Armageddon ahead, please fasten your Bible Belt

There's bad news on the end of the world front. The Rapture Index, which measures end-time activities, has soared to dangerous levels and Bible-Belt America is readying itself for the last trump

Bad news, I’m afraid. The end of the world is nigh. Or at least nigh-ish. I have been checking the Rapture Index (www.raptureindex.com), a kind of Dow Jones for the Apocalypse. It tracks what its compilers call “end-time activities”, and is updated weekly so that those who worry about this sort of thing (they call themselves “end-timers”) can gauge how many years, days or minutes they have to spare before the big whoosh. Naturally, the RI evaluates the customary biblical portents of doom: plagues, famine, drought and so on. But it also includes rather more idiosyncratic signs of when our clattering earthly train will hit the celestial buffers. They range from “drug abuse”, “liberalism” and “false prophet” (ie, the Pope, for whom most end-timers have a big dislike) to “government by the Beast” (any international power-base, such as the UN or the EU) and “the mark of the Beast” (any unified currency such as — you guessed it — the euro).

And, as I said, it’s bad news. Anything below 85 on the RI is regarded as “slow prophetic activity”. That means: relax, make that dental appointment, the Second Coming still hasn’t been scheduled in the heavenly fixture list.

Above 110 and we are into “heavy prophetic activity”. Probably time to quit that dead-end job before it literally becomes a dead end. And if the RI soars over 145, its compilers say, you really ought to fasten your seat belt. The rum-ti-tum-tum of the Last Trump is already echoing round the outer suburbs.

Well, yesterday the RI stood at 170. I don’t like the sound of it. Admittedly, that’s some way below the all-time high of 182, which was recorded (you will be unsurprised to learn) shortly after the World Trade Centre attack. But 170 still sounds dangerously close to Rapture Time.

And if you haven’t got the foggiest notion what Rapture Time is, you aren’t keeping abreast of the fastest-growing and (let us be frank, because time is clearly short) oddest literary phenomenon in the English-speaking world. Two months ago, a newly published thriller called The Remnant went straight to No 1 in the New York Times bestseller list. It was the tenth such book in a series called Left Behind, written by Tim LaHaye, a 76-year-old Californian “prophecy scholar” and Christian evangelist, in conjunction with the novelist Jerry Jenkins.

Novels 6, 7, 8 and 9 also went straight to the top of the bestseller lists when they were published. Indeed, in the wake of September 11 the ninth book — topically titled Desecration: Antichrist Takes the Throne — became the bestselling American novel of 2001, stealing that title from John Grisham for the first time in seven years. In fact, LaHaye and Jenkins have accumulated sales of 33 million in just seven years, and personal fortunes estimated at a very tolerable $50 million each.

Which wouldn’t be so remarkable, except that the Left Behind series transforms into popular fiction a subject not renowned for its page-turning, pulse-racing, fortune-making qualities. We are talking about dispensational premillennialism. (You see? Your eyes are glazing over already.)

It’s a literal belief in the apocalyptic events described in the last, and wackiest, section of the Bible: the Book of Revelation. According to dispensational premillennialists (shall we call them DPs for short?), Christ will return to Earth when he is least expected, sweep off believers in clouds of glory (the Rapture), and leave malefactors, non-believers and “don’t knows” to suffer seven years of catastrophes (the Tribulation) presided over by the most evil man in history (the Antichrist). This period will culminate in a colossal battle in Israel (Armageddon), after which the triumphant Christ will rule in peace for a thousand years (the Millennium) and the world will end.

Of course, it’s not that simple. Some DPs place the Millennium before Armageddon. Some will argue till the end of time (as it were) that Rapture comes after Tribulation. Details, details. You get the general drift.

Even before the extraordinary Left Behind series started selling to Bible-Belt America like . . . well, like there’s no tomorrow, DP theology was gaining ground among born-again Christians. A recent survey found that a quarter of all Americans believe that Jesus will return in their lifetimes, and that nearly two in three believe Revelation’s apocalyptic prophecies to be broadly accurate. Among them, one understands, is President Bush — a comforting thought as he prepares to pulverise the Middle East. And according to the FBI no fewer than 1,500 apocalyptic cults, of greater or lesser crankiness, now flourish in the US, along with more mainstream fundamentalist churches packed with members who also believe that we are close to, or actually in, “end times”.

