26
Kevin behind the steering wheel of his car My moms’ brothers and sisters, they are pretty worried. They contacted my sister about what my patents are going to do after the world doesn’t end. I mean my family has worry they’re gonna like commit suicide. She was talking about getting them checked into like a psychiatric facility, for a couple of days afterwards. Just to make sure they are safe. I don’t think that is going to happen. I’m gonna be here all that weekend. I’m going on suicide watch. They don’t even know it. 30:35
Shots of point of view car driving through American landscape. Shots of rain clouds gathering and pouring rain. MusicCALLER: Good evening Mr Camping. HAROLD CAMPING: Yes? CALLER: I would like some advice on how to witness to family members and friends who I know are not gonna want to hear this. And hum... HAROLD CAMPING: Well, you know, you are speaking for all of us. We all have that problem, because family members, if they know that we become really concerned about May 21, about Judgment Day, they don’t want to talk about that. They gonna give you the silent treatment, or they’ll walk out of the room. And you have to get accustomed to that. The subject matter is too heavy for them. They just can’t face it. 31:15
Pouring rain Sound of rolling thunder and drops of falling rain 32:09
Man, walking around with sign, warns through a megaphone, at Miami beach. MAN WITH MEGAPHONE: Attention, attention, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment is eminent.Music sets in MAN WITH MEGAPHONE: May 21st will be Judgment Day, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. 32:13
Joel and Adrienne are busy handing out tracts at Miami Beach. Talking to different people. JOEL: Time is running out, all right...? It’s not about us, or what we are saying. Like we can’t convince anybody, but you know God is the ultimate authority. 32:24
We see some of the true believer friends of Adrienne and Joel, with whom they walk the streets Music 32:43
Adrienne talks with a fellow believer, while walking the streets. ADRIENNE: I decided to stop talking to my mum. Like I know that she is against the message, but I was just thinking as my mum, she would say something like; oh nice... She got so mad. She just came, like her true feelings showed up and she was like; this is not going to happen. I’m very concerned about my grandchildren. And like your grandchildren, you just seen her like three times in her life. Now don’t question my parenting. Come on. So it was just an ugly conversation. I witnessed to her so many times, so... 32:58
Adrienne hands out some tracts to a passenger. ADRIENNE: Ok, Deus ti vendiga. Gracias. 33:33
Interview setting Adrienne ADRIENNE: I kept saying I totally understand, like I know why. You know it’s not for everyone. I can’t open her eye. I tried so many times. I have read to her so many scriptures and I told her like; do you see what God is saying her? And she just gets the surface of it. She gets the physicalness of it. 33:42
Adrienne crosses the street, holding hands with daughter Joleah.Back to the interview setting ADRIENNE (continues interview): I just had to write her and tell her like; I’m sorry you don’t see these things. But from here until the end I’m just not gonna continue this back and forward. And it is going to happen. She has known about this for five years and I have given her so much material. If you don’t look into it, you’re not just going to believe it, waking up one day, so. I think it’s better for me, since we’re so close to the end, to just cut ties with her. Cause it’s just not... I can’t, I can’t focus on that and. There are so much more important things. 34:01
Adrienne and Joleah standing on the beach, in the sunset. Adrienne walks over the beachSeagulls flying and screamingAdrienne and Joleah walk the beachWe see a close shot of Adrienne reading the letter to her mother. ADRIENNE: Dear mum. You really do underestimate my God given knowledge of the Bible. And how aware I am of what people, whose eyes are not open, think about this. You do not know the mysteries of God. Only his saints do. So, I’m not blaming you for this, it’s just not meant for you. I feel very sorry for you that God has bundled you and blinded you. I’m done with this and I’m so glad that God has let us here, so that I’m far away from my family, which was a major distraction. I love you all, but not in the way that you talk about love. You may feel worried or sad for me, but truly, I feel sad for you. What will you do on May 22nd? You might as well..., no I’m not gonna read that part. I said you might as well kill yourself, because that’s all.., that’s really like all anyone has to look forward to is death. 34:40
