Afraid You’ll be Left Behind? The Rapture Trap.

The National Review ^ | November 18, 2002 | Rod Dreher

[Catholicguy]

<> Abraham Lincoln; "Rapture is crapture"<>

[RnMomof7]

At the end those that remain will indeed be pulled off before the destruction of this earth

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

This is not the Rapture that many are hoping for I fear

[Catholicguy]

http://www.shasta.com/sphaws/endtimes.html

<> Here is a link to a Catholic's view of Revelation and such issues. Interesting site...<>

[Polycarp]

American dispensationalists were early non-Jewish supporters of Zionism, believing that the ingathering of diaspora Jews to their Biblical homeland was a necessary precursor for the return of Christ. Though many Evangelicals and other Christians support Israel today for other reasons, no small number of them do so because their end-times belief mandates it. Thigpen is not so much worried that Rapture-expecting Christians will blow up Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock to hasten Armageddon as he is concerned about the spiritual harm that may result from acceptance of dispensationalist beliefs.

"When times look tough and threatening, perhaps people find a comfort in believing in the Rapture, that God will help them escape events before they become too bad," Thigpen says. "Ideas have consequences. One, the Rapture doctrine ignores the redemptive power of suffering, which is a powerful Christian theme. Two, the Bible also shows that God chastises His people as well as their enemies; believers share in suffering as well. Three, if people wrongly believe Christians won't be around for the persecution that Scripture tells us will precede the Second Coming, they won't prepare themselves spiritually or otherwise."

Just because Catholicism doesn't teach the Rapture or focus on end-times prophecy doesn't mean the Catholic world has escaped popular apocalypticism. The particularly Catholic version comes as a mania for apocalypse-centered apparitions and private revelations claimed by contemporary visionaries. The Rapture Trap writes of the spiritual danger of uncritically accepting such claims, and offers discernment guidelines drawn from Catholicism's conservative tradition.

"What we're dealing with are people who are scared and confused by what's going on in the world today, and who aren't getting the information they need to separate what's real from what's vain and even harmful speculation," Thigpen says. "As Christians, we believe Jesus is coming back, and we have to be ready for that to happen at any moment. But this game of 'plug the headline into the Scripture verse,' or into the latest message from a supposed apparition, is a losing proposition."

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Boy, you guys have a lot of bait threads out today, who are you trying to get banned today?

BigMack

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Is this Rapture bashing day, today?

BigMack

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Over here, you're being bashed. :)

[Polycarp]

Nope. Just sharing the Gospel.

[american colleen]

Mack, I posted this thread. I am not trying to get anyone banned. I found it an interesting essay and I like the author as well. Most of us have posted essays by Rod Dreher, he is intelligent and well-spoken.

It seems that the "rapture" theory attracts and repels across all religious beliefs, Catholic and non-Catholic. It singles out no one, nor was my reason for posting it meant to.

[Codie]

More than a few Protestants on this thread support the article.

[RnMomof7]

Nope. Just sharing the Gospel.

So are the Mormons and the Jw's and the Univeralists and the Bahi's ..lots and lots of gospels out there..but only one saves

[american colleen]

It's bashing to post a well written essay on a subject that has adherents from every religious walk?

[patent]

Boy, you guys have a lot of bait threads out today, who are you trying to get banned today?

The illuminati and aliens decided its time for you to leave Free Republic. So, they contacted the Vatican, who directed its online agents, specifically Vatican Basement Cell 3b (responsible for Free Republic, the NYTimes Chat rooms, and for the internet hub at Bob’s Bait Shop and CyberCafe) to begin posting articles specifically to get your attention.

Because everyone who knows all Catholics are merely agents of the illuminati aliens also knows we don’t post things for actual discussion or information.

These people know we only post to bait you.

Since we know you can’t help but respond, and are predestined to do so.

patent  +AMDG

[Starwind]

This is not the Rapture that many are hoping for I fear

I believe you're right. Many falsely anticipate a deliverance from any testing....an understandable but carnal expectation.

The true danger is when the testing comes, and they've not been raptured, and fear they've been 'left behind' (because of a false understanding of what and when the rapture is), they'll not see it as God's testing and refining and an opportunity to exalt God by standing firm, but question their faith, God's protection, their salvation, and the love of many more will grow colder still, possibly to the extent they may even take the mark.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Nope. Just sharing the Gospel.

Sure ya are, and if one of us slips up and says something bad enough about catholics, you will start pinging the mods.

BigMack

[drstevej]

***One, the Rapture doctrine ignores the redemptive power of suffering, which is a powerful Christian theme.***

Horse puckey. Dispentationalists see the tribulation as a time when Israel, through suffering, is prepared to embrace Her Messiah. Thus they affirm the "redemptive power of suffering" while noting that the divine focus is upon Israel at this point in history.

[Polycarp]

you guys have a lot of bait threads out today,

These are nothing of the sort. We know Catholics who are reading these (INTRINSICALLY anti-Catholic rapture books) and we're trying to educate them, spread the Gospel, and proteect them from error.

You guys are so self-obsessed you think its baithing.

who are you trying to get banned today?

By the way, Irisshlass was wrong. We're not trying to get anyone banned. She was a disruptor who did a fine job driving a wedge not only between Catholics but also between Catholic and non-Catholic friends.

Believe whatever you like to the contrary, its irrelevant. And I'll not defend myself further against such baseless lies. Thanks.

[american colleen]

"As Christians, we believe Jesus is coming back, and we have to be ready for that to happen at any moment. But this game of 'plug the headline into the Scripture verse,' or into the latest message from a supposed apparition, is a losing proposition."

Mack, these last few lines address Protestants and Catholics who believe in the rapture (plug in scripture is Protestant, latest message from a supposed apparition is Catholic).

[patent]

Sure ya are, and if one of us slips up and says something bad enough about catholics, you will start pinging the mods.

You mean like RNMom does?

[Polycarp]

So are the Mormons and the Jw's and the Univeralists and the Bahi's ..

Learn to discern better. Both in the interpretation of scripture you embrace as well as the word of others you take to be truthful.