I did a little research on this and most of Camping's conclusions go back to the Noah flood. He reads Genesis 7 symbolically and says each of the 7 days represent 1000 years. So 7x1000 = 7000 and he holds that the date May 21, 2011 is exactly 7000 years from the Noah flood, which he dates at 4990 BC.
I think it's a big problem. For one, it contradicts the Bible: No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36)
In addition, speculating on the date of the Second Coming often leads to other heresies. One is the misunderstanding of the Bible as a secret code book to crack. Instead, the Bible gives us as much as we need in this life for God's glory and for the salvation of his own. (Belgic Confession, Article 2) Second is a rejection of the institutional church. Harold Camping says that the church age ended May 21, 1988 (May 21 seems to be a key date for him). Perhaps he rejects the church because the church has rejected him. Nevertheless, the church is the Bride of the Christ waiting patiently for the Groom to arrive. Third I believe Camping rejects the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Instead of understanding a Triune God in three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Camping holds strictly to one God with many names (modalism - an ancient heresy).
In terms of the prison ministry, guys in prison are often drawn to end-times speculation. It's sensational to dream of the apocalypse and it's also a means of escaping a negative situation. As a result, the Left Behind series is often extremely popular. I've had to do some damage control among my prison flock. Some are clinging to the hope of Camping's prediction rather than clinging to Christ himself. May God equip me for the task.
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