Local man: Five cities to be destroyed Friday

[grega]

volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4103437

Farragut, Knox County (WVLT) - A Farragut man says he's only the messenger, claiming his personal relationship with god has revealed to him, five cities in the United States that will face economic collapse Friday, November 11, 2005.

As WVLT Volunteer TV's Stephen McLamb learns, eleven is a well known number in history and this man feels eleven, eleven is the beginning of the end.

"But I want people to know that I'm perfectly sane, that I'm at peace with what's going to happen," John Gilmore says he's just a messenger and living by it. He says people in New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and San Francisco face some form of serious destruction on Friday.

"Something is going to happen to the effect that these cities are going to be devastated to the point that our economy is going to collapse," Gilmore says.

One local pastor says he's not buying Gilmore's claims.

"Remember the year 2000 where everything was going to be destroyed through Y2K and it never happened," says Pastor John Stuart, from Erin Presbyterian Church.

But Gilmore is and he's preparing for long term problems by storing extra food, water, and by getting his money out of the stock market.

Gilmore feels Friday is God's judgment for our desires for wealth, greed, and killing the unborn.

"Every time throughout the bible, he corrects that with judgment. And he does that to drive us away from the evil one and back to him and that's what I believe we are going to see tomorrow," Gilmore explains.

But Pastor Stuart says false claims have been made for centuries all because of anxiety.

"Probably on Saturday morning we are going to wake up and we'll wonder. What on earth were we scared about?" Pastor Stuart says.

"If it we're me, I would not be in the cities that I mentioned and I've notified everybody I know in those cities that they need to leave. They'll have to make that ultimate decision themselves, but my decision would be to leave, says Gilmore.

Gilmore was questioned about false prophets and whether he could be one of them.

He responded, "no, because I am right."



Now all we can do is wait..... ;)

[Mojo]

Gilmore was questioned about false prophets and whether he could be one of them.

He responded, "no, because I am right.":D

[Cleon]

Heh...Sounds like Kilik.

[Nex]

Omibob... I used to live near Farragut.

I'm not surprised that town spawned this guy. Not. Surprised. At all. :rolleyes:

[bagtaggar]

Well, it's Friday.

But the day is still young!

[Nex]

Well, it's Friday.

But the day is still young! True. If I were God I'd sleep in too. :D

[TriangleMan]

He says people in New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and San Francisco face some form of serious destruction on Friday.
Should I cancel my ticket to TAM4 now, or should I wait to see how bad the disaster is? :roll:

That reminds me, weren't about 50 of us supposed to be struck blind by God at the last TAM?

[Ripley Twenty-Nine]

Should I cancel my ticket to TAM4 now, or should I wait to see how bad the disaster is? :roll:

That reminds me, weren't about 50 of us supposed to be struck blind by God at the last TAM?
You know, in a way, I respect this guy. A good solid prediction. He names the cities, says specifically what's going to happen, and he gives a day.

Of course he's still going to be wrong, but you gotta admire his conviction!

[Manny]

Well, some guys chose today to put on a street fair down here on Water Street, apparently without realizing that pretty much everybody is closed and the businesses which aren't closed are running skeleton staffs. All the vendors are losing a ton of money. Especially the poor sap trying to sell lemonade when it's 44 degrees out. Does that count?:p

[Cleon]

ok, so Atlanta's supposed to get zapped. If I stop posting suddenly, tell somebody I love them. I don't really care who--at least my death will bring one last bout of confusion to the world.

[headscratcher4]

So they ran a story on TV about this hmmm? Geraldo ain't got nothing on that station. WHat next?

[LordoftheLeftHand]

... He says people in New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and San Francisco face some form of serious destruction on Friday.

Vegas! Oh snap why didn't someone tell me. I'm heading for the hills!

LLH

[headscratcher4]

I live in Washington, everyday is some sort of disaster.

[KingMerv00]

He says people in New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and San Francisco face some form of serious destruction on Friday.


I see this as a positive thing. I live in Philadelphia. Surely the destruction of these cities will give my home a nice economic boost in the years that follow.

I say bring it on.

