It's May 19th, not 21st;"I know it's absolutely true, because the Bible is always absolutely true". - Edit 1
Before modification by Joel at 18/05/2011 09:12:45 PM
The quote's from the Wikipedia article on the subject, of which I've just now learned; it pretty much covers the problem with people who maintain things as doctrine with little or no scriptural support: They tortured a VERY dubious conclusion from a few obscure opaque passages and now insist rejecting it is rejecting the bible. It's like saying, "Washington was the first president, Lincoln was the sixteenth president and 1+16=17; therefore, anyone who isn't 17 years old isn't an American: IT SAYS SO IN THE CONSTITUTION111" The whole concept of the rapture is quite possibly an example of this; it rests on a single biblical referencing dead and living Christians meeting a returning Christ in the air, without specifying whether it will be before, after or during the Apocalypse. Otherwise, the bible is utterly silent on any form of Rapture, as was all Christian (not to mention Jewish) doctrine for nearly 18 centuries. There are FAR more Old and New Testament prophecies of the faithful being persecuted during the Apocalypse, so either they aren't leaving before Armageddon or there will be MANY post-Rapture conversions.
The whole idea of pinpointing a date and time for the return of Christ and/or a Rapture is counter to everything the bible says about the Apocalypse (particularly the passage where Jesus Himself says He doesn't know the date) since the idea is that we don't know the date and should thus be always prepared. Really, the notion that "time's running out to get right with God", while valid in the most general sense, is still a completely false and selfish motive for "repentance" (trying to save your sorry rear is not "repentance" of any kind). Repentance is about regret for acknowledged misdeeds and in particular regret for the ingratitude and opposition to God they represent, a desire to reconcile with our Maker. Whether it's treating the Cross as a "Get out of Hell Free Card" or the Rapture as a means to create a sudden fear of Gods wrath, it's still the wrong idea. That kind of attitude has always seemed to me more vindictive anticipation of the awful fate of wicked sinners (which obviously doesn't include those feeling it) than an eagerness for Gods kingdom. It's less about purging sin than punishing sinners, less about glorifying God than glorifying those expecting vindication from Him.
The whole idea of pinpointing a date and time for the return of Christ and/or a Rapture is counter to everything the bible says about the Apocalypse (particularly the passage where Jesus Himself says He doesn't know the date) since the idea is that we don't know the date and should thus be always prepared. Really, the notion that "time's running out to get right with God", while valid in the most general sense, is still a completely false and selfish motive for "repentance" (trying to save your sorry rear is not "repentance" of any kind). Repentance is about regret for acknowledged misdeeds and in particular regret for the ingratitude and opposition to God they represent, a desire to reconcile with our Maker. Whether it's treating the Cross as a "Get out of Hell Free Card" or the Rapture as a means to create a sudden fear of Gods wrath, it's still the wrong idea. That kind of attitude has always seemed to me more vindictive anticipation of the awful fate of wicked sinners (which obviously doesn't include those feeling it) than an eagerness for Gods kingdom. It's less about purging sin than punishing sinners, less about glorifying God than glorifying those expecting vindication from Him.