Rapture?

[LkptTiger 1]

Personally, I'm not a "believer." As an atheist, I do not buy into religion in any shape or form.

However, I am interested to hear your take on the assertion that the current conflict in the Middle East is the prophecy of the Rapture come to fruition. Most of it seems to be coincidence, but some of it seems like it could be a little more than that. Just wondering what you boys think.

[Oberon 0]

People have been prophesying the rapture for a looooong time, trying to link it to wars and other calamaties, and so far are batting .000

I hope it comes soon, though, my heaven has a stripper factory and a beer volcano. Personally, I don't think it will happen until the Blackhawks win The Cup. So, never.

[mack 44]

Like most things in religion, it's good fiction but it's too easily tagged to anything that nears a resemblance to something that's already vaguely written. Besides, anything that was made into a Kirk Cameron movie I'm not buying.

[foppa21 0]

As a Christian, I've always found it interesting how there's no Biblical basis for the idea of a rapture.

[mack 44]

1 Thessalonians 4:17 is what they go off of.

[foppa21 0]

Which is an extremely weak example even when only considered by itself, but especially when it is read with the surrounding five or so verses. Taken in context, that's speaking of second coming, not secret rapture.

[mack 44]

Which is what I meant by vaguely written. Anyone can twist something around to mean something else when it's vague, which is why people thought Nostradamus was anything more than a kook.

"Sometime today in a city surrounded by mountains, the man named after a truck will unleash a foul BM in a building made of rock, bringing tears to the eyes of many..."

Edit: A lot of "educated" people view that the Rapture comes along with the Resurrection and Judgment Day.

[bill33 0]

The war is only a small part and there are still many thing that need to happen.

But as is rophesy in Daniel. There will be wars and earthquakes, and those that will come in His Name.

1 thess 4 17

p17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord

I am not an expert and do not know all about language this is just what I understand an believe,

But "Shall be caught up" comes from Latin or hebrew or some thing like that and is translated Rapture

This is the basis for why rapture is taught.

If you want to know more about the times and events read Daniel and Revaltion.

[foppa21 0]

I have no problem with the translation having the literal meaning of rapture. That's just a word. The problem is the idea and substance of "rapture" that is prevalent today, i.e. some people vanishing and being taken up to heaven while others are left here on earth for the seven year period that has been popularized by the Left Behind craze. There just isn't a solid biblical basis for that idea.

BTW, that passage was written in Greek, not Hebrew or Latin.

[cp16 0]

I'm a catholic so the topic of the rapture seems to interest me, but gives me chills down my spine at the same time. There hv been many theories about when the rapture is about to come, one thoery was said that the rapture would come in July 2006, but thankfully it hasn't :D