The Rapture is a Myth. Savvy?

I've heard quite an alarming amount of people talk about the rapture, as if it was something that is true.

Mainly those who (and I have read them too) read Left Behind, the whole excruciatingly long series, quite rivetting though at that, and tend to believe that because 'christian' authors, authored the book, it must have a great if not all be from biblical fact. It's not. Not at all, terrible.

John Nelson Darby came up with the "interpretation" of the bible, and created the myth of the Rapture - Simply, which has been changed a bit through time, that either : Christians get sucked up to heaven before the tribulation, Christians get sucked up during the tribulation.

It is another add-on in the neverending interpretation of a worn out book.

If you're hoping for a rapture, and think it'd just be splendid to bypass death, and cross go collect some money then bolt on up for eternity with a divine being to sing his praises for eternity, then you fail.

Thinking that a orientation of people allows them to be "Above" death is insulting, and arrogant.

Remember, Rapture=Myth.

Just stating hear, if you feel you have anything to add to my arguement of a slightly new age belief system which is faulty please do.

If you have immense evidence that the Rapture must and is true, then please post.

If not please read and be a little more aware of things and how they've changed to a more bizarre form of myths.

I agree with you. Unfortunately the only people posting their evidence that the rapture is fact, will be posting bible scripture's.

When I was a christian, they were certain the rapture would come at any moment, and every year would be the year. How can some live their lives expecting an event that will never come to pass ??

reply to post by IntastellaBurst


It's a funny story actually, i'm not quite sure of the mans name, but he went wildly around america, preaching he had calculated via biblical codes that the rapture was coming on such and such date, and people would sell all of their belongings, wait , wait, wait, and nothing.

How disheartening, and yet it's still believed, that's why most churches don't go after predictions, because they never come true, never.

Originally posted by IntastellaBurst


How can some live their lives expecting an event that will never come to pass ??

Ahmadenijad is one of those that believes he was ushered in by allah, (also ayatollah) to bring about the end of days.

Scary, without religion, we may have less apocalyptic mongerers out there.

They hear a new earth and figure this one is bad so eh, lets knock it off.

But this is the only one we get, we need it, it doesn't need us!

Yeah religion blows. It seems like a big money racket to me, everyone trying to buy their way into heaven, while their mind betrays them the whole time.

I had my first doubts when a fellow christian was kicked out of church. Why ????? because he was donating his 10% tithings to help starving kids in Africa rather then giving it to the church. He was called out and escorted out of the building in front of the entire congregation. Aparently the pastor didnt like the idea of " gods money" going somewhere else ........ where did it go instead ??? to pay the pastor's salary.

Who cares? Let them believe it will happen.

My wife believes it will happen and I don't. We get along just fine.

If we can live together and have opposite views about it then you guys can let people who you don't know believe what they want.

reply to post by IntastellaBurst


Careful, careful, If anyone religous fundamentalists catch wind of that arguement they will try and sway you.

Why because it's a personal experience which disheartened you, and not based on the facts, but a minority.

I as a child went through kiwanas, something of troubling memories which i've finally called out and embraced as child indoctrination and intense fear mongering.

Or when my sister was kicked out of the Church of Christ, and had the deacons appear at my house and tell us that we should distance ourselves from my sister, if god shall ever embrace us. You may wonder why would they say this, (my sister who is now a missionary) because she attended a Baptist church one day! Jesus Christ oh no she didnt! lol so silly.

Or when we all went on a trip to honduras to preach gods word, and pass out bibles, when I wondered, why not teach them how to live and live longer, why hand them a bible, and luxuriously with a translation for those who couldn't read english? Seems silly, but christians who partake in it, see it as saving their souls, need not worry on their day to day lives.

reply to post by IntastellaBurst


What church was this?

Where is it located?

What was your pastors name?

When did this happen?

I want to contact this church and ask them about that incident.

Originally posted by jd140
reply to post by IntastellaBurst

 

What church was this?

Where is it located?

What was your pastors name?

When did this happen?

I want to contact this church and ask them about that incident.

I see you're a bit skeptical of some events, mine are all true.

Here you go Church Of Christ, Gilmer Baldridge, Ennis, Texas.

The pastors name was Daryl Willis, but last year the church split apart, into one new one and the same old one, but the deacons are at this one.

The deacon who led them was named Gary.

It happened around 4-5 years ago.

1503 Country Club Rd
Ennis, TX 75119-2254

(972) 875-7484‎

There is contact information

[edit on 22-7-2009 by Republican08]

Originally posted by jd140
Who cares? Let them believe it will happen.

My wife believes it will happen and I don't. We get along just fine.

If we can live together and have opposite views about it then you guys can let people who you don't know believe what they want.

Ask yourself this though.

What if she believed in Santa Claus.

Would that be completely ok with you?

Would you think what harm does this cause?

It is, it shows a lack of reasoning. Yet santa claus effects at least one day of the year.

