October 21, 1844, was the day which William Miller finally decided that the world would end. He had several other dates, but finally decided on October 21st, after much prayer, and figuring. Miller had a lot of followers, who were excited about the coming destruction of evil, and transporting of true Christians (Millers followers) to the heavenly heights. To that end “Millerites” abandoned their fields, closed their shops, closed their bank accounts, and literally threw their money in the streets. By a prearranged meeting place on a hill, they assembled and awaited the coming of the Lord. All night they waited, and by morning, they realized that Miller was wrong, and they were themselves foolish for doing what they did. They were broke and broken.
Most “Millerites” left the fold, and those that didn’t became what today are known as Seventh Day Adventists, who would rather not admit their ancestry.
In 1879, Charles Taze Russell started what would eventually become Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Russellites” followed Russell and his teaching, which included that the world would end and Armageddon would happen in 1914. When it didn’t happen in 1914, Russell decided that 1918 was the better choice, and when that didn’t pan out, half of them left in disgust.
There have been lots of quack religious teachers over the years, and the latest is Harold Camping. Camping, and his radio show, have attracted thousands of devout believers, who followed him 100% when he told them that the world was going to end, and Jesus would return on Saturday, May 21st, at 6 PM Eastern time. Camping’s devotees followed Miller’s devotees almost to the letter. They sold their homes, closed their bank accounts, and many used the money to buy billboards and print pamphlets extolling the coming Armageddon to unbelievers, in hopes of last minute conversions. When 6 PM arrived last Saturday, and the world continued on as before, Camping’s followers found themselves, broke, and desolated. Camp now says he figured wrong, and the correct date is October 21st. Maybe he likes Miller’s date! Maybe he doesn’t believe Jesus words when he said, “Neither the day nor the hour no man knoweth.”
We have millions and billions of devotes and followers of quack politicians, government and presidents, who believed with all their hearts and souls that big government is on their side and will deliver, just like Camping and Miller’s blinded followers. They elect politicians with grandiose promises of reform, budget balancing, and true honesty. They elect Presidents who promise the same, and all are about as sham as Camping’s empty promises. Let’s call it the “Harold Camping Syndrome,” for lack of a better word.
Woodrow Wilson got America into WW I after it was almost over, FDR squeezed the Japanese so much, that their attack at Pearl Harbor was almost bound to happen. Also, Germany didn’t declare war on Britain, but the reverse. Would the bombing and hammering of England have happened, if England hadn’t declared war on Germany? Did Hitler happen because the Treaty of Versailles took German land from them and bankrupted them? Throughout the ages, citizens have been lied to by their governments and politicians endlessly. The results are wars, debased money, and millions dead, to be terribly brief. America seems to be in a perpetual state of bankrupting war. If there ever was a chance to free ourselves of this curse, it is the Tea Party Movement,
As the dollar declines and prices rise, government lies about it, and says we have little inflation. That’s why an ever increasing number of people have begun to realize that true money isn’t paper money, backed by thin air and created out of the same, but historic money, which is gold and silver. That’s why silver and gold producers are working 24/7, and the silver demand outpaces supply by as much as a month. More and more are realizing the utter folly of saving surplus assets in dollars, pesos, yen, francs, yen, yaun, or what have you. I rest my case.
Next week, a new name will be added to our web site’s masthead. I have long realized that those living in the Pacific time zone have been left out of our busy day. Now, that problem will be solved. Morgen Gaskill will begin next Tuesday, and will be open from 1PM to 5PM Pacific Time to serve you. We will have a four day weekend, and be closed on Monday to celebrate Memorial Day.