Shots of the skyline of Manhattan, NYShots of entering Manhattan by car ADRIENNE (continues reading the letter): I’m done explaining this to deaf ears. God bless you. Sounds of the city and the solo singer of the film opening sets in. 35:43
Candace sits in a van, together with some other believers, as they discuss the coming catastrophical end of our world. CANDACE: Uhm.., was it Spain? What was it, a tornado, an earthquake? Oh, was it an earthquake in Spain. PASSENGER: Earthquakes are happening all over the place, it’s hard to keep up these days. CANDACE: I know.... PASSENGER: Yeah, there are so much between Japan and Spain, and... PASSENGER: Camping was talking about how these disasters are like mini judgments. CANDACE: I would agree with that one hundred percent. PASSENGER: Like the Bible teaches that people will be dying up until the world is destroyed, so it’s hard to fallen how everyone is destroyed by these natural disasters. CANDACE: Yeah... 36:25
Still in the van PASSENGER: I think it’s something we can’t comprehend. It’s not maybe like a traditional natural disaster, maybe God will just allow it to kill like a certain number of people..., I don’t know. CANDACE: Like half the people? PASSENGER: Yeah, yeah. But also keep in mind that there are seven billion people living now. A lot... CANDACE: Yeah, imagine that. Imagine the catastrophe. You can’t even.., it’s unfashionable. You can’t even think about that. PASSENGER: So, it’s interesting, because God is now allowing a lot of people to hear His message. Now it’s not only covered in almost every network across the country, but this is the first time in every country. Even in the Muslim countries people are declaring Judgment Day. And that has never happened before. 36:59
Believers together on the street, waiting with their signs.Michael is putting on a sign, in the back we see Darlene. Sounds of the city. 37:41
Candace is on the phone, trying to reach a friend.Adrienne stands waiting with Joleah CANDACE: Hi sister, we’re on Fifty-ninth and eleventh. So, I guess uhm, I talk to you later. Ok? Love you. Bye, bye. 37:50
We are in the midst of the crowd believers, listening to a speaker. We see Joel SPEAKER: When we walk, we become an accordion. And what happens is, one streetlight can stop everything. So what we’ll do is every streetlight we’re gonna stop and wait till everybody comes together. GUY WHO DOES THE PRAYER: We ask you Lord that we are faithful witnesses to your Word. We ask for your guidance in Jesus Christ His name. Amen. 38:05
Michael starts the procession MICHAEL: Ok, let’s go, let’s go, we’re crossing 38:25
The procession enters Manhattan and they’re singing hymns. ADRIENNE: Onward Christian solders...Music sets in...Marching as to the war. With the blood of Jesus, going on before. 38:28
Shots of the procession MusicBELIEVER: We’re going to Broadway first and then down Gary. Broadway first and then down. BELIEVER: And then comes judgment, you read it. BELIEVER: Eight days left, eight days, that’s all we have left. PEDESTRIAN: I see you on the 22nd. BELIEVER: No, I won’t be here. 38:45
MusicBELIEVER: Judgment Day, May 21. Millions of people will die. BELIEVER PREACHING: It doesn’t make a difference if you believe. It doesn’t make a difference if you are ready, eight days and then comes judgment. It’s not a condition of your intellect. It doesn’t matter how incredibly smart you think you are, judgment is coming whether you like it or not. Whether you believe or not. It doesn’t make a difference about what you think. It doesn’t matter, eight days and then comes judgment. You can’t say you weren’t warned. You can’t say you weren’t warned. Be not willingly ignorant. 38:57
The procession passes the camera. MusicBELIEVERS: Eight days only, eight days away. Eight days left and then comes judgment. 39:31
The camera follows Michael, while he warns passing pedestrians. MusicMICHAEL: Jesus is coming in eight days. Eight days, eight days, eight days, eight days, eight days, eight days. 39:41
The camera follows Adrienne, while she warns passing pedestrians. MusicADRIENNE: Eight days guys and the great earthquakes will start, despite whatever you guys think. 39:52