God is your whole life, you live off of it, everything you do is because of this hypothesis.

Way to go Repub!

Don't know if I am on board with your argument but hell, you blasted out investigatory evidence to back up your story!

That's awesome man, and sadly lacking on ATS

reply to post by Republican08


Well if you dont believe in God, why should he believe in YOU? So when he declares the Rapture, where do YOU think you are going to end up? Dont expect to be surrounded by people playing harps....or singing.

reply to post by Republican08


I have no idea what happened to your sister. So I don't know how believable your story is.

Maybe she didn't something as innoccent as get drunk or something as bad as pissing on the bible.

For the most part your post are not outlandish and are thought out. Except for your religious posts. You have stated that you don't like the religous side to tell you how to live your life, yet you have started threads and posted multiple times stating absolutes.

Such as this thread.

My wife goes to church once a week. I'm not a believer, but I am willing to talk to her about it if she wants to. I don't tell her that she is stupid for believing in God or the Bible. If she feels good going to church then who am I to ruin that for her? You seem to like to incite the religous posters on this thread with posts and threads like this one while at the same time wanting the other side to not preach at you.


That is why I said what I did in my first post.

Originally posted by Republican08

Originally posted by jd140
Who cares? Let them believe it will happen.

My wife believes it will happen and I don't. We get along just fine.

If we can live together and have opposite views about it then you guys can let people who you don't know believe what they want.

Ask yourself this though.

What if she believed in Santa Claus.

Would that be completely ok with you?

Would you think what harm does this cause?

It is, it shows a lack of reasoning. Yet santa claus effects at least one day of the year.

God is your whole life, you live off of it, everything you do is because of this hypothesis.

I don't buy the whole arguement that atheists are smarter then those who practice religion. Atheists for the most part are smug assholes. Thats why I don't buy into the religion of Atheism either.

My wife is very smart, she has exceptional reasoning skills.

reply to post by jd140


www.abovetopsecret.com...

That is why I responded.

If you know that when you drop a ball that it will bounce no more then the heighth you dropped it from, but she proclaims no no no, it has the ability to bounce much higher then the height you dropped it from.

Would you not be like why do you believe this.

Although it'd be nice and believe that it could, just as it's nice that someone can walk on water, it's not logical, and well it's ats, nothing is really censorible.

The Rapture is not a myth and neither is the Bible.

It's a plan, a plan for World Conquest and One World Government.

It's a plan written by Rome for Rome to Conquer the World and that's just what has been happening and that is what is happening.

The Rapture will be an event where Science not G-d exterminates huge portions of the Christians once Rome's conquest is complete.

To make this plan work all you need is circumstances to mimic the end times and the technology to fool the Christians into believing it is real, just like is really foretold and it will be easier than getting the folks at Jonestown to drink poisoned Kool Aide.

What a relief huh?

Too bad the circumstances and technology exist...

reply to post by jd140




Good, I don't doubt she is stupid, or illiterate, but we have a youtube video for that, maybe she should watch it?

No offense.

Originally posted by rangersdad
reply to post by Republican08

 

Well if you dont believe in God, why should he believe in YOU? So when he declares the Rapture, where do YOU think you are going to end up? Dont expect to be surrounded by people playing harps....or singing.

Seriously?

Okay, I know exactly where I will end up when I die, nowhere, my atoms will be reused into other forms, be it, dust, or whatever.

I will go back into the ground I came out of, I think it'd be ridiculous to believe that, then we go onto a divine cosmological place to live forever.

If 'your' god doesnt' believe in me, haha, it doesn't matter.

But i'm sure if Hindus are right, Vishnu will have a great time dealing with you!

This recent ideology of the Rapture scares me, as do the various manifestations of "British Israelism" and "Christian Zionism." Besides the fact that none of this is bible-based or sanctioned by tradition (if such things are important to you), they lead to potentially very dark paths.

Another form of recent Christianity that is disturbing is the extreme "Jesus Saves" mentality...all you have to do is "say the magic words" and surrender to Jesus...then your soul is purified, salvation is gauranteed, etc. This has the potential to undercut traditional morality...after all, if you are "automatically saved" because you have "accepted Christ as your personal savior" then who cares about boring and difficult old "good acts"?

I have the highest respect for a number of Christians and for various forms of Christianity, but like all religions it has its dark side too. Sadly, the aforementioned beliefs seem so prevalent in today's extreme Christian movements.

reply to post by jd140


do you ask these questions because you doubt this happened ?? or do you geniunely want to tell them off.

The church was called Pueblo De Dios
Lompoc California, I dont know the exact address, they moved
Pastor Avalos
.. this happend, .. I'd say at least ten years ago, I was a lad at the time.
The pastor speaks spanish, but I think his english has gotten better.

Let us know how it goes.

.... and this experience isn't what made me give up christianity, ... that began with my first out of body experience, .. my world has never been the same.