Static on the airwaves ("the rapture"?)

World Magazine ^ | Chu/Glader

[flowerplough]

Christian radio tycoon says the world will end May 21—and surprising numbers believe him.

Ralph Workman believes what he hears on Christian radio. He believes preacher and Family Radio chief Harold Camping is right about Judgment Day. He believes the world is coming to an end May 21, 2011.

An engineer at Boeing's avionics lab, Workman helps manage an RV caravan winding its way around the United States—from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh to Virginia—sharing the belief that biblical numbers point to the specific expiration date for the world. He also runs a website called eBible Fellowship, which distributes Camping's teachings. "I hope many people will get saved and God will have mercy like Nineveh, but most are just scoffers," Workman said. Even his wife does not agree with him on Camping's teaching.

The timing coincides with earthquakes, tsunamis, and Middle East turmoil, feeding greater than usual response to end-times predictions. It precedes the Mayan 2012 prediction, which broke into popular culture through the 2009 big budget movie 2012 . Theologians, former listeners, and skeptics warn that Camping's teaching is unbiblical, prediction off-base, and message harmful to followers. But many seem to be listening to Camping rather than his critics—funding ads, signs, and postings from Iceland to India, along with YouTube videos, some with more than 300,000 views and titles like "Rapture Soon," "Jesus Coming," and of course "May 21, 2011." Family Radio is sponsoring the caravan of four RVs, plastered with Camping's message, and has bought space on 1,000 billboards nationwide.

This is Camping's latest prediction after followers were disappointed in 1994, when he gave a range of dates.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“He said the background for this word has no counterpart in OT scriptures...”

Nonsense. It’s right there in 2 Maccabees 8:12 and 15:21. That’s why people who have complete Bibles (unlike most Protestants) aren’t freaking out over all of this rapture nonsense.

[flowerplough]

so many idiots are uptight over this and to the point of demonizing the guy for his religious beliefs?

Idiots like Jesus?

from Matthew 24 (in the “New Testament”, in the “Bible”):

For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. “Behold, I have told you in advance. “So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

[gunnyg]

see...I told ya...

[cripplecreek]

Lots of bad stuff converging on Israel but I’m not calling it the end yet. Gaza flotilla tomorrow.

[edpc]

Getting nothing but static on Channel Z.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“I don’t believe that the Protestant argument for the rapture is any more of a stretch than the Catholic argument for “purgatory.””

It would have to be more of a stretch since the “Rapture” is really little more than a 19th century creation.

[mylife]

Fool!

Everyone knows its May 21st 2012.
Check the Mayan calendar!

[Matchett-PI]

“amazing thing is that some many idiots are up tight over this and to the point of demonizing the guy for his religious beiefs...so whaT IF HIS BELIEFS DIFFER FROM OTHERS, HIS RIGHT, HIS CHOICE, HIS BUSINESS...LIVE AND LET LIVE...but many, apparently, don’t have the right stuff to get that, I’m afraid...perhaps one of the big reasons our Republic has slipped away.” ~ gunny

So what? No one would give a hoot what religious grifters believe if they just kept their personal beliefs to themselves instead of preying on the fears of weak-minded people and damning to hell everyone else who doesn’t agree with their “beliefs”.

They need to be exposed at every turn for the charlaton grifters that they are.

In this case, Harold Camping and his ilk:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=100#100
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=102#102
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=125#125
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=132#132
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=133#133
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=140#140
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=147#147
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=148#148
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=151#151
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=152#152
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=162#162
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=186#186
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=191#191
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=204#204
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=210#210
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=216#216
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=218#218
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=220#220
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=224#224
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=226#226
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=227#227
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=232#232
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=241#241
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2716739/posts?page=242#242
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2716739/posts?page=275#275
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2716739/posts?page=278#278
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2716739/posts?page=282#282
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2716739/posts?page=283#283

[Longbow1969]

see...I told ya...

Your awfully defensive here. Do you believe the world will end on May 21st?

[stormhill]

Thank you for a most informative post. It is unfortunate many of us tend to generate noise instead of light.
Aside from the rapture aspect, another general misconception based on an incomplete reading of scripture, is the setting of the crucifixion on a Friday as the Passover fell on that day on 33 AD. However, careful study will prove a Wednesday Passover as occurred on 31 AD. In short, Camping applied his eccentric numerology to the wrong date.

[gunnyg]

why does it matter to you and/or anyone else what the other guy believes...this used to be America—a free country—where anyone can believe as he/she so chooses—not anymore it appears...

Semper BS!

[cableguymn]

The Rapture should occur ANY time now, we’re already years into the “birth pangs” we are so very close, Jesus is coming, praise the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Jesus Christ will return shortly.

---

Christ comes back after all the trials and tribulations. Sadly, the rapture will happen after them as well.

as to the may 21st.. we will not know the time or the place of his return. no one knows. so I also plan on going about my business on the 21st and the 22nd.....

[Matchett-PI]

“... the “Rapture” is really little more than a 19th century creation.” ~ vladimir998

More: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2719342/posts?page=13#13

[aruanan]

“He said the background for this word has no counterpart in OT scriptures...”

A. You're missing the main point.

B. You're making too fine a distinction. Maccabees are not part of the Hebrew Bible, commonly known as the Old Testament. That they were placed there in some canons is only because the events described therein took place before the events of the New Testament. The reference the author made was to an allusion that was particular to Greek/Roman times versus pre-Greek/Roman times in Biblical history. In this sense, then, Maccabbees are part of Greek/Roman times and the appearance of 'parousia' underscores the author's point.

C. You're still missing the main point.

[Celtic Cross]

"...is any more of a stretch than the Catholic argument for “purgatory.”"

Au contraire, Gruntor.

"...for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that there is, namely, Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, the work of each one will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one's work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge will turn you over to the constable, and the constable throw you in into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." (Luke 12:58-59)

"My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he likewise disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges." (Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:6-7).

"Everyone will be salted with fire." (Mark 9:49)

[Cvengr]

If you feel more comfortable using the word HARPAZO instead of Rapture, simply reread 1Thes 4:17.

1Th 4:17
(17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (HARPAZO) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

[Cvengr]

There is no Prophetic event in the Church Age required before the Rapture, but Prophecy does require some events prior to the Second Coming.

The only plausible counterargument is that the Rapture occurs when the very last member of the Church becomes a believer, completing the bride of Christ.

[vladimir998]

Please make an actual point rather than link to another post where you also didn’t make a point.

[Iscool]

Heck, I’d welcome the rapture, I just don’t believe that anyone knows when it’s going to happen.

Ya but someone may make a lucky guess...And may be it's this guy...

[aruanan]

I don’t believe that the Protestant argument for the rapture is any more of a stretch than the Catholic argument for “purgatory.”

You mean a pre-trib rapture as opposed to what Jesus described as his angels gathering up the elect upon his return to Earth? If the former, then the doctrine of a pre-trib rapture is found among some Protestants but, since its advent was post 1800 or so, it is not found amongst folks like Luther, Calvin, and others known as Protestants, nor those incorrectly labeled as Protestant, such as Wesley. If the latter, then it is just one of those BCBs, basic Christian beliefs.