[Starthinker]

I don't think it's fair that he got to pick the cities. It should have been voted on.

[PatKelley]

NO! Don't you see? The names all spell out "NWALS" or "SLAWN" as in the SLAWN OF SLATAN! The names also add up to 69 - and we all know how evil 69 is! Add to this that if you look at what those numbers add up to - 15 - this is six times 2 1/2! Almost 6 x 3! Of course, 666!

IT'S TRU!

[headscratcher4]

1:40 PM ...we're still here in D

[Checkmite]

You know, just the other day I was wondering what happened to Paul Bethke.

[headscratcher4]

.C.

Admit it, had you wrried didn't I.

Its 2:30, and we're still here.

[Ashles]

But Gilmore is and he's preparing for long term problems by storing extra food, water, and by getting his money out of the stock market.
We are expected to believe that this man plays the stock market?

[c4ts]

Uh oh! I feel the economy collapsing!

No, wait, that's just gas.

[KingMerv00]

Imagine how stupid this guy will feel tomorrow. All of that pants-wetting for nothing.

Has anyone ever interviewed one of these guys after the end of the world comes and goes uneventfully?

[Cleon]

3:10 and Atlanta is still here.

Wait...(looks out window) Yep, still here.

[KingMerv00]

3:10 and Atlanta is still here.

Wait...(looks out window) Yep, still here.

Well the guy likes the number 11 so I would wait until 11:11PM 11/11/05.

...

Of couse 11:11AM has come and gone already.

[CJW]

Well the guy likes the number 11 so I would wait until 11:11PM 11/11/05.

...

Of couse 11:11AM has come and gone already.

Now that I think about it, June 6 , 2006 should be a big deal with some of these end-o-the-world types.....

Chris

[KingMerv00]

11:11:11AM on 11/11/11

[c4ts]

Imagine how stupid this guy will feel tomorrow. All of that pants-wetting for nothing.

Has anyone ever interviewed one of these guys after the end of the world comes and goes uneventfully?

Yes. Don't you remember 1inChrist? Either they say something DID happen, and point to something that looks kind of related but not really, or they say they must have meant the date for another year. I'd say he'll point to any old decrease in the stock market or something.

[Marquis de Carabas]

Now that I think about it, June 6 , 2006 should be a big deal with some of these end-o-the-world types.....

Chris
Well, they are releasing a remake of The Omen that day, not that there will be much reason to release movies with all those majour metropolitan areas destroyed.

[KingMerv00]

Now that I think about it, June 6 , 2006 should be a big deal with some of these end-o-the-world types.....

Well there is an easy way around that problem. Couldn't we just use a different calender system, perhaps one with 5 months?

4:10...anyone dead yet?

[c4ts]

3:10 and Atlanta is still here.

Wait...(looks out window) Yep, still here.

But it's the Lost City of Atlanta!

[Manny]

I'd say he'll point to any old decrease in the stock market or something.Hee! Not even that will help. The Dow Jones Industrial Average went out today at 10686.04, up 45.94. Treasuries didn't open, as it was a holiday.

[Cleon]

But it's the Lost City of Atlanta!

Well, if you say so Kilik... ;)


(joke! joke! Don't hurt me.)

[headscratcher4]

5:00 on the East Coast...still here.

[LordoftheLeftHand]

2:45 pm in Vegas and my face still hasn't melted.

BTW my boss wouldn't let me run for the hills :(

LLH

*edited - i think my spelling is getting worse

[C S Costa]

I'm a little hazy on this. Is it by midnight Eastern or Central time? I could sure use that extra hour.

[Fidelio]

A cat peed on my couch...does that count?

[timokay]

San Francisco is still here.
But a strange thing did happen. I regularly grab some quarters for the soda machine at my parking garage.... and...this morning.... one of my quarters changed into a.....

EURO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and I have never been out of this country!

DUM DUM DUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! DAMN YOU GILMORE!!!!

[c4ts]

Well, if you say so Kilik... ;)


(joke! joke! Don't hurt me.)

Only space aliens could locate Atlanta.

...

You must be from outer space! Can you help me lift this giant monument? As a human I am physically incapable without sophisticated uber-tools.