Michael warns a fashion photo crew, which are doing a shoot at Time Square. MusicPhotographer laughs. MICHAEL: John Frieda will not be in business in eight days. Jesus is coming... 39:56
One of the believers passes the camera, pedestrians look estranged at the procession MusicBELIEVER: Any decan, any rabbi step forward. 40:05
Busses and campervans with May 21st stickers cross Manhattan MusicHorns and megaphones proclaim the warning to the people of New York. 40:16
Michael shakes hands with fellow believers. Candace walks in the procession and Adrienne walks against the stream of pedestrians. Music and megaphone preaching. 40:33
Exterior house Michael and Darlene Music ends 40:50
Interview with son Kevin KEVIN: We probably gonna be arguing about it all night probably. About what supposed to happen tomorrow. But, hopefully it won’t get too bad, that we get into any loud arguments or anything. INTERVIEWER: And what about tomorrow? KEVIN: I really don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Hopefully it goes smoothly and when the world doesn’t end, they’ll be all right with it. But, I don’t know, anything could happen. 40:55
Darlene is cooking in the kitchen DARLENE: All my children are coming for diner tonight. Kind of as our last, you know meal together. I’m not going to make the evening very heavy. You know, Michael and I already decided, they already all know what we believe and how we believe it. And unfortunately they don’t believe. So, thank the Lord that it has not thorn us apart, in any way. Because I know that it has thorned many families apart. And I’m so glad that it has not thorn our family apart, in that way. And we still can come together and eat together and enjoy each other’s company. 41:28
Darlene grasps some cooking gear, form the kitchen cupboard. Sounds of the kitchen. 42:09
Darlene is cooking in the kitchen DARLENE: I spoke to my sister, while we were at my moms’ house, you know. And she was worried about me and the whole family was worried about me. They are all concerned about, you know what I’m gonna do, or what’s gonna happen, or you know, am I losing my mind. And it’s so funny because all of the years I was working like a maniac and driven to make money and careless in my actions, in other ways, you know. Or careless is spending money, or you know, things like that. And I was saint then right? I was saint. But now, when I have total faith in my Lord, you know. And reading the word of Life, the Bible faithfully and have really come to a place where I’m happy and content with who I am, now I’m crazy (laughing)... 42:13
Distant shot of Darlene cutting lettuce. The sound of a clock ticking the time away. 43:19
Back at the beach with Adrienne, Joel & Joleah Ticking of the clock, combined with the sound of waves and seagulls screaming. 43:25
Adrienne walks to the sea, while carrying Joleah in her arms. Ticking of the clock fades out.ADRIENNE: It’s been such a rollercoaster of emotions. Like two days ago, I wasn’t this calm about it. I was laying next to her and she was sleeping. And I was just looking at her and I was thinking like I wanna be close to her as much as possible and watch her sleep and... And I started crying. And I’m like, this is so sad, these are my last days with my baby, but... I shouldn’t be feeling like that. That’s my human emotions taking over me and they are trying to... It’s like when that happens my focus is lost. 43:33
Shot of family Martinez at the beach.Skyline Manhattan at sunset. Sound ticking of the clock comes up again.Sound of a singing bowl comes up 44:09
Skyline ManhattanA gathering of believers, listening to a preacher (Fellowship, Brooklyn NY) PREACHER: He left the 99 righteous behind. Righteous in their own mind. Righteous in their own mind... He went for the lost sheep. He carries the sheep back on His shoulders. I have a four-year-old girl and a six-year-old son at home. Tomorrow I’m going to heaven. If you drive in your car, should you be texting, should you be typing, should you be talking on the phone, should you be eating? Focus on the road. Focus where you’re going. Tomorrow we’re gonna see the Lord. You focus on God and don’t look back, like Lot’s wife. 44:20
People at the Fellowship talking to each other. The sound of the ticking clock and singing bowl increase. 44:55