It is a huge market, which LaHaye and Jenkins have exploited with a cunning that can only be admired. Their books (LaHaye devises the preposterous plots, Jenkins the dreadful dialogue) read like Nostradamus rewritten by Jeffrey Archer and rewritten again by a management consultant who speaks only business jargon.

Thus you get wonderfully clunking lines such as: “He cannot be expected to handle the duties of both the UN and Botswana during this strategic moment in Botswana history, right, Steve?” Or the description of the glamorous heroine, Chloe Steele Williams, as “CEO of International Commodity Co-op, an underground network of believers”. A secret Christian group with a “chief executive officer”? Does it have vice-presidents and personnel directors as well? Still, the Left Behind series doesn’t mess around. Sam Goldwyn advised young film-makers to “begin with an earthquake and work up to a climax”. LaHaye and Jenkins go one better. They begin with the Rapture (a third of the world’s population are snatched up to Heaven, which rather mystifies those who aren’t) and will presumably work up to Armageddon by volume 12.

Meanwhile, volumes 2 to 10 trace the adventures of an intrepid band of yuppie-ish, clean-cut and mostly white American goodies during the intervening Tribulation, as they race round the world in fast cars and helicopters, trying to fight the evil forces of a slimy Romanian monster called Nicolae Carpathia.

It soon becomes apparent that Carpathia is none other than the Antichrist himself. The fact that he is also Secretary-General of the United Nations, and that his wicked stormtroopers are called “Peacekeepers”, tells you rather a lot about what Bible-Belt America thinks of the UN and its peacekeeping operations. Oh yes, and did I mention that his headquarters are in Baghdad? Spooky coincidence, or what? Cities get blown up, armies zapped. And our heroes make amazing escapes on almost every page — none more startling than the episode in the latest book where, pursued by the forces of darkness, they leap into a plane piloted by the Archangel Michael (who turns out, not surprisingly, to be rather good at flying).

So is it all harmless pseudo-theological bunk — Batman meets Billy Graham? I am not so sure. The insidious thing about the Left Behind novels is that, lurking beneath the thrills and spills, they promulgate a distinctly disturbing world view. All international organisations, from the UN downwards, are regarded as fronts for secular humanists who do “the Devil’s work” (quite literally, of course, in these novels). Even the Roman Catholic Church is castigated, which isn’t surprising since, in his nonfiction writing, LaHaye has declared Catholicism to be a “false religion”.

Also lambasted or ridiculed are liberals, ecumenicals and everyone else who is “hoodwinked” by the notion of global peace, harmonious co-existence or disarmament — all regarded as con-tricks perpetrated by the Antichrist. Women in authority are crudely caricatured as stupid or sadistic. Europeans generally are unreliable and untrustworthy. The message is: it’s up to right-minded Americans to get out there and show them, at gunpoint if necessary (and it usually is), that God is boss.

As for the Jews, they are crucial to LaHaye’s plot, because end-timers believe that Armageddon will be brought about by hostile forces mounting a massive attack on the state of Israel. But the Left Behind series makes it clear that the only really OK Jew is a Christian Jew: one who converts and becomes part of Christ’s “soul harvest”.

And there is a chilling Freudian slip in the dialogue, when our heroine Chloe, weighing up the risks of her latest mission, says: “We could lose four people, not to mention all the Israelis we promised to protect.” Er, aren’t Jews people too? I merely ask.

What’s slightly alarming is that millions of decent, intelligent Americans are devouring these books. And not just the books. Left Behind has already spawned one film (a bestseller on video), and a second is on the way. Through its website (www.leftbehind.com) you can also buy Left Behind calendars. Count the days till Rapture! Another end-time website (www.rapturewear.com) offers clothes with a Rapture logo. Apparently they are “a great way to tell people that when Jesus calls His church home, you won’t be left behind”. Thousands of teach-yourself-Rapture booklets are advertised on the internet, including the endearingly named Oops, I Guess I Wasn’t Ready (“what to do if you miss the Rapture”). You can even purchase Left Behind: The Board Game, in which players earn “redemption tokens” that can be cashed in for eternal life once “post-Rapture play” starts.

