Whether observers believed it or not, a California broadcaster's unwavering conviction that doomsday was set to strike on May 21, 2011 has sparked intense interest online, with thousands of Twitter users weighing in.

According to Harold Camping, 89, founder of Family Radio, and the predictor of Judgment Day, the event was set to take place at 6 p.m. somewhere in the Pacific.

New Zealand would have been one of the first major populated areas to be struck by a mega-quake, which would continue making its way around the world time-zone by time-zone.

However that time came and went without any seemingly significant events. In 1994, Camping also predicted that doomsday would come, although he admitted at the time there was a miscalculation.

People are making rapture jokes like there's no tomorrow, was a popular message on Twitter, as the phrase was repeated hundreds of times on the messaging network on Saturday.

Is the idea that this is an American based rapture. I mean its past 6pm in Europe, wrote Twitter user Wesley Wilson.

An eruption in Iceland on Saturday in Grimsvotn in Vatnajokull Glacier, prompted some to lament one tweeter named Bjorgvin to lament that doomsday supporters will surely use that to their advantage.

Camping's message, which came after he says biblical calculations guaranteed the day of judgment by God, has been for humans to repent and ask God so they could be among the true believers.

Mainstream Christian theologians and Pastors had dismissed Camping's predictions saying such an event could not be predicting, according to the Bible.

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father, Tweeted twitter user MoseMcConaughey, citing the book of Matthew 24:36.ee

Others took a middle of the road approach, citing the bible as well.

Two extremes to avoid. Harold Camping on the right and scoffers on the left. The Lord will return on his schedule, Michael E. Hyatt wrote, citing 2 Peter 3:1-13.

Read More: 10 Facts About Harold Camping

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