Believers hugging and saying goodbye to each other.New York skyline in the sunset. Clock ticking and singing bowlHAROLD CAMPING: For fifty years I have been doing this programme, the Open Forum, but tonight is going to be our last time. I’m not encouraging anybody to get in a group of people and put ropes on and stand on a mountain or some place. No way. So I want to say goodnight to you. And, oh my, I’m praying that many of you might be those who have been chosen by God and will be entering into the new heaven and the new earth. Good night. 45:00
Picture becomes black A few last ticks of the clock 45:32
A bird soars high up in the sky Silence except for a gentle breeze 45:36
The perspective change. We look down, from up above the clouds. A xylophone pays the film theme. 45:55
Excerpts from several news messages 3 News NZ: What can I say? It’s particularly nice to be with you tonight, since the world was suppose to come to an end 10 minutes ago.NBC News: Time square New York at precisely 6pm. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.Fox News: What is your mistake was, predicting the wrong day for doomsday? That’s a pretty big oeps....ABC News: A spokesman for Camping said he is home in seclusion and according to Camping’s wife he is mystified that his doomsday prediction did not come true. IBTimes: HAROLD CAMPING: Give me a day. No, no interviews at all today. Sorry. Sorry, you know, this is a big deal, big deal. And I got to live with..., I got to think it out. So, no interviews. NBC News: People posted Face book pictures of empty clothing. As though the occupants had been swapped up to heaven. Fox News: And tonight for those true believers, who were looking forward to heaven, without disaster, well, its now the disaster. NBC News: California radio preacher has spoken publicly for the first time, since his predicted Judgment Day came and then went. 46:23
Leader of Open Forum OPEN FORUM VOICEOVER: Now we present Open Forum with our host and Bible teacher Harold Camping. 47:29
Harold Camping in Open Forum HAROLD CAMPING: Welcome to the May 23rd 2011 Open Forum. Of course this last weekend became a very interesting weekend, because May 21 came and has gone. And all the predictions that had been talked about did not come to pass. 47:34
Shots in an empty Family Radio office Several incoming calls. HAROLD CAMPING: Welcome to Open Forum...CALLER 1: I just realized that you’ve been accusing the churches how wrong they are. But I find that the churches are right about, about you, that they said that you are a false prophet. CALLER 2: Mr Camping. HAROLD CAMPING: Yeah? CALLER: You always say a lot of shit. I lost all of my money because of you, you asshole. CALLER 3: You are now an official false prophet, of three days old. As well as you campingnites. CALLER 4: But I’m really disappointed. I was one of those 200 millions Mr Camping, that were praying for that day to come. CALLER 5: I’m flabbergasted that after five twenty-one, you figured a way to wezel out, of the fact that you were death wrong. CALLER 6: I really think that you should retire sir. I think you need to take your wife on a vacation and just give up the radio station to someone else. 47:58
Exterior of a house.Candace busy spraying plants. General noise.Sound of the plant spray and a passing car. 48:56
Interview Candace CANDACE: Nobody really slept that night. Anybody was just up and waiting to hear. During that whole weekend there was a lot of information coming in on Face book. People were putting a lot of their teachings and stuff up there. Well Maybe it was gonna be at a different time. Maybe it’s was gonna be twelve noon, you know Jerusalem time. Maybe that was correct. So all of those time periods would come and go. And they’re be kind of like this building up to that time period; you know that looks right, that could be. But really after the afternoon Jerusalem time came and went on May 21, it was pretty clear to me that it wasn’t gonna happen. 49:13
Michael running on a street Gasping of Michael and feet on the street. 50:04
Michael interview setting MICHAEL: On the 20th, let’s talk about the 20th, not the 21st. The day before. The tension, the anxiety, the.., the.., the expectation of the 21st was overwhelming for me. I was so whelmed up. I just.., you know, I was looking up at the sky, and looking up at the sky and waiting and looking up at the sky. Waiting for something to happen, waiting to hear some news. So then the 21st comes. And then the news is not what we expected. You know, the news is not what we expected. But you’re still waiting, still looking. You’re waiting. Something is gonna happen, you know, something is gonna happen. You wait. You wait till the 21st goes all the way around the world. Cause something is gonna happen, you know it. And it goes all the way around the world, now it’s the 22nd. And then you.., then you start to feel like; nothing is gonna happen, or it didn’t happen. 50:28