[KingMerv00]

He's only got 3 and a half hours left until friday is over.

If millions of people don't die i'll be really bummed out.

[Desktop Icon]

I'm quite happy that Seattle is going to be spared, but I'm wondering if I'll be able to get my hotel deposit back for TAM4.

[delphi_ote]

volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4103437

Farragut, Knox County (WVLT) - A Farragut man says he's only the messenger, claiming his personal relationship with god has revealed to him, five cities in the United States that will face economic collapse Friday, November 11, 2005.

So glad to be away from the Knoxville crazies, but I can't really say Orlando is much better.

[CFLarsen]

11:11:11AM on 11/11/11

I predict that Uri Geller will predict something spectacular then.

He's got a thing about the number 11, you know... (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/uri-11.htm)

[Zep]

Hello? Anyone there in the USA? I've tried dialing 5 different cities and I get the "busy" tone...

[grega]

I emailed the News Director whether they are going to make a followup on this story, now that the 5 cities are still standing...

[Zep]

Huh. Yesterday's news is old news, no good. It would have been MUCH better if there were 5 nukes or something - that's CURRENT affairs! :rolleyes:

[Abdul Alhazred]

If the prophesy fails, this guy can still praise the Lord, following the lead of the prophet Jonah.

Jonah alleges that he preached destruction on the city of Nineveh, but Nineveh was spared. This was after the Big Fish incident.

There's a real Jonah all right, the author of the book of the same name. I don't believe he ever expected to be taken literally or on par with Moses.

[Azrael 5]

Just checked Sky News and CNN it seems you're all still there.But someone in Denver woke up with a headache-if that counts! ;)

[Beerina]

volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4103437

Farragut, Knox County (WVLT) - A Farragut man says he's only the messenger, claiming his personal relationship with god has revealed to him, five cities in the United States that will face economic collapse Friday, November 11, 2005.

...

Now all we can do is wait..... ;)


Ah, well. Another theory down the drain. :mad:

[c4ts]

If the prophesy fails, this guy can still praise the Lord, following the lead of the prophet Jonah.

Jonah alleges that he preached destruction on the city of Nineveh, but Nineveh was spared. This was after the Big Fish incident.

There's a real Jonah all right, the author of the book of the same name. I don't believe he ever expected to be taken literally or on par with Moses.

You have a point. He could claim he saved those cities through prayer.

[delphi_ote]

You have a point. He could claim he saved those cities through prayer.

So you make up an imaginary danger and then save everyone from it. Where do I sign up for that gig?

[Yeah_Right]

I don't watch the news that much so I missed this latest prediction of catastrophe. One of the oddest predictions I heard was on Art Bell, where this guy phoned in and said that the Earth probably only about 5 months left. His reason? He travelled the U.S. on business and apparently encountered bad attitudes from the staff at restaurants and stores he visited on his travels. By the way, this predction was made about 4 years ago.

[Kopji]

Page Arizona is gone!
Oops
Still there
Understandable mistake though

[logical muse]

As WVLT Volunteer TV's Stephen McLamb learns, eleven is a well known number in history...
He's right. I did a quick poll, and almost everyone I asked had heard of the number eleven.

Here's the breakdown:

Forty three people had heard of the number eleven.

One person thought they had, then changed their mind when questioned about when they'd heard of it.

Two people hadn't. Or claimed they hadn't. One of them thought I had made it up and the other said "Wait a minute... Are you trying to sell me something?"

One person would neither confirm nor deny the existence of the number eleven.

One person informed me that I could claim the $1,000,000.00 if I could prove the existence of the number eleven.

One person said that of course they had heard of the number 11, which if you add it up is actually 2, which is the number of digits in it, and if you multiply the digits in 11 you get one, which is 1/2 of 2, and 1/2 has a 1 and a 2 in it, which proves it, so can they have the $1,000,000.00?

[Soapy Sam]

I heard that most of the remaining real numbers are between 1 and eleven. Does that help?

[Mojo]

So you make up an imaginary danger and then save everyone from it. Where do I sign up for that gig?If Lucianarchy was still around, maybe you could have asked him. ;)

[Correa Neto]

No. The cities are gone!

