As the year ends ...

... the world might end as well. At least according to Pastor Harry from Philadelphia. After careful study of biblical texts he concludes that the tribulation will start on or before June 12 2007. He also predicted earlier this year that either the Antichrist would reveal himself to the world via simulcast television before June 6 2006, or he, Pastor Harry, would reveal the identity of the Antichrist on his radio show on June 6 2006. The latter did indeed happen.

Not all predictions were equally successful. The pastor, for example, predicted that two events would take place simultaneously on August 22: First, Iran would attack Israel, and second, Iran would be destroyed by an earthquake. Apparently, the start of the tribulation was postponed, and this led him to the new prediction for next June. Alternative dates on offer are 2012, when the Mayan calendar stops, or 2028, exactly 80 years after the foundation of the state Israel.