Candace is still spraying the plants. CANDACE: I think I stayed in the house with my pyjamas for the first couple of days. 51:26
Candace interview setting CANDACE: Because I was like, OK Lord, we’re gonna be left down here. Either is no salvation. This world is just gonna get worse and worse and worse. And you know, why are we here? You walk around here and you know, there is nothing out there, ok? I describe it as a moonscape. It’s like a moonscape. It’s barren. Ok? But it’s weird, because you’re walking around, it’s barren and you feel the loss of not being able to bring the gospel, cause it is a loss. Ok? To me it almost feels like a death in a way. 51:44
The (sticker less) car of Adrienne and Joel. The house of Adrienne and Joel. In a phrase we read that they don’t want to see anyone. Bird and sounds of the city. 52:24
The camera follows the running Michael. MICHAEL: We have to start living life again. We immediately we forced to live life, immediately. There was no chance to make any adjustments. You’re going and then you’re not going, so you’re back into life again. You’re dealing with people. So that was my next week, was dealing with people. But I did not deal with people. I would not answer my phone. I did not want to speak to anybody. I did not want to talk to my neighbours. I did not want to talk to any of my co-workers. I had nothing to say to them. I didn’t have anything to say to them, because I wasn’t suppose to be here..., you know. 52:43
Michael doing some stretching at the seaside. Sounds of birds.MICHAEL: I’m not the same. I openly admit it, I am not the same. I don’t want to be the same. I still know how to treat people. I’m just quieter when it comes to... and very choosy about my words. No.., no frolicking. You know, we have.., we turned back to our normal life, you know back to normal life. What people are.., what people expect to be normal, you know. 53:20
Candace interview setting CANDACE: It changes you. You see. My daughter said to me: I just want my mom back, my happy, funny mom. But I am still, you know I mean I still have my personality, but this is something that I know what I know and it changes you and I can’t go back. I mean.., you know what I’m saying? SO in some ways she asking for something they’ll never have again. 53:53
Candace sitting in her chair on her veranda, looking out. CANDACE: I know that May 21 was Judgment Day 54:18
Candace interview setting CANDACE: I mean I always felt, I always knew the timeline was correct. There was just too much information and too much research that went in to that. The Bible had affirmed that I don’t know how many times. I knew May 21, that was it. That was Judgment Day. So, if God did not take us on that day, I knew there’ll be five months of judgment, so it would have to be October 21... 54:24
Picture on black Silence 54:57
The solo singer of the film opening sets in. 54:58
Credits Song 55:05
Credits list “WHEAT AND TARES”
Special thanks to
Adrienne / Joel / Joleah
Michael / Darlene / Kevin
Candace
Brooklyn Fellowship
Harold Camping
Jeff / John
A film by
Suzanne Arts & Stefan Wittekamp
Project executive
Floor Koomen
Advisor
Mart Dominicus
Editorial Advice
Govert Janse
Additional Editor
Leon Noordzij
Original Score
Eef van Breen
Except Truck Holler #1
Written and performed by Watermelon Slim
Music arranged by
Eef van Breen
Ruben Samama
Eva Tebbe
Merel Junge
Clotilde Lacroix
Andrew Apollos
Mastering
Ruben Samama
Sound design
Jaap Wajer
Color grading
Michiel Rummens
Transcription
Barbara van Gogh
Marnix Alblas
Picture editor
Robin Hancock
Graphics
Lucas Reinds
Legal council
Aliefka Bijlsma
Thanks to
Family Radio
Tom Evans
Harold Camping
Fred Store
Gregory Cooper
Kevin Sargent
Dr. Marc Allison
Phyllis at Fellowship Brooklyn
Chris Foster
Gary Daniels
Charles Menut
Matt Tuter
Gary Vollmer
Brent Davis
Lili
Rosanna
Watermelon Slim
Geert Jan Blanken
Herma van Boven
Natascha de Graaf
Dries Meinema
Eva Tebbe
Stijn van Santen
Janneke Doolaard
Tjerk de Vries
Jan Jaap Kuijper
Jacco Doornbos
Marie Exley
Stephen Meyers
Jim B.
Jeffrey R. Ambrose
David Pack
Willem van Schaaijk
Eddy Kuijt
Jan de Graaf
Pankra
De Grot
Credits news snippets
NBC News
CBS News
KTVK News
CNN
BBC News
3 News NZ
RT News
The Last Word msnbc tv
Fox News
ABC News
IBTimes