End of the world today, doomsday sect says, but we’re still here

End of the world predictions are nothing new but seemed especially worrisome in times of crisis - like right now.

Christian preacher Harold Camping has been saying that the Rapture, a biblical event that triggers the end of the world, will actually happen this Saturday according to his interpretation of the Bible.

Having "astounding proofs" to support his claim, Camping posted in his Family Radio website that, "Because the year 2011 AD is exactly 7,000 years after 4990 BC when the flood began, the Bible has given us absolute proof that the year 2011 is the end of the world during the Day of Judgement."

Camping said that the end of the world will begin when a huge earthquake hits New Zealand, a first in a series of devastating tremblors that will sweep across the globe before culminating in San Francisco at 6 p.m. this Saturday.

Referring to the Rapture as foretold in Bible prophecy, Camping said good Christians will be lifted up into heaven leaving behind those who will suffer during the Apocalypse.

Camping is not the only one spreading end of the world warnings. A seismologist in Rome, and prophet in Taiwan and another Christian fundamentalist sect have been warning that doomsday is coming this month.

Other Christian preachers have denounced Camping's predictions as false and a gross misinterpretation of the Bible. According to them only God knows when doomsday will occur. They say that if the end of the world does not happen on Saturday, more people might become disillusioned and turn away from the Bible and Christian teachings.