And although LaHaye and Jenkins are ending their lucrative partnership in two years, when the Left Behind series reaches its apocalyptic conclusion, LaHaye has already landed a new £30 million deal to write a series of novels about a Christian superhero, a kind of born-again Indiana Jones.

Always assuming, of course, that he doesn’t get snatched up to Heaven between now and then. I hope he consulted the Rapture Index before signing his contract.

THE 24 ELDERS

In the Book of Revelation, we see many groups of people and different personalities. In Revelation 4:4 we find the first mention of a special group called the "Twenty-Four Elders." This group is very mysterious yet very interesting. Who are they? What is their purpose? Are they angels or are they men? All these questions will be answered in this article.

Revelation 4:4 says:

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

Here is what we learn about the 24 elders:

They are seated on 24 thrones

They are clothed in white garments

They are wearing golden crowns on their heads

I believe that the 24 elders represent the Church. They are not the Church but they represent the Church. This is not a strange interpretation for we see this in the Old Testament. 1 Chronicles 24 shows us that King David appointed twenty-four priests to represent the entire priesthood.

Doesn't 1 Peter 2:9 call the Church a "royal priesthood." The 24 elders represent this entire royal priesthood. What about the thrones, the white garments and the golden crowns? Was the Church promised these?

Revelation 3:21 says, "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

Revelation 3:5 says, "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."

Revelation 2:10 says, "Do no fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Revelation 3:11 says, "I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown."

These references to thrones, crowns and white garments fits perfectly with Revelation 4:4. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 says that man will be awarded for his works.

Since the Church has already received salvation at the cross by believing in Christ by faith, the Church is going to be judged for her works, the things that they have done for the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:10 calls this the Judgment Seat of Christ! The mere fact that the 24 elders have white garments and golden crowns suggests that the Judgment Seat of Christ has taken place already suggesting that the rapture already occurred.

This brings us to the question - Are the 24 elders men or angels? Well...

Only men wear crowns

Only men wear white garments

Only men sit on thrones (except God)

Only men are elders

The Greek word for crowns in Revelation 4:4 is stephanos, which is a victorious crown in contrast to a kingly crown (diadem), which Christ wears (Revelation 19:12). No angel can wear a victor’s crown for they never have gone through the battle of life on earth to earn these crowns.

Another evidence that the 24 elders are men is Revelation 5:9. It says, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased men for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

The New American Standard Bible says purchased them while the King James Version says redeemed us. Many people say that Revelation 5:9 proves that the 24 elders are redeemed men yet others say that the 24 elders are not redeemed men. All this from the same verse and from two different readings of the same verse (the KJV & NASB). We see that in the KJV it uses the first person pronoun while most of the other translations use the third person pronoun.

Since the 24 elders are singing here, the conflicting readings are significant. But the conflicting readings doesn't have to worry those that believe that the 24 elders are redeemed men. At least it doesn't bother me. It is possible for people to sing a song about themselves in the third person. Exodus 15:13,16-17 is an example of this.

Further proof that the 24 elders are not angels is Revelation 7:11. It says, "And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God.” In this verse all the angels were present “around the thrones” and “around the 24 elders.” My question is – How can the 24 elders be angels when all the angels are around the elders? This verse distinguishes between angels and elders so the author knew that the elders are not angels. Revelation 7:11 automatically proves that the 24 elders are not angels.

Many people believe that the 24 elders are angels because they interpret events to John (Revelation 5:5; 7:13). We see that two angels interpreted events to John. One showed John the Harlot and the City of Babylon (Revelation 17:1-19:10). The other angel showed John the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-22:11). Both times John fell down and worshipped the angel that interpreted the events to him (Revelation 19:10 & 22:8-9). He did this twice.

You would think that John learned his lesson the first time. He didn’t. There was something about these angels like an overwhelming presence.

John never did this to the 24 elders. On two occasions, one of the 24 elders spoke to John (Revelation 5:5; 7:13) and John never fell down and worshipped them. Obviously John didn’t see anything overwhelming about the 24 elders for he never attempted to worship them.

The important thing is not that both the angels and the 24 elders interpret events to John but the interpretation itself. The angels show John future events and seem to focus on the two cities – Babylon and the New Jerusalem and the difference between the two.

The 24 elders describe past redemption and people being redeemed to Christ. One of the elders introduced the slain Lamb (Jesus Christ) in Revelation 5:5 and the white-robed multitude in Revelation 7:13. My question is – Why doesn’t an angel do this? Obviously the elder can better understand this because he himself is a redeemed man.

Finally why did both of those angels carry away John in the Spirit? Because angels are spirits (Hebrews 1:7) but the 24 elders never carried John away in the Spirit for they are men. Lets look into the question – What is an elder? Isn’t it someone who is older? Angels don’t get older for they are all the same age. Only men get older because of sin for sin causes death.

An elder could be someone with wisdom but angels always had perfect wisdom. An elder could be someone who is a ruler. Doesn’t the Bible say “that we will judge angels” (1 Corinthians 6:3). Whichever way you look at it, the 24 elders cannot be angels for only men can be called elders.

We see that the 24 elders are not angels but redeemed men. We also see that the identity of the 24 elders is integral to proving that the rapture is before the Tribulation. It is highly significant that the 24 elders are first seen in Revelation.

John when he went to heaven to see the throne and see the events of the End Times (Revelation 4:1), he saw the 24 elders. In the other visions of heaven in Isaiah and Ezekiel, there was only the throne and the four living creatures. There were no 24 elders. If the 24 elders were angels then they would’ve been in the visions of heaven in Isaiah and Ezekiel.

It is significant that the 24 elders are seen in the New Testament and not in the Old Testament. If the 24 elders represent the Church then this is understandable 12 for Israel and 12 of the Church as there were 12 disciples.

The resurrection of Old Testament saints occured when Jesus died.

(Mat 27:50 Then Jesus shouted out again, dismissed his spirit, and died.

Mat 27:51 And look! The curtain secluding the Holiest Place in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and rocks broke,

Mat 27:52 and tombs opened, and many godly men and women who had died came back to life again.

Mat 27:53 After Jesus' resurrection, they left the cemetery and went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many people there.

The Church consists of New Testament saints and all the Christians from Pentecost to the rapture. The resurrection of Church saints occurs at the rapture I believe that the 24 elders are redeemed men and the only choice there is that they represent the Church. This highly favors that the rapture will come before the Tribulation.

The 24 elders are seated on thrones, wearing white garments and golden crowns. These were promised to the Church at the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is at the coming of Christ at the rapture (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4).

The 24 elders sing a song of redemption even though they sing it in the third person, which is possible (Exodus 115:13,16-17) to sing a song about yourself in the third person.

The 24 elders focus in their interpretation to John the white-robed multitude and the slain Lamb, Jesus Christ. Redeemed men would better understand the redemptive work of Christ than angels.

The 24 elders are distinguished from “all the angels” (Revelation 7:11).

The 24 elders are only seen in Revelation after John goes to heaven (Revelation 4:1-2) and are absent in the visions of Isaiah and Ezekiel of heaven.

The 24 elders are very different from angels.

The 24 elders can’t be angels for the Church will even judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3).

It is clear that the 24 elders proves that the Church is in heaven before the Tribulation. This means that the rapture has to be before the Tribulation for we see the 24 elders (Revelation 4:4) in heaven before the Tribulation starts in Revelation 6.

Further proof of the Church not being in the Tribulation is that the Tribulation is a “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). The seventy weeks prophecy is for Israel (Daniel 9:24) and that includes the seventieth week, which is the Tribulation.

We see that Israel not the Church will endure the Tribulation. The Church is promised present-day Tribulation (Revelation 2:10) but Israel is warned of the Tribulation (Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21).

There is no warning for the Church about the Tribulation. The Church was promised that they “will judge the world” (1 Corinthians 6:2) and “will judge angels” (1 Corinthians 6:3). Revelation 20:4 says, “Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.”

This is probably referring to the 24 elders so if the Church was promised that they will judge the world and angels and if Revelation 20:4 confirms this through the 24 elders then the Church then this proves that the 24 elders represent the Church.

The 24 elders points to the belief that the rapture is before the Tribulation.

http://www.geocities.com/stat23mj/prophecy/24_elders.html

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