You skeptics, in your delusion, have your senses blocked to reality!!!!

[kmortis]

If the prophesy fails, this guy can still praise the Lord, following the lead of the prophet Jonah.

Jonah alleges that he preached destruction on the city of Nineveh, but Nineveh was spared. This was after the Big Fish incident.

There's a real Jonah all right, the author of the book of the same name. I don't believe he ever expected to be taken literally or on par with Moses.

HAA-haa-haa. I love that movie. Where the tomato and the kids meet up with the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (with Larry the Cucumber makeing a suprize appearance).

Hey, I might be an athiest, but I have kids and the Veggie Tales are very entertaing.

[neutrino_cannon]

You know, in a way, I respect this guy. A good solid prediction. He names the cities, says specifically what's going to happen, and he gives a day.

Of course he's still going to be wrong, but you gotta admire his conviction!

Indeed, it's far more honest that giving a claim with lots of weaseling-out room for when it inevitably fails.

[c4ts]

No. The cities are gone!

You skeptics, in your delusion, have your senses blocked to reality!!!!

You've got to wrap yourselves in tinfoil to divert the government-induced microwave illusion!

[neutrino_cannon]

You've got to wrap yourselves in tinfoil to divert the government-induced microwave illusion!

http://people.csail.mit.edu/rahimi/helmet/

Bad idea, appearantly.

[c4ts]

Those results were faked by MIT to hide the conspiracy from us all. Didn't you realize that all science is an elaborate fabrication, made up over the centuries to hide ancient tinfoil secrets from the common man?

[Manny]

Whoops. (http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4110019&nav=menu185_1) Maybe he can get a job in one of the doomed cities.

[c4ts]

He didn't even make up an excuse. I'm so disappointed.

[Desktop Icon]

John now admits he got the dates wrong but he holds fast to his belief God is going to punish people for their sins, and it is coming soon.

Oh my, this guy is lame. Any self-respecting seer would explain the lack of immediate devistation by saying that something did indeed happen that will cause the collapse of the five cities, but it was too subtle for us to notice.

For example, today, November 13, 2005, I hearby predict that every attendee of TAM4 will drop dead!

Fast forward to January 30, 2006, when I issue an update that says that what I clearly meant in November was that something happened at TAM4 that will cause every attendee to drop dead at some point in the future!

[neutrino_cannon]

Oh my, this guy is lame. Any self-respecting seer would explain the lack of immediate devistation by saying that something did indeed happen that will cause the collapse of the five cities, but it was too subtle for us to notice.

For example, today, November 13, 2005, I hearby predict that every attendee of TAM4 will drop dead!

Fast forward to January 30, 2006, when I issue an update that says that what I clearly meant in November was that something happened at TAM4 that will cause every attendee to drop dead at some point in the future!

Indeed, he hasn't even got retroactive verification through over-vague statements down.

He won't go anywhere as a prophet.

[Zep]

beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-
beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-

We're sorry. The city of...ARIZONA...is not available. Please check the number and dial again. To hear this message again, please press 1.

[headscratcher4]

Came to work today...Washington is still here...Dover PA is still here. What kind of a candy-a@@ god is this? His wrath is so shallow.....

[Starthinker]

I once predicted that Ames, Iowa would be destroyed by a large meteor. I used crystals to divert the meteor and it passed the Earth by such a large margin that it wasn't even picked up by scientist watching for this sort of thing. Therefore, you MUST come to one, and only one conclusion--that my crystals are the best and it's worth the extra money to buy only my crystals. E-mail me for more details and have your Pay Pal ready.

[grega]

knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_4232923,00.html

Apocalyptic views lead to firing

Knology manager trumpeted visions of end times to media

By LARISA BRASS AND BILL BREWER, brass@knews.com, brewerb@knews.com
November 12, 2005

The general manager of Knology's Knoxville operations has been fired after expressing religious views about the end of time to local media outlets, including the News Sentinel.

John Gilmore, 34, has managed the local office of the Georgia-based provider of cable television, Internet and phone services for the past five years and has been with the company for six years. He was relieved of his duties Thursday.

