tezz

Does anyone have a link that explains a bit more about the rapture; I have noticed it mentioned in a few posts here recently and I am curious as to whether theists believe in a literal rapture or if its another metaphor for something?

I noticed that Magus55 said that a billion americans would disappear, did he (or you, if you see this post!) mean, like poof, gone, meals still steaming on the table, swing still swinging in the garden, or is it something that can be 'created' by man, i.e would a nuclear exchange qualify (so the people don't disappear in a 'supernatural' sense, we actually know what really happened)?

Chili

In the rapture parables it was always one out of two that raptured and these two were always together. Once the were on a roof and once they were in the kitchen, I think, but close enough to allow me to conclude that when the ego raptures that which remains is in heaven.

tezz

I'm sorry, I know I am not the sharpest tool in the shed. But this makes no sense whatsoever to me! :huh:

Magus55

Essentially, the Rapture is the Christian idea that in the end times, Christ will take all believers who are dead and alive to Heaven, which is followed (if you subscribe to a Pretrib rapture idea) by the Tribulation (which is God's final judgement on the Earth).

Toto

Hi tezz - you're not the only one who has been puzzled by Amos / Chili. But I think he is referring to a passage in Matt / Luke:

Matthew 24

40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Luke 17

34 I tell you, on that night two men will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."

A literal belief in the rapture is not characteristic of most theists. It is a doctrine of a particular brand of American evangelican Christian, and not all evangelicals believe in the rapture.

The always helpful religioustolerance.org site has this page: Rapture: Hoax or Hope?

You may also find this article helpful: Save a Jew, Save Yourself

Magus55

I thought Chili was Amos!! I could have sworn he had the same, makes you scratch your head and boggle type posts. Whats with the name change?

Chili

Thanks Toto. What should be clear from these passages is that one of the two is always the ego and the other one is the being that has this ego that can rapture into oblivion because it was just an illusion to start with. Therefore, that which remains is in heaven.

Of course Christians don't see it that way. They think that whatever goes up goes to heaven but all I can ever see is the smoke of their torment going to heaven while they die with the burning desire to get to heaven.

tezz

Thanks for the links, I know very little about this subject, it seems a little strange, very cult like, have there been mass suicides associated with the event when it has failed to happen (it has been predicated a number of times I believe)?

Toto

There is no specific date predicted for the rapture, so no suicides yet.

Yup

ten to the eleventh

Hmmm. I hadn't recalled that particular verse. I wonder how God will choose between the sodomites?

That's a great article! Truly entertaining and informative. I got quite a chuckle from this bit:

The Bible is a very dull, primitive book, written by primitive desert hicks for a primitive desert-hick audience. It contains only a few interesting moments: Genesis with its eerie Kafka-like atmosphere, the powerful Judges-Samuel-Kings trilogy and the black-comedy filler of Job.

"Primitive desert hicks." :rolling: :rolling: