Rapture - the end is near, or not?
Have you Heard About the Rapture?
Cell Phones Internet Search Engines Blackberry’s I Phones
all this technology and we still have no clue when Jesus will return.
As a Baptist pastor I preached and listened to numerous sermons on the second coming of Christ. For most Baptists the Bible is the source of authority for all doctrinal questions. Well if they are all using the same source why can’t they agree on the return of Christ?
I have never heard a Baptist preach on or off the record that they know when Jesus will return. They do how ever claim to have the inside track on the sequence of events related to the end times.
Terms like rapture, tribulation, angels of death, seals and vials are cast about with abandonment. Scripture taken out of context is twisted and manipulated to weave a magical tale of half truths.
The lynch pin of this amazing tale is the rapture; a belief that Jesus will return unexpectedly and take all the Christians out of this world. Leaving the lost souls behind to suffer through great tribulation.
The rapture supposedly takes place between chapter 3 and 4 of the book of Revelation. The first three chapters deal with the seven churches of Asia Minor. The opening of chapter four deals with the great white throne judgment. Misguided reasoning leads to the belief that the church has been taken out of the world and the judgment is taking place. The rapture has occurred. All the Christians are gone.
What would be the result of the rapture on our world? Well planes piloted by Christian pilots would crash. Cars driven by Christians well you get the idea. Not to mention commerce and life as we know it would be no more.
I confess that I preached this rapture nonsense more times than I like to remember. More out of obligation than honest heart felt belief.
If there is no rapture does that mean that Jesus is not returning to earth? No Jesus made it very clear that he would return and you can count on it. But don’t waste time trying to figure out how and when the Lord will return.
So, as Catholic Christians what are we to do about the end of time and Jesus second coming?
Be spiritually prepared for the Lord’s return and be vigilant, remember the ten foolish and wise virgins?
Be ready for the Lord will return like a thief in the night.
Cell Phones Internet Search Engines Blackberry’s I Phones
all this technology and we still have no clue when Jesus will return.
As a Baptist pastor I preached and listened to numerous sermons on the second coming of Christ. For most Baptists the Bible is the source of authority for all doctrinal questions. Well if they are all using the same source why can’t they agree on the return of Christ?
I have never heard a Baptist preach on or off the record that they know when Jesus will return. They do how ever claim to have the inside track on the sequence of events related to the end times.
Terms like rapture, tribulation, angels of death, seals and vials are cast about with abandonment. Scripture taken out of context is twisted and manipulated to weave a magical tale of half truths.
The lynch pin of this amazing tale is the rapture; a belief that Jesus will return unexpectedly and take all the Christians out of this world. Leaving the lost souls behind to suffer through great tribulation.
The rapture supposedly takes place between chapter 3 and 4 of the book of Revelation. The first three chapters deal with the seven churches of Asia Minor. The opening of chapter four deals with the great white throne judgment. Misguided reasoning leads to the belief that the church has been taken out of the world and the judgment is taking place. The rapture has occurred. All the Christians are gone.
What would be the result of the rapture on our world? Well planes piloted by Christian pilots would crash. Cars driven by Christians well you get the idea. Not to mention commerce and life as we know it would be no more.
I confess that I preached this rapture nonsense more times than I like to remember. More out of obligation than honest heart felt belief.
If there is no rapture does that mean that Jesus is not returning to earth? No Jesus made it very clear that he would return and you can count on it. But don’t waste time trying to figure out how and when the Lord will return.
So, as Catholic Christians what are we to do about the end of time and Jesus second coming?
Be spiritually prepared for the Lord’s return and be vigilant, remember the ten foolish and wise virgins?
Be ready for the Lord will return like a thief in the night.
