An unsanctioned, underground forum from a blogger in the Upstate of South Carolina.
"Beyond the shadow of a doubt, May 21 will be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment," he said.In a neat rationalization, believer Allison Warden says,
"If May 21 passes and I'm still here, that means I wasn't saved. Does that mean God's word is inaccurate or untrue? Not at all," Warden said.I really must clean out the draft posts in this blog before then...
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I'm St. Jerome! I'm a passionate Christian, fiercely devoted to Jesus Christ and his Church. I am willing to labor long hours in the Lord’s vineyard, and I have little patience with those who are less willing or able to work as I do. My passions often carry me into temptation zones of wrath, lust, and pride. Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers! |
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This won't work for me. I have plans to be fishing on that day.
ReplyDeleteI'll catch it next time around.
Bear with me, as I spent 15 years among Plymouth Brethren, the chief of pre-trib dispensationalists.
ReplyDeleteThe preacher's description is inaccurate on its face, because under the Scofield schema the "judgment" doesn't occur until at least seven years (the "70th week" of Daniel 9) after the rapture. Darby allowed for a much longer amount of time to elapse between the translation of the church and the Second Coming.
Now, while many laugh, the rapture is a biblical fact. Paul describes it rather plainly in 1 Thessalonians 4. The Greek word in v. 17 translated "caught up" is harpazo, which means to seize or snatch. In Latin this word is rapturo, which describes the action of birds of prey.
The issue isn't a matter of if but when. Some excellent literature has been written by non-dispensationalists on the literary imagery Paul employs there -- that of the welcoming party that goes out to meet the conquering king before he enters the city gate.
It is important to realize that many devout and intellectually sound scholars hold a pre-trib view of this event, based on careful exegetical grounds.
As for me, I was rescued from the speculative headaches by George Eldon Ladd and the "historic premillenial" perspective of the apostolic fathers. Our duty is simply to remain faithful be ready.
Chuck,
ReplyDeleteCorrect, we know not the time of His coming. We should be always prepared.
That's 1 Thessalonians 4:17 for those interested.
The footnotes in this Bible (NAB) state,
"From the Latin verb here used, rapiemur, has come the idea of 'the rapture,'"
Now, back to those unpublished blog posts...I know I have them hidden behind a brick in this cave somewhere...
Oh, dear.
ReplyDeleteI write coming from a long line of pre-trib types. What I find distressing about announcements such as these, as well as the cottage industry which has developed catering to those who await our Lord's return, is that I worry how many souls have turned away from the prodding of the Holy Spirit because of some misbegotten attempt to preach eschatology as an incentive for salvation.
Perhaps I'm an idiot, but I believe that it is sin and judgment, ameliorated only by Christ's atonement and God's grace, achieved through confession and repentance which should be preached. Not some code-breaking, date-setting, Antichrist-indentifying sensationalism.
Yes, watch. Be ready. The Lord could come any time; in the cloud's perhaps or myocardial infarction. We need to be prepared to face him.
Cheers.
P.S. As an intellectual exercise some 15 years ago, I wrote a twenty page pamphlet about how some current event or another was a "sign" of the imminent rapture of the church. I used a pseudonym and dressed it up at a Kinko's. I then gave it to a well-meaning relative, who wanted to know how to get copies to "share." When I pointed out that I'd banged it out in about two hours with no prayer and s/he was wasting her money buying stuff of similar ilk for those s/he witnessed to, I was persona non grata at the next several family functions.
Randall,
ReplyDeleteGood point: another warning about false teachers and how they seduce the vulnerable.
Ingenious set-up. You never worked for 20/20 did you?
Greetings,
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see a follow-up report on these folks after May 21st rolls around and they're still here. Hopefully some made backup plans in case of non-rapture or not being chosen...
Churches never mention these verses that state the believers will know more than the unbeliervers like when christ will return, ask your minister what these verses mean! I am sure that he will not have an answer.
ReplyDelete1 Thessalonians 5:
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
We are co-hosts of the Brink of Sanity Podcast. Our podcast is a popular talk show in which we discuss different and important issues. We would really love to help you get your message out. Would you have time to do an interview with us to discuss the coming Judgement Day?
ReplyDeleteBest,
Marc & Jay
marcalankaplan@gmail.com
Marc and Jay,
ReplyDeleteYou really must be on the brink... of something.