Mike Roddy, vice president of marketing for Knology in Atlanta, confirmed Friday that Gilmore was fired for eschatological comments he made in a Tuesday column in the News Sentinel and on a subsequent local television appearance.

"The company's position is that everybody is entitled to their opinions and John is certainly among them," Roddy said. "John was asked not to represent his opinions as the company's and he continued the appearance of doing that as general manager of Knology and we decided to let him go. They just weren't the company's opinions."

Roddy further said that Gilmore was asked to not do another media interview on his beliefs, but he appeared on WVLT, Channel 8, Thursday night after he alerted Knology he was going to.

"If John wants to give his own opinions, that's fine. But he needs to not do it as a representative of this company," Roddy said.

In the past week, Gilmore has been quoted and interviewed live about his views on events he believes will take place leading to the final judgment of God and the end of the world.

He spoke of the power of a secret organization called the Illuminati that he said is trying to destroy national sovereignty. He said the group finds significance in the number 11, with the Sept. 11 attacks occurring 11 years to the day after the first President George Bush used the phrase "New World Order" before Congress.

Gilmore predicted a big event Friday as well - Nov. 11, 2005, whose digits, if one counts November as the 11th month, add up to 11 (1+1+1+1+2+5).

His comments appeared in a column by Ina Hughs on Tuesday, accompanied by two letters he wrote that appeared on the News Sentinel's Web site, Knoxnews.com.

After being interviewed on WVLT, he gave interviews to two local radio stations Friday morning.

Gilmore said company officials contacted him Thursday and asked him to leave the company.

"They said, 'If you have to continue to talk publicly I don't know if we can continue working together,' " Gilmore said, adding that the company expressed concern about the association of its brand with his beliefs.

"I'm kind of well known in Knoxville being associated with Knology," he said, pointing out that the company felt he was representing Knology's views with no disclaimer.

When asked if he planned to pursue legal action against the company, Gilmore said, "absolutely not," because he understood the company's decision.

"There was no animosity," he said. "We're all still friends."

Gilmore said he already knew he would leave Knology.

"I was pretty much told that I'd be leaving at some point. Our heavenly Father told me that. I didn't know a time or anything, but it just worked out this week," he said. "To be honest, I'm waiting to see where my heavenly Father will lead me. I'm really being called to do other things."

Roddy said the company is not concerned about being sued over the matter based on freedom of speech or religion concerns.

Knoxville lawyer Rick Hollow, who specializes in First Amendment issues, said judgment shouldn't be passed on either side of the issue without knowing all the facts.

"But the situation certainly has implications which suggest a potential chilling effect on free expression and should therefore be closely scrutinized," Hollow said.

"Anytime any action is taken adverse to an individual as a stated or implied consequence of that individual's expression or statement on a matter of public or general concern, there are First Amendment implications," he said.

"This is particularly true where the comment relates to matters of individual opinion because the U.S. Supreme Court has said there is no such thing as a false opinion."


Document: First letter from John Gilmore regarding end time events
web.knoxnews.com/pdf/1108gilmore1.pdf

Document: Second letter from John Gilmore regarding end time events
web.knoxnews.com/pdf/1108gilmore2.pdf

[Starthinker]

knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_4232923,00.html

Apocalyptic views lead to firing

Knology manager trumpeted visions of end times to media

By LARISA BRASS AND BILL BREWER, brass@knews.com, brewerb@knews.com
November 12, 2005

The general manager of Knology's Knoxville operations has been fired after expressing religious views about the end of time to local media outlets, including the News Sentinel.

John Gilmore, 34, has managed the local office of the Georgia-based provider of cable television, Internet and phone services for the past five years and has been with the company for six years. He was relieved of his duties Thursday.

Mike Roddy, vice president of marketing for Knology in Atlanta, confirmed Friday that Gilmore was fired for eschatological comments he made in a Tuesday column in the News Sentinel and on a subsequent local television appearance.

"The company's position is that everybody is entitled to their opinions and John is certainly among them," Roddy said. "John was asked not to represent his opinions as the company's and he continued the appearance of doing that as general manager of Knology and we decided to let him go. They just weren't the company's opinions."

Roddy further said that Gilmore was asked to not do another media interview on his beliefs, but he appeared on WVLT, Channel 8, Thursday night after he alerted Knology he was going to.

"If John wants to give his own opinions, that's fine. But he needs to not do it as a representative of this company," Roddy said.

In the past week, Gilmore has been quoted and interviewed live about his views on events he believes will take place leading to the final judgment of God and the end of the world.

He spoke of the power of a secret organization called the Illuminati that he said is trying to destroy national sovereignty. He said the group finds significance in the number 11, with the Sept. 11 attacks occurring 11 years to the day after the first President George Bush used the phrase "New World Order" before Congress.

Gilmore predicted a big event Friday as well - Nov. 11, 2005, whose digits, if one counts November as the 11th month, add up to 11 (1+1+1+1+2+5).

His comments appeared in a column by Ina Hughs on Tuesday, accompanied by two letters he wrote that appeared on the News Sentinel's Web site, Knoxnews.com.

After being interviewed on WVLT, he gave interviews to two local radio stations Friday morning.

Gilmore said company officials contacted him Thursday and asked him to leave the company.

"They said, 'If you have to continue to talk publicly I don't know if we can continue working together,' " Gilmore said, adding that the company expressed concern about the association of its brand with his beliefs.

"I'm kind of well known in Knoxville being associated with Knology," he said, pointing out that the company felt he was representing Knology's views with no disclaimer.

When asked if he planned to pursue legal action against the company, Gilmore said, "absolutely not," because he understood the company's decision.

"There was no animosity," he said. "We're all still friends."

Gilmore said he already knew he would leave Knology.

"I was pretty much told that I'd be leaving at some point. Our heavenly Father told me that. I didn't know a time or anything, but it just worked out this week," he said. "To be honest, I'm waiting to see where my heavenly Father will lead me. I'm really being called to do other things."

Roddy said the company is not concerned about being sued over the matter based on freedom of speech or religion concerns.

Knoxville lawyer Rick Hollow, who specializes in First Amendment issues, said judgment shouldn't be passed on either side of the issue without knowing all the facts.

"But the situation certainly has implications which suggest a potential chilling effect on free expression and should therefore be closely scrutinized," Hollow said.

"Anytime any action is taken adverse to an individual as a stated or implied consequence of that individual's expression or statement on a matter of public or general concern, there are First Amendment implications," he said.

"This is particularly true where the comment relates to matters of individual opinion because the U.S. Supreme Court has said there is no such thing as a false opinion."


Document: First letter from John Gilmore regarding end time events
web.knoxnews.com/pdf/1108gilmore1.pdf

Document: Second letter from John Gilmore regarding end time events
web.knoxnews.com/pdf/1108gilmore2.pdf

Great! Now, not only does he get to claim to be a martyr for getting fired for his beliefs but he claims he PREDICTED that he would get fired! He scores twice!

[Nex]

Great! Now, not only does he get to claim to be a martyr for getting fired for his beliefs but he claims he PREDICTED that he would get fired! He scores twice!Oh, that's it. I'm convinced. Where do I sign up for this end-times cultish stuff?

[headscratcher4]

So the god that wrongly told him that 5 cities would be destroyed also told him he would be fired. Yet, he still believes god, while god was only right about the little thing...a thing that practically any god, demi-god, pari-god, aspiring-god or public relations conslutant could have predicted.

It is a little john Nash...the same voices who told him believably that he would be fired told him 5 cities would be destroyed and when. Why shouldn't he believe the voice?

[LTC8K6]

"I was pretty much told that I'd be leaving at some point. Our heavenly Father told me that. I didn't know a time or anything, but it just worked out this week," he said.

I could have told him that......

At some point in the future, you will be leaving your job.

[neutrino_cannon]

public relations conslutant

Is that intentional?

[Zep]

Yes.

[headscratcher4]

Still here, oh well, guess I shouldn't have cleaned out my bank-account and spent my retirment money on one last night of wild drinking and casual sex and violence.